Clash Again

"Not right..."

Xie Yuyan seemed to have realized something. She reached out and gripped the dagger embedded in the quilt, then shifted her gaze toward the room where Shen Mengli had been staying and began searching. However, after a thorough inspection, she found no other hidden objects—it was as if Shen Mengli had vanished into thin air.

Wait! Vanished into thin air?!

The moment this thought struck her, Xie Yuyan snapped to attention. Even if Shen Mengli had known she would come for her tonight, how had she managed to leave?

Xie Yuyan turned back to look at the overturned wheelchair in the room, and a sense of foreboding surged within her.

How could someone like Shen Mengli, who couldn’t even take care of herself, disappear without a trace without any help? Unless… someone in the welfare home had provided her refuge.

Yes, that was the only plausible explanation for her safe escape.

Narrowing her eyes, Xie Yuyan glanced outside at the dark, stormy night, and the gloom in her heart grew heavier.

No, if this continued, Ye Feng would wake up soon. Once he did, he would stop at nothing to interfere with my plans. I have to deal with the others before he arrives…

With that thought, Xie Yuyan decisively turned and strode out of the welfare home. In just a few breaths, she scaled the high garden wall, leaving behind nothing but a cold gust of wind.

"Whoosh—"

The moment Xie Yuyan stepped into a narrow alley outside the welfare home, a figure appeared at the far end, blocking her path.

"What—"

Her initially wary gaze froze the instant she recognized the person standing before her. It was someone she knew all too well.

"No way..."

"Didn’t expect to see me here, did you?"

Ye Feng’s sharp eyes bore into Xie Yuyan, his tone eerily calm. The moment he saw her climbing over the wall into the alley, he knew there was no turning back—not just because of his disappointment in her actions, but also because of his growing concern for Shen Mengli inside the welfare home.

"Why?"

Xie Yuyan’s demeanor barely shifted at Ye Feng’s appearance. After a brief moment of shock, she assumed a combat stance.

"Why did you wake up so soon?"

"Thanks to fate, I suppose…"

Ye Feng replied coolly, stepping forward toward her.

"Xie Yuyan, was this your goal from the very beginning? Why resort to something so cruel?"

"Cruel?" She chuckled darkly, slowly drawing a gleaming dagger from her sleeve and tilting her head at him. "To me, this is just routine. Only when these women are gone will my life finally be at peace!"

"I used to naively believe that winning your heart would give me the life I wanted. But I was wrong. No matter how much I endured or tolerated, these women kept buzzing around you like flies—unshakable, unyielding, even after warnings and threats. Now I realize the only truth lies in the weapon in my hand. Only when they’re gone for good will this end. So I’m simply doing what must be done."

"Ye Feng, I hope you won’t interfere. Once I’ve cleansed these obstacles to our love, we can leave together and live in a place full of happiness~"

Her icy tone softened as she spoke, as if she could already envision that blissful future.

"Sorry, Yuyan. I can’t agree to that."

"......"

Xie Yuyan showed no emotional reaction to his answer, as if she had expected it.

"What a shame. Seems we can’t reach an agreement~"

With a pitiful tilt of her head, she tightened her grip on the dagger and lunged at him before he could respond.

At the same time, an alert rang in Ye Feng’s mind—his system had given him a split-second advantage. Knowing Xie Yuyan’s skill and the weapon in her hand, he grabbed a nearby trash can lid and raised it as a makeshift shield.

"Kehehe~"

Xie Yuyan giggled, brushing a hand against her cheek as she gazed at him with infatuation.

"This is so much more fun! Don’t worry, Ye Feng, I won’t kill you. I’ll even borrow Mengli’s wheelchair for you afterward~"

"Xie Yuyan, you’ve lost your mind…"

Ye Feng’s brows furrowed. There was no avoiding this fight.

"Hah~"

With a single leap, Xie Yuyan shot toward him like a streak of blue lightning, closing the distance in an instant.

"Ha!"

Ye Feng braced the "shield" firmly in front of him, relying on its wide coverage to block her advance. But the trash can lid obstructed his vision, leaving him blind to her movements until she was nearly upon him.

Agile as ever, Xie Yuyan knew he was trying to limit her mobility in the tight space. Just before reaching the shield, she kicked off the alley wall, flipping midair.

Damn it!

The moment Ye Feng saw her lithe figure twist above him, he knew she was trying to flank him. But adjusting the shield would take too long—by then, her dagger would already be buried in his flesh.

Xie Yuyan landed flawlessly behind him, fully aware of Ye Feng’s comparable skill. Without hesitation, she thrust the dagger toward his wrist.

"Swish—"

The blade cut through the air like a striking viper, its deadly point aimed true.

Just before it connected, a circular metal disc came flying at Xie Yuyan.

"Clang!"

The sharp sound of metal colliding echoed through the alley. Xie Yuyan realized too late—Ye Feng had thrown the trash can lid at her to deflect the attack.

"My, my~ What an impressive man I’ve chosen. Not only is your physique outstanding, but your quick thinking is remarkable too. You never fail to surprise me, Ye Feng~"

"But… that was the only trash can lid. I wonder if you’ll be as resourceful next time? Kehehe~"

"Haah… haah…"

Ye Feng panted heavily, swallowing hard.

This is… bad.