"Dead? Old man, what are you talking about?" Yue Chan snapped, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Stop spouting nonsense. We haven't even met before."
Hui Min's hands trembled as he shook his head with frantic urgency. Beads of sweat gathered at his temples, and his breath grew shallow, chest rising and falling in quick bursts.
"I wouldn't be mistaken," he insisted, voice quivering. "I clearly remember your face." His eyes darted nervously from Yue Chan's expression to the shadows behind her, as if searching for escape or reassurance.
At his words, Yue Chan tilted her head, strands of hair slipping over her shoulder as curiosity flickered across her features. She narrowed her eyes, studying him with renewed interest.
"Is this some kind of trick to make me spare you?" she asked, her tone sharp but edged with amusement. "Don't worry—I'm not going to end your life here. My concern is about the mark on your wrist."
She pointed, her finger steady and accusing.
"You still haven't answered me. Where did you get it?"
Hui Min's eyes flickered down to his wrist.
A faint tremor ran through his fingers as he instinctively curled his hand behind his back, desperate to shield the mark from view. His shoulders tensed, a subtle shudder betraying his anxiety.
But Yue Chan was faster.
Without hesitation, she lunged forward and seized his arm, her grip firm and unyielding. She jerked his hand upward, exposing the mark to the pale light. Her eyes narrowed, studying the symbol with fierce intensity.
"Speak! Where did you get this mark?" she demanded, her voice sharp and edged with frustration. The muscles in her jaw tightened as she fought to keep her patience, her breath coming in short, controlled bursts.
"This… was the insignia of my old group. That was a long time ago," Hui Min stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. His hands trembled, knuckles paling as he tried to steady himself under her gaze.
Yue Chan released his arm with a sharp flick, the sudden motion causing Hui Min to stagger and nearly lose his footing. She stepped closer, her presence looming, eyes burning with accusation.
"Twenty years ago—were you involved with the massacre at Serene Village?" Her words hit like a lash. "Why did you slaughter countless innocent lives?"
"It's not me! I swear, it wasn't me!" Hui Min's breath quickened, panic widening his eyes. He shrank back, chest heaving as if the room itself pressed in around him.
Yue Chan's lips curled into a contemptuous smile, her eyes glinting with cruel amusement at his distress.
"Are you afraid of me?" she taunted, clearly savoring the panic written across Hui Min's face.
Hui Min shook his head slowly, his eyes fixed on Yue Chan's face.
He had never imagined that, after all these years, their paths would cross again in this lifetime.
Seeing her now—the very person he had once known—felt like a living nightmare.
How had someone so gentle, so kind and warm, become this ruthless figure standing before him?
In the past, she would hesitate to even break a fragile plate.
Now, her presence radiated cold determination and unyielding strength.
Hui Min's mind reeled with uncertainty.
Was this truly the same person he had known so long ago, or merely a shadow of her former self?
He remembered himself as a young adult back then, dutifully working as a demon slayer, never expecting that fate would bring them together again under such dire circumstances.
For a moment, a heavy silence settled over them.
The faint sound of approaching footsteps echoed across the ground, drawing closer to where they stood.
Yue Chan's expression remained unreadable as she straightened to her full height.
With a fluid motion, she summoned bands of shimmering energy that snapped into place around Hui Min's wrists and ankles, binding him with magical shackles.
Hui Min stared at her in disbelief. He had never expected this from Yue Chan.
All he saw now was her smirk—a dangerous, cold expression that sent a chill down his spine.
"I'll make sure you behave," she murmured under her breath.
In the blink of an eye, Yue Chan surged forward in a blur of motion, coming to a composed halt at the center of the wide, open valley.
One hand rested calmly behind her back as she stood poised, awaiting the arrival of her adversaries.
As the Blood Shadow Sect disciples appeared, they quickly fanned out, forming a tight circle around her.
Their swords glinted as they leveled their blades at her, prepared for the looming confrontation.
Yet, as the wind brushed her unmasked face, the male disciples faltered, momentarily entranced by her enigmatic beauty.
None of them realized that the woman before them was none other than the fabled Supreme Warrior of all Jianhu.
"S—such a beauty," one of the sect disciples blurted out, unable to control his admiration as he took in Yue Chan's striking presence.
The group hesitated, uncertainty flickering across their faces as they wavered between awe and duty.
For a moment, none dared to make the first move against her.
Then, one disciple's gaze shifted past Yue Chan, landing on Hui Min—and the motionless body of a young man lying nearby.
Shock rippled through the group as they recognized the fallen figure: the trusted messenger of their sect.
"Everyone, don't be deceived by her beauty!" the disciple shouted, voice edged with urgency. "She isn't innocent!"
Yue Chan turned her gaze toward Hui Min, a subtle smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.
There had been a purpose in killing the messenger—mercy had no place here.
Who ever said she was innocent?
To her, eliminating him was no different than ridding a plant of harmful insects.
Hui Min let out a muffled grunt, straining against the magical restraints. He tried to speak, but Yue Chan's spell had sealed his lips, rendering him completely silent—unable even to cry out in protest.
Dusk swallowed the landscape, surrendering it to the boundless embrace of night.
Shadows deepened, obscuring every figure until only the faint glow of Hui Min's magical shackles remained, casting eerie patterns in the darkness.
A gentle, chilly breeze began to stir, sweeping through every corner of the valley.
The thick branches of clustered trees rustled softly, their leaves whispering secrets in the wind, as the world settled into a quiet, watchful gloom.
For a brief, silent moment, the moon emerged—luminous and watchful—peering deliberately through the narrow slits between distant mountains.
Its silvery light spilled across the entire valley, washing everything in a gentle, ethereal glow.
Gazing up at the perfect, radiant moon, Yue Chan tilted her head back and closed her eyes, silently absorbing the moon's tranquil essence.
Hui Min watched her in disbelief, utterly stunned by the way Yue Chan seemed to radiate beneath the moon's silvery glow.
Even the disciples encircling her hesitated, awe and fear mingling in their expressions.
Yue Chan felt their discomfort, and it only made her more at ease, a quiet confidence settling over her.
In a fleeting moment, their sharp eyes blurred with confusion, faltering as hallucinations crept in.
Hui Min's doubts turned to certainty as everyone witnessed Yue Chan's form shifting—her presence became ethereal, almost otherworldly.
The disciples instinctively stepped back, unsettled by the transformation unfolding before them.
At the sound of Hui Min's muffled grunts, everyone's attention snapped toward him, eyes narrowing with renewed concern.
One of the disciples, unable to bear the sight of Elder Hui Min's suffering any longer, broke formation and rushed toward his side.
But Yue Chan was quicker—she intercepted him with a single, effortless motion, striking him down before he could even reach Hui Min.
In the end, the disciple collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"Next?" Yue Chan asked, her tone cold and serious.
The remaining disciples whipped their attention back to her.
In that instant, their hallucinations shattered, and Yue Chan's ethereal form faded—leaving behind only the unmistakable presence of her true self.
"You're cruel! Why did you kill him?" one of the disciples cried out, voice trembling with anger and fear.
"Killing him?" Yue Chan's eyes narrowed, a chilling smile curving her lips. "How could I spare such an unworthy puppet of your sect? He… should consider himself lucky if he finds mercy in his next life."
"Monster!" another disciple spat, voice cracking under the strain.
Yue Chan laughed softly, her gaze sweeping over them with wicked amusement.
"Good. I want to hear more."
"Master said any unusual actions must be reported to him," one of the disciples whispered, leaning in close to his comrades. His eyes darted anxiously toward Yue Chan. "Let's form the hunting array. We can't let this opportunity slip by."
With a series of subtle glances, the disciples silently communicated their plan—careful not to alert Yue Chan to their intentions.
But Yue Chan, reading their thoughts with ease, was already aware of their scheme to trap her.
A smirk played on her lips as she locked eyes with each of them.
In a sudden, fluid motion, she conjured a dagger and, without warning, yanked a nearby disciple toward her.
In a blink, she ended his life, the attack swift and merciless.
As his body crumpled to the ground, the remaining disciples seized the moment, launching themselves at her in a desperate attempt to overpower her.
Chaos erupted across the valley, thunderous crashes echoing as blades clashed and bursts of power collided.
The air was filled with the sounds of fierce battle—metal ringing against metal, bodies twisting and striking in relentless physical combat.
Sparks flew as swords met in midair, their clangs ringing out beneath the moonlight.
Disciples darted in from every direction, their movements swift and desperate, but Yue Chan moved like a phantom among them—her form slipping through gaps, her dagger flashing with lethal precision.
Each time a blade aimed for her heart, she twisted aside, letting the attack whistle past before countering with a ruthless strike.
One disciple lunged, only to be swept off his feet by a kick that sent him crashing into the grass.
Another tried to flank her, but Yue Chan anticipated the move, spinning low and slicing the weapon from his grip.
The energy in the air crackled as she unleashed a wave of force, sending several attackers stumbling backward.
Despite their numbers, the disciples found themselves outmatched, their formation breaking as panic set in.
Cries of pain and frustration filled the valley, the once-controlled array devolving into chaos.
Still, Yue Chan remained at the battle's center, her movements fluid and unyielding, every gesture radiating deadly intent.
Blood stained the earth as bodies fell, the survivors hesitating, second-guessing every approach.
Yue Chan's eyes glinted in the moonlight, daring any who remained standing to face her next.
Despite their desperate efforts, every disciple ultimately fell to Yue Chan's relentless assault.
Bloodied and battered, one injured disciple made a frantic attempt to flee.
His crippled leg dragged behind him, and his disjointed shoulder hung uselessly at his side.
In a final act of hope, he fumbled for a signaling rocket and fired it into the sky, the flare bursting above the valley in a brilliant arc.
Yue Chan's eyes narrowed in murderous contempt as she witnessed his desperation.
In a heartbeat, she lunged forward and seized him by the throat, her grip ironclad and merciless.
"You dare to run?" she hissed, her lips trembling with exasperation. "You think you can save your own life, but instead of freedom, you've chosen the path to death!" Her sneer twisted with cold fury. "Don't worry—I'll send you there myself. There's no need to trouble anyone else."
Her grip tightened until the man's frantic struggles ceased, his breath guttering out as life slipped away.
Only then did she release him, letting his body crumple to the ground.
Yue Chan watched his lifeless form with a cold, lingering smirk, her eyes devoid of mercy.
With the battle done, she turned and strode back to where Hui Min cowered, trembling in terror.
She crouched before him, the moonlight casting half her face into shadow, lending her an even more menacing aura.
"And you…" she said, her voice flat and emotionless. "You're still useful to me."
Hui Min recoiled, shaking his head frantically as he stared at her blood-smeared face and hands, fear radiating from every trembling limb.
Reduced to a helpless spectator of the tragedy, he was powerless to intervene—unable even to speak, his lips sealed shut by Yue Chan's invisible spell.
His wrists and ankles remained bound by glowing magical shackles, making any hope of escape impossible.
All he could do was watch in silent terror as events unfolded before him.
Suddenly, a hush swept through the aftermath of the battle—a new ripple of commotion approaching from the distance.
It was clear the sect had sent reinforcements after seeing the signal rocket.
Yue Chan glanced at Hui Min, dissatisfied with simply leaving him as he was.
She had already revealed her face to him; there could be no loose ends. But then her gaze shifted to the lifeless messenger beside him.
An idea sparked—this young man, the one she'd assassinated, could offer the perfect cover.
A cunning look flickered in her eyes. Yue Chan calmly turned to Hui Min.
"Perhaps," she began, her voice soft and dangerous as she strode toward the young man's body, "he will be of use to me now."
Hui Min's trembling stilled, his eyes widening in terror as he realized her intent. He stared helplessly at the messenger's corpse.
In a swift, fluid motion, Yue Chan spread her arms wide, channeling her power.
Shadows rippled around her as her form shifted, features rearranging until she perfectly mirrored the young man's appearance.
Hui Min's horror deepened. His nerves and hands shook uncontrollably as he watched her transformation.
Yue Chan, now in the guise of the messenger, stepped closer to Hui Min and fixed him with a piercing, unreadable gaze.
The sounds of the approaching backup grew louder, urgency in every footfall.
"Old man, you saw nothing. You know nothing of who slaughtered these worthless disciples," she said gently, her tone almost soothing. "When our paths cross again, you will remember only me."
In a single, graceful motion, Yue Chan raised her hand and pressed her index finger to her own forehead, murmuring a silent incantation.
Her eyes flashed with a sliver of silver light. She jabbed her fingertip against Hui Min's forehead, sending a thread of spiritual power into him.
Instantly, Hui Min's consciousness faded; he collapsed beside the dead messenger, falling into a deep, unnatural sleep.
Before the reinforcements could arrive, Yue Chan vanished into the night, leaving nothing behind but bodies scattered across the bloodstained ground—and Hui Min, unconscious among them.
Moments later, the sect disciples arrived with Xue Mo at the forefront.
They halted in shock, eyes wide with terror at the carnage before them.
Who could have possibly been responsible for such a bloody assassination?