65: Qin Ximeng of Junyuelou

In order to avoid revealing his Cultivation, Situ Jun relied on some third and fourth-grade attack talismans to fight the opponents. However, the opponents were numerous and seemed well-prepared, causing him to fall into a difficult battle for a moment.

Just as he was feeling a bit overwhelmed, a graceful figure suddenly appeared. With a long sword dancing in her hand and Sword Qi crisscrossing, she repelled the black-clad men one after another.

Situ Jun looked closely and saw that the newcomer was a young woman in her twenties, dressed in a plain white dress, with a refined and otherworldly appearance.

The night was as dark as ink, and the glazed lamps of the Jubao Pavilion cast a soft glow around the young girl.

As she turned and approached, Situ Jun finally saw the silver butterfly hairpin slanted in her temples trembling slightly with her steps. A snow-white gauze dress, thin as a cicada's wing, wrapped around her slender waist. As she moved, faint embroidered cloud patterns were visible, making her look like a Fairy condensed from moonlight who had fallen into the mortal world.

The glazed pendants hanging from the girl's earlobes shimmered with fine light. When she looked up, Situ Jun finally saw that refined and otherworldly face—eyebrows like distant mountains shrouded in mist, eyes like a cold pool reflecting the moon, and the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, hiding a hint of world-weary coldness.

The cherry lips beneath her delicate nose were naturally red without makeup, currently curved in a faint smile as she looked at Situ Jun, adding a touch of liveliness to her cold temperament.

Seeing the black-clad men repelled by the girl, Wang Fu approached Situ Jun with a pale face and said:

“This is Miss Qin Ximeng, the Auctioneer from 'Junyue Tower' across the street, and also the person in charge of 'Junyue Tower'.”

Seeing Wang Fu's pale face, it was obvious he had suffered internal injuries.

Situ Jun took out a green, first-grade healing Medicinal Pill and handed it to him:

“Take this Medicinal Pill to heal your injuries first.”

Wang Fu didn't stand on ceremony, took it with a word of thanks, and swallowed the Medicinal Pill.

“Thank you for your help, Miss Qin!”

After swallowing the Medicinal Pill, Wang Fu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and thanked her.

Qin Ximeng gave a slight smile and said:

“There was such a huge commotion at your pavilion; even if I hadn't acted, the City Guard would have arrived soon. I was just curious as to who would dare to attack a shop belonging to the City Lord's Mansion in Northern Border City, so I came over to take a look.”

With Qin Ximeng's help, the situation was instantly reversed.

Seeing that things were going poorly, the black-clad men fled one after another. Situ Jun was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching.

“Not good, an expert is coming!”

Situ Jun's expression changed. He quickly pulled Wang Fu back and shouted to Qin Ximeng:

“Watch out!”

A black shadow appeared in the shop like a ghost. This person was completely shrouded in a black robe, their face invisible, and they emitted a heart-palpitating pressure of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

“Hand over all the Spirit Stones and treasures in the shop!”

The black-robed man said coldly, his voice deep and raspy, as if he were an emissary from Hell.

Situ Jun gripped his weapon tightly, his eyes full of vigilance.

He knew that the strength of the black-robed man before him far exceeded anyone else's except his own. This would be a difficult battle. He secretly gripped the sixth-grade spirit talisman Liu Xuaner had given him.

Qin Ximeng gripped her long sword tightly, retreated to Situ Jun's side, and said with a frosty face:

“I am the Deacon of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's shop in Northern Border City. Who are you?”

The man in black snorted coldly:

“The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce does have a presence in the Royal City, but a Deacon in a border city hasn't reached the point where I'd be afraid. If you don't want to die, stay out of the way!”

Hearing this, Qin Ximeng's willow-like eyebrows furrowed in anger:

“What arrogant talk! The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is not someone you can afford to offend!”

The black-clad man sneered and initiated the attack, a bolt of black spiritual energy shooting toward Situ Jun like lightning.

Situ Jun quickly dodged to the side and simultaneously unleashed a burst of spiritual energy to counterattack.

However, the black-robed man's strength was simply too great. Situ Jun's attacks, with his Cultivation suppressed, were like an ant trying to shake a tree, easily neutralized.

The battle grew more intense, and Situ Jun and the Guards gradually fell into a desperate situation.

At this critical moment, a dazzling light suddenly erupted from Qin Ximeng.

It turned out that in this moment of crisis, Qin Ximeng had activated a seventh-grade attack talisman.

A powerful aura spread out from Qin Ximeng. The black-robed man's expression changed slightly, and a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

A hint of surprise flashed in Situ Jun's eyes, and he quickly seized the opportunity to fully unleash the 'Yi Wood Heavenly Thunder Art' under his suppressed Cultivation. A brilliant light shot toward the black-robed man.

The black-robed man responded hastily. His whole body went numb, and he was actually forced back several steps by this strike.

But the black-robed man quickly steadied himself, only for Qin Ximeng's talisman attack to reach him. Unable to dodge in time, he took the hit full-on.

The black-robed man groaned, his figure retreating violently as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

He glared at Qin Ximeng and then turned to Situ Jun, saying:

“Consider yourself lucky. I'll take your life next time!”

After saying that, his figure paused, he flew onto the roof, and disappeared into the night in a few flashes.

Wang Fu and some Guards slumped on the ground in exhaustion, their bodies covered in wounds.

When the City Guards, who had arrived late, entered, they were immediately flustered.

At this moment, the interior of the 'Jubao Pavilion' was a mess, with various items scattered everywhere.

Fortunately, they were just ordinary items in the entrance hall. Otherwise, if so many things had been damaged at once, Situ Jun wouldn't have been able to bear the responsibility.

Situ Jun looked around and found that the Guards lying on the ground were only injured and no one had been killed, which put his mind at ease.

He thought to himself that it was fortunate the person was after him. Coupled with their wariness of the Northern City Mansion, they hadn't dealt lethal blows to the shop's Guards. Otherwise, if Guards had been killed just as he arrived at the shop, it would be very detrimental to his management of it.

Just then, the City Guards arrived.

Situ Jun called out to them:

“Take them to the backyard to tend to their wounds, and the rest of you help clean up the scene.”

The captain of this Guard squad knew Situ Jun and immediately bowed, arranging for his subordinates to carry out the orders.

He turned to look at Qin Ximeng, who stood outside like a white lotus, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

“I am the shop's new steward, Situ Jun. Thank you for your help, Miss Qin. I will repay this kindness another day!”

Qin Ximeng glanced at Situ Jun and said in a cold voice:

“No need, it was just a small effort. If your shop has any good items, you are welcome to bring them to 'Junyue Tower' for auction.”

Situ Jun was stunned, thinking, 'If my shop has good items, shouldn't I keep them to sell in my own shop to increase its popularity? Why would I go through the extra trouble of taking them to yours for auction?'

But Situ Jun still agreed with a smile:

“Of course, of course!”

Qin Ximeng nodded and said:

“Steward Situ, if there's nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

When she spoke, her voice was like a stream formed from melting snow, carrying a refreshing chill. The moment she turned, her skirt swept over the mess on the ground, somehow lending a touch of poetry to the dilapidated shop.

Situ Jun watched Qin Ximeng's departing back, his eyebrows arching slightly as he thought:

Quite a cold and aloof girl!

Until her figure disappeared around the street corner, the faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose had not dissipated—a mixture of orchids and clear lotus, elegant and long-lasting.

“Steward Situ?”

Wang Fu's voice woke Situ Jun from his daze.

Situ Jun came back to his senses, shook his head slightly, and organized his thoughts.

Meanwhile, inside the City Lord's Mansion, after Zhu Changpo learned that both groups had failed, he was so angry he smashed the teacup in his hand to pieces:

“Useless! A bunch of useless fools! They couldn't even injure a minor mansion steward!”

The killing intent in his eyes grew more intense. He felt more and more that Situ Jun could not be allowed to stay and must be eliminated.