Chapter 39: A Single Stroke to Sever the Old Dog's Head

"Young Master?"

Without a doubt, it was Qi Xiaolong.

Upon sensing the majestic aura radiating from the old man, Li Yuyan instantly guessed his identity.

"Is it Qi Xiaolong?" she asked, unable to stop herself, just to be certain.

The old servant reached into his robe and produced a small black box. As he slowly opened it, an intoxicating fragrance permeated the air. It was a scent like peach blossoms steeped in sweet osmanthus, with a subtle hint of wine—bewitching and addictive.

It was the "Guard-Palace Sand."

Legend says that in ancient times, this cinnabar was tattooed on a girl at birth to prove her virginity; if she lost her innocence, the mark would fade. While it is no longer used in that traditional sense, modern refinements have given it various other functions. Besides its immediate ability to verify a maiden's purity, it also possesses aphrodisiac properties.

The old servant looked at Li Yuyan and said, "Yes, it is indeed Young Master Qi."

"My young master has left Jiangcheng for urgent matters, but before he departed, he ordered me to handle a task."

"Extend your hand, Miss Yuyan," the old servant repeated.

Not far away, Li Yuxue, who had been eavesdropping, gasped in shock. Young Master Qi? When did he return? And it seems Li Yuyan has already met with him? Could it be that Guan Sheng was only able to survive because of Young Master Qi? Li Yuxue’s imagination ran wild, though she had no idea that what was about to happen would leave her truly stunned.

Hearing the old servant's command, Li Yuyan sighed and held out her hand. She did not know what he intended, but since it was an order from Qi Xiaolong, how could she resist? He had helped her save Guan Sheng...

Despair filled her heart. When she saw the old man smear a bit of the cinnabar-like substance from the black box onto her wrist, she jerked her arm back.

"This is!" Her expression shifted.

The old servant stared intently at the mark on her wrist. When he saw the Guard-Palace Sand vanish and scatter into dust within ten seconds of touching her skin, his pupils contracted, and he erupted into a fit of rage.

"It seems Miss Yuyan is no longer a virgin!"

Li Yuyan went pale with shock and stumbled back.

Li Yuxue covered her mouth, dumbfounded. "I was just guessing, but Li Yuyan, you actually slept with someone? Don't tell me it was that Guan Sheng!"

Li Yuyan was frantic. "I... I..."

The old servant’s voice was icy. "Is it that man named Guan Sheng?"

Li Yuyan’s heart burned with anxiety. Recalling that day she woke up to find Guan Sheng sitting by the bed, bare-chested and smoking, she could not bring herself to answer. Her silence, however, betrayed her.

The old servant scoffed. "The young master was truly prescient."

"By conspiring with this Guan Sheng, you have broken a major taboo."

"Miss Yuyan, I don't care how far things went between you two, but I advise you to excise all feelings for him immediately."

"You are the young master’s property, as you have been since that day three years ago."

"As for this Guan Sheng, I shall go and kill him now."

"When the young master returns, I hope you show some sense of shame and propriety. If there is a second time, your Li family will face total ruin."

With those words, the old servant turned to leave.

Li Yuyan’s eyes widened. Finding courage from somewhere unknown, she reached out and grabbed the old man’s arm.

"You are not allowed to kill Guan Sheng."

"You... your young master promised me he would save him!"

The old servant turned his head, a surge of killing intent erupting from him, forcing Li Yuyan back with a "boom."

"He promised to save him."

"He never said he wouldn't kill him."

Li Yuyan steadied herself, her emotions spiraling. She had never imagined that Qi Xiaolong was the type to hold such petty grudges. At this moment, she realized the old man before her was no ordinary foe—that terrifying aura was immense! If he went to kill Guan Sheng, could he possibly survive?

No! She could not let him leave.

Li Yuyan stepped forward and grabbed his arm again. "I won't let you go."

The old servant narrowed his eyes. "Miss Yuyan, do not court death."

"Don't think that because my young master favors you, I wouldn't dare to hurt you."

"Breaking your legs is well within my reach," the old servant said with a grim, chilling tone.

Li Yuyan did not waver; her slender hands gripped his arm even tighter. She didn't know why she was so desperate to protect Guan Sheng. Perhaps it was because when the Li family humiliated her yesterday, he was the one who stood up for her. Perhaps it was the aura of authority he displayed on his first day as the security director... Or perhaps, just perhaps, it was because he was the first man in her life?

Seeing that she would not let go, a vein pulsed on the old servant's arm. "Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, don't blame me."

The old servant swung a hand-blade with his left hand, the strike cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. But just as the blow was about to land on Li Yuyan’s arm—

*Smack!*

A large hand firmly caught his strike.

A cold, stern voice rang out in his ear.

"Where did this old stray dog come from?"

Li Yuyan was startled. "Guan... Guan Sheng!"

Guan Sheng, his other hand tucked into his pocket, said, "Wife, next time someone bothers you, call me. Don't face them alone."

Li Yuyan cried out in alarm, "Run!"

Run? Guan Sheng shrugged.

The old servant’s gaze locked onto Guan Sheng’s face. Recognizing him, he didn't hesitate; he shoved Li Yuyan aside and brought his palm down toward Guan Sheng’s head.

"Die!" he roared.

Guan Sheng stood motionless, merely glancing at him.

The next second—

A flash of cold light! A blade half an arm's length long whistled out.

*Crack!*

The old servant’s arm was severed, falling to the ground. Blood sprayed three feet into the air.

"Ah!" The old servant’s expression twisted in agony as he stared at his stump in disbelief. He was stunned. "So... so fast..."

Li Yuyan was frozen in place. Li Yuxue, hiding in the shadows, was too terrified to move a muscle.

Guan Sheng held the blade, a line of blood dripping from its tip. He let go of the old servant’s hand, his own body emitting a series of crisp, rhythmic cracks from his joints.

"Interesting."

"You want me dead?"

He smiled, a smile as cold as winter. "Come."

"Keep going!"

The old servant was incensed. "You beast, don't underestimate me! You dare steal a woman from my young master? You are begging for death!"

Even with a severed arm, the old servant fought with a desperate, suicidal ferocity. He lunged forward, his hand-blade slashing again toward Guan Sheng, the strike so iron-hard it generated an invisible pressure in the air.

Guan Sheng raised an eyebrow, his keen senses immediately perceiving that the old man was no mere thug.

But—

In the face of absolute speed and lethal combat arts, all technique is superfluous.

*Crack—*

Without the slightest surprise, before the old man’s blade could even touch Guan Sheng’s clothes, it was severed again!!

*Swish!*

The spray of blood painted the old servant’s face red. He stood there, struck dumb as if by lightning.

Before he could react, Guan Sheng swung his blade toward his neck.

*Thud!*

The head hit the ground. There was no room for resistance.

In an instant, both Li Yuyan and the hidden Li Yuxue were left in a daze.

Guan Sheng nonchalantly sheathed his blade, looking on with disdain.

"Is that it?"

"You want me dead?"

"Every Tom, Dick, and Harry thinks they can come and take a bite?"

"Do you even deserve to?"