Chapter 28 The Willful Girl Is Kidnapped

At this moment, the young woman, about twenty-one years old, sat at the table in her room, fuming with irritation. She muttered under her breath, occasionally rising to pace aimlessly about the chamber. “Father is simply infuriating! Without even consulting me, he wants to betroth me to that old Master Wan’s last disciple. Unbelievable!” She took a sip of tea, grumbling further, “What’s even more hateful is that, when he sent me to deliver the sixtieth birthday invitation to old Wan, he secretly wrote something on the accompanying letter. Isn’t this just sending me straight into the tiger’s den? It makes me so mad—I’ll shave off all of Father’s beard when I get home.”

“If only I’d thought to check that letter first. Had I seen it, I’d have destroyed it for sure. I suppose I’m still too honest.” Anyone who knew her would have choked to hear her describe herself as ‘too honest’. As the late-born and only daughter of the head of the Carefree Sect, she was both adored by her father and spoiled by her senior brothers, while even the junior disciples were afraid of her. This had led to her being almost entirely unchecked within the sect.

She stood, pacing a few more agitated steps, glancing at the wall separating her room from the one next door. She puffed up with indignation, muttering, “What’s even more infuriating is that guy next door. Upon learning that my father intended to marry me to him, he should have been ashamed and voluntarily declined. Instead, he dares to pester me! Clearly, he’s just a lecher after my looks. If I weren’t no match for him, I’d have castrated him myself! And old Wan is no better—after reading the letter, he could have kept it to himself, but since I didn’t agree when you asked, why did you have to tell your disciple? Old man, you’re no good either.”

After a moment of dazed brooding, another thought came to her: “Aside from his martial arts being better than mine and his decent looks, what else is he worthy of me? If not for his skills, he’s nothing but a pretty face.” Her restlessness kept her awake, despite the late hour.

This, however, proved to be a hardship for the two figures lurking on the roof. They had planned to wait until she was in bed and off her guard before making their move. As she remained awake, they grew anxious that delay might bring complications, so they decided to act early. One of the black-clad figures produced a slender bamboo tube, removed a plug from one end, inserted it into a gap in the roof, and blew gently into the other. Inside, the young woman, distracted by her irritation, failed to notice the subtle change in the air or the faint, unusual scent that began to fill the room.

Perhaps luck was with her, for just then, feeling stifled by the oppressive atmosphere, she stood up and opened a window, letting a fresh breeze in. The two on the roof froze in surprise at her unexpected move, uncertain how to proceed. However, the potency of the drug, and the quantity used, was great—despite the airflow from the window, she still inhaled enough to feel its powerful effects upon her mind, making her dizzy and light-headed as she returned to her seat.

Though inexperienced in the ways of the martial world, she quickly realized she had been drugged. As she felt herself succumbing and wondered desperately what to do, a single hope flashed through her mind: the man next door. Perhaps, now, only he could save her. In the final moment before losing consciousness, unable to shout for help, she mustered her remaining strength and overturned the table beside her. The crash of the table and the shattering of porcelain rang sharply through the still night. Had she not opened the window just in time, the drug’s strength would have left her no chance to react or cry out.

The two black-clad figures, seeing that she had collapsed but aware that the noise would surely alert her neighbor, wasted no time. They burst through the roof into the room, the larger man scooping up the woman, and together they leapt from the window, fleeing into the night without pause.

Qin Xiaotian lay on his bed, thinking about Chen Jingrou, the woman who lived next door. When he first heard from his master that the head of the Carefree Sect intended to betroth his daughter to him, he had been somewhat reluctant. After all, he had met the sect leader, who was far from handsome, and he feared the daughter might resemble her father, which would be a miserable fate for him. But seeing the unwavering look in his master’s eyes, he had obediently accompanied him to meet the daughter. Although Qin Xiaotian usually appeared carefree and irreverent, he held deep respect for the man who had raised him and taught him all his martial skills.

Yet when he met Chen Jingrou, daughter of the Carefree Sect leader, he was stunned. The mischievous-looking young woman, petite yet perfectly proportioned, had such fair, luminous skin it dazzled in the sunlight. Her delicate features and especially her bright, impish eyes made her seem a beautiful and mischievous sprite. Whatever reluctance he had felt vanished without a trace; he was instantly smitten, nearly drooling at the sight. But Chen Jingrou, seeing the lecherous look in his eyes, became even more displeased and turned away without a word.

Qin Xiaotian fell for her on the spot, and from then on pursued her relentlessly for days. She couldn’t drive him off or defeat him, so she had no choice but to let him follow, though she secretly vowed that, should he ever follow her to the Carefree Sect, she would make sure her senior brothers gave him a proper “welcome.” Given the change in Qin Xiaotian’s attitude before and after meeting her, it could hardly be said that Chen Jingrou was wrong to accuse him of coveting her beauty.

As Qin Xiaotian lay on his bed, his thoughts wandering, a sudden crash from the next room jolted him awake. The sounds of intruders breaking in made it clear that something had happened to Chen Jingrou. Without hesitation, still in his nightclothes and sword in hand, he rushed into her room. Seeing the hole in the roof and the open window, he realized she had been kidnapped. Dashing to the window, he spotted two figures fleeing with a smaller form in their arms. Without a second thought, he leapt after them in pursuit.

As he chased them, none of them noticed a shadow leaving the inn in their wake, following at a distance, moving with an unhurried ease even as the others fled at full speed. In the moonlight, a faint smile could be seen on this person’s face.

The stronger of the two black-clad men, burdened by carrying the girl, could not maintain full speed, and Qin Xiaotian gradually gained on them. Yet, lacking experience in the martial world, Qin Xiaotian made a critical mistake. Anyone seasoned would have sent out a distress signal to the Wanfa Sect, since they were still on its territory. But in his anxiety and inexperience, he simply chased blindly after them.

Suddenly, one of the two pursuers stopped and blocked his path, while the other continued to flee at speed. Though anxious, Qin Xiaotian had no choice but to halt. “Who are you? Why have you abducted Miss Chen?” he demanded. The man neither answered nor attacked, simply blocking his way. Realizing the intent was to delay him, Qin Xiaotian wasted no more words and launched a ferocious assault.

After only a few exchanges, he withdrew, realizing that while his opponent’s martial skills were slightly inferior, the man’s pure defense would take time to breach. The black-clad man did not counterattack, evidently aware that doing so might hasten his own defeat.

Qin Xiaotian quickly took a round sphere from his clothing and hurled it to the ground between them. With a loud bang, thick smoke billowed up, startling the black-clad man, who immediately held his breath and darted aside, suddenly realizing what was happening. Qin Xiaotian, prepared for this, dashed through the smoke the moment it appeared, ignoring the black-clad man and running after the one carrying Chen Jingrou.

End of Chapter Three. Please recommend this story.

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