Acting To Kill

Acting To Kill . . .

Qin Wentian's once serene countenance shifted, a subtle transformation wrought by the words of Xia Lian. His eyes, reminiscent of keen blades, redirected their piercing scrutiny from the room's confines to the source of this newfound intrigue: Xia Lian herself. A frigid smile danced across her lips, her features marred by the cruel edge of mirth. It was a stark departure from the facade she had so skillfully donned in Qing'er's presence, as if she had peeled away her beauty to reveal the unvarnished truth.

Could this unadorned visage be the real Xia Lian? Her impeccable act had enchanted Qing'er, but now, bereft of that audience, she had cast aside the mask, revealing a persona entirely at odds with her prior enchantment.

"Is my assessment accurate? Does my unmasking of your folly stir anger within you?" Xia Lian chortled, her words an arctic breeze that brushed past Qin Wentian's stoic demeanor. "Within this palace, noble blood flows like wine, and the offspring of esteemed officials number as the stars. Yet here you stand, a lowly cur, yearning for the pinnacle of power. What a futile delusion."

A dispassionate Qin Wentian interjected, his voice laced with indifference as he met Xia Lian's piercing gaze. "Have you concluded your discourse?"

"What's this? No delight in my mockery?" Xia Lian's laughter rang, a taunting symphony. "Will you hasten to inform Princess Qing'er of my impudence? A strapping lad such as yourself tattling on me would be a spectacle to behold."

Xia Lian's jest, like an incantation, summoned two imposing demonic beasts to her side. They descended from the heavens, their forms a testament to their fearsome power, standing sentinel beside Xia Lian and her brother, Xia Fan. These creatures exuded an aura of dominance, unapologetic in their majestic might.

Undeterred by the brewing tempest, Qin Wentian asserted his claim. "Regardless of my station, I came here in the company of Qing'er. I am her guest, even if my role be that of a servant. It is not for you to besmirch my dignity."

But Xia Lian regarded him with naught but disdain, her and her brother's forms momentarily blurred as they mounted their respective steeds. Xia Lian straddled a formidable avian beast, its lineage tinged with the blood of the Great Roc, its majesty undeniable. Xia Fan, perched atop a formidable, thunderous white tiger, showed no interest in acknowledging Qin Wentian's presence. Even Little Rascal, nestled in Qin Wentian's embrace, fixated its gaze upon the looming demonic beasts with a chilly resolve.

"Still vexed?" Xia Lian's smile radiated with wicked delight. From her perch atop the white tiger, Xia Fan ascended into the heavens with a measured utterance, his voice a somber note in the ambient discord. "Xia Lian, let us proceed."

Neither sibling spared Qin Wentian a second thought as they embarked on their airborne journey. The ease with which they had shed their feigned camaraderie was a testament to their remarkable acting skills, a tantalizing mirage cast to beguile and beguile alone.

"Very well," Xia Lian concurred, her frigid gaze lingering on Qin Wentian. As her beast ascended, she offered a final, callous appraisal, a chilling parting glance that spoke volumes in its silence.

However, the tranquil scene was suddenly shattered when Xia Lian's majestic mount, with all the grace of a thundering storm, was brought to an abrupt halt. The bewildering halt was accompanied by an ear-piercing screech from her demonic beast, echoing through the air like a warning cry from the depths of the abyss. Xia Lian, her gaze as cold as a winter's chill, swiveled around to confront none other than Qin Wentian himself.

In a peculiar twist of fate, he had tightly grasped the tail of her demonic beast, his eyes unwavering and resolute as they locked onto Xia Lian's. With an air of authority, he declared, "This very place you stand upon is none other than the Marquis Manor. I hold no desire to complicate matters for the esteemed Qing'er. Extend your apologies, and I shall readily overlook this peculiar encounter."

But as the tension hung thick in the air, Xia Fan, an observer to this unexpected confrontation, couldn't contain a contemptuous snort. "Impudent!" he spat, his voice laced with disdain. "How dare you, you wretched dog servant!"

Undaunted by the sibling's disdainful remarks, Qin Wentian simply inclined his head, his frigid gaze never wavering. In their eyes, he saw a distinct lack of respect, a fact he was prepared to address.

"Dog servant," Xia Lian sneered, a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes as she elegantly gestured with her hand. In response to her command, a fiery red whip materialized in her grasp, its presence ominous and foreboding. With a menacing hiss, the whip cracked through the air, leaving a haunting echo in its wake. The malicious intention was clear – anyone struck by this whip would bear the agonizing scars to prove it.

But Qin Wentian was not one to be trifled with. His palm ignited with a formidable runic glow, and with unshakable resolve, he seized the oncoming whip with his bare hand. The whip's attempt to wound him proved futile.

As the tense standoff reached its zenith, Xia Lian's demonic beast, a formidable entity in its own right, lunged fiercely at Qin Wentian. A palpable balefulness hung heavy in the air as the beast threatened to unleash its fury.

Amidst this chaotic spectacle, a silent observer had been watching intently. Little Rascal, nestled securely in Qin Wentian's arms, had been carefully studying the unfolding drama. In the depths of his eyes, a dark glint appeared. With a deafening roar, he sprang into action, growing in size and lashing out with razor-sharp talons. His target: the opposing demonic beast. His intent: to pierce through the creature's very brain.

A ghastly vortex of runic darkness began to swirl around Little Rascal as his brutal assault continued unabated. The other demonic beast, now writhing in agony, emitted despairing cries as it succumbed to Little Rascal's voracious onslaught. It was a relentless devouring, as Little Rascal claimed his victory.

Xia Lian, her initial confidence now replaced by a mask of disbelief, watched in horror as her prized mount met its grisly end. Her once-bright smile had faded into oblivion, replaced by a grim realization that Qin Wentian's demonic beast had dared to challenge the natural order. Though her mount may have been of the Celestial Phenomenon caliber, it had always been her faithful companion, and its loss was a blow she hadn't anticipated.

The turbulent scene played out like a grand opera, a cacophony of emotions, power, and unforeseen consequences. Xia Lian, her very being a tempest of wrath, unleashed a tyrannical aura that surged forth in a tumultuous tide. It flowed like a relentless river, its currents carrying it toward Qin Wentian, who, in stark contrast, stood with an eerie calmness that belied the brewing storm.

In a breathless moment, Qin Wentian, with unshakable poise, lifted his palm and thrust it forward. The air around him quivered and quaked as a colossal palm imprint, immense and overwhelming, materialized out of thin air. Its tremendous weight bore down upon everything in its path, an implacable force of nature. In a resounding explosion that echoed like the fury of the heavens themselves, Xia Lian's body became a mere plaything in the face of this monumental strike. She was flung through the air, her body robbed of control, every fiber tingling with a numbing sensation. The sizzling sensation on her face and the gut-wrenching snap of countless bones fracturing reverberated through her consciousness. Finally, she plummeted to the unforgiving ground, her body wracked by spasms as fresh blood oozed from her battered form.

Xia Lian's countenance shifted from incandescent fury to an eerie pallor, her visage now a haunting mask of terror.

Here, in the hallowed halls of the Marquis Manor, the domain of the illustrious Everpeace Marquis, Xia Lian had once basked in the warmth of privilege and power. Her grandfather, a stalwart general and a trusted confidant of the revered Evergreen Immortal Emperor, had showered her with affection and protection. She had been the apple of his eye, a cherished gem in the heart of the empire. Yet today, in a twisted twist of fate, she found herself subjected to a brutal thrashing at the hands of a mere slave. A single slap had sent her careening through the skies, her body a canvas of torment. The indignity of it all burned like a searing brand on her soul.

Amidst this shocking tableau, Xia Fan stood frozen in disbelief, his senses reeling from the surreal spectacle before him. Even the handlers of the demonic beasts, engrossed in their duties just moments ago, now stood rooted in stupefaction.

In the icy aftermath, Xia Lian's voice dripped with venomous resolve. "I want him dead," she hissed, her words a chilling decree. In response, a swarm of demonic beasts, summoned from afar, surged toward Qin Wentian. Yet Xia Fan, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation, recognized the gravity of the situation. He may have harbored disdain for Qin Wentian, but he wasn't a fool. When dealing with a "dog," one must always consider the identity of the "master." Until this point, their intent had been to humiliate, not harm Qin Wentian, well aware that any harm inflicted would reach the ears of Princess Qing'er. Attacking an expert from her entourage while she was a guest at the Everpeace Marquis Manor would be a catastrophic blunder.

But now, the situation had spiraled into a full-blown crisis. A mere "dog" had, with a single blow, sent Xia Lian hurtling through the air. The audacity! And then, the unimaginable occurred. Xia Fan, the weight of the moment pressing upon him, issued the fateful command: "Kill him."

Qin Wentian's eyes gleamed with a frigid resolve at Xia Fan's chilling directive. They wanted his life, a matter far graver than mere humiliation. By issuing such an order, they weren't just treating him as expendable; they were disregarding Qing'er herself. Even if he were a slave in service to Qing'er, it was unthinkable that they could simply take his life.

Qin Wentian unleashed his latent power with unwavering determination. A tidal wave of terrifying force surged forth, an indomitable presence that swept through everything in its path. Little Rascal, a silent observer no more, unleashed a deafening, earth-shaking roar. He soared into the heavens, his body expanding into a radiant, golden form.

—BOOM!— Little Rascal's transformation was nothing short of awe-inspiring. His golden wings unfurled majestically, their feathers sharper than any mortal blade. He became a golden-winged roc, his eyes ablaze with gleaming power as he hovered in the sky.

Radiating with an incandescent light, Little Rascal's figure flickered, transforming into a golden streak of lightning that pierced the heavens. A terrifying whistling sound accompanied his lightning-fast movement, and several ascendant-level demonic beasts were cleaved to pieces in an instant.

Qin Wentian took a determined step forward, closing the gap between himself and Xia Fan with relentless intent. Xia Fan, quivering under the weight of Qin Wentian's overwhelming might, summoned a colossal palm imprint of his own, a feeble attempt to stave off the impending doom. However, it was a futile effort—Qin Wentian, the reigning champion of the Immortal Ascension Rankings, had reached a level of mastery that few could rival within the same cultivation realm.

The moment hung heavy with the weight of destiny as the ferocity of Qin Wentian's palm struck with an annihilating force. The impact obliterated the white tiger, its existence extinguished by the raw, unbridled power coursing through Qin Wentian's strike. The force of that single palm surged onward, creating waves of energy that cascaded through the surroundings, seeming powerful enough to rend the heavens themselves.

In the face of this cataclysmic display, Xia Fan's complexion paled with a stark realization. Never had he anticipated that Qin Wentian would wield such unfathomable power. Was this the very reason why Princess Qing'er had chosen to accept this man as her follower? It was becoming increasingly evident that those hailing from the City of Ancient Emperors were nothing short of monstrous in their capabilities.

Desperately, Xia Fan harnessed every ounce of his strength to resist the onslaught, yet it proved futile. He was hurled through the air, a mere puppet in the hands of fate, and unceremoniously slammed into the unforgiving earth.

As if summoned by the chaos, a relentless tide of demonic beasts and even demon immortals descended upon the scene. Qin Wentian's countenance contorted into a mask of anger and concern. He unleashed a deafening roar, releasing a torrential barrage of palm imprints, numbering in the millions. Each imprint exuded a fearsome aura, and their sheer presence sent shockwaves through the fabric of space. The hapless demonic beasts, overwhelmed by the oppressive might, wailed in agony as they were eradicated in a macabre display. In the wake of this relentless onslaught, their blood rained down upon the earth like a sinister storm.

Amidst this maelstrom of chaos and destruction, a lone figure emerged, seemingly defying the very laws of space and time. She traversed an unfathomable distance in a single stride, her speed a testament to her fearsome prowess. In an instant, she arrived at the heart of the battleground—the indomitable Marquis Madam herself.

The Marquis Madam's countenance bore an icy veneer as her gaze swept across the carnage before her. Her children lay brutally cast to the ground, their garments in tatters, and their mouths oozing blood. The demonic beasts, once robust and fierce, now lay dead or wounded, scattered like fallen soldiers on the battlefield.

From the horizon, a host of experts rushed to the scene, their hearts quaking at the sight that unfolded before them. The Marquis Madam, daughter of the Cloud King, had always been a staunch protector of her children, quick to shield their flaws and conceal their missteps. Yet, on this fateful day, both her children had suffered grievous injuries at the hands of an outsider.

With an aura charged with vengeance, the Marquis Madam's piercing gaze fixed upon Qin Wentian, her intent to kill radiating palpably.

"Mother," Xia Lian cried out, her voice laced with distress. "This man is utterly disrespectful! He is devoid of manners, impudently exploiting my modesty with his words! I confronted him, but he displayed such arrogance, dismissing the significance of our Everpeace Marquis Manor. He even dared to insinuate that our Manor was inconsequential in the eyes of Princess Qing'er, simply because he serves as her follower."

The atmosphere seemed to congeal as the Marquis Madam, her demeanor growing ever colder, strode purposefully toward Qin Wentian. Her approach bore a weighty significance; she wasn't acting hastily but rather seemed to be contemplating her next course of action.

As a mother, the Marquis Madam possessed an innate understanding of her daughter's words—she could discern the truth from the falsehoods. However, Xia Lian had displayed a shrewdness that couldn't be underestimated. By speaking out first, she had masterfully shifted the blame squarely onto Qin Wentian's shoulders.

"Daring to take lives within my hallowed Everpeace Marquis Manor? Even if it means defying the wishes of the Princess, I cannot spare you," the Marquis Madam declared, her tone as frigid as the winter wind. With deliberate intent, she extended her finger, her unspoken threat looming over Qin Wentian like a gathering storm.

Fear washed over Qin Wentian's features, his complexion paling as he keenly sensed an overwhelming, indomitable force bearing down upon him.

But before the Marquis Madam's judgment could descend, a commanding voice pierced the air, an icy rebuke that resonated with unyielding authority. Qing'er, appearing ashen-faced, had taken control of her spatial leaf boat, hurtling through the skies with utmost urgency to reach the scene.

In that precarious moment, the Marquis Madam's gaze flickered, yet her finger remained unwavering in its trajectory. The very heavens themselves seemed to tremble as her power bore down with an unrelenting force. Qing'er's expression contorted with shock—this was a strike from an immortal king, a force not to be trifled with.