Just as if answering Jiang Suiโs earlier words, the already fierce gust of wind suddenly intensified again, rolling up dust and blowing away the thick haze in the air.
โHuh? What did you just sayโโ
When Hu Ming turned around, he found that Jiang Sui had already vanished. Even the mask on the ground was taken away.
She moved so fastโฆ no, at this distance she couldnโt have gotten far. If he chased right nowโ
Before Hu Ming could turn his body, a violent gust exploded beside himโso sharp it felt like an ice-cold blade brushing past his ribs.
Footsteps approached, slow and steady. Wherever that silhouette wrapped in wind passed, even the strange scents in the air were blown apart.
It was Luo Yao.
She walked forward calmly. After detecting gunshots and the strange fragrance engulfing the area, she traced the chaos here.
Standing at the center of the raging wind, her jet-black hair remained motionlessโuntouched by the storm, untouched by the scent.
Her face was paleโfrighteningly pale. When she saw Hu Ming, she frowned slightly, but when her gaze landed on the unconscious Ah Zhen on the ground, her face darkened sharply.
โThe gunshots earlierโand the reason this whole town reeks of this disgusting scentโwas your doing?โ
Hu Ming had heard of Luo Yaoโs name before, but this was the first time they faced each other. Rumor said she was a genius among mystics, but reports from his men described her as nothing more than a delicate, spoiled lady.
He doubted she even knew how to fight.
But before he could finish that thought, Luo Yao raised a hand and snapped her fingers.
A ripple burst outwardโwind roared violently, tearing across the street. The howling was so sharp it ached the ears.
When the storm stopped, Luo Yao inhaled deeply and spoke coldly:
โThere. Now all the annoying things are gone.โ
The wind zone expanded, scattering every trace of the poisonous mist and blocking more from drifting in.
Hu Ming stared at her in disbelief. A single snap could produce something like that? Her ability far exceeded his expectations.
โSo this is what happens when Lu Yunze goes out for some fresh airโhe gets wrapped up in garbage like this.โ
Every word she spoke dripped with killing intent.
โRecently, I feel like Lu Yunze has been less interested in meโฆ so is this why? Something disgusting trying to shake him?โ
Hu Ming smirked. Sheโd inhaled plenty of his drug alreadyโher body was failing. Soon, the haze would seep back into this area.
Yesโhis plan was working.
With Luo Yao taken down here, Hu Ming could practically see the promotion waiting for him inside the Black Star Cult.
Luo Yao lifted her hand again, forming a gun-like shape with her fingers, aiming directly at him.
Wind spiraled at her fingertipsโshot forward like a drillโtoo fast for Hu Ming to react. It pierced his shoulder clean through.
โAHHHโ!โ
He collapsed with a scream. Though the attack was made of wind, it was more painful than a bullet.
Clutching his bleeding shoulder, Hu Ming raised his gun and fired wildly.
Before a single bullet could reach her, Luo Yao flicked her fingers and summoned a solid wind barrier before herself. Every round shattered against it like brittle glass. Even the drifting poison fumes could not reach her.
โThat trick is useless.โ
Luo Yao waved her hand, blowing aside all debris and chemical vapor.
โIf Lu Yunze were here, maybe heโd stupidly tank your bullets and end up poisonedโฆ but Iโm not him.โ
Hu Ming kept pulling the trigger, but his gun had emptied. He had spare magazines, but any attempt to reload would get him killed immediately.
So he could only act submissiveโand rely on the drug hidden in his coat to win.
Luo Yao stepped in slowly, the wind around her tightening like a cage. If she said nothing, the scent would soon reach her lungs.
It would workโhe was sure.
But right as Hu Ming grew smug, Luo Yao stopped, then unleashed a full wind zone blast.
Hu Ming was ripped off his feet, dizziness flooding his senses. Before he could hit the ground, Luo Yao dragged him upward with cyclonic forceโonly to slam him back into the street like a rag.
Something shatteredโa vial of multicolored narcotic liquid spilled across the ground.
โI knew it. Your clothing wasnโt moving with the wind because you hid something there. What a pathetic trick.โ
Luo Yao flexed her fingersโthe swirling wind around Hu Ming squeezed tighter, ready to shred him.
โIf you wanted revenge on me, Iโd accept it. But you chose Lu Yunze as your target.โ
Another secondโand Hu Ming would be carved apart.
โYou people who donโt understand his worthโฆ deserve nothing but death.โ
She said nothing moreโonly watched quietly as the moment of death approached.
But the next instantโher already pale face turned even whiter. She clutched her throat and violently coughed.
It was the worst attack she had ever hadโshe nearly collapsed.
The wind barrier weakenedโjust enough for Hu Ming to cover himself and bolt away.
He ranโdragging himself into the darkness before collapsing behind a corner.
โSeriouslyโฆ women these days are terrifyingโฆโ
Even weakened, Luo Yao had nearly killed him. He wiped the sweat burning into his wounds.
Her condition was deteriorating.
Hu Ming regained composure, retrieving a black box from his coatโthe core device responsible for spreading the nightmare haze through the town. His plan was nearly complete; he wouldnโt abandon it now.
If he boosted its output one more time, he could counterattack Luo Yao.
He pictured the reward, the powerโฆ
โYesโฆ just a little moreโฆ with this, everything changes!โ
Butโ
As he gripped the box tighterโcold steel flashed.
A blade swept pastโhis wrists dropped to the floor.
Stunned, he looked down at the black box rolling away, then upโat the girl picking it up casually.
Jiang Sui.
She raised the moon-blade under Hu Mingโs chin.
โOh? Sounds like this is something valuable, huh?โ
She slapped the black container.
โWhat is it?โ
He refused to answer.
Jiang Sui smiled coldly, picking up his severed hand.
โThose fumes donโt affect you, right? But they donโt affect me either.โ
She smeared the blood on the ancient grimoire pages. Crimson light flaredโand new text appeared.
โSuccess. Thanks for the donation.โ
Reading the new script, Jiang Sui finally understood Hu Mingโs mystic abilityโno more secrets.
Then she looked up at the colorful fog approaching them.
โIf I wanted, I could ask you many thingsโฆ but forget it.โ
She lifted the blade.
โPeople like you dying early is a favor to the world.โ
The blade came down.
Hu Ming died.
Her second collected life.
Jiang Sui tossed the black container to the shadowed alley for Black Hunters to retrieveโjust as the wind approached behind her.
She turnedโLuo Yao had returned.
Seeing Hu Mingโs corpse shocked Luo Yao.
But the woman who killed him?
Wearing a flowing white robe trimmed with purple.
Silver-white hair hanging loose.
Clear, luminous purple eyes exposed.
No mask.
Her real identity revealedโ
The woman involved with Lu Yunze.
โSo you really ARE suspicious,โ Luo Yao growled. โYou approached Lu Yunze for his life, didnโt you?โ
โIf that were true, would he still be alive now?โ Jiang Sui replied flatly.
She pulled up her hood.
โSpoiled princess raised in a greenhouseโstay inside your pretty little room and stop getting in the way.โ
Luo Yao froze. She had never been insulted like that in her life.
โYou stop right there!โ
Jiang Sui snorted.
โWith legs as weak as yours, you seriously think you can catch me?โ
Before Luo Yaoโs wind could touch herโJiang Sui turned into lightning and vanished into the night.
Leaving Luo Yao standing aloneโrealizing she had been toyed withโkicking the ground in fury.
Ngl the disguise mask stuff is confusing me a bit no offense. I wonder how this will go?