Chapter 13: Senior Sister and Junior Brother

Bang!
Bang!
Two successive crashes.
The man who had been sliced in half by the sword’s aura fell heavily from midair, landing with a thud. Though not dead yet, he struggled to crawl forward.
His intestines, mingled with blood, spilled across the ground, trailing a shocking scarlet streak through the rain.
He wailed, “Help me… please, help me!”
But anyone could see there was no hope for him.
“Second brother!”
“Brother!”
Two anguished voices rang out. The other two riders, eyes blazing with grief and rage, leapt from their horses, charging at Qin Yue.
“I told you to stop!”
A clear, crisp woman’s voice shouted, “I am a captain from the Jin Kingdom’s Bureau of Thieves. I order you to cease your attack—no resistance!”
By now, the rain had grown heavier. The two, seeing their brother cut in half, were blinded with fury, unwilling to listen to reason.
They drew their blades, slashing fierce arcs through the rain, their throats emitting bitter, wrathful cries: “Die!”
The blade’s shine cut a gash through the curtain of rain, shrieking as it sliced the air.
Qin Yue activated his Shadow Step, flashing forward to attack one of them. He felt woefully inexperienced and knew he had to give his all.
“I told you to stop!”
The woman swung her longsword, her figure drifting like a falling leaf, slashing at the other attacker.
Thud!
Slice!
Qin Yue’s bronze dagger pierced one man’s heart. The woman’s sword severed the other’s head.
In an instant, the three pursuers were wiped out.
Qin Yue finally had time to glance at the woman who called herself a captain from Jin. Rain fell upon her, soaking her uniform and tracing alluring lines across her tall, slender figure.
She wore the black uniform of the public office, her skin fair and flawless. Her delicate face, shaped like an egg, was framed by wet locks clinging to her cheek. Her eyes were clear and pure.
He hadn’t seen her in the tavern; she seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave a survivor? Why did you kill them all?” the woman complained with some dissatisfaction.
“You didn’t leave one either,” Qin Yue replied, glancing at the decapitated corpse. A wave of nausea overcame him.
He, a novice who had never imagined himself a killer, had now taken three lives in this world… no, two and a half.
“That one still breathes!” Qin Yue pointed to the man he had sliced in half, quickly approaching and crouching beside him. “We have no quarrel, no past enmity. Why did you try to kill me?”
In the torrential rain, the dying man’s face was pale, his eyes lifeless as he looked at Qin Yue, his breath barely a whisper: “You… you carry a pack made of arctic mouse skin… it’s a waste… that thing… priceless!”
Seriously? That’s it?
Qin Yue had half expected some veteran to spot the herbal ointment he’d applied, but never imagined pure greed was the cause.
His master had never told him that arctic mouse skin was valuable. If people were willing to kill for such a thing, what would happen if he wore a coat made from the fur of a polar ice bear? Wouldn’t he be hunted across the world?
While the absurdity made him want to laugh, anger welled up inside him. Scum like this deserved their fate.
With a blank expression, Qin Yue pulled out a badge and held it before the dying man. “Open your eyes and see who I am. You dare target me, you fool?”
The man’s eyes widened in terror as he recognized it. “Zhao… you’re from the Zhao Yang Sect…”
He died, breath caught in his throat, scared to death.
Now it was three.
Qin Yue was a bit stunned. He hadn’t expected the Zhao Yang Sect’s reputation to be so terrifying. Although the man wouldn’t have lived much longer, to die from hearing the name alone left Qin Yue speechless.
He raised his head and looked at the woman. “If I’m not mistaken, sister, you just used the Falling Leaf Sword technique?”
The woman smiled. “I never thought I’d meet a fellow disciple here—what a stroke of fate. My name is Hu Yan—‘Hu’ as in ancient moon, ‘Yan’ as in color. From your age, I’d guess you’ve just joined the sect. You may call me senior sister.”
“Greetings, Senior Sister Hu. My name is Li Ye—‘Li’ as in wood, ‘Ye’ as in smelting.” Qin Yue returned her smile.
He had deliberately flashed his badge, actually for Hu Yan’s benefit.
When Hu Yan killed the man, her technique resembled the Falling Leaf Sword of the Zhao Yang Sect, though only in form, lacking its essence.
Although it was possible she was simply not skilled, her swordplay was ruthless and agile, clearly the mark of an expert.
She was intentionally imitating the Falling Leaf Sword. If so, things grew interesting.
Especially with her decisive, sword-drawing nature—Qin Yue even doubted whether she was truly from the public office.
She played along, acting as his senior, just as he had hoped.
After this battle, Qin Yue regained some confidence. He might be inexperienced, but compared to these hunters, he was a minor expert.
So he didn’t expose Hu Yan, wanting to see what she would do next.
After all, she had only helped him so far.
“Junior Li, let’s bury these three. It’ll be hard to explain if anyone sees them later,” Hu Yan said with a cheerful smile.
Qin Yue hesitated. “Isn’t Senior Sister a captain? Wouldn’t this affect your duties?”
Hu Yan replied, “These three were notorious criminals, wanted by Jin. I had hoped to question a survivor, but since they’re dead, it hardly matters.”
The rain had eased a bit. Together, they dragged the bodies away from the road. One of the three horses had died; the other two had fled.
Qin Yue hauled the dead horse over, tossing it into the pit Hu Yan quickly dug.
He hadn’t expected the girl to be so adept at digging.
As Qin Yue fetched the horse, Hu Yan tossed him a bag. He caught it, feeling its weight, and peeked inside—silver coins gleamed within.
Hu Yan said, “Ill-gotten gains. Leaving them here would be a waste.”
Qin Yue accepted. His banknotes had been taken by the demoness, and after entering human territory, his spare coins had nearly run out. He needed the money.
Together they filled the pit, sharing a relaxed smile.
Qin Yue raised the bag. “Thank you for your help, Senior Sister. May I treat you to a meal?”
“I’d like that! I’ve been wanting to chat with you anyway. Meeting a fellow disciple here is rare,” Hu Yan agreed warmly.
…
“What? The Lu brothers are dead?”
Back in the tavern, Chang Jun, vice-leader of the Silver Eagle Gang, was shocked, his brows knitting.
Others were equally astonished.
“The Lu brothers have committed countless crimes in Jin. Even the Bureau of Thieves couldn’t catch them. How could they fall so easily?”
“They were just here drinking—now they’re dead?”
“The three brothers are skilled in archery and horsemanship, each possessing third or fourth layer Qi cultivation. They’re not easy to deal with. Who could defeat them?”
“The north has been chaotic lately…”
“Hah, when is it not chaotic in the borderlands between humans and demons?”
Chang Jun looked at the informant. “Where did you see this? Tell us exactly…”
The man replied, “The rain was heavy, so I hurried into town by a shortcut instead of the main road. I witnessed an astonishing scene.
The three brothers were riding fast—I recognized them instantly.
They seemed to be pursuing someone, when suddenly a woman claiming to be a captain from Jin’s Bureau of Thieves appeared.
I was some distance away, and the rain blurred my vision, but the person they were chasing and the female captain joined forces and swiftly killed the brothers.
It seemed the Lu brothers were utterly powerless before those two!”
Everyone was shocked. The Lu brothers were infamous in Jin, considered notorious hunters.
They’d survived numerous manhunts over the years, always escaping unscathed. Yet now, three against two, they were annihilated—without resistance.
Those in the tavern could hardly believe it.
“Does the Bureau of Thieves really have such experts?”
“Who was the man they were chasing?”
“I think the brothers left shortly after a young man went out alone?”
None truly cared about the brothers’ fate. The northern lands were in turmoil; a mysterious, powerful lady had issued a massive reward, inviting experts.
No one yet knew the nature of the task, but for these people, knowledge was power.
Otherwise, if some unknown dark horse appeared among the hunters, they could lose everything.
For Chang Jun, the brothers’ deaths cast a shadow.
Because it was he who had secretly offered a high price for the arctic mouse skin pack, sending the brothers to steal it.
…
In another inn with a dining hall, Hu Yan had changed into clean clothes, sitting across from Qin Yue, who had dried his garments with spiritual energy, in a private room.
On the table lay several home-style dishes and a warmed jug of wine.
“I’ve been tracking those three for days, waiting for the right moment. Today, it’s thanks to you, Junior Li.”
“I’m glad Senior Sister doesn’t blame me for being reckless.”
“Not at all. Those heartless bandits were set on killing you. Even if they weren’t, as a disciple of Zhao Yang Sect, eliminating them is an act of justice.”
Hu Yan smiled gently, then casually asked, “Why did you come here alone, Junior?”
Qin Yue replied, “I’m seeking a breakthrough, hoping to advance to the inner sect. I heard things have been lively here, so I came to see.”
Hu Yan said, “This liveliness—Junior Li, it’s best not to get involved. I do have a suggestion, if you’re interested?”
Qin Yue paused, looking up at Hu Yan. “Please, Senior Sister.”
“Since you’re here for experience, why not join the Bureau of Thieves? You’ll broaden your horizons, encounter things you’ve never seen, and it won’t hinder your other pursuits… The Bureau reports directly to the cabinet, beyond the reach of local officials. What do you think?”
Looking at this newly met “senior sister,” Qin Yue felt some hesitation.
He was a fake Zhao Yang disciple, and this woman didn’t seem much like one either. It didn’t look like they could arrange a job for each other so easily.
But what could she want from him? The arctic mouse skin pack? Unlikely.
The ornaments on Hu Yan emitted faint energy, all magic items—she clearly wasn’t short on money.
Hu Yan added, “The north is chaotic. Having official status not only makes things easier, but also makes hunters think twice before acting recklessly.”
“No need to decide now—let’s eat. I’ll toast you, Junior. This cup is for your fine skills!”