Chapter 28: There is still a difference

Stunned for a moment, Luo Ning replied with a hint of terror, "What are you trying to do? My life is, of course, priceless. If you dare kill me, my Luoshui Jade Emporium will not let you off!"

She was truly frightened. Had her behavior offended this incomprehensible and terrifying man?

But Sikong Jing merely shrugged. Without a word, he turned around and walked over to the table in the room to sit down.

Luo Ning opened her mouth, unable to understand what Sikong Jing was planning to do.

*Bang!*

Suddenly, the door to the room was kicked open. A woman dressed in purple-blue clothing strode in. She was tall but carried an air of arrogance. After scanning the room, she said, "Luo Ning, you're dead tonight."

Luo Ning's expression changed drastically, and a scream escaped her lips: "Lei Shuang!"

In the next instant, Sikong Jing's voice rang out from behind Luo Ning.

"Since your life is priceless, I shall save it tonight. Consider it payment for the emerald jade hairpin."

Sikong Jing, of course, did not want Luo Ning's life. They had no grievance; he was no murderer.

It was just that since she insisted on not selling, he had no choice but to change his approach.

Just as he was preparing to leave, he had noticed a large number of martial artists surrounding Luo Ning's room, likely the Lei Ying Trading Company she had mentioned. That was why Sikong Jing had acted.

In front of him, Luo Ning's entire body trembled slightly upon hearing Sikong Jing's words.

On the opposite side, Lei Shuang naturally did not notice Sikong Jing. She sneered repeatedly, "Luo Ning, you little slut. I thought you would rush back to Yunzhou City overnight, and I was even prepared to intercept you halfway."

"I didn't expect you to hide in an inn. You've made me run so hard."

"Tell me, how should I punish you?"

Lei Shuang's sinister laughter rang out as she narrowed her eyes at Luo Ning, looking as if she had her completely cornered.

Clenching her fists, Luo Ning stared death at Lei Shuang and said, "Is your Lei Ying Trading Company going too far? Just because I took your business in Yunye City, you come to kill me? Are you merchants or bandits?"

"Haha..."

Hearing this, Lei Shuang burst into laughter. "I *am* a bandit. Taking my business comes with a price."

This time, Luo Ning had come to Yunye City for business. Her family owned the Luoshui Jade Emporium in Yunzhou City, and the Lei Ying Trading Company also dealt in jade; the two were competitors.

In the past, it had always been a matter of commercial tactics and competition.

But ever since Lei Shuang took over part of the Lei Ying Trading Company's business, she had become willful, unreasonable, and domineering.

After Luo Ning had taken her business in Yunye City this time, Lei Shuang had sent assassins, causing Luo Ning to be injured and forced to flee Yunye City overnight. She hadn't expected that Lei Shuang had been prepared all along, determined to see her dead.

Seeing that Luo Ning remained silent, Lei Shuang sneered again, "I know you are at the sixth level of the Dark Realm and quite formidable, so I specifically brought two hundred horse bandits this time. I'm not afraid of failing to kill you."

"If you must blame someone, blame your own arrogance for not even bringing a guard... hmm, there actually is a guard."

At this point, Lei Shuang finally noticed Sikong Jing's presence.

According to her investigation, Luo Ning had only brought a small maid with her to Yunye City. Where did this guard come from?

Lei Shuang's eyes were filled with vigilance.

At that moment, a fierce, bearded man beside Lei Shuang laughed loudly, "Lady Lei Shuang, what kind of guard is that? He's only at the sixth level of the Bright Realm. At most, he's just a servant. Don't pay him any mind."

The bearded man was exactly the third-level Dark Realm expert Lei Shuang had hired; he had seen through Sikong Jing's cultivation level at a glance.

Hearing this, the vigilance on Lei Shuang's face vanished instantly. She laughed shrilly, "So he's just a servant. No wonder I didn't find him. Then ignore him... Go! Kill Luo Ning!"

*Boom!*

Without a word, the bearded man led his men to charge at Luo Ning.

There was a significant gap between the third and sixth levels of the Dark Realm, so the bearded man did not dare face her alone. However, he had two hundred subordinates behind him, most of whom were at the eighth or ninth levels of the Bright Realm.

There were also over a dozen who had reached the Dark Realm, so they were not afraid of killing a solitary Luo Ning.

Watching the bearded man and his men charging toward her, Luo Ning's expression turned extremely grim.

Against such enemies, even if she weren't injured, she wouldn't be able to win. Was she truly going to die here tonight?

"Luo Ning, right? Are you selling the emerald jade hairpin?" Sikong Jing's voice rang out once more.

Luo Ning's lip twitched slightly. The man's attitude behind her—as if he had already won—was incredibly irritating. She really didn't want to sell.

"Actually, it doesn't matter if you don't sell. If you die, the item will naturally be mine."

Sikong Jing maintained his cold and indifferent demeanor.

The territory of the Great Shang Empire was vast and boundless, filled with conflict everywhere. Without a reason, he would not meddle in such trivial matters.

But now, he had Su Yuexi to look after; he was no longer alone.

"Servant, what are you babbling about? I'll kill you first!"

Just then, the battle began. The bearded man and his men surrounded Luo Ning, while one thug charged straight toward Sikong Jing.

In this thug's eyes, a mere sixth-level Bright Realm practitioner like Sikong Jing was a weakling.

*Pfft...*

But he was wrong—dead wrong.

Without even looking, Sikong Jing delivered a hand-chop that pierced through the thug's heart, then asked Luo Ning, "Selling?"

By now, Luo Ning was overwhelmed by the onslaught. She could only grit her teeth and say, "I'll sell!"

"Then step back. Leave it to me."

Hearing this, Sikong Jing stood up and slowly withdrew his hand from the thug's heart, speaking calmly.

At the same time, Luo Ning fought hard to break free from the encirclement and retreated behind him.

"Eh? Luo Ning, you little slut, didn't you claim to treat your servants like family?" Seeing this, Lei Shuang let out a mocking sound. "Now you're actually hiding behind a servant. You are truly cheap and hypocritical."

The bearded man also laughed loudly, "Poor servant, being betrayed by your master will result in you being torn to pieces by me!"

Looking at the approaching bearded man, Luo Ning asked worriedly, "With so many people, are you sure you can do this?"

Sikong Jing was only at the sixth level of the Bright Realm. If she hadn't just personally experienced his strength, Luo Ning wouldn't have believed he could win.

Even now, she still felt it was somewhat unreliable.

"There are indeed quite a few people. I am sure I can kill them all, but it might be a bit of a waste of time," Sikong Jing replied softly. Then, the corners of his mouth curled slightly. "But it doesn't matter. I can force a breakthrough."

*Boom...*

As his voice fell, Sikong Jing's true qi surged wildly, and he instantly surged from the sixth level to the seventh level of the Bright Realm.

Simultaneously, a murderous intent erupted.

"You actually broke through? But servant, there's no difference between the sixth and seventh levels of the Bright Realm to me, right?" The bearded man gave a playful laugh, then spread his arms, intending to tear Sikong Jing in half.

*Bang!*

In the next instant, the bearded man felt his vision blur. Sikong Jing's body vanished, followed by a heavy impact.

With a *waah* sound, the bearded man felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer, and he was sent flying.

Sikong Jing landed quietly and replied, "There is a difference. If I were at the sixth level, it would take three punches to kill you. At the seventh level, two will suffice. Therefore... you are dead!"

As he finished speaking, he lunged forward again, his fist striking the man square in the face!

A flash of blood erupted. The bearded man felt the world spinning before he plunged into total darkness.

(End of Chapter)