Chapter 64 of 100

Chapter 64

15 min read3,756 words

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." A whistling sound filled the air as dozens of arrows shot toward the two figures, one of which almost grazed Yang Dingtian’s ear before embedding itself firmly in the ground several dozen meters behind them.

This was an open wilderness, making it extremely difficult to find a place to hide.

Then, a group of about a dozen knights advanced swiftly, surrounding Yang Dingtian and Ximen Ningning. Dozens of iron spears and sharp blades were pointed at their throats.

"Who are you two? Why are you not on the main road, but riding stealthily in the wilderness? What are your intentions?" a knight asked coldly.

At this moment, a distant cavalry was getting closer, numbering in the hundreds, with over a dozen splendid carriages. However, this group was flying the banner of Cloud Peak City.

"Who are you?" Ximen Ningning asked coldly. "When did the Cloud Peak City troops have the right to parade around on the land of the Northwest Qin Family?"

Despite being surrounded, Ximen Ningning’s attitude was extremely arrogant and domineering.

"State your name, or die," the knight said coldly.

"From the Northwest Qin Family, daughter of the Red Stone Castle Lord, Qin Hongmian," Ximen Ningning replied coldly.

The knight’s expression changed slightly. "What proof do you have?"

Ximen Ningning immediately took out a jade pendant and showed it to the knight, proving her identity as Qin Hongmian.

"Miss Qin, please accept my respects." The knight sheathed his sword and bowed from his horse.

Then, the dozen knights withdrew their sharp spears and dispersed.

"Can we leave now?" Ximen Ningning asked coldly.

"Of course," the knight replied.

Yang Dingtian and Ximen Ningning immediately spurred their horses and galloped away, covering several hundred meters in a flash.

"Wait..." Suddenly, a clear voice echoed from the distance, belonging to a young man. Despite the softness of his voice, it carried for hundreds of meters.

Then, a man in a brocade robe rode out from the group, his eyes greedily following Ningning’s beautiful back. He said lazily, "Who is the lady ahead? Turn around and let me see you."

His words were arrogant and frivolous.

Ximen Ningning and Yang Dingtian stopped their horses and turned around.

"It’s you?" The man in the brocade robe was slightly taken aback upon seeing Ningning, then a wicked smile appeared on his handsome face. "Sister Hongmian, why are you taking a side road instead of the main road? Is there something you’re ashamed of?"

"Qin Shaobai, what does it have to do with you?" Ximen Ningning, playing the role of Qin Hongmian, said with hostility.

So, this was Qin Shaobai? At not quite seventeen, he was already tall, with a handsome face that always seemed to be smiling frivolously. From his clothes to his hair, every inch of him was meticulously groomed, exuding nobility. Yet, his face always carried a look of unrestrained freedom.

"After a night of passion, we shared a hundred days of affection. We’ve spent several nights together, so why are you so cold to me?" Qin Shaobai said, his eyes roving up and down Ningning’s body as if trying to strip her with his gaze.

Yang Dingtian immediately said coldly, "Please show some respect."

Qin Shaobai’s gaze shifted to Yang Dingtian, his chin lifting slightly in an arrogant manner, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Sister Hongmian, is this your new lover?"

Then, Qin Shaobai stared coldly at Yang Dingtian. "Have you not heard that women I’ve slept with, even if I no longer want them, are not to be touched by others?"

"Shut up!" Ximen Ningning shouted. "You are no longer the young master of the Qin Family. You’ve been expelled. What right do you have to speak to me like this? If you have the nerve, kill me here. Otherwise, I have no time for your nonsense."

Qin Shaobai’s eyes turned cold, but his smile grew even wider.

"Ning, let’s go!" Ximen Ningning shouted.

Then, Yang Dingtian and Ximen Ningning spurred their horses and galloped southward.

Qin Shaobai watched their backs, smiling coldly, but did not order his men to pursue them.

"Shaobai, if you like her, just take her. Kill the man," a soft, gentle voice said. "You are your mother’s son, the future lord of Cloud Peak City. If you want something, just take it. Especially since this woman has already been with you, no other man should touch her."

"Qin Hongmian has become a woman of loose morals since I discarded her. I have a cleanliness fetish and don’t want to touch her again," Qin Shaobai said with a wicked smile. "But I didn’t expect her body to be so alluring, something I never noticed before."

"Alluring? As alluring as your mother?" the woman asked coquettishly.

...

*****

After galloping for twenty miles into the mountains, where they could no longer see Qin Shaobai’s group, Yang Dingtian and Ximen Ningning slowed down.

"This Qin Shaobai is very dangerous," Yang Dingtian said.

"Not just dangerous, but a madman, a rational and cunning madman," Ningning said. "His greed, lust, and jealousy are unmatched. He can’t stand anyone being better than him and wants to possess every treasure and beauty he sees. Yet, he gets bored easily, discarding even the most beautiful women after a month, but he won’t let any other man touch the women he’s discarded."

"Can the Northwest Qin Family tolerate him? Can Qin Huaiyu tolerate him?" Yang Dingtian asked.

Ningning replied, "He is very intelligent, with exceptional talent, which makes the Qin Family both love and hate him."

"Alright, let’s not talk about him. He is your destined rival, and you will have many more dealings with him in the future," Ningning said. "Let’s hurry to the abandoned mine and try to get the ice and metal elemental cores before sunset. The wilderness at night is very dangerous."

Then, the two sped up, following the mountain path toward the abandoned molybdenum silver mine. Despite being in the deep mountains, a well-maintained road had been built to transport the molybdenum silver, though it was now overgrown with grass as tall as a person, as the mine had been abandoned for decades.

...

Two hours later, they arrived at the abandoned molybdenum silver mine.

It was a vast open area, carved out of the mountain, with many wooden houses, watchtowers, and even a small castle. However, these buildings had long been abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and filled with a sense of desolation and decay, along with the smell of rotting wood.

Not far away, a dark mine entrance, like the mouth of a demon, led deep into the mountain, where the abandoned molybdenum silver mine lay.

Ningning began her gentle instructions.

"This is a Spirit Qi Pill. The mine has been abandoned for a long time, so there is likely no air deep inside. This pill will provide your body with enough air and nutrients for half a day."

"Xiao Tian, if you get injured, you must take these Marvelous Spirit Pills and Life Essence Pills. Even if you’re just tired, you must take them. Don’t worry about their value. And if you encounter danger, use the Beast Soul Spirit Pill. Do you understand?" Ningning handed the pills to Yang Dingtian.

The upper part of the Deep Sea Mystic Robe was already on Yang Dingtian’s body. Ningning had tried many times to remove the lower part, but it seemed to be fused with her body.

Finally, Ningning took out a box. When she opened it, a wave of intense energy hit them. Inside was a two-foot-long blade, glowing with a fiery red light.

"This is a feather from the Mystic Phoenix, extremely sharp and filled with fiery energy. Your Mystic Qi is too weak, so using other weapons would be difficult to kill the beasts. With this flame feather, you can kill them," Ningning said. "Your speed is not fast, but your sword technique is very refined. You must use the subtleties of the Pig Slaying Sword Technique to strike the beasts’ vital points early. Do not let the beasts hit you."

"Also, the energy in the flame feather is limited, enough to kill about a dozen beasts. You must be mindful of this, ensuring you have enough energy to reach the unfrozen water pool at the deepest part of the mine and kill the ice elemental beasts," Ningning said. "Once the flame feather’s energy is depleted, you must leave the mine. Although there are few beasts here, and they are all low-level, a powerful beast could be dangerous."

"I’ll wait for you outside, but remember, if you’re not out by sunset, I’ll come in to find you," Ningning said.

Yang Dingtian nodded and asked, "Will you be safe alone outside?"

"There’s no one for a hundred miles around, only wild animals and beasts," Ningning said. "As long as there are no people, even the strongest beasts can’t harm me."

Ningning was confident because she was a gifted Beast Tongue.

"Then I’ll go in," Yang Dingtian said. "I’ll come out once I get the two cores."

"Alright, use what you need, and don’t worry your sister," Ningning stroked Yang Dingtian’s face and smiled gently. "Go, I’ll wait for you outside."

Yang Dingtian, holding the Mystic Phoenix’s flame feather, took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the mine entrance.

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