Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

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Chen Ye and Xiao Lian stepped out of the Orphanage and onto the deserted street.

Xiao Lian pulled a golden cylinder from her sleeve, about eight inches long, gleaming like it was crafted from pure gold.

At the end of the cylinder were two trigger joints.

Chen Ye accepted the Peacock Plume. It felt smooth and warm in his palm.

He applied a slight pressure. Though it looked like soft gold, the cylinder was surprisingly firm and solid.

“Director, press the first trigger, then the second. The flying needles inside the Peacock Plume will shoot out,” Xiao Lian said, her tone brimming with excitement.

This kind of hidden weapon—the Peacock Plume—was truly one-of-a-kind in the world.

She had crafted it with her own hands and knew well just how deadly it was.

Even a top-tier First Rank expert might not survive its strike.

The only pity was how rare its crafting materials were.

If she hadn’t stolen hidden weapon materials from Tang Sect, the Peacock Plume wouldn’t have come into existence so early.

But making a second one? That might not be so easy.

Chen Ye’s fingers gently traced the surface of the Peacock Plume.

This legendary weapon of the martial world… now truly rested in his grasp.

It felt almost unreal.

He held it for a while, then suddenly raised the barrel of the Peacock Plume and pointed it at his own left palm.

With his right hand, he pressed the first trigger.

Xiao Lian’s eyes widened and she cried out, “Director!”

Before the words had even fully left her mouth—

Chen Ye pressed the second trigger.

In the next instant—

A dazzling burst of multicolored light flashed before both of their eyes.

It was beautiful. Like a peacock fanning its tail.

Xiao Lian’s gaze glazed over with wonder, as if she were staring at the most breathtaking thing in the world.

Ding! Ding!

Two light sounds rang out from Chen Ye’s left hand.

Xiao Lian snapped back to her senses with a jolt.

She looked anxiously at his palm.

Chen Ye’s hand was completely unharmed. Two fine needles lay quietly on the ground.

“Dean!”

Xiao Lian rushed to his side, nervously examining his hand.

Chen Ye chuckled.

Once the Peacock Plume’s needles fired, the second trigger automatically rebounded.

One more press would fire it again.

“I’m fine. This weapon could easily take down a First Rank expert,” Chen Ye said calmly.

To his eyes, the Peacock Plume came with two innate attributes: 【Qi-Breaking】 and 【Dazzling】. He had wanted to see if it would affect him.

It was... fascinating. As expected from something created by the system.

That dazzling burst of color just now—he had seen it too.

But it hadn’t affected him the way it had Xiao Lian.

Apparently, the Dazzling attribute didn’t work on him.

He casually handed the Peacock Plume back to Xiao Lian and said seriously, “Xiao Lian, keep this with you. Use it for self-defense.”

“But I must say this—there aren’t many First Rank experts in the world.”

“Above First Rank, there are the Grandmasters. The Peacock Plume might kill a First Rank easily, but it may not work on a Grandmaster.”

“Don’t go on a killing spree. Think carefully before using this.”

Hearing his sincere tone, Xiao Lian was momentarily stunned. Her bright eyes shimmered with shifting emotions.

Gratitude, joy, sorrow, coldness... a swirl of conflicting feelings flashed through her gaze.

She gave a slight bow, her face full of respect. “Understood.”

Chen Ye looked at her and smiled faintly. “I know there's someone you’ve always wanted to kill.”

“Now that you have the Peacock Plume, you finally have the power to do so.”

“But before you do, I hope you think it through.”

“Patricide... is easy to say, but hard to bear.”

He gently patted her on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Xiao Lian stood silently in the street, watching his back with a complicated expression.