Chapter 14: An Apology

They never expected Qin Xingchen to have slain the Wolf King—and in an instant, no less!

Especially Lu Zitian and Chen Lixue, who were utterly stunned.

The Wolf King was dead.

Without their leader, the other Blood Wolf Beasts fled in fear.

Su Xiaonuan ran over to Qin Xingchen, her face radiant with joy. “Big Brother, you’re amazing!”

Qin Xingchen smiled faintly and reached out to gently ruffle her hair.

Su Jingya, having just recovered from her shock, stepped forward toward Qin Xingchen.

She called out to Su Xiaonuan, “Xiaonuan, come here.”

Hearing this, Su Xiaonuan obediently went to stand beside Su Jingya.

With a serious expression, Su Jingya said, “Kneel before Young Master Qin.”

“Oh,” Su Xiaonuan replied without hesitation, immediately kneeling before Qin Xingchen.

Lu Zitian and Chen Lixue exchanged dumbfounded glances.

Su Jingya knelt on one knee and cupped her fists, bowing respectfully to Qin Xingchen. “Young Master Qin, please accept our deepest thanks from me and my sister.”

Qin Xingchen was taken aback. “Miss Su, what is the meaning of this?”

Su Jingya explained, “My father always taught us to be grateful and repay kindness. Young Master Qin has twice saved my sister’s life, and just now you saved us from danger again. We feel it only right to offer you our thanks. When we return to our clan, I will petition my father to personally visit the Moon View Sect and thank you in person.”

Qin Xingchen said nothing, but Su Jingya’s gesture earned him considerable goodwill.

This woman was... rare.

Someone one could get along with.

He said to the sisters, “No need for this. Please rise.”

At his words, the two stood.

Sensing Qin Xingchen’s cultivation aura, Su Jingya’s face was once again filled with astonishment. “Young Master Qin, have you... broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Blood Condensation Realm?”

Qin Xingchen nodded slightly. “Yes, I was fortunate enough to acquire some opportunities.”

Lu Zitian and Chen Lixue were once more dumbfounded.

Only yesterday, when they last saw Qin Xingchen, his cultivation was at the First Layer of the Blood Condensation Realm.

But now, after just one night...

Qin Xingchen had soared from the First to the Fifth Layer!

What kind of opportunity could possibly cause such a leap overnight?

Wait...

It seemed they realized something.

Both were stunned again.

Even if Qin Xingchen had reached the Fifth Layer of the Blood Condensation Realm, it should be impossible for him to instantly kill a Wolf King whose cultivation corresponded to the Ninth Layer!

What an extraordinary, godlike genius!

Among their own prominent clans, such a young talent had never appeared.

Moreover...

If Qin Xingchen could instantly kill the Wolf King, then he could just as easily defeat them.

At this thought, both silently resolved: such a genius was only to be befriended, never made an enemy.

At that moment, Su Jingya asked, “Young Master Qin, why are you here?”

Qin Xingchen scratched his head awkwardly and replied honestly, “I got lost.”

Su Jingya paused, then asked, “When do you intend to descend the mountain?”

Qin Xingchen said, “Now.”

Su Jingya smiled faintly. “So do we. We have a map of the mountain range and can find the way back. Why not come down with us?”

“All right,” Qin Xingchen agreed.

This time, he did not refuse.

If he declined again, he would remain stuck in this filthy place covered in bird droppings.

“Young Master Qin...” Lu Zitian suddenly stepped forward.

Qin Xingchen looked at him. “Yes?”

Lu Zitian’s face was awkward as he cupped his fists. “Thank you for saving us earlier. I am not someone who mistakes right from wrong. I offended you yesterday due to my shortsightedness. Please forgive me and do not hold a grudge.”

Su Jingya was slightly surprised.

She had never expected the proud Lu Zitian to apologize.

Qin Xingchen was momentarily taken aback but replied, “What happened yesterday was not a big deal. I didn’t take it to heart.”

Lu Zitian brightened. “So you’re willing to forgive me?”

Qin Xingchen nodded. “Yes, I forgive you.”

“Thank you.”

Lu Zitian smiled.

“Young Master Qin, about yesterday... I was also wrong. I apologize and ask for your forgiveness,” Chen Lixue added.

No matter what, Qin Xingchen had just saved all four of their lives. She felt she must express her gratitude.

Qin Xingchen said, “Very well, I forgive you as well.”

Chen Lixue quickly cupped her fists. “Thank you.”

Qin Xingchen nodded slightly.

Since these two were willing to set aside their pride and apologize, it showed their true nature was not bad—just somewhat snobbish.

Still, one should not bite the hand that feeds.

He did not intend to dwell on yesterday’s matters further.

Lu Zitian turned to Su Jingya. “Jingya, we’re still friends, right?”

“Of course,” Su Jingya nodded slightly.

Since Lu Zitian and Chen Lixue were willing to apologize to their sister’s savior, she too wished to put the past behind.

“All right, let’s descend the mountain.”

...

Following the map, Qin Xingchen accompanied Su Jingya and the others as they exited the mountain range.

However, as the five reached the original mountain entrance, they were suddenly surrounded by a group of men.

“Who are you?” Su Jingya asked cautiously.

A man in a black robe stepped forward. “Zhang Hu, are you sure these are the five?”

“Yes, Captain,” Zhang Hu replied as he approached the black-robed man.

Then, pointing at Qin Xingchen with a vicious glare, he snarled, “This brat is the one who broke my hand!”

Qin Xingchen recognized Zhang Hu as the muscular man from the previous day.

The black-robed man looked at Qin Xingchen. “Boy, we’ve been watching you all night. Are you the one who attacked our Wolf Blood Mercenary Group yesterday?”

Qin Xingchen answered, “Yes, I am.”

“Good!”

The black-robed man unleashed a terrifying aura that swept toward Qin Xingchen and his companions.

“Sixth Layer of the Mortal Martial Realm!”

Qin Xingchen’s expression grew grave.

This black-robed man was a powerful Mortal Martial Realm cultivator!

The man sneered coldly, “Boy, I’m Xiao Shan, captain of the Wolf Blood Mercenary Group. You attacked my men. According to the rules of Wushan City, I could kill you on the spot, but I’ll give you a chance to state your identity. If your background isn’t strong enough to save your life, then you’ll die here.”

As the leader of the Wolf Blood Mercenary Group, he did not kill indiscriminately.

If the opponent’s background was too formidable, they would avoid offending them.

Thus, he offered a chance to speak first.

At that moment, Su Xiaonuan stepped forward, pointing at Zhang Hu beside Xiao Shan. She said to Su Jingya, “Sister, this bad man tried to kill me yesterday and had wicked designs on me. If Big Brother hadn’t saved me, I would have been killed!”

“What did you say?!” Su Jingya’s eyes widened in shock.

She took a few steps forward, her face darkening as she glared at Zhang Hu. “You bastard! You tried to kill my sister yesterday?”

Seeing Su Jingya speak, Zhang Hu swaggered over, shaking his head. “Yeah, it was me who bullied your sister. What are you gonna do about it?”

Su Jingya said coldly, “You seem very arrogant.”

Zhang Hu’s eyes bulged as he arrogantly taunted, “I am arrogant. What can you do? Haha, you’re actually pretty cute for a little lady. How about you stay and be our captain’s wife? Haha...”

His laughter sparked raucous laughter from the rest of the Wolf Blood Mercenaries.

Su Jingya replied icily, “You want me to be the captain’s wife? Ha! Even if I borrowed your captain’s courage a hundred thousand times, he wouldn’t dare to think such thoughts!”

Zhang Hu snapped angrily, “You filthy bitch, what did you say? Who do you think you are—”

Smack!

Before he could finish, Su Jingya slapped him hard, sending him sprawling at Xiao Shan’s feet.

Xiao Shan frowned, his face darkening as he glared at Su Jingya. “How dare you hit my man in front of me! Who exactly are you?”

Su Jingya’s expression was fierce. “I am Su Jingya, eldest miss of the Su family.”

“What!”

The entire Wolf Blood Mercenary Group was shaken to their core, as if struck by a thunderbolt.

They never expected the woman before them to be the eldest miss of the Su family, one of the three greatest clans of the Tianhe Dynasty!

Xiao Shan immediately dropped to one knee before Su Jingya, fear etched on his face as he cupped his fists. “Miss Su, I am truly sorry. My men were blind and disrespectful. Please forgive us.”

Seeing Xiao Shan kneel, the others quickly followed suit.

What was the Su family’s influence?

They were one of the three most powerful clans in the Tianhe Dynasty!

With just a finger, the Su family could annihilate this small Wolf Blood Mercenary Group.

How could they not be terrified?

Su Jingya looked down at Xiao Shan and snorted coldly. “Captain Xiao, I will overlook the earlier offense.”

Her gaze then fixed on Zhang Hu, her expression freezing. “However, your subordinate’s attempt to kill my sister yesterday—I want a satisfactory explanation. If not, I guarantee the entire Wolf Blood Mercenary Group will not see the dawn of tomorrow!”