Flashes of blade and sword erupted in an instant, and the metallic scent of blood swiftly blanketed the surrounding air.

By the time Feng Jiu’er and Mu Mu arrived, Zeng Lanyue had already sustained grievous wounds and lay collapsed in a pool of blood.

Mu Mu single-handedly drove the black-clad figures back while Feng Jiu’er gathered Zeng Lanyue into her arms, a surge of frustration sweeping through her.

She had still miscalculated the timing. She had not expected them to come this quickly — she had assumed they would wait until dusk at the earliest.

“You… were right.” Zeng Lanyue forced the words out through clenched teeth, her entire body growing cold. “He truly… truly wanted to kill me.”

“Do not speak. Let me stop the bleeding first.” Feng Jiu’er opened her needle case, and as the silver needles descended, she swiftly sealed several of her major acupoints.

Even so, there were too many wounds, and they were too deep. Though the bleeding had slowed somewhat, it could not be stopped entirely.

“It is… it is no use. I… I cannot hold on.” Zeng Lanyue struggled to breathe, working hard to draw each labored breath.

“Feng Jiu’er… Feng Jiu’er…”

“I am here. I am right here!” Jiu’er seized her hand tightly.

Zeng Lanyue fixed her gaze on Jiu’er’s face, grinding her teeth, her voice going hoarse. “Thank you. Thank you… for coming to save me. Thank you… for always… saving me.”

“Do not say another word.” Jiu’er only gave her hand a brief squeeze, then released it immediately and returned to stemming the blood flow, refusing to give up.

“But I… I cannot…” Zeng Lanyue’s chest heaved unsteadily, her breathing growing more and more labored.

“Jiu’er — I am sorry. He has been heartless, yet I… I cannot betray him. I cannot…”

“I am not asking!” Feng Jiu’er drew a sharp breath and pressed a strip of gauze firmly over the wound at her abdomen, binding it tightly.

“You do not wish to speak, and I will not press you again. Do not apologize to me — it is all right. I am a physician. I only want to save lives. Whether you tell me or not makes no difference.”

“I am sorry…” From the corner of Zeng Lanyue’s eye, two tears finally slipped free. “I am sorry… Jiu’er — be wary… be wary… of those… close to you…”

……

Four black-clad figures — each one a formidable fighter.

After Mu Mu brought two of them down, they knew escape was hopeless, and bit down on poison to end their own lives.

The remaining two managed to flee.

Mu Mu fired a signal flare, and soldiers of the Longqi Army arrived, carrying the bodies of the two black-clad figures back with them.

“This person…” Upon noticing the wound on one of the black-clad figures, Mu Mu’s brow furrowed at once.

“What is it?” Huo Yan also looked at the black-clad figure’s chest — there was a blade wound there.

Mu Mu crouched down and tore open the black-clad figure’s collar with force, comparing the wound against the contours of his chest.

“There can be no mistake. This blade wound — it is from the last time I crossed swords with him.”

His gaze sharpened. He gripped the black-clad figure’s arm and pulled hard.

On the arm, sure enough, there was another wound.

“Jiu’er, call Xiao Yingtao over. Have her bring the hidden weapons she uses.”

“Understood.”

……Before long, Xiao Yingtao arrived — and not only her, but Xing Zizhou and Shan Yidao as well.

Xiao Yingtao’s signature hidden weapons were diamond-shaped throwing darts. Mu Mu held the tip of a dart against the wound on the black-clad figure’s arm and compared the two.

Though the wound had already scarred over, one could still faintly make out that it had indeed been made by Xiao Yingtao’s diamond-shaped throwing dart.

“It truly is him!” Xiao Yingtao was so furious she nearly kicked the black-clad figure’s corpse.

Because of this person, they had nearly lost one of their own.

Xing Zizhou and Shan Yidao also stepped forward, examining the body with care. Feng Jiu’er, however, stood fixed in place, staring at the four people before her, Zeng Lanyue’s words echoing through her mind: Be wary… of those close to you.