Volume Two, Chapter Seventy-Eight: Passing Three Without Killing—Yan Xiaosan!

It was that mere meter of distance that allowed Yu Mu to escape certain death.

“What are you doing? Ah! What’s the matter with you?” Once again, Yu Mu collided squarely into Ye Yu’s arms. She was furious and about to scold him, but caught sight of the blood blossoming across Yu Mu’s chest.

With a flick of her wide sleeve, Ye Yu swept her gaze around—but there was no one else to be seen.

“What astonishing speed. What a terrifying assassin.” Finally, a flicker of emotion appeared in Ye Yu’s icy eyes.

“Hurry! Take this at once.” With a crisp command, Ye Yu produced a pill and pressed it to Yu Mu’s lips.

Yu Mu shook his head. “I’m fine. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.”

“Don’t be stubborn. How could you be fine with such a grave wound? Wait—your injury…” Ye Yu was startled to discover that Yu Mu’s chest had stopped bleeding; the wound was nowhere to be seen.

She had no way of knowing that Yu Mu was a spirit born of flora. As long as his vital organs weren’t harmed, no other wound could truly threaten him. Even if his body were cleaved in two, it wouldn’t be fatal—let alone a mere flesh wound.

Yu Mu looked around and sighed, “What a pity. He escaped once more. Alas!”

Ye Yu brusquely pushed Yu Mu from her embrace, her voice cold. “Hmph! Very few survive after attempting an assassination in my presence.”

Suddenly deprived of that warm, soft hold, Yu Mu realized with embarrassment that he’d been cradled in Ye Yu’s arms all this time. Inwardly, he felt a reluctant longing.

He quickly cleared his throat and exclaimed, “You mean you managed to wound him?”

Ye Yu shot Yu Mu a glare and, without answering, rose and strode into the dense forest.

As she walked, she sniffed the air. Before long, she found a person lying half-dead beneath a great tree.

The man’s face was darkened, clearly poisoned to the brink of death.

Yu Mu was secretly alarmed. ‘What fearsome poison, and such skillful application! She poisoned an enemy she never even saw. My sister is truly formidable!’

Ye Yu, unaware of Yu Mu’s wandering thoughts, asked coolly, “What should we do with him? Let him die of the poison, or question him about the one behind this?”

‘The mastermind? What’s the point in asking? It’s almost certainly your brother,’ Yu Mu thought, but said aloud, “Let’s save his life first. There are things I want to ask him.”

“Very well.” With that, Ye Yu stepped aside.

The blackness on the assassin’s face gradually faded, and before long, he slowly regained consciousness.

Just like that, the poison was neutralized? Yu Mu was in awe of Ye Yu’s mastery of toxins.

As the color returned to the assassin’s face, Yu Mu at last saw his features—and was stunned. Never would he have guessed that such a fearsome assassin would turn out to be a child.

He was a delicate-looking boy, gentle and quiet in demeanor. He seemed no more than fourteen or fifteen, slender and not yet fully grown. His eyes were large, dark, and pure, giving him an entirely harmless, neighborly appearance.

How could this boy be such a deadly assassin? If Yu Mu hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he’d never have believed it.

Even Ye Yu’s demeanor changed upon seeing the boy’s true face. The murderous glint in her gaze softened.

“Little brother, tell me, why did you try to kill me?” Yu Mu asked gently.

“A mission,” the assassin replied, even colder than Ye Yu.

“What sort of mission?”

The assassin fell silent.

“What’s your name?”

Still, no answer.

No matter what Yu Mu asked after that, the assassin refused to speak another word.

Yu Mu was left at a loss. Kill him? He couldn’t bring himself to harm a child. Release him? He might never know peace again.

Despite his youth, the assassin was clearly the sort who would not rest until his goal was met.

What to do?

As Yu Mu hesitated, Ye Yu suddenly spoke. “If you can’t bear to do it, then just let him go.”

She, too, could not bring herself to kill the boy.

Yu Mu pondered for a moment before addressing the assassin again. “You’ve tried to kill me more than once. To let you go would be irresponsible with my own life…”

“More than once?” Ye Yu interrupted in surprise. “You mean this isn’t the first time he’s tried to assassinate you?”

Yu Mu nodded, then said to the assassin, “Very well! You’ve made two attempts on my life; as punishment, I’ll take one of your legs. It’s only fair, and will keep you from coming after me again.”

At these words, the assassin’s pupils contracted; a flicker of fear crossed his face. After all, he was still a child, and to lose a leg would end his career as an assassin.

“I won’t target you again,” the assassin spoke at last, though his voice was as cold as ever.

Yu Mu was about to draw his bamboo hat as a weapon, but paused in surprise. “And why should I believe you?”

“Because I have already tried to kill you three times.”

Yu Mu had not expected such a reply. “What difference does that make?”

Before the assassin could answer, Ye Yu gasped. “The Three-Strike Rule—Yan Xiaosan! Are you Yan Xiaosan?”

The assassin straightened and nodded proudly.

Yu Mu turned to Ye Yu. “Who is Yan Xiaosan?”

“An assassin.”

‘That much is obvious,’ Yu Mu thought, though he dared not say it aloud.

“A very famous assassin,” Ye Yu continued. “Since he says he’s made three attempts on your life, there will never be a fourth.”

“Why not?”

“Because that’s the rule he set for himself.”

Yu Mu looked at Yan Xiaosan—chin high, face full of pride.

“Oh?” Yu Mu suddenly asked, “But you’ve only tried to kill me twice. Why do you say three times?”

“Three,” Yan Xiaosan replied, firm and unequivocal.

The boy clearly disliked speaking, and would use as few words as possible.

Yu Mu thought for a moment, then his eyes widened. “You mean you were the one at the little inn in Liberty City?”

Yan Xiaosan nodded.

“Since that’s settled, we have nothing more to worry about. Let’s get moving,” Ye Yu said.

But Yu Mu suddenly asked, “Will the poison you used have any aftereffects?”

“No,” Ye Yu replied, “but he will be weak for a while.”

“Do you have a remedy for that?”

Without another word, Ye Yu tossed him a pill.

Yu Mu caught it, a fragrant scent wafting up, instantly clearing his mind.

“Excellent medicine!” he exclaimed.

Without further words to Yan Xiaosan, Yu Mu forced the boy’s jaw open and shoved the pill into his mouth. Then, seizing his wrist, he slung Yan Xiaosan over his back and set off at a brisk pace.

Both Ye Yu and Yan Xiaosan stared in surprise at this unexpected move.

Ye Yu asked, “What are you doing?”

Yu Mu replied calmly, “There are fierce beasts about. If we leave him here, he’ll be in danger. We’ll bring him along until he recovers—then let him go.”

With nothing more to say, he strode into the forest.

At his words, both Ye Yu and Yan Xiaosan were struck by different thoughts, each with their own meaning.

Once the three entered the forest, trouble immediately arose. None of them knew the way.

Yu Mu had flown straight from Hawk Ridge, paying no attention to the route. The other two were in the same situation—they’d come from the Fire Poison Path.

Yan Xiaosan had infiltrated the disciples of the Fire Poison Path to assassinate Yu Mu. He hadn’t entered the Tomb of the Sacred King, not realizing Yu Mu would linger there so long.

With no other choice, the three set off in the general direction of Hawk City—their shared destination.

They had barely walked a short distance when a deafening roar split the air and a gigantic beast leaped out before them. The creature’s head was triangular, resembling a warthog but far larger, with a mouth full of savage fangs—a clear carnivore.

The beast opened its gaping maw, drooling as it charged.

Only then did Yu Mu realize that, of the three, only he was capable of direct combat. In the past, Meng Fang had always fought at the front—this was Yu Mu’s first time bearing such responsibility.

He gritted his teeth and stepped forward without hesitation. “You protect him. I’ll handle the beast.” As he spoke, he tried to hand Yan Xiaosan to Ye Yu.

But before he could, the beast took two steps, then with a thunderous crash, collapsed, black blood gushing from its mouth and nostrils. Within moments, it was dead.

“Wow—”

Yu Mu and Yan Xiaosan stared in utter disbelief.

Ye Yu, as if nothing had happened, moved on with calm, measured steps.

Yu Mu coughed awkwardly and hurried to catch up.