Minahiru

In the ruthless world of Jianghu, where power is measured by the strength of one’s blade, Ye Xian—a master of poisons and a top assassin for the Hidden Order—receives her latest mission: eliminate Shen Liwei, the righteous yet formidable leader of the Azure Wind Sect.

Her plan is flawless. Her poison is undetectable. Her strike is lethal.

Yet, when the toxin fails to take effect, Ye Xian is forced to confront a chilling truth—Shen Liwei is immune to all poisons but one: the very first poison she ever created.

To finish her mission, she must infiltrate his sect, uncover his secret, and strike when he least expects it. But as she gets closer, she discovers that Shen Liwei is not just a target—he is a man entangled in the same deadly web as she is. Behind his righteous reputation lie imperial experiments, hidden betrayals, and a conspiracy that reaches far beyond any one sect.

As assassins close in, enemies shift, and the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, Ye Xian faces the one truth she cannot poison her way out of—the mission was never as simple as killing Shen Liwei.

 A calculated assassin vs. an unbreakable warrior—a deadly game of deception and skill.
 Martial duels, hidden blades, and power struggles—where alliances are as fragile as life itself.
 A world ruled by strength, ambition, and shadows—where survival is the only law.

In Jianghu, trust is a weakness, love is a liability, and the only certainty is that someone must die.

Oath and Blood

Chapter 32: A Blade at Her Back

Ye Xian stood in the pavilion long after Zhao Fengyun had disappeared.

The weight of his words pressed against her thoughts.

"The man who ordered Lan Huai's death walks inside this palace."

That meant one thing—she was surrounded by enemies she couldn't see.

Han Yue still held the decree in his hands, his expression unreadable.

"You should leave soon," he repeated.

Ye Xian exhaled slowly. "And what about you, General? Are you staying?"

Han Yue tilted his head slightly. "I don't run from ghosts."

Then—his gaze darkened.

A Silent Departure

If the one responsible for Lan Huai's death was inside the palace, then every moment she remained was another risk.

The Hidden Order wanted her dead. The unseen hand behind Lan Huai's murder was watching.

And the longer she stayed, the more likely they would strike first.

She would leave the palace before dawn.

The Trail of the Poisoned Blade

The night was quiet when she slipped through the lesser-guarded corridors of the palace, her steps light as shadow.

She had memorized every route in and out, but tonight—something felt off.

Then—she heard it.

The faint whisper of a blade being drawn.

Ye Xian moved instantly.

A dagger slashed through the space where she had been standing, embedding itself in the wooden panel beside her.

A single step too slow—and it would have taken her throat.

The Assassin in the Dark

Ye Xian turned sharply, her hands already reaching for the needles hidden in her sleeve.

A figure stood a few feet away, shrouded in black.

A Hidden Order assassin.

Or rather—the people who now wanted her dead.

She exhaled lightly. "They sent you."

Instead—they attacked.

A Battle of Shadows

The assassin moved first, their dagger flashing toward her ribs.

Ye Xian twisted away, stepping into the blind spot between their strikes.

She countered with a needle, aiming for the veins at their wrist—but they dodged.

Which meant—this wasn't just any assassin.

This was someone of her rank.

One of the Shadow Empress's personal enforcers.

A "Phantom Blade."

The Hidden Order's deadliest executioners.

A New Name, A Familiar Threat

Ye Xian exhaled. "I don't suppose you'll tell me your name?"

The assassin tilted their head slightly.

Then—a voice, distorted by a breath mask.

A name she had once whispered in training halls.

A name that had belonged to one of the Hidden Order's most promising assassins.

A name that should have died five years ago.

And yet—here they stood.

A Duel That Should Not Be

Ye Xian had trained alongside them once, but now—they fought with the sole purpose of killing her.

She could try to reason with them.

Or—she could do what they had been trained for.

And in that moment, she knew—this fight would not end in words.

End of Chapter 32