Not long after, the room where Old Lady Chen was staying became engulfed in flames.
Qin Wang, carrying his bundle, hunted down the remaining members of the Chen family throughout their residence and even searched their ancestral hall.
In less than a quarter of an hour, all the maids and servants fled the Chen residence, which became a blood-soaked death trap.
"The intelligence said the Chen family had obtained a Ling Guang Shield Talisman bestowed by a celestial sect elder. Why haven't I seen it?" Qin Wang stood in the ancestral hall, frowning at the ancestral tablets.
The Ling Guang Shield Talisman was a valuable item from a celestial sect. If he could get his hands on it, it would be extremely beneficial.
He didn't find the talisman on the old witch, nor was it in the ancestral hall. Qin Wang suspected that such a valuable item must have been carried by Chen Kun himself.
Without dwelling on it further, he set the ancestral hall on fire and left.
Soon, Qin Wang appeared ten feet away from the Chen Noodle Shop. He saw his sister Qin Xuemei, along with Xiao Zi, Xiao Lan, and Xiao Qing, still huddled in a corner, whispering about their future.
He didn't approach them directly. Instead, he tidied his bundle, removed his black clothes, and hid them in the bundle, revealing a yellowish face. He then sat in a dark corner, waiting for daylight.
"With the Chen family destroyed and my sister saved, we must leave Yanyun County now," Qin Wang thought, repeatedly reviewing his plan and deciding his next steps.
Although he had wiped out the Chen family, Chen Kun, who was of first-rate martial skill, and Chen Yi, who had joined a celestial sect, were still out there. Although Chen Kun might not trace the incident back to him, Qin Wang didn't want to take any chances.
He knew that one misstep could lead to death. He planned to take his sister to Jinzhou. Not only would it be a safe haven, but it also had Yingchoujian, where the relics of Qingyao Shangren were rumored to be. According to the information he had, these relics included a cultivation manual.
With his sister now safe, his primary goal was to increase his strength as much as possible. Only with sufficient strength could he face any threats and ensure the safety of himself and his sister.
The fire at the Chen residence lit up the night sky, attracting many townspeople who came to see what was happening. Seeing the maids and servants fleeing, they began to gossip.
As time passed, around five in the morning, vendors began to appear on the streets, selling vegetables and other goods.
Qin Wang noticed a slender man in blue clothes and an apron opening the noodle shop. The man started the stove and began making dough. When he saw the four girls huddled at the door, he kindly let them warm up by the stove.
"Seems like a kind person," Qin Wang thought, approvingly.
As dawn broke, more and more townspeople gathered outside the Chen residence, pointing and discussing what had happened.
Qin Wang kept an eye on his sister, and at around six-thirty, he saw the four girls eating a bowl of noodles each before parting ways.
Qin Xuemei headed towards the north gate, and Qin Wang, tightening his grip on his bundle, followed her. After turning onto another street, he caught up and called out, "Sister!"
Qin Xuemei trembled at the familiar voice. She turned around with puzzled eyes but saw only a yellow-faced stranger. Had she misheard?
"Sister, you didn't mishear. I am your brother, Qin Wang. I'm in disguise now."
"Look at this scar from when I fell as a child. And you entered the Chen family for 600 coins to save me. You have a birthmark on your right arm that appears as two leaves during a full moon."
Qin Wang approached and spoke softly. He rolled up his sleeve to show the crescent-shaped scar on his arm.
"Are you really Wang'er?!" Qin Xuemei's eyes widened with joy as she scrutinized him.
The scar was from a fall when he was young, and she remembered it clearly because she had blamed herself for not taking good care of him.
Furthermore, only her brother would know about the birthmark that appeared on her arm during a full moon.
However, Qin Xuemei still had doubts. The young man before her was much stronger than the skinny Wang'er she remembered.
"Sister, come with me," Qin Wang urged her to follow him to a secluded spot. He then wiped off the yellow paste on his face, revealing his true appearance.
Qin Xuemei hesitated but followed half a step behind. When Qin Wang turned around, she immediately recognized her brother, embraced him tightly, and cried, "Wang'er, it's really you! How did you find me in the city?"
The boy before her was slightly stronger but unmistakably her brother.
"Sister, it's too crowded here. Let's talk back at my place."
"Okay."
Qin Xuemei followed Qin Wang with quick steps. They weaved through several streets to reach his rented house.
"Brother!"
As soon as they were home, Qin Xuemei gently caressed his face, tears streaming down as she held him tightly, her shoulders shaking.
After a while, Qin Xuemei, her eyes filled with curiosity, asked, "Wang'er, tell me, when did you come to the city? How did you find me?"
Qin Wang recounted the recent events, focusing on the key points. He replaced his daily information gathering with the tale of meeting a mysterious senior who taught him martial arts, enabling him to rescue her.
"Sister, you sold yourself for 600 coins to save me. How could I live with myself if I let you be sacrificed to the river god?"
Qin Wang spoke earnestly.
"Wang'er, what are your plans now?" Qin Xuemei asked, her eyes complex.
"Chen Kun is hunting Su Dingfeng. He'll return in a few days. Though I was masked and left no witnesses, I can't take any chances. Chen Kun's martial skills are formidable, and his son Chen Yi has joined a celestial sect. I'm taking you to Jinzhou to start anew. How does that sound?"
Qin Wang planned to go to Jinzhou, settle his sister, and then seek the cultivation manual in Yingchoujian.
"Alright," Qin Xuemei agreed, trusting his judgment.