A sense of security, a man who couldn't watch his mouth [first update]

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing, who had been left speechless, he shook his head in exasperation.

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have saved you. I'd have let the Acacia Soul Beast in this forest carry you off."

Ning Chengyi spoke half-jokingly.

"Don't you dare!" Zhu Zhuqing grew even angrier and snapped coldly, "Let go of me already!"

"Oh."

Seeing that she was no longer quite so angry, he released her, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on her.

"What are you looking at?" Zhu Zhuqing blushed, a hint of bashfulness creeping over her. Then she remembered how he had seen her naked last night, and her cheeks flushed even deeper with embarrassment.

"An idiot. What else would I be looking at?"

Ning Chengyi answered casually. "You..." She moved to hit him, but the broad motion tugged at her wounds, making Zhu Zhuqing grimace. The pain instantly brought her back to her senses.

"Why were you there last night?"

"I went there to kill people."

Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes widened. Could this guy be a murderous maniac?

Fear crept over her, and she unconsciously shrank back. Ning Chengyi noticed and immediately grinned. "Heh heh heh. Actually, I'm an Evil Soul Master who takes pleasure in ravishing women and killing people."

"Y-you stay away! You already saw all of me last night..." Watching Ning Chengyi's wicked grin, Zhu Zhuqing spoke weakly, her eyes filled with timid fear.

"Hahaha, you're fun. All right, I'll stop teasing you. I was there to wipe out those Evil Soul Masters. I just happened to pass by and save you."

At those words, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze dimmed a little. "You just happened to pass by?"

Ning Chengyi had no idea what she was thinking and simply nodded.

"Bastard! Then why didn't you come out and save me sooner?"

"..."

Her question left Ning Chengyi at a complete loss. Who taught her to turn the tables like that?

Was she born with it?

"I'm going back tonight. Want to come?"

"Can I, with these injuries?"

"They'll be completely healed in ten hours."

Ning Chengyi had witnessed the medicine's effects firsthand.

After all, he didn't believe Xue Qinghe would give him an inferior product.

"I'll believe you for now. Grrr..."

Before she could finish, Zhu Zhuqing's stomach betrayed her with a loud rumble. Her pretty face reddened, and she gave an awkward smile that looked downright adorable.

"You actually look pretty good when you smile. Why does a stupid woman like you always have to scowl?"

Ning Chengyi glanced at her and murmured under his breath.

But they were so close that Zhu Zhuqing naturally heard him. A flicker of delight flashed through her eyes before she put on a stern face again and said coldly, "None of your business."

"Grrr... I'll go catch some fish." Just then, Ning Chengyi's stomach rumbled too, giving him an excuse to speak.

"Where are you going?" Seeing him leap down, Zhu Zhuqing called out with a hint of urgency, like a young wife worrying about her husband going out.

"Didn't I just say? I'm going fishing."

"T-take me with you..." Watching Ning Chengyi go down, Zhu Zhuqing felt strangely empty inside. Even she didn't know why she wanted to stay close to him.

Although he seemed rather obnoxious, he intrigued her, and mixed with that curiosity was an inexplicable sense of security.

She had never felt anything like it before. Ever since childhood, her struggles with her older sister had involved nothing but battles for power and advantage. No one had ever cared about her. This bastard might be unreliable, but his concern was genuine.

She could feel that much. He just had a nasty mouth.

"Oh." Ning Chengyi climbed back up, swept her into his arms, and leaped down from the tall tree with her.

In Ning Chengyi's arms, Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes shifted to his sharply defined features. Her cheeks turned rosy, her lashes fluttered, and her heartbeat quickened.

"All right, how long are you planning to stay in my arms? You can walk on your own, can't you?" Just as Zhu Zhuqing was losing herself in his embrace, Ning Chengyi's insufferable voice rang out.

"I wish you were mute!"

Zhu Zhuqing cursed at him, and Ning Chengyi shook his head helplessly.

The ancients didn't lie: petty men and women really are hard to deal with!

An incense stick's worth of time later, the first big fish took the bait.

"You can't even kill or clean a fish. Whoever marries you someday will probably have a screw loose too."

Ning Chengyi said this to Zhu Zhuqing.

"None of your business!" She snorted coldly and ignored him, but as Ning Chengyi killed the fish, her gaze never once strayed.

"Open the pot!"

At his call, Zhu Zhuqing obligingly lifted the lid, and the big fish went neatly into the pot.

"Eat first once it's cooked." With that, Ning Chengyi returned to his fishing spot. Within minutes, he landed another fish. His skills far surpassed those of certain anglers who held their positions for ages like soldiers on duty.

Of course, that meant the ones who always came back empty-handed!

Before long, the pot was full, and he lit another fire to grill two more fish.

They were quite far from the Blue Silver Gang's territory, so they only needed to watch out for soul beasts.

But there were few soul beasts here, so the two dug in without a care. After her first bite, Zhu Zhuqing forgot all about keeping up appearances. Her hands moved swiftly, and the skill with which she separated the bones in her mouth left Ning Chengyi staring in astonishment.

Truly a natural talent!

An hour later, the two lay contentedly on a huge rock, with the fire still burning strong.

"We'll wait until the second half of the night. I alerted them last time."

"And if I'm right, they'll probably take precautions and increase their nighttime patrols. The best time to go is late at night, when they're exhausted."

"I'll follow your lead."

"But what's your name?"

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly realized she still didn't know the name of the boy before her and casually asked.

"My name's Broken Throat. Didn't I tell you?"

Ning Chengyi laughed as he spoke. "Hmph!" Zhu Zhuqing was no longer as cold as usual. There was even more of a smile on her face as she responded.

"Ning Chengyi!"

Hearing her response, he added his real name.

Zhu Zhuqing murmured it a few times, committing it to memory.

"Chief, do we still need extra men tonight?"

"Yes. I suspect the brothers who went down the mountain have met with disaster too."

"That's impossible, isn't it? We haven't crossed anyone, recently or in the past."

The man's face was somewhat pale, with dark circles around his eyes, showing that he hadn't slept well last night.

"You don't understand. It's not about whether we've crossed anyone. Someone wants us dead!"

The chief let out a long sigh. Even now, he had no idea whom his little gang had offended.

"Just strengthen the patrols."

"Yes."

The man acknowledged the order and left, leaving the chief of the Blue Silver Gang alone inside, sighing.

Time passed swiftly.

Before long, the second half of the night arrived.

Two figures quietly slipped onto the Blue Silver Gang's territory.

Sure enough, the number of patrolmen had more than doubled compared with a few days earlier.

"Ten teams in all, two men per team, but most of them look exhausted. You take the left, and I'll take the right."

"Just harass them. We'll whittle them down slowly."

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing watched him curiously as he gave his instructions in earnest, then nodded.

Once they had settled their plan, Ning Chengyi crept toward the right. Seizing an opening, he crushed a man's throat and twisted his neck, killing him on the spot.

"Ene—" The man beside him noticed and immediately tried to shout, but Ning Chengyi moved fast. His fingers shot out like a striking snake, jabbing viciously into the man's throat.

Then he quickly lowered both bodies to the ground, stripped off their clothes, and put them on himself.

"Hey, brother, why are you alone?"

"Where's the other guy?"

Ning Chengyi quietly approached another team and was met with those questions.

He merely pointed into the darkness, but a moment later, he suddenly struck.

"Enemy attack!"

The sudden shout sent lights flaring throughout the Blue Silver Gang's compound. For a moment, voices rose everywhere.

Watching Ning Chengyi's killing methods and the speed of his attacks, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes filled with shock. He probably wasn't much older than her, yet his techniques were ruthless and his strikes sharp, as though he had honed them for years.

But the cry of "Enemy attack!" snapped her out of her daze. She became a phantom cat prowling through the night and began reaping the lives of the Evil Soul Masters nearest her.