The moment the curtains were flung open, sunlight from the villa's courtyard poured in, instantly illuminating the dark room.

Shen Jingzhe, who had been resting on the bed, was startled. At that moment, she was still completely naked and hastily grabbed the quilt to cover herself.

Luckily, Lin Xiao's attention was completely captured by the person outside the window, so he didn't glance at her at all. Otherwise, she would have wanted to find a hole to crawl into. Even so, Shen Jingzhe felt so ashamed she wished the earth would swallow her whole.

Standing outside the window was a beautiful woman in her early forties, exuding a mature charm. Her sharp eyes were fixed on Lin Xiao. Upon seeing him, a flicker of surprise flashed through her eyes, but her expression quickly turned as cold as ice.

Just as Lin Xiao was about to speak, the woman suddenly leaped into the air, jumping in through the window. She landed as lightly as a falling leaf, making not the slightest sound.

What formidable cultivation! Lin Xiao thought to himself.

Just then, the woman turned to Shen Jingzhe, her voice harsh as she demanded, "Is this how I normally teach you?"

Lying on the bed, Shen Jingzhe pulled the quilt over her head, not daring to look at the woman.

Lin Xiao instantly understood that this woman must be Shen Jingzhe's master. At this realization, he became extremely wary. After all, she was the one who had ordered Shen Jingzhe to assassinate him.

"Boy, get out and wait outside!" the woman commanded harshly.

Lin Xiao didn't waste a second, leaping out through the window. She was here to assassinate him; there was no sense in angering her now.

The curtains were drawn once again, and soon, Lin Xiao heard Shen Jingzhe's voice from inside.

"Master, I'm sorry, but..."

"Silence! I ask you, what did I send you to Jinling City to do?"

"To assassinate Lin Xiao!"

"And is this how you carry out my orders?"

"Master, you misunderstand! He was treating my poison!" Shen Jingzhe explained frantically.

"Hmph, treating your poison? Does treating poison require you to strip naked?"

"Master, he truly was treating my poison! At first, when he told me I needed to take off my clothes, I didn't believe him and had him treat me while I was dressed. But the process expelled so many toxins that it made me incredibly uncomfortable, like I was sinking in a mire. In the end, I took my clothes off myself. But please don't worry, Master! Even though I was undressed, the room was pitch-black. It was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, so he couldn't have seen anything!"

"Hmph. You make it sound so simple. I'll ask you, can he really cure your poison?"

"Yes, Master! I didn't believe it at first either, but after he treated me a few times, I feel the effects are quite good!"

"Shut up! Get dressed and come with me!"

"Master, may I take a bath? I just finished detoxifying and my body expelled a lot of toxins. I feel a bit uncomfortable," Shen Jingzhe asked timidly.

"Hmph. You have five minutes."

The room fell silent.

Lin Xiao stood up and walked into the pavilion. The moonlight was beautiful, but his mood was heavy.

Her sudden visit probably means she's unhappy with Shen Jingzhe's slow progress and has come to finish the job herself. If my cultivation hadn't entered Su Qingning's body, this woman would be no threat at all. But ninety percent of my power is now inside Su Qingning. In my current state, I'm no match for her. What should I do? Am I just supposed to stand here and let her kill me?

Lin Xiao was not resigned to this fate. He thought of Bei Kuang, but then dismissed the idea. Bei Kuang couldn't even defeat Shen Jingzhe, let alone her master.

As he was deliberating, Shen Jingzhe and her master were already walking toward him. In the blink of an eye, they were standing inside the pavilion.

Shen Jingzhe's master looked at Lin Xiao with piercing eyes.

Is it my imagination, or is there something strange about the way her master is looking at me? Her gaze is filled with endless hatred, yet it also seems to hold a trace of some indescribable emotion, Lin Xiao wondered.

"Are you Lin Xiao?" Shen Jingzhe's master asked coldly.

"That's me."

"Tell me, how do you want to die?"

Lin Xiao smiled. "Beautiful lady, there's no enmity between us. Why do you want me dead the moment we meet?"

"Shut up. Just tell me how you want to die."

Lin Xiao rolled his eyes. "You told me to shut up. How am I supposed to talk?"

A terrifying killing intent flashed in the master's eyes, and a suffocating pressure washed over Lin Xiao. "Shen Jingzhe, kill him!"

At the command, Shen Jingzhe didn't move. She hesitated.

If this had happened when they first met, Shen Jingzhe wouldn't have hesitated for a second. She would have killed Lin Xiao without a thought. But after spending so much time with him, an inexplicable hesitation had taken root in her heart, for reasons even she didn't understand. Perhaps it was because he had seen her true face, or perhaps it was because he had been treating her poison. Whatever the reason, she hesitated.

Seeing that Shen Jingzhe didn't strike, her master was visibly enraged. Her gaze grew even more piercing as a terrifying killing intent surged from her. "Shen Jingzhe, do you think your wings have hardened? You dare defy my orders now?"

THUMP.

Shen Jingzhe knelt before her master.

"Master, you saved my life, raised me, and taught me everything I know. How could I dare disobey your orders? It's just..."

"Just what?" her master barked.

"Master, I want to live! I still don't know who my enemies are! I haven't avenged my parents yet!"

"Hmph. Do you really think he can save you?"

Shen Jingzhe fell silent.

Her master continued, "Shen Jingzhe, do you know why I came to Jinling City this time? I'll tell you. First, I wanted to see how you were progressing with the task I gave you. Second, I have already found someone who can cure your poison! Unfortunately, you have disappointed me greatly. To think you were so easily fooled by a few of his words!"

Shen Jingzhe was stunned, staring blankly at her master.

At that moment, Lin Xiao spoke up. "Beautiful lady, I can't fight back if you want to kill me. But before you do, can you at least tell me what deep-seated hatred you have for me?"

"Hmph. I'll tell you after you're dead," her master sneered. "Shen Jingzhe, what are you still gaping at? Make your move now!"

Shen Jingzhe's gaze fell upon Lin Xiao, her beautiful eyes filled with endless sorrow. She was in agony. A part of her, deep in her heart, did not want to attack him. But her master's command was one she could not disobey.

"Lin Xiao... I'm sorry!"

The words had barely left her lips before she leaped into the air, lunging toward him.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.