The Scent-Stealing Enchantress

The Next Morning.

At dawn, Gu Yinjiao, the bald-headed Second Young Master, led his team out of the Seed Demon Holy Sect.

By noon, it was Gu Feiyan’s turn to depart with her team.

The team consisted of Qin Gou, now at the peak of the Weapon Refining Realm; Liu Ying, a mid-stage Hidden Artifact Realm female disciple; Hu Le and Hu Yin, two late-stage Hidden Artifact Realm brothers; Jue Ya, who had recently broken through to the early Hidden Artifact Realm; and, of course, Gu Feiyan herself.

“The route the Sect Master assigned us is probably the most dangerous of the three teams,” Qin Gou remarked.

Gu Feiyan nodded in agreement. “Dangerous, yes, but also full of opportunities. I’m quite satisfied with Father’s decision.”

“Senior Sister Gu, we’re ready to leave, but Junior Brother Jue Ya hasn’t arrived yet,” Liu Ying reminded.

Gu Feiyan glanced at the blazing midday sun, her brows furrowing slightly. “The appointed time has long passed. We won’t wait for him. Let’s go. That fool Jue Ya is only at the early Hidden Artifact Realm; he wouldn’t be much help anyway.”

Hearing this, Qin Gou awkwardly scratched his nose. Why does she have to insult two people at once?

***

Meanwhile, in Baiyang City.

Jue Ya stood before Gu Xunhe, bowing obsequiously. His face twisted into a sinister smile as he said, “Young Master, everything has been arranged. I’ve set up numerous traps along Third Miss’s route.”

A smug grin spread across Gu Xunhe’s handsome face. “Good work. Turning to my side was the right choice. My dear sister thinks she can compete with me? How naive.”

“Rest assured, Young Master. I guarantee that even if Third Miss doesn’t fail completely, her journey will be anything but smooth,” Jue Ya said, his tone filled with deference.

“From now on, you’re officially part of my team. The rewards along the way will be yours for the taking,” Gu Xunhe said, nodding in approval.

Jue Ya’s expression turned vicious. “Thank you, Young Master. I don’t care about the rewards. All I ask is that, once this is over, you hand Qin Gou over to me. I want to deal with him personally.”

“Hahaha,” Gu Xunhe laughed, clapping his hands. “You and I think alike. How about this? Once it’s over, I’ll personally use the Soul-Splitting Technique to divide Qin Gou into two. We’ll each take a half and let him experience unimaginable pain.”

“Brilliant, Young Master!” Jue Ya exclaimed, seizing the opportunity to flatter him.

***

Later That Afternoon.

Standing proudly, Gu Xunhe addressed an elder. “Elder Lei, the time has come. May we proceed?”

Elder Lei stroked his beard with a smile. “Indeed, the appointed time has arrived. You may depart, Young Master.”

Gu Xunhe’s team left Baiyang City, traveling along the official road. The initial stretch was perfectly safe, though it offered little in the way of opportunities for growth or training.

Being a cautious man, Gu Xunhe used his flying artifact to travel quickly along the safe road. Once they veered off the main path, he switched to a luxurious palanquin for a more discreet journey.

However, the person riding in the opulent palanquin wasn’t Gu Xunhe himself—it was Jue Ya.

***

A Sudden Interruption.

“Who dares block our path? Move aside at once!” one of Gu Xunhe’s subordinates shouted.

Ahead of them stood a slender, graceful figure. As the figure stepped closer, the team saw that it was a short-haired woman dressed in snow-white robes. Her skin was flawless, her demeanor elegant, and her beauty breathtaking.

“I’ve been following you for a while. If I’m not mistaken, you’re from the Seed Demon Holy Sect,” the woman said with a smile as radiant as peach blossoms. “I have a few questions for you.”

“And who might you be? What’s your purpose in stopping us?” the subordinate demanded loudly.

The woman cast him a disinterested glance. With a flick of her delicate, jade-like fingers, the man was sent flying off his spirit beast, crashing through several trees before landing in a twisted heap, his life or death uncertain.

“Roar!”

The spirit beasts panicked, letting out terrified cries.

“How dare you!”

“You’ve got some nerve!”

Gu Xunhe and his team roared in fury, their killing intent palpable.

The woman remained calm, her smile unchanging. “I am Qiu Qianyue, a chivalrous heroine known for my hatred of evil and my sense of justice. Naturally, I have no patience for people like you, who belong to a demonic sect. So listen carefully: I’ll be asking the questions here. You don’t get to ask me anything.”

“You wretched woman!” Gu Xunhe bellowed. Behind him, golden light flared as his wings unfurled. A storm of golden feathers, sharp as swords, shot toward Qiu Qianyue.

The rest of his team joined in, unleashing their strongest techniques against her.

Despite the barrage of attacks, Qiu Qianyue remained unfazed.

“I said I’m a heroine, not a wretched woman. Do you people even listen?” she said lightly.

With a casual wave of her hand, as if swatting away flies, a deafening explosion echoed through the air.

The golden feathers disintegrated into dust, scattering in the wind. Gu Xunhe coughed up blood, his body wracked with injuries.

With a flick of her wrist, Qiu Qianyue suspended Gu Xunhe in midair, his limbs spread wide as if pinned by an invisible force.

The power gap was insurmountable.

“And as for the one hiding in the palanquin, stop pretending to be dead. Come out and join the fun,” Qiu Qianyue said with a faint smile. She snapped her fingers, and the luxurious palanquin shattered.

Jue Ya, who had been hiding inside and preparing a sneak attack with his spiritual tool, the paper kite, was yanked into the air by an invisible hand gripping his throat. His face turned blue as he struggled futilely.

“Now, can we have a civilized conversation?” Qiu Qianyue asked, her lake-like eyes sparkling as she smiled.

“Qiu Qianyue…”

“Spare me…”

Jue Ya’s voice was hoarse, blood trickling from his lips as he choked out, “I know who you are… You’re the top-ranked on the Crimson List of the Absolute Kill Rankings, wanted by both the Sword Inquiry Sect and the Eternal Night Holy Land… the Scent-Stealing Enchantress! Please, have mercy!”

“I hate that name. If my master knew, he’d be heartbroken.”

For the first time, Qiu Qianyue’s expression darkened, her voice losing its earlier calm and taking on a hint of madness.

Crack.

With a sickening snap, the invisible hand crushed Jue Ya’s neck, dropping his lifeless body to the ground.

“If you don’t know what to call me, just call me a heroine,” Qiu Qianyue said, her tone light once more.