Chapter 33: Terrifying Combat Power

Feng Ruqing took the note, her fingertips tightening until the paper crunched in her grip.

Her gaze was deep and cold as a frozen pool, devoid of the slightest ripple. "The abandoned manor on the outskirts of the city..." she enunciated, each syllable sharp as shards of ice, radiating a bone-chilling intensity.

"Prepare the horses!" Feng Ruqing commanded, her tone brooking no argument.

Night blanketed the land, and the abandoned manor on the city's edge appeared particularly eerie and ominous in the darkness. Withered vines clung to the dilapidated walls, rustling in the night breeze like the whispers of ghosts. The air was thick with a nauseating scent of decay.

Feng Ruqing and Brother Ma slipped into the manor. The surroundings were so silent that even the sound of their own breathing seemed audible. This uncanny stillness only heightened the sense of danger.

Suddenly, several dark shadows lunged from the shadows, surrounding Feng Ruqing and Brother Ma. These assassins, clad in black and masked, gripped sharp blades that glinted coldly in the moonlight.

"Kill!" A low shout shattered the silence of the night. The assassins pounced like tigers descending from a mountain, their strikes lethal.

Feng Ruqing remained undaunted. She moved with phantom-like agility, her long sword dancing like a swimming dragon, every stroke whipping up a fierce gust of wind. Just as the assassins thought they had her cornered, she unleashed a unique, unseen sword technique, instantly turning the tide. Brother Ma was no less formidable; he brandished his heavy blade, engaging the assassins in a ferocious struggle.

Lights flashed from clashing steel as the sounds of battle roared to the heavens, turning the abandoned manor into a slaughterhouse. Feng Ruqing observed her surroundings calmly, noting the complex terrain of the manor and realizing she could use it to maneuver against her foes.

Fighting as she retreated, she lured the assassins into a narrow passage. Flanked by towering walls, the attackers were crowded together, their movements restricted. Seizing the opportunity, Feng Ruqing thrust her sword with lightning speed, each strike finding a mark. She even used loose stones from the walls to kick at the assassins, catching them off guard.

One assassin was pierced through the heart by Feng Ruqing’s blade. Blood sprayed, splattering onto her face, yet her expression remained unchanged, her eyes as cold as ever.

"Junior Sister, watch out!" Brother Ma shouted, warning her of an assassin sneaking up from behind. Feng Ruqing struck backhanded, forcing the assailant to retreat. Back-to-back, she and Brother Ma coordinated their defense against wave after wave of attacks. As the battle dragged on, the assassins began to falter, signs of defeat appearing.

Feng Ruqing’s eyes were sharp as torches when she spotted a figure in black standing on a high platform in the distance, directing the assassins' movements. "It’s him!" she thought. With a flash, she darted toward the platform.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!" The man in black sneered, suddenly brandishing a hidden weapon. Seeing Feng Ruqing approach with such ferocity, he curled his lips in a cold, sinister smile and unleashed a rain of hidden projectiles, aiming straight for her vital points.

Feng Ruqing moved with grace, weaving through the dense hail of weapons like a swallow darting through a forest, a dazzling display of agility. Seizing the moment, she leaped into the air and swept her sword horizontally, knocking every projectile from the air.

The man’s expression shifted; he had not expected Feng Ruqing to be this formidable. He drew a soft sword from his waist and lunged. His blade flashed with biting cold, but Feng Ruqing deflected every blow. Her long sword clung to his movements like a persistent shadow, pressing him relentlessly and leaving him no room to breathe.

After a few exchanges, the man was gasping for air, his swordplay becoming sluggish. Feng Ruqing seized her opening, piercing his wrist with her blade; his soft sword clattered to the ground. He clutched his injured wrist, wincing in agony.

Seeing their commander captured, the assassins lost their formation, their attacks becoming disorganized. Feng Ruqing lunged like a tiger, her sword a whirlwind of steel; wherever the light of her blade fell, assassins collapsed. Brother Ma took advantage of the chaos, his heavy blade swinging like a gale, carving through the enemy ranks. In an instant, the assassins were routed, their wails echoing as the entire manor was bathed in blood.

"Stop!" A roar echoed from the depths of the manor, filled with coldness and arrogance. A man in an ornate brocade robe slowly emerged from the darkness, holding a woman captive. It was Miss Wang; her face was deathly pale as the man gripped her throat tightly.

Feng Ruqing’s heart jolted as she recognized the man—the mastermind behind it all. He sneered, "Feng Ruqing, didn't expect to see me again, did you?"

Feng Ruqing gripped her sword, pointing the tip directly at him, her voice cold as frost. "Let her go!"

The mastermind laughed triumphantly. "Let her go? Heh, do you think that's possible? If you want her to live, give up your investigation. Otherwise, I guarantee you will regret ever coming into this world!"

Feng Ruqing took a deep breath, struggling to suppress her rage. "Do you think I believe your lies? Miss Wang is my friend; I will never let you harm her."

"Is that so? Then feel free to try!" The mastermind tightened his grip, and Miss Wang let out a pained moan. Feng Ruqing’s heart sank; she knew he was deliberately provoking her, hoping to make her lose her composure. But with Miss Wang in such peril, she could not turn a blind eye.

"What do you want?" Feng Ruqing asked, her voice low as she fought to contain her fury.

"It’s simple: stop the investigation, and I’ll let her go. Otherwise..." His cold voice echoed, chilling to the bone.

Feng Ruqing was caught in a dilemma. She could risk everything for vengeance, but she could not watch her friend sacrifice herself for her sake. Miss Wang struggled to speak, but the mastermind squeezed harder. With her remaining strength, she managed to gasp, "Ruqing... don't... save me..."

Her words were like a blade piercing Feng Ruqing’s heart. Her eyes reddened, and a surge of warmth—the tenderness of friendship—washed over her. Yet, this softness vanished in an instant, replaced by a raging fire.

She gripped her hilt so hard her knuckles turned white, the metal groaning under her strength—a mix of fury and resolve. She would not compromise, never! She would save Miss Wang and eradicate this mastermind once and for all.

Feng Ruqing feigned surrender. "Fine, I agree."

A look of triumph crossed the mastermind’s face. In that split second of complacency, Feng Ruqing launched her attack, swift as a lightning bolt, darting forward like an arrow released from a bow. At that moment, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the manor in a deathly white and heightening the tension.

Her sword transformed into a silver streak, carrying fierce energy as it tore through the night sky, aimed directly at the mastermind’s throat. At the same time, Brother Ma understood her intent; his blade cleaved through the remaining assassins like a thunderstorm, clearing a path for her. He was sturdy and possessed immense strength, each strike carrying the force of a thunderbolt, causing the assassins to recoil in fear.

The mastermind had clearly underestimated Feng Ruqing. He never dreamed that a seemingly delicate woman could possess such terrifying combat prowess. He scrambled to dodge, but he was a step too slow. The tip of Feng Ruqing’s sword pressed against his throat, the icy touch making him tremble as if he had fallen into an abyss.

Miss Wang seized the chance to break free, stumbling back, still shaken by the events unfolding before her.

"Who... who are you?" the mastermind stammered.

Feng Ruqing sneered, "You are not worthy of knowing!"

Before the words faded, she flicked her wrist. The blade swept across, and the mastermind collapsed, clutching his bleeding throat as he fell to the ground. The remaining assassins were terrified; they dropped their weapons and knelt to beg for mercy.

Feng Ruqing swept her icy gaze over them. "Tell your master: if he dares to provoke me again, I will make him regret the day he was born!"

The assassins scrambled to kowtow, scurrying away from the manor in a panic. Feng Ruqing walked to Miss Wang and asked with concern, "Are you alright?" Miss Wang shook her head, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Ruqing. You saved me again." Feng Ruqing smiled faintly. "We are friends. There is no need for thanks."

The two shared a smile, everything understood without a word. The local villagers, having witnessed Feng Ruqing’s heroism, began to cheer, hailing her as their savior. Standing on high ground, Feng Ruqing looked out at the cheering crowd, yet she felt no joy. She knew this was merely the calm before the storm; the true challenge lay ahead. She turned her gaze toward the dilapidated defensive structures of her hometown.

"It seems," she whispered, "it is time for some changes."