A trace of smile flashed across Baihe’s eyes, turning her dark pupils to a clear sheen of limpid autumn water. The shine in her eyes disappeared quickly, making those who saw it with keen eyes suspect if it were merely an illusion.

She watched as Fei Fei’s pretty face swelled up like a pig and couldn’t help but find it ironic for the beautiful fairy regarded so highly in the eyes of nearly all the brainless men in this city, to be beaten to the point that her eyes and nose could no longer be distinguished.

Fei Fei’s heart filled with rage and resentment. Unreconciled! She was extremely unreconciled!

Let me faint, please just let me faint now! It’s been so long, why am I still conscious after suffering blow after blow?

Of course Baihe wouldn’t let this woman faint, which would be a disgrace to her previous profession if she let this girl off so easily. As an assassin from her old world, Baihe excelled in not just assassination, but she was also well versed in the art of torture. There were many methods and tools to inflict unimaginable pain to an enemy without letting them die, but for now, she’d settle for the only one at her disposal — the three guqin strings.

No one knew that the splotches of blood all over Fei Fei’s body in random locations were actually the result of three guqin strings. Everyone thought it was caused by Baihe’s fierce attacks, but in truth, Baihe had learned those strings could be used as thread needles — sharp and thin — and because they were nearly invisible to the eyes, they were perfect for sneak attacks if done quickly and properly.

Three shimmering threads of guqin strings were now like pointy, little needles — piercing in and out of Fei Fei’s skin in specific acupuncture points. They prevented her from losing consciousness and made sure she felt the sensation of every punch, every kick, and every jab.

Pain!

That was the only word circulating in Fei Fei’s mind. Her body was so painful like thousands of needles were pricking her skin mercilessly as she was beaten to a pulp. Always teetering on the verge of consciousness, but never allowing that final reprieve of fainting.

For 18 years, Fei Fei was the pearl of the prestigious Huang’s family. Her family doted and spoiled her. She was extremely pampered and every women looked at her with envy while men chased after her. Never had she suffered any hardship, much less been beaten like this when no one had even dared slap her before.

This was a blood debt Fei Fei would remember and vowed to return it back ten-folds to Baihe in the future. Right now, survival was most important! She refused to die here today! So what if they’d signed a life-and-death agreement? She was still the most pampered young miss of the influential Huang’s general household and the future Crown Princess.

If that slut dares to kill her, she wouldn’t even make it out of the city with that meager Early Dao Stage 2 strength before being hunted by both the Huang and the royal family. As long as she lived for another day, she’d come back with a vengeance that would make Baihe regret everything she’d done today.

Survive! Live!

Revenge is never too late and will taste just as sweet!

Fei Fei allowed herself to be pushed backward, slowly moving closer to the edge of the arena. Once she was only a short distance away, Fei Fei poured the last remaining spiritual qi she had to the soles of her feet and sprung toward the edge of the stage, immediately dropping down the fighting platform.

Her action left many spectators dumbfounded as they watched Fei Fei run toward the safe haven of her brother Ming and into the protective coverage provided by people from the Huang’s general household. At once, the crowd burst like a bubble as they defamed their future Crown Princess who didn’t honor her signed agreement and discredited the Huang’s family for still unabashedly shielding her.

All this time, Fei Fei’s family had been too stunned over the unexpected development of the fight to react. It was only until she came flying toward them and the loud outburst from the crowd that they had finally awakened from their stupor. At once, Ming covered his sister with a large cloak; his eyes glared at Baihe with animosity.

In a tight voice, he said: “Lady Baihe, the match has ended. My sister has already left the arena. The inhumane act you have committed against my family today is more than enough. Don’t force my hand! If you insist, then allow me to substitute for Fei Fei!”

The anger in his voice was hard to miss, but Baihe only responded with a light, clear voice: “Huang Ming, have you forgotten that your little sister was the one who insisted on signing the life-and-death agreement? What forcing your hand? Could it be that the Huang’s general household are only filled with scoundrels who kill off their creditors to renege on debts?”

If Baihe hadn’t said anything, then all was still good; but once those words were spoken, the crowd was stirred into chaos again, heavily condemning the Huang’s family for their misconducts. Who didn’t know that Ming was already at Mid Dao Stage 3? How could a mere Early Dao Stage 2 Baihe compare?

Ming’s face darkened and his fists clenched tightly, trying to suppress the desire to kill Baihe right then and there. Today, his family lost a lot of face and pride because of his sister’s disgrace and it was all because of this bitch in front of him.

Unbridled rage burned in his eyes as he stared vehemently at Baihe. “I know who you really are,” Ming said in a low voice as he moved closer to Baihe. In a low whisper that only the two of them could hear, he deliriously chuckled: “I’ve seen every part of your body. From that little phoenix birthmark behind your neck to those bountiful breasts with pink tips down to your…” he paused with a weird glint in his eyes. “You’re just spoiled goods without any backing. The crime of deceiving the monarch, can you bear it?”

Her lips raised to expose a smile. On the surface, Baihe appeared unperturbed, but inside she was cursing her shitty luck of having such a distinctive birthmark and recoiling from how sick this half-brother of her predecessor was.

Ah, lucky girl, it’s good you’re long gone from such sickos in your family. Rest in peace! I, Huang Baihe, will definitely make them pay back the debt with interest.

A light, breezy laughter escaped from Baihe’s lips. The agitated crowd settled down as they heard her musical laugh. “No need to replace. It’s just I didn’t expect the lady of such a prestigious noble family to renege on her words, but I’ll be merciful and let her live today as reward for giving off such a great performance with her good package.”

Those words, not too loud nor too soft, were just enough to travel to the ears of the audience. Immediately, their attention went back to Fei Fei; their eyes bore into her body lecherously as if they had x-ray function installed to see through that cloak. Fei Fei shuffled her body behind Ming, seeking shelter and protection as she gave Baihe a dirty look filled with scorn.

Ming felt his own face turned red, then black, then red again before continuously alternating between the two shades. The crowd jeered at his family, but the other nobles and the royal family adapted the wait-and-see attitude, doing nothing to contain the situation.