Not Your Fault

He deactivated Ghost Illumination.

The expression on his face gradually turned cold and stern.

"Mystic Boat."

"Go and summon Elder Wang here at once..."

...A short while later.

Three figures emerged from the Qin Mansion and quickly vanished into the night.

By now, the wind and snow had gradually ceased.

Inside the Han Mansion.

Ruan Chen and Song Wenruo were sitting in the main hall, discussing matters with Han Qingyue. Still shaken by the events of the previous night, she had called for two of her uncles to accompany her, and they were currently chatting happily over a table of food and wine.

"Regarding the matter of the Qin Mansion, Junior Sister has contributed a great deal."

"Once the deed is done."

"How about I, your Senior Brother, take charge and grant the Han Family thirty percent of the reward?"

"Senior Brother is too kind."

Han Qingyue pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "This Junior Sister wants nothing of the sort; I only hope that in the future, Senior Brother will look after the Han Family a little more within the sect. Qingyue would be eternally grateful."

"Easily done, easily done."

Ruan Chen laughed heartily, his smile tinged with something sinister.

Not long after.

Several figures in the hall suddenly began to sway unsteadily.

They looked just like people who had drunk too much.

"Who poisoned us?"

"Qingyue, quick, quickly signal the guard team..."

Han Qingyue's expression changed drastically at this moment.

Her gaze was locked firmly onto Ruan Chen.

Seeing this, the latter smiled slightly: "The potency of this Bone-Softening Powder is truly lacking; it actually took nearly half an hour to take effect."

"What is the meaning of this, Senior Brother Ruan?"

A stiff smile appeared on Han Qingyue's face as she said, "Do you intend to move against the Han Family? Don't forget Deacon Baili..."

"Junior Sister, save your strength."

Ruan Chen reached out to hook her fair chin, his eyes burning with heat as he said, "If it weren't for me speaking up, the Deacon would have come here in person tonight..."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Song Wenruo.

The latter grinned.

He stood up and walked toward the Inner Mansion.

In just half a quarter of an hour, he returned, dragging two tear-streaked figures with him.

"Second Sister, Fourth Sister..."

"Ruan Chen, you beast."

Han Qingyue struggled, trying to stand up.

Ruan Chen chuckled and said, "Don't blame me, Junior Sister. I've pursued you for so long without getting a straight answer, so tonight, this Senior Brother has no choice but to take matters into his own hands."

"Stop wasting your energy screaming."

At this moment.

Song Wenruo also grinned and said, "As for those people in your guard team, I doubt there's a single one left breathing. Save your strength, lest it be no fun for me to play with you after Senior Brother is finished."

"Senior Brother, don't bother looking for a room."

"This main hall is so exciting; with so many pairs of eyes watching, why not try that feeling?"

"Thump, thump."

Suddenly.

A figure rushed into the hall, brandishing a blade.

Seeing the newcomer, Han Qingyue became instantly terrified: "Third Brother, leave this place quickly, run..."

"Let, let go of my sister."

It was a fair-skinned youth with a scholarly air.

He stood there, trembling as he pointed his blade at the two men.

Ruan Chen's face turned gloomy in an instant. He shoved Han Qingyue aside, strode up to the youth, grabbed him by the neck, and twisted with a violent force.

Crack.

"No!"

Han Qingyue's voice turned shrill and wretched in an instant.

Her eyes were filled with venomous resentment, and her mind involuntarily recalled the words Han Qing had once spoken.

If only I had let Third Brother leave back then...

"I didn't expect the Han Mansion to be so lively."

At this moment.

Following the sound of the voice.

Another figure slowly walked into the main hall.

His physique was tall and straight, his brows were like swords, his eyes held cold stars, and he strode forward dragging a deep blue long saber.

"Qin Jiu?"

Everyone was stunned.

The most astonished among them was Han Qingyue, for she knew that this young master of the Qin Family had never practiced martial arts; yet here he was, daring to appear in the Han Family alone, brandishing a weapon. In the past, she would have certainly opened her mouth to mock him.

But seeing this figure now.

A surge of immense surprise.

Instantly flooded her mind.

Because if Qin Jiu had appeared, it meant that others from the Qin Family must have arrived as well.

"In such a rush to seek death?"

Ruan Chen spoke in surprise: "Earlier, Han Qingyue said you were incompetent and idle; it seems she was misleading me. However, even if you have learned some martial arts..."

Hum.

The saber light crisscrossed.

Song Wenruo's head instantly rolled to the ground.

His face still bore a lingering expression of shock, and the body standing in place waited nearly two breaths before a pillar of blood erupted, drenching the two figures beside him who had already fallen into despair.

"Three Refinements?!"

Ruan Chen's pupils shrank violently.

In a flash.

He raised his hand into a fist, stomped the ground until it shattered, and lunged toward Qin Jiu.

The latter did not dodge or evade.

He likewise raised his fist and slammed it forward.

Bang.

Crack.

The clear sound of bone fracturing echoed throughout the hall.

Ruan Chen's expression turned to one of horror; the hand he had previously balled into a fist was now twisted at a grotesque angle.

"Junior Brother Qin, wait a moment..."

At this instant.

He hurriedly spoke up.

However, Qin Jiu's brows remained indifferent as he struck this man's chest with another punch, then, with a surge of force, his entire arm punched straight through Ruan Chen's back.

The latter's look of terror froze.

He died instantly.

Watching this scene, Han Qingyue's mind went blank. She could never have imagined that the playboy of the past could now, with a single saber strike and a single punch, instantly slaughter two core disciples from a major sect.

While still in shock.

She hurriedly spoke: "Many thanks to Young Master Qin for saving my life."

"Qingyue will certainly reward you handsomely for today's events."

"A handsome reward?"

The indifference between Qin Jiu's brows did not dissipate in the slightest. He walked forward while saying, "The incense and merit accumulated by Uncle Han have been exhausted. From now on, I, Qin, will personally ask for forgiveness before his grave."

As his voice rose.

Saber light swept past.

Head after head instantly rolled to the ground.

"No, Second Uncle, Little Sister... I beg you, all the faults and mistakes are mine, Qingyue's. I beg you, spare them."

Han Qingyue collapsed instantly.

Qin Jiu remained silent.

The blade in his hand flickered, and heads rolled to the ground one after another.

Finally, his footsteps stopped before her.

"It is not your fault alone."

"Hum~"

The long blade hummed and trembled.

A head full of regret rolled onto the floor.

Late at night.

Tongfu Inn.

Inside an elegantly decorated room, Baili Ce sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed, appearing to be resting or perhaps deep in thought.

The noisy clamor from downstairs.

Had gradually died down by now.

His brows furrowed and smoothed in turns, until at one moment, he suddenly opened his eyes and let out a cold snort.

"What kind of rats, resorting to such low-handed tactics."

"You dare to think a mere poison could harm this old man."

"Get out!"

Baili Ce shouted, flicking his wrist to send his teacup hurtling toward the ceiling.

However, almost at the same time.

A deep blue blade pierced through the front door.

Swift as lightning.

It struck straight toward the center of Baili Ce's brow.

The latter felt a jolt of alarm, realizing there was more than one attacker, and immediately lunged toward the wooden wall in the opposite direction.

"Ssh."

But before he could even get close.

A gleaming blade pierced through the wooden wall as well.

Baili Ce raised his hand to strike the side of the blade, but the force radiating from it caused his expression to change drastically.

"Internal Strengthening?"

"Boom!"

At this moment.

The wooden door shattered, and a tall, masked figure clad in gray martial attire charged into the room, blade in hand.

The deep blue blade transformed into a sheet of cold light in an instant.

Enveloping Baili Ce.

The latter's expression turned grim as he drew a soft sword from his waist and met the assault.

"Clang, clang, clang."

The weapons collided.

Sparks flew in a continuous stream.

"Three Refinements..."

"A mere Three Refinements martial artist, daring to come and assassinate this old man—you are simply courting death."