Two Become Three

Yin Yinyin explained, "The experts in Biting Combat Arts in Star Engraving Prefecture can be counted on one hand. If you encounter danger, don't use Biting Combat Arts. Even if you do, use this knife for a fatal blow."

Le Yu took the short knife, unable to resist asking, "If Kui Zhao comes, are you going to join in too?"

"If Kui Zhao appears, I'll kill Dong Heng first, then Kui Zhao. As long as you successfully shatter the streetlights, Kui Zhao might not be my match in a lightless environment."

Yin Yinyin paused. "Of course, if I can't kill Kui Zhao, I'll retreat immediately. But no matter what, Dong Heng will die tonight."

Since Yin Yinyin had said so, Le Yu had no other questions. The two of them hid in the bushes on either side of the fork in the path, suppressing their sounds.

Within a few minutes, footsteps and voices approached. Three figures emerged from the main road onto the fork in the path:

"...Is there really only one shift left?"

"Yes, too many people want to flee to Yan Capital, especially after the city lockdown order. The Li Family, Chen Family, Guanshan Family, and several merchant associations in the prefecture have all come to me to sound me out, asking me to persuade the Prefect—what can I do? The Prefect is determined to bind the powerful families in the prefecture, but he's not leaving them without a fallback. This one fallback is this single train, allowing each family to send a portion of their untitled juniors to Yan Capital for refuge."

"Is it safe?"

"The Prefect must have negotiated with Lu Zhong to guarantee the safety of this train. I won't even mention how sought-after the spots on it are, Old Kui. When you come to me, I'll definitely save a spot for you, but for now, this is the only one. If you miss it, it's gone."

"Then save a spot for me. Sigh, my daughter is so unmotivated; I can only trouble you."

"Dad..."

"Hahaha, you see, Nian Ruo doesn't even agree. Honestly, Nian Ruo is much stronger than my brat. That kid is almost spoiled rotten by his mother... Sigh, Nian Ruo seems to be about the same age as my brat. How about we find some time for them to meet?"

"Certainly, but I still hope she prioritizes her Combat Arts studies, otherwise my family's fist techniques will have no successor..."

Kui Zhao, Dong Heng, and the braided girl... As they passed in front of him, Le Yu suddenly threw the pebbles in his hand, hitting several streetlights on the path!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive shattering sounds, the entire path instantly plunged into darkness, so black that one couldn't see their hand in front of their face. The light from the ends of the path struggled to penetrate this darkness. Even though Le Yu was prepared, the transition from a bright environment to a dark one still significantly reduced his vision. He could only rely on memory to fill in the outlines of people in the dark!

"Nian Ruo, stand still."

Without asking superfluous questions like 'who' or 'what,' Kui Zhao used a steady tone to calm the flustered braided girl. He and Dong Heng had already stood back-to-back the moment the streetlights shattered, their fists loosely clenched, entering a combat stance.

Le Yu bolted, the sound of his footsteps on the weeds attracting Kui Zhao and Dong Heng's attention. And at that moment, a silent Light Burst in the darkness swiftly assailed Dong Heng's vital points!

Hidden Sword Combat Arts · Abandon Light, Embrace Darkness!

Hidden Sword Combat Arts was not only the only Combat Art that could maintain combat effectiveness in a dark environment, but also the only one that could completely conceal the light of a Light Burst!

Silent, traceless, lightless—a quiet kill, a swift death!

However, at that moment—

Sizzle sizzle sizzle—

With a rapid burning sound, the fleeing Le Yu saw a long shadow appear on the ground—it was his shadow!

He turned his head and saw a dazzling beam of light rising into the sky with a rapid burning, its incandescent glow illuminating the shadows in the path and shattering the conspiracy in the darkness!

It was a Light Burst Bomb!

This was a standard device in the Statistics Department. Once lit, it would ascend in place, emitting a strong light for about ten seconds. All agents could apply for one, but hardly anyone did because it was rarely needed, unless on a wilderness mission requiring nighttime operations.

Le Yu never imagined that Kui Zhao would carry a Light Burst Bomb!

And Yin Yinyin—

"You little brat!" Dong Heng roared.

Yin Yinyin's small knife had pierced Dong Heng's left chest, but Dong Heng's hands tightly gripped Yin Yinyin's arm, preventing the knife's tip from going even an inch deeper. A thin, invisible layer of armor even appeared on his skin.

Light Armor!

Dong Heng had donned a Light Armor during the instantaneous flash of the Light Burst Bomb! Although its defense was visibly unimpressive, it indeed absorbed a portion of Yin Yinyin's Hidden Sword Light Burst!

Yin Yinyin made a snap decision, kicking his left leg high to push Dong Heng away and retreat. However, a whistle sounded in the air, and a bloody claw mark streaked across the sky, attacking Yin Yinyin's escape route—

Sima Clan's Wolf Eagle Fist · Wolf Devour!

Kui Zhao had made his move!

Yin Yinyin slashed his small knife, shattering Kui Zhao's bloody Light Burst, and rapidly retreated into the bushes. Dong Heng let out a roar, and without any visible run-up, he suddenly leaped into the air, plummeting towards Yin Yinyin like a cannonball or meteor!

Five Animal Combat Arts · Tiger Pounce!

Kui Zhao also wasn't one to give away kills. His hands traced ten bloody lights, sweeping up from below in an extremely tricky angle towards Yin Yinyin!

Yin Yinyin was in danger!

But at that moment, Kui Zhao suddenly felt a warmth on the back of his neck, and the sound of footsteps and wind came from behind. Without thinking, he swept his hands backward, the bloody light swirling to attack the assailant behind him!

It was Le Yu!

All of this happened in a flash. The moment Le Yu saw the Light Burst Bomb, he knew the assassination plan had gone awry. Without a second thought, he turned back to fight!

He naturally had no intention of soloing the elite boss Kui Zhao while at a lower level. Seeing that Kui Zhao's aggro had been drawn to him, Le Yu frantically swung his blade using Biting Combat Arts techniques, unleashing Light Bursts. While shattering the bloody light, he rapidly retreated.

His objective had been achieved.

Kui Zhao's eyes turned cold. Without turning his head, he roared directly, "Old Dong, that's a Sword Hider!"

No response.

When Dong Heng actively jumped into the bushes where the Light Burst Bomb couldn't illuminate, his fate was already sealed.

If Kui Zhao had been providing support from behind, they might have managed to kill Yin Yinyin first. But with Le Yu drawing Kui Zhao's aggro, it was just Dong Heng and Yin Yinyin fighting to the death in the dark—essentially a suicide mission into the enemy base.

However, Kui Zhao wasn't counting on Dong Heng at all. The moment he shouted, he pushed off with his legs, transforming into a streak of light and darting forward. Within a few breaths, he caught up to Le Yu!

Sima Clan's Wolf Eagle Fist: Fang Assault!

Whoosh.

The last glimmer of the Light Burst Bomb burned out.

Kui Zhao's right hand clamped tightly around Le Yu's throat, keeping him in a constant state of suffocation, and dragged him towards the illuminated main road.

He knew well that fighting a Sword Hider in the dark was the most foolish way to die. Once they reached a well-lit area, ten Sword Hiders wouldn't be enough for him to kill.

Just then, a delicate voice emerged from the darkness:

"Deputy Director Kui, did you forget something?"

Kui Zhao's pupils contracted sharply.

He saw two figures emerge from the shadows. The Sword Hider Demoness held a short knife to Kui Nianruo's throat, watching him leisurely. Kui Nianruo blinked, looking at Kui Zhao, then at Le Yu, whose eyes had rolled back.

Kui Zhao's long braid swayed with his anger. He let out a long breath and asked, "Who are you people? Why are you trying to assassinate Dong Heng?!"

"Stalling for time, are we...?" Yin Yinyin didn't answer Kui Zhao's question. "It seems you don't value your daughter's life very much."

"Don't forget." Kui Zhao tightened his grip slightly, and Le Yu immediately began to foam at the mouth. "I have a hostage too."

"No." Yin Yinyin shook its head. "I don't care if that person lives or dies. He's not a hostage at all. You can kill him if you want."

Kui Zhao didn't believe it. He slowly moved towards the main road and said, "Then let's exchange hostages."

Yin Yinyin didn't accept the proposal, stating calmly, "I hate wasting time. You let that person go, and I'll spare your daughter's life. I'll only count to three."

Kui Zhao wondered if the Sword Hider Demoness's brain had been fried by light. He was already stepping into the range of the streetlights on the main road, where all his Combat Arts abilities would return to normal. The scales of victory had already tipped in his favor.

Kui Zhao prepared to activate his burst state, consolidating Light Armor around himself, and said coldly, "I'm giving you a chance to surrender now, otherwise..."

"One."

A cry of pain interrupted Kui Zhao's casting, and it made his grip on Le Yu's throat tighten even more. It was Yin Yinyin, who had stabbed Kui Nianruo in the thigh.

"You—" Kui Zhao trembled slightly, but before he could think of a countermeasure, Yin Yinyin had already counted the second number:

"Two."

This time, Yin Yinyin's knife plunged into Kui Nianruo's abdomen. Kui Nianruo's face turned pale from the pain, and even her cries became much softer, as she hissed, drawing in sharp breaths.

Then, Yin Yinyin pointed the knife tip at Kui Nianruo's heart. "Three—"

Bang!

With a loud thud, Le Yu was sent flying by Kui Zhao, spinning three and a half times in the air, landing with a loud impact.