C8 Double Kill!!(2)

"What are you doing, Senior Brother Zhang? When did you sneak up on me? You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Lin Xiuxiu complained.

"How can you miss such a big, living person like me? Or were you so focused that you didn't notice someone approaching?" Chung Tong chuckled, "Too bad, this paragon of virtue is about to get a thrashing, and in front of an audience no less."

Lin Xiuxiu's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She had been on edge, and the thought of Lin Xiao facing humiliation and a beating made her feel oddly distressed.

"A beating might do some good, let him try to bully me then!" Lin Xiuxiu reassured herself silently.

"They've left..."

Lin Xiao watched Qi Wei and the others disappear from view, not daring to reveal himself while they were present.

He had heard of Xiao Xuan, known for his merciless methods and inscrutable power.

But now, with the Heavenly Sword Sect members gone...

"Ridiculous. Their departure won't prevent me from dealing with you!" Qin Hao said with a cold laugh, "Let's not overreact, folks. I'm just summoning my men; surely there's no harm in that?"

"Shut your mouth!"

Smack!

Out of nowhere, Hsu Qingqing delivered a stinging slap to Qin Hao's face.

Qin Hao stood there, dumbfounded.

"Qingqing, why did you hit me?"

"I was mistaken about you! Your character has made me reconsider our engagement!"

With a fierce glare at Qin Hao, Hsu Qingqing took Lin Xiao's hand and declared for all to hear, "Let it be known, from now on, Lin Xiao is under my protection, Hsu Qingqing's. If anyone dares to bully him, they'll have me to answer to!"

With that, she unleashed her nonsuch-grade water spiritual root.

A bone-chilling aura swept over Moon Worshipping Peak in an instant, paralyzing everyone in its path.

Even Du Cheng bowed his head in submission, as if in the presence of a formidable elder sister.

"It's Elder Leng. Quick, bow your heads!"

"Elder Leng's presence is overwhelming. Truly deserving of her status as the second-in-command of our sect, she's the most powerful after the Sect Master. Even Xiao Xuan has to show respect when she sends a letter."

Hsu Qingqing is far more terrifying than we realized. She's kept herself hidden so well that everyone believed she lacked a spiritual root. Qin Hao, as an Outer Sect disciple, faces a tough challenge in pursuing her. We all thought it was only a matter of time before he caught up, but now it's clear...

"It's frightening. It's no wonder she secured a letter of guarantee from Elder Leng. With a nonsuch-grade water spiritual root, how many core disciples can claim such a feat? One, maybe two?"

The crowd watched Hsu Qingqing with a mix of trepidation and awe.

Qin Hao was stunned.

Today had dealt a double blow: Qi Wei had attacked his pride in his talent, and his fiancée, Hsu Qingqing, had outpaced him, wounding his fragile ego.

Nonsuch...

This ensured that Hsu Qingqing's future would be worlds apart from his own.

"Lin Xiao was taken under Senior Sister Xu's wing? Protected by a genius with a nonsuch spiritual root?" Lee Si's emotions were a complex brew.

A genius with a nonsuch spiritual root was bound for the core. Given enough time to cultivate, they would become the face of the sect, its very backbone!

"Today, I make an exception and take Hsu Qingqing as my direct disciple. I bestow upon her the Immortal Mansion atop Moon Worshipping Peak and grant her permission to break the sect's rules, allowing her to bring others to reside there. Let it be known: those who harm my disciple shall perish!"

The chilling voice echoed with a glacial severity, compelling everyone present to gasp for breath.

Such was the formidable presence of Elder Leng!

Such was the influence of Fairy Leng, revered across all four great sects!

Direct disciple...

This status was a far cry from that of the common disciples on Moon Worshipping Peak, who rarely, if ever, caught a glimpse of Elder Leng.

But for direct disciples, it was different. They received personal instruction from Elder Leng herself, virtually assuring their place among the core.

"Qin Hao, did you hear that? Lay a finger on Lin Xiao, and you'll have no one to blame but yourself for my response, and for my master's wrath," Hsu Qingqing warned coldly. "Remember, no matter how complex our identities may be, in the presence of my master, they amount to very little."

"Hsu Qingqing, you've soared to new heights, and yet your first move wasn't to look after me, but to cater to a sycophant. Just wait until I send word home—I'll make sure you regret it. Without our clan's backing, let's see how you fare against your two brothers!" Qin Hao stormed off in a fury.

Hsu Qingqing paid him no mind.

She used to be afraid of so much.

But now, she was in a much better place, not only healthy but also extraordinarily gifted.

And with Elder Leng in her corner, maybe it was time to openly vie for certain things.

Like the throne, for instance.

"Come on, stop staring. The master mentioned you've got quite the background and is thinking of taking you on," Chung Tong said to Lin Xiuxiu with a smile.

"As if I didn't know that. Why the commentary?"

Lin Xiuxiu was even more unsettled now.

Lin Xiao was being protected by another woman.

"Hmph, I'm not upset! I couldn't care less about you. You've humiliated me! I just despise the fact that you're under someone else's protection—it makes it harder for me to get at you, to torment you," Lin Xiuxiu reassured herself.

"Uncle Hei!"

"At your service! I'll take out those two right now. No one can take Miss's place in Fairy Leng's heart."

"No, go and disable Qin Hao."

Uncle Hei: "Ughhhhhhh!!!"

Poor Qin Hao had barely settled back into his quarters before he was stripped of all his cultivation.

He had never even begun to build his foundation, never known the thrill of soaring through the skies on a sword.

The one who had disabled him was too formidable; Qin Hao couldn't even make out his face.

"Hsu Qingqing, how ruthless you are. It must have been you, getting Elder Leng to send someone after me! I won't let this slide when I return! I'll ally with your eldest and second brothers! You've destroyed me, but I will see you ruined as well!" Qin Hao cried out in agony.

Then, he spotted a shadowy figure.

"Who are you?"

"Ye Chen."

"You have no cultivation. I can't sense any spiritual energy from you."

"Neither do you. You've just been disabled."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm here to kill you."

Ye Chen gripped a knife in his hand.

Suddenly, another eerie figure materialized.

"Lin Xiao, quick! You lackey, help me kill him! This Ye Chen dared to attack me. Fear not. You may be only at the Qi Training Third Layer, but he has no cultivation." Qin Hao's face lit up with glee upon seeing Ye Chen.

Despite his previous insults and public attempts to take his frustrations out on Lin Xiao, Qin Hao was all too familiar with the routine. He knew Lin Xiao was the perfect scapegoat, always obedient no matter how he was treated.

"You're calling me a lackey? I bear you no ill will. I'm merely helping you get even. Please, leave." Ye Chen cautioned.

"Lackey?"

Lin Xiao gave a derisive sniff. "I've told you before, I'm no lackey! I am a practitioner of the demonic path!"

"What are you here for?" Ye Chen's alarm grew; the words eerily reminiscent of those spoken by the one who had destroyed his cultivation.

"I came to kill Qin Hao but was thwarted by an interfering woman, leaving me seething with unvented rage. But now... now the situation has changed. Now... I'll kill both of you!"

Puff! Puff!

Lin Xiao's movements were swift and decisive. As the two bodies slumped to the ground, he coolly wiped the blood from his dagger and set off for Moon Worshipping Peak.

He had no choice; Hsu Qingqing had become infatuated with him, and with Elder Leng present, he dared not go against her wishes.

"Look at him, Miss. He's one of the rare male cultivators here, grinding his blade with such affectionate intent," Xiaodie whispered with a giggle, pointing at Lin Xiao.

"Mm-hmm."

Hsu Qingqing nodded, a rare smile gracing her lips.

"You broke my milk pot and offered me a pill to transform myself, you audacious man. It wasn't Qin Hao's doing after all; you've been harboring a secret crush on me!" Hsu Qingqing stole a glance at Lin Xiao, her cheeks flushing slightly.

His blade-sharpening bore the unmistakable mark of love.

Sadly, I can only take you to Moon Worshipping Peak, where you'll be safe and free from harm. Our statuses are worlds apart, and frankly, you're lacking in too many ways, not to mention your timidity.

I gratefully acknowledge your kindness. My role is to protect you, and I fear I'm not fortunate enough to reciprocate your affection. Rest assured, I've lost all respect for Qin Hao and will not assist him in tormenting you.

"Kill you! Kill you! If it weren't for Elder Leng's terrifying presence, I'd have killed you already!" Lin Xiao seethed internally, his resolve fueling his vigorous sharpening of the blade.