Chapter 672: First Volume, Chapter 672: Dark Moon, High Winds, A Night for Killing

First Volume, Chapter 672: Dark Moon, High Winds, A Night for Killing

The Black-Clothed Man gently pushed the room's door, leaving a small crack.

Immediately after, he took out a sleep incense from his sleeve, lit it, and slipped it through the door crack.

The tiny spark was especially conspicuous in the darkness.

Han Yuming covered his mouth and nose with his left hand, held his breath, and drew a short blade from beneath the bedding with his right.

He tiptoed behind the door and quietly lay in ambush.

Roughly One Cup of Tea Time passed.

The Black-Clothed Man figured the target had already been drugged, so he directly slid a Dagger through the door crack and flipped the door bolt open.

Click...

The moment the door bolt fell, the door was pushed open as well.

A large hand reached through the door crack and snatched the door bolt in one grab, just before it hit the ground and made a sound.

This single move alone was enough to prove that these Black-Clothed Men were all experts!

The three of them had a clear division of labor.

One stayed outside the door; another, with an obvious target, headed straight for the bed.

The third entered the room, turned and walked toward the side of the door as he came in, intending to lie in ambush once more and provide support.

He happened to run right into Han Yuming, who was hiding by the door.

Han Yuming, who had long been prepared, did not hesitate for a moment—he raised his short blade and stabbed straight at the man's chest.

Because it happened so suddenly.

That Black-Clothed Man was caught completely off guard and took the blade full on.

Blood instantly gushed out, and he immediately let out a low cry: "Not good!"

Because of the severe wound, the Black-Clothed Man staggered a few steps, then crashed heavily to the ground—alive or dead, unclear.

The other two Black-Clothed Men realized they had been ambushed by Han Yuming, but they were not flustered.

Both drew short blades from behind them.

The taller one swung his short blade straight at Han Yuming's head, holding nothing back.

Han Yuming immediately realized these men had come specifically to take his life.

As he dodged, he countered with a slash of his own.

But that Black-Clothed Man was extremely agile and dodged it easily. At the same time, the blade that had cut through empty air changed its trajectory mid-swing and came chopping toward Han Yuming's shoulder.

At the same time, the other, slightly shorter Black-Clothed Man had already thrust his blade forward as well.

Han Yuming had nowhere to dodge.

He could only grit his teeth and turn sideways, taking the blade on his shoulder.

Blood instantly gushed out.

Ignoring it, he grabbed the short, thin Black-Clothed Man's wrist from behind and clamped down hard.

But the man's strength was great, and he knew how to use clever force—with a flick of his wrist, he nearly broke free of Han Yuming's grip.

The blade tip stabbed directly into Han Yuming's abdomen.

Although the cut was not deep, blood still poured out as if it were free.

Facing the pincer attack of the two Black-Clothed Men, Han Yuming could watch the front but not the rear; he fought desperately to resist, yet kept taking hit after hit.

In desperation, Han Yuming threw all caution for his life to the wind and slashed out fiercely with his blade.

Taking advantage of the moment when the Black-Clothed Man before him dodged, he turned and crashed into the Window.

Boom!

Accompanied by a tremendous crash, Han Yuming fell heavily from the Second Floor.

The moment he hit the ground, he felt as if his whole body was falling apart, and his consciousness flickered in and out.

Gritting his teeth, he tried several times to push himself up, but failed.

Only then did he realize that, because of his bad landing posture, his left leg had already been broken.

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came.

Two Black-Clothed Men chased out from the Yi Guan.

One of them, without the slightest hesitation, swung his blade straight down at Han Yuming's head.

Just as Han Yuming was on the verge of despair, believing his death was certain, he saw a Long Saber slash across right in front of him.

Clang!

The Black-Clothed Man's short blade was actually deflected directly away.

Han Yuming looked up and saw that, he knew not when, several men in black brocade robes had appeared beside him.

The leader held a slender Zhan Dao a full four chi long, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile played across his face.

"You... who are you people?"

Han Yuming looked at the Jinyiwei who had suddenly appeared, his eyes full of astonishment.

Liu Ming's lips curved up slightly.

"His Highness Han, don't panic—we are here to save you."

"You have traveled thousands of li, crossed mountains and rivers, come all this way from afar, and you are an important guest of our Young Master."

"How could we allow anyone else to take your life?"

Young Master?

Han Yuming immediately realized that the Young Master this man spoke of was very likely Qin Feng.

The moment he thought of this, he let out a long breath of relief.

The wounds on his body also began to throb with pain.

Han Yuming's face went deathly pale. Forcing himself to endure the searing pain, he said in a low voice, "You people are Qin Feng's men?"

"Could it be that Qin Feng is omniscient? Otherwise, how would he know I would be ambushed tonight?"

Liu Ming shrugged, entirely unconcerned.

"That, you'll have to go ask my family's Young Master."

While speaking, Liu Ming had already raised his head to look at the two Black-Clothed Men.

A hint of mockery flickered in his eyes.

"You rats from the Northern Di—after the Black Guard Office's repeated purges, there are still remnants bold enough to make a move in Jingdu."

"Should I say you are brazen beyond measure, or simply ignorant of life and death?"

The tall, thin Black-Clothed Man was not intimidated.

He raised his short blade, its edge pointing straight at Liu Ming.

"The Northern Di Night Owls are on business. Those who don't want to die, scram!"

At these words, not only Liu Ming, but the other several Brocade-Clad Anwu Guards present couldn't help but laugh.

Hearing this mocking laughter, the Black-Clothed Men were instantly enraged.

While making the best Preparation for a death match, he let out a sharp, low shout.

"You are the Shedynasty Black Guard? Hmph! We've only ever heard that your abilities in gathering Military Intelligence and assassination are outstanding."

"When it comes to hard, head-on combat, I'm afraid that's not quite your forte, is it?"

The group of Brocade-Clad Anwu Guards laughed even harder.

Looking at the Night Owls, their eyes were filled with nothing but pity.

Liu Ming let out a soft sigh, shaking his head with emotion.

"Unthinkable, truly unthinkable."

"The Northern Di Night Owls, famed for being able to penetrate anywhere—yet their information is so poorly informed."

"These Black Guards excel at Military Intelligence gathering, but are not adept at direct combat."

"Your Night Owls, though skilled at assassination, are simply no match when it comes to the flow of information."

"I'm not talented."

Liu Ming gripped the hilt of his blade with both hands, and bowed with fists clasped toward the tall, thin Night Owl at the head.

"I am Liu Ming, Captain of the Brocade-Clad Anwu Guard."

Upon learning the other side was the Brocade Guard, a clear panic flickered in the Night Owls' eyes.

Since the National War began, the Night Owls and the Brocade Guard had clashed repeatedly.

If they held the home-ground advantage, the Night Owls could force the Brocade Guard to retreat.

But if it was within Shedynasty territory, the Night Owls were suppressed by the Brocade Guard at every turn.

According to the latest Military Intelligence they had gathered.

The majority of the Brocade Guard were dedicated solely to Military Intelligence gathering, with only a small portion skilled in covert protection and assassination.

And within this small portion of the Brocade Guard, there were some elites known as the "Anwu Guard."

These people were all top-notch experts.

Combining Military Intelligence gathering, covert protection, and assassination in one.

Just this month, within the Jingji region of Shedynasty, over ten Night Owls had been hunted down by the Brocade-Clad Anwu Guard.

And the people before them now were precisely the Brocade-Clad Anwu Guard.

The sharpest, most lethal Dagger under Qin Feng's army.

The Night Owls knew full well that the few against the many could never be a match for the Brocade-Clad Anwu Guard, and immediately abandoned any thought of a death match.

Without a flicker of emotion, they began to retreat.

But just then, the sound of footsteps came from behind once more.

Turning to look, at some unknown moment, three more Brocade-Clad Anwu Guards had appeared behind them.

Seven in total.

Seven against two—without a shred of suspense.

Looking at the Night Owls driven into a desperate corner, Liu Ming couldn't help but let out a soft laugh: "Try to take them alive if you can."