C2

She let out a quiet breath, the jumble of memories in her mind making her head throb. She couldn't quite grasp the current situation, but seeing this man trying to take advantage of her in this rundown temple, it was clear he wasn't up to any good.

Soong Qingyuan snapped back to reality, noticing her head was bowed, obscuring her expression. He couldn't quite figure out what was going on with her. With a hint of suspicion, he tentatively asked, "Liyuv, what's wrong?" That swift, harsh kick she delivered earlier still left his chest aching. Such a crude, unrefined action didn't match her usual demeanor.

Just as he finished speaking, Bai Liyuv caught a glint of something cold and sharp heading straight for her. Her instincts kicked in, and she quickly sidestepped. In an instant, a chilling arrow whizzed past her, embedding itself deep into the pillar behind her, its feathers still quivering. The spot it hit aligned perfectly with where her heart had been moments before. Had it struck her, she would have been killed on the spot.

Bai Liyuv touched the torn fabric on her chest, feeling the anger she had suppressed rise again. Her narrowed eyes glinted as she scanned her surroundings.

Soong Qingyuan was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. In the blink of an eye, four masked figures dressed in black stood around them, each brandishing a sword with a menacing air that made it clear they were there for them.

Bai Liyuv had just woken up not long ago and was still feeling weak from the lingering effects of the poison. Even with her considerable skills, she could only muster a fraction of her strength. Seeing the situation, her expression darkened, and her sharp, dark eyes fixed intently on the intruders. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she quickly assessed their predicament.

“Who... who are you?!” Soong Qingyuan shouted in a panic, his eyes darting around in search of an escape route.

Bai Liyuv narrowed her eyes but remained calm. She scrutinized the attire of the black-clad figures, estimating that they were likely not skilled assassins but rather average fighters. Still, they were more than enough to handle the original Bai Liyuv and Soong Qingyuan. As she recalled who might have poisoned her and now sought to finish the job, only one person came to mind: her so-called good sister, Bai Mengci, who had risen from a concubine's daughter to a legitimate daughter.

“Oh, my dear sister is in such a hurry, isn't she? Couldn't even wait a little longer?” Bai Liyuv spoke up before the attackers could make a move. Her face bore a casual smile, showing no trace of fear, as if she were merely chatting with friends. However, the blood smeared across half her face added a chilling edge to her demeanor.

Soong Qingyuan's lips twitched as he pulled his gaze away from her face. He quickly grasped the implication of her words and, with a displeased expression, addressed the man in black, "What does the young lady mean by this? Is she planning to burn bridges now that she's crossed the river?"

Bai Liyuv felt a stir in her heart at his words. She actually had no idea what role Soong Qingyuan played in the events leading to her predecessor's demise. Her predecessor's memories were only vaguely imprinted on her mind. Her earlier ambiguous remarks were merely a tactic to buy some time for her body to recover. Unexpectedly, Soong Qingyuan's reaction revealed more than she anticipated. It seemed he had some dealings with her so-called good sister, and now it appeared he was being cast aside. This was getting interesting.