Chapter 65: I Want to Be Friends with You

"Who is it?"

Nangong Xiong's fury blazed, his hair bristling as he stared intently toward the source of that cold gleam.

He never expected that anyone else would be here tonight—let alone an ally of Jun Wushuang. Yet, he had already blanketed the area with his spiritual sense. Aside from Jun Wushuang and Qi Jingwen, there was no one else present. Who, then, was this mysterious assailant who had just made a move? Unfortunately, no matter how fiercely Nangong Xiong roared, there was not the slightest response. Even when his spiritual power erupted outward, he failed to discover a single clue.

Had he encountered a ghost?

Jun Wushuang also frowned, puzzlement in his eyes. He, too, had no idea who had intervened. This was the slums; the nearest threat should have been Mo Xingyun of the Azure Cloud Martial Academy. But if it had been Mo Xingyun who struck, that previous sword would have been enough to slay Nangong Xiong outright.

It wasn't Mo Xingyun—then who could it be? Friend or foe?

Jun Wushuang's mind was filled with questions, but now was not the time to dwell. He seized the opportunity to retrieve a pill, swallowing it as he circulated his Devouring Heaven Demon Art, striving to restore his demonic energy.

He would not pin his hopes of survival on another.

"You little wretch, no matter what helpers you have, no one can save you tonight!"

Unable to locate the hidden attacker, Nangong Xiong redirected all his killing intent toward Jun Wushuang. As long as he killed Jun Wushuang, tonight's mission would be complete.

With a thunderous roar, Nangong Xiong stretched out his hand and drew forth a jet-black spear, striding straight toward Jun Wushuang. He refrained from invoking the power of a Heaven-and-Man realm master or unleashing his Marquis-level avatar—those techniques made too much noise. If Mo Xingyun were drawn over, even if he succeeded in slaying Jun Wushuang, he might not escape himself.

But Jun Wushuang was already gravely wounded and weakened. Even with only ordinary means, it would be easy to kill him.

"Profound Grade Advanced Martial Technique—Thunderclap Strike!"

The spear thrust forward. It was as sudden and fierce as a lightning bolt, so fast it was almost invisible. The black spear tore through the air, transforming into a streak of black lightning aimed straight at Jun Wushuang's throat.

This attack was filled with murderous intent—sharp and deadly. Even a strong practitioner at the Divine Sea level would be doomed.

"Asura Blade Slash!"

Gritting his teeth, Jun Wushuang gripped the Asura Demon Blade and struck with all his might. Now, his body was weak, his demonic energy depleted; he could only rely on the blade's own sharpness to defend himself.

Bang!

A violent force crashed into him, sending Jun Wushuang flying once more.

Swish!

At that very moment—

The cold gleam appeared again! It seemed to grow out of the darkness itself, utterly without warning. Yet, once it manifested, it was as sharp as death’s own scythe, poised to harvest a living soul.

Nangong Xiong shuddered inwardly, but having suffered before, he was now prepared. With a flick of his spear, he faced the cold gleam head-on, not only aiming to shatter it, but also to slay his hidden foe.

Bang!

The icy ray was pierced through, but Nangong Xiong’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Not good!"

A powerful sense of danger surged from behind, sending chills down his spine. Another cold gleam appeared abruptly at his back.

Squelch!

The cold light stabbed into Nangong Xiong’s back, piercing straight through him and staining the ground crimson. Yet, as a Marquis-level master, Nangong Xiong’s strength was extraordinary; though this strike gravely wounded him, it did not end his life.

"Beiming Ye, show yourself!"

Nangong Xiong roared, his spiritual power surging outward, shaking the surroundings. He had guessed the identity of the attacker.

Beiming Ye?

Jun Wushuang was startled. The heiress of the Beiming Clan. Just recently, at the pill auction, she had taken the Enlightenment Pill and publicly broken through another realm. Why would she be here? And why would she help him?

Jun Wushuang’s confusion grew, and he activated his Violet Demon Eyes. Yet, even with that, he could only glimpse a faint, shadowy figure—he could not discern Beiming Ye’s location at all.

"Shadow Emperor Body!"

Jun Wushuang immediately realized Beiming Ye’s uniqueness. The Shadow Emperor Body could transform one into a shadow, hiding in darkness, as elusive as a ghost.

Even though Nangong Xiong was a Marquis-level master, his spiritual sense could not locate Beiming Ye. Moreover, the Beiming Clan was famed as the assassin family—their arts of assassination were unrivaled in the Great Qian Dynasty. With the Shadow Emperor Body and the Beiming Clan’s unique assassination techniques, Nangong Xiong was left little more than a practice target, unable to retaliate as he was attacked again and again.

Beiming Ye remained concealed in the darkness, not revealing the slightest trace of her presence. She ignored Nangong Xiong’s shouts, as cold and lethal as a wraith in the night.

"Beiming Ye, this is a feud between my Nangong Clan and him—do you truly intend to interfere?"

Nangong Xiong dared not attack Jun Wushuang again; otherwise, Beiming Ye’s assassination would surely be the death of him.

"The Beiming Clan may be powerful, but my Nangong Clan is not to be trifled with. This man is a mortal enemy of my family—if you help him, you become our foe as well. Do you truly wish to spark a war between our two houses over him? Beiming Ye, as long as you withdraw, I can compensate you handsomely. What do you say?"

Nangong Xiong tried both threats and bribes, hoping to persuade Beiming Ye to stand down. Yet no matter how honeyed his words, Beiming Ye gave not the slightest response—no acceptance, no refusal, only cold indifference.

Swish!

Nangong Xiong thrust his spear again, its tip like lightning, aiming for Jun Wushuang. He wanted to test Beiming Ye’s resolve.

Whoosh!

The cold gleam reappeared; and despite his mental preparation, Nangong Xiong could not defend against it. His abdomen was pierced, blood spilling to the ground.

Night was the Beiming Clan’s domain. And Beiming Ye was the very queen of darkness. Even a Marquis like Nangong Xiong could not evade her.

His wounds were now too severe. With Beiming Ye present, he could no longer attack Jun Wushuang.

"Jun Wushuang, consider yourself lucky tonight, but my Nangong Clan will not let this go. You will die, your friends and family will die, and the Jun Clan in Jiangning City will die as well. I will slaughter your entire household to appease the spirit of my son. Just you wait—next time, I’ll see you utterly annihilated!"

Nangong Xiong’s eyes burned with murderous hatred as he glared at Jun Wushuang, as if wishing to devour him whole. Yet with Beiming Ye here, his plans for tonight were doomed to failure.

"Jun Wushuang, Beiming Ye—you both deserve to die!"

Grinding his teeth in rage, Nangong Xiong added Beiming Ye to his list of mortal enemies.

Swish!

Turning away, Nangong Xiong departed. His injuries were too grave—he had to retreat and heal immediately.

With Nangong Xiong gone, the crisis abated. Yet Jun Wushuang did not lower his guard, for Beiming Ye, who was even more enigmatic, still lingered.

Though she had driven away Nangong Xiong, Jun Wushuang could not guess her intentions.

From the darkness, a lithe figure stepped forth—it was Beiming Ye.

"Why did you save me?" Jun Wushuang looked at her, voicing his doubt.

Beiming Ye was like a queen of the night, breathtaking in her beauty. She gazed at Jun Wushuang with cool detachment, and the words she spoke left him stunned.

"I wish to be your friend."