Danger

Danger...

Mo Qingcheng was left completely speechless by Nolan's antics. It was clear that Nolan was intentionally stirring the pot. She chuckled mischievously. "Alright, alright, I'll just disappear now."

With that, Nolan shot a sly look at Mo Qingcheng, smiled at Qin Wentian, and said, "Hey, you little rascal, make the most of this opportunity. It's a rare occurrence. You have no idea how many secretly pine for this girl, even though she's currently fixated on someone."

After her words, Nolan departed, leaving Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng in an awkward silence.

Nolan's remarks hung in the air, hinting at a potential romance. It made the atmosphere between the two of them slightly uncomfortable, leaving them both unsure of what to say to break the silence.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but steal glances at Mo Qingcheng. Her flawless, porcelain skin, her curvaceous figure, her unmatched beauty—every aspect of her was captivating. Without realizing it, Qin Wentian found himself staring, lost in her allure.

For a young man like him, the allure of beauty was still a powerful force. And Mo Qingcheng's exceptional beauty, combined with her kindness towards him, had him pondering the possibility of her being his.

Caught in his thoughts, Qin Wentian couldn't help but gaze at her with an entranced expression.

Sensing his intense stare, Mo Qingcheng felt her cheeks flush with bashfulness, which only enhanced her beauty. She couldn't fathom why he was looking at her that way and stamped her foot while pouting. "What are you staring at?"

Qin Wentian blinked rapidly, snapping out of his trance. He chuckled awkwardly and replied, "I was just admiring a beautiful girl."

Mo Qingcheng huffed playfully, adding an extra layer of charm to her already enchanting demeanor. "Hmph."

Then, her tone grew more serious. "And you were too impulsive earlier, exposing yourself to the Nine Mystical Palace's underhanded tactics. You should have informed the Emperor Star Academy about your capabilities and plans. Do you realize how dangerous it was? Fortunately, nothing happened."

Mo Qingcheng's words carried a stern reprimand. She was concerned for his safety and didn't want him to act recklessly again, causing everyone unnecessary worry.

"I didn't expect the Nine Mystical Palace, an entity as powerful as they are, to resort to such underhanded methods," Qin Wentian remarked, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

"Hmph, you can't afford to be this careless in the future. The Nine Mystical Palace's objective was clearly to make Luo Qianqiu the champion. When they saw you were about to shatter their carefully laid plans, they naturally resorted to underhanded methods to deal with you," Mo Qingcheng explained with a hint of exasperation. She couldn't help but wonder why Qin Wentian's thought process was so straightforward. His naivety, while endearing, had almost cost him dearly.

In Mo Qingcheng's eyes, Qin Wentian's simplicity and lack of guile were rare qualities. If he were cunning and manipulative like Chu Tianjiao or Ye WuQue, she wouldn't have been as drawn to him.

"Thank you, my dear, for the reminder," Qin Wentian teased, appreciating her concern. He realized that he needed to be more cautious in the future. Without Gongyang Hong's intervention, he might have ended up in serious trouble. The memory of Luo Qianqiu's father, who had personally intervened in the confrontation, was still fresh in his mind.

Presently, Qin Wentian could only look up to Heavenly Dipper Realm experts from a distance, fully aware of their overwhelming power. He couldn't forget the imposing presence of Luo Tianya.

"I didn't realize you were such a smooth talker," Mo Qingcheng remarked with a giggle as she gazed at Qin Wentian.

"Of course, I am. Otherwise, a certain someone would be calling me a 'dumbo' again," Qin Wentian replied with a shrug, his laughter filling the air. Mo Qingcheng's eyes sparkled, and she joined in the laughter.

Little did Mo Qingcheng know that for anyone who shared the snowy scenery with her, it would become an unforgettable memory. In this moment, she realized that even this "dumbo" remembered that beautiful day.

As they shared a pleasant moment, footsteps approached their courtyard. Qin Wentian lifted his head, his brows furrowing in response to the approaching visitor. Typically, those who came to his residence would announce their presence, unless the visitor had a particularly close relationship with him.

However, in the dimly lit courtyard, all Qin Wentian could discern was a figure sporting a peculiar conical bamboo hat, head bowed low. It was an unfamiliar face in a place where they had no business being. Something was amiss.

"Who are you?" Qin Wentian's voice grew colder, his displeasure evident. This was his private residence, and those with an Emperor Jade Medallion of the fourth level or higher were assigned a personal courtyard.

Mo Qingcheng cautioned softly, "Be careful." The stranger continued advancing, setting off alarm bells in Qin Wentian's mind.

"I am..." the stranger began, lifting their head slightly. Only a pair of sharp eyes could be seen through the gaps in the black cloth that concealed their features.

Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of pressure and killing intent erupted from the stranger, bearing down on Qin Wentian.

"Your murderer."

The words hung heavy in the air as the stranger lunged forward, palm outstretched. Astonishingly, they employed the same innate technique Qin Wentian cultivated—the Thousand Hand Imprint. Countless palm shadows converged, unleashing an unstoppable force.

Qin Wentian's face contorted as he summoned the ancient halberd to his hand. Despite being aware that his opponent was a Yuanfu Realm expert, he chose to confront the threat head-on instead of retreating. Mo Qingcheng stood beside him, and he couldn't risk her safety.

"Step back," Mo Qingcheng urged. Her beautiful eyes flashed with determination as she dashed forward, responding swiftly to the crisis. Qin Wentian swung the ancient halberd, clashing with the masked assailant's palm strike.

While Qin Wentian possessed formidable strength as an Arterial Circulation Realm cultivator, he was still outmatched by the power of a Yuanfu Realm expert. A deafening collision resounded as the halberd was forcibly knocked from his grasp. The impact sent him hurtling backward, spewing blood as he crashed into a stone table, reducing it to rubble—a testament to the immense force behind the attack.

Simultaneously, Mo Qingcheng's aura surged. Her presence seemed to transform into that of a Yuanfu Cultivator, momentarily startling the masked assailant. However, this brief pause was all he allowed. He had to eliminate Qin Wentian swiftly; otherwise, his mission would fail.

The masked figure advanced relentlessly, unleashing a furious barrage of palm strikes toward Mo Qingcheng. Countless palm shadows blotted out the sky, bombarding her. Under this relentless assault, Mo Qingcheng's internal organs quaked, forcing her to retreat, unable to hold her ground.

"Run! He has a limited time to kill you, or else he'll fail!" Mo Qingcheng cried out, hoping to alert the academy's experts to the danger.

Qin Wentian acknowledged the truth in Mo Qingcheng's words. He had never fathomed an assassination attempt within the secure confines of the Emperor Star Academy. Ren Qianxing had indeed been careless, focusing on Qin Wentian's protection only when he was outside the academy.

However, this incident illuminated the intelligence of his adversary. Not only had they masterminded this plan, but they also possessed the prowess to breach the academy's defenses.

As a fierce tornado raged by, Qin Wentian swung his ancient halberd once more. Regrettably, he couldn't even mitigate the slightest force from his opponent's strike. The masked Yuanfu Realm assailant unleashed another devastating palm attack, sending the halberd tumbling from Qin Wentian's grip. In mid-air, the assailant soared toward him.

Engaging his Garuda Movement Technique, Qin Wentian moved with blinding speed, leaving a trail of afterimages as he retreated. He needed only a brief respite. Understanding that his presence would obstruct his opponent from harming Mo Qingcheng, Qin Wentian aimed to stall.

"Who dares to commit such audacity in the Emperor Star Academy?" A voice thundered, filled with seething rage, echoing throughout the academy. The words stirred many onlookers. Surely, a Yuanfu-level cultivator wouldn't risk his life just to assassinate Qin Wentian?

At such a stage, no one would willingly become a mere pawn in someone else's plot.

"Little White," Mo Qingcheng called out to the white crane, sensing Qin Wentian's intent. The white crane swooped down from the sky, its sharp talons targeting the masked assailant.

"Get lost!" The masked assailant bellowed, unleashing relentless palm strikes. However, the white crane, a 7th-grade demonic beast on par with a Yuanfu Cultivator, couldn't be easily subdued.

Fueled by rage, the masked figure continued his assault, drowning out the crane's pitiful cries. The creature veered off, allowing the assailant to refocus on Qin Wentian, who was fleeing in the opposite direction.

Time was running out, and panic filled the masked assailant's eyes. With every ounce of his formidable strength, he unleashed an aura as sharp as a drawn sword, aimed directly at Qin Wentian, intending to pierce through him.

"Get down!" Mo Qingcheng had used the distraction caused by her white crane to close the gap between herself and Qin Wentian. In a swift motion, she knocked him down, and they fell flat on the ground, narrowly avoiding the deadly sword-like attack that skimmed their backs.

"Fool!" The masked assailant wore a hideous expression. He launched another palm strike, this time without lingering to confirm whether Qin Wentian was dead or alive. Instead, he bolted away at lightning speed. Any delay could cost him his life.

With a resounding rumble, Qin Wentian felt an immense force crash into his body, causing him to cough up blood. Yet, he had no time to attend to his own injuries; his mind was solely occupied by the person lying on his back.

"Qingcheng!" Qin Wentian's voice trembled, his heart pounding with fear. He was truly terrified, a fear that gripped his very soul. His body quivered with anxiety, dreading the worst.

"I'm fine."

A soft voice reached his ears. The gentle sound was more melodious than celestial music to Qin Wentian's ears. The weight on his back eased as Mo Qingcheng rolled down to the ground, coming to a stop beside him, her face inches from his own.

Their unmatched countenances were nearly touching, causing bystanders to hold their breath. As he gazed at her haggard, pale face and the trace of blood at the corner of her lips, Qin Wentian couldn't help but feel utterly useless.

"What a close call," Mo Qingcheng said with a smile, but that smile shattered Qin Wentian's heart.

Who could be so audacious as to attempt an assassination within the hallowed grounds of the Emperor Star Academy? Trembling with anger, Qin Wentian's heart swelled with a rising tide of murderous intent. Who could be so relentless in their pursuit of his death after the Jun Lin Banquet that they were willing to pay any price?

With trembling hands, Qin Wentian gingerly wiped the traces of blood from the corner of Mo Qingcheng's mouth. He managed a smile when he looked at her, but his heart remained as cold as ever.

"Are you really okay?" Qin Wentian asked in a hushed voice.

"Yes, don't worry. I still have some medicinal pills to aid my recovery." Mo Qingcheng retrieved a pill from her robes and swallowed it. She then smiled at Qin Wentian. "Can you help me get up?"

As she spoke, a faint blush colored her pale face.

Nodding, Qin Wentian gently supported Mo Qingcheng as she rose to her feet. "Rest and recover well."

"Okay." Mo Qingcheng closed her eyes and began to focus on channeling and calming her Qi.

Meanwhile, several figures appeared in the vicinity. Some soared through the air, searching for any trace of the masked man, while others tended to the injuries of Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng.

"Who could have dared to do this?" Old Gu's anger was palpable as he examined Mo Qingcheng's injuries. The intensity of his rage was felt by those standing nearby.

"The masked man escaped before we arrived. It seems he didn't have enough time to assassinate Qin Wentian. If he had been a second slower, he wouldn't have gotten away. However, in such a short time, it's unlikely he could have left the academy without being noticed," Ren Qianxing explained, his expression grim. He had been careless, having taken Qin Wentian's safety into consideration when he left the academy, but he had never anticipated a sneak attack within the academy's grounds.

"Are you suggesting there might be a traitor within our Emperor Star Academy?" Old Gu's gaze turned as sharp as a sword, his killing intent soaring to its peak.

Qin Wentian's own killing intent surged. After showcasing his talents on the Jun Lin Banquet stage, it appeared that there were indeed many individuals who wanted him dead.