After infiltrating the main characters' group, I became the most beautiful woman in the world.

"Lin Ci, you've killed someone."

Su Ning took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the bloodstains on the boy's eyebrows and eyelashes, her expression tender.

The snow-white-faced boy remained calm, letting the other wipe his cheeks, until Su Ning tried to touch his blood-stained hands, but he stopped her.

"Dirty." His voice was slightly hoarse.

But Su Ning showed her strong side for the first time, wiping his fingers clean bit by bit without saying a word, until the handkerchief was covered in bright red blood.

"You killed him for me, so how could I find you dirty?"

The girl looked up, and in her bright, star-like eyes, there was only him in her gaze.

Lin Ci wanted to hug her, but he wanted her to be alright even more. He was covered in blood and was not clean, and he couldn't let it stain A Ning.

Su Ning casually tossed the blood-stained handkerchief at the alley entrance, then tightly grasped his hand, their fingers intertwined, just as they had done when they first held hands.

"Let's leave here."

Unlike the first time, this time Lin Ci told her that he would protect her.

Now, she will lead him out of this dark alley.

The boy's hands finally relaxed, and he gripped the other's hand tightly, the warmth of his palm gently soothing him.

Only after they reached the light did Su Ning look at the other person with concern, "Your condition just now... was not good."

"Sorry, did I scare you?"

The young Taoist priest's eyes darkened, and the moonlight shining on him made him appear even more lonely.

"How could that be? It's just those people..." Su Ning was about to explain when she was interrupted.

"They deserve to die."

Su Ning was slightly taken aback, because the person in front of her still had that aloof appearance, only now she had a more dignified air about her.

The moonlight accentuated the sharpness of his profile, and his eyes, usually clear as a cold pool, were now filled with an unyielding darkness.

"Lin Ci..." Su Ning called him softly, but the next second, she stood on tiptoe, hugged the waist of the person in front of her, and buried her face in the other's soft Taoist robe.

"I'm happy you stood up for me, and I'm not scared, but... I'm worried about you."

"I'm worried you... will be punished by your sect."

Ultimately, those people were just drunk and didn't do anything to her. Lin Ci could have fought them off before taking her away.

But he didn't do that; he killed those people.

Most importantly, those people... did not deserve to die.

This matter will likely reach the ears of Master Xuanyang of Taihang Temple tomorrow. At that time, even though Lin Ci is a disciple of Taoism, he will probably be punished even more severely.

Because Xuan Yang Daoist has always valued his reputation the most, even if Lin Ci is the next abbot of Taihang Temple, he still will not be lenient.

Lin Ci clearly understood these principles, yet he was very happy, realizing what it felt like to be chosen.

He gently raised his hand, his soft fingertips slowly resting on the top of her head, while his other hand unhesitatingly pulled the girl tightly into his embrace.

"Don't be afraid... I'll be alright."

Even the coldest person has a tender side. If the disciples of Taihang Temple were to witness this scene, their jaws would probably drop to the ground.

Is this still their cold-hearted junior uncle?

Could their junior master really have uttered such a tender voice?

The two embraced under the moon until the sound of fireworks in the distance broke the rare tranquility.

Su Ning stepped out of the young Taoist's embrace.

Looking at the fireworks filling the sky, but with this incident, the Lingzhou Lantern Festival is over for tonight.

Having achieved her goal, she lost interest in continuing her shopping.

She said softly, "Let's go back."

But Lin Ci shook his head, took her hand, and led her to the Qidao Academy of Taihang Temple in Lingzhou.

Among the major sects in the martial arts world today, almost none of them do not have their own branches or offices elsewhere.

There are things done openly, and there are things done covertly.

Qidao Temple was an intelligence agency set up by Taihang Temple in the open.

Su Ning was led by him to a shop. Above the door hung an ebony plaque with the three large characters "Qidao Temple" carved in a clear and vigorous style, carrying a sense of cold solemnity unique to Taihang Temple.

The shop was small, but it was clean and tidy. On the shelves on the left and right sides were some ordinary Taoist scriptures, incense burners and peach wood swords.

The person in charge was also a young Taoist priest. When he saw Lin Ci leading someone in, he stammered and couldn't even finish his sentence, "Junior, Junior Uncle, what brings you here?"

It was unclear what kind of reputation Lin Ci had within the pass. He only glanced at the young Taoist priest, who was terrified.

"Take good care of this young lady, I'll be back in a bit."

Then Lin Ci whispered to Su Ning, "You stay here for a while, I have something to do outside."

He even gently tidied Su Ning's black hair, which had been ruffled by the night wind, and stared at the little Taoist priest beside him, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Is this really that amazing junior uncle?

Was it really not switched?

Su Ning naturally obeyed obediently, and then the other party took out the wooden box from his chest where he had just put the hairpin.

"For me?" Su Ning asked curiously.

"Um."

Lin Ci stopped Su Ning's fingers from opening the wooden box, and then hurriedly left amidst the amused gazes of one and the astonished gaze of the other.

Only after his junior master left did the young Taoist dare to steal a glance, but when he met Su Ning's gaze, he hurriedly lowered his head, clutching the hem of his robe with both hands: "Miss... this way please."

Su Ning followed him through a curtained door with a blue cloth hanging down. In front of her was an elegantly decorated side room, with freshly brewed hot tea on the table, still warm.

She sat down in the armchair by the window, her gaze falling on the old locust tree outside. The young Taoist even thoughtfully brought her some pastries.

Just as he turned to leave, Su Ning called out to him, "What's your name?"

The young Taoist priest was clearly surprised before replying, "My name is Qinghe, young lady."

"Qinghe..." she repeated the name, her tone flat, "Is your junior uncle usually very scary in the temple? Why are you stuttering?"

Qinghe's face flushed instantly, and after stammering for a long time, he finally managed to stammer, "My junior uncle... he's a young genius, and we rarely have any contact with him. We were quite surprised to see him today."

Qinghe's expression didn't look surprised at all; his eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.

Su Ning sent him away.

Then she opened the wooden box, inside which was a white magnolia hairpin. Su Ning played with the hairpin, wondering where Lin Ci was at this moment.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, why are you back again?"

Lin Ci stood in front of the alley where the murder had just taken place, which was now surrounded by disciples of the Heavenly Sword Hall of the Sword Forging Manor.

During the martial arts tournament, not only was the Sword Casting Manor heavily guarded, but Lingzhou City was also under heavy security.

The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Hall had already noticed Lin Ci when he drew his sword.

Although they knew the other party was trying to save someone, the disciples of Tianjian Hall never expected that Taihang Temple, which was known for its detachment from worldly affairs, would show such ruthlessness.

Especially this Daozi, who rarely appears in public.

"I've come to get something."

Lin Ci's expression was calm, and the Shao Gu sword on his back emanated a chilling sword aura under the moonlight.

The disciples of Tianjian Hall naturally dared not stop this treasure of Taihang Temple, and could only make way for him.

The bloodstains were still wet, but the body had already disappeared.

Lin Ci didn't pay much attention; the hem of his Taoist robe swept across the ground without picking up a speck of dust.

It wasn't until they found the handkerchief the girl had carelessly discarded that a slight ripple appeared in his usually calm eyes.

The things she casually discarded were his treasures.