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If Qing Xunwei's fighting style had to be described in a single word, it would be dominant.
Powerful gales roared around her arms as she launched wind blades toward incoming attacks. Surprisingly—her wind blades possessed barely half the power of her enemies' strikes.
Yet for some reason, her wind blades effortlessly neutralized every sharp Qi gust flying her way.
Qing Xuanling narrowed her eyes, deeply pondering how she accomplished this. It was a capability Qing Xunwei hadn't displayed before.
"She's striking the core of the enemy attacks."
Qing Hanlin suddenly spoke while withdrawing a slender, pointed silver rapier from his spatial ring.
"Everything in this world has a core—but not everyone can see it. Those possessing this strange ability wield terrifying combat power, though they're typically deficient in close combat… But Xunwei lacks that weakness."
Qing Xuanling turned back to Qing Xunwei's battle and couldn't help but agree. Though she primarily neutralized ranged attacks, she was equally formidable in close combat.
Fierce winds swirled around her body—easily slicing anyone who suddenly approached—coupled with her astonishing movement speed.
Qing Xunwei could instantly distance herself from enemies even if caught off guard.
Thanks to all this, Qing Xunwei effortlessly faced four opponents—nearly on the verge of victory.
Naturally, the relatively balanced situation shattered the moment Qing Xuanling and the others arrived.
Needless to say—the members of Qing Xuanling's team also possessed extraordinary combat power.
Qing Tanwei rushed to aid Qing Muyu as a heavy yet sharp yellow aura enveloped her body. Her footsteps left imprints on the ground as she instantly reached the enemies. Her fists struck with swiftness—incapacitating Ink Sword Sect enforcers on impact.
The others also rushed to assist—including Qing Xuanling. She went to help the twins alongside Qing Huayan, unsheathing Memory and effortlessly defeating enforcers whose sword skills appeared quite deficient in Qing Xuanling's eyes.
As she fought, she couldn't help but glance toward Qing Hanlin—who'd gone to aid Qing Xunwei.
He sprinted toward her rapier in hand, his normally drowsy eyes now brimming with killing intent. His footwork was confusing—rendering his figure blurred and difficult to track.
Relying on this, he reached behind one enforcer unnoticed. He seized the opportunity—thrusting his rapier toward the enforcer's nape!
A silver flash gleamed briefly before the enforcer's body suddenly froze—like a puppet with severed strings.
Puishh!
Suddenly, a jet of blood sprayed from the back of the enforcer's head. Immediately afterward, his body collapsed to the ground.
Qing Xuanling was momentarily stunned. She hadn't seen Qing Hanlin's rapier during the strike! It was so fast she'd lost sight of it entirely!
She swallowed hard while watching him finish the remaining enforcers alongside Qing Xunwei. She'd already realized—but the people on her team were all monsters.
She couldn't help but shake her head while watching Qing Wentian's golden-red flames incinerate an enforcer to ashes…
She sighed and rapidly accelerated her attacks to eliminate all enemies. Within a minute—not a single enemy remained alive.
"What happened?" Qing Tanwei asked while wiping blood from her face. "I know you likely couldn't avoid drawing attention while seeking information—but how did you end up in such a remote location…?"
Qing Muyu scratched his head sheepishly. "Jajaja—it was my fault… A man offered to take us to a place where we could obtain clandestine auction information. Though we hesitated initially, I thought it was an opportunity I couldn't miss. Unfortunately—it truly was a trap."
Qing Xuanling sighed. Qing Muyu's reasoning hadn't been wrong. Though somewhat reckless, they truly hadn't encountered much danger. Even without Qing Xuanling's group arriving, Qing Muyu's team could've overcome the situation without injury.
She likely would've made the same decision in a similar situation.
Still—this wasn't good for them now.
"We should leave. I sense reinforcements might arrive soon." Qing Xuanling sheathed her sword. "Let's not waste more time. We'll be finished if surrounded within Ink Sword Sect territory."
The others nodded and quickly returned the way they had come. But Qing Huayan hadn't moved from her spot.
She clicked her tongue while regarding them. "Guys—you're forgetting something…?"
The others looked confused at Qing Huayan's disappointed expression. Finally, she sighed in disappointment and began rummaging through the lifeless bodies scattered on the ground.
"War spoils!" She disrespectfully tore the corpses' clothing, searching for storage pouches or anything valuable. "We must seize everything we can from the Ink Sword Sect! So move—and start inspecting the bodies!"
Qing Xuanling and the others shared the same blank expression for a few moments before reacting and beginning to desecrate the corpses with expressionless faces. There was nothing wrong with collecting the loot that rightfully belonged to them...
They departed afterward.
Ten minutes after they left—
"A full team eliminated in under twenty minutes…"
A figure clad entirely in black suddenly appeared while murmuring with a vexed expression. He coldly inspected his subordinates' corpses and couldn't help but click his tongue in disdain.
"These idiots seem to have been unilaterally beaten!" The figure gritted his teeth while kicking the corpses. "The idiots couldn't even make the enemy shed a single drop of blood!"
Strangely confident about that last claim, the figure withdrew a small circular metal device from his pocket. He pressed the device's center and rotated it—repeating the process six times.
When finished, a voice crackled with slight static from the small metal device.
[Control center here. Battalion 0-4 Captain—please state the reason for your call.]
The figure spat on the ground while venturing into the eastern district's desolate streets. His voice turned dark as he reported.
"A full team from my battalion was just annihilated—leaving no trace of the enemy. I request authorization to mobilize five hunting hounds and a diviner from the sect given the upcoming clandestine auction."
The voice from the metal device took thirty seconds to respond.
[…Request approved. Five hunting hounds and one diviner will be dispatched to your battalion within the hour.]
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Qing Xuanling's face darkened. She never imagined that in just one hour she would be forced into such a precarious situation. Even so, she tried hard to maintain a friendly expression as she greeted the middle-aged woman in front of her.
"Thank you for letting us in…"
Qing Xuanling smiled sheepishly at the mortal woman before her.
The mortal woman shook her head and smiled reverently. "It's an honor to host ten young immortals in my home. On the contrary—I apologize for having nothing to offer… I currently possess nothing worthy for your excellencies' tasting."
The others smiled uncomfortably at the mortal woman's hospitality—she appeared to be in her forties with wrinkles covering her face. It was rare for someone with such an aged appearance to be so reverent toward them…
Qing Xuanling ignored the others' discomfort and asked with sufficient courtesy. "Do you have a room where we might gather…? I have matters to discuss with my companions—and it wouldn't be appropriate for you to overhear."
The woman's eyes filled with terror as she hastily nodded. "My daughter's room is available! She's currently working—so please feel free to use it for y-your discussion!"
The woman trembled slightly while quickly guiding them to a room at the house's rear.
The room they entered was small and simple—containing only a bed and a mirror-topped dresser. Beyond that—nothing else. Like the rest of the mortal woman's house—simple and empty.
Qing Huayan sighed while sitting on the room's bed, frowning slightly at the mattress's hardness.
"Good thing that mortal allowed us to hide here. I didn't expect the Ink Sword Sect to act so swiftly…"
The others also sighed. None had anticipated anything happening.
Barely an hour after their departure, they'd noticed several black-clad figures beginning to patrol the streets.
Worse—while moving, Qing Xunwei and Qing Hanlin sensed someone tailing them as they headed toward the location where they'd obtain the clandestine auction information.
With few options—they had no choice but to lose their tail and hide in an ordinary mortal's home.
Qing Wentian collapsed to the floor wearily. "They're cautious, miserly bastards. I think we should wait until nightfall before venturing out again. Otherwise—I doubt we can walk undetected in broad daylight."
"I heard from my elders that the Ink Sword Sect possesses the city's finest trackers—so that's a given." Qing Muyu frowned. "Actually—we're not even entirely safe here. The Ink Sword Sect's methods aren't ordinary."
Qing Xuanling's expression darkened several shades upon hearing this. She was unaware that the sword sect also specialized in tracking people.
"You! Why didn't you mention something like this earlier?!" Qing Xuanling leaped to her feet. "Now we've endangered the mortal woman who helped us!"
She brought a hand to her forehead. First of all, the mortal had already hesitated to help them. The sole reason she agreed was apparently their youthful appearances—which reminded her of her daughter.
Otherwise, Qing Xuanling and the others would still be searching for hiding places now.
Qing Muyu showed a trace of remorse—but still retorted. "We had no time to search for another hiding place! Besides—they might not find us! I don't think they'd search every mortal home they see…"
Qing Xuanling clenched her fists. She could see Qing Muyu had been fully aware of the mortal woman's danger from the start—yet remained silent. His priorities were obvious.
Just as she was about to curse him—a voice interrupted.
"Stop causing discord within the team." Qing Tanwei spoke with heavy solemnity. "Though I understand your anger, Ninth Sister—Third Brother's decision was correct. We needed a hiding place—regardless of consequences."
Qing Xuanling's fist opened and closed several times—her expression complex. But in the end—she sighed and sat back down.
'I also agreed to hide in a mortal's home despite knowing it would endanger them. I have no right to complain now…'
Qing Xuanling closed her eyes—silently praying nothing would happen to the kind mortal woman who'd sheltered them.
The others also wore somewhat guilty expressions as silence fell. Time passed swiftly in that strange atmosphere.
Before they realized it—night had arrived.
The mortal woman entered the room after knocking. She carried a tray with a teapot and several cups.
"I found some tea while searching the house's storage—I hope you enjoy it…" The woman lowered her head while placing the tray on the floor.
Qing Xuanling observed the woman's calloused, neglected hands. Her heart stirred slightly as she recalled the aunts from her clan's mortal zone who'd cared for her in childhood.
She watched the woman's retreating back and—before realizing it—opened her mouth.
"What's your name?"
Qing Xuanling belatedly realized she'd never asked the woman's name.
The mortal woman turned with surprise—regarding Qing Xuanling incredulously. She hastily replied. "My name is Ji M-mimi, Immortal… I'm grateful you learned my name…"
Ji Mimi's eyes were bright.
Qing Xuanling nodded slightly—surprised by Ji Mimi's emotional reaction to her simply asking her name. She hadn't expected such a simple question to move her so deeply.
She smiled faintly. In her heart—she vowed to repay the favor of sheltering them someday.
Unfortunately, the fate of a cultivator was far too heavy for mere mortals. Most, with few exceptions, ended up crushed under karma that wasn't theirs to bear.