Chapter 51: Ling Huan, truly a terrifying enemy

Wrong.

Something was completely and utterly wrong.

Why was she making that face?

Hadn’t Ling Huan just made her cry?

Wasn’t this the perfect moment for her own grand entrance?

She had even considered that the Ling Huan of this life was skilled at deception.

In case the scumbag hadn’t torn off his mask yet and was still playing the part of a kind man, she knew she’d be in trouble if she acted rashly.

So, she had even waited a while, crouching on the eaves to peek and eavesdrop carefully.

The moment she saw Ling Huan dare to lay a hand on her or do anything out of line, she would strike immediately!

Perhaps heaven was looking out for her, because shortly after arriving, she heard Ling Huan commanding Zeng Xiatong to cry!

Only then did she fly out, kicking Ling Huan away before landing perfectly in a pose she knew Zeng Xiatong loved!

Originally, Zeng Xiatong should have cheered and been charmed by her, but now… why that expression?

Was her pose not perfect enough?

Was it not standard?

She had even spent spirit stones to dress up meticulously—a bamboo hat with a hanging veil parted in the middle like curtains, her long hair tied back sharply, and her coarse cloth clothes tied in a capable knot at her waist.

This appearance was the exact image of the heroic knight Zeng Xiatong had loved most in her past life!

Regardless of appearance or temperament, she had even gone to the rouge shop to have her makeup done to make her look more valiant and imposing.

She even wore a cheap sword at her waist, and even the sword tassel was in her favorite color!

Could it be… that even this wasn’t enough?

She didn’t believe that she, a grand Female Emperor, couldn’t grasp the temperament of those so-called heroes of the mortal realm.

No, Zeng Xiatong wasn’t the type to care only about appearances; she preferred a hero with substance.

“Young lady, are you injured?”

Yin Luoling was about to speak, but the moment she opened her mouth, Zeng Xiatong ran toward Ling Huan, actually shouting, “Young Master!”

Young Master…?

Who was she shouting at?

Ling Huan?

That couldn’t be right, could it?

Wasn’t Zeng Xiatong someone who hated evil and loathed those who did wrong?

Especially those who teased her and made her cry!

In their past life, she was the one who cursed Ling Huan the loudest!

But now… why was she calling Ling Huan “Young Master” instead?

Before Yin Luoling could figure out what was happening, Zeng Xiatong had already reached Ling Huan, propped him up, and asked anxiously, “Young Master! Are, are you alright? You, you wait, I’ll carry you to find my father right now. My father is amazing at treating illnesses!”

“I… I’m okay.”

Ling Huan’s weak voice sounded.

With Zeng Xiatong’s support, he managed to stand up, but that kick had truly made him see stars.

His head throbbed and spun as if it were about to split open the next second.

“Who… who came…?”

Despite Ling Huan’s lightning-fast reaction to deploy spiritual energy for defense, that heavy, powerful kick made his body tremble uncontrollably.

That kick was truly terrifying!

Both the speed and the angle were incredibly tricky!

It was as if it had perfectly struck from his blind spot!

An expert!

The person who came was an expert!

“I, I don’t know. It’s a strange kid wearing weird clothes!”

Zeng Xiatong was extremely guarded, her voice trembling as she said, “Beating people up without even asking why! You, don’t come any closer, or, or I’ll call for help!”

A strange… strange kid…?

Me…?

It was like a bolt from the blue exploding in Yin Luoling’s ears!

This outfit… I clearly followed your tastes!

While Yin Luoling was dazed, Zeng Xiatong efficiently pulled Ling Huan onto her back.

This was a dead-end alley; Zeng Xiatong had no other way to run, and she wasn’t sure what this strange kid intended to do.

Shout for help?

No, that might not work.

Most people minded their own business and ignored others’ troubles.

Screaming here would only expose the fact that they were isolated and helpless.

Zeng Xiatong’s mind raced, and she immediately thought of a plan.

Even though Ling Huan was somewhat dazed on her back, Zeng Xiatong leaned her ear close to his mouth, nodding repeatedly and even voicing her agreement.

After pretending for a while, the cowering look on Zeng Xiatong’s face vanished.

She feigned composure and said sternly, “My Young Master is kind-hearted and has decided to let you go! As the saying goes, the ignorant are innocent. You should leave quickly, otherwise, when my master’s guards arrive, they will definitely make you pay for this!”

Your… your Young Master?

Since when did you become Ling Huan’s person?!

This is wrong!

The direction of this is all wrong! Why?

Could it be that Ling Huan used that sorcery again!

It was highly likely!

No, that was the only possibility!

Otherwise, Tong would never protect someone who made her cry!

Although Tong seemed timid and prone to backing down on the surface, once she set her mind on a goal, she would be firmer and braver than anyone else!

Even if the opponent’s cultivation was higher or their power greater, she wouldn’t be afraid!

In their past life… that was how she died, choosing death over submission.

No, now was not the time for reminiscing! If she didn’t stop this, Tong would fall into Ling Huan’s demonic clutches!

“Don’t be fooled by him!”

Yin Luoling lowered her voice.

“He is an evildoer who—”

“An evildoer? I think you’re the bad person, kicking my Young Master for no reason!”

“I did that because I thought you were in danger! I thought you were being attacked by this beast—”

“Shut up! Move out of the way right now. If it weren’t for the fact that the Young Master needs urgent medical attention, I wouldn’t waste my breath on you! Move aside quickly, or you’ll get what’s coming to you when the guards arrive!”

Zeng Xiatong threatened her, a sharp glint flickering in her eyes.

That concentrated hostility was like a long, dull knife slowly stabbing into Yin Luoling’s heart.

The blade was serrated; every inch it sank in chewed through her flesh.

She carried Ling Huan firmly, just as she had carried the unconscious Yin Luoling in their past life.

Back then, Yin Luoling had been unconscious and couldn’t see Zeng Xiatong’s eyes.

Had she stared at Ling Huan with those same eyes back then…?

But… I’m not that scumbag Ling Huan…

I’m your best friend…

She wanted so badly to tell Zeng Xiatong what Ling Huan had done, to describe his beastly actions.

But her reason told her… Tong wouldn’t believe a single word.

Suddenly, she didn’t know how to speak.

She could easily expose Zeng Xiatong’s lies; after all, they were too clumsy.

For example, if there were really guards, why didn’t they appear during the ambush?

Or why weren’t they here yet?

If treatment was truly urgent, why not scream for the guards to come and protect them?

Why negotiate with her instead?

She could expose the lies with ease.

She could even use many ways to knock Zeng Xiatong unconscious in an instant.

But—even though she knew ten thousand martial techniques, facing the one person she could never use force against, Yin Luoling felt as soft and powerless as an infant…

She used to think being silver-tongued was easy, but when it came time to actually do it, it felt as though countless needles were stuck in her throat, preventing her from saying a single word.

Does she… not… know how to talk to friends anymore…?

During those thousands of years of loneliness, had her instinct for communicating with people… long since been eroded?

Could she only face enemies, and never converse with friends again?

She seemed to have forgotten, or rather, she no longer knew how to talk to her friend in the most innocent way.

All that swirled in her mind were exchanges of interest and threats of force.

She… couldn’t speak.

Just as Yin Luoling was at a loss, an unexpected voice arrived.

“So… it’s… Sister Luoling… No, it’s fine… She’s my sister… Likely… the alley was… too dark, and she didn’t recognize me… Her heart was desperate to save me… so that’s why she…”

With that, Ling Huan completely passed out.

At the same time, the misunderstanding was resolved.

Zeng Xiatong’s eyes instantly lit up, and her look of disgust vanished.

“So that’s what happened! That’s, that’s great… I thought you were an accomplice of that pervert! But, even if you are the Young Master’s sister, you were too reckless!”

“Quickly, come with me. I need you to help me carry the Young Master! We’re going to my father. In the entire Green Wood City, no one is better at healing than my father!”

The stern gaze was gone, the hostile eyes were gone, and Zeng Xiatong returned to her familiar self.

But it was all because of one sentence from Ling Huan…

Ling Huan… is truly a terrifying enemy…

And the most terrifying part was… why did it have to be Tong…?

Could it be… that he also knows the secret of the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Tower?