After barely turning into the small Secret Alley, Jiang Sui was suddenly attacked by a stranger, making it hard for her not to suspect a connection to those Self-Destructing Troops.
Could it be the Handler that the Assassin leader mentioned, or perhaps the Preacher?
He had said that the Connection Pendant could contact the Handler, but using it would mean mission failure, which is why they’d trigger the Secret Art inside their bodies and be silenced.
After that, the Handler would rush over, planning to take care of everything all at once?
Interesting.
Jiang Sui continued to pretend nothing was wrong and walked ahead, all the while carefully observing her surroundings.
The street was crowded, making it difficult for the stalker to act, but Jiang Sui’s own actions would also be limited.
If she caused too much commotion here, she’d become an enemy of the Execution Department of Arcane Arts and Lu Yunze.
A change of battleground, test out the opponent’s methods, deal with them, and then interrogate for their background to get more information.
With her strategy set, Jiang Sui checked the city Map and put down her phone. If this Map was reliable, the alley up ahead would be the perfect Ambush Site.
Along the way, Jiang Sui deliberately browsed a few roadside stalls and even bought a cheap windmill, looking every bit like a little girl picking out toys.
She kept up her act, appearing relaxed and cheerful, all the while waiting for the pursuer to follow her closely enough. When the moment was right, she turned into the alley.
Seeing Jiang Sui’s figure nearly disappear around the corner, the stalker behind her scowled and sped up, quickly following into the Secret Alley.
The moment he entered, the space darkened as the high buildings on either side blocked the sunlight, even the late afternoon sun failing to reach inside.
He stepped over puddles and piles of garbage, growing more anxious the longer he failed to spot the girl, moving forward quickly.
“Got you!”
As he rounded the corner, he found himself at a dead end.
Just then, he noticed a windmill drawn on the ground—the same one Jiang Sui had been playing with earlier.
A gentle Spring Breeze stirred, and the blades of the windmill slowly turned, as if performing a silent yet eerie tune.
At that moment, a faint shadow silently coalesced behind the stalker, re-forming into the shape of a girl dressed in gray.
Jiang Sui immediately drew Remnant Moon’s Edge and slashed directly at the stalker’s back.
But just then, sensing the chill wind behind him, the stalker quickly twisted his body, narrowly dodging the attack.
Not only that, he turned and lunged at Jiang Sui, his face completely unfamiliar from anyone she knew.
“What do you want?”
Jiang Sui hadn’t reacted yet when his hand covered her mouth, forced her to drop her blade, and slammed her hard onto the ground.
“You’re too impulsive. Out of respect for Jiang Sui, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Lu Yunze… How can it be you?”
Was the Handler of those Assassins actually Lu Yunze (阿云注)?
No, that couldn’t be. No one would pay a fortune to hire someone to kill themselves.
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”
She never expected to run into him here.
The brown-haired girl was completely pinned beneath him, her long hair spilling across the cold ground. The usually loose robe was now pressed tightly by Lu Yunze’s body, outlining her slender, graceful form.
Her wrists were pinned firmly above her head by Lu Yunze, and his knee pressed hard into her abdomen. Every time she struggled to get up, he’d push down harder, forcing her back onto the freezing ground, giving her not even a sliver of escape.
The difference in their strength was obvious—breaking free would not be easy.
Even at this moment, Jiang Sui still managed to make a quip:
“If I say I’m just a Tourist, do you believe me?”
“Which Tourist gets into fights dressed like this?”
Lu Yunze casually tugged at her collar, inadvertently exposing her delicate, fair collarbone and part of her soft, white chest. After a quick glance, he released it.
“I’m telling the truth. Can’t I just like this outfit? And yet here you are, in the alley, pouncing on me. Are you planning to do something indecent to me?”
“Heh, you’re funny.” Lu Yunze finished, then leaned in closer. “What’s that smell on you?”
He suddenly buried his face against her, making Jiang Sui’s heart pound—she thought for a moment he really intended to do something.
But that would be too brazen, and this was a deserted alley; if Lu Yunze really wanted to act, could she resist? The odds were close to zero.
Lu Yunze was much stronger than her; if she cried for help here, no one would hear.
As long as he wanted, he could pin her down, force her against the wall… He could do whatever he pleased.
Lu Yunze was usually indulgent toward his own people, but when it came to enemies, he never showed mercy—especially in matters like this.
He’d hold her jaw in place, or press down on her belly with one hand, while the other hand turned into a claw, leaving bloody marks across her chest or back.
From daytime till late at night, until Jiang Sui was covered in wounds, inside and out branded with marks she could never erase.
If it really came to that… on second thought, maybe…
Jiang Sui was strangely excited by Lu Yunze’s violence in battle. If that strength fell upon her, her heart beat like a wild deer, and her body tingled with anticipation.
“Why do you smell like blood?” Lu Yunze raised his head and asked, “Did you kill someone?”
“No! Look at me, so pure—how could I possibly kill someone?”
“…Pure? You’re even better at acting than I thought, Jiang Sui.”
For a moment, Jiang Sui was speechless, not sure if she was angry or amused.
“You’re not one of those Assassins, are you?”
“Huh? Of course not! How could you doubt me? How could I possibly be with them…”
Halfway through her sentence, Jiang Sui quickly shut her mouth because Lu Yunze’s expression had grown cold.
“So you do know something. Speak, and I’ll let you go.”
“I—I don’t know anything.”
“First, you attacked me before, and second, I’m giving you face because you’re Jiang Sui. But don’t think I completely trust you.” Lu Yunze narrowed his eyes. “Don’t force me to use Punishment.”
Jiang Sui bit her lip, fluttered her eyelashes, then suddenly burst into laughter:
“That’s hilarious. Hearing those words from you, Lu Yunze, is just too funny. Punishment—do you really think you could go through with it?”
With that baby-faced look of his, still a blushing little virgin, and he’s talking about torture and interrogation—Jiang Sui could tease him to tears with just a few words.
The only thing hard about him was that attitude.
“You don’t believe me?”
“If you have the guts, Lu Yunze, come at me. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Honestly, this is the best joke I’ve heard all year.”
Jiang Sui finished and burst out laughing.
Lu Yunze took a deep breath—her personality was honestly even worse than Jiang Sui’s own.
Her little maid knew when to show weakness and cared about others, even willing to risk her life at a crucial moment. But this one, his relationship with her wasn’t even that good. He’d tried to be nice, but she wouldn’t listen, acting like a real Little Demoness.
“Since you said that, don’t blame me then.”
“Hey—”
Lu Yunze rolled up his sleeves, grabbed the ends of Jiang Sui’s right and left sleeves, and tied them into a dead knot.
What the hell? This is something you’d do to a misbehaving kid!
Jiang Sui was still distracted when Lu Yunze found a decent spot on the ground and then hauled her up to sit on his lap.
Wait, this doesn’t feel right…!
Jiang Sui realized something bad was about to happen.
Lu Yunze grabbed the hem of her robe and pulled it up, exposing everything beneath.
“You—what are you doing?” Jiang Sui’s voice was filled with anger.
“A disobedient Little Demoness needs to be educated in the proper way.”
Lu Yunze gave her a glance.
“So you really are wearing a short skirt underneath. Who’d have thought you’d dress so conservatively on the outside, but your inner style is so different—anyone can tell you didn’t buy it yourself.”
Judging by the style, it looked a lot like what Jiang Sui usually wore. Must have been bought together. Lu Yunze often heard Luo Yao say she and her good sister bought the same underwear styles.
“I’ll give you one last chance. Are you going to talk or not?”
“I really don’t know anything…”
Even now, Jiang Sui forced a smile.
“Lu Yunze, you’re just trying to scare me, aren’t you?”
“Humph.”
Lu Yunze directly pulled down her white shorts, and under the girl’s protest, smacked her a sharp slap on her exposed part.
“Ah!”
“Lu Yunze, just try hitting me again!”
“Ah!”
“Ow!”
Two more in a row.
“Lu Yunze, stop, stop—okay?”
“Ah!”
“Big brother, I was wrong, please forgive me…”
“Ow!”
“Ow!”
“Ah!”
Again and again, blow after blow—no one knew how long it lasted before Lu Yunze finally stopped.
Looking down at his handiwork, the previously feisty Jiang Sui was now limp, sprawled over his lap, occasionally letting out tiny sobs from her lips.
She’d been spanked into a Ruined Peach.
“Even at this point, you still won’t talk?”
“Ugh…”
Jiang Sui was about to despair. She’d already explained countless times that she had nothing to do with those Assassins. Why wouldn’t this man believe her?
“Are you really not one of them?”
“I—I told you already…”
“Looks like I really did misunderstand you.”
“You—you…”
Jiang Sui bit her lip, wishing she could cut this bastard up, slice him, dice him, and throw him to rot in the sewers.
Would it have killed you to believe me a little earlier? You just had to beat me first, and now my butt is swollen.
At this point, Jiang Sui felt like the lower half of her body was numb. Any movement sent a stabbing pain shooting through her hips.
Compared to that, the critical wound she’d suffered earlier was nothing.
A girl’s body really is too fragile—she worried that Lu Yunze might actually break her.
Worse yet, if Lu Yunze (阿云注) noticed Jiang Sui’s butt was swollen when they got back, it would be game over, right?
Just as Lu Yunze (阿云注) was pondering his next move, his phone rang—it was Luo Yao calling.
“Hey, Lu Yunze, are you there?”
“What is it?”
“Something’s happened, come back quickly!”
“What?”
The call ended, and Lu Yunze immediately stood up.
Jiang Sui, who had been lying limp on his lap, slid off and rolled on the ground a couple times. Her Ruined Peach and the cold ground made painful contact, causing her to grit her teeth and gasp.
“Don’t tell me something happened at the Ramen Shop…”
Lu Yunze muttered.
“Jiang Sui’s still there.”
He patted his lap and ran off, completely forgetting the half-conscious girl he’d just beaten.
Jiang Sui pounded the ground hard, her eyes welling with tears.
“Beat me and just leave? Lu Yunze, I swear I’ll get you back for this!”
🌕 🌕