Jiang Ning sat across Liu Qing. He stared at her reddened eyes and found himself at a loss for words.

"This is some potent wine!" Liu Qing narrowed her eyes. "It burns. But we should drink and celebrate, right?"

Jiang Ning knew that she was trying to force a smile on her face.

He didn't understand why she was doing it though. All he had said was that he wasn't going to fall in love with her. She didn't have to react this way.

They had only known each other for a brief period of time. Had she really fallen in love with him?

"You're right. We should celebrate. But I'm not sure if that's what you're doing. I'm worried that you're trying to drown your sorrows," said Jiang Ning. "Are you sure you're not feeling upset?"

"I'm not!" Liu Qing yelled before filling Jiang Ning's and her cups full. "Come on, drink!"

She emptied her cup. Her eyes landed on the empty bottles on the table.

"Men! Bring us more wine!"

Her eyes had turned misty. She stared unblinkingly at Jiang Ning. He could hear the slightest hint of moroseness in her voice.

"I know I'm not a likeable person," said Liu Qing. "My father doesn't pay any attention to me. My brothers never treated me as their sister. Everyone else thinks I'm just riding on my father's position as the sect leader...I wanted to prove myself, but I've never been able to do that. Then you turned up."

Her eyes gradually took on a gentle sheen. That was a bad sign. Jiang Ning's instincts blared loudly at him.

"You're drunk," said Jiang Ning. "Stop. You should head back to your room and get some rest." 'Tm not drunk." Liu Qing waved her hands wildly and turned towards the guard standing hesitantly at the door. "Go get me more wine!"

Exasperated, the guard left.

Liu Qing had amassed a sizable collection of wines. She had planned to share them with Liu Chuandao and her two brothers during their rare visits to her residences. Unfortunately, they had never stayed for meals.

The guard arrived at the cellar and grabbed a bottle of wine. Just as he was about to leave, a dark streak dashed out and struck him heavily on the back of his neck, knocking him out instantly.

The man pulled on the guard's uniform, slipped poison into the wine, then carried the bottle out of the cellar and headed for the hall.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning had just snatched Liu Qing's cup from her. She had drunk too much and had begun to ramble nonsensically.

If he allowed her to go on, she might end up confessing her love for him.

"Alright, you should stop drinking right now."

The guard arrived with the new bottle of wine as soon as Jiang Ning said that. Liu Qing beckoned him over.

"Bring the wine over. We're not going

to stop until we get drunk!" She

mumbled. "I have to thank you.

You're the reason I won all those et

fights and passed the test. You're the reason...the reason I won Luo Heng!"

She had won the most powerful disciple in the Inner Court.

An icy glint flashed in Luo Heng's eyes, which were currently hidden under his helmet. He tightened his fists. His knuckles cracked softly.

His defeat had become a reason for Liu Qing to drink and rejoice.

He didn't expect Jiang Ning to hear the nearly inaudible sound of his knuckles cracking.

Jiang Ning turned and looked at

him. Luo Heng was keeping his eyes

to the ground. That didn't stop him from discovering that he wasn't the

ameThis text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

guard who had gone to fetch

them a new bottle of wine.

He didn't say anything. Instead, he snatched the bottle from Liu Qing and started filling their cups with wine.

"Fine, I'll drink with you if you insist on drinking. We won't stop until we get drunk." Jiang Ning got another cup out and filled it with wine. He beckoned Luo Heng over. "I can't hold my liquor. Let's drink together. We'll all drink with Third Miss."

Luo Heng froze. What was going on?

No sensible person would invite a guard to drink with Third Miss.

"I'm just a guard..." Luo Heng said hastily.

"So what? Aren't guards humans too?" Jiang Ning's face darkened. "Or do you believe that Third Miss deems you beneath her notice? Come on!"

His voice was firm.

Luo Heng hesitated momentarily, then slowly made his way to the table. He dared not sit down.

His heart began to race as he eyed the wine.

He knew that the wine was poisoned!