Chapter 184: Chapter 128: Don’t Startle the Snake

Si Jing spoke coolly, “Open it and let’s see what kind of painting it is.”

The guests in the audience immediately lost interest when they heard it was a scroll painting.

’A worthless trinket. This young female has no taste. Judging by her looks, demeanor, and the quality of her clothes, she’s clearly from a wealthy family. How could she present something like this at the Clan Leader’s centennial birthday?’

Sang Luo opened the brocade box and stated with composure,

“This painting is called the Mountain and River Map. I purchased it for a great sum from a traveling merchant years ago.”

As the long scroll slowly unfurled, it was like parting the clouds and mist to reveal a world within. The mountains, rivers, plants, and living creatures in the painting were so vivid they seemed real.

Gasps of surprise arose from the guests. Si Jing could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary item. Shocked, she rose to her feet. “Could this map be…”

’This isn’t an ordinary landscape painting. It’s a Ten Thousand Lives Annihilation Map—a top-grade Spiritual artifact containing countless trapping and killing formations! It can trap living people inside the map’s world. Once lost within, there’s no escape, and they’ll die without a trace.’

In the outside world, an Annihilation Map could be auctioned for an astronomical price.

It was said that in this age, only the Sea Emperor of the South Sea could forge such a Top Grade Killing Spiritual Artifact. He was the most renowned Artifact Refiner in the Beast World in the last hundred years. A single one of his spiritual artifacts could fetch a heavenly price, but he was never seen. Finding him to forge something was next to impossible.

’…’ Sang Luo was puzzled. ’For some reason, ever since I opened this Mountain and River Map, there have been gasps all around. Even the experienced and knowledgeable Clan Leader is visibly excited.’

’Could it be?’

’Is this some kind of peerless treasure?’

’But this is just something I casually picked up from Lou Xianyue’s counter. He gave me lots of other rare items, big and small, but this Mountain and River Map looked the most valuable. Using it as a gift wouldn’t be embarrassing.’

A female Elder who was on good terms with the Clan Leader said with envy, “Ah Jing, this noble female with your Little Ye probably has an extraordinary background. To be able to produce such a peerless treasure… this is countless times more precious than the things your eldest son and his wife presented. If only I had your good fortune!”

The expressions of Si Yang and Bai Wan instantly soured.

’Bai Wan hadn’t expected it either. Sang Luo wasn’t from a noble family of the East Continent, yet she could produce such a treasure.’

“Haha, they are all filial children. The gifts are all from their hearts. Regardless of value, I am happy. This noble female is also very thoughtful.” Si Jing’s expression was a bit complicated. With so many people watching, she had no choice but to pretend to be happy and accept it.

Sang Luo paid no mind to the scrutinizing gazes around her. She returned to her seat, watched the song and dance performances for a while, and began to yawn.

Si Ye moved a little closer to Sang Luo, his arm loosely wrapping around her waist from behind, allowing her head to rest comfortably on his shoulder.

Sang Luo tilted her head and whispered in his ear, “I’m a little sleepy. I want to go back and get some more sleep.”

’I didn’t get enough of my nap this morning!’

“There’s nothing interesting left anyway. I’ll let my mother know and take you back to rest.”

Si Ye casually summoned an old servant, gave a few instructions, then teleported back to the main bedroom of their courtyard with her in his arms. He placed her on the bed and covered her with a golden-silk ice-silkworm quilt. He then moved a chair to sit by the bedside.

“Aren’t you going to sleep a little more?” Sang Luo watched him with a languid gaze, a natural charm flowing from her.

The two had been at it all night.

Si Ye looked at her. Her messy collar was slightly open, revealing the passionate red marks on her fair neck. There were more hidden on her waist, and on her inner thighs… He had spent the entire night leaving his marks, his scent, his very essence on every inch of her body…

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “No.”

’I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself from doing something to her.’

’That kind of thing is addictive.’

Si Ye got up, opened the window, and lowered the bed curtains. He lit some sandalwood incense in a hollowed-out censer carved with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts. White smoke curled up gracefully, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Sang Luo, smelling the pleasant incense, quickly fell asleep.

When she woke up, the sky outside was completely dark.

Si Ye held one of her hands, his sharp gaze fixed on the window. Sang Luo’s groggy mind cleared instantly. Using her spiritual power, she saw… outside the courtyard, assassins hiding in the shadows, holding sharp weapons.

Si Ye was afraid of disturbing her rest, so he didn’t make a move immediately.

Those people probably thought both of them were resting and grew even more audacious.

More than a dozen black-clad men, all King Rank or higher, infiltrated the courtyard. All the servants had been knocked out.

Seeing that she was awake, Si Ye smiled. “Are you hungry again?”

“…” Sang Luo took the few Crystal Cores he handed her and ate them. She glanced out the window again. “You’re certainly taking this easy. That group outside should be here to assassinate you… no, they’re here to assassinate both of us. I’ve been dragged into this because of you.”

“They’re just a bunch of small fries. I can deal with them easily.”

Seeing her finish the Crystal Cores, Si Ye got up and was about to move, but Sang Luo reached out, grabbed his long, elegant hand, and pulled him to the bedside.

Sang Luo gave him a playful wink. “Don’t startle the snake in the grass. I have an idea that might give you a pleasant surprise!”

…

A black-clad man flew silently onto the eaves. Holding a tube of confusing smoke, he lifted a roof tile and was about to peer inside—

The next second, a head hit the ground!

A dozen or so black-clad men swarmed in. All of them were at the peak of King Rank. It would take even Si Ye some effort to deal with them.

“SWOOSH!”

An Ice Poison Flying Blade shot out from the shadows, breaking the air. He had no time to dodge, and it struck him right in the heart.

The moment the ice poison touched his flesh, it spread rapidly like a venomous snake. This poison was specifically designed to exploit the weakness of Fire Element Beastmen. With no antidote, death was certain!

In the blink of an eye, half of Si Ye’s body was corroded. He fell to his knees, unable to fight back.

The corner of an elegant, pale-yellow robe flashed before his eyes.

Si Ye’s eyes were bloodshot. He struggled to look at the newcomer.

“You… Why would you do this?”

Ning Feng stopped in front of his head and let out a cruel sneer. “If you must blame someone, blame yourself for coming back!”

“You bastard, how dare you come back?” Ning Feng’s tone was cold and vicious, a complete contrast to his gentle public persona. “You ran away from home for years without a word. I was originally planning to let you live, but you just had to be blind and keep showing up in front of me and my son. In that case, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

Si Ye spat out a mouthful of black blood, his voice weak and broken. “I… As I see it, I have never offended you… Why are you trying to kill me!”

“Offended? Heh. You little bastard, you were docile enough as a child, but… just because you haven’t offended me doesn’t mean your father didn’t! After you die, you can go ask your dear old dad.” Ning Feng’s gaze grew even more malicious. “You and your dead father are exactly the same—so annoying. Why are you always after what belongs to my son and me!”

“For you and your father to both die by my hand would be a beautiful thing.”

“It was you!” Si Ye’s pupils trembled. “You killed my father!”

Although he was very young at the time, he remembered it clearly. Fei Li’s injuries back then were severe, but for someone at the Half-Emperor Rank, they were far from fatal.

Unless someone had secretly struck a fatal blow while he was grievously injured and weak!

Si Jing had also been suspicious back then and ordered a thorough investigation, but the cause could never be found. In the end, the matter was hastily dropped.

Ning Feng was someone close to Si Jing; the two had grown up together, and Si Jing trusted him completely. Only he could have secretly tampered with the investigation to erase any suspicion against himself.

Ning Feng wanted his own son to inherit the position of Clan Leader. Fei Li and Si Ye, two stumbling blocks who appeared out of nowhere, naturally became thorns in his side, objects of his deep-seated hatred. When he found the chance, he would pull them out by the roots.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep