The Hunter Becomes the Hunted

The night air was cool, but Li Xueyan's heart burned with anger. The letter from Minister Zhang's study confirmed what she already suspected—the Black Sun Hall wanted her dead.

She wasn't just an enemy to them. She was a target.

Sitting inside the tea house, she stared at the paper, her fingers tightening around its edges. Her uncle. The Black Sun Hall. Minister Zhang.

They had all worked together to destroy her family.

And now, they were hunting her.

She exhaled slowly, pushing her rage down. Anger alone wouldn't bring justice. She needed a plan.

Across the table, Feng Zhiwei sipped his tea, watching her with sharp, golden eyes. "So," he said, "what's next?"

Xueyan looked at him. He was calm, as always. Too calm.

"We use this letter," she said. "Minister Zhang is powerful, but he still has a reputation to protect. If we expose his connection to the Black Sun Hall, we can turn the court against him."

Jin Hu, Zhiwei's trusted man, leaned back in his chair. "That might work… but it won't be easy. Minister Zhang has strong allies. If we make a move, he'll fight back."

Xueyan smirked. "Let him."

Zhiwei chuckled. "You enjoy making enemies, don't you?"

She met his gaze. "Only when they deserve it."

---

A Warning in the Dark

An hour later, Xueyan stepped outside for fresh air. The streets were quiet, but her instincts screamed at her. Something was wrong.

She reached for her sword.

Then—

A shadow moved.

She spun around, blade flashing.

CLANG!

A dagger struck her sword, sparks flying.

A masked figure stood before her, dressed in black. An assassin.

She jumped back, gripping her weapon. "Who sent you?"

The assassin didn't answer. Instead, he attacked again.

His movements were fast—too fast.

Xueyan dodged, barely avoiding a strike to her throat. Her heart pounded. This wasn't just any killer. This was someone trained in deadly arts.

Shadow Phantom Sect.

She recognized the fighting style. They were the best assassins in Tianxia.

Which meant…

Minister Zhang knew she had the letter.

She gritted her teeth. They were trying to silence her.

The assassin lunged again.

Xueyan blocked, then countered with a sweeping kick. He dodged.

She slashed forward—but he disappeared.

Her eyes darted around. Where?

Then, a whisper of movement behind her.

She turned just in time.

A knife sliced through the air—aimed at her back.

Before it could land—

A hand caught the assassin's wrist.

Xueyan's eyes widened.

Zhiwei.

His grip was like iron. He twisted the assassin's arm, forcing him to drop the knife.

Then, one quick strike to the chest.

The assassin stumbled back, coughing blood.

Zhiwei didn't let him recover. A second strike.

The assassin collapsed, unconscious.

Xueyan exhaled. "You're late."

Zhiwei smirked. "You handled it well."

She rolled her eyes. He was always like this.

Jin Hu ran over, sword drawn. "What happened?"

Xueyan pointed at the fallen assassin. "Minister Zhang sent him."

Jin Hu whistled. "That was fast."

Zhiwei's golden eyes gleamed. "That means they're afraid."

Xueyan smiled. Good.

---

Interrogation

They dragged the assassin inside. Jin Hu poured a bucket of cold water over his head.

The man gasped awake, his body shivering.

Xueyan knelt beside him. "Who gave you the order?"

The assassin glared at her. "I won't talk."

Zhiwei smiled. "That's fine. I have other ways to make you."

The assassin tensed.

Xueyan sighed. "I'll make this simple. Talk, and you might live. Stay silent, and… well, you won't."

The man hesitated.

Then, he broke.

"Minister Zhang," he muttered. "He ordered your death."

Xueyan nodded. "That's obvious. Tell me something I don't know."

The assassin swallowed hard. "There's a second team."

She froze. "What?"

"They sent another group," he whispered. "To kill you before sunrise."

Jin Hu cursed.

Xueyan clenched her fists. They weren't just sending assassins—they were sending an army.

Zhiwei stood up. "We need to leave."

Xueyan's mind raced. She had the proof to ruin Minister Zhang. But if they caught her before she could use it…

She looked at the assassin. "Where are they attacking from?"

He hesitated. Then, quietly, "They'll come through the east gate."

Jin Hu nodded. "Then we go west."

Xueyan stood. "No."

They all looked at her.

She smirked. "We don't run. We set a trap."

---

The Trap is Set

They prepared quickly.

Jin Hu gathered their best fighters. Zhiwei gave the orders. Xueyan studied the battlefield.

When the assassins arrived, they wouldn't expect a fight.

They would walk straight into it.

The night was still.

Then—footsteps.

The assassins moved like shadows, slipping into the alley.

A signal flashed. Now.

Xueyan and her allies attacked.

The first assassin fell before he even drew his sword.

Jin Hu cut down another.

Zhiwei moved like a ghost—silent, deadly, unstoppable.

Xueyan's blade danced through the darkness.

The assassins were skilled. But they were not prepared.

Within minutes, it was over.

The last man standing dropped his sword and ran.

Xueyan let him go.

"Let him deliver a message," she said. "Minister Zhang will know we're coming."

Jin Hu smirked. "You really don't like making things easy, do you?"

She smiled. "Where's the fun in that?"

Zhiwei chuckled. "Then let's pay Minister Zhang a visit."

Xueyan nodded.

Tomorrow, the real battle would begin.