Chapter 1095: Chapter 1095: So It Was Him
"Hand over the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron now, or I’ll kill you this instant," the black-clad figure threatened harshly, holding his longsword.
Qin Sisi could sense the urgency in the black-clad figure’s demeanor. He seemed particularly intent on obtaining the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron. Yet, even if she handed it over, there was no guarantee she’d survive. To surrender or not to surrender—that was the question.
Her mind raced rapidly. At this moment, the only option was to feign cooperation and buy time, hoping she could endure until the effects of the poison wore off. Once she regained her ability to summon magic, there would be nothing to fear.
This black-clad figure was likely not her match; otherwise, he wouldn’t have resorted to using poison against her.
"Brother, the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron is incredibly important to me. Could I persuade you to leave it with me? I’ll give you all the Spirit Stones I have," Qin Sisi suggested, hoping the lure of wealth might sway him.
"Stop wasting time. I don’t want Spirit Stones; I want the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron," he rejected her offer without hesitation, his ambition for the cauldron unmistakable.
"I also have some Level Four pills and Magic Crystal Stones—they’re priceless treasures. I’d be willing to give them all to you," she said, reluctantly revealing the wealth hidden in her storage ring.
This time, a flicker of hesitation surfaced in the black-clad figure’s eyes. After a brief pause, he said, "Take them out and let me see."
If Qin Sisi truly possessed such valuable items, he planned to take them all anyway; no witnesses could be left alive. Tonight’s matter must remain undisclosed.
Noticing his softening stance, Qin Sisi breathed a small sigh of relief and began slowly fumbling to remove items from her storage ring.
"Hurry up!" the black-clad figure urged impatiently.
Qin Sisi whispered, "Brother, I’m weakened by your poison—I can hardly move. I truly can’t go any faster."
This was not entirely a lie. He knew full well the potency of his poison, and further hounding her would yield no results.
Thus, Qin Sisi took her time extracting pills, Magic Crystal Stones, Spirit Stones, and other items from her storage ring, painstakingly placing them before the black-clad figure.
His eyes gleamed brightly, ecstatic at the unexpected bounty. Besides the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron, he hadn’t anticipated securing so many treasures tonight—this mission had certainly paid off. Immediately, he knelt down and swiftly swept the valuable items into his own storage ring.
Watching his actions, Qin Sisi’s heart bled with anguish. The Magic Crystal Stones had been obtained through arduous battles with Demonic Beasts. The Spirit Stones were earnings from selling forging items—a painstaking process only she could truly understand. These treasures, each painstakingly acquired, were now so easily stolen.
The pills, though, had not cost her any effort—Ye You had given them to her. Yet they were Ye You’s hard-won creations, imbued with his sincere intentions. She willingly parted with none of it.
Still, the dire circumstances left her no choice but to sacrifice wealth to avert disaster.
At the moment the black-clad figure finished seizing Qin Sisi’s treasures, she felt a spark of hope—her magic seemed to be gradually returning. With the Wings of Rainbow, escape might just be possible.
The figure’s greed knew no bounds. After taking the pills, Magic Crystal Stones, and other treasures, he stood and stared down at Qin Sisi, speaking coldly: "Hand over the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron. Surrender it now, and I’ll let you go."
"Is that true?" Qin Sisi’s face lit up with feigned joy as she discreetly began summoning her gradually recovering magic.
The black-clad figure nodded slightly. "I promise."
"Alright." Qin Sisi responded firmly, retrieving a forging cauldron from her storage ring. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled it far away.
The figure’s expression shifted instantly. He rushed toward the direction of the forging cauldron.
Taking the chance, Qin Sisi summoned the Wings of Rainbow and flew off in the opposite direction.
In no time, the black-clad figure caught up to the forging cauldron. He picked it up, only to discover it was an ordinary forging cauldron—not the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron.
"Outrageous!" he cursed furiously, throwing the forging cauldron to the ground. He turned back, only to see Qin Sisi had already fled nearly a hundred meters away.
"Damn it!" he shouted, sprinting after her. However, he had yet to master the ability to manifest wings.
How could feet outrun wings? Though Qin Sisi’s magical capabilities were barely restored, the Wings of Rainbow—a powerful Ancient Divine Artifact—far surpassed mere footwork.
The distance between them widened rapidly. Just as Qin Sisi thought she had escaped disaster and the black-clad figure fumed at his loss, a swift shadow suddenly descended from above. With a double-handed motion, it unleashed a massive gust of wind, sweeping Qin Sisi backward.
Her limited magic power allowed her to barely control the Wings of Rainbow, but her combat ability was non-existent. She had no defense against the oncoming whirlwind. Her body halted in midair before being hurled dozens of meters back, crashing heavily into the ground. Pain blurred her senses as she teetered between consciousness and faintness.
The initial black-clad figure caught up, only to see Qin Sisi collapsed on the ground. He turned to observe the attacker—a second black-clad figure, similarly shrouded with only piercing eyes visible. The newcomer’s build was noticeably burlier.
Scanning the figure with Divine Sense, the first man noticed a red aura emanating from him. He realized instantly—the other’s Magic Level was that of a Magic Spirit, far beyond his ability to contend with.
"Kid, you’ve gained enough from this already. I’ll be taking this person," the newcomer proclaimed bluntly.
He had been observing from the shadows. Witnessing the first figure’s failures at coercion and eventual chase of Qin Sisi, he had already regarded the initial pursuer as a fool.
The first black-clad figure seethed with frustration; he had come for the Jiu Hua Divine Cauldron. Losing it at the brink of acquisition fueled his resentment.
"I still want something from her," the first figure summoned the courage to protest.
Smirking coldly, a low voice emanated from the second figure: "Kid, don’t overstep your bounds. Out of courtesy for your affiliation with the Forging Guild, I’ll overlook this. But don’t push your luck—leave now."
Shocked, the first figure stammered: "You... How do you know?"
In his attempt to conceal his identity, he had deliberately altered his voice. Yet his alarm caused his real voice to break through.
Still half-sprawled on the ground, Qin Sisi feigned unconsciousness, though her weakened state and searing pain kept her immobile. Her mind, however, was alert.
The mention of "Forging Guild" struck her ears like thunder—of course! Who else knew the guild’s secrets so well and could move freely within it?
Then, a voice—a certain voice—echoed close by. It carried a hint of unfamiliarity yet felt oddly familiar. She must have heard it recently.
Qin Sisi shut her eyes tightly, forcing herself to concentrate. Suddenly, a name burst forth from her mind.
It’s him?!
