Chapter 27: The Unexpected Visitor

But every time Ning Qingqing came, nothing good ever happened. Right now, she was already annoyed; seeing Ning Qingqing only reminded her of being pushed into the water, so her tone was not pleasant: "What do you want?"

Ning Qingqing sneered coldly at her.

"If there’s nothing, I’ll just rest," Xie Yingying said with a slight frown.

"Rest? You want to get a good night’s sleep too?" Ning Qingqing’s expression suddenly turned vicious.

She herself was in so much pain that rest was out of the question. Every step she took to come to Xie Yingying felt like reopening her wounds.

Xie Yingying found her inexplicable. Not only did she barge in uninvited, but she also made it sound as if her sleeplessness was somehow Xie Yingying’s fault.

Ning Qingqing’s cold laughter was full of anger and resentment. "You’re enjoying yourself here, oblivious to how badly you’ve hurt others."

Xie Yingying frowned at that, her face full of confusion. "Whom have I hurt? And how?"

"You—" Ning Qingqing was about to retort, but then caught sight of the golden bell on Xie Yingying’s ankle. Her anger swelled. "He gave this to you?!"

Xie Yingying glanced down at the golden bell. "Yes," she replied.

Before she had even finished, Ning Qingqing strode forward and snatched the bell away. In the process, her sharp nails left a scratch on Xie Yingying’s ankle—whether intentional or not was unclear.

Xie Yingying inhaled sharply, looking at her ankle where the skin had split but no blood appeared.

She was a bit puzzled by Ning Qingqing taking the bell, but after a moment, she felt delighted. It seemed the golden bell wasn’t some indiscriminate killing tool after all.

And truly, Xie Yingying had no intention of resisting Ning Qingqing’s theft of the bell. In fact, she hoped she would take it as quickly as possible!

"This belongs to me now." Ning Qingqing held the bell’s cord and gave it a gentle shake. The clear, crisp sound cheered her mood.

Her words pleased Xie Yingying even more. Afraid Ning Qingqing might suddenly change her mind, she quickly said, "If you want it, take it."

Then, recalling the wound on her wrist that was still oozing blood, she added, "By the way, it’s already acknowledged me as its master."

Ning Qingqing, hearing this, thought Xie Yingying was flaunting and snorted disdainfully at her, glancing at the bell. "So, your demonic sect is useless—you can’t even transfer the ownership of a magic item."

Xie Yingying’s eyes lit up. "You have a way?"

Ning Qingqing ignored her as if she were invisible. Examining the bell closely, she then sliced her fingertip with a fingernail. Blood welled up, and she smeared it on the bell, pouring her spiritual power into it, gently sending a thread of consciousness inside, attempting to erase Xie Yingying’s mark and make the artifact her own.

Her spirit was just about to slip inside when Bai Shengyun smiled faintly.

Just one more step, and suddenly her spirit was blocked, unable to go any further.

She frowned, pouring even more spiritual power in, her consciousness forceful, trying to forcibly invade.

Clang—the bell suddenly moved and chimed.

Ning Qingqing’s spirit was instantly repelled, her energy recoiling violently, leaving her unsettled and her meridians unstable.

A metallic taste rose in her throat, something she forcibly swallowed back down as her stomach churned.

She instinctively looked at Xie Yingying, who was calmly sipping tea, apparently unaware, and was secretly relieved she hadn’t embarrassed herself in front of her rival.

Xie Yingying, connected to the bell’s spirit, naturally sensed Ning Qingqing’s failed attempt. She felt helpless and troubled, letting out a sigh.

Hearing her sigh, Ning Qingqing assumed she was being looked down upon and clenched her fists, nails digging deep into her palms.

There was another way to transfer ownership: forcefully shattering the artifact’s spiritual mark. Though it might harm the artifact, hurting Xie Yingying in the process would be worth it!

With that in mind, Ning Qingqing struck at the bell. It merely shook, silent, its spiritual energy dissipating harmlessly.

She tried again, increasing her power, but still, the bell only trembled, its soul within well protected.

Infuriated, Ning Qingqing unleashed her full strength in a final blow.

A sudden surge of violent energy filled the room. Xie Yingying couldn’t keep her eyes open against the blast, and the teacup in her hand was blown to the floor, shattering with a clear ring that summoned a shadow guard to the window, frowning in concern.

This time, the bell shook wildly and its ringing became frenzied, sharp and incessant.

The piercing sound stabbed through the mind, making ears buzz. The maid outside, hearing it, collapsed in a faint before she could enter.

Xie Yingying covered her ears tightly, and as the shadow guard prepared to intervene, the bell abruptly gave a single, thunderous chime—no longer clear and bright, but deep as a temple gong, solemn and majestic.

Ning Qingqing’s own spiritual power rebounded even more fiercely, tearing back through her channels. Already wounded, her chest endured another few broken ribs, the crackling sounds loud in her ears.

She doubled over in pain, clutching her chest, her eyes flashing hatred at Xie Yingying. Overwhelmed by anger and injury, she could no longer hold back and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

After a few weak coughs, she gritted her teeth.

Xie Yingying, remembering Ning Qingqing’s earlier words and her formidable cultivation, realized few on Gufeng Mountain could hurt her without reason.

She stared in shock, asking, "Was it Bai Shengyun who did this to you?"

Ning Qingqing’s face darkened, but she said nothing.

At a glance, Xie Yingying understood, blinking in disbelief.

She had never imagined Bai Shengyun could be so ruthless, even to his first wife.

Otherwise, how could Ning Qingqing fail to withstand a single blow from the golden bell?

Xie Yingying shuddered, her resolve to leave Bai Shengyun only deepening.

Let anyone who wished to stay with such a cruel man do so!

Seeing the blood Ning Qingqing spat out, Xie Yingying couldn’t help but pity her. "Are you all right? Do you need medicine?"

Ning Qingqing, incensed by her pity, spat, "A weasel wishing the hen a happy New Year."

Xie Yingying was speechless. She was sincerely concerned but was taken as insincere.

After losing face and temper, Ning Qingqing turned on her heel and strode away, unwilling to linger a moment longer.