Chapter 198: A Bloody Scene

A Bloody Scene

Nie Jinxuan's voice was calm. Hearing this, Yin Fengzhan, standing before her, raised an eyebrow.

"Are you unwilling?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No!"

"Then why ask!"

Hearing Yin Fengzhan's unhesitating answer, Nie Jinxuan felt her anger rising. She stood up, placed the cup on the table, and sat back down on the edge of the bed.

"But if you bring me out like this, my family..."

"No need to worry, I've already arranged everything!"

Yin Fengzhan answered crisply. Nie Jinxuan was stunned. Seeing this, Yin Fengzhan pursed his thin lips and explained in a low voice.

It turned out that while Yin Fengzhan was kneeling at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he had been having Zhongli secretly monitor the movements of various factions in the capital. With his strength, ordinary martial artists couldn't get close to Nie Jinxuan. But this morning, Yin Fengzhan heard that someone had issued an Underworld King Order, and he realized he had truly met a formidable opponent!

Of course, Yin Fengzhan didn't know much about the martial arts world, but the power of the Underworld King Order was so great that even many martial artists who had been eager to try were shaken. This made Yin Fengzhan's heart sink. Therefore, after receiving this news, he made arrangements and personally took Nie Jinxuan away that very night.

Of course, while taking Nie Jinxuan away, Yin Fengzhan also made preparations at the Nie residence, notifying Shui Yun to forbid anyone from approaching Nie Jinxuan's residence under the guise of safety.

It wasn't a perfect solution, but it would be enough to hold out for just three days.

Yin Fengzhan gave a rough summary. Listening to his deep voice, cold yet serious, Nie Jinxuan was entranced. When he finished, she just watched him quietly, without blinking.

Seeing that Nie Jinxuan remained silent for a long time, Yin Fengzhan frowned and reflexively turned his head, meeting her entranced gaze.

For an instant, the world seemed to stand still. The two stared at each other in silence, surrounded by a faint, lingering sense of warmth and ambiguity...

But a moment later, Nie Jinxuan regained her senses, her face flushed red, and she turned her head away abruptly.

Nie Jinxuan felt her face burning. Seeing her flushed cheeks, a flash of tenderness appeared in Yin Fengzhan's eyes, but he turned his head away and said in a low voice,

"Actually, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just... I'm not used to it yet..."

Yin Fengzhan rarely spoke of his own affairs. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan, who had been shy, was stunned and turned to look at the man beside her.

"And, the last time..."

Yin Fengzhan spoke slowly and stopped. Looking at his silent expression, Nie Jinxuan pursed her lips and said in a low voice,

"Because of Noble Consort Ning, right!"

Nie Jinxuan said it with certainty. Yin Fengzhan remained silent, but after a long while, he nodded slowly.

A rare look of desolation appeared on Yin Fengzhan's face. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan felt a tightness in her heart and, without thinking, placed her hand gently on his.

"If you don't want to talk about it, then don't... But I hope you will tell me in the future."

Nie Jinxuan's voice was soft. As she finished, she squeezed his hand gently with her soft, boneless fingers. Feeling her warmth, Yin Fengzhan turned his head and met her eyes again.

"... Hmm."

No one is heartless; Nie Jinxuan knew Yin Fengzhan's kindness toward her. So, even though they had been arguing fiercely not long ago, when a real crisis hit, even a single word of concern could instantly collapse the solid walls they had built!

Of course, Nie Jinxuan also knew. Perhaps Yin Fengzhan didn't fully trust her yet, but at this moment, Nie Jinxuan suddenly felt that none of that mattered.

Afterward, Yin Fengzhan gave Nie Jinxuan a few more instructions and left.

Time flew by. Yin Fengzhan was gone for two days, and then suddenly appeared on the night of the third day.

Nie Jinxuan knew that as soon as dawn broke, she would have to enter the palace. So when she saw him arrive, she stood up from the bed.

"You're here. How are things? Have these past few days been alright?"

"Hmm."

Nie Jinxuan was worried about her family. Hearing this, Yin Fengzhan nodded and stepped toward Nie Jinxuan.

"Everything is fine, don't worry. You've suffered these past few days."

Yin Fengzhan's voice was soft. Nie Jinxuan looked up at him, smiled, and shook her head.

Nie Jinxuan was as gentle as a lotus. Watching her, Yin Fengzhan lowered his eyes, a touch of tenderness in them. He continued,

"Hmm, alright, let's go. Get the account book first, then tidy up; it's almost time."

He turned and walked ahead. Watching his back, Nie Jinxuan walked toward the bed instead.

Sensing that Nie Jinxuan hadn't followed, Yin Fengzhan paused and turned his head.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. I'm just tidying up here. After all, this is Second Sister's sacred ground. I've already felt guilty for hiding here; I can't leave it in a mess."

Nie Jinxuan said calmly. She stood up and walked over.

"Alright, let's go."

"Hmm, alright."

He nodded and turned to walk out... But just as he turned, Nie Jinxuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she instantly pulled a dagger from her sleeve and stabbed it fiercely into Yin Fengzhan's back!

"Ugh—"

Nie Jinxuan didn't know martial arts, but she had used all her strength. Instantly, Yin Fengzhan let out a pained groan and turned to look at Nie Jinxuan.

Yin Fengzhan's face was full of pain, bright red blood flowing from the wound on his back. The pungent, fishy scent of blood instantly filled the air.

Looking at the man hunched over in pain, Nie Jinxuan's usually calm, beautiful face was filled with frost. She held the dagger, blood dripping from the blade onto the floor, her eyes filled with an unprecedented coldness.

"Jinxuan, you..."

"Who are you?"

Yin Fengzhan asked in disbelief. Nie Jinxuan interrupted him without hesitation. Yin Fengzhan froze and frowned.

"Jinxuan, what are you saying?! Who am I?! I am Fengzhan, of course!"

Yin Fengzhan was confused. Nie Jinxuan smiled, then stopped, and said coldly,

"Fengzhan? Which Fengzhan?"

"Yin Fengzhan, of course!"

"You're lying!"

She raised her voice, her tone sharp and filled with unquestionable certainty.

"You are not Yin Fengzhan... because he would never call my name so easily, he would never say sweet nothings like 'you've suffered,' and he would never show such obvious smiles and tenderness..."

Nie Jinxuan spoke word by word, narrowing her eyes as she stared straight at the man.

"And more importantly, you just said to get the account book first, which means you think I've hidden it somewhere else... But I tell you, Yin Fengzhan has never asked me about the account book, nor has he even mentioned it. So why are you so certain it's hidden somewhere else?"

In truth, Nie Jinxuan hadn't questioned the man's identity at first. But later, when he said the second sentence, she realized something was wrong.

Because, in Nie Jinxuan's eyes, Yin Fengzhan was always cold, reserved, serious, but very childish at heart. He would never say sweet nothings, only express himself through actions.

At the time, she had only been suspicious, not certain. But when he brought up the account book, her heart sank, and she was certain the man before her was absolutely not Yin Fengzhan!

So, when he was about to leave, she walked back to the bed, quickly hid the dagger she had kept under the long couch in her sleeve, and struck when he was off guard!

Because Nie Jinxuan knew she couldn't leave this secret room. Doing this was dangerous, but if she left, Yin Fengzhan wouldn't be able to find her later. And she believed Yin Fengzhan would arrive soon.

Nie Jinxuan waited. The man, who had been in pain, froze, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he quickly pressed several acupuncture points on his body.

The man stopped the bleeding. Nie Jinxuan's pupils shrank, and she reflexively held the blood-dripping dagger to her chest.

"I don't know who you are, and I don't want to know who sent you. But I advise you to leave here immediately! Otherwise, when Yin Fengzhan arrives, it won't be so easy for you to leave!"

That he knew martial arts was within her expectations. She tried to threaten him, hoping he would leave. The man chuckled and stood up straight, looking at Nie Jinxuan.

"Nie Jinxuan, I didn't expect you to be as clever as the rumors say. It seems I truly underestimated you..."

"It's not that you underestimated me; it's that your acting is terrible."

"Hmph, say what you will!"

The man's tone changed, and he stared at Nie Jinxuan, ignoring the dagger and her words.

"Nie Jinxuan, you are a smart person, so I won't waste words... Where is the account book?"

"Do you think I'll tell you?"

"You won't?!"

The man raised an eyebrow, a sinister, evil smile on his lips, and his eyes began to roam over Nie Jinxuan's body.

"You just said, why would I be certain it was hidden elsewhere... Does that mean the account book is on you?"

The man's gaze became increasingly brazen. Nie Jinxuan's heart tightened, but she remained calm.

"Hmph! Do you think I would carry it with me?"

"Oh~, so it's not on you..."

The man's voice grew softer, but then he flashed forward, kicked the dagger from Nie Jinxuan's hand, and grabbed her by the throat.

"Nie Jinxuan, don't force me! Speak! Where is the account book?"

The man had finally acted. Yin Fengzhan hadn't arrived yet. Nie Jinxuan felt indescribable fear, suppressed her pain, and struggled to say,

"Death... even if I die, I won't tell... tell you!"

"Death?!"

Looking at Nie Jinxuan's twisted face, the man raised an eyebrow.

"Hmph, Nie Jinxuan, do you think I don't dare kill you?! Let me tell you, having the account book is best, but if not... it doesn't matter!"

As he finished, killing intent flashed in his eyes, and he applied pressure... Just then, a dark shadow flashed in, a flash of blood, and with a 'thud,' the man's head rolled into a corner...

Everything happened too fast, making Nie Jinxuan forget everything for a moment. When she regained her senses, she stared in horror—

Right before her eyes, blood was gushing from the neck of the headless corpse. The man's hand was still clutching her throat, but his head was gone!

A bloody scene, so gruesome that even Nie Jinxuan, who was used to blood, was speechless. She slowly turned her head and saw the man's blood-soaked head.

His neck was still bleeding, his eyes were wide open, his mouth agape, as if he wanted to say something, or as if he didn't know what had happened until he died!

Nie Jinxuan was terrified.

Just then, she felt the warm hand that had been clutching her throat disappear. Then, with a 'bang,' the headless corpse was kicked into a corner like a doll, and a shout rang in her ears.

"Are you alright!"

The voice was familiar and urgent, filled with obvious tension. Nie Jinxuan froze, looked up, and met a pair of deep eyes!

"... Fengzhan..."

She whispered unconsciously. She reached out to touch the man's face. Seeing her stunned expression and feeling her soft, boneless hand caressing his face, Yin Fengzhan felt a tightness in his heart, and his eyes filled with indescribable tension and worry.

"Ah, it's me."

Yin Fengzhan never knew how to comfort others, but listening to his voice and looking into his eyes, Nie Jinxuan finally recovered from her shock. After staring at him for a moment, she threw herself into his arms.

Nie Jinxuan didn't cry; she just wanted his warm, solid chest to warm her. Yin Fengzhan let out a breath and hugged her.

Time passed, and they held each other quietly. Nie Jinxuan didn't cry or complain like an ordinary woman, and Yin Fengzhan didn't say any sweet words of comfort. But his powerful hands slowly stroked Nie Jinxuan's back, one by one, very gently.

After a while, Nie Jinxuan breathed a sigh of relief, pushed Yin Fengzhan away, and looked up at him.

"Is everything alright at home?"

Although she had been frightened, Nie Jinxuan didn't complain to Yin Fengzhan. Yin Fengzhan nodded and said in a low voice,

"Hmm, everything is fine."

"And my father? How is his health?"

"Hmm, he's better. He said he would go to court with you today."

"Oh, that's good."

A few simple sentences, as ordinary as could be. Yin Fengzhan tucked a stray lock of hair behind Nie Jinxuan's ear, his eyes lingering on the red marks on her neck.

Feeling his gaze, Nie Jinxuan smiled slightly.

"Alright, don't look. I'm fine."

"Hmm, let's go."

"Alright."

She nodded with a smile, and Yin Fengzhan led Nie Jinxuan out of the secret room.

Holding Nie Jinxuan, Yin Fengzhan brought her back to the Nie residence.

Actually, Yin Fengzhan had wanted to use a decoy—sending someone disguised as Nie Jinxuan out of the residence to the palace, then bringing the real Nie Jinxuan in secretly. But if he did that, Nie Wenhao would have to be involved to make it effective. That would put Nie Wenhao at risk!

After all, the purpose of sending a fake Nie Jinxuan first was to lure out the assassins. The security wouldn't be truly tight. If an assassin accidentally killed Nie Wenhao in the chaos, it was easy to imagine. Nie Wenhao was Nie Jinxuan's father; if she found out, she would never agree. Considering this, Yin Fengzhan had to cancel the plan!

Yin Fengzhan naturally didn't tell Nie Jinxuan about this.

Nie Jinxuan returned to the Nie residence. Once in her room, she saw Shui Yun had prepared hot water. Nie Jinxuan smiled, nodded to Yin Fengzhan, and walked behind the screen to bathe.

Time passed, an hour went by, and dawn began to break. Nie Jinxuan had bathed, changed, and prepared everything. After checking her makeup in the bronze mirror, she stood up.

Seeing Nie Jinxuan looking refreshed, Yin Fengzhan looked at her silently.

"Alright, let's go."

Yin Fengzhan spoke in a low voice and turned to leave, but Nie Jinxuan grabbed him.

"Fengzhan, wait!"

First update uploaded, continuing! ===== CHAPTER 199 =====