You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 47: Clash in the Dark

"Waaah—"

He had just been throttled into suffocation, then kicked in the gut, so as soon as Le Yu managed to stand up, his stomach churned and he threw up—stomach acid and all—everywhere.

Fortunately, the "Residual Blood Physique" pain filter proved quite effective—Le Yu not only didn’t feel any pain, he barely even noticed the dizziness or nausea from suffocation and oxygen deprivation, only feeling "a slight discomfort." Though his body still reacted, right after vomiting he could immediately snap back into full combat stance.

He turned his head to glance at Shadow Speech hiding in the darkness, then looked at the pigtail girl whose face was ghostly pale from pain. He wanted to say something, but held it in.

Le Yu simply didn’t have Shadow Speech’s masterful mixed-voice skills—if he so much as spoke, Kui Zhao would recognize him instantly. That was why, even as Kui Zhao choked him into near suffocation, he never cursed him out—he didn’t even dare use the Biting Battle Technique. Even though he was in disguise thanks to make-up sorcery, his height and build hadn’t changed; if he suddenly used a Combat Technique, it would instantly remind Kui Zhao of the Qian Yuliu style.

Kui Zhao folded his arms behind his back, looking coldly at Shadow Speech and Le Yu, saying nothing.

He didn’t order Shadow Speech to release Kui Nianruo.

He didn’t say any threatening words either.

Yet this version of Kui Zhao felt even more terrifying to Le Yu, like being stared down by a ravenous wolf.

"Sometimes, silence spoke an intent more clearly than words could—because conversation itself was the art of compromise, of yielding, of building bridges of cooperation. In every entertainment work Le Yu had ever watched, once the enemy was ready to ’talk,’ it meant they were inevitably about to be swayed, understood, or even redeemed. The moment they wavered, they might as well become allies."

Anything Kui Zhao chose to say would imply a willingness to make further concessions, more bargains. But by saying nothing now, standing firm, Shadow Speech and Le Yu both knew, "he would never accept another threat."

"Refusing to converse was a refusal to be controlled."

"He had already put his chips on the scales—no matter if the deal worked out or not, he wouldn’t pay another price."

"Smash those two street lamps," Shadow Speech commanded.

At his words, Kui Zhao stepped forward, moving from the edge of the lamplight into the darkness, his entire body shimmering with a gathering of bloodlight. Even so, he kept half his body in the light, not proceeding any further.

"Deputy Director Kui, tonight was simply a mistake," Shadow Speech said, sounding light, even a little playful—the total opposite of his true personality. "Only Dong Heng was ever on our assassination list, and believe me, the last thing we wanted was to run into you. This was supposed to be a nice, easy job—now, not only are we exposed, we’ve pissed off you. Terrible trade on our end."

"We never planned to make an enemy of you. Once this is over, we’ll figure out a way to leave Star Engraving County. I hope you don’t go after us for this—so please be assured, to avoid earning your further hatred, I won’t touch your daughter. We’re professionals—when it comes to killing, at least—and I deliberately avoided the vital spots. If you send her to the Medical Bureau tonight, she’ll be walking again by tomorrow. She won’t even have a scar."

At that moment, Le Yu found two pebbles and hurled them hard at the street lamps behind Kui Zhao.

By the time Le Yu threw the stones, Kui Zhao was already backing up; by the time the lamps shattered, Kui Zhao had already retreated to the next pool of light behind him—never for a second letting himself be swallowed by total darkness.

As for why Kui Zhao didn’t advance, but instead retreated, Le Yu understood perfectly well—Kui Zhao knew that, in the dark, he was absolutely no match for the Sword Concealer. Whether it was to save Kui Nianruo or to capture the two assassins, Kui Zhao had to ensure his combat power was overwhelming—otherwise, he’d just be throwing his life away.

"But even so, Kui Zhao, at this very moment, could still keep his head clear—unmoved by anger or worry. That made Le Yu recognize their gap—not in technique, but in spirit. Their difference was like a grade-schooler who’d never sworn in his life, compared to a grizzled elder whose parents had been trolling on the forums for eight years." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

The darkened street fell silent again, Kui Zhao standing motionless at the edge of the light. Two minutes later, two Patrol Execution Guards carrying lanterns appeared on the main road. When they spotted Kui Zhao’s silhouette, neither dared approach—instead, they called out, "Who goes there?"

Kui Zhao hooked his finger back, and a bloodlight claw snatched one of the guards’ lanterns away, tossing it into the darkness ahead; with a smack, it broke on the ground. The Charged Pyroxene inside rolled a few times, lighting up the area once more.

There wasn’t a soul left on the street—only the weakened Kui Nianruo, slumped at the roadside with her back against a tree. Kui Zhao strode forward and dropped to a squat in front of her, checking her wounds, then turned and barked, "Go fetch a tricycle!"

The Patrol Execution Guard whose lantern had been grabbed tried to protest in anger, but his partner held him back—having recognized Kui Zhao’s long braid, the second guard said respectfully, "Yes sir, we’ll get one right now. Was that Light Burst Bullet yours just now, Deputy Director Kui? Is there anything else we can help with?"

"Yes, inform the Imprisonment Department to send someone—the scene of a murder is here."

"A murder..." The guard had half expected it, but hearing that a homicide had taken place in the rich district, he knew this night had taken a turn for the worse. With a sigh, he asked, "May I ask who was killed?"

"Your department head, Dong Heng."

Both Patrol Execution Guards stood frozen, then their faces went white and they bolted, sprinting for the nearest Imprisonment Department outpost. They didn’t care about solving the case—they just wanted to pull as many people in as possible. An incident like this was far above their paygrade!

"Dad..." Kui Nianruo called out weakly.

"If you’d mastered Wolf Eagle Fist, would you have been caught so easily?"

Kui Zhao’s voice was as hard as cold iron, but he picked up the Luminous Stone and shined it on Kui Nianruo. Then he crouched down, focusing for a moment, as an invisible glow shimmered at his fingertip. He pressed it gently to Kui Nianruo’s wound; she let out a muffled groan, but the bleeding—which had only just been seeping—stopped at once.

"Healing Battle Technique—Kui Zhao knew that one too. Or rather, anyone who’d fought at the Linhai Army’s front lines knew it—maybe not up to the Medical Officer’s skill in raising the dead, but enough to stop bleeding. With that, your chances of surviving the battlefield—yours and your allies’—doubled, at least."

Kuinianruo asked in a weak, weak voice, "Who... are they?"

Kui Zhao glanced down at her clothes, noticing a small blade cut over the left of her chest. The sight made anger surge in his heart, and at the same time a chill set in. Where he’d hesitated in his talks with Dong Heng, he had now made up his mind.

"Just a pack of rats hiding their identities, that’s all."