Liu Xing's eyes rolled back in anger, his whole body chilled. Killing was one thing, but this woman was truly venomous. Looking at the houses on the street that had previously lit up, they instantly plunged back into darkness. He guessed the occupants were probably trembling in their beds at this moment.
Yun Xiao quickly reached out and covered the woman's mouth, unable to let her utter any more boasts, lest they scare a few more families to death tonight.
"Mmph," the person with her mouth covered looked utterly bewildered, blinking her eyes, not understanding what she had said wrong to warrant her master covering her mouth.
The commotion of the two by the windowsill had long alerted Mo Ruoyan outside. Seeing the two entangled figures under the bright moon, particularly intimate with ear-whispering and closeness, she grew even more hateful, her attacks becoming increasingly fierce and deadly.
She even forced Liu Xing and Zhui Yue into a defensive posture, unable to attack, as the three moved towards the front of the small building.
Zhui Yue was also annoyed, shouting, "Why don't you go back?"
In fact, he was thinking of Mo Ruoyan's well-being, as their master would arrive soon. If she stayed, she would absolutely not get away with it.
However, it seemed too late. Before his shout had even landed, a silver-white beam of light flashed in the distance. With flowing robes, like a magnificent shooting star, it streaked across the horizon and reached them in an instant.
The air seemed to plunge into an ice cellar, chilling to the bone, making hearts tremble uncontrollably.
Under the moonlight, the wide sleeve with embroidered edges lifted, as light as dust-free floating clouds, drifting leisurely. It was serene and transcendent, graceful and captivating. Though elegant and pure, her hand was as fast as lightning, with the speed of thunder, and in a blink, she seized Mo Ruoyan by the neck.
A deep, magnetic voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out.
"How dare you disregard my words."
Mo Ruoyan was horrified. She had never dreamed her master would arrive. She suddenly understood why Zhui Yue had repeatedly told her to go back.
But there was no time for further thought. The long sword in her hand clanged as it fell, rolling on the glazed tiles with a clattering sound before plummeting from the rooftop.
Her eyes, as radiant as the morning clouds, stared fixedly at the person above her. His black hair was casually styled, three thousand strands of silk fluttering in the wind. The magnificent jade crown shone with a lustrous brilliance like a pearl. His face in the dark night held not a shred of pity.
His black pupils shot out icy glints, deep as a cold abyss, emitting no light. At this moment, her mind was in chaos, as if she were trapped in a suffocating narrow valley with no way forward or back.
Only now did she understand that she had violated her master's prohibition. If she didn't die tonight, she would lose a layer of skin.
Behind them, Zhui Yue spoke in panic, "Master, spare her this time."
He wasn't trying to save Mo Ruoyan, but at a time when they were in need of capable individuals. Although Mo Ruoyan harbored unrequited affection for their master, her strength was not to be underestimated. Being one of the four protectors of the palace, she undoubtedly possessed extraordinary abilities.
Unfortunately, Murong Chong was completely unmoved. The grand strategy of this world would not change for any single person. However, he absolutely would not allow anyone to harm Xiao'er, not even in the slightest thought.
In the distance, by the small window, Yun Xiao watched everything coldly, finding it utterly meaningless. A subordinate falling in love with her master and then taking her anger out on others was simply laughable.
If her master loved her, he wouldn't need her to act. If he didn't love her, why struggle so desperately? Women were truly pathetic.
She couldn't help but raise her voice and say coldly, "Alright, all of you, scram. Don't dirty this place."
Saying this, she lifted the curtain in her hand and turned to walk back inside the house.
Outside, Murong Chong's pupils flickered. Knowing Yun Xiao was angry, a dark shadow passed over his face, which was as cold as ice jade. He reduced the strength in his grip, raised his other hand, condensed the power in his palm, and directed a powerful force towards Mo Ruoyan's head. Then, he withdrew his hand and said coldly.
"Today, I will cripple three tenths of your cultivation. If you offend again, do not blame me for being heartless."
Mo Ruoyan's body slipped, and she almost fell from the eaves, her face covered in cold sweat, pale as paper.
Just now, she thought she was surely going to die. She hadn't expected that in the end, only three tenths of her cultivation would be crippled.
And the reason she was alive was because of that young master in the cold moon's words. Thinking of this, she would have rather died at her master's hands. She did not want to be saved by that person's intervention.
Zhui Yue, fearing that Mo Ruoyan might have further thoughts that would anger their master, quickly stepped forward and grabbed her, speaking cautiously, "Zhui Feng, escort her back."
"Mm," Zhui Feng came over, reached out and took Mo Ruoyan, supporting her. The two of them flashed and disappeared into the night.
This time, Murong Chong said nothing. His dark eyes swept towards the small building, and he waved his hand, signaling Zhui Yue and Liu Xing to retreat.
Liu Xing was so angry he wanted to curse. He was the master's subordinate, not his. Why was he so arrogant and domineering?
But thinking of his martial arts, he couldn't defeat the other party in a fight, so scolding was impossible. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and endure, watching as Murong Chong gracefully entered the small building.
Inside the small building, the light was soft. A person sat on the bed, staring at him coldly. The mask on her face had been removed, revealing her original appearance. She was incredibly beautiful, her large eyes, distinct black and white, blazing with anger, like a prairie fire.
She had already sent the maid Wan Wan away because she knew this fellow wouldn't not come in. If Wan Wan were here to get in the way, she would only be asking for trouble. Even if he didn't trouble her, it didn't mean he wouldn't trouble others.
Murong Chong's pupils rippled with a shimmering smile, like light waves rippling, clear and refreshing as a flowing spring.
Thinking of what had happened earlier, his heart tightened, a hint of anger surfacing. However, looking at her appearance now, he couldn't help but feel a warmth.
As long as she was well, nothing else mattered. The world, or the empire. After experiencing life and death, he had long since grown indifferent to power.
Life was short, striving for fame and fortune, and in the end, what remained was nothing but desolation. The reason he had made a comeback was simply because that person was not of royal blood.
He could not tolerate someone not of royal blood occupying such a position, harming the former emperor's loyal subjects with a facade of respectability, enjoying the honor belonging to the Shangguan family. He was not worthy, just a lowly scion.
The corner of Murong Chong's lips curled with a bloodthirsty sharpness, like a Shura from hell arriving on the moonlight.
Yun Xiao watched coldly. The man's drastic change from before made her wonder if he was thinking of something unpleasant again, causing him to become so cold and ruthless.
"Hmph," Yun Xiao snorted coldly, even speaking with lingering anger, "Great Hero Murong, it's late. Hurry and leave, I need to sleep."
She hadn't expected Mo Ruoyan to actually come and assassinate her for him. She wondered if he had given Mo Ruoyan such an idea, otherwise why would she inexplicably come to her place to assassinate her.
If he hadn't come tonight, she was afraid Liu Xing and Zhui Yue wouldn't have been able to stop her. She hadn't expected that a famously beautiful courtesan, capable of toppling cities, would possess such profound martial arts.
Thinking about it carefully, her status in the Divine Dragon Palace was probably not low. Was she one of the four protectors?
Murong Chong came back to his senses, walked over steadily, his white robes flowing, his sleeves light. His posture was elegant, refined, and ethereal, showing none of the previous bloodlust or cold indifference.
His eyes, as clear as glazed glass, were as dark as cold stars, dazzlingly bright. A faint smile played on his lips, making him radiant. He walked all the way to Yun Xiao, looking down at her from above.