Double Kill

Double Kill

As Lin Xian`er began to speak, her skin, akin to white jade, seemed almost as if one could wring water from it. Her countenance, while not overtly seductive, held a captivating allure that could touch the hearts of those who beheld her. It stirred a desire to protect her, while also igniting a fiery passion in those who lusted after her. The more delicate and vulnerable she appeared, the stronger the urge to completely possess her.

In that moment, such thoughts flickered through the Saint Child's mind. He recalled the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Lin Xian`er in the past. A vow had been made then—a vow to one day subdue this enchanting woman. To dominate the number one beauty under the heavens and witness the transformation of her captivating countenance.

"Fairy Lin, weak and fragile?" The Saint Child's gaze bore into Lin Xianer, ignoring Qin Wentian standing nearby as if he were irrelevant. "Back in the Immortal Ripple Pavilion, you displayed such dominance for the sake of a man. You invited him for a private meeting, didn't you? I wonder if he was able to satisfy you that night." His words were laden with innuendo, his eyes never leaving Lin Xianer. It was as though Qin Wentian had no connection to the conversation whatsoever. "Should he have failed to meet your expectations, I would be more than willing to show you how it's done."

Poison Scorpion's brown eyes gleamed with a lustful expression. Even he, a notorious figure, couldn't help but feel his soul stir at the prospect of possessing such a beautiful woman.

"Before you decide to kill her, consider this—cripple her cultivation instead. The one who has the privilege of ravishing her can be determined by whoever ascends the pagoda first," the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect suggested. Their gazes locked, and a sinister understanding passed between them.

Lin Xian`er's restraint finally snapped. An icy aura radiated from her, her complexion resembling freshly fallen snow. Her eyes, once captivating, now bore a razor-sharp intensity. This transformation only intensified the gleeful anticipation in Poison Scorpion and the Saint Child's eyes.

A burst of light emanated from her as she unleashed her astral novas. Illusionary clones of Lin Xian`er materialized, casting the entire space into a breathtaking illusion-scape. Her nimble fingers danced upon the strings of an ancient zither, conjuring musical notes imbued with an aggressive intent. These notes struck directly at the Saint Child and Poison Scorpion, forcing them to halt their advance and wear grim expressions.

"Fairy Lin is angered," the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect muttered icily. Lin Xian`er's music had attacked their souls directly, causing a discomfort that was difficult to ignore.

Without uttering a word, Lin Xian`er's eyes turned towards Qin Wentian. Though no words passed between them, her soul-stirring gaze ignited a primal urge within him—an urge to join the fray and come to her aid.

However, Qin Wentian remained resolute in his inaction.

Poison Scorpion displayed a different kind of power compared to his peers. While his attacks lacked overt brutality, they were infused with cunning and a subtlety that made them difficult to counter. In fact, his crafty approach was often more perilous than straightforward brute force. Just a single drop of his blood possessed lethal potency, making him a silent, deadly threat.

On the other hand, the Saint Child from the Supreme Demon Sect wielded overwhelming strength. With each strike, he unleashed a torrent of demonic qi that reached for the heavens, causing the very earth to tremble. His power was raw and unbridled, capable of shaking the foundations of reality.

Lin Xian`er, however, was no pushover. Her ethereal form blurred and vanished amidst the illusion-scape she had created, confounding her adversaries. While her individual attacks might not have been exceptionally potent, the music she wielded was a subtle yet insidious weapon. As the melodious notes filled the air, both Poison Scorpion and the Saint Child found themselves grappling with an unbearable sensation, their combat prowess greatly diminished.

"There's a hint of soul-attack within her music," Qin Wentian thoughtfully observed. Even formidable figures like Poison Scorpion from the Sky Poison Valley and the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect were rendered powerless for a brief period by the wrath of this soul-stirring woman. Instead, they were pushed to the brink of misery.

"When your master implanted a treasure from someone else into your body, did you not sense that the treasure was tainted by the blood of its previous owner?" Qin Wentian inquired, his words directed at Lou Bingyu, who stood nearby, her aura as aloof and frigid as ever.

In response, Lou Bingyu offered a cold retort, "How much blood stains your hands as you ascend here?"

Qin Wentian, however, didn't let her dismiss him so easily. "When they uttered those humiliating words, I saw a flash of murderous intent in your eyes. You're not as composed and detached as you appear to be."

Lou Bingyu's brow furrowed at the shift in conversation. In truth, she paid little heed to Qin Wentian's words. Her demeanor was as unyielding as steel, and when her master had secured the treasure from the Human Emperor and entrusted it to her, she had made a solemn promise. She vowed to outshine Ji Feixue, the personal disciple of Sword Sovereign Ling Tian, in her performance. She was determined to elevate her master's standing in the face of Sword Sovereign Ling Tian's own disciple.

The memory of her master's dignified and proud figure spurred her resolve. She was unwavering in her determination to never let her master down, never to allow her master's honor to be tarnished in front of anyone, regardless of that person's stature—even if it were the sect leader of the Battle Sword Sect, Sword Sovereign Ling Tian.

Yet here stood a strikingly handsome young man who had once comprehended fourteen sword strikes upon entering the Battle Sword Sect. His words exuded unwavering confidence in his abilities, and even in his silent presence, Lou Bingyu sensed his inner strength. By rights, he should have addressed her as senior apprentice sister, given her seniority in the sect. However, this enigmatic young man stood there with a quiet confidence that demanded acknowledgment.

Lou Bingyu's accusatory words pierced the tense atmosphere, targeting Qin Wentian with a cold, unrelenting intensity. Her voice carried an icy fury that threatened to freeze anyone within earshot. She challenged him for his seeming indifference, a stark contrast to their previous interaction. She questioned his character, accusing him of being heartless and putting on an act.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but feel a revelation in her tone. It was as though her animosity extended beyond him and encompassed all men. This realization left him puzzled. Could it be that Lou Bingyu had been wronged by a man in the past?

Lou Bingyu's demeanor was as frosty as ever, her disposition akin to ice and snow. Yet, when he observed her profile, Qin Wentian couldn't help but notice that she appeared quite young. Given her level of strength at her age, it seemed unlikely that she had been mistreated by a man.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Qin Wentian couldn't help but ponder her master, the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness. Perhaps she had been influenced or led astray by her master, the old witch?

"The Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness—was she mistreated by a man?" Qin Wentian casually inquired, but his question caused Lou Bingyu's frosty demeanor to intensify several times over.

"You dare insult my master?!" she retorted sharply.

"That old witch forced my foster father to mutilate himself for that treasure. Is a single question from me considered an insult? Now that the treasure has merged with you, enhancing your strength, have you ever considered what you would do if I defeat you?" Qin Wentian fired back with equal coldness, their pride and arrogance clashing fiercely.

Lou Bingyu turned to face him, her cold eyes radiating unwavering self-confidence. "I've never considered it because the ultimate victor will unquestionably be me."

Qin Wentian locked eyes with her, a faint, arrogant smile playing across his handsome features. "Let's wait and see."

With his words hanging in the air, Qin Wentian swiftly entered the fray, joining the battle alongside Lin Xian`er, who had been pushed to the brink of despair by the relentless onslaught of the Saint Child and Poison Scorpion.

Victory seemed tantalizingly close for Poison Scorpion and the Saint Child as they relentlessly closed in on Lin Xian`er. Her resilience had surpassed their expectations, and her soul-inflicted injuries had plunged them into excruciating torment. Their plan was to strip her of her cultivation, recuperate, and then systematically torment her until death eased their anger and lust.

In that critical moment, an ominous foreboding gripped their hearts. Poison Scorpion and the Saint Child simultaneously turned to witness Qin Wentian's silhouette weaving through a flurry of shadows. He launched an assault towards them without any apparent weapon, an enigmatic intent burning in his eyes.

Poison Scorpion's lips curled into a malevolent smile as he extended a palm bathed in blood-red radiance, reaching out to seize Qin Wentian. With this attack, he was confident that Qin Wentian's demise was inevitable.

In that pivotal moment, Poison Scorpion experienced a seismic shock that reverberated through his heart. Before he could react, blood sprayed from his throat, staining his sea of consciousness in a sinister shade of crimson. The unexpected intrusion of a halberd, concealed like a phantom through the void, cleanly pierced through his throat.

Simultaneously, Qin Wentian's left palm surged into action, unleashing a torrent of devastating palm imprints directed at the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect. Despite the Saint Child's formidable power, this assault sent his blood and qi into disarray, propelling him backward.

A relentless barrage of musical notes transformed into lethal projectiles that mercilessly penetrated the Saint Child's skull. Crimson blood flowed freely as the Saint Child, in his dying moments, gazed upon Qin Wentian with disbelief. The fiendishly handsome young man met his gaze with a sardonic smile, mocking his past arrogance as he met his end.

This astonishing turn of events sent shockwaves through Lou Bingyu's ice-sealed heart. Her clear eyes ignited with a brilliant light. In an instant, she discerned the precision of Qin Wentian's timing, which had enabled him to execute the perfect strike, eliminating both foes with a single blow.

She realized that his apparent inaction earlier was not due to a lack of intent to intervene. Instead, he had been patiently waiting for the opportune moment to deliver a decisive strike that would vanquish both adversaries.

However, Lou Bingyu swiftly concealed her momentary astonishment behind her usual icy facade. Even so, Qin Wentian could not obstruct her path. No one could obstruct her ascent, and no one could prevent her from surpassing Ji Feixue, the most illustrious figure in the Heavenly Dipper Realm of the Battle Sword Sect.

Lin Xian`er fixed her gaze on Qin Wentian, her head tilting briefly before returning to its normal position. A spark of enlightenment flickered in her enchanting eyes. The unassuming young man before her harbored an inner strength, pride, and ambitions that ran deep.

"When I saw you refraining from intervening earlier, Xianer couldn't help but feel a tad disappointed," Lin Xianer confessed gently. Though she understood that, as competitors, they each had their own objectives, and Qin Wentian had likely viewed her failure as an advantage. Yet, despite the rationality of this behavior, she couldn't help but feel a hint of letdown.

"Only by rescuing a damsel in distress at the most critical moment can a hero truly capture her heart. Isn't that especially true for a woman as beautiful as Xian`er?" Qin Wentian responded with a nonchalant shrug, his tone filled with playful banter.

This unexpected quip from Qin Wentian caught Lin Xian`er completely off guard. She gazed at the smiling young man, the teasing tone in his voice inciting uncontrollable laughter. She had actually been playfully teased by a man! In that instant, an inexplicable curiosity surged within her; she genuinely wanted to know what was going on in Qin Wentian's mind at this very moment.

A radiant smile illuminated Lin Xian`er's face, leaving Qin Wentian momentarily entranced. At that moment, they didn't seem like adversaries at all.

"I concede!" Lin Xian`er's melodious voice echoed through the air. With a shy smile, she turned away, leaving Qin Wentian standing there in stunned silence.

"I take back my words. How could someone like Sir Qin ever be beneath the eight absolute era-suppressing geniuses?" Lin Xian`er's elegant voice drifted to his ears. She gracefully departed from the pagoda's path, leaving Qin Wentian rooted to the spot, utterly bewildered by this unexpected turn of events!