Chapter 162 : Killing Intent
Chapter 162: Killing Intent
Chen Ming once again saw Huo Qianqian, and felt quite happy. Once a person had achieved success and fame, they would naturally wish to see old friends from the past.
However, he first greeted Xiao Zhuyun. “Miss Xiao, it has been many years since we last met, and your elegance remains unchanged.”
Xiao Zhuyun did not lose her composure. After rising and saluting with a gathered robe, she said, “I just entered the city yesterday. I heard that Brother Chen made a stunning display at the World’s Number One Tower, undefeated among peers, and ranked on the Azure Cloud Ranking. I came specifically to offer my congratulations.”
“Miss Xiao, you’re very kind.”
Only then did Chen Ming look toward the last-seated Huo Qianqian. “Junior Sister Huo, I hope you’ve been well.”
Earlier, in front of the disciples of the Xiaoshui Sect, it wasn’t appropriate to call her ‘Junior Sister’—lest they get the wrong idea. But now things were different; he didn’t need to care about such matters.
That one call of ‘Junior Sister’ instantly brought tears to Huo Qianqian’s eyes. She bowed.
She knew better than anyone else—her grandfather had never taken him as a disciple, nor taught him any martial arts. His willingness to call her ‘Junior Sister’ was in remembrance of their past friendship.
She thought again of those autumn mornings in that courtyard fragrant with osmanthus, where she repeatedly lost to Chen Ming’s sword. That feeling of indignation and refusal to accept defeat, holding back a breath wanting to win it back.
It was just a few years ago, yet it felt so long ago.
Those present, upon hearing Chen Ming call Huo Qianqian ‘Junior Sister’, were all a bit surprised if they didn’t know the background. No one had expected such a connection between Junior Sister Huo (or Senior Sister) and this Young Master Chen.
Everyone sat down again. Huo Qianqian was pulled to sit just below Chen Ming.
He asked, “You’ve arrived travel-worn—where did you come from? You even missed the Azure Cloud Ranking competition.”
Xiao Zhuyun said, “It’s a long story. We came from Yujie County, ran into some trouble on the way, got delayed, and ended up missing the Azure Cloud Ranking competition.”
Chen Ming asked with concern, “No one was hurt, I hope?”
“Just one of my martial aunts sustained a minor injury, nothing serious.”
“Then that’s good.”
——
About one incense stick’s time later, a servant came in and whispered a few words into Chen Ming’s ear.
Xiao Zhuyun seized the moment to say, “We should take our leave now.”
Chen Ming didn’t try to keep them. He escorted them to the main gate.
After sending them off and just about to return to his courtyard, he saw Huo Qianqian returning alone. “There’s something I think I should tell you.”
“Mm, go ahead.”
“I ran into Deng Ziyang in Yujie County. He’s already joined the Demonic Sect. If you ever meet him again, you’d better be careful.”
Chen Ming thought, I already knew that—can’t you tell me something I don’t know?
“Is that so?” He still played along.
Huo Qianqian continued, “He even caused a scene at Second Senior Sister’s wedding, abducted her, and injured Martial Aunt Wang. He’s not the same person anymore. You’d best be on guard.”
Chen Ming earnestly said, “I understand. Thank you for specially telling me this.”
At last, he learned the follow-up.
Deng Ziyang hadn’t let him down—he had actually succeeded in crashing the wedding and taking the bride.
It seemed that the 《Blood Demon Scripture》 truly was a shortcut to power. In just this short time, Deng Ziyang could already injure that Martial Aunt Wang from the Xiaoshui Sect.
That woman was a proper Fourth Grade Expert.
After speaking, Huo Qianqian left.
Outside the gate, she saw her fellow disciples waiting for her.
She walked over quickly and said apologetically, “Sorry.”
Lu Minci had already seen through everything and asked, “Did you find it?”
“Found it.” Huo Qianqian opened her palm, revealing a jade pendant.
The junior sister surnamed Sun pouted, “It’s not even something valuable. If it’s lost, so what? Why’d we have to wait here under the scorching sun——”
“Shut up.”
Xiao Zhuyun cut her off, sweeping her gaze sternly. “What is the seventh rule of our sect? Do you still remember?”
Junior Sister Sun feared her but was unwilling to yield, pursing her lips and staying silent.
Xiao Zhuyun’s expression grew even colder. “Copy the sect rules ten times when we return. Submit them to me by today.”
Junior Sister Sun protested, her neck stiff, “Why should I?”
“Twenty times!”
She wanted to say more, but a senior sister beside her tugged her sleeve, and finally, she didn’t dare talk back. She lowered her head, aggrieved.
“Let’s go.”
Xiao Zhuyun said no more and led the group of junior sisters away.
——
In the courtyard.
Chen Ming saw Su Zhi Ning in a snow-white outfit sitting on a stone bench. Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the large tree, casting dappled shadows over her.
With joy on his face, he said, “Miss Su, you’re all right already?”
Earlier, a servant from the Feng Residence came and said a white-clad woman had suddenly appeared in his courtyard. He guessed it was Su Zhi Ning, and sure enough, it was.
Just last night, she looked like she had entered qi deviation and was on the brink of death. Now, she was jumping around alive and well. The cultivation method of the Heaven’s Path Alliance was truly miraculous.
Su Zhi Ning looked him straight in the eye and said with a complex tone, “Last night, it really was you……”
Did Miss Mudan not tell her?
Chen Ming felt a bit puzzled—or perhaps she hadn’t returned to her room afterward?
As he was thinking, suddenly his hair stood on end. He sensed immense danger, and the source—was Su Zhi Ning.
He was shocked. In her eyes, he clearly saw a killing intent so real it seemed tangible.
“She wants to kill me?”
“Why?”
Chen Ming couldn’t believe it. He had saved her, yet she wanted to kill him.
Such ingratitude!
He almost activated the Sword Intent within the “Sword Jade”, when the feeling of danger suddenly vanished. Looking again at Su Zhi Ning, the killing intent in her eyes had also faded.
“Miss Su, you——”
Before the words were finished, Su Zhi Ning, who had been sitting in front, had already vanished into thin air.
“……”
Utterly baffling.
Could her emotions be so unstable because she was on her period?
But wait, after reaching the Fourth Grade, would one still even have a period?
……
In the following days, Su Zhi Ning did not appear again.
Chen Ming tried summoning her, but received no response. He didn’t know whether she had left.
During these days, he stayed indoors, either reading books or comprehending that strand of Sword Intent.
Ever since he borrowed the power of that Sword Intent in Su Zhi Ning’s dream to shatter her Heart Demon, he had felt as if he was just on the verge of grasping its true meaning.
Just a tiny step away!
But that tiny step was like a natural chasm—utterly uncrossable.
Chen Ming actually understood very well in his heart: what he lacked was cultivation. If he were already at the Third Grade, he could comprehend Sword Intent at any time.
He silently recited in his heart and opened the interface.
【Level: 55】
【Current Points: 698000】
【Cultivation Methods: 《Iron Horse Stance》 (Fifth Layer Perfected), 《True Art of Two Principles》 (Fifth Layer 870000/1500000)】
【Martial Techniques: 《Three Talents Fist》 (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returns Sword Technique (Mastery), 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》 (Mastery), 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》 (First Layer 15463/100000)】
【Secret Arts: 《Disguise Technique》 (Mastery)】
He was currently allocating two thousand points daily into 《True Art of Two Principles》 to prove he wasn’t slacking off. His cultivation was steadily growing, used to fool Su Zhi Ning and buy himself time.
Originally, he wanted to comprehend Sword Intent, then challenge Fourth Grade and quickly harvest experience points.
Now it seemed, that path likely wouldn’t work.
He thought to himself, “Still need someone’s help.”
So, he had a carriage prepared and got ready to go out.
……
An hour later, Chen Ming arrived at Changqing Hall to find Doctor Sun—that elderly physician over ninety years old who was still robust and hale.
At the entrance, he found Ji Qianxing standing just inside the doorway.
Surprised, he said, “Brother Ji, what a coincidence.”
Ji Qianxing wore a cold expression and said nothing, simply blocking the way.
This was typical of the man. Chen Ming had already grown used to it, so he just waited outside.
Ji Qianxing guarding the entrance meant Yu Haitang was inside.
After a while, a woman emerged wearing a veiled hat, her face obscured by a white silk veil. From her graceful figure and gait alone, one could tell it was Yu Haitang.
As Yu Haitang passed by his side, her steps faltered slightly. She turned her head, seemingly glanced at him, but said nothing—not even a greeting—and left directly.
Chen Ming watched her leave, then stepped into Changqing Hall and saw Doctor Sun coming out from the inner chamber.
He respectfully greeted, “Elder Sun.”
“You’ve come.” Doctor Sun looked quite pleased to see him.
Chen Ming asked, “Who were those two just now?”
Doctor Sun replied, “A very troublesome woman. Best not to provoke her.”
“Was she here to give you trouble? Do you need my help?”
Doctor Sun chuckled. “At my age, what could she possibly do to me? No need to mind her. You came today—do you have any difficult issues?”
“Yes.”
Since he didn’t want to talk more about it, Chen Ming could only move on to the accumulated questions he’d gathered these past days and asked them all in one go.
Doctor Sun answered each one thoroughly. He explained in detail, expanding one question into many theories. It took over an hour to finish.
“Thank you for your guidance, Elder Sun.”
Satisfied, Chen Ming was just about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and took the opportunity to ask, “Elder Sun, have you ever heard of the Spirit-Link Jade?”
“Spirit-Link Jade, hmm…”
Doctor Sun’s expression turned somewhat odd, as though reminiscing. He asked, “Why do you ask?”
Chen Ming’s heart stirred. Judging by his look—could it be that he too once possessed such a thing?
He asked, “Suppose, someone gave rise to a Heart Demon because of another person, and was on the verge of qi deviation. Then that person used the power of ‘Sharing the Same Bed and Dream’ from a Spirit-Link Jade to enter the other’s dream and helped them cut down the Heart Demon. After waking up, could their personality change?”
Doctor Sun stroked his beard, pondered a moment, then slowly said, “Only those who practice very unique cultivation arts, ones that train the heart specifically, tend to develop Heart Demons. Using a Spirit-Link Jade to help another break through a Heart Demon—truly an ingenious idea. However, such a peculiar event—I have never encountered before. Hard to say definitively.”
“I see.”
Hearing that, Chen Ming was about to take his leave.
“But,” Doctor Sun continued, “a Heart Demon originates from oneself. If it is destroyed with the help of an outsider, I fear…”
“Fear what?”
“I fear that the one who aided them… may become their new Heart Demon.”