Ning Chen stared hard at Kang Baobao and said it one word at a time. "Are you asking that for Ye Xingjue, or for yourself?"

Kang Baobao smiled. "Is there a difference?"

Ning Chen's eyes narrowed slightly as he weighed what she meant.

"What do you mean, no difference? Kang Baobao, do you know who Ye Xingjue is? Where he comes from?"

Kang Baobao said, "Of course I do. He comes from the same place you do."

Ning Chen's heart jolted. "What exactly is your connection to Ye Xingjue?"

Kang Baobao's smile turned sly. "Ning Chen, I've answered so many of your questions. Isn't it time you answered the one I asked you?"

Ning Chen laughed coldly. "You really want to know?"

Kang Baobao nodded. "As long as you tell me the truth."

Ning Chen said, as serious as he'd ever been, "The truth is, the instant I was shot, I really did see my homeland. I went back."

Kang Baobao's eyes lit up and sparkled.

She stared at him. "Really?"

Ning Chen nodded. "Real as it gets!"

Kang Baobao said it one word at a time. "Ning Chen, I believe you. Thank you!"

Ning Chen smiled. "You're welcome!"

Kang Baobao's eyes suddenly turned sinister. "To thank you, I'll send you home."

With that, she came at Ning Chen like a phantom.

Ning Chen snorted, and his sword stabbed out like a streak of cold light.

Kang Baobao slipped the thrust with ease and drove her hand at his throat, fingers flat as a blade.

Ning Chen brought his sword back to block.

Clang!!!

Kang Baobao's fingertips struck the flat of the blade with a terrifying force that sent Ning Chen staggering backward.

Ning Chen was stunned. Kang Baobao was even more formidable than he'd imagined.

Shing!!!

Seeing this, Xiao Yanxi drew the soft sword hidden at her waist, ready to help.

But Ning Chen held her back and shouted, "Guards! Guards, now..."

Only the women lived here, so the guards were all posted outside the courtyard.

At Ning Chen's shout, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

Kang Baobao's eyes were…