Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Refusing the Toast

Xia Wenjin watched him with a smile, leaning against the edge of the bed without moving.

This smile was too bright, as brilliant as a ray of sunlight, capable of exposing the filth and dirt in the world. Ming Qing felt something was amiss, but the smile was so radiant and beautiful that even if he sensed something wrong, he didn’t want to stop.

Just as Ming Qing lunged forward, Xia Wenjin flipped his wrist from within his sleeve, and with a flash of cold light, a short dagger thrust towards Ming Qing’s chest.

Ming Qing’s pupils constricted, and his heart was filled with extreme terror. In a split second, he moved aside.

Thud…

The sound of the dagger piercing flesh.

Ming Qing let out another scream!

Over the years, Ming Qing had been living in luxury at Shian Temple. In name, he was the Chief, but he wielded much more power than the Abbott. Ming Cheng was indifferent to matters, focusing only on meditation, essentially leaving Ming Qing in charge of the temple. He dodged the dagger from his vital heart area, getting stabbed in the shoulder instead. Though fatal, the pain was excruciating, and Ming Qing couldn’t endure it.

Outside the courtyard, after Ming Ze and Ming Xi closed the door, they exchanged a meaningful smile, both eager with anticipation.

Such a beauty, yet so perceptive and sensible. But for the sake of appearances, they insisted on taking turns. They were unaware that Xia Wenjin’s one-on-one strategy was a stalling tactic, intending to deal with them one by one.

Ming Ze pretended and said, “Junior Brother, after Senior Brother is done, who among us goes next?”

Ming Xi understood, ingratiatingly saying, “Naturally, rank dictates you go first, Senior Brother. I’ll follow, I’ll follow!”

The two sorted out the order, their minds involuntarily drifting back to the beautiful sight they just witnessed. Such a stunning woman, they didn’t want to rest tonight. No, they didn’t want to rest for three days and nights.

As they were indulging in these thoughts, Ming Qing’s scream suddenly echoed.

Though the scream was brief and subdued, with only a door separating them, they heard it clearly and exchanged astonished glances.

Ming Qing’s martial skills were excellent, and that little lady looked like she’d collapse in a breeze. How could she possibly injure Ming Qing?

But the scream was undoubtedly from Ming Qing.

Ming Xi said, “Let’s go take a look!”

Ming Ze said, “Let’s listen first. If we interrupt Senior Brother’s fun, we’ll be scolded.”

Ming Xi understood. They rarely encountered someone who met their standards, and this one was truly exceptional and sharp, like a wild cat with sharp claws, perhaps Ming Qing was playing a stimulating game with her?

Inside, muffled sounds and Ming Qing’s furious low roars continued to emerge.

Only then did they realize something was wrong. They hurriedly pushed the door open, and the scene before them made their eyes widen. The woman held a dagger, step by step pressuring Ming Qing, whose monk robes were stained with blood, as if soaked in a pool of it.

His body was large and powerful, but the woman was delicate and petite.

Ming Qing was injured, yet the woman with a sharp dagger was evenly matched with him.

Ming Ze shouted, “Fine, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit! Ming Xi, let’s go together!”

Xia Wenjin’s eyes darkened. She had created a one-on-one situation with words just now, aiming to deal with Ming Qing first, then take on Ming Ze and Ming Xi. But Ming Qing was tricky, and Ming Ze and Ming Xi entered too quickly, surrounding her.

Gone was the earlier dismissive teasing; their eyes now glowed with ferocity.

Xia Wenjin understood. First, because she had injured Ming Qing, infuriating the three; and second, because they were also worried about exposure, they were eager to subdue her.

This meant they would inevitably use heavy-handed tactics.

Xia Wenjin’s eyes were deep and dark, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding candles. The candlelight was bright, clearly reflecting the grotesque appearances of the three monks.

Her hand was steady, gripping the dagger tightly.

This was going to be a vicious battle, but Xia Wenjin was not afraid.

She had been through countless fierce battles, once facing an ultra first-class assassin with her limited skills. That was truly a narrow escape, leaving a lingering fear upon recollection.

But before the fierce battle, Xia Wenjin sighed inwardly.

Acting separately from Huangfu Jingchen was to uncover the secrets within Shian Temple in one go, but this meant both acted alone, without allies.

Kong Chan, that bald thief, would never be kind enough to come and help.

She could rely on no one but herself!

Ming Ze and Ming Xi had already closed in. Though unarmed, they were physically strong, their fists as big as bowls, swinging with a gust of wind towards Xia Wenjin.

Fists, kicks, fingers, and palms, the three men’s attacks wove a net, enveloping Xia Wenjin within.

Back mountain.

Huangfu Jingchen, who had arranged a midnight operation, was actually a bit worried about Xia Wenjin. After all, known dangers on one side, and unknown dangers on the other, the unknown was clearly more terrifying.

He wanted to check first, then head to the back mountain, but was blocked by Kong Chan.

Kong Chan glanced at him sideways, full of annoyance: “Can’t you stop? What’s with all the dithering? Xia Wenjin is just going to sleep in that room for a night; she’s clever and will get the better of anyone. You’re the one who should be worried about delaying here. Do you plan to go to the back mountain when it’s daylight?”

Huangfu Jingchen thought of Xia Wenjin’s cleverness and felt Kong Chan might be right. She’s so smart there shouldn’t be any problem.

Better to explore the back mountain first, go early, return early, and still make it to take a round outside Xia Wenjin’s zen room.

Huangfu Jingchen was about to leave when Kong Chan called him back, tossing him a set of night raider clothes contemptuously: “You obviously haven’t done this before; who goes sneaking around wearing something so bright? Sky blue under the moonlight becomes white, are you night raiding or showing off?”

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

Who carries such things all the time? He glanced at Kong Chan.

Kong Chan, meeting his gaze, immediately realized, fuming with embarrassment: “What are you looking at? What’s wrong with carrying night raid clothes? Can’t someone have them on hand? You know nothing! This is called being prepared! Isn’t it useful now?”

Huangfu Jingchen turned away with a suppressed smile, did he just poke a beehive? Who’s taking it so personally, did he say anything?

Huangfu Jingchen took off his outer coat, changed into the night raid clothes, and left.

Kong Chan rolled his eyes hard, he gets no thanks for his kindness? Such rude people! They’re all just ingrates!

Huangfu Jingchen followed the path he had taken before, making his way toward the back mountain.

Even though it was night, he remained very cautious.

The road ahead became more and more secluded, especially in the silent night, shadows of trees dappled and vague. With the wind blowing, branches swayed, leaves rustled softly, and a chilly gust blew through.

Huangfu Jingchen wasn’t concerned about these; he was more afraid of alerting others and worried about sentinels from the back mountain hidden among the shadows.

Fortunately, cautious as he was, he encountered none.

Evidently, the people of the back mountain had been undisturbed last night, or perhaps always undisturbed, not caring about the random “incense guest” who wandered over during the day.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep