The boy watched the girl approach, her steps light and graceful, walking along the dimly lit corridor like a young fawn in the night.

Zhu Lu was devoid of her usual imperiousness, resembling a childhood sweetheart from next door, her eyes sparkling with a charming smile.

Chen Ping’an seemed somewhat incredulous, slowing his pace to a halt, his eyes wide, staring at the slightly unfamiliar, delicate face.

Zhu Lu drew her left hand from behind her back, waving it at Chen Ping’an as she walked, saying, “Chen Ping’an, about the matter on the stone platform of Chessboard Mountain, my father hopes I can tell you something…”

Five steps away, the girl with the cultivation of the Second Realm Peak, suddenly exerted her strength and charged forward, covering the distance in just two strides. In an instant, they stood face to face, their features clearly visible. The girl’s face was contorted with ferocity, anger, joy, and relief, an extremely complex mix of emotions. The boy’s eyes, aside from a hint of sadness, were filled with a sharp, formidable light, carrying the edge of a cleaver honed on the Dragon Slaying Platform.

Zhu Lu’s left fist struck straight at the boy’s forehead, a feint to deceive, as she deliberately slowed down the speed of her punch.

The true killing move lay in her right hand. With a lightning-fast strike, she held three sharp bamboo skewers, aiming them straight at the boy’s heart.

As the skewers were about to pierce the boy’s heart, the girl, bursting with murderous intent, uttered the rest of her sentence, “I’m sorry!”

At this moment, the girl possessed none of her usual charming demeanor, only ruthless determination.

But the next moment, Zhu Lu’s face was filled with astonishment, realizing the danger. She wanted to retreat.

Chen Ping’an swiftly raised his right hand, not only blocking the girl’s left fist but also seizing the opportunity presented by her feigned weakness, his arm moving forward to grab Zhu Lu’s neck.

At the same time, the boy’s left hand tightly gripped Zhu Lu’s right wrist, preventing the three sugar-coated hawthorn skewers from piercing his heart. He tightened his grip on her neck and yanked the girl toward him, delivering a knee strike to her abdomen with immense force, causing her to almost vomit bile and bitterness. Her body involuntarily bent over, and she instantly lost her fighting ability. Chen Ping’an showed no mercy, striking her head with his forehead in a headbutt.

The girl staggered backward.

Chen Ping’an kicked out, and the girl, already severely injured in the abdomen, flew like a kite with a broken string, landing heavily on the bluestone floor of the corridor several feet away. She struggled twice but was unable to get up, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, her face as pale as paper, her beautiful face now a picture of misery.

A series of movements executed in one breath, without any mercy.

Zhu Lu used her elbows to support herself on the ground, enduring the excruciating pain, trying her best to move her body backward, away from the boy in straw sandals, even if it was only an inch or a foot.

Chen Ping’an scanned his surroundings, finding nothing unusual, before approaching the battered girl, his muscles tense, still cautious.

Zhu Lu was gripped by immense fear, not even bothering to wipe the blood from her mouth, she pleaded with a sob, “Don’t kill me, Chen Ping’an, I was just playing a joke on you, really, I’m not lying to you. If I wanted to kill you, why would I use these sugar-coated hawthorn skewers? Besides, why would I want to kill you…”

Chen Ping’an hit the nail on the head, “When we separated on Guanshui Street, you dragged your father, Zhu He, along, saying you were going to browse weapon shops. You wanted to choose a handy weapon like a dagger, easy to hide in your sleeve. I guess the shop was closed, so you had to use bamboo skewers instead.”

Zhu Lu suddenly laughed, her chest rising and falling violently, coughing severely, covering her mouth. Bright red blood continued to seep from between her fingers. She released her hand, as if resigning herself to her fate, looking up at the boy looking down at her. Her gaze moved from top to bottom, finally landing on a pair of rough, lowly straw sandals. The girl raised her head again, as if possessed by madness, not crying but laughing, staring intently at the boy approaching her, her voice hoarse as she laughed, “I didn’t expect you to be as stupid as I thought. But I’m curious, how did you see that I wanted to kill you?”

The girl raised her voice, her originally delicate face twisted and crazed, “Chen Ping’an, before you kill me, can you let me die knowing why?!”

Chen Ping’an didn’t stop, asking in return, “Why?”

The girl was about to try to sit up when Chen Ping’an stomped on her forehead, the back of her head hitting the bluestone floor heavily. The girl vomited a large mouthful of blood, completely giving up the attempt to get up this time. Although in the depths of her heart, the greatest humiliation was letting a boy from the slums wearing straw sandals stand and talk to her, while she could only lie down, even sitting up was a luxury.

Zhu Lu wiped away the blood with the back of her hand, laughing, “Do you remember the letter my Second Master sent to the Miss? My young master is proficient in everything, from playing the zither to chess, calligraphy, and painting, especially excelling in running script, just like his personality, unrestrained and free. But before leaving home to go to the capital, my young master suddenly said he wanted to learn regular script, because he said he wanted to learn to abide by the rules of the outside world, that he had to start restraining his temperament.”

Chen Ping’an squatted down, pried open her fingers, took out the three bamboo skewers, holding them in his palm, and then sat on the long chair in the corridor, staring expressionlessly at Zhu Lu, not allowing her any chance to cause trouble. But it was obvious, Zhu Lu’s killing intent…

(End of this chapter, please turn the page)