Chapter Forty-Seven: Clash

Everyone in the grand hall gazed at Qin Yu with an unusual intensity, their eyes burning with fervor. As she descended the stairs, a faint smile curved on her lips—she had already achieved the effect she wanted. The only matter now was how to withdraw safely from this gathering of ambitious contenders…

Qian Ying watched Qin Yu slowly approach, his eyes radiating such possessiveness that it seemed as if he might scorch her with their heat. Beside him, Feng Meier observed the greed in Qian Ying’s gaze and bit down hard on her lip, her teeth nearly breaking the skin.

Feng Meier was perplexed. Her ability had never failed her before; even against those whose power exceeded her own by a level, she could still manipulate them, bend them to her will, make them bow before her. Yet this Qin Yu—she could not compel her to approach. It was as if, in that moment, Qin Yu simply did not exist within this space.

Doubt gnawed at Feng Meier’s heart. Could it be that Qin Yu possessed some extraordinary treasure? If so, that would indeed be troublesome…

To her credit, Feng Meier’s guess was close to the truth. Qin Yu had been inside the space within her jade pendant; she truly had not existed in the same realm as the others at that time. And that jade pendant was a unique treasure, unrivaled in the world.

After finalizing her assignment with the man and receiving the key to her villa, Qin Yu turned to face the gathered crowd.

She seized the initiative, smiling as she spoke, “I’m curious—why are you all staring at me so intently? I hardly think I’m so beautiful as to be utterly captivating.”

A few awkward coughs rippled through the crowd, but their eyes remained fixed on her.

Qian Ying stepped forward and addressed her, “Qin Yu, we know you completed that mission. Would you be willing to tell us about it? We’re all quite curious about what happened.”

Qin Yu gave Qian Ying a meaningful look. To ask her openly and directly here—how clever.

She nodded, replying, “Of course.” Leaning against a nearby table, she twirled a dagger idly in her hand, her head slightly bowed.

Then she spoke, “The situation was actually simpler than you might imagine, though certainly dangerous. There was indeed a third-tier mutant zombie—a very rare one. It possessed two abilities: one of poison, and the other a mutated psychic power. The poison could infect a person through a wound, turning them into a zombie. The psychic power could cast illusions, causing hallucinations.”

“Hallucinations? Then when we went in and felt our powers drop by a tier, was that all an illusion?” Before Qian Ying could speak, a third-tier ability user nearby interrupted anxiously.

Qin Yu glanced at him, masking her surprise, and nodded. “That’s probably the case…”

In truth, Qin Yu had not realized that those who entered after her felt their abilities weaken by a tier. It seemed the mystery of the blue mist was deeper than she thought. She doubted it was merely an illusion; after all, she had felt no such weakening herself. She could not help but look forward even more to Old Xu’s research into the secret of the Origin Crystal. Her suspicion was that the so-called mutated ability of the third-tier zombie came from the Origin Crystal itself.

Qian Ying shot an annoyed look at the third-tier ability user, then turned back to Qin Yu. “And… what happened to the third-tier zombie?”

“Oh, that?” Qin Yu lifted her head and flashed a brilliant smile. “I killed it.” But as she smiled, a chill swept through the crowd; they could sense the killing intent behind her words.

Qian Ying, however, seemed unaffected by the murderous undertone. He stared at her in a daze, feeling as though his heart beat solely for the woman before him.

Qin Yu caught the naked affection in Qian Ying’s eyes and was momentarily taken aback. That gaze was so familiar. Once, there had been someone else who looked at her with such love—not with possessiveness, but with pure adoration, warming her once-cold heart…

A heaviness pressed in on her. Ever since she had inexplicably lost her memory, whenever she thought of that person who had cherished her above all else, whom she had somehow lost, she felt utterly useless—a failure.

But this time, she would not let him slip away again. She would protect him with all she had. In her heart, Qin Yu made a silent vow.

Qian Ying, noticing her distraction, felt a surge of hope—was she thinking of him?

He was, perhaps, overthinking things…

Sensing the weight of so many eyes, Qin Yu collected herself. “That’s the general situation. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to check out that small town yourselves.”

The crowd observed her closely. The woman who had just been smiling radiantly now wore a cold, impassive expression. Seeing her like this, most of them were convinced.

Paying no mind to their reactions, Qin Yu turned to leave—only to have Qian Ying step into her path.

She raised a brow. “Captain Qian, what is the meaning of this?”

Qian Ying smiled. “Yu’er, we haven’t given you your reward yet. About that…”

Qin Yu frowned. “Captain Qian, just call me by my name; we’re not that familiar. As for the reward, I believe I made it clear—you can have someone deliver it to my residence. If there’s nothing else, please step aside. I have more important matters to attend to.”

Qian Ying gave an awkward laugh and moved aside. “Of course, since you’re busy, I won’t keep you. I’ll visit another day!” Despite his words, he shot a covert glance at Feng Meier.

Feng Meier caught his look. Though unwilling, she hurried forward, intending to seize Qin Yu’s arm—only to have Qin Yu evade her with ease.

Qin Yu regarded her coldly. “Miss Feng, are you trying to stop me?”

Seeing her attempt fail, Feng Meier tried again. Qin Yu stepped back, her aura emanating a trace of killing intent as she stared directly at Feng Meier.

Startled by the naked threat in Qin Yu’s eyes—the kind of murderous intent that seemed to promise dismemberment—Feng Meier froze. In that instant, Qin Yu had already walked out of the mission hall.

Qian Ying stepped up beside Feng Meier. “Useless,” he muttered before leading the others away.

Feng Meier lowered her head, her nails digging so deeply into her palm that blood welled up. Among Qian Ying’s group, one man glanced back at the blood staining her hand, a wicked smile curling at his lips, sending a chill down the spine of anyone who saw it.

The others in the hall, sensing the hatred simmering within Feng Meier, quickly busied themselves with their own affairs. No one dared provoke her.

Yet, unnoticed by all, the man who had originally been issuing missions in the hall had vanished. In his place, on his seat, was a slip of paper bearing two words: Qin Yu.