Chapter 116: Midnight Killing Intent!

As for Xia Meng, she was deep in sleep.

Wuhen gently shook his head; a hint of helplessness flickered in his deep, abyss-like eyes.

He took a few steps to Ye Qingran's side and spoke softly.

"Wake up."

Ye Qingran let out a soft murmur; in the specks of light, her profile was gentle and charming.

Wuhen's Adam's apple rolled as he reached out and lightly patted her lotus-arm.

Ye Qingran's crow-feather lashes trembled; she slowly opened her eyes, sat up, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and made out the face before her.

"National Master..."

Ye Qingran's voice now lacked its usual coolness, gaining an unexpected hint of allure.

Wuhen's body stiffened on the spot; his already deep eyes seemed ink-splashed, terrifyingly dark.

In Ye Qingran's eyes, light scattered; the man's visage was peerlessly handsome, like a divine curse.

Her rosy lips curved as she leaned toward that handsome face.

"National Master, you are indeed a feast for the eyes."

Wuhen's sword brows knit slightly; his whole body seemed frozen, utterly still.

Ye Qingran clung to Wuhen's neck, her whole body boneless with allure, pressing her face forward as much as she could.

At that moment, the moving 'stars' overhead grew denser; more points of light fell, vanishing onto the two of them.

Wuhen gazed at the peerless face before him, his expression as ever impassive, yet his heart pounded like a drum.

Especially those deep eyes, like whirlpools, seemed capable of swallowing all things.

He knew she was beautiful—beauty that could topple kingdoms—but even that fell short.

Now she was within arm's reach; he could almost count her lashes.

Those brows and eyes, those red lips—every stroke was soul‑stealing.

A faint fragrance drifted into his nostrils, like an aphrodisiac, making him lose himself, unable to break free.

"National Master, you're so soft!"

Ye Qingran, at some point, reached out and traced his face point by point, finally resting on his crimson lips, pressing slightly.

It was as if an electric current surged from their lips through his whole body, causing an almost imperceptible tremor.

A surge of impulse rose like a tide, seeming to have the force to shatter the sturdy and rot.

Wuhen knew that if he didn't stop her, something bad would happen.

Thus his sharp Adam's apple rolled, his voice hoarse and urgent: "Wake up quickly, there's poison."

He spoke, his distinct‑knuckled hand patting her face.

Ye Qingran jolted awake, coming to her senses.

Her dazed beautiful eyes instantly cleared.

Looking at the utterly ordinary face before her, and seeing her own claw‑like hands already wrapped around Wuhen's neck, recalling what she had just done, Ye Qingran's eyes widened.

Holy shit!

What did she just do to Wuhen?

How could she have treated him like the National Master to ravage?

Ye Qingran snatched her hand back as if shocked, moving it a little backward.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

Wuhen made a swallowing motion; in the blink of an eye he resumed his cold demeanor.

"It's not your fault; you've been poisoned."

Ye Qingran exhaled in relief, only then realizing a strange smell filled her nostrils.

"Night Star Butterfly powder?"

Almost instantly, Ye Qingran identified the source of the poison.

She looked up; the whole space was specks of light, and if she looked closely, within those lights she occasionally saw black silhouettes.

Not large, regular butterfly size, pitch‑black all over, yet the poisonous powder on its body, once detached, turns into specks of light like falling stars.

These specks are tiny, yet they carry a hallucinogenic toxin; the more inhaled, the worse it gets, capable of making one die unknowingly in an illusion.

Ye Qingran furrowed her brow.

It wasn't because the Night Star Butterfly was hard to deal with, but because she had actually slept so deeply just now, been poisoned by its powder, and yet noticed nothing?

This had never happened before!

She turned her head to glance at the cool Wuhen; seeing his aloof demeanor and tall stature, she couldn't help wondering if Wuhen simply gave off too much of a sense of safety.

Then she looked at Xia Meng, who had inhaled a fair amount of the powder, clearly already in the illusion, gnawing on a piece of wood, munching: "Mmm, a big chicken leg!"

Ye Qingran: "……"

This kid, hallucinating and still thinking about food?

She's definitely a foodie!

Unlike her, who still knew how to covet the National Master's beauty…

Um…

Ye Qingran stirred her Mysterious Force, dispelling the toxin, then shouted to wake Xia Meng.

Xia Meng was dazed, still immersed in the food, unable to pull herself away.

"What happened?"

"You've been poisoned!"

Xia Meng jolted awake, all sleepiness gone.

It's fine, just wake up.

Ye Qingran spoke softly, but her gaze sank.

The poison powder of the Night Star Butterfly only affects those who are asleep.

Moreover, the Night Star Butterfly wouldn't appear here for no reason.

If one must explain it…

At this moment, deep in the tranquil ancient forest, a faint movement was heard, and a gust of yin wind suddenly blew.

Ye Qingran's expression tightened, yet the corner of her mouth twitched up!

Indeed!

Wuhen also sensed the anomaly, his face showing no ripple.

Someone's coming!

As the words fell, four figures descended from the four directions (east, south, west, north), surrounding the three!

All three wore Night Cloaks, blending with the night, their aura fluctuations extremely weak, hardly detectable.

Xia Meng faced a formidable foe, her expression drastically changed, she gripped the dagger in her hand tightly.

Being hunted down, this is also the first time I've encountered such a thing!

Although I'm nervous, what is this uncontrollable excitement?

Tonight, we have come for Ye Qingran; outsiders, withdraw yourselves.

A dark, hoarse, icy voice came from the mouth of one of the black-clad figures.

Are you here to kill Ye Qingran?

Xia Meng glanced at Ye Qingran in surprise, not knowing whom she had offended.

Ye Qingran gave a light smile, calm and composed, showing no panic or fear at being targeted for assassination.

Let me guess, who sent you here…

Her reaction was too abnormal, causing the three assassins to feel suspicious.

Never before have I seen someone who, even when targeted for assassination, could remain so composed.

I guess, the one who sent you is… Gu Huanghou?

No one responded, but Ye Qingran clearly felt the three of them tighten their breath for a moment.

Indeed!

A flash of shock crossed Xia Meng's eyes.

Gu Huanghou sent people to kill Ye Qingran?!

"You don't need to know so much—die!" Taking people's money and eliminating their troubles, they were just doing their job.

Without much talk, the four simultaneously attacked.

Their aura burst outward, all of them pure Xuan Sect!

The four came from the four directions, killing intent soaring to the heavens, carrying the determination to surely slay Ye Qingran!

Four Xuan Sect?!

They actually hold her in high regard!

But do they really think she's still the Ye Qingran who could be bullied at will?

Xia Meng, stay where you are and don't move.

As for Wuhen…

"One versus two?" Wuhen suddenly looked at her and asked.

Ye Qingran's eyes flashed, and she nodded slightly.

One versus two?

The four killers snorted coldly in their hearts.

They are Xuan Sect Realm experts; any one of them could kill the three of them! These two are truly arrogant, actually thinking they can one versus two!

Ignorant of life and death!

Two assassins changed their target, heading for Wuhen.

In an instant, Ye Qingran and Wuhen each faced two black-clad assassins.

The assassins' attacks were simple yet deadly, without hesitation. Ye Qingran went forward to meet them; although she blocked their attacks, she did not reveal her cultivation level.

Huh?

The two assassins were quite surprised in their hearts.

As assassins, their offensive is fierce and their moves simple, which is not unusual, but why is Ye Qingran's technique likewise?

Aren't young ladies and gentlemen of their age supposed to focus on flashy, flamboyant styles?

The two assassins would probably never know that Ye Qingran was once a top-tier assassin.

As for the other two assassins who exchanged moves with Wuhen, they also encountered a similar situation.

This ordinary-looking man, whose cultivation was unremarkable, unknowingly exchanged dozens of moves with them!

They didn't even know how he had fought them!

When did the nobles of Xiliang City become so deeply hidden?