Luo Xiu's expression turned grim as he suddenly noticed that the Martial Mercenaries charging toward him had bombs strapped to their waists.

"Motherfucker..." Luo Xiu cursed and immediately backed away.

He knew his body was tough; even in its sickly state, his physique was far superior to that of an ordinary person. But he didn't know if he could be killed by bombs, because he had never been blown up before.

While retreating, Luo Xiu waved his hand, and a transparent, cube-shaped diamond flew out from the Jade Pendant around his neck. With an injection of Spiritual Energy, the diamond began to spin at high speed. Then, under Luo Xiu's precise control, it instantly flew out and killed the Martial Mercenaries.

Ever since obtaining this Magical Treasure at the Tianbao Residence Auction, Luo Xiu had practiced with it secretly every night he had free time. By now, he was able to control this Magical Treasure at will.

"Master, go after her! Leave this to me!" Guan Changyun shouted toward Luo Xiu, casually deflecting incoming bullets with his sword.

Luo Xiu nodded and vanished into the night in a flash.

...

At this moment, Ye Ningxue had pushed her speed to its absolute limit. In the boundless wasteland, she was like an arrow skimming across the ground. But the image of Luo Xiu's two sword strikes kept replaying in her mind, something she couldn't shake. Fear lingered in her heart, refusing to dissipate.

But for some reason, she also felt a feverish, almost worshipful, awe. Her dream was to become a Peerless Swordsman who could sunder mountains and split the earth with a casual swing of the sword. All difficulties and obstacles in her path could be shattered with a single strike.

She had been practicing the sword since she was five years old. She had never even been to school; her academic lessons were given by private tutors at home. Her days consisted of nothing but sword practice. She had no friends and no childhood; it seemed her world consisted only of the sword.

She had thought herself strong enough, but only tonight did she realize that there were always higher mountains beyond the one she stood on.

That terrifying fellow… what's his background? But he's so incredibly strong.

Lost in thought, her eyes suddenly widened. She screeched to a halt, her feet skidding across the ground for more than ten meters like an ice skater before she finally stopped.

In front of her, less than ten centimeters from her face, was the high-speed spinning diamond.

She stared at it, a chill spreading through her body. Her delicate frame trembled uncontrollably, and a cold sweat quickly soaked through her clothes.

That was… so close.

She swallowed hard, then slowly turned to face Luo Xiu, who was approaching her at a leisurely pace. It didn't surprise her that Luo Xiu had caught up so easily. He was the strongest man she had ever seen.

A moment later, Luo Xiu stopped, about ten meters away, looking at her with a half-smile. The air suddenly grew quiet. A night breeze blew by. Drenched in cold sweat, Ye Ningxue felt a deep chill, and the cold shock snapped her back to her senses.

"Spare me," she stared into Luo Xiu's eyes and said suddenly.

The two words left her mouth devoid of any emotion, without the slightest hint of a plea. They were stated as flatly as calling her family to a meal that was ready. This left Luo Xiu completely perplexed.

Ye Ningxue said again, "Spare me."

Luo Xiu's mouth twitched. "Does this look like you're begging for mercy?"

Ye Ningxue fell silent, lost in thought. She had never begged anyone for mercy before. She had also had very little contact with people, only starting to leave home for extended periods in the last two years.

So, how exactly does one beg for mercy?

Luo Xiu commented, "You're the first person I've met who could beg for mercy in such an aloof, even refreshingly unconventional, way."

Ye Ningxue stopped thinking and said, "I can kneel before you. I can even kowtow to you."

Although her words were calm, she was completely serious. She was earnestly negotiating with Luo Xiu.

After a moment's thought, Luo Xiu gestured with his hand, and the diamond flew back to hover in the void beside him. "To beg for mercy so uniquely must have been hard on you. I can give you a chance."

Ye Ningxue bowed. "Thank you, Senior."

Luo Xiu said, "You need to take this chance seriously… You have to give me a reason to spare you."

Hearing this, Ye Ningxue's expression shifted slightly. So the "chance" Luo Xiu mentioned was a chance to give him a reason.

"I want to live."

"Not enough."

"I'm not afraid to die, but I don't want to. I really, really want to live."

"Not enough."

"I've seen your Magical Treasure before. In fact, the person using it once saved my life."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu furrowed his brows. "Are you talking about this diamond?"

"Yes," Ye Ningxue nodded. "It's called the Dragon Drill."

So it's called the Dragon Drill.

Ye Ningxue continued, "When I was ten, I took part in the Henghai Battle. Just as I was about to be killed, it appeared and saved me."

Luo Xiu asked, "Who was using it at the time?"

"It was a woman. I don't know her name, but she was very strong."

Luo Xiu sighed. That was as good as saying nothing.

Ye Ningxue suddenly said, "That woman… might be your mother."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu furrowed his brows again. Her words struck the softest, most hidden part of his heart. Like most orphans, he desperately wanted to know who his biological parents were. Humans might not know their ultimate origins, but a child should at least know who gave birth to them.

Luo Xiu said, "Impossible."

Ye Ningxue sighed. "Is that still not enough?"

Luo Xiu smiled faintly. "Actually, I don't like to kill if it isn't necessary, especially not a woman."

"Thank you."

"However, as a condition for letting you go, you have to tell me everything in return."

"Like what?"

"Like why you came here, what your purpose is, and how much you know about Boss Huang and the people behind him."

Ye Ningxue nodded. "I can tell you."

Luo Xiu took two bottles of a beverage from his Jade Pendant and casually tossed one to her. "No rush. Let's sit and talk."

Ye Ningxue caught the bottle, stunned. "You have a Storage Magical Treasure?"

"Let's stick to the topic."

"Oh."

...

A long time passed.

Ye Ningxue finished her drink but didn't just toss the empty plastic bottle aside. "I've said everything I was supposed to. Can I go now?"

Luo Xiu waved his hand.

Ye Ningxue stood up and left. But after walking some distance, she suddenly returned and stood before Luo Xiu again.

"Senior, now that the hunter-and-hunted relationship between us is over, we can just talk, can't we?"

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Can you tell me your name?"

"Luo Xiu."

"My name is Ye Ningxue."

Luo Xiu asked, "Anything else?"

"Senior, how old are you? Where do you live?"

Luo Xiu grew impatient. "Are you running a background check on me?"

"Sorry. I rarely talk to people, so these are the only questions I could think of."

Ye Ningxue was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to see my face?"

Luo Xiu said, "Not interested. It's not like we'll meet again."

Ye Ningxue said earnestly, "Those two sword strikes of yours… they were incredibly cool."

"So?"

"Can you teach me? Or… I could become your disciple."

Luo Xiu smiled. "A young girl like you, and already such a martial arts fanatic."

Ye Ningxue corrected him, "That's not right. I'm a Sword Maniac."

Luo Xiu gazed into the distant night. "Everything stems from life. If you want your sword to become stronger, go and experience more of life."

"I'll remember that. Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

"Go on."

"Master, will we meet again?"

"I haven't accepted you as my disciple."

"Master, this disciple will definitely come find you!"

"You…" Luo Xiu raised his hand as if to strike her, but it stopped in mid-air.

He just couldn't understand how such a young woman could be so dense.

Ye Ningxue turned to leave. "Master, your disciple is leaving now! We'll definitely meet again. By then, I'll be stronger. I'll be able to block those two sword strikes of yours! I will!"

This time, she really left.

...

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