After Chasing The Villain With A Clueless System - Chapter 10

Song Qi was in an excellent mood. Just thinking that she might obtain the sword tassel today made even her steps feel lighter.

“Little Sister, what has you so happy?”

The Divine Sword Sect disciples were eating together in the dining hall. Seeing the corners of Song Qi’s lips constantly turned upward, Song Tianxing could not resist asking.

“It’s my first time seeing so many fellow martial artists gathered in one place. I’m really happy!”

Song Qi answered him with a cheerful grin, and Song Tianxing smiled indulgently.

Song Qi had enjoyed interacting with people ever since she was young. She had spent the past several years cultivating on the mountain and rarely had the chance to go down, so she had clearly been stifled for far too long.

“But you still need to keep warm. Don’t catch a chill.”

Song Tianxing’s thoughtfulness made Bai Luoyin and Duan Qingyi, who were sitting beside them, unable to help envying Song Qi.

Duan Qingyi was a man of very few words. If he could finish a sentence with one word, he would never use two. Consequently, throughout the journey, his replies to Song Qi had consisted almost entirely of three words:

“Yes.”

“Mm.”

“Right.”

Even so, Song Qi persistently continued talking to him, and Duan Qingyi had long since grown accustomed to her lively, unpredictable personality.

Everyone said Song Qi loved arguing and causing trouble and that she was an unruly little demon. Yet after spending time with her recently, Duan Qingyi had found that while she was indeed mischievous and occasionally said strange things, she still understood her limits.

The rumors about her within the sect were clearly exaggerated.

Duan Qingyi poured tea for the other three without speaking, quietly listening to their conversation.

Song Qi looked at him. The fact that he was willing to pour tea for her meant he did not reject her company, which made her happy.

In the novel, Duan Qingyi was a taciturn man, but his pursuit of swordsmanship bordered on obsession. He spent his entire life diligently honing his sword.

By the end of the story, if they were judged purely on swordsmanship, even Song Tianxing was no match for him.

He was a swordsman in the purest sense.

Song Qi disliked overly complicated matters. Naturally, she was willing to befriend someone as straightforward and pure as Duan Qingyi.

“Hey, did you hear? Xu Yan from the Taixu Sect was beaten up.”

The neighboring table belonged to disciples of the Tianshan Sect.

The four of them ate while gossiping, speaking loudly enough that they clearly did not care who overheard. Since no one from the Taixu Sect was present, they spoke even more recklessly.

“Could it have been…”

The four disciples glanced toward the table occupied by Wucheng.

The people from Wucheng did not look at them. They merely ate in silence, completely out of place amid the dining hall’s lively clamor.

“Maybe he provoked someone again and brought an enemy down on himself.”

“He relies on his handsome face to flirt with women everywhere.”

“That’s enough. Stop talking.”

The leading disciple told the other three to stop gossiping, then rebuked them with a righteous expression.

“Do not discuss others’ faults behind their backs.”

Oh.

So you didn’t stop them earlier. You waited until they had almost finished before stepping forward to say something so noble and righteous.

Bah!

Song Qi recognized the leading disciple of the Tianshan Sect.

He was Shen Zhuran, the Tianshan Sect’s chief disciple, known throughout the martial world as Gentleman Bamboo.

In the novel, Shen Zhuran was a complete hypocrite. On one hand, he carefully maintained the image of a gentleman. On the other, he envied anyone more capable than him and had secretly committed quite a few despicable acts.

This time, Song Qi merely watched.

The Tianshan disciples were not wrong. Xu Yan was no decent person.

She could let the two sides tear at each other without wading into the mess herself.

Song Qi withdrew her gaze, only to discover Bai Luoyin watching her from beside her.

“Why are you looking at me?”

There was still a probing quality in Bai Luoyin’s eyes, as though she were trying to find some clue in Song Qi’s every reaction.

“It’s nothing.”

Bai Luoyin quickly looked away, feeling that her own suspicion was somewhat absurd.

Xu Yan’s martial arts might not have been exceptional, but he should not have been incapable of defeating someone from the younger generation.

Bai Luoyin could tell that Song Qi had been hiding her true strength. However, if Song Qi had attacked Xu Yan, he would certainly have recognized the origins of her martial arts.

By this morning, he should already have come to demand justice.

It was naturally humiliating for a senior martial artist to lose to a junior. But if Xu Yan insisted that Song Qi had ambushed him, Song Qi would receive severe punishment.

After all, ambushing someone was not the conduct of a righteous martial artist and would damage the sect’s reputation.

Song Qi would not be foolish enough to do such a thing.

“Tianshan is heavily guarded. Someone capable of injuring another person without anyone noticing must possess considerable martial arts.”

Song Tianxing analyzed the situation in a low voice.

“Also, Xu Yan hasn’t come out to identify his attacker. Either he is unwilling to accuse that person, or the attacker’s martial arts didn’t resemble the techniques of any sect he recognizes.”

Song Tianxing’s analysis was perfectly reasonable.

In an ordinary script, there would have been nothing wrong with it.

Unfortunately, the culprit was Song Qi, someone who had already derailed the entire script.

“Could Xu Yan be the type who flirts with several women at once?”

Song Qi had read the novel, so she naturally knew what kind of person Xu Yan was.

Early in the story, he and the villain had been sweet and affectionate. After Wu Ye frightened him so badly that he fled in terror, he no longer had the nerve to approach Wen Wanxi.

Later, he spent time with several other women, though none of those relationships amounted to anything.

In the end, he answered Song Tianxing’s call to suppress Wen Wanxi and died beneath her sword.

After asking, Song Qi realized she had posed a foolish question.

Bai Luoyin and Duan Qingyi did not gossip, and Song Tianxing would not know either.

Her question was destined to remain unanswered.

At that moment, another person from Wucheng entered.

He had a cold, severe expression, deep-set features, and sharply defined contours that appeared carved by a blade. He was very tall but somewhat thin, and his complexion carried an unhealthy pallor.

Song Qi knew that he was Wen Wanxi’s junior brother, Xiao Sheng.

He was Wucheng’s chosen representative for this Young Heroes’ Assembly and had made significant contributions when Wen Wanxi seized control of Wucheng.

In the novel, Xiao Sheng always wore a cold expression. He was ruthless and spoke very little, remained absolutely loyal to Wen Wanxi, and knew more of her secrets than anyone else.

His methods were merciless, yet he adored cats and dogs, treating them far better than he treated people.

A jade flute hung from his waist. It was his favorite instrument, but whenever he played it, nothing good usually followed.

One deadly flute, summoning souls and stealing lives.

Still, Song Qi did not dislike him.

Ultimately, they merely stood on different sides.

When Xiao Sheng arrived, everyone who had been discussing Xu Yan immediately fell silent.

None of them dared cast suspicion on Wucheng, afraid of provoking this dangerous man.

After Xiao Sheng entered, the other Wucheng disciples all rose to their feet. They did not sit again until he had taken his seat, displaying remarkable discipline.

Once Xiao Sheng sat down, one disciple poured him a cup of tea.

Then Xiao Sheng said, “The City Lord is in good spirits today. At the beginning of the Hour of the Dog tonight, she invites all fellow martial artists to gather in the central courtyard and watch the fireworks.”

Wucheng possessed three wonders:

Fireworks.

Fine wine.

Wen Wanxi.

No one had expected to see fireworks from Wucheng at the summit of Tianshan today.

In the world of Tianxing, aside from the imperial court and certain nobles and high-ranking officials, only Wucheng possessed fireworks.

Wucheng manufactured many varieties of fireworks. Merchants often traveled there to purchase them and then brought them back to the capital to sell to wealthy and powerful families.

Fireworks were generally set off during birthday banquets or major festivals. They were also far beyond the means of ordinary people, so most commoners rarely had the chance to see them.

When Wen Wanxi announced that she would put on a fireworks display, some people naturally became suspicious and wondered what that demoness was planning.

Others were simply thrilled and nervous at the prospect, since many of them had never seen fireworks before.

No one’s thoughts were more complicated than Song Qi’s.

She planned to act tonight.

Although the summit of Tianshan was heavily guarded, she should be able to infiltrate the eastern courtyard as long as she remained careful.

Now that Wen Wanxi had invited everyone to watch fireworks, most of the disciples would gather in the central courtyard tonight.

That would drastically reduce the difficulty of sneaking inside.

Xu Yan certainly would not appear tonight.

But if Song Qi broke one of his arms while everyone else was watching the fireworks Wen Wanxi had arranged, wouldn’t all suspicion fall on Wen Wanxi?

Forget it.

Wen Wanxi was intelligent. She would have her own way of resolving the problem.

Song Qi simply had not expected Wen Wanxi to bring out fireworks merely to make things easier for her.

As expected of the wealthy and extravagant lord of Wucheng.

“Then we thank City Lord Wen!”

“We’ll certainly arrive on time!”

“Please convey our thanks to City Lord Wen!”

Everyone was filled with enthusiasm.

In private, they called her a demoness with every other breath. Now, however, every sentence contained the respectful title “City Lord Wen.”

Song Qi found it laughable.

Still, this was only human nature.

Whether in the real world or this one, learning hypocrisy was a mandatory lesson for everyone.

“Wucheng has a purpose.”

Duan Qingyi frowned slightly, clearly unconvinced by Wucheng’s sudden goodwill.

He had always suspected that his parents had died at Wu Ye’s hands, so he had never held a favorable opinion of Wucheng.

“Whatever the case, everyone should remain cautious.”

After Song Tianxing spoke, the others nodded in agreement.

Song Qi naturally pretended to respond obediently as well, though her mind was occupied with figuring out how to break Xu Yan’s arm.

Of course, she would not cut his arm off.

She was not Guo Fu, and she had no desire to witness such a bloody scene.

Breaking the bone, however, was possible.

Among the Seven Forms of the Wine Immortal, the fourth form, Laughing Through an Entire Cup of Wine, was the most direct and forceful.

If the user’s internal force was powerful enough, its sword energy could break bones.

Song Qi had not yet reached that level.

However, if she drove the technique directly into Xu Yan’s arm, his arm bone would undoubtedly fracture.

【You women are terrifyingly ruthless.】

Hutu’s voice suddenly sounded, startling Song Qi out of her calculations.

【If your strikes aren’t ruthless, your foundation won’t be stable.】

【What foundation are you trying to establish?】

【I only said it because it rhymed.】

Song Qi rolled her eyes.

Then she suddenly sensed someone watching her.

This was a martial artist’s instinct. They were especially sensitive to another person’s gaze.

Song Qi turned and discovered Xiao Sheng looking at her.

Their eyes met for only an instant, but Song Qi clearly saw the scrutiny in his gaze.

He looked as though he recognized her.

Xiao Sheng could not possibly know her.

Unless Wen Wanxi had told him about her.

Song Qi had not expected Wen Wanxi to mention her to someone else.

She did not know whether that was good or bad, but it did not stop a strange little thrill from bubbling up inside her.

**

That night, the people gathered at the summit of Tianshan gradually made their way toward the central courtyard.

Even the female disciples of the Water God Cult, who usually kept themselves secluded, came out.

The central courtyard was lively and crowded.

Some people admired the beautiful women, while others chatted among themselves, but every single person eagerly awaited the fireworks that would soon fill the sky.

Song Qi had something far more important to do.

She intended to wait until Bai Luoyin left the room, then change clothes and infiltrate the eastern courtyard.

Yet that damned woman remained inside the entire time and refused to go out!

“Senior Sister Bai, aren’t you going to watch the fireworks?”

“What about you?”

Instead of answering, Bai Luoyin questioned Song Qi in return.

Song Qi resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

She felt certain that this woman had noticed something.

“I-I’m going out, of course. Just a little later. You should go first!”

“I’ll wait for you.”

“There’s no need. Go ahead.”

“Song Qi, what are you planning to do?”

Song Qi went numb.

Completely numb.

This woman’s intuition was truly terrifying.

She absolutely could not waste the perfect opportunity Wen Wanxi had created for her!