Precisely three minutes later, the small door beside the main hall opened. The middle-aged man known as Uncle Bai walked in. His gaze swept the room, his expression unchanging upon seeing the floor littered with corpses.

That expression finally faltered when he saw the Second Miss Qin, collapsed on the ground, her tattered garments revealing back and shoulders crisscrossed with lash marks, sobbing uncontrollably. His face, usually as unchanging as eternal ice and snow, shifted, and he gasped out, "Xiao Yue..."

Hearing the familiar voice, Second Miss Qin’s cries abruptly stopped. She looked up in disbelief, and seeing Uncle Bai, she reacted as if seeing her closest kin, shouting hoarsely, "Uncle Bai, please... save me..." Her voice was laden with immeasurable sorrow and terror.

She seemed to try and rise, but then a sudden realization made her face turn deathly pale. Perhaps Zhong Yun had intentionally held back, for her exquisitely beautiful face bore not a single lash mark. This only served to accentuate the shocking wounds covering the rest of her body. The sight was utterly devastating.

Uncle Bai’s heart, usually as still as an ancient well, felt pierced as if by a sharp awl, an infinite wave of pain surging through him. This was accompanied by an uncontrollable, surging killing intent.

He looked at Zhong Yun, his eyes radiating a bone-deep chill. Even without emitting a trace of Yuan energy, the temperature in the room plummeted several degrees instantly.

“You deserve to die,” the three words were squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a chilling murderous intent that made one’s blood run cold.

Zhong Yun shook his head with a hint of regret. “I originally had no intention of making an enemy of your Qin family. What a pity…”

“Regret now, and it is too late,” Uncle Bai’s face hardened sharply.

“Is that so?” A mocking smile curved Zhong Yun’s lips. With a flick of his wrist, a Plasma Vibration Blade appeared. He swung it backward with a "whumph," and a blade of ethereal blue light shot out, tracing a hazy path through the transparent air.

With two distinct thwacks, the sound of heavy objects hitting the floor echoed, yet there was nothing visible on the ground.

Uncle Bai’s eyes narrowed momentarily.

Zhong Yun casually executed a short flourish with the blade. He clicked his tongue. “Invisibility? It won’t fool my eyes.”

It turned out that warriors clad in cloaking gear had been approaching, intending to rescue the Miss while Zhong Yun was preoccupied speaking with Qin Lianbai. Unexpectedly, Zhong Yun had detected them. They had been sliced cleanly in half at the waist.

Had it not been for the need to keep Zhong Yun off guard, Qin Lianbai would never have wasted so many words on him; he would have acted himself long ago, provided this room wasn't a 'Restricted Space.'

“You should tell your men to stop. Don't let them make any more futile sacrifices. I told you, I don't want to be enemies with your Qin family,” Zhong Yun stated quietly.

Qin Lianbai’s expression flickered through several changes. While he desperately wished to flay Zhong Yun alive, circumstances dictated his actions, and Xiao Yue was his leverage. Moving against Zhong Yun now would inevitably endanger her. Ultimately, he understood prioritization and quickly made his decision: “Your terms.”

Zhong Yun held up a single finger. “Ten thousand Origin Stones, paid immediately.”

Qin Lianbai gave him a deep look, as if trying to burn Zhong Yun into his very soul. “I agree. But you must release her first.”

Zhong Yun looked back with a half-smile. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but don't you think that approach lacks sincerity?”

Qin Lianbai merely snorted, saying nothing.

“Within ten minutes, if I see the goods, I’ll let her go.” Zhong Yun finished and closed his eyes once more.

Seeing his casual demeanor, Qin Lianbai nearly gave the order for the invisible warriors nearby to attack, but he managed to restrain himself. Everything depended on Xiao Yue's safety.

Ten thousand Origin Stones amounted to one billion Interstellar Credits. For an ordinary person, it was an astronomical sum. But for the Qin family, it was negligible. To secure the return of the Second Miss Qin, it was worth every penny.

There was an old saying: problems that can be solved with money are not problems at all. The fact that Qin Lianbai was entrusted with the critical mission of exploring the "Golden Ruins" indicated he was not a man swayed by emotion. In truth, though arrogant, he was quite pragmatic, possessing the breadth of mind and skill required of a superior. Otherwise, he would have been relegated to a mere enforcer.

When Zhong Yun realized the Second Miss Qin was merely an ordinary young lady of status, he correctly deduced that Qin Lianbai was the person in charge of the entire exploration mission. Given the limited talent displayed by the Second Miss Qin, unless the high command of the Qin family had been kicked senseless by a donkey, they would never select her as the commander.

In a peculiar location like a 'Restricted Space,' holding the Second Miss Qin hostage gave him a seventy percent certainty of annihilating any Qin family members sent for rescue—provided the Second Miss Qin was important enough to warrant a desperate rescue attempt.

The moment he realized someone of higher standing was present, Zhong Yun knew his plan was flawed. No intelligent leader would send people in to die when rescue was impossible.

For great clans, anyone could be sacrificed for the benefit of the family. Zhong Yun had learned this lesson bitterly when he was wanted by the Angean Empire. Back then, the Yang family had relied on him so heavily, yet they turned on him instantly, even knowing his bond with Liu Yunqi was one of life and death. They immediately sent people to detain his parents, showing utter disregard for past affection and Liu Yunqi's feelings.

If the Yang family behaved that way, the Qin family would surely be no different.

The inevitable outcome would be: The Second Miss Qin, at any cost, would be tasked with ensuring Zhong Yun was killed right here. This environment, so advantageous to him, would transform into his grave.

Realizing this, he instantly changed his strategy.

Of course, he hadn't discounted seizing Qin Lianbai. The man was barely ten meters away; with Zhong Yun’s speed, he could cross the distance in a flash. However, Qin Lianbai was a Master-level expert—how could he lack self-defense measures? Without absolute certainty, Zhong Yun would not risk such a move rashly.

Since he couldn't eliminate them all, he sought the maximum tangible gain. With these ten thousand Origin Stones, Zhong Yun’s current objective was considered half-achieved.

The Qin family’s efficiency was remarkable. Less than ten minutes later, someone entered carrying a chest, placing it directly before Zhong Yun.

Zhong Yun leaned back, stretching his legs casually. “Second Miss Qin, if you please, open the box.”

Qin Lianbai’s face grew increasingly grim, but he remained silent.

When the Second Miss Qin heard her name, her body trembled violently. Though Zhong Yun’s tone was polite, the previous lashing had left him branded in her mind as a demonic figure. How could she dare disobey? Trembling, she shuffled over and opened the chest.

Zhong Yun glanced inside and nodded in satisfaction. The Qin family hadn't tampered with the stones.

Origin Stones looked identical to ordinary pebbles from the outside. However, their energy fluctuations were a unique signature. But the 'Restricted Space' didn't just lock down Yuan energy; it bound divine sense tightly, rendering it useless. To others, discerning the Origin Stones in this environment would be difficult. But Zhong Yun could identify them instantly because he wore a miniature portable scanner—the same device that allowed him to detect the cloaked warriors.

Using his Mecha Key, he transferred the stones away, tossing the empty box aside. Zhong Yun clapped his hands. “The Qin family is indeed a grand lineage, possessing magnanimity. No wonder they stand unbowed in the Andu Empire.”

“Enough chatter. Release her,” Qin Lianbai said expressionlessly, his gaze unintentionally sweeping over the discarded box, which looked like mere scrap. The corner of his eye twitched slightly.

Zhong Yun nodded. “Second Miss Qin, please.”

The Second Miss Qin rose, trembling visibly. Her clothing was ripped into tatters where the whips had struck. She had never endured such humiliation; it felt like a living nightmare. Clutching her shoulder, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Zhong Yun suddenly shrugged off his outer garment and walked over, draping it around her shoulders.

Qin Lianbai’s eyes narrowed, his hand instinctively moving to his thigh. Seeing no malicious intent from Zhong Yun, he did not press down.

The Second Miss Qin flinched. She desperately wanted to turn and fling the cloak violently back into Zhong Yun’s face, but she dared not.

As she slowly walked toward her uncle, Zhong Yun suddenly spoke up. “Oh, by the way, I have a piece of secret intelligence. I wonder if your Qin family might be interested?”

Without waiting for Qin Lianbai to respond, Zhong Yun continued in a mysterious tone: “Word has it, there is an earth-shattering secret hidden nearby. Very close by, there’s an undiscovered ‘Golden Ruin.’”

Qin Lianbai’s heart sank abruptly. He knew this great secret!

Seeing his expression, Zhong Yun realized his subtext had been understood, but he clarified it anyway. “You know, I’m an adventurer, and I have many enemies. If anything were to happen to me, this secret might remain unknown forever. So, if I were to meet an untimely end, make sure you pass this information along for me.”

Qin Lianbai’s face shifted slightly, the veins on his forehead twitching. He forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. “Mr. Yun is exceptionally calculating. Without absolute certainty, your enemies won't seek revenge on you.”

Zhong Yun smiled slightly. At least, until he reached the "Golden Ruin," he was safe. His objective was met, and he paid no mind to the threat. The man already desired his death; what difference did a little more hatred make?

The short distance of ten meters took the Second Miss Qin nearly thirty seconds to cross. Two waiting maids rushed forward to support her, and she finally collapsed into their arms, unable to stand.

At that moment, a group of bodyguards surged into the room from outside.

“Farewell,” Zhong Yun snapped his fingers. Suddenly, dense smoke billowed from the four corners of the hall, rapidly enveloping the entire room.

Qin Lianbai’s eyelids jumped. He moved to shield the Second Miss Qin and, under the heavy protection of the bodyguards, retreated from the room.

“Uncle… Bai, I beg you, you must kill… kill him…” The Second Miss Qin’s voice sounded like a wounded bird’s cry. After speaking, she could no longer hold on, and she fainted.

Qin Lianbai looked down at her pale face. Even in unconsciousness, her brow was tightly furrowed, her long lashes trembling as if trapped in a terrible nightmare.

“Don’t worry, I swear I will make him suffer an unimaginable death.”

First publication