Two, Three

Yin Yinyin explained, "In Star Engraving Prefecture, you could count the people proficient in Biting Combat Arts on one hand. If you run into danger, don't use Biting Combat Arts. Even if you do, use this blade to deliver a fatal strike."

Le Yu took the short blade and couldn't help asking, "Kui Zhao is coming too? Are you going to fight as well?"

"If Kui Zhao shows up, I'll kill Dong Heng first, then Kui Zhao. As long as you successfully smash the streetlights, Kui Zhao might not be my match in an area without light."

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

Since Yin Yinyin had put it that way, Le Yu had no more questions. The two of them hid in the bushes on either side of the side road and quieted their breathing.

Only a few minutes passed before footsteps and voices approached. Three figures walked from the main road onto the side road:

"...There's really only one train left?"

"That's right. Too many people want to flee to Flame Capital for refuge. Especially after the city lockdown order was issued, the Li Family, Chen Family, Guanshan Family, and several of the prefecture's merchant associations all came to sound me out, asking me to persuade the prefectural governor—what could I do? The prefectural governor has made up his mind to keep the prefecture's powerful clans under control, but he isn't refusing to leave them a way out. This single train is that way out, allowing each family to send some junior members without official positions to Flame Capital for refuge."

"Is it safe?"

"The prefectural governor should have negotiated with Lu Zhong. He can guarantee this train's safety. I don't need to tell you how coveted the seats are. If you came to me, Old Kui, I'd definitely save one for you. But in the short term, this is the only train. If you miss it, it's gone."

"Then save me a seat. Sigh, my daughter is so useless. I'll have to trouble you."

"Dad..."

"Hahaha, look, Nian Ruo doesn't agree either. To be fair, Nian Ruo is much better than that brat of mine. That kid's almost been spoiled rotten by his mother... Ah, Nian Ruo seems to be about the same age as that brat of mine. How about finding a time for them to meet?"

"Certainly, but I still hope she'll focus on her combat-arts studies. Otherwise, my family's fist technique will have no successor..."

Kui Zhao, Dong Heng, and the braided girl... Just as they passed in front of him, Le Yu suddenly threw the stones in his hand in rapid succession, smashing them into several streetlights along the road!

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

With four successive shattering sounds, the entire road abruptly went dark. It was so black that he couldn't see his hand in front of his face, and even the light at either end of the side road struggled to penetrate the darkness. Although Le Yu had been prepared, the sudden shift from a bright environment to darkness still caused his vision to plummet. He could only use his memory to fill in the outlines of the figures in the dark!

"Nian Ruo, stay where you are."

Without wasting time asking useless questions like Who are you? or What are you doing?, Kui Zhao calmly told the panicked braided girl to steady herself. He and Dong Heng had already stood back-to-back the instant the streetlights shattered, their fists loosely clenched as they entered combat stances.

Le Yu took off running. The sound of his feet trampling the weeds drew Kui Zhao and Dong Heng's attention. At that very moment, a silent, lightless burst of darkness shot toward Dong Heng's vital point!

Hidden Sword Combat Arts—Abandon Light, Embrace Darkness!

Hidden Sword Combat Arts was not only the sole combat art that could maintain unchanged fighting strength in darkness; it was also the only one that could completely conceal the radiance of its light bursts!

Silent, soundless, and without light—killing quietly, dying cleanly!

Yet at that moment—

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

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

He turned his head and saw a blinding beam of light rising steadily into the sky as it burned rapidly. Its incandescent glow illuminated the shadows along the side road and shattered the conspiracy concealed in the darkness!

It was a Light Burst Bomb!

This was a standard-issue device from the Statistics Department. Once ignited, it would rise into the air on the spot and burn with a powerful light for more than ten seconds. Any operative could apply for one, but hardly anyone did, since they were rarely useful except during nighttime operations in the wilderness.

Le Yu never would have expected Kui Zhao to carry a Light Burst Bomb with him!

Then what about Yin Yinyin—

"You little bastard!" Dong Heng roared.

Yin Yinyin had driven her small blade into Dong Heng's left chest, but Dong Heng gripped her arm tightly with both hands, preventing the blade from penetrating even another inch. A thin, invisible layer of armor even appeared over his body.

Light Armor!

Taking advantage of the Light Burst Bomb's instant of illumination, Dong Heng had equipped himself with Light Armor! Although its defensive power was visibly pathetic, it had indeed neutralized part of Yin Yinyin's hidden-sword light burst!

Yin Yinyin acted decisively. She kicked high with her left leg, forcing Dong Heng back as he retreated, but a whistle tore through the air. Blood-colored claw marks swept across the sky, striking at Yin Yinyin's escape route—

Sima Clan's Wolf Eagle Fist—Wolf Devour!

Kui Zhao had made his move!

Yin Yinyin slashed with her short blade, shattering Kui Zhao's blood-colored light burst, then rapidly retreated toward the bushes. Dong Heng let out a roar. Without making any preparatory movement, he suddenly launched himself into the air and crashed toward Yin Yinyin like a cannonball or meteorite!

Five Animal Combat Arts—Tiger Pounce!

Kui Zhao had no habit of letting his prey get away, either. His hands carved out ten streaks of blood-colored light, hooking upward from below at extremely tricky angles toward Yin Yinyin!

Yin Yinyin was in danger!

But at that moment, Kui Zhao suddenly felt heat at the back of his neck. Strong wind and footsteps came from behind. Without thinking, he swept both hands backward, sending the swirling blood-colored light toward the attacker behind him!

It was Le Yu!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The instant Le Yu saw the Light Burst Bomb, he knew the assassination plan had gone awry. Without thinking, he turned around and charged back into the fight!

Naturally, he had no intention of soloing Kui Zhao, an elite boss, while underleveled. Seeing that he had drawn Kui Zhao's aggro, Le Yu hurriedly wielded his blade with the techniques of Biting Combat Arts, slashing out light bursts. He shattered the blood-colored light while rapidly retreating.

His objective had already been achieved.

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

There was no response.

The moment Dong Heng voluntarily leaped into the bushes beyond the Light Burst Bomb's illumination, his fate had already been decided.

If Kui Zhao had continued attacking from behind him, they might have killed Yin Yinyin first. But once Le Yu drew Kui Zhao's aggro away, only Dong Heng and Yin Yinyin remained to decide life and death in the darkness—it was practically no different from charging into the enemy base to feed them a kill.

However, Kui Zhao had never been counting on Dong Heng. The instant he shouted, he forcefully kicked off with both legs, transforming into a streak of blurred light. Within a few breaths, he caught up with 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 as he dragged Le Yu toward the illuminated main road.

He knew full well that fighting a Sword Hider in darkness was the stupidest way to die. Once they reached a place with sufficient light, ten Sword Hiders wouldn't be enough to kill him.

At that moment, a delicate voice emerged from the darkness:

"Deputy Director Kui, did you forget something?"

Kui Zhao's pupils contracted sharply.

He saw two figures walk out of the darkness. That Sword Hider Demoness was holding a short blade against Kui Nianruo's throat, watching him leisurely. Kui Nianruo blinked at Kui Zhao, then looked at Le Yu, whose eyes had rolled back.

Kui Zhao was so furious that his long braid swayed. He slowly exhaled and asked, "Who are you? Why did you try to assassinate Dong Heng?!"

"Trying to stall for time..." Yin Yinyin didn't answer Kui Zhao's question. "Looks like you don't value your daughter's life very much."

"Don't forget." Kui Zhao applied a little more pressure with his right hand, and Le Yu immediately foamed at the mouth. "I have a hostage too."

"No." Yin Yinyin shook her head. "I don't care whether that person lives or dies. He isn't a hostage at all. Kill him if you want."

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

Yin Yinyin did not accept the proposal. She said calmly, "I hate wasting time. Let that person go, and I'll spare your daughter's life. I'll count to three."

Kui Zhao wondered whether this Sword Hider Demoness had been blinded stupid by the light. He had already stepped into the edge of the main road's streetlight. All his combat-arts abilities had returned to normal, and the balance of victory had already tipped toward him.

Kui Zhao prepared to erupt into action and condensed Light Armor around himself. He said coldly, "I'll give you one chance to surrender. Otherwise..."

"One."

A cry of pain interrupted Kui Zhao's technique and caused the hand gripping Le Yu's throat to tighten even further. Yin Yinyin had stabbed Kui Nianruo in the thigh.

"You—" Kui Zhao's entire body trembled slightly. Before he could think of a countermeasure, Yin Yinyin had already uttered the second count:

"Two."

This time, Yin Yinyin's blade stabbed into Kui Nianruo's abdomen. Her face went pale from the pain, and even her cries grew much weaker as she hissed and sucked in cold breaths.

Then Yin Yinyin aimed the tip of her blade at Kui Nianruo's heart. "Three—"

Bang!

With a loud boom, Kui Zhao kicked Le Yu into the air and sent him spinning three and a half times before he crashed loudly to the ground.