"I’m sorry, I was just mesmerized by how close you two seem," she apologized.
She did seem spellbound, but not because of their affection; she was shocked to see that Master Mo of Jingdu City, a legend, could have such a tender side. Instead of the famous belle, Jing Zhimei, he was with a girl of delicate features. She suspected that their journey to Imperial Mountain must be for this girl. But what were the two doing in Imperial Mountain? She had to find out and report back to her boss.
"Hmm," Qin Qin nodded, without saying much.
"You must be tired, why don’t we take a break!" the woman found a spot to put down her basket and offered the two some water from inside it. "I have water here, have a drink!"
"No need, thank you, we are not thirsty," Qin Qin declined.
The woman’s eyes darkened for a moment but quickly regained her smile. "By the way, my name is Ah Mei, what are yours?"
Mo Yunchen’s enchanting albeit cold gaze swept over the woman called Ah Mei, causing her to stiffen. "Sorry, I was being presumptuous in asking your names without any ulterior motive."
"It’s fine, my name is Qin Qin, and he is Mo Yunchen," she said.
Qin Qin appeared amiable, but only Mo Yunchen by her side knew how sly she was; she was toying with Ah Mei opposite them.
Ah Mei wanted to trick them, but they too were indulging her, eager to find out who was behind her and what they were up to.
"Hmm, Qin Qin, Imperial Mountain is quite remote and full of dangers. What are you here for?" Ah Mei asked casually, her expression revealing no flaws.
"Well, we’re here to pick an herb!"
A light flashed in Ah Mei’s eyes. She smiled slightly, "What herb is it? Maybe I’ve seen it. I can lead you there."
"Soul-Returning Grass," Qin Qin fixed her gaze on Ah Mei.
A chill flashed through Ah Mei’s eyes. Soul-Returning Grass? She had never heard of this herb.
"Soul-Returning Grass, huh! Let me think... ah, right, I know where that is! I’ll take you there."
Ah Mei got up and started walking ahead.
Qin Qin and Mo Yunchen got up and followed.
Ten minutes later, Ah Mei stopped in an overgrown area, pointing to a spot covered by weeds, "Over there, is that the Soul-Returning Grass you’re looking for? Go and see if it is."
Qin Qin glanced at Ah Mei and then walked forward. It was eerily silent around them, with no sounds from even insects – the long grasses could conceal many things. She looked at the grass in front of her and smirked coldly.
Ah Mei stepped back inconspicuously, directly behind Mo Yunchen, who appeared exotically nonchalant.
As Qin Qin took a step forward, she suddenly twisted her right foot to catch an invisible thread hidden in the grass. The thread trembled as she pulled it, causing more than a dozen fine Anesthetic Needles to fly out of the bushes. Qin Qin sidestepped, dodging the incoming needles.
At the same time, Mo Yunchen felt a fierce presence behind him. His expression chilled as an Anesthetic Needle, dipped in anesthetic, aimed at his back. Mo Yunchen dodged and grabbed Ah Mei’s hand, then kicked out harshly. The needles Qin Qin had evaded also shot towards Mo Yunchen and Ah Mei.
Mo Yunchen swiftly dodged, but Ah Mei, caught by Mo Yunchen, twisted her hand free, ducking to avoid the flying needles. Just when she thought she’d eluded all of her malicious Flying Needles, a lovely figure moved at great speed and grabbed her arm. An Anesthetic Needle was pressed against Ah Mei’s neck.
Ah Mei’s expression changed, and she glared coldly at Qin Qin, who held her and pressed the needle against her neck, "Why didn’t you fall for it?"
She couldn’t understand how the two had detected the trap.
"Such a crude scheme and you dare to present it before us, do you take us for fools?" Qin Qin sneered.
Ah Mei glared at Qin Qin with resentment, trying to break free. Qin Qin pressed the Anesthetic Needle against a fatal acupoint on Ah Mei’s neck, "Do you think a little Anesthetic Needle can’t kill you? You should know about this acupoint on the neck, being in medicine yourself!"
Qin Qin’s voice was soft and low, as if she were discussing something trivial and not threatening to take a life.
Ah Mei narrowed her eyes with a grim stare at Qin Qin; she hadn’t expected this girl to be so vigilant. She had thought that with their close relationship, if she lured the girl into a trap, Mo Yunchen would surely rush to rescue her, and she could take advantage of the situation to capture them both.
Just who was this girl?
"Who are you, exactly?" They had no information on this girl, who seemed so young and yet held such strong caution. They had never heard of Mo Yunchen favoring anyone, and now they realized she was no ordinary person. It was her own overconfidence that made her think she could capture them with such a simple trick.