Chapter 41

"Zhao Lian, do you still remember me?"

Ning Wuxie stood before Zhao Lian, the candlelight casting his shadow, which seemed like a monstrous ghost, completely enveloping Zhao Lian in darkness. Zhao Lian lifted his head and saw the young, blood-stained, and somewhat naive face. He took two steps back, his face filled with shock.

"Are you human or ghost?"

"What does it matter if I'm human or ghost? How can I compare to Lord Zhao, who treats people like ghosts!"

Ning Wuxie looked at the terrified Zhao Lian, his eyes filled with disdain. It was because of corrupt officials like him that countless injustices occurred in the world. If he weren't strong enough, he might have ended up in prison too.

Once again, Ning Wuxie felt the power of strength, which could make enemies fear and tremble.

"Ning Zhong... Master Ning, the matter with your brother was entirely orchestrated by Yang Wenqing, and has nothing to do with me. If you want revenge, go after Yang Wenqing. He is the mastermind, and I was just following orders..."

Zhao Lian thought of the murderous intent Ning Wuxie had shown him at the city gate and the dead bodies downstairs. His fear was magnified to the extreme. After finishing his sentence, he collapsed to the ground, his legs trembling and a puddle of urine forming, the smell spreading.

Ning Wuxie's disdain grew even more. He never thought Zhao Lian would be so useless, urinating in fear?

Yang Wenqing, listening from the side, immediately understood the situation. Thinking of the Green-robed Scholar and Princess Pingyang, he sat on the ground, his face filled with despair, his hair turning white instantly. At this moment, no one could save him. Embezzling relief funds, once exposed, would not only mean his own downfall but could even lead to the extermination of his entire clan.

Seeing the two act this way, Ning Wuxie, who was originally ready to demand justice, suddenly lost interest. What was the difference between what he was doing and what Zhao Lian and his ilk did? Once in power, they acted arrogantly and treated human lives as grass.

Ning Wuxie's heart wasn't that cruel. He glanced at the white-haired Yang Wenqing and sighed lightly, "Forget it, County Magistrate Yang, you decide what to do. The people downstairs were killed by me, and it has nothing to do with them."

Ning Wuxie pointed to the scholars, his gaze calm.

Yang Wenqing, who had already decided to die, felt a glimmer of hope, like a ray of light in the darkness. Ning Wuxie's words meant he wouldn't pursue his past. He didn't care about the dead bodies and nodded rapidly.

"He killed them, you don't need to investigate." Li Xiu'ning's voice came, like a fragrant orchid in a secluded valley.

"Everyone, leave. No one is to enter without my command!"

"Yes, Princess!"

Li Ziwén stood up, bowed respectfully, and left. The surrounding soldiers dragged the frightened Li Wenqing and Zhao Lian out.

After a series of footsteps, the room became quiet. Ning Wuxie looked at Li Xiu'ning. He had killed her subordinates, yet she could remain calm. Truly, she was Princess Pingyang. He smiled slightly and said, "Thank you..."

Li Xiu'ning looked at Ning Wuxie in surprise. Although she was only twenty, she had been through many battles and had seen countless people. But Ning Wuxie was the first of his kind. She said calmly, "No need to thank me, I just don't want any trouble."

Looking at the cold Li Xiu'ning, Ning Wuxie hesitated, "Princess Pingyang, I don't know if I should say this, but be careful this year. You have a blood curse, and your beauty may lead to your early death..."

Li Xiu'ning was taken aback. Was this a curse or a warning?

"Thank you for your concern, but life and death are predestined. I have long seen through the battles. Sometimes, death is not a problem."

Hearing Li Xiu'ning's calm words, the scholars were secretly impressed. Such courage was rare even among men. Truly, she was a Li family woman, a heroine who could match any man.

Seeing that Li Xiu'ning didn't take it to heart, Ning Wuxie felt a bit regretful. He looked deeply at Li Xiu'ning and said solemnly, "Be careful."

Perhaps sensing Ning Wuxie's extraordinary nature, Li Xiu'ning became serious and nodded.

"Thank you, Master, for your great kindness. If it weren't for you, the three of us and Yanran would surely have died here." The four scholars stood up and bowed deeply to Ning Wuxie.

"It was just a matter of convenience. There's no need for such gratitude. Miss Xie has already repaid me. If you want to thank someone, thank her."

"What virtue do I have? It was just a song. How can it compare to your great kindness?" Xie Yanran said politely.

Ning Wuxie shook his head. Some things only he understood. The song had given him something more precious than anything else. It might be the most beautiful song he would ever hear in his life.

"Enough people have died today. Do you still want to kill more?" Ning Wuxie looked at Li Xiu'ning and the scholars.

The scholar took a deep breath and faced the woman in white, his eyes filled with doubt, "Princess Pingyang, I am curious. Why are you pursuing us?"

"Outside Nüzi Pass, a village of a hundred people was wiped out. The perpetrator used the Immortal Technique of the Evil King. Tell me, should I not pursue you?" Li Xiu'ning's eyes flashed with killing intent.

The scholar frowned and said seriously, with a slightly evil air, "I have always been in the Jiangnan region. When did I ever go to the border? Princess Pingyang must be mistaken. Although the Immortal Technique was created by me, I only learned a glimpse of immortality from an outsider's book. It could have been done by an outsider. I can swear, if I did this, may I be struck by five thunderbolts and die a terrible death!"

Xie Yanran also nodded and looked at Li Xiu'ning, saying respectfully, "Princess, Zhi Xuan has always been with me. I can vouch for this. Such a cruel act could not have been done by Zhi Xuan. Please investigate clearly, Princess!"

Ning Wuxie listened, his forehead breaking out in a cold sweat. The Evil King Shi Zhi Xuan? What was this all about? It was one thing to have characters like Yan Chixia and Nie Xiaoqian, but now even the Evil King Shi Zhi Xuan?

A hint of doubt flashed in Li Xiu'ning's eyes. Could it really not be the Evil King? She held a high position and knew about some outsiders. Even in the Tang army, there were such people who could fly and teleport, taking the heads of enemies from a thousand miles away—what the world called cultivators.

If there were cultivators, there were also demon cultivators. Some of these demon cultivators practiced evil techniques, taking blood, souls, and death energy, causing great harm to the world. Li Xiu'ning remembered that Yuan Tiangang, the chief astrologer of the imperial court, was an outsider cultivator. He had an uncle named Yuan Shoucheng who ran a fortune-telling stall in Chang'an.

Thinking of Yuan Shoucheng, Li Xiu'ning suddenly remembered that when she captured Chang'an, she passed by his fortune-telling stall and had him read her fortune. He had said she would have a short life and wouldn't live past twenty-three. Next year, she would be twenty-three.

Li Xiu'ning looked at Ning Wuxie. Could he be an outsider cultivator? She suddenly understood why he could kill the imperial guards so easily. If he was an outsider cultivator, everything couldn't be judged by normal standards.

Thinking this, Li Xiu'ning took Ning Wuxie's warning to heart and became more cautious. Although she wasn't afraid of death, she didn't want to die pointlessly.

"Since that's the case, I will investigate the case. If it was indeed you, Shi Zhi Xuan, I will pursue you to the ends of the earth and bring you to justice!" Li Xiu'ning's brows furrowed, and a killing intent flashed in her eyes.

"If it was indeed Zhi Xuan, I will not trouble you. I will bring his head to you and end my life before you to atone for my mistake!"

Xie Yanran's face turned serious, and Ning Wuxie, hearing this, sighed inwardly. What a remarkable woman!

Shi Zhi Xuan said, "How about this? I will go with you to the north. Since this concerns my reputation, I should help capture the murderer."

After some thought, Li Xiu'ning nodded.