Chapter 285: Intent to Win Over

Yun Li's hand suddenly stopped.

"You... you aren't..."

"To wield such a level of seductive art before me and dare to flaunt it—aren't you overestimating yourself?"

Chi Nan Yi's words struck like a head‑on blow, and Yun Li stepped back a few paces.

Looking at Chi Nan Yi, whose gaze was no longer the previously ambiguous lure but flashed with deep wariness and guard, she asked, "Are you really just a physician?"

"If the lady wishes me to be a physician, I can be a physician; but if the lady first breaks the rules, then I can also cease to be a physician."

As the words fell, she thrust her right hand forward, snapping it onto her throat.

Yun Li's pupils contracted as her body lunged backward; she thought she could dodge easily, but before she could steady herself, her throat was already clamped.

A fierce suffocating sensation surged.

The speed shocked her deeply.

"You... let go!"

As the words ended, she channeled internal force in her palm and struck Chi Nan Yi's arm.

The afterglow swept over her fingertips; although her nails were painted bright red, the faint black sheen beneath caught her eye.

Fen Tian said she was adept at using poison, and it proved true.

However, these toxins were still insufficient in her eyes.

Fine as cowhair, Silver Needles shot out, piercing her flesh, and the continuously surging internal force abruptly halted.

Yun Li felt a weight settle in her heart.

"You... you sealed my acupoint... cough cough..."

At that moment, Fen Tian's loud laugh rang in her ear: "Hahaha, what's this?" He stepped forward: "All was well, how did it come to violence?"

Seeing him approach, Chi Nan Yi did not release her grip on Yun Li's throat.

"City Lord, I think you owe me an explanation,"

"A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding," Fen Tian's gaze swept over the Silver Needles on Yun Li, dispelling all doubt.

These Silver Needles differed from the mysterious person's from last night.

It seemed indeed she was not the culprit.

Sensing his stare, Chi Nan Yi withdrew her gaze, eyes lowered.

Sure enough, it was a test of her.

Fortunately, she had early on sensed a strange aura nearby and swapped the Silver Needles to be fired; otherwise, she would have been discovered today.

"Misunderstanding? Hah, does the City Lord think a breezy 'misunderstanding' can cover everything? Using seductive art on me, and the City Lord refuses a proper explanation?"

Hearing this, Fen Tian gave Yun Li a cold glance: "Divine Doctor Si Yi is my guest; you have some nerve, using seductive art on her."

Sensing the reproach in his words, Yun Li's eyes flickered slightly, and she whispered, "I was reckless; the young lady fell in love with the Divine Doctor and thought... please, Divine Doctor, do not blame me."

Chi Nan Yi said nothing, and at that moment a guard hurried over.

"City Lord! Trouble! Trouble, City Lord!"

"What matter causes such haste?"

"The storeroom is empty!"

"What?"

"I followed your order to inventory the silver taels in the storeroom, and when I opened the door, it was... it was completely empty; even the box that held the silver vanished!" The guard knelt, trembling: "City Lord, our City Lord's residence has been emptied!"

Fen Tian's face turned ashen; he grabbed the guard by the collar, lifted him, and snarled, "What did you say? Say it again!"

"City Lord, our storeroom has been emptied; not even a single tael of broken silver remains."

"Bang!"

Fen Tian tossed him out, and his chest garment was again stained with fresh blood.

Chi Nan Yi watched the scene, a smile tugging at her lips, hard to suppress.

"Nonsense! You mean someone emptied the storeroom without anyone noticing? Absurd! How could that be..."

Before finishing, he stopped himself.

To empty it without anyone noticing...

Seems I've heard it mentioned before...

Chi Family, Chi Nan Yi!

The Crown Prince's Residence, the Empress's private vault, Qin family's storeroom were emptied, all linked to Chi Nan Yi, yet she is clearly already dead!

Could it be that she never died?

The person from yesterday was Chi Nan Yi!

Fen Tian and Yun Li locked eyes, each seeing the expression in the other's gaze.

"City Lord, how shall these silver taels be exchanged?"

Fen Tian's complexion turned pale, and he whispered, "Sorry, I didn't anticipate..."

"City Lord, are you trying to deceive me here? Refusing to pay silver, you use such a crude lie to cheat me; who could empty the storeroom of the heavily guarded City Lord's residence? I may not know what's in your storeroom, but I imagine the treasures aren't few; emptying it wouldn't be that easy!"

"It's just some silver; how could this City Lord default on payment?"

But now asking him to produce ten thousand taels of gold is utterly impossible.

He moved his lips, about to grant her a few days' grace, but before he could speak, Chi Nan Yi murmured, "I know the City Lord has more than one storeroom; ten thousand taels of gold is but a drop in the bucket for him, and as it happens, I do not extend credit here."

Having his mouth blocked, Fen Tian's face turned grim, helpless.

He turned to Yun Li, who waved her hand: "In the haste of leaving, I don't have that much silver."

Although the Eight Great Guardians all serve the Sect Master, they are not united in purpose.

"To be frank, this City Lord truly cannot muster ten thousand taels of gold. If the Divine Doctor can grant a slight extension as interest, I can offer the Divine Doctor a chance to change fate."

Chi Nan Yi heard the words, and Chi Nan Yi's heart stirred.

"A chance to change one's fate? Hah, with such a good opportunity, why doesn't the City Lord use it themselves?"

"Do you know of Seek Dragon Gate?"

"Seek Dragon Gate?" Chi Nan Yi shook their head feigning ignorance: "I've never heard of it."

"Burning Heaven, you..." Yun Nie grabbed his arm, brows furrowed: "What nonsense are you spouting?" She guarded herself as she looked at Chi Nan Yi: "For no reason, why bring this up? If the Sect Master finds out you've spoken of Seek Dragon Gate, they will surely be angry."

Burning Heaven broke free of her hand, his gaze fixed on Chi Nan Yi: "Our Seek Dragon Gate is the number one hidden sect in the martial world; the Sect Master's status is noble, martial prowess outstanding. Not long ago, the Sect Master ordered us to seek out divine doctors across the land to serve Seek Dragon Gate. If you can heal my wounds, you will know your medical skill is superb. If you are willing to join our Seek Dragon Gate, the Sect Master values talent and will surely employ you. If a divine doctor truly gains the Sect Master's favor, from now on, wealth and honor will be endless."

"Endless wealth and honor?" Chi Nan Yi gave a cold smile, sizing him up: "Become like the City Lord, having one's property confiscated?"

One sentence, a killing blow.

"I've never heard of the Seek Dragon Gate spoken of by the Burning City Lord. I've wandered the martial world for years; if this Seek Dragon Gate were truly the top hidden sect as the City Lord claims, how could it be unknown?" She waved her hand: "Burning City Lord, stop deceiving me."

"I haven't framed you; if you don't believe it, just see the Sect Master with your own eyes—wouldn't you know then?"