Chapter Thirteen: Sudden Murderous Intent

Xian Yu couldn't fathom what Uncle Zhang was thinking. His apparent composure was a result of witnessing numerous bizarre occurrences, and his isolation from the outside world over the past six months.

This situation was, in fact, quite normal. In the pursuit of power, sacrifices were inevitable. To gain the ability to protect oneself, one had to dedicate themselves to continuous practice, which naturally led to reduced contact with the outside world and changes in one's personality.

This was an undeniable truth in the pursuit of power. Unless he could one day forsake his practice or achieve his goal, such changes were inescapable.

But was it possible for him to abandon his practice? At least not at this moment.

Uncle Zhang had misinterpreted Xian Yu's changes as stemming from a past accident, leading to the current situation.

Little did they know that these changes had nothing to do with what Zhang Feng believed.

The singing continued.

Xian Yu intended to enjoy the performance, but his attention was drawn to two individuals.

In an instant, an uncontrollable surge of murderous intent coursed through his heart, causing everyone around him to feel an unsettling energy. Even Xin Yan on the concert stage briefly paused.

However, Xin Yan, being experienced, quickly regained her composure and continued to sing. Her eyes, however, darted around more than before, a subtle wariness apparent as she seemed to be searching for something.

No one noticed the abnormality in Xin Yan's behavior, and Xian Yu himself was taken aback by this sudden murderous intent.

Upon arriving, he hadn't recalled having any grudges with anyone, making it easy to guess who was behind this idea.

"I thought you had completely vanished, but you've left behind such a profound obsession. This is something I didn't anticipate..."

Xian Yu was indifferent to this lingering obsession; it was merely a trace of "residue" that he swiftly suppressed.

In fact, this unexpected development was a positive turn of events. Now that it had been discovered, it could be easily resolved. By calmly returning and addressing it, he could swiftly deal with the situation.

Even though Xian Yu could resolve the issue, he still felt the need to quickly identify the source of the murderous intent.

When he spotted the individual responsible, he felt perplexed. The person in question appeared to be an ordinary-looking rich kid with no apparent memory. Why did this seemingly unassuming person trigger such a murderous intention?

"What just happened? Did you feel uneasy too?"

"You too? I thought it was just me, but it seems I'm not alone in this."

"But that sensation only lasted for a moment. I thought it might have been an illusion."

Upon hearing the comments from the person next to him, Xian Yu discreetly retreated. He was fortunate that he had restrained himself swiftly, acting in the blink of an eye.

Without self-control, an accident could easily occur. Most individuals might feel a sense of unease, but people who had experienced many things were more likely to discern what was happening. Furthermore, in this kind of environment, such an incident would undoubtedly cause trouble.

The palpitations experienced by everyone else were sensed by the person who was the target. Despite being at a distance, the fear emanating from his soul was reflected back onto his physical body, causing him to go limp and nearly collapse. Were it not for the guards surrounding him, he might have embarrassed himself in front of the woman he loved.

In reality, murderous intent, by itself, could not directly cause harm, except in the case of extremely powerful individuals.

Was Xian Yu extremely powerful? It was too early to say, but he undoubtedly possessed remarkable skills. The murderous intent earlier had triggered a glimpse of those skills, but this was merely due to Xian Yu's current lack of strength. Given a few more years, his capabilities might extend beyond the physical realm.

"Master!"

"Miss..."

"Be cautious. If my feeling was correct just now, someone had murderous intentions directed at us!"

These words left the young lady slightly puzzled, and she turned her gaze toward the middle-aged man standing behind her.

"He's right. Someone did have murderous intent just now, but it passed in the blink of an eye. It shouldn't have been aimed at us."

"And...."

The man didn't utter another word; he simply cast a meaningful glance at the pale-faced boy, his implication clear.

Though the middle-aged man's tone was composed, only he knew the sheer terror that accompanied that killing intent. It brought to mind the horrifying entity he had accidentally glimpsed—mighty and desperate!

Reflecting on it now, he still felt a lingering fear. If the other party hadn't regarded him as insignificant as an ant, he might not be standing here today.

"But this is Liyue Port. With the emperor present, there shouldn't be any issues. However... why would someone from the Shui family seek to provoke such an individual?"

"It appears I must return and report to the master. We'll hold off on the marriage plans for now."

The middle-aged man's name was Qing Ying. He used to be an adventurer, and while he didn't possess the Vision, he was still stronger than many. Even against a Chosen One who didn't wield elemental power, he wasn't weak.

It was only after encountering that fearsome entity that he chose to play it safe. He transitioned into the role of a guard and gained recognition. Even his name was altered, and his voice held considerable sway within the Qing government.

Xian Yu's display of magical prowess led Qing Ying to believe he had encountered a formidable being. Xian Yu hadn't intended for this, but he couldn't predict the thoughts of others. He simply bid farewell to Zhang Feng and made his exit.

He couldn't linger in this place for long. He feared that staying any longer might tempt him to take action.

It wasn't a matter of lacking control, but rather, was there a more direct approach than confronting the source of the murderous intent head-on?

That was temptation!

When your mind races and you're inclined to take swift action to save trouble, it's easy for things to spiral.

Of course, the consequences of taking a life during the Hai Lantern Festival were unthinkable.

Even if he wanted to resolve the situation promptly, taking action on a day like this was out of the question. He would retreat for now and assess the situation.

With his plans formed, Xian Yu merged into the crowd and gradually vanished.

As someone with a certain reputation, it would be quite simple to gather information about the other party.

Simply inquire with people who greeted the other individual to gather information.

As for the possibility of arousing suspicion, he could find an excuse to explain it away.

...

"Hey, brother, who's the person you just greeted? He seems quite important."

Wang Er didn't overthink the sudden inquiry. He responded proudly, "That's Shui Xingkong, the eldest young master of the Shui family!"

"My family deals in minerals, you see? He even replied to me. Perhaps my days of success are on the horizon!"

As he spoke, Wang Er suddenly felt that the person in front of him looked familiar but couldn't quite place it.

"Have we met before? You seem oddly familiar..."

Xian Yu: "Oh? Really? You might be mistaken, then. My memories are quite sparse."

"But thank you, regardless."

With that, he departed.

Wang Er, who was still puzzling over it, didn't respond, instead wearing a pensive expression.

Suddenly, he looked up sharply, only to find that the person he'd been speaking to had disappeared without a trace.

"Why is it him!?"

"Shouldn't he be dead? Why is he here? And he doesn't appear to know anyone from the Shui family?"

"Now you're asking again, what's his motive?"

Wang Er had just remembered who the other person was. It wasn't a matter of poor memory; Xian Yu had undergone a significant transformation!

Aside from anything else, his temperament alone was strikingly unique.

If he had been approachable, warm, and cheerful before, now he appeared cold, distant, and somewhat otherworldly.

It was this change that had made Wang Er fail to recognize him immediately. If the other party hadn't inquired, he might not have even realized that he was the young master of the Li family.

"Li Wen... Shui family..."

Wang Er hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to report the matter to Master Shui, but eventually sighed.

"Well, forget it. Although I'd like to earn Master Shui's favor, I should probably treat it as a misunderstanding."