Su Mo used a method akin to “heart-to-heart communication” to inform Ye Qingyi about the characteristics and backgrounds of each of the Eight Heroes, allowing her to plan her next moves accordingly.
For instance, the Seventh Hero often filched cigarettes from his two underlings, taking only one puff before discarding them, complaining that their smoke was too harsh.
Another example was the Fourth Hero, who disliked using the main door and preferred climbing through windows.
And then there was the Fifth Hero… Well, never mind that, he was already dead. It wasn’t important anymore.
Guided by the two underlings, Ye Qingyi successfully arrived at the hotel where Yu Xiaowen and her daughter were being held.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, contemplating how to rescue them.
“Seventh Lord, why are you squinting?” one underling asked rather inopportunely.
Ye Qingyi shot him a glare and retorted irritably, “None of your business!”
The underling immediately shut his mouth.
She looked around and said to one of them, “You, go ahead and scout the path.”
Even if he had ten thousand reasons not to want to, the underling could only comply with a bitter expression, hoping there was no danger ahead.
And so, Ye Qingyi, who didn’t know the exact location, successfully reached her destination.
As the door opened, the smell of blood hit her. Her heart sank, and she couldn’t help but worry.
She looked at the other underling; it was his turn to scout.
With a grimace, the underling slowly entered the room. After confirming it was safe, he waved for her to come in.
However, the moment Ye Qingyi stepped inside, a cold sensation pressed against her neck. A sharp sword grazed her skin, leaving a faint trace of blood.
Strangely, no one seemed to be holding the sword, yet it moved with incredible agility, as if wielded by an invisible hand.
Quick as lightning, a golden light flashed in Ye Qingyi’s eyes, and her fist slammed violently into the empty air beside her.
Thud!
A figure materialized out of thin air—a thin man, clutching his chest with a pained expression. “Impossible! How did you find me?”
Of course, she wouldn’t tell him that her special ability was prediction and perception. It might sound mystical, but as her power had grown, it had become increasingly accurate and easier to use at will.
“You’re about to die. Why waste breath with so many questions?”
Before the words had fully left her mouth, the man, unable to dodge in time, found his neck seized by Ye Qingyi. She slammed him hard onto the floor.
He was knocked senseless, dazed and unable to regain his bearings for a while.
The two underlings stared dumbfounded at their “Seventh Lord,” feeling she was becoming more and more unfamiliar.
However, they wisely refrained from asking questions and quickly searched the rest of the room for any other hidden threats.
Apart from a pool of blood on the floor, they found nothing suspicious.
Ye Qingyi dragged the man over to the bloodstain and demanded coldly, “Talk. What did you do to the Eighth Hero?”
“I didn’t do anything to him! He seemed to know I was coming long in advance, so he transferred the hostages elsewhere.”
“And this blood? How do you explain that?”
“How should I know? Maybe he tortured the hostages and left it behind. I was just waiting here, hoping he might return,” the man said, his face pleading.
Ye Qingyi took a deep breath and asked the two behind her, “Do you think the Eighth Hero would torture hostages?”
The two hemmed and hawed, “The… the Eighth Lord never mistreats women or children.”
“Exactly. The Eighth Hero never mistreats women or children. It seems you’re lying. I hate liars.” She snorted coldly, gripping the man’s own sword, ready to strike.
Terrified, the man hurriedly spilled the truth: “Wait, wait! Don’t! I’ll talk, please don’t kill me… Actually, we are all assassins hired by Boss Ye, specifically to kill the mother and daughter.”
Ye Qingyi’s gaze sharpened, and a sense of foreboding rose in her heart. “What Boss Ye? Why kill them?”
“I only know he wants to get revenge on someone… someone else with the surname Ye.”
“Ye Qingyi?”
“That’s right.”
Hearing this, Ye Qingyi mostly understood. It must be those scattered remnants of the Ye family forces. They were using this method to express their discontent.
Coincidentally, the Hundred Immortals Sect happened to have kidnapped Su Mo’s family. So, they planned to kill two birds with one stone—carry out the murder and frame someone else simultaneously.
“A clever move, shifting the blame. Looks like you wanted to pin this on us, the Eight Heroes, didn’t you? You deserve a beating.”
“Wait, wait! I have more to say!” The man’s unexpectedly weak spine made Ye Qingyi doubt the truthfulness of his words.
He continued, “That pool of blood… it actually belongs to the Eighth Hero. I stabbed him while he was protecting the hostages. But don’t worry, it’s just a superficial wound. He’s fine.”
“How many of you came?”
“Four. The other three are probably chasing the Eighth Hero right now. If you hurry, you might still be able to save them.”
If all this was true, one had to admit the man had good reason to want to stay alive. But Ye Qingyi didn’t hesitate in the slightest. She cleanly and decisively ended his life.
The two underlings looked at her, confused. “Seventh Lord, actually, he…”
“Actually, he could have lived, is that it?” Ye Qingyi snorted coldly. “He could have lived, but he injured the Eighth Hero. That crime is unforgivable.”
The two underlings wore strange expressions. If they dared to speak up, they would have said in unison: Yeah, right. We don’t believe that for a second. You’re usually the cruelest to the Eighth Hero yourself.
Ye Qingyi stood up and headed outside. “Hurry up and follow me! The hostages are in danger now. We must find them before the assassins succeed!”
“Yes, sir!” Receiving the order, the two quickly chased after her, not daring to fall behind.
…
The Northern Dipper, the Hundred Immortals Sect, members of the Ye family—multiple forces were all in motion. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night in Tianyu City.
Su Mo, dressed in black, stood on the Weishui Bridge. Behind him was the head of the Tianyu City branch of the Northern Dipper.
“Elder Ye, this was our oversight. We will definitely apprehend the culprits.”
Su Mo nodded. His eyes, hidden in the darkness, suddenly turned cold. “They’re here!”
Approaching from a distance, Li Kui and the others maintained an air of extreme arrogance and fearlessness.
The moment Li Kui saw Su Mo, he laughed. “So, President Ye, has your little boyfriend argued with you? After all, it’s your fault his mother and sister were captured.”
Su Mo laughed too. His laughter was pleasant but also frightening. “To think the renowned Hundred Immortals Sect would resort to using women and children as hostages to threaten us. It seems you’ve truly fallen from grace, a shadow of your former self.”
Li Kui’s face darkened. “Enough talk. One sentence: exchange, or not?”
Su Mo answered without hesitation, “Of course we’ll exchange. But I need to confirm they are safe and sound first.”
“Naturally.” Li Kui took out his phone and dialed the Eighth Hero’s number. “Old Eight, have the… Old Eight?”
Heavy panting sounds came from the other end of the line, mixed with the clashing of weapons and the crying of a baby.
Both Su Mo and Li Kui felt their hearts leap into their throats. One feared something had happened to Yu Xiaowen and little Momo; the other feared what would happen to him if something happened to them.
Su Mo issued a cold warning: “If anything happens to them, I’ll send all you Eight Heroes to the grave to keep them company!”
Li Kui couldn’t help but shudder. He spoke harshly into the phone to the Eighth Hero: “Old Eight, listen to me, and listen well. The person we’re trying to save is the esteemed disciple of Lord Yaxian. If you want to repay the debt of his recognition and favor, you will protect those hostages. Even if you die, they must not be harmed in the slightest. Is that clear?”
After a long moment, the Eighth Hero’s rough voice came through the phone: “Yes…”