Chapter 2: The Roster

                                  

Kyoto, Prince Bei's Residence

"Your Highness, why did you ask the yamen to post a bounty?" Bai Yu was puzzled. "Isn't this startling the snake and forcing Zhao Quan to flee quickly?"

At the head of the room, a man sat on a soft couch with a small case before him, playing chess against himself.

In February, spring still carried a chill. The man wore a fur coat, the white fluff at his neck making his face appear even paler. The candle in the glass cup swayed, illuminating features as refined as jade—breathtakingly beautiful.

Hearing the question, Xiao Heqing smiled lightly. His slender fingers twisted up a black stone, the sound like flowing water striking rock—clear and pleasant. "Hitting the grass to scare the snake is the easiest way to lure the snake out of its hole."

He tilted his head, speaking casually. "Has Black Jade already left?"

Bai Yu was momentarily stunned, then nodded quickly. "He has."

He still didn't understand. Grabbing the whip at his waist, he leaned forward. "Your Highness, why hang a bounty? The Knight Villa's operations are strictly hidden. Our people finally discovered that Zhao Quan stole the roster, yet you asked the yamen to post a bounty—that's equivalent to telling the emperor about the roster. The Imperial City Commander, Mu Renjiu, has already received the news. He won't let this go."

That was a roster—a roster that could grasp the life and death of many people!

His Highness had received the news but didn't take credit for it. Instead, he handed it over to the Inner Palace, which meant giving it to Mu Renjiu.

Thinking of that cold-faced eunuch Mu Renjiu, Bai Yu felt irritated. That man was extremely skilled in martial arts, ruthless and merciless. He feared Black Jade wouldn't be able to snatch the roster from him tonight.

"The Knight Villa isn't vegetarian," Xiao Heqing said. "They won't let Mu Renjiu obtain it easily. No matter what, they'll definitely fight tonight, and the Knight Villa will try to get the roster back. If Mu Renjiu gets it......"

His smile was meaningful.

Those slender fingers dropped the black stone. In this game, the winner was decided—black won.

Bai Yu's eyes suddenly lit up. "I understand!"

The roster of the Knight Villa was stolen by Zhao Quan. They'd kept the news hidden, but His Highness offered a bounty, announcing the news not only to the Inner Palace but also to the Knight Villa—

Everyone now knew that Zhao Quan must be found as soon as possible.

After all, Zhao Quan was from the Knight Villa. They had considerable skills and would definitely search for Zhao Quan with all their might. This would also allow Mu Renjiu to track him down as quickly as possible and obtain the roster.

Though it did benefit that eunuch.

After a pause, he was still puzzled. "Then what did Your Highness send Black Jade to do?"

"Watch the play," Xie Heqing said.

Bai Yu: "......"

Do you think I believe that?

His Highness's mind was like a sieve—nothing escaped it. How could he simply send Black Jade to watch a play?

The corners of Bai Yu's mouth twitched. "Your Highness calculates so much. It must be so that either we or Mu Renjiu get the roster in order to better threaten the Knight Villa and weaken its strength."

This time, the best result would be that Mu Renjiu or they themselves obtained the roster. The worst would be if the Knight Villa took it back—but since Xiao Heqing had made a move, it definitely wouldn't be the Knight Villa that got it.

It would be fine if Mu Renjiu could get it. If he couldn't...

They'd get it instead.

As the final mantis catching the cicada, Black Jade could wait and watch.

Bai Yu's mind was at ease as he waited for the results with peace.

---

The night watchman knocked the third watch. In the dead of night, the city streets were empty. Soon, however, several men in black rode horses and quickly disappeared into the long street.

After the streets returned to calm, several more black shadows flashed quickly, quietly following the group ahead.

Ah Ran stood in the shadow of a roof, watching the scene silently.

Really.

The mantis catches the cicada, and the yellow bird waits behind.

She was about to jump from the eaves when several extremely fast shadows in the distance flashed across the rooftops, chasing the two groups ahead. They were also dressed in black, silent as the night.

Ah Ran: "?"

—Yo, another yellow bird?

Who was arresting whom?

The situation in Kyoto was more interesting than she'd imagined. But who were these people?

Ah Ran waited another moment, making sure there was no new "yellow bird," then jumped down from the roof. She quietly followed the three groups ahead, silently becoming the "fourth group."

She followed them all the way to Yuhua Temple on the outskirts of Beijing.

Tonight, the moon was full, shining on the undulating mountains. Shadows stretched long and dark. The back mountain, which should have been quiet, was filled with sword light and flashing blades. Under the moonlight, the scene became clearer—several people were besieging a man in the middle. The man was already gasping for breath, covered in blood, panting as he resisted.

His hand holding the sword was trembling.

"Zhao Quan, obediently surrender! Are the things in our Knight Villa so easy to steal?" The person opposite sneered.

Zhao Quan spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes hideous as he gritted his teeth. "Zhou Chang! Although I'm not a good person, I never attack innocent people! The Knight Villa colludes with officials, preys on the people, and is filthy—"

In the midst of his insults, a blade slashed at his arm. Zhao Quan cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

Zhou Chang's smile grew even colder as he raised his chin. "Take him back."

The others stepped forward and lifted the person.

At that moment, the wind rose again.

Several shadows suddenly appeared like night assassins, landing behind the Knight Villa people. Short knives quickly slashed across throats, and someone fell to the ground. The rest panicked and abandoned Zhao Quan to resist.

Zhou Chang immediately raised his knife and stepped back, looking at the newcomers angrily. "Who dares to stop the Knight—"

His voice stopped abruptly, his expression becoming frightened.

The newcomer wore a black suit with a black gauze hat. Two thin red ropes hung down from it. Half his face wore a black mask, while the remaining half was pale with slightly red corners at the eyes. Under the moonlight, he looked extremely sinister.

He wore a long whip around his waist, with sharp bone spurs that seemed to still have flesh and blood hanging on them.

Though only about twenty years old, the oppressive feeling he brought was suffocating.

"Commander of the Imperial City, Mu Renjiu!" Zhou Chang's voice trembled slightly.

Mu Renjiu raised his hand to hook the red rope hanging from his chest and smiled softly. His voice was hoarse and bewitching. "Zhao Quan is mine."

Zhou Chang's expression changed.

The next moment, the Knight Villa people pounced together.

If the mission failed, they would die when they returned. Even knowing the opponent was Mu Renjiu, they had to try.

Mu Renjiu took a step back, as if not wanting blood splattered on him. His voice was faint. "Really, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Seeking death......"

The battle changed hands, but the fighting continued.

Ah Ran silently hid in a tree in the distance, shaking her head.

Master had said that a swordsman not only had to "fight" but also "hide." He was famous for his Shura Sword—not only fighting one against a hundred but also possessing assassination skills that were first in the world. Ah Ran was seventeen years old and had learned ninety percent of her master's skills.

In the first thirteen years, there had been only her and her master on the nameless mountain. When Master came out with his blade, he was fierce and ruthless. So when Ah Ran saw them fighting, she only felt they were too polite.

Zhou Chang was still afraid in the end.

After repelling the Palace people, he tapped his foot lightly and appeared on his horse. Shaking the reins, he left the other horses behind to escape.

"Whoosh—"

A long whip swung out. The sharp, thorny whip wrapped around the man's neck.

The man tried to tear off the long whip, his eyes frightened, mouth wide open. Blood spilled out as he made desperate sounds.

Ah Ran's eyes lit up, staring at Mu Renjiu with bright eyes.

Mu Renjiu smiled softly. With a strong pull, he dragged the person off the horse with his long whip. Zhou Chang instantly lost his breath.

He took back his whip and turned around, about to speak, when he suddenly stopped.

A woman in black had appeared at some point. She stood in front of Zhao Quan, holding a knife, looking at him quietly. The wind blew her veil, revealing bright eyes below.

Mu Renjiu's face sank instantly, his eyes becoming cold.

This person must have approached while he was distracted killing Zhou Chang. But even distracted, if someone could approach so quietly, this woman must be a master—very good at hiding.

"Who are you?" His voice was cold.

A bounty order had been posted, so there must be others curious enough to watch. But someone who dared to intervene in the actions of both the Knight Villa and the Palace was rare. Mu Renjiu had never seen this person, and the knife was also unfamiliar.

Who was this? Who sent her to grab the roster?

Ah Ran didn't answer.

She straightened her hat and took out the bounty from her clothes. Shaking it off, she tilted her head, polite and serious. "I took the bounty. I want Zhao Quan."

"Huh—"

There was almost no hesitation. The next moment, Mu Renjiu had already attacked.

Ah Ran curled her lips. He didn't let her finish speaking—this person didn't practice martial virtue!

She lifted her knife, her toes sliding back, blocking Mu Renjiu's long whip. Then she threw it hard, the long knife slashing toward Mu Renjiu with endless killing intent.

The movements were rough, but the lethality was amazing. Every strike rushed to kill.

Mu Renjiu's long whip wrapped around the long knife as he retreated.

"Shura Sword?!" His face changed slightly, his dark, bottomless eyes staring at Ah Ran. "Who are you to Shura Sword Chenliu?"

Ah Ran didn't answer. She drew her knife and slashed again.

At this moment, she didn't care about Zhao Quan or her coffin savings at all. She had eyes only for Mu Renjiu. Excitement and joy flashed in her clear, clean eyes.

In thirteen years of practicing swords in the mountains, she'd only fought with her master. For the first ten years, Master chased and beat her. For the next three years, she fought with her master, but every time she was ruthless, Master would hold his missing arm and scold her for having no conscience and being unfilial.

Today, she'd finally met a master she could fight fiercely with, regardless of life and death.

Mu Renjiu smiled coldly. "Seeking death!"

The two fought frantically at breakneck speed.

The blade was murderous, the long whip sharp and fierce, rolling up fallen leaves all over the ground. Debris dotted the air. Trees fell to the knife's energy, and the long whip pulled down new leaves. The cold moon was in the sky, making the night even colder. The battle between the two could hardly allow a third person to insert themselves.

The other people Mu Renjiu had brought had just been injured. At this moment, they looked at each other. Without Mu Renjiu giving an order, they didn't know whether to intervene or not.

The two fought inseparably, both becoming more and more excited, their moves increasingly ruthless.

"Bang!"

"Clang!"

The knife slashed fiercely, cutting off Mu Renjiu's sleeve and leaving a bloodstain on his arm. On the other side, Mu Renjiu hooked off Ah Ran's hat.

Both were playing with a style of "losing eight hundred to kill a thousand enemies."

Under the moonlight, Ah Ran's face became clear.

Ah Ran didn't care. She went up with her knife again. She hadn't worn the veiled hat to prevent people from seeing her face—there was nothing to hide. She wore a hat because she hadn't been in contact with outsiders for too long and was afraid of socializing.

Just as Mu Renjiu's subordinates were about to help, Mu Renjiu stared closely at Ah Ran's face, and his expression completely changed.

Rumble!

It almost exploded in his brain.

His dark pupils contracted. Ignoring the wound on his arm, Mu Renjiu stared at Ah Ran's face, frozen in shock.

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