“Why?
How is this possible?” Accompanying these doubts was a sharp pain and endless darkness.
With a dull thump, the Fatui Debt Agent lost all vitality and collapsed to the ground.
“Hmm?
Is this what a stalker looks like?” Kuaixue discarded the old wooden board, rubbing her right hand, which had been left with a red mark from the sacrificial knife’s slash, while observing the Fatui Debt Agent that was no longer cloaked in invisibility.
As it turned out, Kuaixue’s innate abilities were Perception and Armament.
The ability of Perception sharpened Kuaixue’s five senses, allowing her to sense the aura of surrounding creatures (the stronger the creature’s strength, the stronger the aura), predict the opponent’s next move, and perceive the position and quantity of objects outside her field of Vision.
(To put it bluntly, it was similar to Kaedehara Kazuha’s “Hear the Wind, Behold the Clouds”) The ability of Armament could strengthen the body’s DEF and ATK, turning the reinforced parts pitch black.
This ability could be applied not only to oneself but also to objects.
Therefore, even fallen leaves on the ground would turn into fatal blades in Kuaixue’s hands.
However, the reinforced object had to maintain contact with Kuaixue’s body; once it left her hand, the ability attached to it would instantly fail.
Earlier, when reinforcing the old wooden board with Armament, Kuaixue used Perception to sense that the Fatui Debt Agent had secretly pulled out another knife.
Thinking on her feet, she simply used retreat as a form of advance, intentionally withdrawing the Armament from the old wooden board and letting it be destroyed, thereby lowering the opponent’s vigilance.
At the final moment, taking advantage of the information gap, she successfully pierced the protective suit with the reinforced wood fragments, driving them straight into the opponent’s heart.
Her right hand had also been reinforced by Armament, turning as dark and hard as iron, though a single slash could not cause considerable DMG.
Had it not been for this dimly lit alley, the fallen Fatui Debt Agent would surely have noticed the abnormality in Kuaixue’s arm, and the outcome of the battle would have been unpredictable.
Unfortunately, in combat, there are no ‘what ifs.’ A black-and-red hooded trench coat, an ominous mask, and incomprehensible yet formidable-looking totems on the protective suit.
This was the true face of the mysterious “stalker.” Hmm, unrecognized.
After examining carefully, Kuaixue made a judgment in her heart: It seems they came for Yunyan, probably the Fatui.
Troublesome, I need to go over to Yunyan and the others’ place to take a look, hope they are okay.
Kuaixue hesitated for a moment, choosing to leave the remains in place, and closed her eyes to sense the auras of Yunyan and Ningguang.
Fortunately, her luck wasn’t bad; they were not beyond Kuaixue’s Perception range.
Following the aura, Kuaixue rushed over at lightning speed—because around those two were three unfamiliar auras similar to the dead enemy, estimating that they were in a fierce battle and the situation was not optimistic.
Just as Kuaixue expected, Ningguang and the others’ current situation was not good.
As it turned out, Ningguang was accompanying Yunyan to report a case at a nearby Millelith post.
Who would have thought that when passing an intersection, before Ningguang could react, Yunyan was as if carried away by transparent people, her feet off the ground, “floating” deep into the alley.
Ningguang had just wanted to cry out loudly to attract attention, when a chilling warning rang in his ears: “Don’t make a sound, or we’ll kill the hostage.” “Tch.” With no other choice, Ningguang also had to follow Yunyan, moving away from the crowd.
Although midway, through some means, Yunyan broke free from their control and ran back to Ningguang’s side, the situation did not improve much.
Even though Ningguang possessed a Vision, relying on the method of attaching the Geo element to the three individuals, he easily dealt with the invisible attacks.
But dragging Yunyan, an ordinary person with no power to truss a chicken, Ningguang, who had not undergone specialized combat training, could gain no advantage against three well-trained assassination agents, and instead found himself cornered and pushed into a passive state.
Caught off guard for a moment, Ningguang and Yunyan were forced apart once again.
This time, the Fatui Debt Agents learned their lesson: two held down Ningguang, while another Fatui Debt Agent began to act against Yunyan.
In the end, Ningguang was entangled by the two, and Yunyan had a sacrificial knife pressed against her neck, in imminent danger.
“Speak, who made you investigate?” The Fatui Debt Agent used the sacrificial knife to cut a shallow bloody scratch on Yunyan’s neck, threatening her.
Yunyan’s blood slowly dripped down the sacrificial knife.
However, facing the threat of death, although Yunyan was so frightened that her hands and feet trembled and her voice quivered, she answered firmly: “Do you think I would tell you?” “Hmph, if you won’t answer, then I’ll ask your companion.
Hey, woman over there, are you going to talk or not?” “…
No one, we investigated ourselves.” “Who are you trying to fool?
Is there really the Ministry of Civil Affairs behind you, or something else?” “There really is no one, I assure you, we can even establish a contract.” Seeing the sacrificial knife getting closer and closer to Yunyan’s carotid artery, Ningguang answered anxiously.
“…
Truly a dog meddling in a rat’s business—mind your own business.
Fine, tell me, to what extent have you investigated?” Hearing Ningguang, a Liyue local, use a contract as a guarantee, the Fatui Debt Agent believed it somewhat and breathed a sigh of relief inside; as long as they weren’t official personnel, killing them wouldn’t be a problem.
A cold glint flashed across its eyes.
However, before the execution, it still needed to understand more intelligence and check if there were any other accomplices.
“This…” “Will you talk or not?” The Fatui Debt Agent moved the knife in its hand.
“Ningguang, you can’t say it; if you say it, both of us will die.” Yunyan wasn’t a fool either; this question proved that the opponent’s understanding of their investigation wasn’t particularly clear.
It would be fine not to say anything, but if specific information were given, they would inevitably be silenced to cover up the crime.
“Hmm?” “…
Put down the knife, and I will talk.” How could Ningguang not know that answering this question would only plunge himself into an even more dangerous situation?
But there was no choice; he didn’t dare to gamble, because Yunyan’s life and death were still in the other party’s hands.
“Do you think you still have the qualification to negotiate terms with us now?” Ningguang helplessly sighed, and with some embellishments and evasions, explained the situation they had investigated.
Whew~ After listening, the Fatui Debt Agents instantly breathed a sigh of relief; things hadn’t reached the worst-case scenario yet.
It was just because of a grudge with that shop, originally wanting to collect evidence of tax evasion, they accidentally discovered that Fatui were secretly going for treatment in the middle of the night (according to Ningguang’s account).
It seemed they still didn’t know the Fatui’s true purpose.
Then, it was time to ask the last question.
After asking, it would be time to send these two meddling fools on their way.
“Last question, besides the two of you, who else knows?” Hearing this question, Yunyan hurriedly gave Ningguang a look, hinting him not to betray Kuaixue.
Kuaixue was currently the only unplayed card in their hands; if played at this moment, they would likely lose the whole game.
Ningguang naturally received the hint, but he pondered secretly, fearing that the Fatui Debt Agent might have been tracking them ever since they came out of Baiju Inn, and Kuaixue’s existence probably couldn’t be hidden, so it might be better to…
Hmm?
“Ningguang, you bastard, coward, if you dare to say a few more words, I will break off relations with you.” Kuaixue was only dragged into this through my self-will; I cannot let this child face these dangerous guys, even if I die.
Yunyan already had the intention of facing death.
“Shut up, did anyone ask you?
The woman over there, answer.” The Fatui Debt Agent hijacking Yunyan found Yunyan noisy, giving it a headache, so it covered Yunyan’s mouth with its hand.
“…” “Answer, hmm?” “…” “Are you deaf?
Since you are unwilling to speak, send your companion on her way.” “…
No, only the two of us know.” As companions for many years, how could Ningguang not know Yunyan’s thoughts?
In the end, Ningguang complied with Yunyan’s decision and chose to take a gamble.
“Heh, it seems you prefer a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeiture.
Don’t think we didn’t see it; the two of you came out of the inn together with another little girl.
Last chance, don’t play any tricks on me, otherwise…” The Fatui Debt Agent used the knife to cut a shallow bloody scratch on Yunyan’s delicate face, carrying a strong sense of threat.
“Mmm-mmm.” With her mouth blocked, Yunyan could only make meaningless sounds.
All is lost.
Ningguang had no choice but to tell the truth: “Actually…
the three of us are spies from the Abyss Order, and our purpose is to stir up a rebellion in Liyue…” Huh!
What the heck!
Before the three Fatui Debt Agents could react from this sudden massive amount of information, “Do it!” Before the words even fell, Ningguang instantly launched an attack.
And before the Fatui Debt Agent hijacking Yunyan could make a move, it was knocked unconscious by a brick falling from the sky.
The situation was instantly reversed.
“Yunyan, are you alright?” “Snap,” Kuaixue dropped from the eaves of the neighboring house in front of Yunyan.
She picked up the blood-stained black brick in her hand, preparing for battle, while everyone present failed to notice that the brick had originally been grayish-white.
“Kuaixue?!
How did you know…” Before Yunyan could finish asking, the remaining two Fatui Debt Agents issued an interrogation: “Where is Number Two?
What did you do to him?” “Number Two?
Ah, that person dressed just like you?
Dead.” Kuaixue’s expression was calm; the act of killing had not shaken her much.
Her cold voice made her indifferent side even more prominent, as if what she had killed just now was not a person but a chicken.
“…
How is that possible?
Number Two’s martial arts can barely match even our captain’s; just you, a yellow-haired girl, impossible, absolutely impossible!” Clearly, the two standing Fatui Debt Agents, as agents, were far inferior in quality to the one lying down.
After losing their captain as their backbone, not only were they visibly shaken, but they also talked a lot more nonsense.
Kuaixue did not reply, directly proving it with actions.
With two “bang” “bang” sounds, Kuaixue, cooperating with Ningguang, instantly knocked down the remaining enemies.
“Are you guys okay?” Kuaixue asked belatedly after everything was over.
“We’re fine, Yunyan just suffered some flesh wounds.
How about you?” “Not bad, just a small red patch on my hand.” “Kuaixue, thank you.
How did you know we were here?” Yunyan’s legs were still shaking a bit.
“…
Guessed it.
Since everyone is fine, then I’ll take my leave.
Any later, and my older brother is going to cry.” Kuaixue glanced at the moon, estimated the time, and it seemed a scolding from Keqing was inevitable.
“I’ll leave contacting the Millelith to you two.” Without waiting for the two to reply, with a “swish,” she used lightness skill and vaulted over roofs and walls as she left.
“…
She isn’t just going to come over like this, is she?” Yunyan greatly admired Kuaixue’s motor skills.
“Ningguang, I’m sorry.
Because of me, you and Kuaixue encountered danger.” “It’s fine, I’m used to it.
I just hope that next time, you can value your own life more.
Just now, you obviously didn’t want to drag Kuaixue down, so you purposely said things like ‘breaking off relations,’ right?
Don’t do that next time; if you say things like that, I will be very sad.
Trust me…
and Kuaixue a bit more, okay?” “Mm-mm…
Huh?” Yunyan didn’t expect Ningguang, who usually acted like a “smiling-faced fox,” to suddenly reveal his true feelings, and was somewhat startled.
Looking to her side, she saw Ningguang’s cheeks slightly flushed.
After meeting Yunyan’s gaze, he turned his head away, leaving his golden-white hair reflecting the clear moonlight in Yunyan’s eyes.
“Hehehe, got it.” Yunyan was very happy to see Ningguang reveal such a side.
“…
Speaking of which, where exactly was it exposed this time?” Ningguang thought about it for a long time and couldn’t figure out how the Fatui knew it was them.
You must know that whether day or night, the people doing the surveillance rotated daily.
Logically speaking, it shouldn’t be like this.
Facing Ningguang, who was changing the subject, Yunyan very cooperatively followed his lead and said: “It really is strange.
We were both very cautious, so where on earth did the problem arise?” Just like that, accompanied by the bright moonlight, the two of them held hands on their way to report the case, conducting review after review of this incident.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”