Who Are You?

After descending from the mountain, Qiu Nuo rented a carriage to bring her back to the city from the foot of the mountain.

Now, she was pretty much a wealthy lady. She couldn't care less about these trivial expenses.

Leaving aside the gold coins that Mo Ziyan had given her in the Qiu family's medicinal garden, she had also gotten quite a fortune with this trip into Ziying Mountain.

Although the most valuable Lightning Horn was gone, a sixth-level Spirit Beast could still be sold for a sky-high price.

But Qiu Nuo had given it some thought and had decided not to sell away all the materials from the Lightning Leopard. Perhaps, she would have use for them in the future.

…

Upon returning to Tianluo City, Qiu Nuo made a trip to the blacksmith and entrusted him with the sternum of the Snow Wolf to be made into a bone needle.

"Young lady, these bone needles aren't like those you use to sew clothes."

The blacksmith couldn't help but frown as soon as he heard Qiu Nuo's request.

Apart from the usual necessities, his shop would receive occasional orders to make weapons as well.

But this was the first time receiving such a request in all these years.

"I have my own use for it. Here's the deposit." Qiu Nuo left a few gold coins on the table and took a look at the sternum of the Snow Wolf again. "As for the rest of the bones, use them to craft a dagger."

"Alright, you can collect them in three days' time."

With that, the blacksmith stopped with his questions, collected the deposit, and continued with his work.

…

Qiu Nuo hadn't let anyone know that she had returned to the Qiu family's residence and directly entered her own yard through the back door.

But before she could enter the yard, she heard Die Yi's frantic voice.

"Sister Hong Tao, you can't take this! This is our young lady's dowry from our madam!"

"Scram!" Hong Tao kicked Die Yi aside, her gaze full of scorn.

She was a first-level Warrior, to say the least. It was demeaning to speak to a commoner like Die Yi.

At that moment, the tightly shut yard door was slammed open.

Hong Tao jolted, and she immediately turned around to see Qiu Nuo standing outside, covered entirely with dust.

"Oh, it's the First Mistress!" Hong Tao saw Qiu Nuo glance at Die Yi, who was lying unconscious on the ground, before turning her gaze toward her. She couldn't help but chuckle. "Aiya, First Mistress. Don't misunderstand. I didn't mean it. Die Yi didn't know her place and rebuked me. I was just disciplining her on your behalf so that she'll know not to provoke anyone in the future."

Qiu Nuo couldn't help but sneer as she looked at the haughty Hong Tao. "Who are you? How dare you say that you're disciplining someone on my behalf?"

Hong Tao fumed in anger.

"I… I follow Miss Qiu Yue. Die Yi's nothing but a wretched girl. So what if I disciplined her?" Hong Tao said indignantly, feeling that she had done nothing wrong. "Besides, don't forget who'll be in charge of the Qiu family in the future. If you want to lead a comfortable life in the future, you'd better stop putting on such airs. You're nothing but a piece of trash that can't be cultivated. Do you really think you're so great?"

"I just want to put on airs. What can you do about that?" Qiu Nuo wrapped her arms around her chest and sneered. "At the very least, I'm the legitimate daughter of the Qiu family. Even though I cannot be cultivated, I have a status here. You're just a servant. I just have to let my father know, and even if I beat you to death, no one will say anything. As for Sister Qiu Yue, there's no way she'll fight for you in front of Father since she wants to perform well. She has to take some responsibility for raising such an impetuous servant, isn't that right?"

Hong Tao's expression changed, obviously scared.

She usually took advantage of Qiu Yue's name and was now used to having her way in the Qiu family. She had gradually forgotten about her true status.

Just like what Qiu Nuo had said, even if she was beaten to death, no one would say a thing. She was nothing but a servant, after all.

"I… I can't be bothered to talk to you."

Hong Tao's face was entirely flushed, and she didn't want to continue the conversation with Qiu Nuo. Carrying the wooden box in her hand, she headed for the gate.

Qiu Nuo smirked smugly. Just as Hong Tao brushed past her, she landed a kick squarely on her butt and stuck an embroidery needle into her body.

"Ouch!" Hong Tao cried out in pain as she tumbled onto the ground. The contents of the wooden box followed suit.

That was an irregular polygonal crystal. Within it was complex silk threads that formed a mysterious pattern.

Qiu Nuo reached out to catch that crystal.

"This was something my mother left for me! I didn't expect Sister Qiu Yue's servants to be so impetuous and dishonest! It seems like my father will really have to do something about the servants in this house when he returns. Otherwise, everyone will be like you, and the Qiu residence will be in a mess!" Qiu Nuo remarked while raising her brow.

"First Mistress, spare me! Please spare me! I was blinded by greed for a moment. I'll never do it again!" Hong Tao begged for mercy.

"Scram!" Qiu Nuo glanced at her before heading into her yard without sparing her a second glance.

As she watched Qiu Nuo's back move further into the distance, hatred flashed past Hong Tao's eyes.

Once Miss Qiu Yue returned, she would definitely deal with this b*tch!

…

Qiu Nuo took Die Yi's pulse and brewed some medication for her before returning to her own room.

"Xue Ling, what's this?" Qiu Nuo looked at the crystal in her hand.

Xue Ling's figure gradually appeared mid-air. She put her head close to the crystal and blinked. "It seems like your mother wasn't a simple figure. It's a fifth-level Defence Rune Crystal. Your mom probably left it to protect you."

"A fifth-level Defence Crystal?" Qiu Nuo frowned, confused by this new term.

"You've heard of the pattern of runes?" Xue Ling asked a little frustratedly.

"Of course." Qiu Nuo nodded.

In this world, apart from Apothecaries and Armorers, there was another popular career.

Rune Master.

There were thousands of different rune patterns, but they could be broadly categorized into three categories.

One was the Offensive type, another was the Defensive type, and the last was the Auxiliary type.

"Do you mean that there's a fifth-level rune pattern within this crystal?" Qiu Nuo widened her eyes in disbelief.

At the moment, the most powerful weapon in the Qiu family was the black rock sword that her father used. It was only a fourth-level Soul Weapon. On it was inscribed a fourth-level rune pattern, which made it comparable to a typical fifth-level Soul Weapon.

Of course, that only held true if that fifth-level Soul Weapon had no rune patterns. But that was rare.

If one could afford a fifth level Soul Weapon, it didn't make sense to forgo buying an extra rune pattern.

"That's right. It's a fifth-level defensive rune pattern inside this crystal." Xue Ling raised her eyebrow and continued, "Not only so, but rune patterns are usually carved directly on weapons or armor. The only way of selling them as commodities is making them into rune crystals. But making one would require at least a fifth-level Rune Master!"

Xue Ling eyed her. "You should understand why I said that your mom's no simple figure, right?"