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 37: Between Hunter and Prey

Even in the deepest hours of the night, the underbelly of Jianghu was alive—quiet footsteps in alleyways, whispered conversations in tea houses, the ever-present weight of unseen eyes.

She knew the feeling of being watched.

And right now—she wasn't the only predator in the streets.

She had let Zhao Fengyun walk away.

But that didn't mean the game was over.

Ye Xian didn't return to the Imperial Palace.

The palace was no longer safe—not with the Hidden Order lurking, not with Han Yue watching, not with whoever had ordered Lan Huai's death still hiding in the Emperor's court.

Instead, she went to the one place where information moved faster than blades.

Madam Ji's House of Red Lanterns.

It was a brothel.

"Physician Xie," Madam Ji greeted, her smile sharp as ever. "You look like a woman with too many secrets."

Ye Xian exhaled lightly. "That's why I came to see you."

Madam Ji laughed softly. "I do love a compliment."

Then—her expression turned serious.

"You're here about Zhao Fengyun, aren't you?"

Then—she placed a folded letter on the table between them.

"He left this for you," she murmured.

She took the letter and unfolded it.

'The past always comes back, doesn't it?'

Zhao Fengyun had left this message knowing she would find it.

And that meant he was playing his own game now.

The Edge of a War

Ye Xian exhaled slowly, folding the letter.

She looked back at Madam Ji. "Where is he?"

Madam Ji chuckled. "Oh, my dear. That's the question everyone wants answered."

Then—her gaze darkened slightly.

"Someone is going to die soon, Ye Xian."

Then—Madam Ji leaned in slightly.

"And you're standing between them."

The question was—who would strike first?

The Gathering Storm

She left the brothel just before dawn, the sky turning pale blue above the city walls.

Find Zhao Fengyun before Lan Yue did.

Or—let the inevitable happen.

She wasn't sure which option was worse.

But then—she felt it.

She turned slightly, her fingers brushing the needles in her sleeve.

Dressed in his crimson robes, watching her from the shadows of the empty street.

Han Yue stepped forward, his posture as unreadable as ever.

"You're moving too fast," he said quietly.

Ye Xian tilted her head. "And you're always just one step behind."

Then—Han Yue's gaze darkened.

"You should let them kill each other, you know."

Ye Xian exhaled lightly. "Would you?"

Then—he smiled faintly.

Then—he added something else.

"But you're not like me, are you?"

Because for the first time—she wasn't sure if that was true.

A Decision That Cannot Be Changed

"Zhao Fengyun is dangerous. Lan Yue is desperate."

Then—his gaze sharpened.

Then—she made her decision.

Because she wasn't sure if she had one.

End of Chapter 37