245: Night Without Worry

Just as Qin Feng gripped his sword and was about to rise, intending to use thunderous means alongside Tao Yuanyi and the other to swiftly subdue the intruder and avoid alerting the neighbors or exposing their whereabouts, a cold figure moved a step faster than him, silently blocking the path between him and the door.

It was Ji Ruxue.

She did not look at Qin Feng; her eyes, still clear in the night, were locked onto the three figures fighting intensely yet deliberately quietly in the courtyard outside. Her gaze fell particularly on the masked woman fighting Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom, whose agile movements were like those of a female leopard. A complex expression appeared on her cold face—surprise, realization, and a hint of deep-seated excitement.

In the courtyard, the battle was brief but exceptionally dangerous. The masked woman's movement technique was eerie and elusive, her strikes ruthless and cunning, her short blade carving lethal glimmers in the night; she was surprisingly at the Late Stage Martial King Realm! Moreover, every Move radiated the precision and efficiency unique to top-tier assassins. Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom working together could certainly suppress the opponent and might even defeat or capture her if they went all out. However, the opponent was incredibly slippery and equally wary of making a scene. The fight was confined to a tiny area, with internal energy restrained; only the slight clinking of weapons and the sound of clothes cutting through the air could be heard.

Quickly taking down a top-tier assassin of the same Realm without attracting outside attention was no small feat.

Just as Tao Yuanyi's gaze turned sharp, preparing to use a combined attack technique with Cold Peach Blossom to risk a forceful assault, Ji Ruxue's cold voice clearly reached the combatants through the window:

“Senior Brother Tao, Senior Sister Leng, please stop for a moment.”

Hearing this, Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom were surprised, but out of trust for their companion, they instantly withdrew their offensive. They backed away half a step in coordination, still surrounding the masked woman in a pincer formation, their auras locked onto her to prevent any tricks.

The masked woman also stopped, neither attacking nor fleeing. She stood quietly in place, her gaze passing through her mask as if looking at Ji Ruxue inside the room.

Ji Ruxue pushed open the door and walked out. After a brief hesitation, Qin Feng followed. Xia Ya protected Xiao Chun, watching nervously from the doorway.

“Senior Sister,” Ji Ruxue walked into the courtyard and looked at the masked woman, her tone carrying a rare hint of warmth. “How did you find me?”

“This is my Senior Sister, Ye Wuyou. It's all a misunderstanding.”

The masked woman chuckled, her voice having a slightly raspy, magnetic quality. She raised her hand and decisively pulled off her mask.

Revealing a face that was forty to fifty percent similar to Ji Ruxue's but more mature and sharp. She was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with eyebrows like blades, eyes like cold stars, a high nose bridge, and slightly thin lips. Her complexion was the pale white of someone who hadn't seen sunlight for years. A faint, inscrutable smile played on her lips. She seemed like a blade half-drawn from its sheath, beautiful yet dangerous. She was indeed Ji Ruxue's Senior Sister from the Blood-Filled Tower, a Diamond-ranked assassin—Ye Wuyou.

“It's simple.” Ye Wuyou's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. “After my injuries healed, I've been looking for you. For a Diamond-ranked assassin of the Blood-Filled Tower to find someone, especially my Junior Sister whom I know best... it's not that hard.” Her gaze swept over Ji Ruxue and then flicked toward Qin Feng, Xia Ya, and the others behind her, lingering for a moment on Qin Feng's face. “Especially you, Junior Sister. The clues you left when you departed, and... the person you chose to stay with and follow, there will always be some unique traces.”

She turned to Qin Feng and cupped her fists in a crisp, decisive Jianghu gesture. “This must be Young Master Qin, Qin Feng? Thank you for the money you lent Ruxue back then. She only took on that mission, which was far beyond her capabilities, to save me. It was also because she needed to gather the payment and medical fees for my treatment that she had to stay.” Her words were blunt, revealing the reason behind Ji Ruxue's “borrowing” of money.

Qin Feng was slightly shaken. So that was it. He returned the gesture. “Miss Ye, you're too kind. Miss Ji showed me the righteousness of assistance; a mere sum of money is not worth mentioning.”

Ye Wuyou smiled playfully, looking back at Ji Ruxue. “I came this time not only to confirm you're safe but also to see for myself...” Her gaze swept over Qin Feng again, her tone becoming a bit teasing. “Exactly what kind of person could make my cold-hearted and prideful Junior Sister willingly give up her freedom as an assassin to follow and protect him, even staying in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and Medicine King Valley for over a year.”

“Senior Sister!” A rare, faint blush appeared on Ji Ruxue's cold face, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance. “What nonsense are you talking about! I... I am only fulfilling a promise, repaying a debt of gratitude, and pursuing my own martial Dao.” Despite her words, she didn't refute the word “follow,” nor did she look at Qin Feng, though her ears seemed to turn even redder.

Qin Feng felt alarm bells ringing and a chill rising. It wasn't because of Ye Wuyou's teasing, but because of the information she revealed—the Blood-Filled Tower had indeed found them, or at least found Ji Ruxue's trail! Although Ye Wuyou claimed it was a personal action to find Ji Ruxue, the tracking capabilities of an organization like the Blood-Filled Tower were not to be underestimated. They had traveled from the Medicine King Valley, changing routes and using disguises, thinking they were being stealthy, yet they were still found by the person who “knew Ji Ruxue best.” This tracking ability might be even more precise and terrifying than the Yin Demon Sect's broad-net approach.

“Alright, no more jokes.” Ye Wuyou's expression turned serious, and her tone became grave. “I came here not just to see you, but also to give you a warning. You've made quite a stir on this journey. I've received some vague news from the Yin Demon Sect's side; they are truly enraged this time. It's said that even the Sect Master might be personally paying attention and has issued a kill order, using various means to track your whereabouts. Although you're in Blackstone City and have temporarily avoided the main search force in this area, it's not absolutely safe. The Yin Demon Sect has been entrenched here for a hundred years; their hidden plants might be deeper than you imagine. This place is not suitable for a long stay.”

She paused, glanced at Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom, and continued, “You have experts from the Medicine King Valley protecting you in the shadows, so your strength isn't weak, but open spears are easy to dodge while hidden arrows are hard to defend against. Especially if your goal is truly the Imperial Capital, the waters on that road... are even deeper.”

Ye Wuyou's appearance brought an unexpected reunion and a new warning. Qin Feng looked at her, his mind racing. It was still hard to fully determine if this Senior Sister of Ji Ruxue was a friend or foe, but the information she brought about the tracking capabilities of the Yin Demon Sect and the Blood-Filled Tower was undoubtedly crucial.

“Thank you for the information, Miss Ye,” Qin Feng said in a deep voice. “May I ask what your plans are next?”

Ye Wuyou looked at Ji Ruxue, then at Qin Feng, and gave a carefree smile. “Me? I'm just an ‘idle person’ who came to see my Junior Sister. The warning has been delivered, the person has been seen. Perhaps... I'll leave soon. Of course, if we happen to be going the same way, or if you encounter some ‘minor trouble’... who knows?” Her words left some room, suggesting she might not leave immediately.

In the night, the atmosphere in the small courtyard was subtle. The tense fight just now had turned into an unexpected reunion and exchange of information, but a faint sense of crisis still permeated the air. The road ahead seemed to have gained a few more variables due to the arrival of this uninvited guest.