Piao Ling'er, finding herself able to move, rose and pointed her dagger at Ming Zhi Tian. "Don't think I won't kill you just because you spared me! Dream on! Give me..."
Before she could act, several books accidentally fell from her embrace.
Ming Zhi Tian, quick as lightning, snatched them up and began flipping through them.
"Give them back!" Piao Ling'er cried, exasperated.
They were books on assassination, teaching how to become a true killer and how to increase the success rate of assassinations. Ming Zhi Tian glanced at them and shook his head, realizing Piao Ling'er had only learned the superficialities before daring to attack him.
Her attire was plain, having exchanged a set of luxurious clothes and accessories for this assassin's gear, all for the sake of avenging her deceased father, Emperor Piao Yan, against Ming Zhi Tian. Yet, fate had…
Ming Zhi Tian shook his head. "Ignorance!"
Piao Ling'er snatched the books back and hid them again. "None of your business!" She then vanished, but not without leaving a parting threat: "Ming Zhi Tian, in this life, I will kill you! Just wait."
"Ding Ling..."
The Hong Er Ying Ge fell. It was Ming Zhi Tian's eighteenth birthday gift to her, and now it had returned to its rightful owner. Shaking his head, he put it into his storage pouch and then vanished towards the Suo Hai Wu Ge.
Ai Liao Ran, Jing Shi Jie, and Pu Jin Dong, the three who had always followed Piao Ling'er, had all perished while being pursued by the undead. Now, only Grandpa Ju remained, silently guarding her from behind. He stayed devotedly by Piao Ling'er's side, yet she treated him with disdain.
Returning to her secret chamber, Piao Ling'er discovered the Hong Er Ying Ge was missing. She searched for it several times without success, growing anxious.
It was a gift from Ming Zhi Tian for her entire life, or so she believed. She recalled someone's words: "I will protect you for a lifetime..." Because of these words, Piao Ling'er had long given her heart to Ming Zhi Tian. No other man could enter, even though she held a deep enmity against Ming Zhi Tian for her father's death.
Grandpa Ju approached, concerned. "Ling'er, what are you looking for? Can I help?"
Piao Ling'er found him bothersome instead. "What does it have to do with you? Scram!"
Grandpa Ju felt dejected. For years, he and Ai Liao Ran, along with the other two, had showered her with flattery. If she wanted wind, they dared not bring rain; if she wanted stars, they would never dare to offer the moon.
Today, the other three were gone, but why was Piao Ling'er still so cold and heartless towards him? Even if she were merely hot and cold, he could accept it. Could it be that the saying was true? "A simpering dog, simpering until there's nothing left?"
Seeing Piao Ling'er bent over searching, the little universe suppressed deep within Grandpa Ju's heart could no longer be contained.
"Ling'er, I want you!"
"What?" Grandpa Ju lunged from behind her and embraced her tightly.
Before he could begin kissing and groping, Piao Ling'er screamed and slapped him hard across the face.
"Slap!" The sound was crisp and loud!
The blow completely woke and stunned Grandpa Ju. Piao Ling'er's body trembled. Seeing his outstretched, claw-like hands still not lowered, she slapped him again. "Crack!"
Still not awake? A third slap! "Slap!" And a fourth.
Piao Ling'er began to cry. Gritting her teeth, she delivered a powerful kick to his groin, jolting him awake in pain!
"Urgh! My life..."
Piao Ling'er pointed to the door. "Get out..."
Grandpa Ju, in his pain, didn't hear clearly. He rolled on the ground. Piao Ling'er, her resolve hardened, stepped forward to kick him again!
Grandpa Ju scrambled away on all fours!
She was left alone in the empty room. Piao Ling'er adjusted her loose, off-the-shoulder clothing and sat on the cold floor, weeping uncontrollably, crying until she had nothing left...