The Edge of Betrayal

Lan Yue didn't waste time.

The moment she had left Ye Xian, she had already begun planning her next move.

She wanted Zhao Fengyun dead.

And if Ye Xian wouldn't help her—she would do it herself.

Ye Xian realized this too late.

Now—she had to stop her before it was too late.

A Predator with No Fear

Ye Xian moved swiftly through the city, following the few traces Lan Yue had left behind.

It hadn't even been an hour since they last spoke.

And yet—Lan Yue was already setting her plan into motion.

She had gone to the Black Lotus District.

A place where assassins were bought like merchants traded silk.

Ye Xian didn't hesitate.

If she didn't stop Lan Yue now—the next time she saw Zhao Fengyun, he would be dead.

A Transaction of Blood

The tea house was filled with quiet figures, all of them moving carefully—whispering, watching.

And there, near the back—sat Lan Yue.

Ye Xian hadn't been wrong.

She hadn't hesitated.

She hadn't waited.

She was already hiring a killer.

And across from her sat a contract assassin.

Someone dangerous.

Someone who wouldn't fail.

Ye Xian had to act.

Now.

A Second Player Enters the Game

Before Lan Yue could seal the deal, Ye Xian moved.

She slid into the seat across from her, her voice calm.

"You're making a mistake."

Lan Yue stiffened.

Then—her expression hardened.

"You," she hissed.

Ye Xian tilted her head. "You're not even thinking, are you?"

Lan Yue's fingers curled slightly against the table. "Stay out of this, Ye Xian."

Ye Xian leaned forward slightly. "That's the thing. I can't."

A pause.

Then—she turned her gaze to the assassin.

"You're taking a contract on Zhao Fengyun?"

The assassin smirked. "Does that concern you?"

Ye Xian exhaled lightly.

"It does now."

The Game Shifts Again

The assassin watched Ye Xian closely.

Lan Yue's breath was unsteady, but her resolve wasn't breaking.

Ye Xian exhaled.

"Listen to me," she murmured. "If you want him dead, you have to be smart about it."

A silence.

Then—Lan Yue clenched her jaw.

"You don't want him dead?"

Ye Xian didn't answer immediately.

Then—she said the only thing that mattered.

"I want the truth first."

Lan Yue exhaled sharply.

And then—after a long silence—she nodded.

The contract was paused.

For now.

But Ye Xian knew—this wasn't over.

And soon—someone was going to die.

The assassin left first.

Lan Yue didn't speak.

She stood, her movements controlled, deliberate—but Ye Xian could see the tension in her fingers.

She was angry.

Not at Ye Xian for stopping her.

But at herself—for hesitating.

Ye Xian watched her carefully. "You should thank me."

Lan Yue exhaled slowly. "For what?"

"For keeping you alive," Ye Xian said. "Because if you had gone through with that contract, you wouldn't have made it out of this alive."

Lan Yue's hands clenched at her sides.

Then—she turned away.

"If I don't kill him," she murmured, "who will?"

Ye Xian didn't answer.

Because for the first time—she wasn't sure if she had one.

A Question with No Answer

The tea house was still filled with quiet murmurs as Ye Xian left.

Lan Yue had gone in one direction.

Ye Xian went the other.

She didn't follow.

Lan Yue had already made her decision.

The real question was—who would act first?

Zhao Fengyun?

Or Lan Yue?

Ye Xian exhaled softly.

She needed to get ahead of them both.

Because one thing was certain—this game wasn't going to end without blood.

The Shadow That Never Sleeps

The streets of the Black Lotus District were quieter now, the deeper night settling in.

Ye Xian moved carefully, keeping to the dim-lit corridors and back alleys.

She needed to think.

She needed—

"You always look so serious, Ye Xian."

Ye Xian's pulse remained steady.

She didn't turn.

She didn't need to.

Zhao Fengyun stepped out of the shadows, his expression unreadable.

His usual smirk was there—but his eyes were sharp.

"You're making a habit of following me," Ye Xian murmured.

Zhao Fengyun chuckled. "And you're making a habit of interfering in things that aren't your concern."

Ye Xian tilted her head. "You don't seem very concerned for a man with a death mark on his head."

Zhao Fengyun exhaled. "Because I know how this ends."

A pause.

Then—he stepped closer.

"But do you?"

Ye Xian didn't move as Zhao Fengyun studied her.

"You stopped her," he said. "Why?"

Ye Xian exhaled. "Because she was being reckless."

Zhao Fengyun raised an eyebrow. "That's all?"

Ye Xian's fingers twitched slightly.

Then—she turned the question back on him.

"Why haven't you killed her yet?"

Zhao Fengyun didn't answer immediately.

A silence stretched.

Then—he smiled faintly.

"Because I don't need to."

Ye Xian narrowed her eyes. "Not yet."

Zhao Fengyun chuckled softly. "Not ever."

Ye Xian stilled.

He wasn't lying.

Which meant—he knew something she didn't.

And that—was dangerous.

Zhao Fengyun exhaled lightly.

"Let me ask you something, Ye Xian."

A pause.

Then—his voice lowered.

"If Lan Yue kills me, will you stop her?"

Ye Xian's breath remained even.

"You're assuming I care."

Zhao Fengyun smiled faintly. "You care enough to be standing here, don't you?"

Ye Xian didn't answer.

Because she wasn't sure what the answer was anymore.

The Decision That Cannot Be Undone

Zhao Fengyun took a step back, stretching his arms lazily.

"You should rest, Ye Xian," he said lightly. "Things are about to get interesting."

Ye Xian raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to tell me what you know?"

Zhao Fengyun chuckled. "And ruin the fun?"

A pause.

Then—he met her gaze.

"Besides," he murmured, "you'll figure it out soon enough."

And with that—he disappeared into the night.

Leaving Ye Xian alone with a truth she didn't want to face.

She had stopped Lan Yue from killing him.

But she had also let Zhao Fengyun go.

And in Jianghu, a moment of hesitation was all it took to turn a hunter into the hunted.

End of Chapter 36