Su Yunmo paused, then involuntarily averted her gaze, masking her emotions with laughter.
"Hahaha... you're so amusing. Why would I be sad that they're dead? They should be the ones regretting crossing me."
"Don't you know? I always get even. Those who bully or betray me never have a good end."
Those who get close to me don't have a good end either.
Su Yunmo laughed unrestrainedly, her lips stretched into a perfunctory smile, but her eyes lacked light.
The firelight reflected in her eyes, flames dancing within them, mirroring the crimson glow that flashed due to her abilities.
Her usually proud eyes were now dimmed by this light, losing their confidence and carrying a hint of sorrow.
Ye Jingyu snatched the sword from her hand and threw it to the ground, gripping her chin and frowning fiercely. "No more smiling!"
Although she often put on a cute act with a similar playful expression, he particularly disliked her current demeanor.
As if in defiance or a fit of pique, the more he told her not to, the more Su Yunmo laughed.
"Why can't I laugh? You should laugh too. Those people wanted to kill you, but now they're dead. What a joyous occasion."
Her eyes misted over, blending with the river and the night, reflecting specks of starlight.
An inexplicable killing intent filled Ye Jingyu's chest; he wanted to slaughter the person who made her cry.
"Master!" Qian Xue arrived with his men.
Ye Jingyu raised his hand, drawing Su Yunmo into his embrace, his wide sleeve completely concealing her. "Leave no one alive!"
Qian Xue acknowledged with a "Yes" and led his men into the boat, engaging in a fierce battle with the assassins.
The crimson of blood and the screams at this moment contrasted with the countless lights on the shore, as if in a dream.
Ye Jingyu leaped onto the shore, pulling the woman in his arms to face him, his fingers roughly wiping the blood from her face.
"Tell me that person's name, and I'll kill him for you."
Kill whom? Yu Ning? She was already dead.
She had always dealt with her enemies this way; everyone in the Li Man Tower said she was the most cold-blooded and ruthless person under the heavens, killing without batting an eye.
But why was she so tired today?
So very tired.
And so cold, a chill deep within her heart.
Su Yunmo reached out, trying to touch Ye Jingyu's face for warmth, but only encountered his mask. It was cold, and felt unpleasant to the touch.
"Your mask is really ugly."
Su Yunmo closed her eyes as darkness descended, her body reaching its limit.
She fell asleep in Ye Jingyu's arms.
Seeing her lose consciousness, Ye Jingyu clenched his other hand into a fist. After a moment, he took a deep breath and held her close.
Who exactly upset you?
Qian Xue sheathed his sword and came ashore, cupping his fist in a report. "Master, they have all been annihilated. They had taken poison beforehand, just like the previous group."
A dark glint flashed in Ye Jingyu's eyes. "Investigate how Lin Chenxi became involved with Ye Jingcheng!"
Qian Xue instinctively glanced at the small figure in his master's arms. "May I have people follow the young lady from now on?"
Since the failed attempt to capture the Master under the guise of apprehending "rebels" last time, Prince Cheng had been seeking opportunities.
Every year at this time, the Master would come here, and Prince Cheng had sent people to scout multiple times.
However, the secrecy had been well-maintained in the past. Although Prince Cheng was suspicious, he could not confirm the Master's presence on the boat.
If the young lady hadn't come today, the Master wouldn't have been exposed. Lin Chenxi is a suspect, but the young lady was likely exploited as well.
Ye Jingyu looked down at the person in his arms.
The child's brows were furrowed even in sleep.
She seemed to be afraid of the cold, curling up tightly as if trying to embrace him, but her hands instinctively clutched Ye Jingyu's collar, looking very insecure.
Ye Jingyu's heart softened. He extended a finger to smooth her furrowed brow. "No need. She wouldn't like it."
Sleep, everything will be alright when you wake up.
Qian Xue cast a complex glance at his master.
His master now had a weakness; he wondered if it was a good or bad thing.
Su Yunmo was sent back very late at night.
Zi Yuan had waited for her all day and was relieved to see her return safely, though she felt a slight apprehension towards Ye Jingyu.
Su Yunmo, likely exhausted, did not wake until the afternoon of the next day.
When she awoke, Zi Yuan was not there. There had been some internal issues within the Blood Mark organization, and she needed to return to handle them.
Lü Luo came to serve her in washing up, appearing very happy, her tone considerably lighter. In fact, as long as Zi Yuan wasn't around, she could remain this cheerful.
With Zi Yuan present, she felt like an outsider.
"This servant thought Miss would sleep all day. Miss, you really are something, going out to play but not minding your rest, actually falling asleep from exhaustion."
Su Yunmo had retained some consciousness before falling asleep, knowing Ye Jingyu had been by her side then. She assumed he had brought her back.
This meant that everything that happened yesterday was not a dream.
Yu Ning was dead, killed by these hands...
"Does Miss have something on her hands?" Lü Luo asked, holding a damp towel to wipe her face.
Su Yunmo clenched her fist and withdrew her hand, shaking her head gently.
Sensing her low mood, Lü Luo stopped asking questions and relayed her instructions. "Madam wants you to visit her as soon as you wake up. She said there's something important."
Lü Luo paused, then added mysteriously, "I heard the General is returning soon. He sent a letter this morning, and he'll arrive at the capital by noon tomorrow."
Su Qingtian had been stationed at the border for many years. In the early years, the Lin Kingdom often caused trouble, and it was not peaceful. In the past two years, both countries had been developing, and large-scale conflicts were rare.
This return to the capital for duty should mean he would reside there more often, and would not return to the border unless there were special circumstances.
Su Yunmo changed her clothes, ate a couple of bites of food casually, and headed to the front hall. Before she could even enter the hall, she heard arguing from within.
She stepped inside and saw an elderly man with streaks of white in his hair seated on the main seat.
His hands rested on his knees, dressed in a white robe, his face stern, his eyes filled with ferocity, exuding an overpowering aura.
Su Qing glanced at Su Yunmo and snorted, "Is this the little bastard?"
Zhou Wanyou, standing in the center of the main hall, frowned and beckoned. Su Yunmo crossed the high threshold and walked over, obediently calling out "Mother."
Zhou Wanyou gently pulled her into her embrace, patting her head as a form of comfort, then looked up at the person seated above.
"I ask that you mind your words, Father-in-law. This child is not a bastard; she is Brother Yi's daughter."
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes.
Is this old man my grandfather?
"Fourth Sister-in-law, you're too serious. Third Uncle was just speaking casually, and you're already so sharp-tongued. Little do you know, your precious daughter has caused great trouble outside."
Dou Ying, standing behind Su Qing, added fuel to the fire.
Su Qing's expression turned uglier. "The slut born of a lowly woman stepping into the General's mansion is a disgrace to the Su family."
"You dare to protect her in front of me when I haven't even settled accounts with you for bringing her here behind my back? It seems you don't put me in your eyes!"
He was Su Qingtian's father, and Zhou Wanyou could not lose her temper with him.
Zhou Wanyou: "The Second Miss of the Marquis's mansion being injured by a falling object was an accident. Mo Mo was merely present by coincidence. Why must such a matter be pinned on a child?"
Su Yunmo's body stiffened, and she looked up sharply.
Lin Yu Ning wasn't dead?