In an instant, Sheya's heart sank to the bottom.
"Re-lease—" Fear gripped his throat. He opened his mouth, but his voice was incredibly hoarse.
"You want me to release her? Okay," someone kicked away the stool under Kui's feet, and her body immediately tensed up. The rope dug into Kui's neck. Her feet kicked wildly, and her tied hands clenched and unclenched, but all struggles were in vain.
Huzhao rushed up, only to be hit hard on the back of the head with a stick, and he collapsed to the ground.
"If it weren't for waiting for you to come back, she would have died long ago," Kanash's confidant sneered, "What a good excuse, diarrhea? You probably don't know that the boss specifically arranged for someone to keep an eye on you, he knew that you stray dogs were difficult to manage, and if he didn't show you some color, you would really think the Bloodhand Gang has no rules at all."
"I was wrong," Sheya knelt down and said, "Please let her go! She didn't even step out of this room!"
"But this little biaozi lied to me," the other person shrugged, "She even insisted that you were looking for shelter. She lost two teeth and still didn't admit it. What's the use of keeping this kind of person? To give you a chance to take revenge?"
He wants the lives of our group, Sheya realized. He struggled to lift his head. Kui's struggles were gradually weakening, and her body began to convulse. He forced himself to look away and focused his attention on the short sword at the confidant's waist... There were only five or six steps between them. If he rushed up, he could grab the sword—
Just then, the rope broke.
Kui fell down without a word.
"What the hell—" The confidant frowned, but before he could finish speaking, a line of blood spurted out from the side of his neck, splattering the nearest rats all over their faces.
Sheya stared blankly at the scene in front of him, his mind blank. What on earth happened?
At the same time, the sound of fighting rang out outside.
"Stop! This is Bloodhand Gang territory!"
"So... someone broke in!"
"Ah, my hand!"
"Damn it, everyone get out here and get her!"
"Mo-monster! Help..."
Kanash's subordinates exchanged glances and drew their weapons, but before they could rush out of the house, a body that was only half-intact flew in from the doorway, directly knocking over the two guys standing at the front.
Only then did Sheya see the attacker's true form—it was a strikingly beautiful woman, her black ponytail tied casually behind her, her whole body wrapped in a black robe, and her eyes were a rare gold color. Just a glance from her made him feel as if the blood in his body was about to freeze.
"Put down your weapons now, put your hands on your head, and kneel down, and you'll have a chance to live." The woman held up three fingers, "I'll count to three, and anyone who doesn't do as I say will die."
"Three..."
The scene was only silent for a few breaths, and soon someone shouted, "God, this kind of stuff... is definitely worth a hundred gold dragons!"
"Everyone, attack together!"
"Catch her, and the boss will definitely reward us handsomely!"
"Sever her tendons, and keep her alive!"
"Forget it, you're better off dead," she raised an impressively sized and strangely shaped ornate greatsword and charged into the crowd. Sheya could hardly believe his eyes, the sword was actually made of iron, and any weapon that touched it would break in response. Even lime powder and crossbows were useless. Her speed was so fast that it was like a whirlwind. These usually effective concealed weapons couldn't hit the target at all. A group of people couldn't even resist, let alone escape from her hands.
"Protect your people, kid." Sheya suddenly heard a voice speaking in his ear, but when he looked around, there was nothing around him.
He swallowed and scrambled to Kui's side, gently placing his hand on her nose.
Warm breath flowed out slowly... She's still alive.
Sheya felt a sting in his nose, and the feeling of surviving the disaster made him no longer able to
Suppress his emotions.
What the announcement said is true! These people were sent by His Highness the Prince to wipe out gang organizers! They can all survive!
He lay on Kui and cried loudly.
...
As more warriors in brown zhifu rushed into the house, the battle ended quickly.
All the rats that were still alive were ordered to stand in a line and walk out of the house one by one.
"Uh... my head hurts," Huzhao touched his head and clicked his tongue, "It's swollen so high."
"It's good that you weren't beaten to death with a stick," Sheya glared at him. Even now, there were still tears in his eyes.
"What exactly happened?" Kui rubbed her neck, where clear blue marks of strangulation were visible. "I thought I was dead."
"I'll tell you when we get out," Sheya shook his head. He was afraid that if he spoke now, he would cry again.
"Next, it's your turn." The guard at the door twisted his arm behind his back.
Sheya didn't resist and followed the other person out the door. He saw a woman in white robes standing outside the yard, as if she were the other side of that black-clothed killer. Her face was shrouded in a hood, and only a few strands of golden curly hair could be seen hanging down.
"After answering this lord's questions, you can leave."
"Yes," Sheya replied honestly. The strength displayed by this group of people completely shocked him.
"Have you ever killed anyone?" Her voice was crisp and pleasant, like it came from another world, "qiangjian? How about robbery?"
He suddenly remembered that this person was the invisible person who had reminded him.
"Neither."
"Okay," she nodded, "Go to the square and wait for His Highness to distribute dinner."
Sheya took two steps and then stopped again, mustering up the courage to ask, "You... are you a witch?"
"That's right." He didn't expect to get an answer, but the other party confirmed it without hesitation.
"Th-these people are just Kanash's subordinates," he bit his lip and said in one breath, "He hasn't returned here for four days. He must have hid with Bloodhand! Bloodhand is the real leader here. You must not let him escape!"
"Don't worry, they won't escape." The other party chuckled, her tone full of unquestionable confidence.
...
"You mean... the people the Prince sent to hunt down the rat bosses are witches?" Huzhao's eyes widened.
"It's not just witches, there are many ordinary people too," Sheya recounted all the bizarre things he had witnessed, "My previous guess was indeed correct. His Highness's territory has already accepted the existence of witches. They are just like ordinary people and can appear in public without any worries, and even fight alongside everyone!" He paused and said excitedly, "If Baizhi was really sent there, she must be living a pretty good life now."
"What, you still want to see her?" Kui curled her lips, "According to you, witches are rare talents. You will only embarrass her if you go to find her."
"Uh..." Sheya couldn't help but choke. He knew that Kui was right. He was just a rat, and even if he survived the winter, his identity would not change in any way. And Baizhi was probably living a completely different life now, and was no longer on the same level as him.
"Why think so much," Huzhao patted him on the shoulder, "Look, dinner is served!"(。)