Chapter 259: Woman Born in Yin Hour

“If you’re staying, come out, but don’t use the word ‘roll.’” Chu Danqing replied, then descended with Yang Qianyuan.

The man who had shouted flashed a cold sneer, but it froze instantly.

Because behind them, besides the two of them and Da Bao, walked eight towering Golden Warrior monks.

Eighty-one men in total, their collective aura forming a faint golden web that pressed down, making everyone in the inn tremble uncontrollably.

“Your Excellency, what may I do for you?” the female innkeeper asked Chu Danqing with forced politeness.

“What do you mean, ‘what may I do for you’? That man called me out—there was nothing to begin with.” Chu Danqing shrugged, shifting blame with a half-smile.

This was a classic diversion—the moment he spoke, the others glared hatred at the man who had shouted.

Why did you open your mouth? Now you’ve drawn them down on us.

“What’s her situation?” Chu Danqing pointed at the bound woman.

The innkeeper hurried to explain: “This woman owes our proprietor money—we had no choice.”

Before she finished, Da Bao slapped her across the face. The Spirit Flame Black Fox tried to shield her but was too slow; by the time it reacted, the innkeeper had already been flung backward.

Then Da Bao’s claws pierced the Spirit Flame Black Fox’s body, and with a single shake, tore it into a pile of shredded flesh.

The stunned innkeeper, reeling from the blow, felt the backlash surge as her Purple Mansion spirit beast died—blood gushed from all seven orifices, and she vomited a great mouthful of crimson.

She collapsed instantly, unconscious.

Chu Danqing watched, utterly speechless.

Summoning specialists are inherently vulnerable, and this trial world makes the bond bidirectional.

When the spirit beast dies, the master suffers linked damage—irreversible, too. It’s a trap.

“Don’t try to fool me with that,” Chu Danqing said calmly. “Honesty benefits everyone.”

“Since Your Excellency speaks so plainly, we’ll stop hiding,” said the man who had shouted earlier. “We seven siblings serve Prince Ning.”

“This woman is specifically requested by Prince Ning.”

“We humbly ask Your Excellency to grant this favor, out of respect for Prince Ning,” the man bowed respectfully.

Da Bao didn’t move—meaning they spoke truthfully. But truth doesn’t guarantee honesty—perhaps they were bluffing with a tiger’s skin.

“Prince Ning would want some country girl like this? Do you take me for a fool?” Chu Danqing said. Da Bao raised a claw to teach him another lesson.

“If I speak one false word, I welcome a thousand cuts and ten thousand slices,” the man rushed to explain. “This woman was born in the Yin year, Yin month, Yin day, Yin hour—and her primordial Yin remains intact.”

Yang Qianyuan looked at the bound woman with a strange expression—this Yin timing was too precise.

He understood time being Yin, but for a woman her age to still retain her primordial Yin? That was rare indeed.

Chu Danqing narrowed his eyes—he could guess why someone would seek such a person.

Obviously to evolve a spirit beast—but not through orthodox methods. This was demonic cultivation.

But Prince Ning holds high rank and power—he might have ways to eliminate side effects.

Just because ordinary people don’t know doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

“How many do you need?” Chu Danqing asked.

Now the inn’s purpose made sense.

“We don’t know,” the man confessed. “A month ago, Prince Ning sent us seven brothers to wait here for handover. Someone will deliver her—we just transport her back.”

He knew little—he was just a courier. How could he possibly know the full truth?

He had suspicions, but no proof.

“I have one question: if Prince Ning is running around like this, how hasn’t the Emperor noticed?” Chu Danqing asked Yang Qianyuan.

Secretly breeding Yecha soldiers, kidnapping women born at Yin hours.

And it’s happening everywhere—yet no one seems to notice, as if he’s invisible.

“Prince Ning bribed the Eight Tigers and has connections throughout the ranks,” Yang Qianyuan explained. “It’s not that no one notices—it’s that most don’t realize he’s preparing to rebel. They think he’s just enriching himself.”

Prince Ning’s disguise was too perfect. No one suspected treason.

The men froze at the word “rebellion” from Yang Qianyuan’s mouth.

They knew they were doing dirty, grueling work for Prince Ning—but the pay was good.

Yet even they didn’t know he planned rebellion.

“You two mustn’t speak recklessly!” the man said quickly. “Prince Ning is renowned throughout court and countryside as a virtuous lord—how dare you slander him?”

They could accept that he was hypocritical, even cruel—they’d done his dirty work.

But rebellion? That was an exaggeration.

Chu Danqing said, “Enough. Time’s up.”

“You’ve nothing more to say. Questioning you further is just wasting my time.”

Da Bao moved instantly. The men weren’t about to surrender quietly.

Some fought back; others tried to flee.

But none escaped death—all became Da Bao’s clawed victims.

After the men and their spirit beasts died, a Fine-grade chest appeared. Da Bao retrieved it effortlessly.

No shimmering runes—nothing valuable inside.

Quality has depreciated. A Rank 1 Fine-grade item now equals what was once a Reserve-grade Excellent item.

Most Rank 1 Acolytes, after promotion, gain at least one Fine-grade item after one or two trials.

After promotion, the Paradise grants a gear-up bonus in the first trial to ensure survival.

After stowing the chest, one of the Golden Warrior monks freed the bound woman.

She had looked delicate moments before, but seeing the corpses of the kidnappers, her fiery temper flared.

She launched into a torrent of ancestral curses.

“Miss… let’s calm down, have some water,” Chu Danqing said when she finally paused, offering her a bowl.

She wasn’t truly angry—she was putting on a front, a shield to protect herself from further harm.

If she appeared crude and vulgar, her threat level rose—and no one would dare touch her.

Chu Danqing had saved her, but she wouldn’t risk her life betting on his true intentions—especially after he mentioned her birth time.

Someone had come all this way to kidnap her—she clearly had value.

After a pause, she took the water Chu Danqing offered and drank it down—she was under his roof.

After drinking, she said, “Thank you, Master, for saving me. If not for you, I’d have been ruined.”

The woman’s name was Li Fengjie. She claimed to be from Meilong Town, out buying goods this morning when these men ambushed her.

After being moved around all day, she was finally brought to this remote inn.

Had she not met Chu Danqing, she’d have been shipped out again tonight.

Then her fate would have been dire.

From Li Fengjie, Chu Danqing learned the inn’s crew weren’t the original kidnappers—they were merely a transit point, as he’d suspected.

The real source was in Meilong Town.

Who exactly? She didn’t know. One moment she was walking down the road, the next—blackout. When she came to, she was here, in this wilderness inn.

“What a coincidence—we’re heading to Meilong Town too,” Chu Danqing said. “We’re newcomers. We’d appreciate your help.”

Li Fengjie felt strange—these two had the bearing and attire of nobles, yet spoke so politely, and had saved her. They couldn’t be bad.

“Master, you flatter me—what help? Anything you need in Meilong Town, just find Sister Feng.”

“I’ve got some influence in Meilong Town,” Li Fengjie patted her chest.

Yang Qianyuan thought this woman must be from the streets—no refined lady would speak like this.

Chu Danqing felt nothing unusual—he’d met plenty like her.

“Sister Feng, you vanished all day—your family must be frantic. Do you want to leave now or wait until morning?” Chu Danqing asked.

Someone missing—family would be frantic.

Chu Danqing’s group could travel at night without issue—he had his 100,000-lumen flashlight.

Li Fengjie glanced at the sky: “It’s too dark to travel now. Let’s leave at first light.”

Night roads aren’t safe.

“Fine. We’ll wait until tomorrow.”

“Sister Feng, eat something first, then rest in a room. I’ll wake you in the morning.”

“You too, Qianyuan. I’ll handle cleanup,” Chu Danqing said, pulling out a prepared meal and handing it to Li Fengjie.

Li Fengjie didn’t refuse—she’d been bound all day, only drank water. Of course she was hungry.

She took the food, thanked him, and went upstairs to find a room. Yang Qianyuan asked if he could help.

After being refused, he followed her upstairs.

The Golden Warrior monks dragged the corpses outside.

Chu Danqing sat in the inn’s main hall and opened the chest.

【You opened: Chest (Fine-grade). Obtained: Moonshadow Demon Essence Armor, Baiqi Forging Bone Pill, Paradise Points ×2500】

【Moonshadow Demon Essence Armor】

【Type: Equipment · Light Armor】

【Quality: Fine】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Defense: 50】

【Moonlit Dash (Active): Consume 500 MP. Increase movement speed by 100% for 5 minutes. Cooldown: 5 minutes】

[Rushing Under the Moon (Active): Consumes 500 mana points, increases movement speed by 100% for 5 minutes, cooldown of 5 minutes]

[Beast Intimidation (Passive): 20% chance to induce a 1-second flinch state when attacked by beast-type enemies]

[Thunder and Flame Tempering (Passive): Increases lightning and fire resistance by 15%]

[Equipment Requirement: Basic Summoning Skill Lv.5, Agility 15, Constitution 18]

——

[Hundred Qi Bone Strengthening Pill]

[Type: Consumable]

[Quality: Fine]

[Effect 1: Restores 5% of maximum HP over 10 minutes]

[Effect 2: Accumulates 5,000 points of medicinal power within the body; after assimilation, advances progression of inheritance-based skills]

(Note: For permanent summons only. Apostles who use this bear full responsibility for consequences.)

(End of Chapter)