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 34: A Shadow's Next Move

The night was still, but Ye Xian's thoughts were not.

Lan Yue had disappeared into the shadows, taking her assassins with her.

"I want Zhao Fengyun dead."

And for the first time—Ye Xian wasn't sure if she wanted to stop her.

A Question of Control

Ye Xian moved swiftly through the palace corridors, careful to avoid the guards patrolling the outer walls.

Lan Yue had given her an opening, but that wouldn't last.

She reached the secluded exit she had memorized days ago—an unused servants' passage leading toward the garden walls.

But before she could slip away—a figure stepped into her path.

Dressed in his usual dark robes, his expression unreadable.

Zhao Fengyun tilted his head slightly. "Leaving so soon?"

Ye Xian exhaled. "I don't recall needing your permission."

Zhao Fengyun chuckled. "Of course not. But you and I both know you don't run unless there's something worth running from."

Then—he took a step forward.

"And judging by the look in your eyes, I'd say something interesting just happened."

Did he already know about Lan Yue?

Either way—she had no intention of giving him what he wanted.

A Threat Unspoken

She smiled faintly. "Curiosity is a dangerous habit, Zhao Fengyun."

Zhao Fengyun's smirk didn't fade. "And yet, you never seem to mind when it's useful to you."

Then—his voice lowered slightly.

"If someone was hunting me—would you warn me?"

Because now—she knew.

He already suspected something.

Or she could let him figure it out himself.

Instead—she turned the question back on him.

"If someone was hunting me," she murmured, "would you?"

That was all the answer she needed.

The Road to the Next Move

Ye Xian didn't waste any more time.

She stepped past Zhao Fengyun, slipping into the shadows of the outer garden.

Because he knew—she wasn't running away.

Zhao Fengyun was watching from the sidelines.

And now—Ye Xian needed to decide whose game she wanted to play.

End of Chapter 34

A Shadow’s Next Move