Chapter 67: Prey
Yu Ling’s scream made Yu Tianqi pause mid-step.
Turning his head, he saw Xiao Chen standing right beside him, a sinister smile on her lips as she locked eyes with Yu Ling.
Yu Tianqi’s heart clenched at the sight.
At this distance, if Xiao Chen made a move—
Neither he nor Yu Ling would be able to escape.
Gritting his teeth, Yu Tianqi spun around and kicked at Xiao Chen with all his strength while simultaneously flinging Yu Ling off his back.
“Yu Ling, run!”
“I’ll hold her off!”
Yu Tianqi shouted, drawing his dagger.
The cold blade gleamed under the moonlight as it stabbed toward Xiao Chen.
The strike landed!
But—
There was no blood!
Xiao Chen’s figure vanished into thin air before his very eyes.
Yu Tianqi’s heart pounded as he scanned the surroundings.
A glimpse of fabric flickered in his peripheral vision.
Without hesitation, he swung his blade toward it—
It hit!
But—
It was just another illusion.
Xiao Chen disappeared again.
The next second, a scream pierced the night sky.
Yu Tianqi’s face paled as he turned toward Yu Ling.
Xiao Chen was now crouching right in front of her.
“You bastard! Don’t touch my sister!”
Yu Tianqi roared, charging at Xiao Chen with his blade.
But Yu Ling had already fainted from fear.
Xiao Chen’s head twisted at an unnatural 180-degree angle to face Yu Tianqi, her lips curling into an eerie smile.
“Holy—!”
Yu Tianqi’s heart nearly stopped at the sight.
“Brother Tianqi, come keep me company~”
Xiao Chen giggled.
“Like hell I will!”
Yu Tianqi bellowed, driving his blade into Xiao Chen’s stomach.
But—
Xiao Chen’s body shattered like glass.
And once again, she vanished.
Yu Tianqi’s scalp tingled, his grip on the dagger trembling.
Then—
A sharp pain exploded at the back of his head.
His vision swam as his knees buckled.
The last thing Yu Tianqi saw before blacking out—
Was himself.
Another version of himself, walking toward him step by step.
“What the—”
“This is insane…”
Yu Tianqi muttered weakly before losing consciousness.
“Not fun at all!”
A voice pouted in dissatisfaction.
Xiao Chen stepped out from behind a tree.
“Don’t overdo it.”
“The Yu family business is worth billions. The organization needs these two alive.”
The “Yu Tianqi” standing nearby spoke coldly.
“Fine, fine, I get it~”
Xiao Chen stuck out her tongue with a playful grin.
“Take them back.”
“Yu Tianqi” ordered indifferently.
Xiao Chen nodded and whistled.
From the darkness, three masked men emerged.
“Take the prey back!”
Xiao Chen commanded, pointing at the unconscious Yu siblings.
“Yes!”
The masked men responded, stepping forward.
“Let’s go. We have a gathering to attend.”
“Yu Tianqi” said in a low voice.
“Sure thing, Brother Tianqi~”
Xiao Chen giggled, linking arms with him as they vanished into the forest with the Yu siblings’ backpacks.
The masked men hoisted the unconscious siblings onto their shoulders and turned to leave.
But then—
A shadow flashed by!
The masked men froze, halting in place.
“Is there another team here?”
One of them asked in confusion.
“There shouldn’t be…”
“This is our hunting ground.”
Another replied gravely.
“Be careful. Maybe someone else’s prey wandered into our territory.”
The first one warned.
“Congratulations, you guessed right.”
“But unfortunately…”
“There’s no prize~”
A sudden voice cut through the air.
The two masked men flinched and spun around.
Zap!
An electric arc flashed as a stun baton pressed against one of their necks.
The masked man convulsed violently before collapsing.
The one holding the stun baton smirked at the remaining masked man.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
The second masked man barked.
“Me?”
“Obviously, I’m saving them~”
The traitor grinned.
“You bastard!”
The masked man roared, pulling out a gun and aiming at him.
“You dare betray the organization? Then die!”
He sneered, finger tightening on the trigger.
“Sorry, but you’re the one who’s dying.”
A cold voice rang out from behind him.
The masked man’s eyes widened as he spun around—
A flash of silver.
A thin red line appeared across his throat.
“Gh… ghk…”
His mouth opened, but no sound came out.
The stun baton wielder kicked him from behind.
He crumpled to the ground, twitching a few times before going still.
“Sister Helan, that was awesome!”
The traitor grinned.
“Take the Yu siblings. We need to regroup.”
Helan Xiaoyue ordered coldly.
“Got it~”
The man cheerfully picked up the unconscious siblings, slinging them over his shoulders with ease.
Helan Xiaoyue wiped her dagger clean and turned away.
Despite carrying two people, the man kept pace effortlessly, moving as if unburdened.
Helan Xiaoyue moved like a swift and silent predator, the muddy forest path doing nothing to hinder her steps.
Her companion, though heavier in his stride, moved with equal ease—his speed unaffected by the extra weight.
Then—
Helan Xiaoyue abruptly stopped.
Her companion froze as well.
“Sister Helan, what’s wrong?”
He asked curiously.
“Shh—”
“Someone’s here.”
Helan Xiaoyue whispered.
“An enemy?”
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
“Not sure yet.”
She crouched, her sharp eyes locked on the darkness ahead.
Seeing this, her companion carefully set the Yu siblings down and gripped his stun baton, a grin spreading across his face.
“Enemy.”
After a long silence, Helan Xiaoyue confirmed.
“Heh—”
“Leave it to me!”
He cackled, charging into the shadows like a beast unleashed.
A moment later, bright flashes of electricity flickered in the darkness—
Accompanied by agonized screams.
“Take that!”
His gleeful shouts echoed.
Helan Xiaoyue sighed, shaking her head.
“Why did I even bring him along…”
She muttered in exasperation.
Rustle.
Footsteps approached.
Helan Xiaoyue’s expression hardened.
She drew her daggers in a flash, eyes locked on the source of the sound.
These footsteps—
They were unfamiliar.
Not her companion’s.
Helan Xiaoyue glanced at the unconscious Yu siblings—
Then vanished into the trees, perching silently among the branches.
Crouching low, twin daggers gripped tightly, her sharp eyes fixated on the approaching figure.
Closer.
She could make out their silhouette now.
(End of Chapter 67)
