Chapter 65: The Sole Survivor
Closing the door behind him as he left the Holy Maiden’s room, Chen Yin let out a soft sigh. He was about to turn around when a face suddenly appeared right before him.
“Whoa! Brother Zhao Han, you scared me!”
“You did well, kid.”
Zhao Han said with a chuckle, “I’ve tried every method I know to brew tea for the Holy Maiden, but she’s never satisfied.”
“I heard everything. You’re quite skilled. You managed to impress her with your first try.”
“Just lucky, haha.” Chen Yin scratched his head awkwardly.
…He couldn’t exactly tell him that the Holy Maiden had been drinking his tea for years.
“Alright, enough with the false modesty.”
Zhao Han said nonchalantly, “Hurry up and brew another pot. If you can please the Holy Maiden, your future will be bright.”
“I have something to do, so I’ll be going now.”
He hummed a tune and sauntered away.
Chen Yin watched him leave, his smile slowly fading.
His gaze followed Zhao Han, a thoughtful expression on his face. After a moment of contemplation, he returned to the kitchen, brewed another pot of tea for Yu Xiang, and then went back to the room where he had left the mysterious woman.
As soon as he entered the room, Chen Yin relaxed and addressed Luo Luo, who was hiding in the void.
“No one came by, right?”
“No, Young Master.”
“Good.”
He pulled the woman out of the chest and tossed her onto the floor, then sat down on a chair with a casual air.
“Alright. Finally, some peace and quiet.”
“Now, let’s see how I should deal with you.” He looked at the woman with a playful smile.
The woman glared at him, her beautiful eyes filled with anger. If her mouth weren’t gagged, she would probably be gnashing her teeth in fury.
“Luo Luo, do you know what girls are most afraid of?”
Luo Luo tilted her head thoughtfully and said softly, “Being told they have small breasts?”
“…I think that’s just you.”
Chen Yin glanced at the woman’s chest and coughed lightly.
His suggestive gaze made the woman blush with shame, her body trembling slightly.
“Anything more ruthless?”
“How about… tickling her feet?”
“Good idea.” Chen Yin slapped his thigh and, without hesitation, reached out with his “evil claws” towards the woman.
“You…!”
The woman, her mouth still gagged, let out muffled protests.
“Luo Luo, come and hold her down.”
“Yes, Young Master~”
They worked together, pinning the woman down and swiftly removing her shoes, revealing her delicate feet.
Even though she didn’t bind her feet, her naturally small feet were incredibly exquisite, as if meticulously sculpted, a sight to behold.
Chen Yin grabbed her foot and turned to Luo Luo.
“Do it.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Seeing Luo Luo grab her fluffy tail and both of them approach with mischievous grins, the woman’s eyes filled with terror.
“No… Mmm!! Wuwuu, wuuu, wuuu!!!”
***
For the next half hour, indescribable sounds echoed throughout the room.
Finally, Chen Yin and Luo Luo collapsed onto the floor, panting and drenched in sweat.
The woman lay limply on the ground, her eyes red and unfocused.
“Well? Are you going to talk?”
The woman remained silent.
“Still playing tough?” Chen Yin looked at her with surprise. “Fine, another half hour it is.”
At that moment, a soft whimper came from the woman.
Chen Yin removed the gag from her mouth. The woman’s voice was calm, though her body trembled as she stared at Chen Yin with a steely gaze.
“Kill me.”
“Nice try.”
Chen Yin scoffed. “You think you can just die after stabbing me so many times? Is my life that worthless?”
The woman’s expression remained unchanged, her eyes as deep and unreadable as a still pond.
Seeing her stubbornness, Chen Yin sat down on the floor and casually dusted off his hands.
“Actually… even if you don’t tell me, I can probably guess your background.”
“Firstly, you’re definitely not from the demonic path.”
The woman remained silent.
“The demonic sect’s main altar is so well hidden that no outsider could easily enter. So you must have followed me in.”
“I don’t believe anyone could follow me for so long without being detected. I’m not that careless.”
“You’ve been following me for less than a day.”
“And the only person I met within that time…”
“…was Senior Sister.” He murmured.
“You’re from the Mist Spirit Sect, aren’t you?”
The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her expression remained unchanged.
“It seems I was right.”
Chen Yin stretched lazily and said, “Since you weren’t following me but Senior Sister, that’s quite intriguing.”
“Senior Sister is the chief disciple of the Mist Spirit Sect. Why would she need to be monitored by the sect?”
“The only explanation is that she came into contact with something related to Changli Palace. And your main sect is worried.”
“I’ve heard rumors of a secret division within the Mist Spirit Sect, answerable only to the Sect Master.”
He chuckled softly. “It seems, Sister, you’re a member of that secret division.”
“How would a mere branch disciple know about the—”
The woman stopped mid-sentence, realizing her slip-up, and quickly closed her mouth.
“Haha, I told you, it’s just a rumor.”
Chen Yin laughed awkwardly, glossing over it.
…He had actually heard about the secret division during his five years at the main sect in his previous life.
The secret division’s existence was highly confidential. They handled matters that the sect didn’t want to be made public. Even ordinary disciples were kept in the dark about them.
Among ordinary disciples, the secret division was like an urban legend.
But in his previous life, he had encountered members of the secret division during a mission in a secret realm, so he knew they actually existed.
“It’s said that the secret division always has ten members, all elite assassins chosen and trained from a young age. They’re only replaced when one of them dies.”
“May I ask for your name, Miss?”
The woman snorted and turned her head away.
“Still not talking, huh?” Chen Yin sighed.
“Then let me ask a different question. Do you know someone named Qingchen?”
This time, the woman’s expression finally changed upon hearing the name.
“How… how do you know that name?” A flicker of panic appeared in her eyes.
…Oh, what a lucky coincidence. Chen Yin smiled.
“It seems you and Qingchen are quite close.”
“Tell me what I want to know, and I’ll tell you what I know about Qingchen.” He said in an unquestionable tone.
Hesitation appeared in the woman’s eyes for the first time, as if she was seriously considering his offer.
After a long silence, she finally spoke:
“…I’ll only answer three questions.”
“Ten.” Chen Yin said calmly.
“You!”
The woman glared at him, her teeth gritted.
“…Five at most, and I won’t reveal any sect secrets.”
“Please understand the situation. I’m not negotiating with you.”
The woman lowered her head in humiliation. After a long silence, she finally said:
“…Ten it is.”
“Deal.” Chen Yin agreed readily.
“First question, what’s your name?”
“…Qingying.” Her eyes were downcast as she spoke after a long pause.
Qingying? Chen Yin blinked and asked:
“Second question, what’s your mission this time?”
“To eliminate anyone who gets too close to the sect’s chief disciple.”
Chen Yin frowned slightly.
“That ruthless? Is it because of the Changli Palace incident?”
“…I don’t know.” Qingying looked at him intently.
Seeing her reluctance to speak, Chen Yin could only guess at her motives. He decided not to press further.
She was just an assassin following orders. He wouldn’t be able to extract much valuable information from her.
“Alright, as per our agreement.”
Qingying stared at him. “Tell me, how do you know Qingchen?”
This time, it was Chen Yin’s turn to hesitate.
He mentally calculated the time and said softly, “As a fellow member of the secret division, wasn’t he on a mission in a secret realm a few months ago?”
Qingying’s expression became even more uncertain.
“That’s… correct.”
“Then it all makes sense.”
Chen Yin closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:
“He…”
“…is most likely dead.” His voice was calm, with a hint of regret.
Qingying’s pupils constricted.
“Wh-what?! Impossible!”
She suddenly burst out, her voice laced with despair. “You’re lying! How could A’Chen be dead?”
“You’ve never even met him! You’re lying to me, aren’t you?!”
“Speaking of appearances,” Chen Yin ignored her outburst and said softly, “You and he do resemble each other.”
“You’re his sister, aren’t you?”
Qingying collapsed to the ground, staring at him in a daze.
“You must have heard of that secret realm.”
Chen Yin continued, “The Azure Cicada Ancient Domain. It’s said to be the mansion of an ancient Immortal.”
The largest and most mysterious secret realm on the continent. It was one of the few secret realms that didn’t have cultivation restrictions, allowing anyone to enter. It was so vast that even after years of exploration, the cultivation world had only scratched the surface.
And because of that, countless cultivators ventured into the Ancient Domain every year, hoping for a chance to achieve great power and fortune.
…But many of them perished within its depths.
“Your brother, while on a mission, fell into the most dangerous and rewarding part of the Ancient Domain. Like almost everyone who went there, he couldn’t survive for more than half an hour before being obliterated.”
“But he was a man of integrity. Before he died, he left a voice transmission jade as his last words.”
“That’s how I came to know him.” Chen Yin said with a neutral expression.
Qingying listened to his story in a daze, her eyes filled with sadness.
“Then, how do you know all this?”
“Me?”
Chen Yin chuckled wryly, his eyes distant and lonely.
“Because…”
“…I’m the only one who came out of that place alive.”
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