The Sovereign – Chapter 87

Volume Five: Remembering a Lifetime in the Sound of a Breaking Heart

Bloody Remnants of Night

Why did it turn out this way?

“Yes, I, Ye Ming, will complete the mission even at the cost of my life! But Tower Master, are you really going to retreat?” Ye Ming asked uncertainly.

“I…” Liu Qianxun suddenly didn’t know what to do. Her expression turned cold, her slightly reddened eyes filled with bitterness. Nothing was more painful than this order. This day had finally come – Ling Yu had even abandoned the military book and wanted her to leave, surely having discovered the truth.

“Tower Master, let’s leave this place of turmoil. I cannot be with the Young Princess, and you cannot be with the Empress. We were born as assassins; staying by their side will only bring them harm.”

“Can you bear to leave the Young Princess?”

“One must let go to gain something. What does it matter if I can’t bear it? Would you rather have the Sect Leader discover our betrayal and issue a kill order?” Ye Ming paused, “Besides, if I really kill Bai Yifei, I won’t have the face to see her again.”

“Bai Yifei deserves death, but the Young Princess is innocent, ah…” Liu Qianxun thought of Qin Junlan’s attitude toward her; even though it was so cold, she still didn’t want to leave. When Qin Junlan forbade her from leaving the palace, she had actually felt a flutter of joy in her heart.

“Tower Master, tomorrow at the Hour of Dog (7-9 PM), I will act. At the Hour of Pig (9-11 PM), wait for me at the Xuan Gate.” Ye Ming kowtowed deeply to Liu Qianxun. Liu Qianxun helped her up with one hand, gazing at her, “Ye Ming, I won’t leave unless the Emperor drives me away. I won’t leave her.”

Ye Ming shook her head repeatedly, gripping her shoulders excitedly, saying: “You’ll be in danger if you don’t leave. The Suyuan Tower’s exposure is inevitable. The Empress is so cold to you now, already suspecting you. What meaning is there in staying?”

“What meaning? I only know that if I leave this place, I won’t find any meaning in living…” Liu Qianxun had made up her mind. She absolutely wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. She couldn’t bear to leave Qin Junlan. Call it selfish or greedy, she didn’t want to leave her.

“I understand…” Ye Ming turned around, her desolate back carrying a strong sense of suppression. Without turning back, she slowly said: “Tower Master, perhaps only the Empress can give you what you want. If you don’t plan to return to the Shura Sect, you must be careful of the Sect Leader.”

“I understand. Ye Ming, be careful tomorrow. Your safety must come first.” Liu Qianxun said worriedly. Ye Ming nodded firmly. Once, Liu Qianxun only cared about completing missions, but now she had flesh and blood, and more compassion. Compared to before, she felt much warmer inside.

When viewing the world with kindness, everything seems warmer. Qin Junlan had taught her how to love others and love the common people, yet she herself had lost that gentleness.

Once the Asura Order is issued, the target must die. Since the Shura Sect’s establishment, the number of times the Asura Order had been issued could be counted on fingers, because once this order is given, the executor must fight to the death. If the mission cannot be completed, death is the only atonement! Ling Yu saw Bai Yifei as a thorn in her side and would not allow him to live in this world any longer.

Ye Ming nervously avoided Bai Ruoxi, yet she always insisted on taking her back to see her brother. She couldn’t help but feel the irony – her own brother would soon become a soul under her sword, so what was the point of seeing him?

“Ye Ming, won’t you come back with me?” Bai Ruoxi pulled at Ye Ming. Today she was determined to bring Ye Ming to see her brother, but no matter how much strength she used, Ye Ming wouldn’t move.

“Are you using your martial arts to bully me again?”

Ye Ming remained silent, wanting to avoid all interaction with her, but no matter how cold she was, Bai Ruoxi wouldn’t back down, instead becoming more determined with each setback.

“I won’t see your brother, give up.” Ye Ming’s face was expressionless, but her heart surged like turbulent waves. Perhaps from guilt, perhaps from self-reproach – the emotional debt she owed to Bai Ruoxi would likely be impossible to repay in this lifetime.

“I won’t give up, Ye Ming. I want to tell him that the person I like is you, Ye Ming, and I won’t like any young master.”

“What’s so good about me that makes you act this way?” Ye Ming asked with furrowed brows. The more Bai Ruoxi acted this way, the more distressed she felt. Regardless of what Bai Yifei had done, he was still the brother who had raised and doted on Bai Ruoxi. If he died, Bai Ruoxi would lose her only family in this world.

Bai Ruoxi dismissed this, circling around Ye Ming, “Though you’re of few words, you’re not shallow. Though you appear heartless, you’re actually deeply passionate. Though your words are harsh, your heart is soft. Though you claim to dislike me, you unconsciously protect me – I know all of this. That’s why I like you. I like how you instinctively take care of me, how considerate you are, how you’re slowly accepting me despite your fears and hesitation.” Bai Ruoxi’s eyes were full of happiness as she suddenly hooked her arms around Ye Ming’s neck, her bright eyes sparkling like crystals. “Ye Ming, can you give me a serious answer just once?”

“About what?”

“Do you like me?” Bai Ruoxi rarely dropped her smile, looking at Ye Ming with complete seriousness, waiting for her answer.

“I don’t know…” How could Ye Ming say it? How could she speak such sweet words at a time like this?

“Hmph, avoiding again. Let me tell you, life is very short, you should cherish it. What if one day you don’t even have the chance to say it? Don’t cry then~”

“Then let’s not say it~” As Ye Ming was about to leave with her sword, Bai Ruoxi looked at her back and suddenly felt an inexplicable pain. She rushed forward and hugged Ye Ming from behind, tightly wrapping her arms around her waist. “Ye Ming, I don’t know why, but today I feel inexplicably sad and uneasy. Only holding you makes me feel secure.”

Ye Ming didn’t move. Human intuition is always strangely accurate. The weather these days was particularly gloomy, just like her heart, heavy to the point of suffocation. She slightly raised her hand, wanting to hold Bai Ruoxi’s, but ultimately clasped her own palm instead. “Don’t overthink things.”

“Ye Ming, I like you. From now on, I’ll confess to you every day. One day you will respond to me.” As Bai Ruoxi spoke, her nose suddenly felt sour. She tightened her arms around Ye Ming, wanting to feel everything about her even closer.

“Alright, I won’t bother you anymore!” Bai Ruoxi let go and walked away with light steps, occasionally turning back to smile at Ye Ming. She was so kind and sincere, her smile like warm sunlight, blooming flowers in Ye Ming’s heart.

If possible, Ye Ming truly wanted to protect such a person for a lifetime, but unfortunately, she could no longer do so.

Yi Mansion (Former Grand Chancellor’s Mansion)

Bai Yifei’s escort guards numbered thirty men per post, all being brave and battle-tested warriors from the Red Armor Army who had followed him through life and death for many years. The Yi Mansion now had few residents, and Yi Ziquan, as the head of the household, often felt bored in this large mansion. When Bai Yifei returned to the capital and stayed here, drinking and singing with Yi Ziquan, it was quite pleasant.

Today, Bai Ruoxi rarely returned here, so Yi Ziquan prepared some wine and small dishes. The three drank together under the moon, each harboring their own thoughts.

“Ziquan, men should marry when of age, and women should wed when ready. You still haven’t taken a wife; the Empress Dowager must be getting anxious.” Bai Yifei raised a cup of wine, a hint of melancholy passing beneath his thick eyebrows.

Yi Ziquan raised his wine cup, filling Bai’s cup and then his own, “I’m only twenty. Brother Bai, you’re already twenty-five and still keeping an empty house (living alone without a spouse).”

“I have someone in my heart, Ziquan, as you well know. All these years, it has never changed~” Bai Yifei would never forget that graceful figure from the past – high above yet fierce as a tiger, a woman not inferior to any man, commanding the world. He watched her become an empress step by step, yet he could only gaze up at her from afar.

Loving such a woman, how could his life be ordinary? Bai Yifei heaved a deep sigh, noticing Bai Ruoxi lost in thought, neither drinking nor speaking, unusually quiet, which made him curious. “Is Xi’er lovesick? So quiet without making any fuss, brother is not used to it.”

Yi Ziquan covered his mouth and snickered. Bai Ruoxi looked up and glared at him, grabbing peanuts from the plate and throwing them at him, “That’s for laughing, serves you right~”

“Hey hey hey, Xi’er, those are for the wine, don’t waste them~” Yi Ziquan laughed heartily, catching a few and popping them in his mouth. Bai Yifei looked at the two suspiciously, “Are you two…?”

“No!” They answered in unison. Being misunderstood time and again, Bai Ruoxi was at her limit. Just as she was about to confess her feelings for Ye Ming, Yi Ziquan cut in: “I have someone in my heart. Though we cannot be together, just seeing her occasionally brings me joy. Having met her in this life, I can die without regrets.”

“Come, come, let’s drink! Don’t worry about such things. A real man should set his sights on the four corners of the world!” Bai Yifei lifted the wine jar, shook it a few times and found it empty. “No more wine. Someone~”

“I’ll get it, I’ll get it~” Bai Ruoxi eagerly responded, bouncing away.

Without her and Yi Ziquan’s playful bickering, the courtyard instantly fell into silence. The night, originally bright with a full moon, began to be covered by dark clouds. The moonlight gradually dimmed, gloom slowly spreading across the courtyard. A night breeze swept through, making the atmosphere turn eerie. Bai Yifei’s gaze suddenly turned sharp as a black panther’s – he had sensed a force approaching him.

A black shadow flashed past, quick as lightning. Bai Yifei grabbed Yi Ziquan and pulled him behind himself, kicking the stone table into the air. The heavy stone flew toward Ye Ming, who nimbly dodged it. Though her first sword strike was easily deflected by Bai Yifei, she didn’t retreat. Like a leaf in the wind, she spun in the air, returning favor for favor, her sword pointing at Bai Yifei again.

After flipping in the air, Bai Yifei hooked his legs around a pavilion pillar, hanging steadily. Bai Yifei was indeed not easy to deal with. Ye Ming gave him no chance to breathe, continuing her sword attack. Bai Yifei dodged left and right, but with Ye Ming’s extremely fast swordplay and him being unarmed, he gradually began to struggle.

At this moment, the mansion guards and attendants rushed over, throwing his sword to him, “General!”

Bai Yifei leaped up, caught the sword, and launched his offensive. Sword lights flashed, changing the very colors of wind and clouds. The courtyard became like a curtain blown by the west wind, with flowers and leaves flying amid a murderous atmosphere.

The soldiers were well-trained, instantly forming an attack formation that surrounded Ye Ming completely. Entangled by their formation, Ye Ming fought fiercely with the soldiers. Though she could easily defend against their attacks, she couldn’t get close to Bai Yifei. Even when she tried to break through using her qinggong, she was blocked.

In anger, Ye Ming held her sword horizontally, controlling it with her inner force. The blade became a blur, swift as a gale. Before anyone could see clearly, several men had already fallen to her sword. Ye Ming seemed to transform into a hell-bound Asura, with blood staining the earth wherever her sword passed. She didn’t want to waste time with others, still seeking a way to break through the formation and eliminate Bai Yifei.

However, these soldiers showed no fear of danger, willing to use their bodies to shield Bai Yifei. Though Ye Ming initially didn’t want to kill innocent people, to complete her mission in time, she had no choice but to strike fatally, using her qi to control her sword, each strike bringing death.

Seeing his subordinates falling one after another, Bai Yifei was filled with rage. He raised his sword and attacked Ye Ming. He and his subordinates formed a primary and secondary attack defense, using military tactics to create another encirclement formation around Ye Ming.

“Who sent you?” Bai Yifei shouted. Ye Ming gave a cold laugh, spinning like a whirlwind, her sword concealed beside her body, striking directly for vital points. Yet she couldn’t reach Bai Yifei, as the soldiers continued to shield him with their bodies.

She found herself in a passive predicament. At this moment, a second wave of reinforcements arrived. Ye Ming knew she had lost her best opportunity for assassination, but she couldn’t retreat. This mission concerned Liu Qianxun and the safety of everyone in the Suyuan Tower. Even at the cost of her life, she had to kill Bai Yifei.

As numbers grew and with Bai Yifei’s strong martial arts, taking his life became increasingly difficult. While Ye Ming was locked in bitter combat, suddenly two flying daggers came through the air, slicing several throats, killing instantly. Another black-clad person leaped in, catching the two daggers smoothly, moving like the wind through the crowd, instantly killing several more.

“There’s an accomplice!” Seeing this, Yi Ziquan grabbed a sword from a guard and attacked the black-clad figure.

The newcomer was Ghost Eye, who had been secretly observing and, seeing Ye Ming unable to succeed, had to step in to assist. Her strikes were ruthless, each move meant to kill. Yi Ziquan was the first to engage her, and though his martial arts were mediocre, he refused to back down.

Seeing it was Yi Ziquan, Ghost Eye’s pupils contracted slightly. She defended for several moves without attacking. Yi Ziquan heard a deep female voice say, “Move aside!”

He looked up in surprise – the voice was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Regardless, he wouldn’t allow an assassination attempt on Bai Yifei in the Yi Mansion. He continued his attacks, recklessly charging at Ghost Eye despite his limited skills. Seeing Ye Ming entangled and herself held up by Yi Ziquan, Ghost Eye’s eyes flashed with killing intent. With a quick movement, she struck Yi Ziquan’s chest, sending him stumbling backward, coughing blood.

Ghost Eye flew toward Ye Ming, transforming into a sharp sword, cutting through the crowd surrounding her.

“Ziquan!!” Bai Ruoxi was happily running back with two wine jugs when she heard fighting. As she approached, she found Yi Ziquan severely wounded. She rushed to support him, “Ziquan, are you alright? How are there assassins?”

“Xi’er, quickly go to the right wing room, don’t stay here. Guards, protect the Young Princess!” Yi Ziquan wiped his mouth and raised his sword to aid Bai Yifei.

“Ziquan!!” Bai Ruoxi couldn’t stop him, and then saw her brother surrounded by two assassins. “Brother…”

“Xi’er, don’t come over! Protect the Young Princess!!” Bai Yifei could barely protect himself. The two black-clad figures struck to kill with every move. His arms, back, and legs were already covered in sword wounds. If not for his protective armor, he would have already perished.

Hearing Bai Yifei’s shout, Ye Ming turned in terror and saw Bai Ruoxi. In that one glance, Bai Ruoxi instantly recognized her. She stepped back, staring at Ye Ming in disbelief – the person fighting with the Red Armor Army and trying to take her brother’s life was Ye Ming?

Why, why??? Why did Ye Ming want to kill her brother? Countless questions spread through her mind, but more than that was heartache. Why did the person she loved most want to kill her closest family member, why?

Bai Ruoxi stood frozen as a squad of soldiers pulled her back. Four guards holding white powder stood at the east, west, south, and north positions, throwing it into the air. The powder fell like fairy flowers scattering, and instantly, the courtyard filled with thick fog. The soldiers put on protective masks and attacked the two assassins with spears.

“Watch out!” Ghost Eye warned Ye Ming, judging by sound alone. Ye Ming waved her sleeves, squinting to find the enemy, only able to defend based on air currents.

This was Bai Yifei’s most skilled tactic – disrupting the enemy’s vision and striking when they were unprepared. He raised his sword, cold light flashing across his eyes, pointing at Ye Ming with murderous intent.

For safety, Ye Ming and Ghost Eye instinctively stood back-to-back, watching all directions and listening to every sound, judging attacks through sound and air movement.

Through the mist, several spears and swords suddenly thrust out. The two narrowly dodged, but their vision remained clouded by white fog. The successive attacks gradually put Ye Ming and Ghost Eye at a disadvantage. Ghost Eye made a quick decision, saying softly, “Break through!”

“It’s you??” Ye Ming recognized her voice. Ghost Eye said nothing more, using a whirlwind-style knife technique to break out. Ye Ming followed, the two trying to escape this blind spot one after another.

Suddenly, a sharp sword came at them. Without seeing who it was, Ghost Eye struck fiercely. When she could see clearly, Yi Ziquan had a deep gash across his chest. She paused in surprise before being drawn back into the fierce battle.

“Young Master!” The mansion guards rushed to protect him, attacking Ghost Eye. She killed ruthlessly, one by one, while Yi Ziquan lay dying.

“Ziquan!” Bai Ruoxi was terrified. She rushed over to see Yi Ziquan twitching slightly, blood staining the ground. Bai Ruoxi was too shocked to speak, feeling the world spin as her blood phobia returned. But then she saw Ye Ming in danger, with Bai Yifei preparing to strike.

Ye Ming’s vision hadn’t recovered. Though she could barely handle the soldiers, she didn’t notice Bai Yifei raising his sword, aiming for a vital point.

“Brother, no!” Bai Ruoxi shook her head violently and rushed forward without thinking.

Perhaps in her lifetime she never knew she could run so fast, faster than Bai Yifei’s sword. At the moment it was about to touch Ye Ming’s body, she used her own body to block the fatal strike.

Ye Ming sensed someone approaching, and seeing Bai Ruoxi rush over, tried to push her away but was too late. Bai Yifei’s sword pierced through her chest, blood spraying across the courtyard, crimson gushing from her body.

Ye Ming froze, forgetting to breathe, forgetting to scream, forgetting her mission, like a soulless person, staring blankly at Bai Ruoxi!

“Xi’er!” Bai Yifei cried out in shock. This shout brought Ye Ming back to her senses. She kicked Bai Yifei away, while Bai Ruoxi collapsed, swaying like a falling leaf. Her weak breath could no longer support her frail body. Ye Ming held her tightly. Bai Ruoxi’s cyan-colored clothes were stained crimson, blood covering her entire body. Ye Ming trembled, terrified beyond measure, shaking uncontrollably, at a complete loss.

“Xe’i…”

“Don’t speak!” Seeing Ye Ming trying to call out to her, Bai Ruoxi quickly covered her mouth. Her blood-stained fingers weakly rested on Ye Ming’s black face covering, but she didn’t even have the strength to touch her properly. Her hand finally dropped lifelessly onto Ye Ming’s shoulder. Her lips quivered, reluctant to part. Tears hung in her eyes, but she bit her lip, enduring the intense pain, and pushed Ye Ming away forcefully, “Go quickly~ you must go!”

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