In a dimly lit room, an elderly man sat in silence, his expression dark.
Two candles—once burning fiercely—had gone out. Their extinguished flames signaled a grim truth Bao Ren and Jin Wuye were dead as every member had a candle of theirs.
The elder who had personally sent them on this mission was visibly furious. They were among the most promising of the younger generation, and now… gone.
"This was just a measly mission, not enough to kill them" he muttered, voice trembling with rage. Then he roared, "How do I explain this to Master?"
His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white. "Lou Jian… that bastard is the cause of this! The master will not forgive me? This is bad… this is very bad."
---
Meanwhile, at the site of the battle, tension coiled thick in the air between Yun Ji and Commander Lang Fang.
"I see… you're his protector," Lang Fang said, his gaze flicking to Jian. "They came for him, which means someone ordered a hit. Either he knows something they don't want getting out, or he's stumbled onto something dangerous. Now it's my job to deal with those scumbags—and if he's a source of intel, I'll get it. Even if I have to extract it from his corpse."
He took a slow step forward, his tone hardening. "Knowing the Blood Mist Assassins, they'll target him even more now that he's killed one of their own."
Yun Ji smirked in irritation. "If you think I'll let you kill me over your little claim over some intel, then you must be quite the joker."
At that, several experts under Lang Fang's command instantly leveled their weapons at Yun Ji.
"How dare you speak to the Commander with such a tone," one of the guards snapped coldly at Yun Ji.
Lang Fang's voice cracked like a whip. "Know your place, fool! If I weren't here, he could kill you all—especially in his current state."
Yun Ji's smirk widened at the remark. "Oh? Lang Fang… do you think you stand a chance against me like this?"
"Even with your retraction band modified to give you more access to your power, I'll kill you before your hands can get to your wrist to take it off. So don't act all high and mighty in front of your subordinates."
"You're still as brazen as I remember," Lang Fang replied, his grip tightening around his sword. Condensed spiritual energy began swirling around him, twisting the air with a sharp hum. "Would you like us to put your claims to the test?"
Seeing the tension between Yun Ji and Commander Lang Fang mount, Jian finally frowned.
"I don't know what bad blood you two have," he said flatly, "but if you both want to kill each other, fine. I, however, do not want to die."
He took a deliberate step forward. "My stepmother tried to poison me for my share of the family fortune. I survived, but she's of high cultivation—so I hired him," he jerked his chin toward Yun Ji. "I also found out she's been using a human furnace. That's probably why she sent them after me." He pointed to the corpses of the Blood Mist Assassins.
"That's all I know. If you want more intel, you can always come to the Lou mansion and take her away for interrogation." His eyes narrowed on Lang Fang. "Combine that with what you just pulled from their memories, and you'll have plenty to work with."
Lang Fang's brows drew together.
"Yes, I know what you did," Jian added smoothly, "your face gave you away."
The commander blinked in surprise.
"If that's all," Jian continued, "I'd like to return to my mansion. But if I were you, I'd hurry to catch my dear stepmother before she catches wind of… recent developments."
Both Lang Fang and Yun Ji stared at Jian, momentarily stunned. Few men dared to speak to them like this.
Lang Fang opened his mouth to reply—but no words came. Jian pointed toward a distant manor. "Apart from her, nobody in my family is a culprit. So don't harm them," he said in a firm, commanding tone.
Then, without another word, he spoke into his guards' minds through voice transmission: Let's go.
Just like they had arrived, the group began to vanish one by one into the shadows, leaving the group alone in silence.
"Kid, we need to get to your mansion—now. I know Lang Fang. He's an egotistical fool, and let's just say… your home isn't entirely safe after the way you spoke to him."
Before Jian could respond, Yun Ji seized his arm. The world blurred before his sight —and vanished alongside Yun Ji.
The two guards left behind could only gape.
They reappeared at the Lou mansion's outer courtyard. Yun Ji's voice was in a haste.
"Bring every person you care about here. Immediately."
Jian took a step—then froze.
A crushing spiritual pressure slammed into the mansion, pressing down on every tile and beam m.
Looking up Yun Ji could already see the royal guards hovering above the mansion, Commander Lang Fang bearing a dirty smile.
Using his spiritual sense he noticed the commoners where in a bad state of they were exposed to this kind of pressure for longer it will leave a long lasting effect.
"Fuck!" Yun Ji's voice was sharp. His spiritual sense swept through the estate like a storm. In an instant, he located Lou Xue with her cultivation base.
The next heartbeat, he was gone.
And then—there he again, hovering above the mansion, one hand gripping Lady Xue like she weighed nothing. He flung her toward the commander's position, voice like a ragdoll.
"Take her, Lang Fang. And leave."
A pulse of power rippled from Yun Ji, shattering the oppressive pressure over the mansion like glass. His gaze cut to the royal guards.
"The people here are innocent. I thought the royal guards were meant to be righteous—especially their commander."
Lang Fang's lips curved in a faint smirk.
"Hm. Even after a thousand years apart, you still read me too well, Yun Ji. Fine. For your sake, I'll let that cocky brat and his household live."
"Alrigh,t" Commander Fang Lang said as he flew away with lady xue who was now unconscious. H
e'd better be sure no other person is involved or else he will face consequences.