"Then you'd better just... die!"
"........."
Eyes wide, Ouyang Ge watched the blade slash toward him at blinding speed—Ferna truly meant to kill him!
But! The knife, saturated with killing intent, halted abruptly an inch from his throat. Its icy edge pressed flush against his skin; one millimeter more would have slit his windpipe—yet Ferna stopped dead at that precise spot.
Her expression shifted completely, morphing into sheer shock!
[Stand down, Ferna.]
The voice crackled through her hidden earpiece—her master’s voice. Her command was absolute. Unquestionable.
"B-But..."
[Do you disobey even me?]
Elvire’s tone was flat, revealing nothing of her emotions.
"Yes..."
Resigned, Ferna obeyed. The razor-sharp blade withdrew from Ouyang Ge’s throat and slid back into its sheath.
[Strike the target with full force. Send him flying beyond the nearest wall.]
"Understood, Young Mistress..."
Watching Ferna mutter to herself, Ouyang Ge didn’t relax an inch. He retreated slowly, step by cautious step.
"Sorry, little brother. Our duel will have to wait for next time. But..."
Ferna suddenly flashed a radiant smile. In that instant, an overwhelming sense of danger surged through Ouyang Ge!
Crack!
Her black-gloved fist slammed squarely into his chest.
The sound of shattering bones echoed in his skull before the agony even registered.
"Don’t blame me. It’s an order."
The maid’s whisper reached his ear, but Ouyang Ge had no breath to spare. Blood sprayed from his mouth as Ferna’s punch launched him backward.
His small frame shot through the air like a cannonball. He smashed straight through the thick wall. Rubble rained down behind him.
"Mission... complete..."
Ferna spared one glance at the collapsed brickwork before turning away, vanishing into the shadows.
"*Cough!* Hrk—!"
Ouyang Ge spat blood onto the dirt, hacking violently to clear his lungs.
"Ribs... at least four broken. Spine slightly dislocated. Left arm... both legs... compound fractures!!"
He forced out the last word through gritted teeth. Every nerve screamed in agony. One fractured rib had pierced his lung—
—Without immediate aid, he’d die here.
"So... it ends the same way. Will I die here too..."
His uninjured right hand stretched forward, grasping at nothing.
"*Jie-jie*... Live well. Live... well..."
Blood seeped from countless wounds. Consciousness blurred. Internal bleeding would claim him within minutes.
"........"
A pair of youthful boots suddenly filled his fading vision. As darkness swallowed him, Ouyang Ge smiled...
—Yes. Just like in his previous life...
---
"Young Mistress, I’ve returned."
Ferna entered the penthouse suite of a luxury hotel, disarmed. Even with her status, walking around with a longsword drew suspicion. Her gear was secured elsewhere.
"Ah, Ferna. Back already."
Elvire stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, bare feet sinking into plush carpet. The hem of her nightgown revealed porcelain calves. She didn’t turn as she gazed at Shan Yuan City, still swallowed by pre-dawn darkness.
"Young Mistress, I—"
"Not now."
"Yes..."
Ferna stood silently, awaiting her master’s will.
Time slipped by.
The room’s stillness broke as dawn’s first light crested the horizon.
"Ferna."
"Yes."
"What did I command?"
"Not... to harm the target."
"And what did you do?"
Elvire turned from the window, her gaze pinning Ferna in place.
"........"
No excuse would suffice. Ouyang Ge discovering her true identity couldn’t justify her lapse.
"You’ve served me long enough to know obedience is your creed."
"Your command is absolute. This servant obeys without fail."
"See it doesn’t happen again."
"Understood."
Ferna bowed deeply, her spine forming a perfect right angle.
"Young Mistress. Mission accomplished."
Garna, another maid, entered and reported crisply. She barely glanced at her sister before fixing her attention on Elvire.
"Traces eliminated?"
"Yes. All observers monitoring the Ouyang Clan have been erased. Their bodies... vanished from this world."
"Well done. The curtain falls on this performance. The ending I desired has been staged. As for the rest..."
Elvire turned from the sunrise, gliding to a round table. She lifted a glass of red wine.
"Garna. Ferna. Leave this place. We return to the main house. The fruit isn’t ripe yet. Attend to your duties first."
[[Yes. Your will be done, Young Mistress.]]
The sisters spoke in eerie unison, precise as clockwork.
---
Meanwhile, at Shan Yuan City’s airport...
"!!!"
Ouyang Shi jolted upright from her seat on a private jet, eyes snapping open.
Foggy memories sharpened instantly. Today’s events flooded back.
"*Di-di!*"
The familiar small figure was gone. Panic seized her.
"Oh-ho? Waking up and only thinking of your brother? Such a devoted sister."
"You!"
Ouyang Shi whirled to see Zokilia lounging nearby, perfectly composed.
"Xiao Ge! Where’s my brother?!"
"He’s..."
The plane shuddered slightly during takeoff before stabilizing.
"...right there."
Zokilia grinned, pointing downward.
"Down there? Where am I?!"
Ouyang Shi kicked off her blanket, bare feet hitting the cold floor. She glared at her future mentor.
"We’re aboard a private jet. That tremor? Just routine takeoff."
"A jet? Why am I on it?!"
"Miss Ouyang Shi, please calm—"
"Shut up!"
Silver mist erupted from her body—phantom particles swirling in the chill air.
"Tch. Youth these days..."
Zokilia rose, stepping through the mist unaffected. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
—The magic ceased instantly.
"Ouyang Ge asked me to tell you: *‘Jie-jie, grow strong. We’ll meet again someday.’*"
"He’s still in danger! Why leave him behind?!" she screamed.
"Honestly? That boy defies reason. His eyes screamed *【Don’t get in my way】*. That’s why I brought you."
"Lies!"
Her pocket buzzed. Ouyang Shi fumbled out her phone.
[Don’t worry about me, Jie-jie. I’m alive. Forgive my sudden departure—I have unfinished business. Your survival is all that matters. Master Zokilia is a powerful mage. He’ll make you strong. I’ll find you someday. Live well. —Ouyang Ge]
The message had arrived minutes ago. Tears streaked Ouyang Shi’s face before she wiped them away fiercely. Her expression hardened.
"I’ll wait for you, Xiao Ge..."
Zokilia smiled at the transformation.
—Ouyang Ge’s message had been scheduled in advance. As for him now...
