The Death of the Night Owl

"Tap, tap, tap."

Accompanied by the sound of light footsteps, a woman's voice echoed in an old building.

"Cold Snake, stop hiding. You can't escape. Instead of continuing to hide in such a miserable state, why not come back to the organization with me? Perhaps the master will go easy on you, considering your past contributions."

After a moment, a figure slowly emerged from the stairwell. Under the moonlight, a strikingly beautiful face came into view. Her cold and stern expression was accentuated by deep blue eyes that resembled the mysterious depths of the ocean.

"So, Night Cat, you've come too. It seems I'm quite popular."

"I'm not here to capture you for a reward."

Night Cat felt a pang of bitterness as she looked at Xie Yuyan. In the Dark Palace organization, Cold Snake's reputation was legendary. She was the top-ranked assassin, and everyone else in the rankings existed merely to highlight her prowess. Night Cat, who had always been ranked just below Xie Yuyan, harbored an endless hatred for the woman who had overshadowed her for so long.

Night Cat walked up to Xie Yuyan without fear, their eyes locking in a tense stare. The air between them was thick with hostility.

Xie Yuyan's face remained expressionless as she looked at Night Cat and calmly said, "You've already lost."

"Ha! Even now, you still maintain that disgusting composure. I'll prove to everyone that I am the top assassin in the Dark Palace."

Night Cat's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, she threw several throwing daggers from her hand. Each dagger flew at an incredible speed, aimed directly at Xie Yuyan's vital points. It was clear that Night Cat's intention was to kill Xie Yuyan, which was likely why she had come alone.

Xie Yuyan had sensed the intense killing intent from Night Cat from the very beginning and had been on guard. As soon as Night Cat launched the daggers, Xie Yuyan swiftly dodged them with precise and efficient movements, leaving no room for error.

Just as Xie Yuyan dodged the daggers, a dagger was thrust toward her neck. However, Xie Yuyan had anticipated this move and, as if she could read Night Cat's every action, she drew a dagger from her sleeve and parried the attack.

"Clang!"

The sharp blades collided with a clear metallic sound. Night Cat gritted her teeth and pressed the dagger harder, trying to force Xie Yuyan into making a mistake.

"Cold Snake, you've really grown weaker."

A mocking smile appeared on Night Cat's lips as she looked at Xie Yuyan with disdain. She suddenly pulled back and jumped away, putting some distance between them.

Xie Yuyan, sensing something was wrong, looked down and noticed a small, round object at her feet. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a micro-explosive device that Night Cat had planted during her attack. Xie Yuyan had only just noticed it.

This was... a micro-explosive bomb!

Familiar with the weapons of the Dark Palace, Xie Yuyan immediately recognized the device. Seeing the red light blinking on the bomb, she quickly raised her arms to shield herself and crouched down, trying to retreat. However, before she could move far, the bomb detonated with a loud explosion.

"Boom!"

The sound of the explosion shattered the silence of the night, startling the birds in the trees outside the old building. They flew away in flocks, abandoning the abandoned area.

"Cough... cough..."

Xie Yuyan was thrown against a wall by the blast and collapsed to the ground. She felt a metallic taste in her throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

As Night Cat had said, her instincts were no longer as sharp as they once were. Perhaps living with Ye Feng for so long had dulled her edge. She had grown too comfortable, too immersed in the life she had built with him.

Memories of happy moments with Ye Feng began to surface in Xie Yuyan's mind, and a faint smile crept onto her lips.

But I don't regret it. I'd rather be Ye Feng's cook for the rest of my life. With him, I finally feel like a real person.

Ye Feng...

As Xie Yuyan's consciousness began to fade, she saw Ye Feng's face appear before her eyes. Behind him, another figure gradually came into view. When Xie Yuyan focused, she realized it was Li Mucheng standing beside Ye Feng. This realization jolted her awake, and her deep blue eyes widened in shock. She struggled to her feet, using her hands for support.

"Well, well, I never thought I'd see you in such a sorry state."

Night Cat, unaware that Xie Yuyan had mistaken her for someone else, was still reveling in the satisfaction of having injured her.

"Is this really the top-ranked assassin? Did the master give you special treatment to complete your missions? I thought you were something special, but it seems you're only good for dealing with the likes of Lone Wolf and Shan Yang."

Night Cat looked at Xie Yuyan with contempt, her arrogance swelling. Feeling bored, she pulled out a gun, intending to finish Xie Yuyan off. Although the organization had ordered her to bring Xie Yuyan back alive, Night Cat could easily fabricate a story about Xie Yuyan's death. With Xie Yuyan gone, she would finally claim the title of the Dark Palace's top assassin.

"You don't deserve the name Cold Snake."

Just as Night Cat was about to pull the trigger, Xie Yuyan, despite her injuries, moved. Her dagger shot forward like a hissing snake, piercing Night Cat's throat in an instant.

"Ugh! What..."

Night Cat's eyes widened in shock. As she realized she had been stabbed, she tried to pull the trigger, but Xie Yuyan's hand swiftly twisted her arm, rendering it useless. With a sickening crack, Night Cat's arm was dislocated.

"How... could..."

A flicker of regret passed through Night Cat's eyes, but it was too late. She collapsed to the ground without finishing her sentence.

She had underestimated Xie Yuyan, underestimated the title of Cold Snake, and underestimated what it meant to be an assassin of the Dark Palace. Overconfidence was always a killer's greatest weakness.

Xie Yuyan looked down at Night Cat's lifeless body without emotion, her cold gaze fixed on the moon in the night sky.

No one is allowed to get close to Ye Feng... He's mine! I can't afford to lose here!

......

"Ah..."

Ye Feng woke up in his hospital bed early in the morning, stretching and yawning. After a day of rest, he felt full of energy. Although he didn't know why he had suddenly fallen asleep the night before, the rest had done him good. At the very least, he felt refreshed and alert.