Chapter 89 How can you be so naive

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Nie Xingqing had initially been somewhat shocked by Xiao Guizi’s words, but now, observing Xiao Guizi’s expression,

she felt certain that Xu Zimei must have treated the other so harshly that it twisted Xiao Guizi’s psychology, making him capable of doing anything.

"I understand," Nie Xingqing took the medicine bag and said indifferently.

"Then prepare yourself tonight, and be careful on your way to Xu Zimei’s room. Don’t let anyone see you, or it’ll be hard to explain later," Xiao Guizi cautioned.

Nie Xingqing nodded and watched Xiao Guizi’s retreating figure, her gaze pensive for a long time.

Eventually, she let out a long breath as if she had made up her mind, thinking that the brave might perish but the timid would starve.

She sat down in front of the mirror and applied her makeup meticulously.

Then, taking advantage of the cover of the dark, windy night, she silently made her way to Xu Zimei’s room.

At this moment, Xu Zimei had just taken off his coat and was getting ready to sleep when he heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" He opened the door and saw Nie Xingqing standing there.

A wave of rose fragrance rushed to greet him; her face was adorned with exquisite makeup, the kind that was powerfully seductive.

"Senior Xu, there is something I’d like to discuss with you," Nie Xingqing said softly, her eyes seductive as silk.

Xu Zimei’s smile hung at the corners of his mouth, revealing an all-too-knowing grin, as he hurriedly welcomed Nie Xingqing in.

"Junior Sister, take a seat and have some water. Let your Senior Brother put on some clothes; it’s somewhat indecent like this," Xu Zimei said as he filled a teacup with water from the table before turning toward the bed to get dressed.

"It’s fine," Nie Xingqing smiled and, positioning her body to block the view to the teacup, emptied the small packet of medicine into it.

After Xu Zimei had dressed, Nie Xingqing picked up the teacup and offered it to Xu Zimei, smiling, "Senior Brother, let’s have a drink."

"Alright," Xu Zimei took the teacup, squinting at Nie Xingqing with a smile, blissfully unaware as he drank the tea down.

"Oh, right, Junior Sister, you mentioned you had something to discuss, what is it?" Xu Zimei asked with intrigue after finishing his drink.

"What’s the rush, Senior Brother," Nie Xingqing smiled, leaning her head a bit closer to Xu Zimei’s ear and whispered flirtatiously, "Was it you who orchestrated the slaughter at the Heavenly Sword Sect?"

Xu Zimei’s face changed instantly, disbelief written all over as he pointed at Nie Xingqing, his voice urgent, "How do you know about that?"

"So, it was you," Nie Xingqing’s expression turned cold as she looked at Xu Zimei.

"I’ll kill you," Xu Zimei said in exasperation, raising his hand to strike Nie Xingqing.

But just as he began to mobilize his spiritual energy, he felt his body go weak and collapsed to the ground.

Panicked, Xu Zimei looked up at Nie Xingqing, "What have you done to me?"

"Nothing much, just put some Vein-Sealing Powder into the tea I gave you just now," Nie Xingqing said with a light chuckle.

"You vicious woman," Xu Zimei clutched his chest, his eyes shut, resignedly said, "In the game of thrones, you win or you die. I accept my fate. Go ahead and kill me."

Nie Xingqing snorted coldly and began to walk toward Xu Zimei, her spiritual energy surging around her, clearly intent on taking his life.

But after only a few steps, Nie Xingqing felt something was amiss—her vein gates were being sealed one after another.

Her aura fluctuated wildly before finally all strength left her body, and she slumped to the ground like a deflated balloon.

"Junior Sister, what’s the matter? Hurry up and kill your Senior Brother. Don’t be soft-hearted," Xu Zimei’s voice continued to echo nearby.

At this moment, Nie Xingqing suddenly felt a dreadful premonition. Her gaze turned to the teacup she had used just moments before.

Xu Zimei had, by now, gotten up completely unharmed. Shaking his head in pity, he walked over to Nie Xingqing, crouched down in front of her, and said with regret, "Junior Sister, greed does one in; why are you so naive?"

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The room’s door burst open, and Xiao Guizi slipped in with a ghost-like stealthiness.

He said with a beaming smile, "Senior brother, my acting skills passed the test, didn’t they?"

"They were so-so," Xu Zimei said with a chuckle. "Someone like your senior brother could live off his looks, while you can only rely on your acting."

Seeing this, Nie Xingqing could no longer be in the dark about being thoroughly deceived by these two people.

It is often said that wealth moves the heart, and many people’s intelligence seems to drop when faced with temptation.

Nie Xingqing gave Xiao Guizi a look filled with seething rage.

This guy had spoken differently when he was in her room, saying how Xu Zimei didn’t treat him like a person, even mentioning his lechery, and claiming that he would torture Xu Zimei bit by bit.

In reality, it was all a deceitful act, and his gestures and facial expressions were so convincingly done.

At this moment, Nie Xingqing realized that not only were her Vein Gates sealed, leaving her body weak, but she couldn’t even make a sound when she tried to speak. She knew that the tea she had just drunk had definitely been tampered with.

...

"What do you think I should do with you?" Xu Zimei asked as he lifted Nie Xingqing’s chin, looking into her eyes filled with loathing while smiling.

Afterward, Xu Zimei and Xiao Guizi changed into black clothes, which covered their entire bodies.

Xiao Guizi, though unaware of Xu Zimei’s intentions, didn’t inquire further.

Once they had changed, the two of them took advantage of the dark, windy night and secretly moved Nie Xingqing to a deserted artificial hill behind the Holy Spring Sect.

"Senior brother, what do we do next?" Xiao Guizi asked curiously.

"Don’t talk, just wait for an hour," Xu Zimei said softly.

Then Xu Zimei took off Nie Xingqing’s Storage Ring and, as he had hoped, obtained the painting from inside.

As for the other resources in the Storage Ring, apart from a few good items, Xu Zimei gave the rest to Xiao Guizi.

After all, Xiao Guizi had always been dealing with matters for him, and his cultivation had only just broken through to the True Vein Realm; his realm couldn’t be neglected.

...

An hour later, Xu Zimei looked at Nie Xingqing, who was now in total panic.

Gripping her throat, he said in a low tone, "Before you die, I don’t mind telling you that it wasn’t I who slaughtered the Heavenly Sword Sect.

It was a guy named Chu Yang who did it. Although he hailed from a small place called Qingyang Village, his luck is not insignificant.

I’m killing you now because he offered me some conditions I couldn’t refuse. I only hope you won’t blame me."

Seeing Nie Xingqing utterly panicked, trying to resist but completely powerless, Xu Zimei suddenly increased the grip on her throat.

...

A night passed in silence, with the dawn’s first light scattering like a halo, and the dew still lingering on the tender green grass from the previous night.

Under the sunlight, it glistened and sparkled.

Inside the Holy Spring Sect, the preparations for the Inner Gate competition were underway with great fervor.

That morning, when people from the Immortal Spirit Sect and True Martial Holy Sect assembled, only Nie Xingqing was missing.

Elder Fanyun had not yet managed to send someone to call for Nie Xingqing when news arrived like a bolt from the blue.