Tian Yan

In the silent depths of night, a figure walked slowly along a secluded path within Linjiang Courtyard.

She wore an ink-black cloak over pale white clothes. A bright yellow jeweled belt around her waist outlined her slender, willowy figure.

Her face was fair and clean, making her appear somewhat frail. With her hands folded at her waist, she looked every bit the delicate young lady.

Tian Yan's footsteps made no sound, her pace steady and unhurried. Her destination was clear, as though she were already intimately familiar with Linjiang Courtyard's layout.

Suddenly, Tian Yan sensed an immense force bearing down on her, and her expression turned grave. An aura emanated from her frail-looking body.

The cloak behind her was thrown back by that aura, and the Jingni Sword at her waist swiftly left its sheath. Pale pink Sword Qi transformed into streaks of light that coiled around her.

Tian Yan pushed off the ground and flipped into the air. At that moment, a flaming hairpin skimmed past her body.

Tian Yan avoided the hairpin, but it did not lose any momentum, striking a large tree nearby. Its tremendous force pierced straight through it.

As Tian Yan spun through the air, her gaze remained fixed on one spot. She casually slashed with her sword. A startling crescent-shaped Sword Qi swept out. Wherever it passed, boulders shattered, corridors collapsed, and rubble and dust rose thirty feet into the air.

Within that Sword Qi, a figure rapidly shifted positions, perfectly evading Tian Yan's attacks.

Yan Lingji wore a dark crimson gown, her breathtakingly beautiful face cold and aloof. She rose into the air, holding three hairpins in each hand, each bearing an intricate seal.

Clusters of flames turned into a hundred flaming arrows. With a whoosh, all hundred arrows flew toward the same target.

Wherever the blazing fire passed, sparks ignited even across the ground and walls.

Golden light flickered in Tian Yan's eyes. Every flame within her sight was clearly reflected in her mind.

Tian Yan gave a disdainful smile as her body flashed rapidly. Gripping the Jingni Sword in her right hand, she slashed repeatedly. Streams of Sword Qi crisscrossed and surged forward.

The energies collided one after another. Flames scattered in all directions, as if a rain of fire had fallen. The searing heat instantly ignited every flammable object nearby.

"Dou Ling?"

Yan Lingji watched Tian Yan. Judging from her attacks, Yan Lingji had already determined that Tian Yan possessed the cultivation of a Dou Ling.

Illusory flames in Yan Lingji's hands transformed into tangible energy. Her expression grew somewhat solemn as she warily stared at the woman who looked so soft and frail.

Yan Lingji was already a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi. With her exceptional Fire Control, even ordinary Dou Lings were no match for her.

Yet the person before her appeared delicate and weak, as though she possessed no fighting ability at all. But during their brief exchange, Tian Yan's displayed strength had thoroughly surprised her.

Tian Yan's disguise was simply too convincing. If Yan Lingji had not seen her arrive at Linjiang Courtyard in the middle of the night and deliberately tested her, she would never have known that Tian Yan was actually a Dou Ling.

"Who are you, and why are you at Young Master's residence?" Before Yan Lingji could speak, Tian Yan questioned her first.

Yan Lingji: "???"

Shouldn't she have been the one asking that? She was clearly the owner here, while Tian Yan was the uninvited guest.

Yet now, their positions had been completely reversed.

"And who are you? Sneaking around so suspiciously in the dead of night—what exactly are you here for? Tell me, are you trying to harm my master?" Yan Lingji demanded coldly.

"Master?" Tian Yan was quite puzzled upon hearing Yan Lingji's words.

"You call Young Master your master?" Tian Yan asked.

Tian Yan was exceptionally intelligent. From that form of address alone, she could already guess Yan Lingji's identity.

This was Chen Cheng's residence, yet Yan Lingji called Chen Cheng her master. Tian Yan could now be certain that Yan Lingji was either Chen Cheng's subordinate or his concubine.

Having learned Yan Lingji's identity, Tian Yan lowered her guard against her.

"I mean you no harm. I came here tonight precisely to seek refuge with Young Master Chen Cheng. Young Master showed me great favor by recognizing my worth, so I shall naturally repay him with all my strength." Tian Yan's tone was calm, and not a trace of emotion could be seen on her face.

But Yan Lingji did not relax in the slightest upon hearing Tian Yan's words.

Repay him? Who comes in the middle of the night to seek refuge? And this woman hides her identity and acts so furtively—she hardly looks like a good person, Yan Lingji thought.

Yan Lingji said nothing, continuing to stare at Tian Yan with utmost vigilance.

Just then, a voice came from nearby.

"It's the middle of the night. Instead of resting, are you two demolishing the place?"

Chen Cheng walked over from afar, his expression bitter as he looked at the corridor that had been reduced to ruins.

Upon spotting Chen Cheng, Yan Lingji flashed over to his side. A sly smile appeared on her face as she said, "Master, this person snuck into the residence in the middle of the night, and I caught her. She deliberately concealed her cultivation—she is most likely up to no good. You should be careful of her."

"Don't spout nonsense. Her name is Tian Yan, and she truly came to seek refuge with me. From now on, the two of you should get along well." Chen Cheng took Yan Lingji's hand and walked toward Tian Yan.

Chen Cheng had been waiting for Tian Yan in his room, but she had not appeared even after half an hour. Then he heard the sounds of fighting from this direction. He hurried over, only to find that Yan Lingji and Tian Yan had somehow begun fighting.

Though Yan Lingji had spoken softly, Tian Yan still heard her. Tian Yan showed no reaction as she returned the Jingni Sword to its sheath, folded her hands at her waist, and gave a slight curtsy in a proper woman's salute.

"This concubine, Tian Yan, pays respects to Young Master."

Tian Yan's voice was gentle. She looked like a lady of a scholarly and distinguished family, every inch the refined young miss.

"A Yan, there's no need for such formality. You came at just the right time. There is something I need you to handle." Chen Cheng helped Tian Yan up, a hint of delight on his face.

Name: Tian Yan

Cultivation: Two-Star Dou Ling

Origin: Qin's Moon

Tian Yan was a character from Qin's Moon. She was known as the female Guan Zhong of the Agricultural School, possessing exceptional intelligence and strategy. She was also Jingni, a top-ranking Heaven-tier assassin of Net Trap.

Her swordsmanship was formidable; even against Wei Zhuang, she could remain undefeated.

She excelled at disguise. No one could see through her face-changing technique to uncover her true appearance.

She also possessed some special eye technique, granting her the ability to pierce through fog and see the true nature of things.

The battle between Yan Lingji and Tian Yan caused quite a commotion. It even alerted Chen Cheng, so those few whose strength surpassed his naturally rushed over as well.

When Jiang Yu Yan saw Tian Yan, however, it was as though she were looking at a cloud of mist, unable to glimpse her true nature.

Jiang Yu Yan possessed the Flower Shifting Skill. As long as she came into close contact with someone, she could roughly sense the path of energy circulation within their body. Yet when it came to Tian Yan, Jiang Yu Yan felt as though she were staring into a pool of deep water—bottomless and unfathomable.

This person is truly strange. The Flower Shifting Skill will likely be ineffective against her. A strong sense of danger rose in Jiang Yu Yan's heart.

A situation beyond her control made her deeply uncomfortable.

As for Huang Yaoshi and Red Serpent, when they looked at Tian Yan, she seemed no different from an ordinary person.

They could not sense even a trace of energy from her. Her body seemed soft and frail, and she looked like a delicate, sickly young lady.

Yet it was precisely such a weak-looking woman who had fought Yan Lingji and caused such a great disturbance, drawing all of them here.

"Since everyone is here, let me introduce you to a new friend. Her name is Tian Yan. She will serve me from now on, so you must all get along well," Yang Yan said as he saw that all his subordinates had arrived.

"A Yan, this is Yan Lingji, and this is..." Chen Cheng then introduced Yan Lingji and the others to Tian Yan one by one.

Tian Yan courteously greeted each of them in turn, her manner exceedingly humble.

Everyone warmly welcomed Tian Yan's arrival as a newcomer.

They were all serving Chen Cheng, so what grudge could not be resolved?

Besides, the fact that Tian Yan's battle with Yan Lingji had created such a huge commotion was enough to prove that she was very strong.

Yan Lingji was no weakling. With the cultivation of a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi, coupled with her Fire Control Art, even Jiang Yu Yan—a Dou Ling of exceptional strength—would not dare claim she could defeat Yan Lingji with certainty.

After some time, the dozen or so servants in Linjiang Courtyard were also drawn over by the commotion.

One sentence from Chen Cheng immediately made their faces fall. Chen Cheng said, "Once daybreak comes tomorrow, clean up and restore this place."

The servants looked at the collapsed corridor, as well as the huge decorative stones on the ground that had been shattered by Sword Qi, their fragments scattered everywhere.

Cleaning this place up tomorrow would be no small task!