“Phew~ It’s finally over……”
Chi Ming carried two parcels, letting out a long breath.
It was her first time in Ling’an City, and she was unfamiliar with everything.
Combined with her uncontrollable emotions, her shopping trip had been especially arduous.
For example, when she bought new clothes, she was clearly overcharged, but though she wanted to haggle, she feared losing her temper and burning down the entire tailor shop—which would have cost her several times the price in compensation.
So Chi Ming could only let those black-hearted merchants rip her off.
Even though she tried her best to save money, in the end, she bought only a few slightly inferior items and spent all the money Su Cheng had given her.
“Sigh, I wonder if Sixth Martial Sister will be angry…”
Chi Ming put away the now-empty money pouch and sighed.
She then took out the bookmark.
“After all this, Sixth Martial Sister should be done with her business too, right? What if she’s been waiting for me all this time? That would be bad. I need to hurry.”
Chi Ming was a good child.
Just thinking about making Su Cheng wait longer made her quicken her pace, heading for the location written on the bookmark.
When Chi Ming arrived across the street from Fengyue Tower, she sensed something odd about the building.
“This place is… a brothel, isn’t it?”
Chi Ming swallowed.
“Why would Sixth Martial Sister come to a place like this?”
Though Chi Ming was inexperienced and still a naive girl, she’d often heard comrades in her previous faction talk about going to local brothels for entertainment after daily training.
From their red-faced conversations, she more or less understood what kind of place a brothel was.
“What should I do…? Should I go in to find her? It’s too weird for a girl to enter a brothel; I’ll definitely be misunderstood!”
“Then should I wait here for her to come out? But there are so many passersby, and I’m on the other side of the street—what if Sixth Martial Sister can’t see me?”
The more Chi Ming thought about it, the more conflicted she felt.
The ahoge on her head seemed about to burst into flames.
Just as she was about to lose her temper, a loud crash erupted from Fengyue Tower across the street.
Chi Ming looked closely and saw several stone statues blasted out of Fengyue Tower, shattering on the ground.
Immediately after, several Warriors retreated from the building.
They all wore the same uniform, apparently from the same faction.
“This outfit… Where have I seen it before?”
Chi Ming felt it was familiar, but couldn’t recall.
They were all wounded to varying degrees, retreating together as if being forced to the brink.
The one facing them was Su Cheng.
Su Cheng walked leisurely into the street, her gaze dark and cold as she spoke to the Warriors in a low voice:
“I came to Ling’an City today just to have a little fun… Why do you all insist on ruining my mood? How annoying…”
“Kill!!”
The Warriors exchanged glances, then, in desperation, surrounded Su Cheng from sharp angles.
Su Cheng casually slapped one aside, stomped the second into the ground, and finally gripped the third’s throat tightly.
“I didn’t want to deal with you so soon, but since you came to me, you can all die.”
With a crisp “crack,” the man died instantly.
But just then, the Warrior Su Cheng had knocked aside earlier, who’d been playing dead, suddenly sprang up and stabbed at Su Cheng with a dagger!
Suddenly, a white flash streaked through the air.
A sharp blade’s aura tore through, slaying the Warrior who tried to ambush Su Cheng.
Su Cheng glanced back, then looked forward—and saw Chi Ming.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“Sixth Martial Sister!”
Chi Ming flashed to Su Cheng’s side.
“What happened? Who are these people?”
To Chi Ming, Su Cheng was a companion now.
Anyone trying to harm a companion was an enemy.
So, without hesitation, she had struck down the attacker.
“It’s nothing, just a small matter.”
Su Cheng smiled.
“The Young Sect Master of Bafeng Sect offended me, so I killed him. These people are all disciples of Bafeng Sect, here for revenge.”
“…Bafeng Sect?”
Chi Ming heard the name and felt another wave of familiarity.
She pondered for a moment, then asked Su Cheng with a complicated expression,
“Bafeng Sect… Wasn’t it one of the righteous factions that joined the crusade against the Demoness?”
“Oh? So you remember.”
Su Cheng replied indifferently.
“Yes, that’s right. Bafeng Sect is Liangzhou’s second-ranked Heaven-level Sect—or rather, maybe not second anymore, or they wouldn’t have sent so few for revenge.”
“Clatter.”
The parcel in Chi Ming’s hand fell to the ground.
She stared blankly at her hand, murmuring,
“I… I killed a comrade I once fought alongside?”
Su Cheng patted her shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Little Junior Sister. With Bafeng Sect’s current strength, they wouldn’t dare go to war with us.”
“That’s not the problem!!”
Chi Ming’s emotions suddenly spiraled out of control.
Half of her jet-black hair instantly turned fiery red.
She slapped Su Cheng’s hand away and asked, both confused and agitated,
“Why… Aren’t we all Righteous Faction? Why are we killing each other? Shouldn’t we be united in destroying the Demon Sect and bringing peace to the world?”
At her words, Su Cheng’s face darkened.
“Little Junior Sister, you’re too young.”
She said calmly.
“The so-called noble righteous factions are nothing like you imagine. If you walk the world with such beliefs, one day, you won’t even know who killed you.”
“I… can’t understand.”
Chi Ming lowered her head and whispered.
She had already resolved to distance herself from the Demoness, to atone daily for being a ‘Disciple of the Demoness,’ and to work hard to punish evil and uphold justice.
Yet now, she had personally slain a Warrior from a righteous faction.
For Su Cheng, it might mean nothing.
But for Chi Ming, it rendered all her previous efforts meaningless, turning her resolve into a joke.
“One day, you’ll understand. Come, let’s go back.”
Su Cheng tried to take Chi Ming’s hand, to bring her back to Tianshuimen.
But Chi Ming slapped Su Cheng’s hand away again.
“Sixth Martial Sister… I don’t want to walk with you anymore.”
Chi Ming finally realized something.
With reddened eyes and biting her lip, she spoke to Su Cheng.
“From now on, we’ll go our separate ways!”
With that, Chi Ming turned and strode away.
Su Cheng stood in place, unmoving, silently watching Chi Ming disappear into the distance.
She slowly lifted her hand, staring at the freshly burned mark, frowning as she muttered to herself,
“Did I do something wrong?”
***
“Scholar Su! You’re back!”
“Hello, Scholar Su! Eh? Scholar Su seems a bit…”
“Shh… Don’t talk too much. Hurry.”
Back at Tianshuimen, Su Cheng was still as popular as ever.
Disciples greeted her warmly, and Su Cheng would respond with a smile.
But now, she ignored them all.
Anyone could see Su Cheng was in a low mood.
Even so, no one dared to comfort her.
Su Cheng looked at the disciples who kept their distance.
Her delicate face showed no emotion, as if she was used to it.
But deep down, she hated this feeling.
It reminded her of that rainy day when she was expelled from her sect.
No one comforted her, and no one stayed by her side, as if she was destined to be alone.
“Let’s find something to do.”
Su Cheng muttered to herself.
Whenever this happened, she would look for tasks to distract herself.
And the thing she liked doing most was killing.
Su Cheng returned to her Courtyard and rang the bell.
The Grey-robed Elder appeared in response, bowing to Su Cheng.
“Scholar Su, I’ve completed the arranged Mission. Please see…”
Su Cheng’s eyes brightened.
“Just tell me.”
She said expectantly.
“Wei Ying was born a commoner. At fifteen, she joined the Hundred Martial Sects. Her hometown is a small county in Yizhou called Jintang County. Her family is prominent locally, with several members…”
“This information is sufficient. Do you have the Map?”
Su Cheng interrupted.
“It’s already been prepared for you.”
The Grey-robed Elder produced a rolled-up Map from his sleeve and handed it to Su Cheng.
Su Cheng accepted it, opened and examined it, then nodded in satisfaction.
“Very good. You may go.”
The Grey-robed Elder bowed and prepared to leave.
Just then, a loud commotion erupted outside.
“Su Cheng! Su Cheng, get out here!!”
Duan Xinyuan, Sect Leader of Tianshuimen, stormed in furiously, pointing at Su Cheng and demanding:
“What did you do in Ling’an City today?”
“Killed the Young Sect Master of Bafeng Sect and a few disciples. What of it?”
“You have the nerve to say that? Attacking Bafeng Sect members in broad daylight—what were you thinking?!”
“Sect Leader Duan, I know you’ve always wanted to move against the other two Heaven-level Sects. Wasn’t I simply going along with your wishes?”
“Even if that’s true, I’m the Sect Leader of Tianshuimen! Whether or not to declare war on other forces is for me to decide—you have no such authority!”
Duan Xinyuan, enraged, pointed outside.
“And another thing! I just saw a group of disciples packing up, ready to march out. Was that your doing?”
“Yes, it was me.”
Su Cheng replied carelessly.
“I’m just taking some people out for a Mission. Sect Leader Duan, why are you so agitated?”
“Su Cheng… Don’t be so arrogant. You’ve overstepped your bounds!”
Duan Xinyuan warned, grinding his teeth.
Originally, Su Cheng was Tianshuimen’s “Advisor,” only responsible for strategy, later allowed to command subordinates—both within Duan Xinyuan’s tolerance.
But ever since Su Cheng threatened Duan Xinyuan and forced him to kill his own two attendants, things had gone awry.
Now Su Cheng was mobilizing disciples, completely crossing the line.
If this continued, what authority would Duan Xinyuan have as Sect Leader?
What status would remain?
“So, is Sect Leader Duan planning to expel me at a time like this? Think carefully. Even if Bafeng Sect has been weakened, without my help, how confident are you in handling that cunning Old Sect Master with your own wits?”
Su Cheng sneered coldly, then walked straight past Duan Xinyuan and left the Courtyard.
“Arrogant… Too arrogant! Utterly contemptuous!!”
Duan Xinyuan clenched his fists, teeth grinding, and stomped in fury—cracking the ground and leaving a large hole.
He realized everything was within Su Cheng’s calculations.
Yet he didn’t chase after her.
Instead, he silently vowed in his heart:
“Su Cheng, I’ll make you pay… The destination you’re heading for will become your grave!!”