Chapter Forty-Six: Seizing the Man, Seizing the Blade!

Three days later, in the city of Jinan.

Ren Yi gazed upon the bustling crowd with a remarkably good mood. Ever since arriving in this world, his spirits had never faltered.

Ren Yi was a man brimming with confidence—an assured man who surely possessed some extraordinary skills. Indeed, there was no one in the world more capable than he.

With that wondrous place connecting various worlds, his confidence only grew, and so did his abilities. Though he had yet to uncover any clues about his premature aging affliction, he still believed he could live well.

When a man is happy, he craves wine—the finest tavern, the best liquor. Ren Yi knew well how to savor life and chose a seat by the window.

Peering outside...

This was a lively city, the streets teeming with all manner of people, each appearing joyous. Everyone wore clean clothes as they moved about the streets.

All sorts of shops lined the roads, each displaying their finest wares.

Ren Yi raised his wine cup, brought it to his lips, and drained it in one go. Then a delicate hand landed on his shoulder.

The hand was pale and flawless like jade, exquisitely slender—a woman’s hand, for only a woman’s hand could be so beautiful. And the owner of that hand was even more striking; from her appearance, it was nearly impossible to find a single flaw.

From her hairline, forehead, nose, lips, down to her neck and chest, her figure was perfectly proportioned, embodying an ideal of beauty.

Yet, despite such beauty, her expression was grim.

Before she lowered her hand, she sat down first.

Feng Siniang fixed her sharp black-and-white eyes on Ren Yi, her gaze brimming with murderous intent. Her graceful, slender form radiated lethal energy.

“You said it wasn’t urgent!” she said, each word deliberate.

Hearing this, Ren Yi replied calmly, “I only said I’m not in a hurry for that sword.”

Feng Siniang glanced coldly at him, neither lowering her hand nor averting her gaze.

Beside her sat a man, who had just taken a seat and was curiously scrutinizing the two.

“According to the information I got, you’re pretending not to care, but now you want to steal the sword secretly. You’ve got quite the imagination!” she sneered.

Ren Yi brushed her hand aside with a smile. “I’m not here to steal the sword. I’m not in a hurry for that. But there’s another matter I can’t wait for. I came to Jinan for that.”

Feng Siniang laughed coldly. “Then speak. Why have you come?”

Ren Yi said, “You told me that Lian Chengbi is about to get engaged, right?”

Feng Siniang snapped angrily, “What business is that of yours?”

---

Ren Yi replied, “I’m still unmarried. Though I don’t crave power, wealth, or fame, I’m no eunuch from the deep palace. Tell me, what man wouldn’t want a woman by his side?”

Feng Siniang was stunned, then exclaimed, “You’ve set your sights on Shen Bijun, the most beautiful woman in the martial world?”

Fortunately, they were in a private room; no one overheard.

Ren Yi smiled. “Why make such a fuss?”

Feng Siniang seemed relieved. Initially, she hadn’t truly intended to ask Ren Yi for help; she merely saw his formidable skills and wanted to use him as bait to lure away the sword’s guardians.

But upon meeting him again, she suspected he wanted to keep the Sword of Deer for himself, disregarding her.

Now knowing he had come for Miss Shen... her expression was no better for it.

‘I greeted you warmly, yet you’re unmoved by beauty. Now, because of that Shen lady, you’ve come to Jinan? The one who’s not even eager for the Sword of Deer is so concerned about her...’

Feng Siniang, somewhat annoyed, said, “Have you even seen Miss Shen? Just how beautiful is she?”

Ren Yi shook his head. “Never met her; I came by reputation alone.”

Hearing this, Feng Siniang nearly burst with anger—both at Ren Yi’s indifference to her and his deep concern for a woman he’d never met.

It wasn’t that the demoness was taken by the villain; women were naturally like this.

“Pfft!”

Feng Siniang cast a sharp glance, exasperated, “You little bastard, what are you laughing at?”

But the laughter wasn’t Ren Yi’s—it came from the other man.

He wore a blue cloth robe, his jet-black hair loose save for a simple cloth band. His thick eyebrows, straight nose, and dense beard gave him a rugged look. His eyes were large and bright; not handsome or dashing, but his gaze and smile held an indescribable charm.

“I am Xiao Shiyilang.”

“Ren Yi, Ren Hengzhi!”

“Fine names, fine characters. Then I shall call you Brother Ren!”

“Brother Xiao!”

Feng Siniang cut in, “Enough with the introductions!”

Xiao Shiyilang laughed, “Your friend is quite amusing.”

Ren Yi said, “You fight for the sword, I fight for the woman.”

Xiao Shiyilang nodded, “Not bad, not bad. We don’t interfere with each other and can watch each other’s backs.”

---

Feng Siniang snorted through her delicate nose. “You’re ruthless. We fight for the sword, and you even plan to steal a woman.”

Ren Yi looked at her indifferently. “You, Feng Siniang... you first stole those three pearl ink powders for your face, and now the Sword of Deer. Planning to get a pedicure?”

Feng Siniang glared, clearly not wanting to show him any kindness, but she found herself almost laughing.

Ren Yi chuckled and continued, “Your feet have quite the history—climbing mountains, wading rivers, crossing deserts for three days and nights, braving icy winters to ford rivers. They’ve kicked starving wolves to death, crushed venomous snakes, and even the notorious bandit Mantianyun, who held the Qilian Mountains for years, was kicked off a thousand-foot cliff by those feet.”

Feng Siniang tried hard to keep a serious face, but recalling what she had said upon first meeting him, now repeated back, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Si Niang, Si Niang...”

There was still a small open window in the private room. Feng Siniang had spotted Ren Yi through that window, but now someone else saw her.

At the sound, her smile vanished instantly, muttering, “Bad luck, how did I cross paths with this unlucky man.”

Before she finished, the door was pushed open, and a man entered.

Xiao Shiyilang stared blankly...

Ren Yi watched with interest...

The newcomer was around thirty, square-faced, dressed in a light blue silk robe covered by a blue cloth jacket, wearing white cloth socks and blue cloth shoes, impeccably clean from head to toe.

Anyone could tell he was a proper, upright, and honest man.

But upon seeing him, Feng Siniang immediately covered her face with her hand and lowered her head, even though he stood right before the three.

“Si Niang, I’ve finally found you.”

Only then did Feng Siniang lift her head, rolling her eyes coldly at him. “Why are you yelling? Stop shouting! If you keep this up, others will think I owe you a debt!”

Though his voice was loud, he wasn’t yelling or screaming. Yet Feng Siniang’s scolding made him smile apologetically.

“I... I wasn’t... I... sorry, sorry, Si Niang!”

As he spoke, his expression suddenly changed!

As if he had just seen Ren Yi and Xiao Shiyilang, his eyes widened fiercely, glaring at them as if he wished to swallow them whole.

His face flushed red. “Who... who are they?”

Feng Siniang snapped, “Who gave you the right to ask? Why should I tell you?”