92 - Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’

## Chapter 92: Who Laughs Like a Good Person? (Part 1/2) In the modest post station, blades flickered menacingly, swiftly transforming the place into a battleground reminiscent of hell. Zuoqiu Yang's short sword at his waist glimmered captivatingly, swift and lethal, claiming lives in a mere instant. The sound of his sword swishing through the air evoked a sensation akin to ants gnawing at one's heart. "He’s formidable," Xiao Qin thought with a shiver. The bloodlust emanating from the other was staggering; in a fight to the death, he wasn't confident he could overcome such an opponent. His teacher had once remarked that he was a standout genius among his peers. Yet, Xiao Qin always considered himself quite ordinary. Previously, he thought it was because he was part of Qingyuan Sect, where talents were abundant. Now, out in the real world again, he encountered someone like this. "Indeed, it's the Lifeless Blade technique; at his age, he's perfected it," said Qianxing Wuzun with a note of surprise, also taken aback by Zuoqiu Yang's prowess. "Do you recognize his martial arts style?" Xiao Qin asked. "Of course, if I didn't, why would I bother to point it out to you?" "Teacher, if something is suspicious about this inn, why didn't you warn me earlier?" Xiao Qin moved to a corner for cover. Projectiles flew amidst the chaos, and he had no choice but to take up a broken sword to fend them off. "These assassins aren't even of notable rank. Moreover, they aren't here to kill you." Xiao Qin nodded; he hadn’t received the 'Hall of Yan' decree, and no innocents were being caught in the fray. Yet... Suddenly, a projectile deflected by him pierced through the chest of some unlucky fellow. "That guy with the thick eyebrows, I always suspected he was in cahoots with Zuoqiu Yang! Kill him!" A flurry of sword and blade shadows charged toward Xiao Qin. Qianxing Wuzun chuckled knowingly, "Now they are." Xiao Qin remained in stoic silence, forced into the battle. Both he and the other were geniuses capable of surpassing their current internal breath level in fights. Meanwhile, these disguised assassins didn't even have anyone at the Inner Essence Jade Liquid level. The outcome was inevitable. The skirmish wrapped up swiftly. Corpses littered the inn, and aside from the pretending cook and innkeeper who fled, all others lay dead. Zuoqiu Yang sat heavily back in his seat, wiped blood from his face, and began devouring noodles. Before he did, he tossed all the beef into Xiao Qin's bowl. "Is that supposed to be a thank you?" Xiao Qin asked as he sat down, a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Zuoqiu Yang slurped the noodles down whole and shook his head, "Not at all, but I can offer you some advice: leave now while you still can. The ones coming to kill me next won't be as feeble as those we just faced." "More are coming?" Xiao Qin fell into contemplation. However, he was meant to wait here for someone. Seeing that Xiao Qin wasn't budging, Zuoqiu Yang frowned, "Have you heard of the Three Fiends of Huai Mountain?" "I've heard of Huai Mountain; there's a town there," Xiao Qin shook his head. He hadn't been much updated on the outside world due to years in Qingyuan Sect. The only reason he remembered Huai Mountain town was because he passed by it traveling from Mianhefu to Ziyangfu. Zuoqiu Yang's face fell, "The town... it’s gone, not even chickens or dogs survived. Three years ago, it was overtaken by bandits." "The head bandits call themselves the Three Fiends of Huai Mountain. They are blood brothers and proficient in combined attacks," he explained, clenching his fist until his fingers turned white. "Oh?" Xiao Qin mused, his expression shifting, "The authorities and sects don't intervene?" He never saw any tasks related to it from the External Affairs Hall. Zuoqiu Yang's mouth twisted into a derisive sneer, "Huai Mountain straddles the border of two provinces. Ziyang's officials claim it's closer to Mianhefu, so it's not their responsibility. Meanwhile, Mianhefu argues the town is across a river, the villagers always went to Ziyangfu with their problems, so it should be under Ziyangfu’s jurisdiction." "Back and forth, who knows if they've simply forgotten or can't figure it out." Gazing at the bodies, he murmured, "Shame, the Three Fiends are just accomplices. The one who killed my master has yet to be found..." As if sensing the sorrow and hatred within him, the short sword at his waist began to hum softly. The killing intent in the hall surged anew, chilling the atmosphere to the bone. "Go, it’s for your own good," Zuoqiu Yang's icy voice rang, stripped of humanity. Xiao Qin felt his heart grow heavy. Qianxing Wuzun sighed, "The Lifeless Blade technique—killing others, killing oneself, devoid of emotion and nature—is one of Xiyulou's superior martial arts." "But those who practice it typically meet tragic ends, either perishing at the hands of others or by their own." "He’s advising you to leave because he fears that in his mania, he might cut you down too." Xiao Qin remained silent, processing his thoughts. So, that’s what he meant by doing it for his benefit. Finishing with his words, Zuoqiu Yang quieted, gathering his killing aura to reach his peak. At that moment, three more figures dashed through the rain, approaching swiftly, yet... Their speed seemed excessive? With a loud crash, two terribly battered figures, akin to broken sacks, were hurled into the inn, demolishing a section of tables and chairs. They were none other than the fleeing cook and innkeeper, now taking in more breaths than they exhaled, faces stricken with terror as if they’d seen a ghost. "The Three Fiends of Huai Mountain?" Zuoqiu Yang’s pupils contracted, almost losing consciousness. With two consecutive thuds, a few more figures were thrown inside—three people, all somewhat similar in appearance, each with a collapsed chest. Zuoqiu Yang's expression turned to stone. Just then, Xiao Qin finally smacked his lips and ambled to the door, "Is that you, Junior Brother Li?" "My apologies, Senior Brother Xiao, I’m late." A young man appeared at the door. Despite having emerged from the heavy rain and vanquishing the Three Fiends of Huai Mountain—powerful enough to challenge Inner Essence Profound Pellet masters—he was spotless, resembling a young lord taking a stroll. It was Li Mo. He cast a glance at the chaotic scene, a brow arched, before rubbing his stomach and asking, "Where's the waiter? Where'd he hide?" "The waiter is over here," Xiao Qin guiltily pointed to the ground. He’d killed him. "And the proprietor?" "That fatty you just knocked in." "So the one beside him... is the cook?" "Exactly, Brother Li, you’re quite sharp." "...What’s the situation here?" ... A quarter of an hour earlier, A carriage from Qingyuan Sect was advancing innocently down the road. "The others from the sects should have arrived in the city by now." "How long until we get there?" For the first time, Li Mo was driving a carriage downhill on his own, a bit unsure of the path, especially without any sort of navigation system back then. So, he lifted the curtain to check inside. Ying Bing pulled out a map given by Qian Bufan from her robe, lowered her eyes to look at it, before gently pointing upwards with her slender hand. Li Mo pondered. It's a bit far. Why arrange a meeting spot so far from the city? And then he saw her pause, raise her hand, and point to another spot. Li Mo, puzzled, looked up, finding her biting her lip, visibly unsure. After a moment of silence, she softly asked: "Is... isn't it?" "Aren't we going down for a family visit, right?" © All contents are copyrighted by their respective owners or authors.