Chapter 184: Cloud Mountain (Part VI)

The men in black looked with reluctance at the corpses of Xiao Qi and Liu Fei, and then glared at Mo Lan and An Feng. They had no choice but to support their boss and quickly retreat. Han glanced back at them, let out a helpless sigh, and inwardly felt relieved that Qian Yin was not present. With a few swift leaps, he caught up with the main force.

An Feng used all his strength to rapidly snap the vines binding his hands and then freed Mo Lan. Neither of them felt at ease; seeing the two lifeless bodies covered in blood yet bearing smiles, they immediately stepped forward and pulled them into their embraces.

Mo Lan and An Feng spat out the leaves from their mouths, tears streaming down their faces as they looked at the ones they held in their arms.

"Don't cry. We wanted to see you smile," Xiao Qi said, raising a hand to stroke Mo Lan's cheek. Blood slowly welled up, and her voice came in intermittent gasps. A happy smile lingered on her face, as if departing was something she did entirely of her own free will, and dying for them brought her immense joy.

Liu Fei also nodded with her final ounce of strength, then closed her eyes completely and went still in An Feng's arms.

"No!" Mo Lan screamed in a breakdown, clutching Xiao Qi's steadily cooling body. Her tears fell unceasingly, and the hatred in her eyes grew increasingly fierce.

An Feng felt a profound ache in his heart. Two tears escaped the corners of his eyes, which he quickly wiped away. He could not afford to weep at such a critical juncture; he had to maintain his composure. Only by staying calm could he steady the overall situation and fulfill his mission in the days to come.

An Feng glanced around. There had been so many people here originally, but now only the two of them remained, alongside two cooling corpses. A gentle breeze blew, bringing back a creeping chill. He gently patted Mo Lan's back, hoping to dissuade her from such overwhelming grief and letting emotions dictate her actions. The most crucial task right now was to quickly find Qian Yin and Elder Xian and ensure their safety.

Ignoring the advice, Mo Lan shook off his hand and tightly cradled Xiao Qi to her chest. Her tears pattered down onto Xiao Qi's face, and she pressed her cheek hard against Xiao Qi's. Yet, that whimsical, optimistic, and mischievous girl would never wake up again.

In her heart, she kept shouting, blaming herself endlessly. If only she hadn't been so soft-hearted, if only she hadn't stepped out to watch, none of this would have happened. Xiao Qi and Liu Fei would have continued to accompany them, walking down the mountain and returning to the police station with them.

Now, she finally understood why Qian Yin had suffered such a complete emotional breakdown at the time of "Cold-Blood's" death.

Now she understood why Qian Yin grew so furious when someone desecrated "Cold-Blood's" grave.

It was because she cared. By what right could others wantonly trample upon the person she held dearest in her heart?

The wind continued to blow, and the sun shone relentlessly upon the two lifeless bodies that had lost all warmth. Mo Lan sobbed tirelessly, holding the corpse tightly in her arms, refusing to let go.

An Feng did not know how to persuade her further, so he simply let Mo Lan be. When people depart, grief is inevitable. Sorrow lasts only for a time, but the scars left deep within the heart remain for a lifetime.

Elder Xian and Qian Yin were finally catching up when they were intercepted by several men in black. Recognizing the familiar scarred man, Qian Yin's hand holding the whip trembled slightly; the familiar aura sent a chill through her heart.

"Have we met before?" Qian Yin asked, lashing out at the other masked men while keeping her gaze fixed on the man standing quietly on the sideline. Her eyes lingered on him continuously. This familiar sensation felt strikingly like Cold-Blood.

"You cheap bitch, are you still trying to seduce our young master?" shrieked a high-pitched voice belonging to one of the women among the black-clad assassins. Wielding a dagger, she lunged forward, aiming to stab Qian Yin in the eyes.

Hearing this, Qian Yin showed no mercy whatsoever, striking the woman's face and waist with whip lash after whip lash. Who did this wretch think she was, daring to call her a cheap bitch?

No one attacked Elder Xian, because the boss had given strict orders: if possible, Elder Xian must be brought back completely unharmed. Should the captive return dead or injured, their superiors would spare none of the subordinates.

"Ah!" Screaming in pain, the woman dodged behind Cold-Blood.

Cold-Blood showed not a shred of sympathy. With a swift pivot, he moved directly to Elder Xian's side, remaining silent and motionless as he quietly observed the battle. He was merely a spectator, neither here to lend a hand nor to capture anyone.

Qian Yin sneered inwardly. How utterly delusional this woman was! What a piece of trash, actually thinking she belonged to him. With a flick of her wrist, she swept past the others, wrapped her whip around the woman's neck, yanked her violently to the ground, and whipped her mercilessly across the waist without a second thought.

Qian Yin's whip techniques had steadily improved recently. This leather whip had been a gift from Cold-Blood, and she kept it on her person at all times, refusing to part with it even in her sleep—to commemorate him, to yearn for him. Every time it was stained with blood, Qian Yin would spend days cleaning it or even soaking it in scented soap.

Finding themselves unable to stand, those fallen men resorted to their usual tactic of biting down on the poison concealed within their teeth. The woman cast a resentful glance at Cold-Blood and bit down on the poison with reluctance; she had no desire to be branded a traitor.

Surveying the corpses strewn around her, Qian Yin stowed her whip away with satisfaction. Only then did she notice the man standing beside Elder Xian, and she demanded coldly, "Are you going to get lost yourself, or should I help you on your way?"

Without uttering a word, Cold-Blood bolted away with a few agile leaps. Qian Yin stared fixedly at that retreating figure, a familiarity that terrified her. Who on earth could he be?

Elder Xian had neither participated in the fight nor searched for herbs nearby; instead, he had kept his eyes on the man the entire time, sensing a familiar aura about him as well. He dared not speak of it, fearing he might give Qian Yin false hope, only to shatter it later and deal her a devastating blow.

Noticing Qian Yin's lingering, reluctant gaze, Elder Xian coughed lightly and joked, "He's already far away. Let's rest for a moment and hurry to find Mo Lan and the others; they might have been ambushed too."

Hearing this, Qian Yin's face flushed inexplicably. Saying nothing, she looped the leather whip back around her waist. With no stream nearby, she had no way to wash her precious whip, so it would simply have to remain soiled a little longer.

The smell of blood would attract unclean things. Gathering some herbs, Elder Xian stuffed them over the mouths of the fallen men to mask the scent. As the reek of blood began to fade, Qian Yin watched from the side, gave a thumbs-up, and praised inwardly: Truly amazing. Medicinal herbs had such vast and numerous uses; she must study them thoroughly when she had the time.

Well-rested, she sensed an abnormal rise in the surrounding humidity and knew they needed to return to the cave promptly. However, they had to locate the others first before heading back. Qian Yin pulled Elder Xian forward along the trail. Having traversed this path two or three times already, the terrain was much easier to navigate now, and their pace quickened considerably.

Soon, they reached the patch of woods. Charging ahead, Qian Yin burst straight through the foliage. Elder Xian followed closely behind, and the combined momentum of the two instantly knocked Liu Fei's corpse flying outward.

"Ah!" An Feng and Mo Lan shrieked in terror. Mo Lan immediately abandoned Xiao Qi's body and hurled herself downward, but fortunately, An Feng grabbed her just in time. Thus, Mo Lan managed to grip Liu Fei's corpse while An Feng held onto Mo Lan, leaving them both dangling precariously over the edge of the cliff.