Chapter 159

Hey… you guys… Xiaosi wanted to yell, but feared drawing the tiger, so he lowered his voice: "Don't… don't leave me, wait for me…"

His voice was too soft, so his companions naturally didn't hear it.

Xiaosi's teeth chattered, he wanted to cry but no tears came; he had no strength to push himself up, covering his head he silently prayed, "Tiger, don't eat me… tiger, don't eat me…"

Just then, a faint footstep sounded.

His flung torch was picked up by someone.

As the footsteps approached, firelight illuminated his surroundings again.

He quickly looked up, and upon seeing a young woman holding a torch approach, he was overjoyed: "I was scared to death, thank goodness… thank goodness it's you, not a tiger…"

"Are tigers that scary?" Ning Jinli asked with a smiling face.

Xiaosi scrambled to his feet, glaring, and said: "A tiger isn't scary? Huh? Wait… how come I've never seen you before, who are you…"

Ning Jinli pressed a sharp dagger against Xiaosi's neck, still smiling, and said: "Where is the Prefect? If you don't tell me, I'll show you something scarier than a tiger."

Xiaosi saw that the woman looked to be in her early twenties, only a few years older than him, so he dismissed her, stiffening his neck and sneering: "With looks like yours, you still want to be an assassin? Can you even handle a knife? Don't end up cutting your own hand."

"I'll ask again: where is the Prefect right now?" Ning Jinli exerted a little force with her fingers, and the dagger's tip drew a line of blood across Xiaosi's neck.

Xiaosi sucked in a breath of cold air and snarled: "You little slut! You dare hurt me! The Prefect won't let you off! By the time you die, you won't even know how! I'll rape you first, then kill you!"

"Tsk, truly the beam is crooked and the rafters warped—even the lackey is this arrogant, it's nauseating." Ning Jinli's eyes flashed cold; she moved the dagger from his neck and, in the next second, thrust it hard into his shoulder, then quickly clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Don't shout," Ning Jinli said, smiling narrowly as she pulled out the dagger, "If you don't cooperate, my next strike won't miss."

Xiaosi trembled with pain all over and quickly nodded to show he would cooperate.

Ning Jinli slowly kept her hand over his mouth while she gradually brought the bloodied blade toward his carotid artery, saying: "Before the tip touches your throat, if you don't tell the truth, I'll take your life."

Xiaosi glanced at the approaching blade, his face growing paler, in pain and fear he actually began to sob.

"Still crying?" Ning Jinli frowned, "Crying counts as time, too."

"I… I… I don't know exactly where the Prefect is…" Xiaosi cried, stammering as he pointed in a direction, "It should… maybe… perhaps… be over there, that side is nearest… nearest to the residence."

"Couldn't you have said that sooner?" Ning Jinli withdrew the dagger.

Xiaosi suddenly opened his mouth to shout: "There—"

Before he could utter the two words "assassin," a flash of cold light from the blade slit his throat.

He clutched his bleeding neck and collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide with shock.

Even as he died, he couldn't believe that such a harmless‑looking young woman would actually dare to kill.

Ning Jinli crouched, wiped the blood from the dagger with his clothing, and added lightly: "If you had spoken earlier, you wouldn't have taken a needless stab before moving on; you could have died painlessly."

Xiaosi kicked his legs and breathed his last.

If we don't count the enemy troops Ning Jinli accidentally killed while conducting blasting in Lin Xian Village, this is the first time she has ever killed someone with her own hands.

A few months earlier, she had just graduated from university, been screwed over by her own uncle and dumped by her boyfriend, unaware of the darkness of human nature, so pure that anyone could push her around.

But now she can command troops in battle, and wiping out scum doesn't even make her blink.

Ning Jinli learned the Prefect's approximate location from Xiaosi, then used her walkie‑talkie to share the intelligence each small squad had gathered with their leaders.

Although the mountains were vast, Ning Jinli quickly narrowed the search perimeter by cross‑referencing and analyzing the data.

The Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army gradually formed an encirclement, and while continually shrinking the area, they handily cleared out any servants and guards of the Hot Spring Residence they encountered.

"Sir, something feels off," a guard beside You suddenly said.

You, who had been dozing, opened his eyes slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"

The guard replied: "I've been keeping an eye on the surroundings, and it seems the torchlight around us is much dimmer than before, yet you haven't ordered us to widen the search area; logically… they shouldn't be getting farther away, so…"

You sprang up with a start and demanded, "When did you first notice this?"

The guard scratched his head and said, "Just now."

You frowned, instantly employed his lightness skill, leapt a few steps up a large tree, and indeed saw figures lurking in ambush from all directions.

He started to run, but after a brief pause he glanced farther away, a cold smile crossed his face, and he calmly returned to the ground.

After about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Ning Jinli's Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army had tightened the encirclement to roughly the size of a sports field.

"Longyuan Prefect, you're surrounded; I advise you to surrender." Ning Jinli stepped out from the darkness of the woods.

Before her burned a pile of campfire.

You stood by the fire, his back to her.

Moreover, several dozen guards formed a ring around him, shielding him in the center.

Hearing that clear voice, You turned, his face showing surprise, and looked her up and down, saying: "Someone who brings over a thousand men to slaughter on my turf… and it's a woman?"

"Does it matter?" Ning Jinli locked eyes with him, then glanced at the guards, "You might as well not bother—lay down your weapons and surrender."

The guards remained unmoved, gripping their long blades with a fierce stare.

At this moment, You had something he couldn't figure out.

He had led his men to comb this area inside and out, centering on the spot where Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu vanished, yet found not a trace; meanwhile, these people had burst in from outside and surrounded the place, seemingly without ever seeing Xiao Qidi, Duan Wu, or even that four‑ or five‑year‑old girl.

That's just strange.

Could it be that those three really vanished into thin air?

But now is not the time to think about that.

He needs to buy a little time.

The reason he hadn't left just now was that, from the tree, he not only saw this group in odd black attire, but also saw his own commandery troops rushing up behind them.

"Heh, who's surrounding whom isn't certain yet." You gave a cold chuckle, continuing to appraise Ning Jinli with a playful gaze, "Miss, you're quite beautiful; I've lived over thirty years and seen countless beauties, yet none compare to you."

Ning Jinli frowned, "Flattery won't help, and I really don't like that look of yours."

You added, "Too bad… you're too old."

Ning Jinli immediately felt a surge of indignation; even though she knew ancient age concepts differed greatly from modern ones, she couldn't help retorting, "I'm too old? I'm only in my twenties—this is the prime of youth and beauty!"

You curled the corner of his mouth, "In my view, anyone over fifteen isn't fresh enough. What a pity, truly a pity—if I had met you ten or so years earlier, you would surely have become my most beloved maid."

Ning Jingli then remembered that Xiao Qidi had said this dog official had some peculiar fetish, and her stomach immediately clenched, almost making her vomit.

Translation: Ning Jinli only then realized, Xiao Qidi also said this dog official had some kind of peculiar habit; immediately her stomach clenched in spasms, almost vomiting.

But need to keep meaning exactly. Use semicolon? It's okay as long as we don't add info. Could also use comma. We'll produce: Ning Jinli only then realized, Xiao Qidi also said this dog official had some kind of peculiar habit; immediately her stomach clenched in spasms, almost vomiting.

You should know that in this era, it was very common for girls to marry and bear children at fifteen or sixteen.

Translation: You should know, in this era it was quite common for girls to marry and bear children at fifteen or sixteen.

But even in such a social environment, the prefect of Longyuan's fetish could not be tolerated by the era's customs, showing how excessive he was.

Translation: But even in such a general environment, the Longyuan Governor's peculiar habit cannot be tolerated by the era's conventions, showing how excessive he is.

Thinking of how obedient and adorable little An'an was, Ning Jingli felt a surge of anger as she realized the girl had almost fallen victim to this beast's vicious hands.

Translation: Thinking of how obedient and cute An An was, Ning Jinli realized she had almost fallen victim to this beast's vicious hands, and her anger flared up.

But we need to keep the phrase "she almost fell victim to this beast's vicious hands". We'll keep.

What's more frightening is.

Translation: What's more frightening is.

But note: "What's more frightening is." It's an incomplete sentence leading to the next line.

Before An'an, who knows how many little girls had fallen into his clutches……

Translation: Before An An, who knows how many girls had already fallen into his clutches……

We need to keep the ellipsis. Use three dots.

Two icy glints filled with killing intent rose from Ning Jingli's eyes.

Translation: Two cold glints filled with killing intent rose from Ning Jinli's eyes.

She no longer wasted words, raising her right hand and swinging it forcefully.

Translation: She no longer wasted words, raising her right hand and swinging it forcefully.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Translation: Swish swish swish!

A dense volley of crossbow bolts flew out from behind her.

Translation: A dense volley of crossbow bolts flew out from behind her.

The dozens of guards surrounding the prefect had no time to dodge and were instantly turned into human pincushions.

Translation: The dozens of guards beside the Prefect had no time to dodge and were instantly turned into hedgehogs.

Official You's face twitched slightly.

Translation: You's face changed slightly.

These guards all wore soft armor of far superior quality to the standard soft armor used by the Great Xuan army; under normal circumstances, ordinary bronze arrows could hardly penetrate it.

Translation: These guards of his all wore soft armor, of much higher quality than the Daxuan Army's standard soft armor; under normal circumstances ordinary bronze arrows could hardly penetrate it.

Even against iron-tipped arrows, it could still block a great deal of their lethal force.

Translation: Even against iron-tipped arrows, it could still block a lot of the lethal force.

But against this recent barrage of arrows, their soft armor was as flimsy as paper.

Translation: But against this volley of arrows just now, their soft armor was as flimsy as paper.

"What powerful arrows!" Official You exclaimed in surprise and doubt, "When did the Great Xuan army acquire such fine weapons? How could I not know about this?"

Translation: "What powerful arrows!" You exclaimed in surprise and doubt, "When did the Daxuan Army acquire such fine weapons? I, the official, didn't even know!"

"There's plenty you don't know!" Ning Jingli, radiating killing intent, stepped closer, shouting, "Get on your knees, hands on your head!"

Translation: "There's plenty you don't know!" Ning Jinli approached, killing intent surging, "Get on your knees, hands over your head!"

If it weren't necessary to bring this beast back for Xiao Qidi's judgment and to give an explanation to the suffering populace, Ning Jingli would love to tear him apart right then and there.

Translation: If it weren't necessary to bring this beast back for Xiao Qidi's judgment and to give an explanation to the suffering populace, Ning Jinli would love to tear him apart right now.

"You want to catch me? You're still too green." Official You suddenly kicked the nearby guard's corpse away.

Translation: "You want to catch me? You're still too green." You suddenly kicked the guard's corpse beside him flying.

The corpse, resembling a hedgehog, flew up like a large sandbag and slammed toward Ning Jingli.

Translation: The hedgehog-like corpses flew up like big sandbags, smashing toward Ning Jinli.

Ning Jingli swiftly turned to dodge.

Translation: Ning Jinli swiftly turned to dodge.

The next second, Official You had already pulled several crossbow bolts from another corpse and flung them at Ning Jingli.

Translation: The next second, You had already pulled several crossbow bolts from another corpse and flung them at Ning Jinli.

Although Ning Jingli had no formal martial arts training, the various dangers she had faced had greatly enhanced her agility, and backed by powerful inner strength, her reaction speed far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Translation: Ning Jinli doesn't know martial arts techniques, but the various dangers she has faced have greatly enhanced her agility, and with powerful internal strength backing her, her reaction speed far exceeds that of ordinary people.

In an instant, she leaned back lightly and easily evaded the attack again.

Translation: In an instant she leaned back, easily dodging the attack again.

Seeing the prefect suddenly attack, the Xuan Armored troops rushed forward to surround him, but because they needed to keep him alive and could not deliver a killing blow, they dared not use weapons.

Translation: Seeing the Prefect suddenly attack, the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army rushed forward to surround him, but because they needed to keep him alive and could not deliver a killing blow, they dared not use weapons.

Official You pushed off the ground, and just before the Xuan Armored troops lunged at him, he unleashed his lightness skill, leaping up and stepping on several of their helmets to dodge and maneuver, then soaring onto a tree.

Translation: You planted his feet and, just before the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army lunged, employed lightness skill to leap up, stepping on several of their helmets to dodge and maneuver, then soared onto a tree.

"Holy cow, his martial arts are that good?" Ning Jingli looked up, scanning the area for his silhouette.

Translation: "Holy cow, his martial arts are that good?" Ning Jinli looked up, searching for his silhouette.

The Xuan Armored troops were first-rate fighters in battle, but few were martial arts masters, let alone skilled in lightness techniques; watching Official You leap onto a tree left them momentarily helpless.

Translation: The Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army are top-notch fighters in battle, but few are martial arts masters, let alone skilled in lightness skill; seeing You leap onto the tree, they were momentarily at a loss.

"Come down!" Ning Jingli roared, channeling her inner strength and delivering a powerful kick to the tree trunk.

Translation: "Come down!" Ning Jinli roared, channeling internal strength, and kicked the tree trunk with a mighty blow.

Boom!

Translation: Boom!

A towering tree thicker than a person's waist snapped with a crack.

Translation: A towering tree thicker than a person's waist snapped with a crack.

The upper half of the trunk came crashing down toward the ground.

Translation: The upper half of the trunk fell toward the ground.

Official You immediately leapt onto another large tree, gazing at the trunk Ning Jingli had just kicked down, and gasped, "Who is this young woman? Her martial arts moves are nothing special, yet her strength is terrifying!"

Translation: You immediately leapt onto another large tree, gazing at the trunk Ning Jinli had just snapped with a kick, and gasped, "Who is this young woman? Her martial arts techniques are nothing special, yet her strength is terrifying!"

"Still running? I'll see where you can go!" Ning Jingli delivered a spinning kick, snapping the tree where Official You was hiding.

Translation: "Still running? I'll see where you can go!" Ning Jinli delivered a spinning kick, snapping the tree where You was hiding.

Boom!

Translation: Boom!

Official You grew increasingly panicked, darting from tree to tree like a monkey.

Translation: You grew increasingly panicked, like a monkey shifting from tree to tree.

Ning Jingli refused to let up; wherever he moved to another tree, she followed and kicked it down.

Translation: Ning Jinli would not let up; wherever he moved to a tree, she followed and snapped that tree.

The Xuan Armored troops stared, mouths agape.

Translation: The Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army stared, dumbfounded.

Overall, it felt like Fairy Jingli was no longer the same person she had been when first seen……

Translation: Overall, the Jinli Fairy seemed different from when they first saw her……

Official You was exhausted to the point of sputtering, his face turned pale, and after another shift he nearly lost strength in his legs and almost fell from the branches.

Translation: You was exhausted to the point of panting, his face turned pale, and after another shift he nearly went limp and fell from the branches.

Having exerted such intense lightness skill nonstop while fleeing, with no chance to catch his breath, he was about to give out.

Translation: Maintaining such high-intensity lightness skill while constantly fleeing, with no chance to catch his breath, he could barely hold on.

In contrast, Ning Jingli merely flushed a little and broke a light sweat, seeming hardly fatigued at all.

Translation: In contrast, Ning Jinli only flushed slightly and broke a sweat, seeming hardly tired at all.

"He can't run much longer!" Ning Jingli shouted to the Xuan Armored troops, "When he falls, grab him and hold him down right away!"

Translation: "He can't run much longer!" Ning Jinli shouted to the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army, "When he falls, grab him and hold him down for me!"

"Yes!" the Xuan Armored troops replied in unison.

Translation: "Yes!" the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army replied in unison.

The roar of over a thousand voices shook the treetops, making Official You panic again; he hastily lifted his head to look around.

Translation: The roar of over a thousand shook the treetop where You was, making him panic again; he hastily looked around.

Ning Jingli took a deep breath, gathered her strength, and kicked out fiercely.

Translation: Ning Jinli took a deep breath, gathered her strength, and kicked out fiercely.

Bang!

Translation: Bang!

The trunk exploded.

Translation: The trunk exploded.

Official You summoned all his strength to leap about two zhang away, but being near exhaustion, his movement lagged half a beat; midway through the jump, the falling tree struck him to the ground.

Translation: You mustered all his strength to jump about two zhang away, but being near exhaustion, his movement lagged half a beat; midway he was struck to the ground by the falling tree.

It was like swatting a mosquito with a flyswatter, leaving him increasingly feeling powerless, as if unable to fly even with wings.

Translation: It was like swatting a mosquito with a flyswatter, leaving him ever more feeling powerless, unable to fly even with wings.

"Kill!" Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted behind the Xuan Armored troops.

Translation: "Kill!" Suddenly a deafening roar erupted behind the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army.

Official You was overjoyed, "Finally, they've arrived!"

Translation: You was overjoyed, "Finally they've arrived!"

Before the Xuan Armored troops could seize Official You, county soldiers came charging from all directions in the forest, immediately engaging in battle without hesitation.

Translation: Before the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army could subdue You, prefectural troops came from all directions in the forest and immediately engaged in battle.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Official You found a breach and scrambled, rolling and crawling deeper into the dense woods.

Translation: Taking advantage of the chaos, You found a breach and scrambled, rolling and crawling into the deep forest.

The county troops slightly outnumbered them, and having launched a surprise attack with full force, the Xuan Armored troops—though they were fellow Great Xuan soldiers—could not bring themselves to strike a killing blow, so for a while the fight was evenly matched.

Translation: The prefectural troops slightly outnumbered them, and having launched a surprise attack with all their might, the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army, reluctant to kill fellow Daxuan soldiers, found the fight evenly matched for a time.

Ning Jingli certainly would not let the Longyuan prefect escape; she quickly pursued him along his escape route.

Translation: Ning Jinli certainly wouldn't let the Longyuan Governor escape; she quickly pursued him along his flight path.

The Longyuan prefect, intimately familiar with the terrain, ran back to his residence even without torches, having the household servants left behind shut the doors and windows before he could catch his breath and take a sip of water.

Translation: The Longyuan Governor, familiar with the terrain, ran back to his residence even without torches, had the servants left behind close the doors and windows, then finally had a moment to drink water and catch his breath.

"Today's situation is truly something I have never seen in my life," he muttered, slumped in the hall, still shaken.

Translation: "Today's situation is truly unprecedented in my official career," he muttered, slumped in the hall, still shaken.

"Sir, all the doors and windows are securely closed," a attendant reported.

Translation: "Sir, all the doors and windows are secured," an attendant reported.

You breathed a sigh of relief.

His residence was built from hard ancient wood comparable to bronze; the doors were reinforced, and the windows also had bronze railings. Even if that strange woman who could kick down a big tree with one foot chased after him, it would be impossible to break in by brute force.

After settling his mind, he went up to the terrace on the top floor of the residence and gazed toward the distant battlefield.

At this moment, the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army had grasped the rhythm of battle, gradually gaining the upper hand and advancing toward the residence, while the county troops, despite exerting their full strength, could only fight while retreating.

You's brows furrowed tighter and tighter; although in this dark night he could not see the exact state of the county troops' fighting in the mountains and forests, he could hear the sounds of battle drawing ever closer to the residence.

"What kind of troops come from that lousy place Xi Tun Guan? When did they become so good at fighting?" he muttered, the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.