Killer Crow!

"Struck by lightning when I was born?" Cui Xiaoxin's eyes widened, and she exclaimed.

Because the matter was too bizarre, even Cui Xiaoxin, who was usually calm and knowledgeable, let out such an exclamation of doubt.

All eyes in the Beast Face Pavilion turned towards them, and then everyone's expressions became playful and strange.

"That kid will do anything to please a girl—"

"He survived being struck by lightning? Do they think we're idiots?"

"It's not impossible, otherwise how do you explain why he's so dark—"

Cui Xiaoxin also knew her voice was a bit too loud and might cause unnecessary trouble for Li Mu Yang. With an apologetic expression, she said, "Li Mu Yang, I didn't mean to. I just find—this kind of thing really hard to accept."

"I understand," Li Mu Yang nodded, speaking with a heart full of bitterness. "Let alone you finding it hard to accept, I've been struck by lightning for over a decade, and I still can't accept this reality."

"Is this true?"

"Absolutely true," Li Mu Yang nodded with utmost certainty.

Cui Xiaoxin believed him. She could read his honesty and—pain—in his eyes.

It was understandable; no one would find being struck by lightning a pleasant experience.

"So your body has always been very weak?"

"Mm, they say I was covered in blood when I was just born, and almost didn't survive— Later, my parents invited a wandering doctor from outside, the old Taoist priest I told you about who taught my sister the Body-Breaking Technique. That old priest forced me to drink all sorts of herbal medicines every day. I drank them for over a decade to maintain my body like this— but there are many side effects. I can't drink stimulating teas because my heartbeat is very weak. I can't eat stimulating food, I can't do overly strenuous exercises, and I can't learn martial arts or the empire's common Five Animal Frolics."

Li Mu Yang looked at Cui Xiaoxin and said helplessly, "When the old priest left, he said my brain had been impacted, so I'm always drowsy and tired. This kind of thing can't be cured by human effort; it's all up to fate— It's not that I don't want to study properly, but whenever I open a textbook, drowsiness washes over me. I've tried all sorts of methods: tying my hair to a beam, pricking my thighs with needles, smearing chili water on my temples— none of it worked. I was defeated by drowsiness, and you know what happened next, I gave up on myself."

Cui Xiaoxin felt immense sympathy for Li Mu Yang and said, "But the written exam is in a month. If you don't prepare— have you thought about your future life? You can't just sleep your whole life, can you?"

"I've thought about it. I think about it every day. But what can I do?"

"Starting today, I'll help you catch up on your studies," Cui Xiaoxin gritted her teeth and said. "Right here."

Li Mu Yang waved his hand, refusing. "Cui Xiaoxin, I'm very grateful for your kindness. But I can't drag you down at this time— Li Sinian used to try to help me catch up on my studies too, wanting to improve my grades. But she also failed."

"I don't believe it," Cui Xiaoxin said with a determined look. She was a stubborn girl by nature; once she set her mind on something, she wouldn't give up easily. "I don't believe there are insurmountable things in this world. I don't believe there are any realms unconquerable by humans. Starting today, I'll tutor you here. We'll start from the basics— I'll teach you whatever you want to learn, and I'll answer any questions you have. Even if the time is a bit short, it's still much better than giving up without doing anything."

"But I'm afraid—"

"No buts," Cui Xiaoxin interrupted Li Mu Yang. "Don't worry about it affecting my studies. I'm ready, and I will definitely get into Xifeng University."

"—" The girl's confident appearance was captivating.

"Li Mu Yang, what's your answer?"

"Then I'll trouble you," Li Mu Yang said in a deep voice.

The young man and woman looked at each other and smiled. A strong, warm current surged in Li Mu Yang's heart.

This feeling was truly wonderful.

"Miss, here is the fruit you ordered." A staff member in a beast-faced uniform brought over a fruit platter.

Li Mu Yang glanced at him, seeing a handsome young man with a delicate face, not the same person who had brought the clear water earlier. He smiled and said, "Thank you."

He imitated Cui Xiaoxin's use of imperial noble etiquette, doing so vividly, which made Cui Xiaoxin's eyes light up. It was as if a truly noble imperial soldier was sitting in front of her.

"Did you order fruit?" Cui Xiaoxin asked.

"No," Li Mu Yang shook his head. "Didn't you order it?"

"I didn't order it."

Cui Xiaoxin's small face instantly turned pale, and she opened her mouth as if to say something—

Her reaction was already swift, but ultimately, it was a step too late.

The young waiter holding the fruit tray showed a cruel smile. He held the sharp fruit knife and thrust it towards Cui Xiaoxin's neck.

That was one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body. If it struck her carotid artery, that beautiful girl, still exuding the fragrance of purity, would vanish.

She was the target of his trip to Jiangnan.

"Danger."

Li Mu Yang sensed a dangerous aura.

It was like walking in a desolate mountain wilderness, with a terrifying monster coveting you.

His heart pounded, and every single hair on his body stood on end.

Li Mu Yang was sitting opposite Cui Xiaoxin, so when he saw the knife in the waiter's hand, his first reaction was to lunge at the assassin.

There was no better choice, and he didn't know if there were any other choices.

Escape? That would be a good option. But such a thought never crossed his mind.

He opened his mouth to shout, but no sound came out.

His heart was beating so hard, he even worried it would leap out of his chest.

Li Mu Yang was also terrified, terrified to death.

But he still stretched out his arms and lunged at the killer.

He wanted to push him away, wanting to use his own body to shield Cui Xiaoxin.

The assassin had already noticed the situation here before making his move.

Besides the empire's esteemed daughter, there was only a dark-skinned young man sitting opposite her.

As one of the top twenty assassins in the empire, Crow possessed superb skills and sharp eyes.

He believed in his own judgment; that unsightly youth was just an ordinary person, perhaps even weaker than an ordinary person. Just by speaking a few words, fine beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead, and his legs trembled non-stop as he stood.

He had personally witnessed everything that happened when Li Mu Yang tried to keep Cui Xiaoxin. He had seen it all more clearly than anyone else.

"A fool who doesn't know his place," Crow thought contemptuously.

He hadn't originally intended to do anything to Li Mu Yang; after all, he had only been paid for one head. In their line of work as assassins, there were no buy-one-get-one-free deals.

In his prediction, this idiot would likely have been so terrified that he would have been paralyzed and unable to move when he saw him make his move. He hadn't expected him to rush over at this moment to play the hero saving the damsel.

What good end awaited heroes? And how easy was it to save a beauty?

Before Li Mu Yang could even charge, Crow had already swung the fruit tray he held in his left hand towards Li Mu Yang's head.

Clang—

The fruit tray struck Li Mu Yang's head, halting his momentum.

While covering Li Mu Yang's face with the tray, Crow's right hand was not idle.

The fruit knife in his hand spun into a beautiful flourish before sliding towards Cui Xiaoxin's throat.

He intended to carve a cherry blossom onto Cui Xiaoxin's fair, tender neck. When the red blood seeped out, that cherry blossom would bloom in all its delicate beauty.

Slice—

The fruit knife cleanly and swiftly plunged into flesh.