Fleeing in Disarray

Qin Yu did not particularly care whether Zi Xun'er had guessed his identity, nor was he surprised. In fact, when he came to the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop, he had already expected Zi Xun'er to figure it out. Compared to that, what Qin Yu cared more about was persuading Zi Xun'er to ensure Qin Xue's safety.

Qin Yu immediately said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Zi cares so much about my name? A name is merely a form of address. You may call me Chen Xing, or you may call me Qin Yu."

Zi Xun'er froze. She had thought that once she said this, Qin Yu would definitely undergo a drastic change in expression, giving her another bargaining chip to obtain more pill formulas from him in the future.

Yet Qin Yu's calmness, as though he had expected it all along, made Zi Xun'er feel a sense of frustration.

Her thoughts raced. After pondering for a long while, Zi Xun'er said, "I cannot absolutely guarantee it. The Qin Family likely will not do anything to you, but the Cui Family probably will not let you off. Though the Cui Family is a prominent household in the secular world, it amounts to little in the cultivation world, that does not mean it is ordinary. Moreover, the Cui Family has a son named Cui Shuo. He is an inner disciple of the Heavenly Fire Sect, a major sect in the eastern region of the Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain. At only nineteen, he has already reached the Early Astral Qi Stage."

"The Heavenly Fire Sect has risen powerfully in recent years because one of its patriarchs obtained a Heavenly Flame. Thus, ordinary sects dare not provoke it. Though my Guiyuan Sect does not fear the Heavenly Fire Sect, we cannot possibly make an enemy of it over a Fourth-grade Pill Formula. So you should decide for yourself."

Qin Yu's gaze narrowed slightly. Back when he had been Pavilion Master, he had never heard of the Heavenly Fire Sect. It must have been a rising star of later years. However, from the Library Pavilion of the Qin Family, Qin Yu had learned that the Heavenly Fire Sect was indeed extraordinary and held considerable renown in the eastern region of the Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain.

"I will handle Cui Shuo myself. If you step forward to protect Qin Xue, Cui Shuo presumably will not make things difficult for her. After all, they still do not know that I am Qin Yu," Qin Yu said.

"Very well." Zi Xun'er nodded indifferently. Her clear, lively eyes glanced at Qin Yu as she said thoughtfully, "Based on what I know of your past... you are not truly Qin Yu, are you?"

Zi Xun'er was very curious. With Qin Yu's current cultivation, what gave him the confidence to fight Cui Shuo?

"Fellow Daoist Zi may let your imagination run wild." The corners of Qin Yu's lips lifted slightly. He neither denied nor admitted it.

Zi Xun'er paused, not expecting Qin Yu to answer this way. His answer only left her even more at a loss. Then she broke into a radiant smile, slowly rose to her feet, and swayed over. One hand settled on the back of Qin Yu's neck as she bent down slightly and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Chen, I have suddenly changed my mind. Could you do me a favor? You owe me quite a few favors, you know."

This again?

Qin Yu felt helpless. Though Zi Xun'er was a beauty of ice and fire, she was undoubtedly ruthless and vicious. On top of that, her mind was devilishly shrewd. If he was not careful, he would not even know when she had sold him out.

"What favor?" Qin Yu frowned.

"You will know when the time comes." Zi Xun'er smiled seductively.

"What exactly is it? If it lies beyond my abilities, find someone else." Qin Yu said coldly.

"Fellow Daoist Chen may let your imagination run wild." Zi Xun'er turned a blind eye to Qin Yu's coldness.

Qin Yu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Zi Xun'er's desire for revenge was far too strong. He immediately said icily, "No matter what it is, I will not help."

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Chen will agree. With your current cultivation, it will be difficult for you to improve greatly in a short time. I have all the medicinal ingredients from the Martial Realm First Layer to the Ninth Level of the Martial Realm... perhaps they may be of use to Fellow Daoist Chen. Oh, and throughout the entire Wu Kingdom, I fear only my Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop can make such a claim... Besides, if you agree, I will help you deal with Cui Shuo as well." Zi Xun'er was tender as water, seeming to act coquettishly, but to Qin Yu's ears, it sounded more like a threat.

Qin Yu's face alternated between red and black, all from Zi Xun'er infuriating him. Looking at her confident expression, Qin Yu wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pressed her down onto his lap. Separated only by thin clothing, their heated bodies pressed tightly together. He stared coldly at Zi Xun'er and said, "I warned you before: those who play with fire will burn themselves. Do you think you can threaten me with this? Even without taking a single thing from your Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop, I can still raise my cultivation in a short time."

Zi Xun'er stared blankly at Qin Yu. At some point, her exquisite face had become slightly flushed. Ignoring Qin Yu's words, she said in a soft, charming voice, "Are we starting the rehearsal now?"

Qin Yu glared at Zi Xun'er. Feeling the warmth of her delicate body and her orchid-like fragrance, he glared at her for a long time without managing to say a word.

In a fit of rage, Qin Yu fiercely slapped Zi Xun'er's plump buttocks.

Slap!

"I have always..." After striking her, Qin Yu was about to say something when he suddenly froze, staring at Zi Xun'er in astonishment.

Zi Xun'er was stunned as well. Her beautiful face changed rapidly, her eyes flashing at times with anger, at times with shyness, and at times with icy killing intent.

"Fine, enough, you win. Prepare these things for me. As for the matter you mentioned, if I can do it, I will help." Qin Yu felt his scalp go numb. He hurriedly pushed Zi Xun'er up and spoke in a low voice.

"Hehe, didn't I say you would help?" After her expression shifted rapidly, Zi Xun'er finally regained her calm. Using the momentum to stand, she laughed so beautifully that flowers seemed to tremble, then turned and walked back to her seat. The instant she turned around, a cold gleam flashed through her eyes, yet her face reddened even more. Feeling the burning pain in her plump buttocks, Zi Xun'er wished she could find a hole in the ground and crawl into it. Even more, she wished she could tear Qin Yu into ten thousand pieces.

Who had ever struck her in all her life?

The moment she turned and sat down, Zi Xun'er returned to normal. Taking out brush and ink, she said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, write down what you need. As for what it is, you will know when the time comes."

Qin Yu fled the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop in disarray. Faced with a thorny woman like Zi Xun'er, even with his heaven-defying talent, he could not handle her.

Zi Xun'er stood atop the pavilion, watching Qin Yu speed away below. A faint cold smile appeared on her lips. As she stared in the direction he had left, a trace of contemplation passed through her eyes.

"Chen Xing? Qin Yu? Could it truly be possession? Neither of those is your real name? You could recognize the Cuiyuan Pill formula at a glance. You... what exactly is your background?"

"Miss, you acted rashly in this matter." At that moment, a hoarse voice suddenly rang out.

"Hm?" Zi Xun'er slightly turned her eyes toward the black-robed figure that had appeared strangely beside her.

"You wanted him to help because you intended to use him as a shield and reject Tong Yunfei's pursuit, did you not? But this boy is not as mysterious as that."

"This old man has received word that he was not possessed. His mother was once a disciple of the Myriad Heavens Battle Sect. That explains why he knows so many pill formulas, given that identity. If you choose him as a shield, I fear Tong Yunfei will devour him until not even dregs remain."

"So that is how it is." Zi Xun'er's eyes narrowed slightly. She had previously guessed that Qin Yu's identity was extraordinary and had indeed wanted him to serve as a shield, but now she had dismissed that idea.

"I cannot quite see through this person. It is still good to make him owe me a favor first. For now, do not interfere in the affairs of the Cui Family and the Qin Family. We can use this to test his true depth!" Zi Xun'er said slowly after a long while.

Yet there was confusion between her brows. If it truly was because of the Myriad Heavens Battle Sect, then why... could she not "see through" him?

Over all these years, among the younger generation, there had been only a handful of people Zi Xun'er could not see through. There was only one before him: Tong Yunfei.

And Qin Yu was the second.