In the pitch-black night, Luo Xiu leaped from rooftop to rooftop, as nimble and fast as a monkey in the mountains, as if his body were weightless. In his field of view, the tall and graceful figure ahead grew closer and closer. But he knew this wasn't because his own speed allowed him to catch up, but because she had deliberately slowed down.

Suddenly, the graceful figure came to an abrupt halt. She tapped a foot against a wall and spun around, diving straight toward the pursuing Luo Xiu! At the same moment, a brilliant Sword Light illuminated the night, accompanied by a long, ethereal cry—the call of a whale from the deep sea.

Luo Xiu's expression hardened. He stopped short, crossing his hands before his face as a surge of energy erupted from his body to block the Sword Light.

BOOM—!

The collision of their powers sent a massive boom reverberating through the Void.

It was like two large trucks colliding head-on at full speed. Propelled by the immense shockwave, Luo Xiu's body was thrown straight backward. After flying for tens of meters, he performed a somersault and landed smoothly on the roof of a building.

Tens of meters ahead, the graceful figure stood silently atop a lamppost, her left hand holding the scabbard and her right holding the longsword level. The night breeze gently stirred, causing her long hair to flutter. The scene was as beautiful and dreamlike as a painting.

Luo Xiu watched the long-haired woman in black, his expression growing more solemn.

Since leaving the mountain, I've always felt that the so-called Martial Artists I faced were "light," as if they were utterly beneath me. But this woman is different. She gives me the impression of being as profound as a mountain, as unfathomable as the abyss.

In the silence, Luo Xiu spoke. "The white whale sinks into the ancient abyss, its cry bringing sorrow to all living things. If I'm not mistaken, the weapon in your hand is the Whale Crying Sword, ranked seventh among Hua Country's ten great swords."

The woman in black nodded slightly but made no sound, as if she were mute. The eyes visible above her lace mask were deep and tranquil, yet also clear and transparent, betraying no hint of emotion. They were less like a pair of eyes and more like a vast, mysterious, and brilliant starry sky.

Furthermore, Luo Xiu found that no matter how he tried to look, the woman's face remained blurry. He was certain this strange effect had nothing to do with the lace mask she wore.

Luo Xiu chuckled, a cyan aura suddenly radiating from his body. In an instant, his powerful presence washed over the night, and the very heavens and earth seemed to grow heavy beneath it! The entire space felt as if it had solidified.

"Miss, panties are meant to be worn… not used as a face mask."

The moment the words left his lips, he appeared before the woman in black as if he had teleported. All that remained in the Void was a cyan trail of light left by his movement.

The woman in black was unfazed, immediately raising her sword to block across her chest.

BOOM!

Luo Xiu's fist struck the blade, and another massive bang echoed through the night.

In the next moment, they were both sent flying backward. Luo Xiu executed a backflip, landing smoothly back in his original spot. The woman in black drifted gently downward. Upon touching the ground, she became a fleeting shadow and vanished into the night.

Luo Xiu's brow furrowed. After a brief hesitation, he decided not to give chase.

I'm afraid it's a trick to lure the tiger from the mountain. Earlier, she came to my house and launched a surprise attack with a leaf as a hidden weapon. She drew me out, but when I caught up, she refused to fight properly, clashing only once before fleeing… This must be a diversion!

A short while later, Luo Xiu returned to Villa No. 1. Finding everyone safe, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

So it wasn't a diversion after all.

As soon as he entered his room, Luo Xiu was taken aback. He saw Lin Xiyue squatting by the bed, crying.

"What are you crying for?"

Hearing his voice, Lin Xiyue shot up, threw herself into his arms, and hugged him tightly. She sobbed, "Luo Xiu, I thought… I thought I was going to lose you."

Luo Xiu sighed and gently rubbed her shoulders. "Alright, alright, it's okay now. See? I'm perfectly fine."

He wasn't surprised by Lin Xiyue's unusual reaction. He figured she must have been affected by the "whale cry" from earlier.

Although this was Luo Xiu's first time seeing the legendary Whale Crying Sword, he had read many detailed records about Hua Country's ten great swords back at Ghost Valley Mountain. According to those accounts, both the blade and scabbard of the Whale Crying Sword had a special construction, similar to the inside of a musical instrument. When the Sword Master forcefully drew the blade, the air rushing through the scabbard would produce a sound identical to a whale's cry.

If the Sword Master was powerful enough, this sound could even influence the emotions of those who heard it. Someone with sorrow in their heart would perceive it as a lament and be overcome with sadness, just like Lin Xiyue was now. In contrast, someone in high spirits would hear it as a cheerful call, their mood brightening further, perhaps even to the point of euphoria. And if an angry person heard it, they would interpret it as a provocation and fly into a rage.

Of course, Luo Xiu remained unaffected. After all, he could even withstand Su Shanyue's Void Zen Sound.

After comforting Lin Xiyue for a while, Luo Xiu carried her to the bed and held her hand until she fell asleep. He then sat down on the sofa, lost in thought.

I never expected Sea City to have an expert of this caliber. Judging by her actions, it seems she was just testing me. I wonder what she was really after? In any case, I need to be more careful from now on. This woman is nothing like the small fry I've dealt with before. In my current condition, if we really fought, I'm not sure I could win. Unless… I draw my sword, too.

「Meanwhile.」

In a high-end, five-star hotel, Duan Feibai sat on a sofa in his bathrobe. He was holding a fat cat and looking at Xiao Ye with an inquisitive gaze.

"You went to find Luo Xiu?" he asked.

Xiao Ye nodded gently.

"How is his strength?"

Xiao Ye paused for a moment before nodding again.

Duan Feibai furrowed his brow, sinking into thought. He was already used to Xiao Ye not speaking.

A peerless expert like her is bound to have some quirks. But I'm sure of one thing: she's not mute. Besides, her silence is what makes her so charming.

After a moment, Duan Feibai asked again, "Are you stronger than him?"

Xiao Ye remained silent, merely watching him.

Duan Feibai thought for a moment before saying, "In that case, it seems we'll have to set a trap. We'll lure him out of the city and kill him there."

Xiao Ye nodded slightly and turned to leave.

"Um..." Duan Feibai started.

Xiao Ye paused at the door, her back to him, waiting for him to continue.

Duan Feibai looked somewhat embarrassed. "Xiao Ye, I know you have a mysterious background and possess incredible strength. You probably look down on people like us, but I still have to ask…" He paused, mustering his courage before continuing, "If—and this is just a hypothetical—if I were to pursue you… is there any chance we could become a couple?"

He quickly added, "I'm not just bragging. With my family's resources, if you were with me, I could give you anything you wanted."

Xiao Ye showed no reaction, as if she hadn't heard a word, and simply walked out.

"Sigh."

Watching the door close, Duan Feibai let out a faint sigh.

Looks like it's a no. Heh, I've got some serious nerve, daring to even say something like that. Forget it. I'll stick with my Xiao Li.

Though I've never seen her true face, just thinking about her tall, curvaceous figure is enough to make it hard to sleep at night. Deep down, I have a powerful desire to conquer her, just to hear what her voice sounds like.

However, these were just fantasies confined to the deepest corners of his mind. He would never dare to actually act on them. After all, this female assassin was a being that even the Henghai Admiral was wary of.

「At that moment.」

In another hotel room, Xiao Ye set down her sword. She swiftly stripped off her clothes and stepped into the bathroom.

She stood before the mirror and reached up to remove the mask, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. Suddenly, the corners of her lips curled into a faint smile.

Little one, you don't recognize me anymore, do you? You've grown up.

Gradually, the smile faded from her face, and a single, silent tear slid from the corner of her eye.

But you're also going to die soon.

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