Chapter 29: Outstanding trees in the forest are prone to be destroyed by the wind
Chapter 29: Outstanding trees in the forest are prone to be destroyed by the wind
```
"Qing Tan, are you alright? What’s the situation here?" Manager Su, along with a team of Protecting Disciples, approached Yu Qingtan, swept a glance over the scene, and asked.
It turned out that although the clash between Yu Qingtan and the man in black was brief, it caused quite a commotion, which was spotted from a distance by a disciple returning home to the same residential area, who then quickly reported back to the Misty Rain Tower.
Manager Su received the news and rushed over immediately.
"Manager Su, I’m fine. I was attacked by a man in black on my way home, but I managed to kill him in self-defense," said Yu Qingtan, still leaning against the wall for support.
This was Yu Qingtan’s first time killing a person. Despite being mentally prepared and having killed Demonic Beasts and Desolate Beasts before, the thought of almost cleaving her attacker in two and the resulting blood splatter still made her feel nauseous.
"It’s actually Miss Qing Tan, to have a thief dare to attack someone in the city, it is a lapse of duty on our Enforcement Team’s part," said the leader of the Enforcement Team after arriving and expressing mild surprise upon seeing Yu Qingtan.
At that moment, a member of the Enforcement Team ran over and reported, "Commander, we have confirmed that the deceased was a Misty Rain Tower assassin known as Poison Needle. Based on the scene, it truly appears that Poison Needle, a sixth-level Qi Cultivation practitioner, attacked this lady and was then killed by her in retaliation."
The member of the Enforcement Team looked at Yu Qingtan with a hint of admiration.
Misty Rain Tower was an underground assassin organization with a far-reaching influence, and the official stance was to issue warrants for their assassins.
"Miss Qing Tan actually has such strength. I am Ouyang Wulong, the captain of the first big team and third small team of the Enforcement Team. I had the fortune to witness Miss Qing Tan’s performance once," he said.
"Yes, who would have thought that you could actually kill a sixth-level Qi Cultivation assassin," Manager Su added.
"Thank you, Manager Su, Captain Ouyang. Qing Tan only had a small opportunity in the Trial Demon Tower to temporarily boost my strength. Captain Ouyang, I won’t face any trouble for acting in self-defense in the city, will I?" asked Yu Qingtan.
"No, the attacker struck first. You were acting in legitimate self-defense, and since the assailant is a wanted cultivator, you’ll even receive a reward of five hundred Spirit Stones. I’ll send someone to deliver it to you later. Also, these spoils of battle are all yours," Ouyang Wulong said, as he handed over three Silver Needles, a shield, and a Storage Bag that another team member had collected to Yu Qingtan.
Yu Qingtan managed to take them, placing the Silver Needles and shield back into her sleeve’s Storage Bag before putting this new Storage Bag into another sleeve.
One cannot place a Storage Bag inside another Storage Bag, nor even into the System Space.
"Captain Ouyang, I see that Qing Tan is feeling unwell. I’d better take her back now. We’ll leave the rest to you," said Manager Su.
"Yes, my apologies. Manager Su, please take Miss Qing Tan to rest, and I will handle the rest," responded Ouyang Wulong.
At that moment, several figures came running from the direction of the Tianxiang Pavilion.
"Qing Tan, how are you?"
The newcomer was Shen Wanning, who had planned to rest, but was alerted by the commotion in the pavilion. She found out after inquiring that someone had been attacked on their way back to their residence. Later news revealed the victim was Yu Qingtan, who apparently was unharmed.
Still, she couldn’t rest easy, so after explaining the situation to a manager and obtaining permission, she brought two Protecting Disciples to find Yu Qingtan.
"Wanning, I’m okay," Yu Qingtan responded, hearing Shen Wanning’s voice.
The Enforcement Disciples stopped Shen Wanning, but upon realizing they knew each other, they allowed her through.
Relieved to see that Yu Qingtan was indeed intact, Shen Wanning finally relaxed.
Manager Su and Shen Wanning then bid farewell to Ouyang Wulong and took Yu Qingtan back to her new residence.
Before leaving, Ouyang Wulong asked Yu Qingtan if she had any enemies, to which she gave a negative answer.
"Wanning, stay with me tonight!" Yu Qingtan suddenly said after a brief conversation, and just when Manager Su and Shen Wanning were preparing to leave so she could rest properly.
"That sounds good, Wanning, stay with Qing Tan. She must have been frightened today," said Manager Su.
Shen Wanning readily agreed.
"Wanning, who do you think would hire an assassin to kill me? The only person I’m in conflict with is Li Fengniang, and she barely counts, but right now, she’s in the outer pavilion and shouldn’t have enough Spirit Stones to hire an assassin, right?" Yu Qingtan pondered over potential suspects as the others left, finally calming down from the disquiet of her first kill, since the "Love’s Protection" period had passed.
"Qing Tan, you are too focused on your studies and might not have noticed some things," Wanning replied.
```
Shen Wanning poured a cup of tea for each of them before sitting down and saying,
"What’s the matter?"
"Your recent rise to fame has made many newcomers envious and resentful, while the veterans feel you’re stealing their clients, threatening their status within the pavilion. However, I never imagined someone would be so cruel and deranged. I reckon that nine times out of ten, it was the work of the veterans, considering they have the savings," she said.
"I see!" Yu Qingtan also realized what was happening. No wonder she felt that despite her disinterest in proactively socializing with others in the pavilion, very few had approached her on their own initiative.
"After all, this isn’t the legally governed society of my previous life, so I need to be even more careful from now on," Yu Qingtan thought to herself.
"Not to mention your house, Qingtan, so many in the pavilion are green with envy. Tsk tsk, such a nice place. I’m jealous myself!" Shen Wanning said with a covered laugh.
"Isn’t that why I let you stay here?"
"Haha, it’s not like I could live here every day. What a pity I’m not a man, or I’d definitely marry you," Shen Wanning joked.
The comment caused Yu Qingtan’s mouth to twitch lightly, not knowing how to respond.
"Alright, the main reason I wanted you to stay today was to give you a storage bag," said Yu Qingtan, producing the storage bag that contained the poison needles.
"Ah, Qingtan, how can you be so good to me!" Shen Wanning excitedly got up and hugged Yu Qingtan.
How soft, hey.
"Stop it; the marrow milk from last time is worth God knows how many storage bags. Come help me see what’s inside," Yu Qingtan said, believing Shen Wanning to be a lucky star and asking for her help to open the storage bag.
Shen Wanning released Yu Qingtan, picked up the storage bag, and was visibly thrilled.
This was far more exciting than opening a storage talisman.
"Watch me."
In less than the time it took to burn through a pot of tea, Shen Wanning used her spiritual power to erase the spiritual signature from the poison needles.
After all, she was at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation.
Then she took out all the items inside the storage bag.
Shen Wanning felt somewhat embarrassed.
The most noticeable items were a bunch of clothes, including a few sets for men and over a dozen sets for women—of the very revealing variety.
Yu Qingtan, worldly in her past life, was rather unimpressed.
Is that all?
Yu Qingtan set aside the clothes and various trifles, then counted the valuable items.
1,123 spirit stones, four bottles of Spirit-Condensing Pills, one bottle of Spirit Revitalizing Pill, one bottle of Healing Pill, one bottle of Detoxification Pill, three amulets, ten Communication Talismans, one bottle of unidentified poison, one Uninscribed Token.
"Wow, who knew this assassin was so wealthy!" Shen Wanning said, even more excited.
"You may have two bottles of Spirit-Condensing Pills, one amulet, and five Communication Talismans," Yu Qingtan replied, pleased with the loot. She put some of the items back into the storage bag, including one Communication Talisman inscribed with her own spiritual signature, then handed it to Shen Wanning.
Communication Talismans are used to contact others within a certain distance, and the contact’s spiritual signature must be recorded in advance.
Each cultivator’s spiritual signature is unique.
Shen Wanning, not one for pretense, gladly accepted and held onto the storage bag lovingly.
She also took out a Communication Talisman from the ones left by Yu Qingtan and imprinted it with her spiritual signature.