Blades in the Dark

The scent of blood and steel filled the air as Yue Rin ducked under another sweeping blade. The dim light of the safehouse flickered wildly, casting jagged shadows on the wooden walls as assassins closed in from all sides.

Zhen Xiu moved like a phantom, his blade a blur of silver as he struck down another attacker. "We need to leave," he called out, breathing heavily. "They'll keep coming!"

Yue Rin spun, using the momentum to drive her dagger into the neck of a masked assassin. "Not until we make sure Liang Wei gets away!"

A sharp whistle cut through the air—a signal. Yue Rin's heart pounded as she recognized it. Liang Wei had made it out. That was all the assurance she needed.

She caught Zhen Xiu's gaze. "Now we run."

Without another word, they darted toward the back of the safehouse, dodging slashing blades and leaping over fallen bodies. The moment they reached the exit, Zhen Xiu kicked the door open, and the two of them sprinted into the narrow alleyway.

The cool night air was a stark contrast to the heat of battle, but there was no time to catch their breath. The sound of pursuit was already closing in.

The Hunt BeginsMinister Zhao stood on the balcony of his grand estate, watching the distant glow of torches as his men searched the city. A slow, satisfied smile curled on his lips.

"Let them run," he murmured, taking a sip of warm wine. "They won't escape."

Behind him, Lord Bai stepped forward, his crimson robes flowing like spilled ink. "They've proven more resilient than expected."

Zhao chuckled. "Oh, I don't doubt their skills. But they are still trapped within the city. It's only a matter of time."

Lord Bai's lips curled in amusement. "And if they flee?"

Zhao turned, eyes gleaming. "Then we make sure they have nowhere left to run."

With a flick of his wrist, a shadowed figure stepped forward from the darkness. A hooded assassin, taller and more imposing than the rest. His presence sent an unnatural chill through the air.

"Eliminate them," Zhao ordered.

The assassin bowed silently before vanishing into the night.

The Chase Through the CityYue Rin and Zhen Xiu dashed through the narrow alleyways, their steps barely making a sound against the cobbled streets. The distant torches of their pursuers flickered like fireflies, drawing closer.

"We won't make it out of the city like this," Zhen Xiu muttered, glancing over his shoulder.

Yue Rin's mind raced. "We don't need to escape," she said. "We need to disappear."

Zhen Xiu raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He followed as she veered sharply toward a merchant district, where rows of stalls still lingered from the evening's trade.

Yue Rin grabbed a discarded cloak from a stall, throwing it over herself. "Blend in," she whispered.

Zhen Xiu followed her lead, donning a hood as they wove through the remnants of the crowd. Their pursuers slowed, scanning the streets for any sign of them.

One of the assassins, a sharp-eyed man, muttered something to his companions before splitting off. Yue Rin's breath caught in her throat. They weren't fooled.

She grabbed Zhen Xiu's arm. "We need to go."

They ducked into an abandoned temple, the scent of aged wood and incense heavy in the air. Yue Rin pressed against the wall, listening.

Footsteps. Slow, measured. The assassin was inside.

Zhen Xiu tensed beside her, gripping his dagger.

Yue Rin inhaled deeply, steeling herself. If this was where they had to make a final stand, then so be it.

The footsteps stopped.

Then, in a whisper of motion, the assassin lunged.