248: Ji Ruxue left the team

Just after the zi hour, Qin Feng's mind sank into the System's light screen. Three newly refreshed pieces of intelligence were like icicles, instantly piercing the composure he tried to maintain, a chill rushing from his spine to the top of his head.

[Green Intelligence]: Zhongli Wu, the Sect Master of the Yin Demon Sect, has bribed Murong Qianye, the Murong Qianye, with heavy interests that are hard to refuse. Murong Qianye has secretly signed an internal secret order, declaring the Gold Medal Assassin "Qing Xue" (Ji Ruxue) as a "defector" due to long-term loss of contact and refusal to respond to the tower's recall. The Blood-Filled Tower will tacitly approve and secretly cooperate with Zhongli Wu's side in the pursuit of the "defector" and her associates (namely you), in exchange for benefits and to avoid the risk of direct conflict with the Great Gan Imperial Court or the Medicine King Valley.

[Yellow Intelligence]: Murong Qianye originates from the Yan Kingdom (now defunct) on the northern border. He has no interest in the internal struggles of the Great Gan and lives in seclusion year-round; tower affairs are mostly handled by his deputy. The key to Zhongli Wu being able to move him this time lies in the bargaining chip involving "leftover royal weapons or tokens of the Yan Kingdom," which touched upon Murong Qianye's unknown nostalgia for his homeland or some hidden needs.

[Black Intelligence] (Death Warning): In this operation, the Blood-Filled Tower will dispatch at least five experienced "Diamond-rank" assassins to participate in the search and capture. Zhongli Wu of the Yin Demon Sect and the Corpse Demon Sect Master have also personally set off with a large number of elites. Based on Ye Wuyou's previous experience in successfully locating Ji Ruxue and the tracking support provided by the Blood-Filled Tower, the search area for your location has been significantly narrowed. It is expected that within three days at the earliest, the main force of the pursuers will lock onto and catch up with you. If Ji Ruxue remains in the team, being the most obvious tracking mark, the probability of the team being surrounded and annihilated exceeds 70%. Suggestion: Have Ji Ruxue leave the team immediately to disperse the tracking pressure; this may win a slim chance of survival.

"What... this..." Qin Feng suddenly opened his eyes, his face instantly turning pale under the reflection of the campfire, fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his temples. A Black Warning! A team-wipe probability of over 70%! A suggestion for Ji Ruxue to leave the team! The System, using the coldest data and blunt suggestions, placed the cruelest choice before him.

"Qin Feng? What's wrong? Did you... sense something?" Ji Ruxue, who had been restless, keenly noticed Qin Feng's abnormality. That intense sense of unease almost manifested into something physical.

Xia Ya and Xiao Chun also looked over nervously. Even Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom stopped their breath regulation, their gazes solemn.

Qin Feng's throat felt dry. He looked at Ji Ruxue; those cold eyes were now filled with worry and a sort of near-prophetic sorrow. He opened his mouth but found his voice was hoarse.

"...Sister Xue," he used this more intimate form of address, which was rare for him, his voice low and raspy. "You... come with me for a moment, alone."

He stood up and walked toward the dilapidated side hall deeper within the ruined temple. Ji Ruxue followed without hesitation, the bad premonition in her heart growing stronger.

Avoiding everyone's gaze, there was only the faint moonlight filtering through the broken window frames. Qin Feng turned around to face Ji Ruxue, his expression extremely complex—filled with pity, struggle, and a determination that had to be voiced.

"I don't know how to explain to you where my 'premonitions' come from," Qin Feng said word by word, speaking extremely slowly and heavily. "But I 'saw' it... The Blood-Filled Tower has already sold you out. The Lord, Murong Qianye, accepted irresistible benefits from the Yin Demon Sect and secretly designated you as a 'defector.' Your Senior Sister, Ye Wuyou, being able to find us last time was likely... not entirely a coincidence either; she has probably already accepted related missions or hints."

Ji Ruxue felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her body swayed, and she stumbled back half a step, leaning against the cold, broken wall. The color drained from her cold face, and her lips trembled slightly. "No... impossible... The Lord... Senior Sister..." She instinctively resisted this information. That was the organization she had served for many years, which, despite its cold rules, was a place where she had a foothold. That was the Senior Sister she had once depended on for survival, the one who taught her her skills! But Qin Feng had never lied to her about critical matters. His tone, heavy as iron, and the undeniable pity in his eyes left her no choice but to believe. Especially when combined with her own inexplicable palpitations tonight and the meaningful words her Senior Sister had said when she last appeared... all sorts of details connected, and a cold, cruel truth gradually surfaced.

"They... can track you in some way, very accurately," Qin Feng continued with difficulty. "A large number of enemies, including at least five Diamond assassins, as well as elites personally led by Zhongli Wu and the Corpse Demon Sect Master, will catch up with us in three days at most. We might need to prepare in advance..."

He couldn't say the words that followed, but the phrase "over 70% probability of being surrounded and annihilated" from the Black Warning struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

Ji Ruxue closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently. When she opened them again, only a frozen resolve and deep, bottomless sorrow remained in the depths of her eyes. She understood Qin Feng's unfinished words and the "suggestion."

"I can't involve everyone." Her voice returned to its usual coldness, yet it carried a trace of imperceptible trembling. "It was I... who brought this disaster."

"No! We can fight to the death! Set traps in advance, use the terrain..." Qin Feng said urgently. Deep in his heart, he extremely resisted this option.

Ji Ruxue shook her head gently, interrupting him. The corners of her mouth even forced a faint, almost invisible curve that looked worse than crying. "It's no use, Qin Feng. The Blood-Filled Tower's tracking techniques combined with the Yin Demon Sect's numerical advantage and high-end combat power... in a direct confrontation, the chances of winning are slim."

She took a deep breath, as if to suppress all her reluctance and fragility into the depths of her heart. "Thank you for telling me this. And thank you all... for your care and trust during this time." She paused, her gaze turning toward the main hall where her comrades who had fought alongside her were. "For me... say goodbye to Xiao Chun and Xia Ya. Just say... I have something I must handle alone."

Having said that, she turned resolutely, about to dash out of the hall.

"Sister Ruxue!" "Sister Xue!"

Xiao Chun and Xia Ya's voices came with a sob. It turned out they couldn't rest easy after all and had quietly followed, hearing the last few sentences. Xiao Chun's eyes were red, and tears had already fallen. Xia Ya clenched her fists, her eyes brimming with tears, as she stood in front of Ji Ruxue to block her.

"You can't leave! We are a team! We have the Four Symbols Battle Array! If we fight, we fight together; if we die, we die together!" Xia Ya growled.

Xiao Chun also nodded vigorously, grabbing Ji Ruxue's sleeve and sobbing uncontrollably. "Sister Xue... don't go... let's think of a way together..."

Ji Ruxue looked at these two companions who treated her sincerely, and her frozen heart almost shattered. How could she not want to stay? But the Blood-Filled Tower's tracking was like the Sword of Damocles hanging high. Staying would very likely kill everyone; leaving would at least draw away the most lethal pursuit and win them a slim chance of survival.

She gently but firmly pried Xiao Chun's hand away, patted Xiao Chun's head, and shook her head at Xia Ya. Her gaze finally met those of Qin Feng, Tao Yuanyi, and Cold Peach Blossom, who had rushed over. Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom's eyes were also full of complexity; they understood the stakes, respected Ji Ruxue's choice, and admired her sacrifice.

"Take care." Ji Ruxue only uttered those two words, no longer hesitating. Her figure flickered, blending into the night like a ghostly shadow, as she dashed out from a gap in the ruined temple. After a few leaps, she completely disappeared into the darkness of the vast wilderness, with only the night breeze bringing a faint, lingering cold fragrance.

"Sister Xue—!" Xiao Chun finally couldn't hold it back and threw herself into Qin Feng's arms, crying loudly. Xia Ya punched a nearby broken pillar, causing gravel to fall. She gritted her teeth hard to keep the tears from falling, but her red-rimmed eyes betrayed her.

Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom silently stood guard, the atmosphere heavy enough to be suffocating.

Qin Feng held Xiao Chun tightly, looking in the direction where Ji Ruxue had disappeared. His knuckles turned white from clenching his fists, his lips pressed into a hard line, and his eyes surged with overwhelming rage, unwillingness, and a deep sense of powerlessness. He hated the Yin Demon Sect's pressure, hated the Blood-Filled Tower's betrayal, and hated his own helplessness at this moment—sacrificing a companion to exchange for the team's possible survival.

The night grew deeper, and the campfire in the ruined temple seemed to lose its warmth. The parting came suddenly, and the haze of an uncertain future weighed heavily on everyone's heart.