Chapter 15: The Mischievous Witch

The hall was instantly plunged into a dead silence as everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

Qin Yue cast a glance at the one who had spoken. The young man could be no older than twenty-three or twenty-four, with features as refined as sculpted jade. He wore exquisitely ornate robes, and his hair was bound with a golden crown.

A faint smile played at his lips, and though the room’s attention was fixed on him, he appeared utterly composed, almost insouciant, with a nonchalance more at home on a rogue than in this assembly. His appearance and attire seemed oddly out of place amid this gathering of martial artists and wanderers.

Yet, the fellow was undeniably bold, brimming with a recklessness befitting a hero of the jianghu!

To be honest, this was not only Qin Yue’s private thought—it echoed in the hearts of most present.

A woman famed for her beauty may not always regard it as a blessing, but for the elusive Lady Xingyao, it was an undeniable fact.

While the martial world of the northern lands praised Xingyao Manor’s might, most people—though they might not say it aloud—could not help but wonder about Lady Xingyao herself: a beauty beyond compare!

Who among them wasn’t curious about the face concealed behind that alluring veil?

If this were a hall of scholars, no doubt they would feign propriety, perhaps even censure the bold young man, but secretly they would be just as intrigued.

But here, among these rough-and-ready hunters and mercenaries, no one cared for such niceties. Upon hearing someone openly flirt with Lady Xingyao, not a few seemed a little excited.

Having taken in the speaker, everyone’s gaze naturally shifted toward the woman in red at the head of the hall.

Lady Xingyao did not show the slightest anger. Her tone remained gentle, her voice soft and warm as she said, “It is not out of vanity that I hide my face, nor an unwillingness to meet you openly. Since childhood I have suffered severe burns, leaving my face scarred and frightening to behold. I fear it might spoil your mood for drinking.”

As she spoke, she gently lifted a corner of her veil, revealing part of her cheek. Just as she had said, it was an angry red, marred by old burn scars—shocking even after so many years.

A hush fell over the hall. Words failed them. Alongside regret, many felt a deep admiration for Lady Xingyao’s courage.

Few men, let alone women, would willingly reveal such wounds in public.

This revelation would surely destroy her reputation for beauty; in a matter of days, the story would spread across the northern lands.

The handsome young man who’d spoken up froze for a moment, the roguish air vanishing from his face as he stood and bowed apologetically. “I was out of line. Please accept my apologies, madam.”

“It is of no consequence,” Lady Xingyao replied gently. “I have never counted on my looks to serve others. Besides,” she paused, “I am on good terms with several elders of the Zhaoyang Sect. I would not take offense at the impudence of a junior.”

So he was a disciple of the Zhaoyang Sect?

A subdued stir ran through the room. Many glanced at the handsome young man with newfound scrutiny. The Zhaoyang Sect was renowned for its strictness; his conduct had indeed crossed the line.

Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Yue noticed Hu Yan, who looked rather anxious. She half-rose, as if about to greet her “fellow disciple.”

“Don’t draw attention. Seeing a familiar face will only embarrass him further,” came Hu Yan’s voice, transmitted directly to his ear.

Heh, I’m a fake too, senior sister—what are you worried about?

The handsome man, made all the more awkward by Lady Xingyao’s calm and unaffected words, now seemed not only frivolous but was publicly treated as a mere junior. He could only bow deeply once more and sit down in embarrassment.

Thus, this small disturbance passed like a pebble dropped into a lake, the ripples quickly fading away.

Yet for many, it marked a new understanding of Lady Xingyao—just as she had said herself: she had never relied on her beauty to win favor.

Her fame was not built on her appearance.

Now that the young man’s identity was known, few wished to make an enemy. The conversation soon shifted, and the atmosphere became lively once more.

After several rounds of wine, Lady Xingyao finally spoke in a soft voice from her seat of honor: “I trust you have all heard of the recent events in the north and are aware of what Xingyao Manor does. Let us not waste words. I will announce the tasks. If you have questions, consult the manor’s stewards later for details.”

At her words, the crowd set down their cups and gave her their full attention.

“The first matter concerns the Beast Valley.”

A steward produced a recording stone and projected an image into the air above the hall.

It was a woman in black robes, her face concealed by a veil. Though her figure was shrouded in loose garments, she radiated an unmistakable chill.

The moment Qin Yue saw this figure, he froze—but quickly forced himself to regain composure.

Of course—it was the very same demoness who had stolen his silver, nearly ruined his uncle, but had told him about the wild ginger sap to disguise his skin color.

Lady Xingyao’s gentle voice floated through the hall: “This woman’s name is Feng Qianning. She is the Holy Maiden of the Tianluo Sect...”

Instantly, an uproar broke out.

Feng Qianning’s name was unknown to most, but not so the Tianluo Sect.

It was a notorious demonic sect!

Perhaps only newcomers like Qin Yue, just arrived from the thousand-mile ice fields, found it unfamiliar.

But among these martial artists, the very mention of the sect’s name was enough to make faces pale.

Someone asked, “Madam, is this true? I’ve never heard of the Tianluo Sect having a Holy Maiden.”

Someone else echoed, “Indeed, the sect is famed for its secrecy. How did you learn of this?”

A steward quietly intoned, “Silence.”

The voice was not loud, yet it seemed to ring in every ear. Many stared at the steward in alarm and fell silent.

Lady Xingyao was patient. Once the hall was quiet, she continued softly, “Her identity and origins are confirmed. As for my source, I have my ways.”

“Some days ago, Feng Qianning entered Beast Valley and, at Ocean’s Depth Cavern on the Turbid Wave Shoals, in the lair of the ‘River-Devouring Demon Marquis’ Xuan Cang, stole a Wind-Settling Pearl. This pearl was Xuan Cang’s life-bound treasure from his early cultivation, kept in his vault after he gained a true form. Its theft enraged him, and the recent unending rains are his doing...”

A collective gasp swept the hall. The unruly adventurers and hunters could not help but whisper among themselves.

“Is she mad? Daring to provoke the Demon Marquis?”

“I’ve been into Beast Valley for years, but I never dared near Ocean’s Depth Cavern. That demon king is said to possess immeasurable power. Years ago, he even fought the great master An Miaochu—and An lost, I think...”

“I heard about that. He was bedridden for ages afterward.”

“This woman looks so young, but what nerve—to steal from the River-Devouring Demon Marquis!”

Qin Yue recalled his own encounter with this demoness: how the weather had turned from clear to stormy in an instant, and the wild beasts in the jungle had grown restless. It all seemed surreal.

Though he himself was a cultivator, it was only now that he truly grasped the terrors of this world.

The name Feng Qianning was now etched even deeper into his mind—for this was a woman who dared to steal from monsters who could call forth wind and rain.

Lady Xingyao waited for the murmurs to quiet, then continued: “It didn’t end there. After stealing the Wind-Settling Pearl from Xuan Cang, she went to Ancient Peak, Broken Spine Gorge, and from the lair of the Fiend Commander of the Blazing Mountains, the Cinderclaw Demon King, stole a ‘Transforming Gourd.’ Some of you may have heard of this gourd; even the greatest powers dare not face it directly...”

Now the hall was in an uproar. Eyes widened in disbelief.

Both the Demon Marquis and the Cinderclaw Demon King were legendary figures in Beast Valley, their names enough to make children cry.

The tales of the Wind-Settling Pearl and the Transforming Gourd were known to all.

Even if Feng Qianning was the Holy Maiden of a top demonic sect and bold to the point of madness, how in the world had she managed this?

Not to mention the demon kings themselves—their underlings alone would be fearsome foes in the human world.

And yet—they had been robbed?

Someone could not help but blurt out, “Madam, isn’t this a little far-fetched?”

“Indeed! I’ve never set foot deep in Beast Valley, yet even I know these demon kings by name. Who would dare steal from them?”

“Are the demon kings of Beast Valley perhaps using this as a pretext to attack humanity?”

“Now that you mention it... it does seem possible...”

The hall erupted in speculation.

Lady Xingyao spoke gently, “I cannot guarantee every detail, but the evidence in hand suggests it is true. And these are not the only feats recently accomplished by this fledgling Holy Maiden...”

The crowd was stunned. There was more?

Even Qin Yue was shaken—was this really the woman he’d met that day?

“The Windshriek Demon King of the Burning Marsh almost lost his lair to her as well, but was saved by timely discovery. In addition, a Zhaoyang Sect spirit vessel en route to the thousand-mile ice fields was attacked by Feng Qianning—the vessel destroyed, more than seventy aboard, over half dead or wounded...”

Boom!

The entire hall exploded.

The handsome young man who had earlier teased Lady Xingyao shot to his feet. “Is this true, madam?”

Qin Yue, too, was left speechless by the revelation—though deep down, his regard for Feng Qianning soared to the highest degree.

He had never truly disliked her. She had harmed neither hair nor hide, had left him a remedy for his skin after discovering his origin, and though she ruined his uncle and took a few hundred taels, those were trifles.

Now he learned she dared not only to steal from demon kings, but also to provoke a behemoth like the Zhaoyang Sect. She was nothing less than a scourge of the world...

No—she was a fairy descended to earth!

If he ever met her again, he would surely give her a thumbs-up and declare, “Sister Ning, you are mighty indeed!”