Chapter 69: Now That I'm Here, I Have to Take Something
"No matter how you look at it, the source of your fear ultimately stems from Ji Wuye."
Qin Xuan gazed at the General's Mansion, the most conspicuous building in Xinzheng City, a playful smile touching his lips. "Just now, when Bai Feng was about to lose control, you were probably going to make a bet with him, weren't you? See if you could save the white bird without harming the hawk, just to distract him."
"So, how about we make a bet, too?"
Hearing this, Mo Ya immediately had a bad premonition. Is he going to use Bai Feng against me?
As if reading his mind, Qin Xuan said calmly, "Don't worry, I'm not interested in the fledgling beside you. Let's bet on whether I can eliminate the fear in your heart. If I win, you come with me and serve me from now on."
"And if you lose, sir?" Mo Ya asked, breathing a quiet sigh of relief.
"Then you can continue to be Ji Wuye's hawks." Red light surged from Qin Xuan's right hand, and to the astonishment of Mo Ya and Bai Feng, a golden longsword materialized and flew out from his palm. He leaped onto it. "Who is the owner of the Sparrow Pavilion tonight?"
"It seems to be a woman named Nong Yu," Mo Ya replied after a moment's hesitation.
So, today is the day of 'Empty Mountain Birdsong,' Qin Xuan thought to himself. He said nothing more, simply stepping onto the flying sword and heading straight for Xinzheng City, disappearing into the afterglow of the setting sun.
Once Qin Xuan was gone, the jungle fell silent again.
Bai Feng crossed his arms, his tone laced with anger. "Don't you know Ji Wuye is a man who can't tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes?" At this point, Mo Ya had not yet introduced him to Nong Yu, but he knew Ji Wuye's cruelty all too well. If word of Mo Ya revealing the Sparrow Pavilion's owner reached the General's ears, even for such a trivial matter, he would not be let off easily.
Mo Ya, however, was unconcerned. He looked toward the Sparrow Pavilion, the tallest structure in the General's Mansion, and said with a smirk, "Do you think Ji Wuye is going to survive the night?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the magnificent Sparrow Pavilion burst into a raging fire, which quickly spread throughout the entire General's Mansion. The intense flames illuminated the night sky above Xinzheng City, soaring so high they seemed to burn the clouds themselves.
Inside the burning pavilion, a woman's eyes were as calm as autumn water. She sat still, her hands poised as if she were still playing the zither. She didn't move until she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
"All the servants have fled. Why haven't you?"
Qin Xuan touched the jade crown on his head. Jing Ni had prepared it for him for traveling between worlds. While it looked handsome, wearing something on his head still felt uncomfortable.
The woman stood up gracefully. "Some people's fates are decided from the very beginning. My fate lies here."
[System Profile: Nong Yu, 17 years old. Only daughter of Li Kai, former Right Sima of Han, and Madam Hu of Baiyue's Fire Rain Villa. Spirit Power Level 25 (internal cultivation converted). Spirit: Zither (unawakened). Talent: A+. Favorability: 55 (Curious)]
Qin Xuan glanced at Nong Yu's system panel. "You are very brave," he said, "but also very foolish."
"Perhaps. But I think... my goal has been achieved." Nong Yu slowly turned around. She seemed slightly taken aback by the newcomer's appearance, pausing for a moment as her star-like eyes, once calm, rippled with surprise.
From the moment she entered the Sparrow Pavilion, she had been prepared for her assassination attempt on Ji Wuye to fail. She had even brought poison to end her own life, knowing it was an impossible mission. But when the pavilion caught fire, she knew that tonight was Ji Wuye's doom. For a woman like her, living in such a chaotic world, death was perhaps a liberation.
"Whether your goal is achieved depends on me, not you," Qin Xuan stated coolly. "Ji Wuye's life and death are in my hands now. As are the lives of the companions who sent a weak woman like you to assassinate him."
Hearing this, Nong Yu, who had been prepared to embrace death, finally panicked. "This was my choice! It has nothing to do with them."
'They' naturally referred to Wei Zhuang, Zither, and Princess Honglian. As for Han Fei, he had already left for the Qin State and was likely long gone.
Qin Xuan didn't answer directly, instead tossing a golden card at her. "I said, the choice is mine. You can think of this card as an ancient contract. Someone has already signed it before you. Although her fate has since been in my hands, she is living very well and very happily now."
It was the same card he had used to recruit Jing Ni. After the recruitment was successful, Jing Ni's image had disappeared from it, but the card itself remained. Though he couldn't use it to travel anymore, Qin Xuan wanted to see if others could sign it. If it worked, it would be a huge gain—a way to subdue subordinates without ever worrying about betrayal. Of course, the contracting party had to sign voluntarily.
"What do you want me to do?" Nong Yu asked, catching the card.
"I don't know if a second signing is possible, but you need to drip a drop of your blood onto it."
"If the contract is successful, you will be my personal maid from now on. If it fails... I don't know what will happen. But in return, Ji Wuye will die, and your companions will live," Qin Xuan said, deliberately exaggerating the threat.
In reality, he had no intention of harming Wei Zhuang or the others. And he was going to kill Ji Wuye regardless, simply because he found the man annoying in his previous life. As for Nong Yu, since he was already here, he might as well take something with him. He just so happened to be in need of a personal maid.
"Is it true? As long as I become your maid, my companions will be safe?" Nong Yu bit her lip, needing to be sure. Compared to Ji Wuye's fate, she was far more concerned about the safety of her friends.
Qin Xuan nodded slowly.
Receiving his confirmation, Nong Yu bit her fingertip without hesitation and let a drop of blood fall onto the card. A familiar connection was established between them in that unseen space, just as it had with Jing Ni. It seemed if Nong Yu ever tried to betray him, he could subdue her with a single thought.
Qin Xuan retrieved the card with a smile. "Congratulations. You've made the right choice."
"I hope you keep your word, sir," Nong Yu said, her address now respectful.
"Of course. Bring Ji Wuye in," Qin Xuan said with a grin.
As he spoke, another man identical to Qin Xuan walked in, holding Ji Wuye's battle saber and carrying his corpse over his shoulder, much to Nong Yu's shock. Mo Ya and Bai Feng followed him inside.
"It seems you've made your choice," the other 'Qin Xuan' said, before transforming into golden, flame-like energy and merging back into Qin Xuan's body.
Qin Xuan turned his back to the two assassins. "So, have you?"