Chapter 438: To Avoid Dragging You Down
Perhaps the old woman had never imagined, even in her wildest dreams, that despite Baiting Sect’s high status in the martial world, and despite her personally coming to Luo City, City Lord Yu Haojie would still refuse to give her any face and would strike without hesitation.
The ambush set up around them only proved one thing—Yu Haojie had never intended to show Baiting Sect any respect from the start.
Killing intent surged around the Baiting Sect leader, her fury driving her into a state of near madness.
Having trained in martial arts for fifty years, her skills were naturally formidable. As a sect leader, her sword speed was beyond comparison.
Even though Yu Haojie and Yu Luo had both grown stronger, they were still at a disadvantage against a grandmaster like her.
Yu Haojie reacted as fast as he could to dodge, yet it still wasn’t enough to escape the old woman’s attack.
The deadly tip of her sword, filled with murderous intent, closed in on his throat. Even as he tried to evade, Yu Haojie realized with dread that he wasn’t fast enough.
At that moment, he had a terrifying premonition—he might not survive this strike.
Yu Luo, who had already dodged away, turned her head just in time to witness the old woman’s attack heading straight for her father.
Her pupils contracted sharply, and for a brief second, it felt as if her breathing had stopped.
Panic surged through her veins as she instinctively raised her crossbow, aiming at the old woman’s arm.
But in a split second, Yu Luo knew it was already too late.
Even if she pulled the trigger, the old woman’s sword was already inches from her father’s throat.
Along with her panic and fear, Yu Luo was overwhelmed by an unbearable sense of guilt and self-blame.
Just when she thought the worst was inevitable, the old woman’s sword suddenly halted in mid-air.
Yu Luo’s bolt struck true, embedding itself into the old woman’s sword arm.
Yu Haojie, in his moment of terror, had instinctively pulled the trigger of his own crossbow.
The short arrow shot forward, piercing directly into the old woman’s heart.
For a moment, everything fell silent.
Sweat dripped from Yu Haojie’s forehead, his body rigid with shock.
Thud!
The old woman’s body collapsed forward, falling lifelessly before Yu Haojie.
The short arrow had pierced through her heart, even protruding slightly from her back.
Outside the hall, the female disciples of Baiting Sect, who had been fighting Luo City’s warriors, froze in disbelief.
Their minds went blank.
Perhaps they were unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Perhaps they simply refused to believe it.
Yu Luo and Yu Haojie remained motionless, staring down at the fallen body of the Baiting Sect leader.
Aside from the arrow that had run her through, there was another weapon—embedded in her back was a long sword.
“Master! Master!”
The wails of Baiting Sect’s disciples filled the air.
Some were consumed by grief, but most were too terrified to stay any longer.
Their sect leader was dead.
What else could they do?
Escape!
Yu Luo and Yu Haojie ignored their sorrowful cries and instead turned their gaze toward the entrance.
A tall, imposing figure stood there.
Yu Luo didn’t know when Pei Jinchen had arrived, but she recognized the long sword lodged in the old woman’s back.
It belonged to Pei Jinchen.
Shortly after, Ah Yan arrived as well. His presence crushed any lingering hopes the remaining Baiting Sect disciples had of escaping.
With nowhere to run, they were quickly subdued.
“Yu Luo, you’ve wiped out my sect! Someone will avenge us! Mark my words—Luo City’s days are numbered!”
One of the surviving women, her body covered in blood, shouted fiercely as she was dragged away.
Though she had already been crippled and restrained, her eyes still burned with hatred.
Yu Luo frowned slightly, sensing that something about this whole situation was off.
It wasn’t just about revenge.
She had a nagging suspicion that the attack on her at the Feng City tournament—the flying dagger that nearly killed her—wasn’t a coincidence.
It felt as if there had been an invisible hand orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.
“If that’s the case, there’s no need to waste space in Luo City’s prison. Keep a few for questioning—the rest should be executed.”
Pei Jinchen approached with his usual composed demeanor. Even amidst the bloodied battlefield, his calm smile and otherworldly handsomeness made him stand out like a god of war.
Yu Luo wasn’t particularly fond of killing, but remembering the reason these people had come today, she hardened her heart.
[Friendly Reminder: Baiting Sect is actually a hidden faction of Feng City. This fact is unknown to the martial world.]
The system’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
Yu Luo’s expression turned grim.
It finally made sense.
“System, why are you telling me this now instead of warning me earlier?”
[My mission in this world is nearly complete. Some things, you need to figure out on your own. But since you already suspected something, I simply confirmed it for you.]
Yu Luo sighed inwardly.
So the system was essentially going to abandon her now?
Fine.
It had helped her plenty already. If she relied on it too much, she’d never truly grow.
“Pei Jinchen, you’re right. Keep a few alive. Kill the rest.”
Yu Luo’s voice was chillingly indifferent.
Then she turned to check on her father again.
“Father, are you okay? If not for Pei Jinchen, that old woman might’ve really killed you today.”
Yu Haojie saw the concern in his daughter’s eyes and quickly reassured her.
“I’m fine. Just a little shaken. Thanks to Pei Jinchen’s timely intervention, everything turned out alright.”
Yu Luo, however, wasn’t so easily convinced.
“You’re covered in blood. Mother will worry if she sees you like this. Go change your clothes first.”
Thinking of his wife waiting for him, Yu Haojie didn’t argue.
He thanked Pei Jinchen and excused himself, heading toward the back courtyard.
“Pei Jinchen, I appreciate your help today,” Yu Luo said. “But from what I’ve gathered, Baiting Sect has ties to Feng City. If that’s the case, you should leave Luo City for now. If Feng City comes looking for trouble, I don’t want you getting dragged into it.”
Pei Jinchen chuckled softly, meeting her gaze with steady eyes.
“Yu Luo, do you really think Feng City hasn’t already labeled me as part of Luo City?”
The sincerity in his eyes made Yu Luo’s heart feel strangely heavy.
(End of Chapter 438)
