The shadow moved with lightning speed, twisting aside to dodge the fatal blow, but Little An’s blade still managed to slash through her clothes.
The two tangled together, wrestling in the cramped space.
Yet the opponent was clearly stronger and more agile, moving with the grace of flowing clouds and water.
Little An could only lock her arms tightly around the woman’s neck from behind, or else she’d be forced to take the beating.
“Little Mistress, run!” Little An shouted, her voice hoarse from the strain.
Mu Xi knew full well that she would be of no help if she tried to intervene; her frame offered no advantage in close combat.
Her heart pounded like thunder, but her mind was unusually clear.
So, in the very first instant, she dashed to the window, trying to climb out.
Her bare feet pressed against the window ledge, the coldness sending a shiver up her spine.
A dull thud sounded behind her, followed by Little An’s cry of pain.
Mu Xi glanced back and saw the shadowy figure had already broken free of Little An’s grip, landing a sharp elbow into Little An’s abdomen.
The opponent retaliated directly against Little An.
With a few clean and decisive moves, Little An was knocked unconscious, her body collapsing limply to the floor.
The shadow raised her dagger high.
She could have killed Little An right then, but it seemed she was afraid Mu Xi would escape, so she hastily withdrew her weapon and rushed forward.
Mu Xi’s heart leapt into her throat.
The moment she saw Little An fall, her eyes grew wet.
But now was not the time for grief.
She had to find a way to save herself, and win some time for Little An.
She pressed herself flat against the outside wall beneath the window, breathing as quietly as she could, feeling the night wind brushing her silver hair and nightgown.
She could hear the shadow’s footsteps approaching the windowālight and swift, like a leopard stalking its prey.
Half of the woman’s body leaned out the window, her head swiveling as she searched for her target.
Mu Xi had been ready for this moment.
Hearing the woman approach the window, she’d already guessed where she would appear.
She suddenly lashed out with a fierce side kick, catching the shadow full in the face.
“Ah!” the shadow cried out in pain, clearly caught off guard.
Or perhaps she hadn’t expected such a little thing to have the courage to fight back.
Mu Xi wasn’t very strong, but her kick was precise and vicious.
Combined with the woman’s unstable footing, the shadow lost her balance for a moment.
She staggered back several steps, landing heavily on the floor, breathing raggedly.
Her mask had been knocked askew, revealing half of her face.
It was a cold and unfamiliar woman’s face, her gaze brimming with murderous intent.
“You’re a lot more troublesome than I expected, little girl,” the woman sneered, her voice carrying a hint of admiration.
“But you won’t escape tonight.”
Mu Xi didn’t reply.
Instead, she seized the chance to crawl back through the window and darted to Little An’s side.
She had to make sure Little An was safe, while also figuring out how to deal with the assassin.
Little An was lying on the ground, her chest still rising and fallingāshe was only unconscious.
Mu Xi breathed a small sigh of relief, but the danger was far from over.
She looked up at the assassin, who had already regained her composure and was advancing on her again.
“Why do you want to kill me?” Mu Xi asked, her voice surprisingly calm.
“Did Ye Lan send you?”
The woman paused for a moment, seeming a little surprised by Mu Xi’s composure.
“Knowing too much won’t do you any good, little girl.”
Mu Xi’s gaze swept the room, searching for a possible weapon or escape route.
Her fingers brushed against some shards of glass on the floor.
She quietly gripped one in her hand.
“I thought Ye Lan would come herself, not send a lackey,” Mu Xi said deliberately, trying to provoke her as she slowly edged backward.
“Is she too busy, dealing with people more important than me?”
The woman’s gaze grew even more dangerous, and she took another step forward.
“You’re overestimating your own worth.”
At that moment, Little An’s eyes suddenly snapped open, and she grabbed the assassin’s ankle in a flash.
She hadn’t been completely unconsciousāshe’d only been pretending, waiting for her chance.
“Now, Little Mistress!” Little An shouted.
Without hesitation, Mu Xi hurled the glass shard at the woman’s eyes, then lunged for the nightstand, grabbing the cup there and smashing it toward the woman’s head.
“You little…!” The woman clearly hadn’t expected this flurry of attacks.
Though she dodged the shard, she was struck on the shoulder by the cup.
Little An seized the chance and yanked hard, sending the assassin tumbling to the floor.
The two wrestled again, but this time Little An had the upper hand.
She straddled the woman, cleaver raised high.
“Tell me, who sent you?” Little An demanded, her blade pressed against the woman’s throat.
But the woman only tilted her head back, revealing a strange, cold smile.
The contempt in her eyes sent a chill deep into Mu Xi’s heart.
Her voice was filled with a nameless hatred, grating like a dull knife scraping glass.
“You know? Ye Lan’s greatest mistake in this life was keeping you, this little thing, by her side.”
Mu Xi’s whole body went rigid, muscles taut, her blood nearly freezing in her veins.
Her silver hair shimmered coldly under the moonlight, and her face turned instantly pale.
“She should have executed you long agoāthen none of this trouble would have happened today.
The woman’s voice grew shriller, as if a blade were being sharpened.
“You’re nothing but a calamity star, destined to ruin Ye Lan. So even if I risk incurring her wrath, tonight I must kill you, to save Ye Lan’s life!”
Little An’s hand trembled as she gripped the cleaver.
Her eyes suddenly went blank, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but didn’t dare.
Mu Xi noticed the flicker of hesitation in Little An’s eyes.
That dazed, helpless look completely exposed her weakness.
And that single moment of distractionā
A calculating glint flashed in the woman’s eyes.
Her muscles tightened in an instant, like a venomous snake poised to strike.
Mu Xi’s heart pounded wildly, yet she was the calmest of all.
She suddenly raised her foot, calf muscles straining painfully, and brought her bare arch down sharply on the handle of the cleaver in Little An’s hand.
“Snap”āthe blade sliced into the woman’s throat, instantly soaking her black mask in blood.
Hot liquid spurted out, the woman’s eyes going wide, filled with disbelief.
Her fingers convulsively clawed at Little An, her nails raking red lines down Little An’s arm.
Those hate-filled eyes faded after a few seconds, yet they remained locked on Mu Xi, as if trying to etch her face into her soul and drag it to hell.
For a while, only Mu Xi’s ragged breathing and Little An’s frightened gasps filled the room.
Little An scrambled up, putting distance between herself and the still-twitching corpse, the scratches on her arm burning.
Her voice quivered: “Th-that was so close…”
Mu Xi stood rooted in place, her heart hammering, but she forced herself to look away.
Her silver hair was soaked with sweat, plastered to her pale cheeks.
Her calves trembled from the effort, her feet still tingling with the cold touch of the knife’s handle.
“She said all those things on purpose,” Mu Xi rasped.
“She wanted to distract you so she could strike.”
Little An’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears.
She looked at Mu Xi, then at the corpse on the floor, her throat bobbing as she swallowed.
“Little Mistress… was any of what she said true?”
Mu Xi walked to the window.
The moonlight spilled over her slender frame, outlining a solitary figure.
Her eyes gazed into the distance, imagining a pitch-black city far away.
“I don’t know,” she said softly, her voice tinged with bitterness.
“But I’m sure of one thing nowāeverything that’s happening in Wu City is definitely related to me.”
The moonlight shone on the small, bright red heart tattooed on her lower abdomen, looking like a drop of fresh bloodānot yet dryāghastly and glaring.
Little An came over, standing behind her, hesitating but not reaching out to touch her.
Some words of comfort seemed caught on the tip of her tongue, unable to be spoken.