Chapter 29 Part 1

Zhu Ming’s face cycled through a spectacular rainbow of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—before she finally snarled, “Fine, fine, fine! You actually dare show your face to me again. Seems you’re dead set on being my enemy. In that case, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

Yin Yu asked curiously, “No mercy like what? Like last time?”

Wenren Tu’s eyes darted suspiciously from Zhu Ming to Yin Yu. “Last time? What last time?”

Zhu Ming covered her mouth and coughed twice. “Don’t talk nonsense. I thought you were a fake back then, so I didn’t…”

Yin Yu’s smile turned subtle. “Weren’t you claiming it was just a test?”

Zhu Ming: “…”

Her face darkened as she strode toward Wenren Tu, yanking out her long blade, Autumn-Severing. “Cut the crap! I wasn’t going to hold a grudge, but you just had to show up. You’re like a vengeful spirit that won’t leave me alone. Spill it—what do you want?!”

Hearing the hostile interrogation, Yin Yu showed no displeasure. She simply looked perfectly innocent. “And what if I don’t tell you?”

…Right. She’d refused to tell her last time too.

Actually, if she hadn’t reappeared, whatever she was plotting wouldn’t have mattered. But she just had to show up again. This undoubtedly meant Yin Yu’s schemes were deeply tied to her. And since that was the case, Zhu Ming could no longer turn a blind eye.

Yin Yu didn’t want to talk? Fine. She’d force her to talk!

Zhu Ming thrust out a hand. “Stick-up.” Hand over your food tickets first.

Yin Yu blinked, glanced at Zhu Ming, then suddenly shifted sideways. Her hand hooked the outer edge of the window, and like a fish slipping through water, she slid out and flipped onto the roof!

The move completely stunned both Zhu Ming and Wenren Tu. Damn, so leaving the carriage interior was possible!

“Lend me your blade!”

Wind howled into the carriage. Zhu Ming grabbed her sword without hesitation and followed her out the window. She pressed against the frame and climbed onto the roof. Gazing out from the high vantage point, the world was a sea of golden autumn hues.

The earth was planted with rippling waves of wheat fields, scattered sparsely with red maples and golden leaves. Crisp autumn air, blue sky, pale clouds—the only thing unique in the entire world was this dark green train.

The train wasn’t moving at a particularly high speed, but as long as it was in motion, wind swept from front to back.

Only now, standing on the exterior, did Zhu Ming realize just how long this train was. It was hard to see the end at a glance; a rough estimate put it at over fifty carriages!

Up ahead, Yin Yu stood against the wind. She brushed a few stray locks of hair from her forehead and unhurriedly tied the belt of her trench coat.

Yin Yu said, “Mingming, even though I haven’t fallen in love with you, I really do like you. Did you truly believe I wanted to kill you?”

Zhu Ming’s heart trembled, but her expression remained unchanged. She sneered, “Are you done yapping? As if anyone’s still in love with you. If you’re scared, just say so.”

Who knew if this was another one of Yin Yu’s schemes—acting pitiful to win sympathy? Besides, who asked her to repeatedly emphasize the “I don’t love you” thing?!

Yin Yu gave a soft smile. “How hurtful. Well then, now I definitely can’t let you go.”

As if it was clear who wasn’t letting go of whom.

Zhu Ming charged forward the moment she finished speaking. The distance between them closed rapidly. Yin Yu sidestepped to avoid the blade, but it was merely a feint—Zhu Ming’s true target was her lower body!

Wearing high heels into a dungeon? Let’s see how hard you fall! And the fact that she was a centimeter or two shorter than Zhu Ming but taller with heels on irritated Zhu Ming to no end.

Yin Yu raised an eyebrow, her steps nimble as she leaped backward, perfectly evading Zhu Ming’s sweeping leg hook. She glanced at the blade in Zhu Ming’s hand, then turned and dashed toward the rear of the train. Her trench coat spread like wings; she moved as lightly as a bird.

Zhu Ming naturally wasn’t about to let her escape. She took off in pursuit. The high heels significantly impacted Yin Yu’s speed, and Zhu Ming quickly closed the distance to her back.

Distance shrinking, Zhu Ming raised her blade and slashed. Her aura was fierce, her brutality completely unmasked. If Yin Yu failed to dodge, in the next second, her arm would be bloodied on the spot!

Yin Yu wasn’t fast; escape seemed impossible. But then her steps halted, and she spun halfway around, lunging backward. Not only did she evade Zhu Ming’s blade gleam, but she practically hurled herself into Zhu Ming’s arms!

Too close.

Zhu Ming jolted in shock, even catching the woman’s subtle fragrance amidst the cold wind. The extreme proximity thrust that unforgettable face squarely into Zhu Ming’s vision—naturally including her smiling, watery eyes and cherry lips.

Zhu Ming braked in an emergency, instinctively grabbing Yin Yu’s waist to steady herself. Beneath her palm, the body felt bonelessly soft.

Someone wielding a blade can kill an opponent they can’t reach, but the longer and heavier the weapon, the harder it is to react flexibly against someone at close quarters. All things have their strengths and weaknesses. Zhu Ming immediately reversed her blade’s edge, but she was a step too slow.

Yin Yu’s fingers formed an orchid gesture, flicking toward Zhu Ming’s throat. Zhu Ming had firsthand experience of just how much strength that hand possessed. Don’t be fooled by its slender, delicate beauty—a single flick could crush her throat!

Left with no choice, Zhu Ming withdrew to protect herself while simultaneously flipping backward to leap away. Yin Yu seized the chance to twist her waist and retreat, evading Zhu Ming’s upward-kicking long leg.

Zhu Ming landed from her backflip, clutching her blade, glaring with the ferocity of a tiger. In that brief gap, Yin Yu had already widened the distance again.

This time, she had nowhere left to run. Unknowingly, their chase had reached the very end of the train. If Yin Yu fled any further, she’d have to jump.

But Yin Yu had no intention of retreating further. She stood in the wind, coat open, her well-proportioned figure outlined by the long dress beneath.

“A few years apart, and Mingming has become more and more formidable. Perfect timing—my blade is here. Let me properly witness just how much you’ve improved.”

A window below opened, and a blade was tossed up. Yin Yu caught it with a flourish, twirling it in a flashy display. The blade was slender, soft, and thin, trembling ceaselessly in the wind. With a light flick from Yin Yu, it emitted an unending, resonant hum.

Zhu Ming didn’t dare underestimate her.

Amidst the fierce wind, two figures—one in black, one in light colors—faced off from a distance.

It was impossible to tell who moved first. A shimmering flash of blade light blossomed in the wind.

Autumn-Severing was rigid, ruthless, and vicious. The blade in Yin Yu’s hand was light, thin, and dexterous. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged several moves, the sound of clashing metal ringing out in an unbroken chain.

So fast.

Unknowingly, several cuts had torn open in Zhu Ming’s clothes. Blood trickled down, only to be whipped away by the wind. Her tightly bound hair came loose, dancing wildly in the breeze.

Yin Yu repeated her old trick, pressing forward aggressively. Her snowy blade tilted subtly, flashing cold light that dazzled Zhu Ming’s vision, instinctively creating an opening. In that instant, Yin Yu lightly flicked the blade. The limp tip curved around the parrying long sword and slapped toward Zhu Ming’s left eye.

She should have dodged. If she dodged, Yin Yu could smoothly slide the blade toward her neck.

In that split second, Yin Yu had already predicted the sequence: she attacked Zhu Ming’s vital spot. With Zhu Ming’s acute combat instincts, she would react instantly. But in the span of a breath, her options were severely limited—either she would sidestep and counter with her own blade, or she would attack Yin Yu’s lower body to trade defense for offense.

And no matter what Zhu Ming did next, Yin Yu was confident in her response. Naturally, Zhu Ming wouldn’t lose easily either. After several exchanges, neither had gained the upper hand; this fight wouldn’t be settled quickly.

But Zhu Ming didn’t dodge.

As the cold, sharp tip lunged toward her face, she neither dodged nor flinched. Her eyes didn’t even blink. She raised her blade horizontally to deflect the soft blade’s body upward. The soft blade slid upward, but its tip still curved around, stabbing toward Zhu Ming’s face—yet Zhu Ming’s goal wasn’t to push the soft blade away entirely. In the span of a breath, she couldn’t push it far anyway. Don’t attempt the impossible from the start. What she wanted was simply to make the tip slide horizontally just enough to miss her eye, piercing flesh without hitting bone!

Thwack.

The blade tip stabbed into the center of Zhu Ming’s forehead. A trickle of fresh blood flowed down.

Yin Yu showed a trace of surprise, then immediately understood—but it was already too late to dodge.

The moment the blade pierced Zhu Ming’s forehead, she had already raised her leg and kicked forward with all her might!

Thud.

Yin Yu slid heavily backward.

Zhu Ming had poured every ounce of strength into that kick, holding nothing back. Yin Yu was nearly lifted off her feet, and the train kept charging forward without pause!

Amidst the howling gale, Yin Yu slid uncontrollably backward. One must remember, their fight had unfolded at the very tail end of the train. In the blink of an eye, Yin Yu slid off the rear edge, plummeting downward. Her reactions were extremely fast; she grabbed a protruding bar at the back of the train. Just as she was about to plant her feet on a foothold below, an icy blade edge pressed against her neck.

Yin Yu looked up.

Zhu Ming crouched on the roof, backlit. Her black hair danced wildly before her face. Blood from her forehead flowed down the bridge of her nose, streaking her cheek, making her expression especially dark and unreadable.

“Don’t move,” Zhu Ming said. “Unless you want me to slice your hand off so you fall and splatter.”

Yin Yu smiled. “I didn’t expect that after seven years, Mingming would become even more formidable than I imagined. You know, you used to be such an obedient kid who didn’t even know to fight back when bullied.”

Zhu Ming’s mouth twitched. She sneered, “What can I say? The mere thought that I might see you again one day gave me endless motivation to train. I always felt you were incredibly strong, so I never dared relax, afraid that when I met you again, I wouldn’t be able to beat you to a pulp. But seeing you now, I guess my memory exaggerated your prowess. You’re nothing special.”

Seven years ago, Zhu Ming had been eighteen—weak and helpless. The terror of Yin Yu had pressed down on her, forcing her forward. That nightmare glimpse on that fateful night—Zhu Ming didn’t know what Yin Yu truly was, but she knew she was powerful.