Chapter 104: The Gaze Shared in the Rain, Clad in Red (End of the Fifth Watch—Please Subscribe)
These strange creatures were born from various emotions, obsessions, and resentments. Created free, how could they ever willingly accept bondage? Compared to humans, they resembled primal beasts, acting purely on instinct. Yet, as the gray-clad youth had said, they alone must bear the consequences of their actions.
But Ning Xiu was unaware of all this. At this moment, he was on his way to Falcon Fortress.
Some events in this world unfold precisely because they are utterly unforeseen. Often, people give these happenings different names—be it surprise or disaster.
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Falcon Fortress was built against the mountain, a natural stronghold. No wonder Zhao Daqian dared to defy the imperial court. Yet, he greatly underestimated the court’s strength—though that was hardly his fault. Under the checks and balances of the noble houses, the court had long ceased to display its true power to the world.
What they did not know was that a sword kept in its sheath remains a sword. The beasts would eventually awaken; their fangs remained sharp.
Ning Xiu shook his head slightly, pondering how to handle this mission. With his strength, storming a fortress was not particularly difficult.
He lifted his gaze as dark clouds began to gather in the sky. The mountain wind howled, evoking a sense of impending doom, as if a black cloud pressed down on the city, threatening to crush it.
Weather was another matter beyond mortal prediction.
Ning Xiu led his horse to the foot of the mountain just as a torrential downpour unleashed itself. In an instant, his clothes were soaked through.
Yet, he seemed oblivious to the deluge, stepping steadily onward up the mountain with unwavering resolve.
Near the summit, Ning Xiu suddenly stopped.
Through the curtain of rain, he saw a pair of red embroidered shoes and a crimson garment stained with blood.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The two stood there in the pouring rain, locked in a silent gaze.
Unaware of the situation, one might mistake them for a quarreling young couple.
The rain soaked the red-clad girl thoroughly; her clothes clung tightly to her slender form, her exquisite curves revealed flawlessly before Ning Xiu’s eyes.
She stood still, allowing the rain to drench her, indifferent to everything. Dark scarlet blood flowed from the gap beneath the gates of Falcon Fortress behind her, trailing down the stone steps.
Ning Xiu looked at the girl who had suddenly appeared, and the first thought that crossed his mind was disbelief at how such a petite figure could possess such a fine shape. The second was a fleeting realization that even strange creatures could be drenched by rain.
He had to admit, the scene before him was striking, imbued with a poetic and even ambiguous atmosphere.
But only Ning Xiu and the girl truly understood the reality.
The world around them was filled with deathly silence and hostility.
In the wind and rain, the girl’s expressionless, beautiful face was as delicate as a doll’s.
She gazed quietly at Ning Xiu and spoke softly, “Some people deserve to die, so you should just die.”
No sooner had the words fallen than the storm around them intensified wildly.
Arrows of water shot from the sky, aimed directly at Ning Xiu.
Each water arrow was sharp enough to pierce the thickest armor. Amidst the tempest, there was no way to evade; the only outcome awaiting him was death by a thousand arrows piercing his heart.
Not even a master-level warrior, let alone a grandmaster, could survive such an assault.
The girl in red seemed certain she had already seen Ning Xiu’s gruesome death. She slowly turned, ready to leave.
“I’ve killed every living witness nearby; no one should trace this back to me,” she whispered.
Suddenly, her expression froze.
A ruthless sword qi tore through the storm, piercing her chest.
The fierce wind howled, making her red dress flutter wildly.
She had never imagined an ordinary mortal could survive her attack—not only survive but fight back—and even break through her defenses!
All these thoughts raced through her mind in an instant.
But that moment of hesitation was fatal.
Ning Xiu’s assault came again.
Having already struck, Ning Xiu would not let her leave alive. Although killing the girl in red would likely expose his identity, letting her go would mean endless pursuit by the Shadow Alliance and the Six Gates.
This time, the situation was entirely different. His true identity had been revealed, and hiding would no longer be easy.
“Damn it,” Ning Xiu cursed under his breath.
He had never imagined the Shadow Alliance harbored such a madwoman, especially since Cold Hawk had already issued a stern warning from the imperial court.
Why would she do this?
How could she dare?
Was she trying to ignite a war between the Shadow Alliance and the court?
If she sought death, so be it—but now she had dragged him into it.
His carefully crafted plan was shattered by a deranged woman.
Rage boiled in Ning Xiu’s heart as he fixed his gaze on the girl in red, snarling, “Die!”
The girl had no time to react before Ning Xiu pounced, pinning her to the ground.
With the full power of his Golden Bell Shield technique unleashed, he resembled a monstrous humanoid beast, delivering blow after blow to her fragile body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Her body burst apart instantly.
Despite appearing to lose control to anger, Ning Xiu’s mind remained razor sharp.
The shattered red figure did not disperse or reform but transformed into a pool of blood silently pooling behind him.
Her right hand spread wide, and a blood sword materialized out of thin air.
Clutching the hilt, she thrust fiercely toward Ning Xiu’s back.
Clang!
The clash of metal echoed like thunder, sparks flying.
A spectral Golden Bell Shield appeared over Ning Xiu’s body, solid and unyielding, blocking the blood sword’s advance.
The attack failed, and she immediately withdrew.
As she retreated, the girl in red waved her left hand forward.
Countless blood arrows burst forth, shooting directly at Ning Xiu.
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