Since Huangfu Yichen had already followed, Ying Qiyun and Yin Jiu couldn’t just hide behind while their brother went ahead. So they followed as well.
With their profound skills, the three of them quickly caught up without attracting any attention. When they arrived, they saw Rong Nianxin—the woman they had previously seen disguised as a man—standing at the edge of a cliff, surrounded by a few attendants who were being pursued by a group of unknown assailants. Most of Rong Nianxin’s entourage had already been killed or injured, leaving only her and her most skilled bodyguard to protect her.
Just as Huangfu Yichen and the others arrived, one of the attackers launched a strike aimed directly at Rong Nianxin’s heart. Before Yin Jiu and the others could intervene, Rong Nianxin swiftly pulled the bodyguard who had been protecting her in front of herself as a shield.
As a result, not only did the bodyguard die, but Rong Nianxin—who had underestimated the attack—was also struck and sent tumbling off the cliff. The sight left Huangfu Yichen and his companions utterly stunned. They never expected that the seemingly delicate and gentle girl could be so ruthless.
This act completely destroyed any goodwill Huangfu Yichen—a benevolent ruler who cherished his people—as well as Ying Qiyun and Yin Jiu, who would never abandon their subordinates, might have had for Rong Nianxin. Their impression of her plummeted into the negatives.
Seeing the assassins about to flee, the three immediately acted to stop them. However, these were death warriors—upon realizing they were captured, they committed suicide, even dissolving their own bodies to leave no trace. Despite their swift actions, the experienced trio still managed to detain two of them.
After interrogation and examination by Yin Jiu, the true identity of these attackers was revealed—they were Outer Realm Demons.
In truth, the Outer Realm Demons and the people of Xuantian Continent differed greatly in appearance. Though their clothing concealed it, a closer inspection made it obvious. This was also why the assassins chose to dissolve their bodies—any intact corpse would immediately expose their origins.
Upon confirming the assassins’ identities, Ying Qiyun and the others’ expressions darkened, especially Ying Qiyun and Yin Jiu. If they hadn’t discovered the relationship between Gu Wei and Tang Qi, it might have been forgivable, but now, with the Outer Realm Demons infiltrating without any prior warning, it was a glaring dereliction of duty. Their faces couldn’t possibly look good.
At this moment, Huangfu Yichen demonstrated the composure and dignity befitting a royal and an emperor. He first reassured Ying Qiyun and Yin Jiu, instructing them to immediately dispatch people to investigate the woman who had fallen off the cliff—to determine why she was involved with the demons.
He then ordered the hidden guards lurking nearby to seal off the area where the woman and the demons had fought, preventing any destruction of evidence, before launching a thorough, carpet-like investigation.
Once everything was arranged, Huangfu Yichen went to find Tang Qi. Since the incident had occurred within Yun Tian City, it was best for Tang Qi, as the lord of Yun Tian Fortress, to be fully informed.
Truthfully, Huangfu Yichen’s expression wasn’t much better. Though this small forest was somewhat remote, it still fell within Yun Tian City’s jurisdiction—meaning it was under the royal family’s protection. For demons to cause trouble here, taking lives and even pushing someone off a cliff, was nothing short of a blatant slap to the royal family’s face.
As the emperor, Huangfu Yichen’s mood was far from pleasant. However, he refrained from outright anger, knowing it would be useless. Instead, he focused on swiftly uncovering the demons’ motives, capturing them, and delivering a harsh retaliation.
Tang Qi, who had been happily accompanying Gu Wei on a leisurely outing, immediately darkened upon receiving news of the Outer Realm Demons: *Damn it, I just wanted to enjoy a date with my brand-new boyfriend. Do you all have to ruin my peace one after another?!*
Rubbing his throbbing temples, Tang Qi was then hit with another bombshell—Huangfu Yichen, Ying Qiyun, and Yin Jiu, all renowned figures, had appeared. *Why are these big shots here?*
Tang Qi inadvertently voiced his confusion aloud, but the three men merely glanced around, pretending not to hear.
*Ahem.* What could they say? Admit they had snuck out to relax after being overwhelmed by preparations for the upcoming grand celebration of Xuantian Continent? That would be far too embarrassing—what would happen to their dignity as esteemed figures?
Tang Qi didn’t press further. It had just been an offhand question, and given their status, they owed him no explanation. He smoothly shifted the topic, which actually earned him some goodwill from the three escapees, lightening the atmosphere in the room.
Meanwhile, Gu Wei arrived with Gu Yu, Jin Yu, and Yan Ruizhe, while Fu Yuming—notified by Ying Qiyun—also came with Fu Yuanjing. Given the gravity of the demon situation, it was best to discuss it together while the big shots were present. As the third young master of the Liuyun Merchant Guild, the largest in Xuantian Continent, Fu Yuming’s inclusion was only natural.
Soon after, Ying Qiyun and Yin Jiu’s investigation into Rong Nianxin yielded results, and the group quickly pooled their findings for analysis.
On the other hand, Rong Nianxin, who had fallen off the cliff, was surprisingly still alive. Anyone else would have died from such a fall, but she had survived. Though she had been vomiting blood and nearly unconscious, an eerie cool breeze had swept over her before she blacked out.
When she awoke, she found herself on a ledge outside a cave in the cliffside, her severe internal injuries mostly healed. Though her limbs still felt cold, her condition was far better than before.
Rong Nianxin was overjoyed, though she remained highly alert beneath her cheerful demeanor. After stretching to warm up, she surveyed her surroundings—the only path forward was into the cave. Though uneasy, she had no choice but to enter. Jumping down would mean certain death!
Deep inside the cave, Rong Nianxin was met with a surreal, mesmerizing sight. Though the patterns on the walls seemed sinister and unsettling, she was ecstatic—she knew her opportunity had arrived.
Clenching her fists, her eyes burned with ambition: *With power, with strength, what couldn’t I achieve? Those cowards who dared humiliate me—how could they ever defy me again?*
Recalling her humiliating escape and the face she never wished to see again, Rong Nianxin took a deep breath and discarded all moral restraint, stepping forward.
*Power—only absolute power is eternal!*
The dark patterns on the walls seemed to resonate with the raging ambition in Rong Nianxin’s heart, glowing and shifting as eerie laughter echoed faintly—though no one heard it.
Meanwhile, Tang Qi and the others rubbed their faces, trying to shake off their exhaustion. The demons’ motives were too deeply hidden, and with so few clues, they could uncover little.
In the end, they had no choice but to remain vigilant, waiting to see the demons’ next move before deciding their own course of action.
However, waiting didn’t mean allowing the demons to harm innocents. Yan Ruizhe and Jin Yu, who had hoped to enjoy some time together, were forced to separate and return to their respective territories to prepare defenses against the Outer Realm Demons.
Jin Yu, frustrated at having her time with Yan Ruizhe cut short, directed her anger at the demons—and by extension, Rong Nianxin—adding them to her blacklist.
Yan Ruizhe wasn’t pleased either. Though he often complained about Jin Yu’s chatter and unreliability, that didn’t mean he wanted to part ways. But given the circumstances, neither could show their displeasure openly.
Fu Yuming also had to return to the Liuyun Merchant Guild with Fu Yuanjing. Given the scale of the impending crisis, the largest merchant guild in Xuantian Continent couldn’t afford to stay uninvolved—nor did they intend to. *When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken.* Those who had built such vast enterprises weren’t foolish or shortsighted. All pending negotiations with Yun Tian Fortress and other business matters would have to wait.
The disruption of their plans left Fu Yuming and Fu Yuanjing deeply irritated, prompting them to mark the Outer Realm Demons and Rong Nianxin for future retribution.
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