Chapter 232: Heartfelt Sincere Submission

Zhao Yan still wanted to step forward, but suddenly a Golden Whip was looped around his waist; Chi Nan Yi's subordinate pressed, and Zhao Yan's body retreated backward.

"Southern First Young Master…"

"Stop being a hindrance here." Chi Nan Yi tossed him a pill: "Take it."

A hindrance…

Zhao Yan, at his age, had never received such a comment before.

The pill in his hand was familiar; he had received one in the army when he was gravely wounded before.

Its effect was rapid; after just one, both internal and external injuries healed about eighty to ninety percent.

How could such a precious pill be used for a superficial wound? It should be reserved for blade‑level injuries.

He was about to put the pill away when the person in front of him murmured, "If I let you eat it, you eat it."

A hint of mockery flashed in Chi Nan Yi's eyes: "Didn't you say you could give me your life? Why won't you even listen to me?"

Zhao Yan's face stiffened.

No wonder she could be the Prince's male companion.

His words were indeed a bit…

Reluctantly, Zhao Yan placed the pill in his mouth, chewing while exclaiming, "Wasting a treasure, wasting a treasure!"

In the next instant, several porcelain bottles were tossed into his chest.

"Treat them as candy."

Zhao Yan: "…"

Chi Nan Yi sprang up, diving into the battle circle; their long whip whirled, occasionally flinging black‑clad men outward.

Chi Nan Yi's techniques differed from the army's broad, open style; they were exceedingly cunning and agile, the whip seeming to have eyes, each strike hitting vital points. Though the figure appeared slender, it could unleash terrifying power.

Most lethal was that her body seemed to possess inexhaustible strength, handling ten opponents with ease, never faltering, even moving with ease.

Where the whip passed, the black‑clad men screamed in agony; within moments, out of a dozen, only a few remained barely holding on.

The leading assassin's eyes glowed crimson as he glared viciously at Chi Nan Yi.

"You... you..."

"I thought Grand Tutor Qin might finally learn his lesson; after failing to assassinate me last time, this time he shouldn't have sent useless ones again, but now it seems I overestimated him."

Upon hearing "Grand Tutor Qin," the black‑clad men's expressions changed noticeably.

"Hmph, daring to steal our lord's belongings—you're truly audacious!"

"Steal?" Chi Nan Yi sneered, "What do you call stealing! I was swapping! Using the treasure from his warehouse to exchange for a few assassins' corpses—didn't I say? I'll send him a grand gift."

"Fallacious argument!"

"Fine." Chi Nan Yi smiled, "I am indeed sophistry; what can you do to me?" She swayed the whip in hand, murmuring, "You probably have no chance to deal with me either."

Finishing the sentence, she snapped the whip outward; powerful internal energy burst from her body, the whip crackling, slicing the throats of those black‑robed men in an instant.

Fresh blood seeped from hair‑thin wounds; the few men stared wide‑eyed before collapsing lifelessly.

From her strike to eliminating them took no more than half a incense stick's burn time.

Zhao Yan stared dumbfounded at her back, then lowered his gaze to his own wrist, a vague, indescribable feeling rising within him.

She had broken her own wrist last night; she truly showed mercy underfoot.

As the wounds healed, the remaining aches in skin and flesh seemed washed away by the scene before him.

Now, looking at her, her brows and eyes radiated fierce, murderous aura, a stark contrast to the despised male companion earlier.

Yesterday I thought Southern First Young Master relied on his looks to climb power and wealth, a burden attached to the Prince; now I realize I was wildly mistaken—indeed, anyone valued by the Prince cannot be a mere commoner.

Sensing the gaze behind, Chi Nan Yi turned, eyes cool, and asked Zhao Yan, "Why are you watching me like that?"

Zhao Yan regained composure, stepped forward, and knelt directly on the ground.

This kneel differed from the one in the camp earlier.

Previously filled with helplessness, now with sincere devotion.

"Your subordinate Zhao Yan, with eyes but no pearls, previously many offenses, please, Young Master, forgive!" Zhao Yan's words rang like metal, each sincere: "Your martial skill is unparalleled, your wisdom exceeds others; I am nowhere near you. Please do not mind my reckless words. Today you saved me; I am grateful. From now on, I, Zhao Yan, will bow and serve you, obey any command. If I harbor a second thought, may heaven strike me!"

"Get up." Hearing this, Chi Nan Yi's cold, sharp expression softened slightly. Zhao Yan did not rise; his voice grew firmer: "I sincerely ask for your forgiveness, please…"

"The previous incidents I haven't taken to heart." Before he could finish, Chi Nan Yi cut in: "You are a soldier of the army; you must prioritize the greater picture. I didn't come uninvited; your doubts are normal. If you guard no one, then you truly need a proper lesson."

Hearing her say that, Zhao Yan felt even deeper guilt.

"Your vast outlook makes me feel ashamed of myself."

"Only…" Chi Nan Yi turned, looking at him, murmuring, "If you call me Mo Junyan's male companion again, I'll cut off your tongue."

She smiled, but Zhao Yan could see clearly that the killing intent surrounding her had already solidified into substance.

He swallowed, waved his hands repeatedly: "I won't say it, I won't say it, never again."

Nodding with satisfaction, Chi Nan Yi casually tossed him several porcelain bottles.

Seeing porcelain bottles, Zhao Yan instinctively thought they were pills and reached to tuck them into his chest.

At that moment, Chi Nan Yi murmured, "Those are corpse‑turning powder."

"Corpse… corpse‑turning powder?"

Zhao Yan hurriedly reached outward.

"Dispose of those bodies cleanly."

"Understood."

After the two left, the forest remained quiet, as if nothing had occurred.

At this moment, in the Grand Tutor's residence.

Grand Tutor Qin's face turned ashen as he stared at the empty warehouse; despite the servants cleaning it countless times, a strong scent of blood still lingered.

"This is absurd! This is absurd!"

Qin Taishi swept his arm aside, only then noticing the table was completely empty, and even the room's furnishings had been stolen.

He recalled the empty room he saw when he opened his eyes, and he could not stop wanting to kill.

"Southern First Young Master, what a Southern First Young Master!" he gritted his teeth, his body trembling uncontrollably: "Help! Help!"

"Lord." the steward rushed in: "What orders do you have, Lord?"

"Where are they? Haven't they been caught yet?"

"Not yet… not yet…"

"Useless! All of you are useless!" Qin Taishi shouted angrily: "Send more troops and be sure to bring her back!"

"Yes."

"Also." Qin Taishi said gravely: "Inform the Empress and the Crown Prince of this matter."

Previously, strange incidents kept occurring around the Crown Prince and the Empress; if he is not mistaken, all these were caused by this Southern First Young Master alone.

"Yes, your servant will attend to it at once."

"What a Southern First Young Master. From today onward, I will fight you to the death!"