Chapter 68
Jia Yin!!
Qiao Wan's heart suddenly raced.
He said he came to kill someone. The recent outbreak of demonic aura in Qizawa Province must surely be related to him. Acting faster than her thoughts, Qiao Wan rushed out almost the next moment. She still had many questions to ask him.
But just as she took her first step outside, someone grabbed her.
Qiao Wan turned around and met Pei Chunzheng's dark eyes.
The young man's slender fingers tightly grasped her wrist as he asked, "Where do you want to go?"
In that split second, everyone present was stunned!
Especially Xiao Boyang, who was the most shocked.
He hadn't interacted with Pei Chunzheng much, but he knew that this demon was cold-hearted and never spared anyone's lives, except for Mu Xiaoxiao and Qiao Wan.
But this maid in front of him was not worth a second glance.
Unaware of others' shock, Pei Chunzheng's gaze did not waver, and he calmly asked, "Where do you want to go?"
Cen Qingyou was also taken aback.
Pei Chunzheng held on even tighter, his five fingers sinking deeply into her skin.
Cen Qingyou furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "Does Pei, the immortal friend, have something to say to Xin Yi?"
Mu Xiaoxiao was also dumbfounded. "Pei Junior Brother?"
Facing Cen Qingyou, Qiao Wan respectfully responded, "Master, I think I just saw someone I know. You go ahead, I'll be back to the mansion later!"
Before anyone could react, she shook off Pei Chunzheng's hand and ran off, chasing after that distinct black and white figure all the way to the alley.
Xiao Boyang stared at her retreating figure for half a second, then instinctively started running after her!
Qiao Wan followed until the alley entrance, but the person suddenly disappeared.
Gone completely.
In the dark and damp alley, another figure gradually appeared.
Yes, it appeared.
On the filthy ground with flowing sewage, there was a piece of skin slowly rising up from the ground.
Gradually, like inflating a balloon, it filled with flesh and transformed into a human shape.
It was a fair-skinned, beautiful young boy, who seemed somewhat familiar.
The boy suddenly threw a piece of skin onto the ground, sat down, and with a slight curl of his thin lips, he spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "This path is impassable."
"If you want to pass here, you have to leave something behind."
Qiao Wan took two steps back, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a hammer, glancing back.
At the end of the alley entrance was a wall, and several tattered baskets were scattered in a disorderly manner at the corner.
She withdrew her gaze and looked at the skin spread on the ground.
Obviously, the dozens of preserved meats from the Cen family yesterday were the work of this young boy in front of her.
Qiao Wan asked, "What do you want us to leave behind?"
With a smirk, the boy's gaze insolently swept over her face, chest, hands, and feet.
"Your body looks good, valuable indeed, but if I were to sell it in parts, it wouldn't be worth much."
"Thunder Body? Your bones are good. If I use them as forging materials, they would make a great weapon."
The boy's tone was calm and unhurried, but it was filled with a chilling evil aura, as if soaked in blood, making it sickeningly sticky and slippery.
Qiao Wan frowned.
In addition to the Cen family and Lin family, now there was another person - Jia Yin.
Qiao Wan pondered to herself.
This matter was much more complicated than she had imagined.
"Are you from the Cen family?"
The boy glanced, his eyes fell on her clothes embroidered with the words "Cen family," and suddenly laughed, "After you go back, tell Mrs. Cen and Jiang Rou."
"The debts committed back then will be repaid, when the time comes."
"I still need one more skin."
In her heart, Qiao Wan suddenly realized and finally understood what was familiar.
The boy's appearance was half wicked and half handsome.
He bore a striking resemblance to Cen Xiangnan who she saw last night!
Qiao Wan's pupils contracted, "You are... her son?"
The little demon girl from the Lin family that Gui Qi mentioned.
The boy was somewhat surprised, then smirked slowly, "Good, I didn't expect someone to still remember my mother."
"But whether you remember is not important, what's important is that treacherous woman Jiang Rou."
The boy squinted and smiled, his smile a mix of wickedness and maliciousness.
"The debts will be repaid when the time comes, then we'll see how that treacherous woman pretends to be virtuous."
"After all, when people see a flayed person, they won't have time to be afraid."
Wrapped in a roll of skin, the boy suddenly disappeared from his original position.
But he was half a step too slow.
A shiny golden hammer blocked his way.
The boy lifted his eyes, not annoyed, "Do you have something else to say?"
Qiao Wan coldly said, "What are you planning to do to Mrs. Cen?"
The young boy immediately burst into laughter and said, "That wicked girl did something to my mother in the past, so as her son, I naturally have to find a way to settle the score."
Lin Qingzhi, the son of the late Lin Li from the Southwest Lin family, was raised by Mrs. Cen. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a difficult child who believed that this woman was responsible for his mother's misfortune. After a few years, he was taken back by the Southwest Lin family. He also inherited his mother's skill in creating skin masks, and has grown up until now.
Qiao Wan asked, "Why are you telling me all this?"
The young boy sneered and said, "My mother and Cen Xiangnan were deeply in love. But that wicked girl, Jiang Rou, interfered and caused my mother to become a concubine, constantly mistreated and humiliated. Shouldn't that wicked girl deserve to die?"
The young boy, with his handsome appearance, now looked like a furious madman.
Qiao Wan raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm not interested in hearing about your past with your mother."
"I won't let Mrs. Cen fall into your hands."
Not only for Mrs. Cen, but also for herself.
Qiao Wan said, "Because you and your mother are both disgusting."
The young boy's expression changed and he became furious!
*
"Junior Brother Pei?"
"Starting a few days ago, I noticed that you've been paying a lot of attention to this little maid," Mu Xiaoxiao said, cautiously watching Pei Chunzheng. "Could it be... there's something hidden?"
Pei Chunzheng's gaze shifted and landed on Mu Xiaoxiao's face.
Mu Xiaoxiao whispered, "There are so many evil spirits along this journey, I wonder if this young lady will be in danger traveling alone."
The girl had rosy cheeks like a peach.
Pei Chunzheng focused his thoughts, closed his eyes, and said, "It's alright."
He no longer looked in the direction where Qiao Wan had left.
Mu Xiaoxiao felt a slight relief in her heart.
For some reason, she didn't want Pei Chunzheng to pay too much attention to that girl.
Feeling a bit possessive, Mu Xiaoxiao felt a sense of guilt, so she bit her lip and suppressed her emotions.
Feng Wangyan clenched his fists tightly and silently stroked the top of the little girl's head beside him.
There was a strange atmosphere among the three of them.
Since childhood, Cen Qingyou had studied under Venerable One Miaofa. The Zen sect emphasizes meditation and the cultivation of the senses. Although he keenly sensed a hidden connection between this men and woman, Cen Qingyou only took a brief glance and sighed inwardly about the complications of love between men and women. He wisely chose not to say anything, gently tapped his prayer beads, and continued walking forward.
*
The skin of a person transformed!
Danger lurked in the narrow alley.
Qiao Wan's face darkened as she held the golden melon with her pale exoskeleton. It spread from her fingertips and wrapped around her body, becoming tightly sealed within moments.
The young boy took a step back, a hint of surprise on his face. His anger subsided a bit, and his eyes began to show a hint of admiration.
"You are a body cultivator?"
A bone-refining body cultivator...
Incredible.
If these bones were extracted and this skin was refined...
It would be so beautiful.
And also this body... The flesh and bones cannot be wasted in vain later.
Before he finished sighing, Qiao Wan had already swung the golden gourd and charged forward!
The skin is agile and nimble, the iron hammer is heavy and fierce.
Along the way, Jia Yin kept brushing her with monsters, and her battle skills had made tremendous progress.
Faster! And sharper too!
The girl's face was pale as snow on one side, with dark eyes that were calm.
No matter how he attacked or changed his moves, the girl in front of him always took one step faster. Swinging two iron hammers, she weaved a dense net of deadly moves wherever she passed!
Boom!
The golden gourd sank deep into the wall.
The young man rolled on the ground, a piece of skin in his hand. It twisted and tangled with the iron hammer in mid-air, emitting a surge of evil energy!
Qiao Wan's dark eyes fluttered her eyelashes twice before suddenly smiling.
A sense of foreboding suddenly surged in the young man's heart.
"I thought you were really capable, but you're just a mama's boy."
"I am not just a physique cultivator."
The iron hammer struck fiercely.
Qiao Wan stepped aside, chanting softly while reciting Confucian scriptures, showing no mercy in her attacks.
Balancing both Confucianism and Taoism, emphasizing sword, physique, and magic.
Following Ma Huaizhen, Qiao Wan learned various things. As long as they were useful, she would use them. As for martial virtue and integrity, did they really matter compared to survival?
After crippling her meridians, she learned a variety of skills to compensate for the shortcomings on this path.
She learned the Dao, recited Confucian scriptures, and the faint golden halo on her body somewhat resembled the Dharma Golden Bell on Great Compassion Cliff.
As the skin-clad youth tossed his skin and tried to figure things out, he said, "Those who cultivate the physique path often have some hidden problems."
"What are you?"
As the skin flew, it briefly brushed against Qiao Wan's limbs before retracting.
"I am..."
The youth shuddered, "Insufficient meridians?!"
The meridians were broken like a fishing net, obviously caused by acquired factors.
If she could repair her meridians...
This maid before him would become a killing sword!!
In the blink of an eye, Qiao Wan seized the opportunity and directly knocked the young man to the ground with a hammer.
At the same time, several fierce fireballs burst out from the end of the alley.
The fireballs roared like golden dragons.
Qiao Wan glanced back.
A familiar youth in a white robe stood in the backlight. The cuffs and hem of his robe were embroidered with hidden patterns of bamboo leaves.
This was Xiao Boyang's skill - "Golden Dragon Break". He had used it in his battle against Ciji before.
As for why he inexplicably chased after them, Xiao Boyang's mind was in chaos.
But there was always a strange feeling lingering in his heart, something odd about this little maid.
He... he just naturally chased after them and naturally unleashed several "Golden Dragon Breaks".
With attacks coming from both the alley and the entrance, he knew this was going to be difficult. The young man lay on the ground, blood foaming from his mouth from the impact of the iron hammer.
Qiao Wan approached with a hammer in her hand.
"You can't kill me," the boy looked up, "because I know about the Nourishing Bead."
Sure enough, she saw Qiao Wan pause in her footsteps.
Thinking of the distinct black and white figure she had just seen at the entrance of the cave, the boy's eyes flickered and he smiled, "Do you want the Nourishing Bead?"
"I can show you the way, the Nourishing Bead is in the Lin family's possession."
"After my mother died, that old man wanted to save her life, so he stole the Nourishing Bead from Jiang Rou, and brought it to the Lin family."
"Jiang Rou never dreamt that her beloved Nourishing Bead was stolen by Cen Xiangnan, the old man."
The boy extended his hand and pointed to a nearby tavern.
"Do you see that? The Nourishing Bead is there, with the fourteen members of the Lin family. Their cultivation levels are not high. The Nourishing Bead is there."
"If you want to take it, I suggest you act quickly. The Lin family came to this tavern today to sell it, and if you're too slow, the Nourishing Bead will change hands."
"But let me warn you, even if you obtain the Nourishing Bead, it won't be of much use."
After speaking, the human skin deflated like a balloon and fell to the ground.
Only an empty human skin remained on the ground.
Qiao Wan walked over and kicked the skin.
It was just an empty piece of skin, completely silent.
The person had escaped.
Qiao Wan glanced at the tavern in the distance.
Whether or not she could obtain it, and whether or not it was useful, would be up to her.
Xiao Boyang paused, a sense of unease rising in his heart. "You...you're not planning to go up there, are you?"
Qiao Wan didn't say much, she headed straight for the tavern!
This servant girl resembled someone.
Someone like Qiao Wan!
At that moment, standing at the alley entrance, Xiao Boyang finally understood why Pei Chunzheng had been acting so strangely.
This ordinary servant girl who always followed Cen Qingyou was just too much like Qiao Wan.
The one who understands you the most is always your enemy, that statement was not wrong. Xiao Boyang knew exactly how powerful Qiao Wan's cultivation, techniques, and footwork were, but Qiao Wan was already dead.
They had all witnessed it, even Ma Huaizhen nodded in agreement.
This girl in front of them, no matter how similar, couldn't possibly be Qiao Wan.
Just as Qiao Wan and Xiao Boyang left.
The skin was blown by the wind and suddenly floated high into the sky.
It floated farther and farther, landing on the rooftop of the tavern.
The skin swelled slightly, and two pitch-black eyes slowly emerged.
Now, let me see what you can do against Demon Emperor Jia Yin.
Everything he said was true, without any lies.
But there was one important piece of information he didn't reveal, and that was...the buyer of the Nourishing Bead, the infamous and ruthless Demon Emperor - Jia Yin.
What chance do you have against Demon Emperor Jia Yin?
Remember, this demon lord has no mercy for anything he looks down upon.
The skin gradually revealed the figure of a young man.
The young boy smiled slightly.
This move is called "using a knife to kill someone".
*
Second floor.
The Fourteenth disciples of the Lin family are still waiting.
The atmosphere in the tavern was tense and uneasy.
Just the thought of who the buyer was, even if it was the Elder in the Nascent Soul stage, would probably not stay calm, let alone these fourteen disciples, whose cultivation was only just above the Golden Core stage.
After all, the elite of the Lin family had already been deployed elsewhere to handle an important task.
"Brother Wu, why hasn't the guest arrived yet?" Lin Twelve asked.
Under this atmosphere, everyone felt a bit anxious.
Lin Wu scowled and said, "Shut up, be careful not to offend the guest."
As soon as he finished speaking, the railing on the second floor was suddenly bumped open from outside!!
Wood chips flew everywhere.
A figure rushed out from outside the railing like lightning!
Enemy attack! There's an enemy attack!
The Fourteenth disciples of the Lin family on the second floor all stood up and pounded the table!
Trampling on a floor covered in wood chips, a plain-looking maidservant dragged two large iron hammers and said coldly, "Is the Nourishing Bead here with all of you?"
Lin Wu narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who are you, miss?"
Qiao Wan looked around at the Lin family disciples with different expressions and said, "This person... should also be surnamed Lin and skilled in the Painting Skin Skill."
The young man lying on the roof's face changed, almost biting his lips.
This cunning person! She's just like Jiang Rou!
Lin Wu was shocked, obviously realizing who this person was, and asked in return, "Did this person tell you that the Nourishing Bead has already been reserved?"
Observing Lin Wu's reaction without showing any signs, Qiao Wan's heart sank.
The spoiled brat is from the southwestern side, while these fourteen are from the main branch of the Lin family. Did they join forces with the southwestern side and the main branch of the Lin family?
"How much?"
Lin Wu was taken aback.
Qiao Wan said, "I'm asking how much, I want to buy it."
"In business, honesty is important. Since someone has already reserved it, we can't go back on our word."
"You give a price, I'll buy it."
Lin Wu looked at Qiao Wan, not believing that this maidservant had much money.
"You dare to come to our Lin family's place with just Foundation Establishment stage cultivation and Qi Refinement stage cultivation?!"
The fourteen Lin family disciples present were provoked by the audacity of the female cultivator in front of them, and they all stood up.
In the blink of an eye, there were countless knives, guns, swords, and halberds.
White bones rose and circled in the air!
Flying swords clashed against the bone armor, but there were no injuries.
Qiao Wan tightened her grip on the hand covered in white bone, raised her iron hammer again, and though she didn't look at Xiao Boyang, her words clearly targeted him.
"Xiao immortal friend, since you want to ask Mrs. Cen to help your loved one with the illness, shouldn't you show some sincerity?"
At this time, they were like grasshoppers on a rope. If they didn't want to come here for nothing, and wanted Mu Xiaoxiao to be detoxified, they had no choice but to care about the Cen family and the Nourishing Bead.
Xiao Boyang murmured, "Damn, her strength is on par with Qiao Wan’s!"
But for some reason, he didn't want to refuse.
Xiao Boyang was entranced as he watched the slender figure confronting ten opponents. Just like Qiao Wan had done before, she had stood in their way, facing countless Human-faced Scorpion-tailed Spiders. It was during that encounter in the Mudstone Secret Realm that he realized she wasn't as annoying as he had thought. In fact, if she hadn't been so irritating, he might have even liked her, in a non-romantic way.
And now, this servant girl in front of him, who he had never interacted with before, was effortlessly commanding him. She reminded him a lot of Qiao Wan - calm yet sometimes reckless, charging forward fearlessly.
Considering the buyer, Lin Wu was reluctant to engage in conflict with Qiao Wan at this time. If they angered that god of calamity, all sixteen of them present - regardless of sides - would be in mortal danger!
"Is our Lin family really going against our immortal friend?" Lin Wu asked coldly, "If we provoke our Lin family, it won't be so easy for you to leave the Qizawa Province."
Qiao Wan replied, "I don't want to provoke your household. As long as you're willing to sell me the Nourishing Bead, it can be a peaceful business transaction."
The sword in Lin Wu's hand trembled as his face darkened. "It seems that we won't be able to come to an agreement."
On the small second floor, the battle was about to begin. The atmosphere was tense, almost suffocating.
Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew in from outside the open railing.
A wave of demonic energy came crashing down.
Lin Wu's expression suddenly changed! And all fifteen people present had their faces altered as well.
This is bad!
This is demonic energy! Jia Yin!
At the same time, the human skins attached to the roof began to move. The eyes on the skins shifted and locked onto the people on the second floor.
Jia Yin.
Finally, Demon Emperor Jia Yin has arrived.
Let's see how this servant girl fares against Demon Emperor Jia Yin.
The demonic energy slowly filled the entire street, dominating the entire tavern.
This demonic energy is from Jia Yin!
Qiao Wan trembled.
This demonic energy is more horrifying than what she had encountered in Wangyun City. It seeped into her bones and chilled her to the core.
In the blink of an eye, the street changed dramatically, covered in dark clouds.
Overwhelming demonic power pressed forward, causing cracks to appear in the railing of the second floor, creaking under the strain.
Qiao Wan's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly realized that this was the true power of the Demon Emperor.
The presence of this oppressive force meant that Jia Yin's injuries had already healed about 60-70%. And once his injuries fully recovered, Qiao Wan didn't even dare to imagine the horrors of his true strength.
Xiao Boyang froze.
It's over.
He was going to die here today, undoubtedly killed by this servant girl.
This servant girl really does resemble Qiao Wan, even in her reckless actions!
That is Demon Emperor Jia Yin!! The pinnacle figure of the cultivation world! These insignificant small fries would never have the chance to meet such a person!
Xiao Boyang gritted his teeth. "I think I'm going to die here today because of you."
A tattered railing flashes with a swift demonic energy outside! A gust of demonic wind blows, and a dignified and proud figure appears on the second floor. The chaotic demonic atmosphere gradually subsides, but no one dares to look up.
Only the man's pitch-black boots and the silver demonic patterns winding up the dark robe can be seen.
Even the arrogant young master of the Xiao family's face turned pale, and cold sweat dripped immediately.
If he were to die here, his family's fortune would fall into the hands of that scoundrel Xiao Boyu.
Fear seeps into the hearts of the people.
But there is one person who is an exception.
In the stifling silence, with the heavy pressure weighing down on her, Qiao Wan gets up from the ground.
Everyone present, including those kneeling and those on the roof, is shocked.
Is she courting death?!
Shocked, Xiao Boyang quickly tries to push her down, but under the suppression of the demonic energy, he can't even lift his hand.
Sure enough, the man's gaze naturally falls on Qiao Wan.
The demonic energy flows calmly on the second floor.
No one can stop someone who is determined to court death.
Xiao Boyang regrets it, really regrets it. This servant girl is nothing like Qiao Wan. This foolish servant girl is even more daring than Qiao Wan!
The person on the roof sneers.
If she had just fought him and caused trouble for the Lin family, that would be courageous.
But now, it's just sheer ignorance.
That's called stupidity in the end, someone who can't recognize their own abilities and thinks they are capable.
However, in the next second, the maid pats off the dust from her body, appearing calm and naturally asks, "Are you healed from your injuries?"
Her attitude is so refined, as if they were old acquaintances.
It has been more than ten days since they parted ways in Qizawa Province.
With a glimpse in his eyes, the man sees the person he hasn't seen since entering the territory of Qizawa Province.
Under the nervous gaze of everyone, even the Demon Emperor of the demon world condescends and nonchalantly says, "No major injuries."
"Lu Wan, how did you end up here?"
The people on the roof and those kneeling in the room are all stunned.
The person on the roof, hit by thunder, is blown by the wind and falls from the roof, hanging on the treetops.
This...this despicable person knows Jia Yin?!
