Lu Yunzhi wanted Jiang Qianyu to see her daily life—the rhythm of her missions, the weight of her duty, just how uniquely demanding this job truly was.
It wasn’t only because of what Jiang Qianyu had said earlier that day.
She had her own reasons. Tonight’s mission, for instance: let Jiang Qianyu witness the harsh reality, hope she’d back down. Then she’d stop clinging to her every day, demanding more time together.
Surely, after seeing how exhausted and drained she really was, Jiang Qianyu would understand—just a little?
At the very least, she’d stop acting like a child: whining and throwing tantrums anytime, anywhere, even calling mid-mission, refusing to listen, insisting Lu Yunzhi come home… all over trivial things, threatening despair.
This time, after returning home, she’d changed so much. Like a completely different person.
Wasn’t this a chance? A real chance to change her.
So when Jiang Qianyu fell into prolonged silence, Lu Yunzhi naturally assumed the mission details were still too much for her.
She said she’d come to her senses, wanted to change—but humans are like that. Change doesn’t happen overnight.
“Did I scare you, Xiao Yu? Sigh… Honestly, I never wanted you to see any of this,” Lu Yunzhi murmured softly into her comms while carrying Liu Yongkang downstairs. “But don’t be too afraid. My missions are dangerous, yes—but not every one’s like tonight.”
“Tonight was an exception. Unavoidable. Our Nightwatchers’ intel department’s always been garbage.”
Just then, Jiang Qianyu—silent until now—spoke.
“Yunzhi… when you said ‘Witch,’ did you mean that little girl?”
“Huh?” Lu Yunzhi blinked. She’d prepared answers about the corpses, not this.
“Yes! That ‘little witch’—don’t let her innocent looks fool you. She did all this. Every body on the fourth floor? Her. These five slain Hunters? Also her!”
At home, Jiang Qianyu felt the tension in her brow ease.
Hearing “Witch” had genuinely startled her.
In her past life, the Nightwatchers found her because of Bai Dongqing’s identity as the Witch. Now, reborn as the Witch’s mother… one day, they might come for her again.
Everything she did now was preparation for that moment.
At least to have a sliver of a chance to fight back.
“So… ‘Witch’ is just a title?”
On screen, Lu Yunzhi huffed while hauling the fallen Hunters—completely unaware she’d turned the Grade A expert’s order (“check injuries”) into full battlefield cleanup.
Lu Yunzhi’s voice crackled through the earpiece: “Yeah, just a title. We call any ruthless, highly intelligent female anomaly a ‘Witch.’ No one knows the origin.”
“Rumor says it wasn’t always a title—it was the codename of an unimaginably powerful entity. Hmm… If tonight’s target is Grade B+ or Grade A, that original Witch? At least SS-Rank.”
“That’s deep-classified archive stuff. We small fry? We wouldn’t even hear whispers. All rumors.”
“Dangerous anomalies usually get codenames—but ‘Witch’? Truly one of a kind.”
“No recent whispers about her. Probably been taken down.”
“Such a threat… better dead.”
Jiang Qianyu: …
She should feel relieved her identity stayed hidden. So why no relief at all?
Still—unexpected insight into Dong Qing’s past.
Ruthless. Power level at least SS-Rank, likely higher. Killed. Silent for years.
“Can’t talk longer, Xiao Yu. Gotta move fast. I’ll check if help’s needed later.”
“Mm. Do your best—but stay safe,” Jiang Qianyu said, then hesitated. “You called her ruthless… what if she’s fiercely vengeful?”
Lu Yunzhi shook her head. “Don’t worry. Since I’m here—I’m not afraid of her revenge.”
·
·
On the rooftop, two figures faced off—one tall, one small.
Su Qing cleared the tangled Soul Threads with effortless ease. Far beyond Liu Yongkang’s team’s capability—even at full strength, they couldn’t compare.
If Grade B Hunters barely surpassed ordinary humans, Grade A Hunters dominated them utterly—especially against anomalies, where skill and experience shone.
To Liu’s team, every dense Soul Thread meant death. Su Qing merely tossed down beacon-like devices, activated them with her energy, and weakened all threads on the rooftop by over fifty percent.
Then, with a single short knife, she severed the rest.
“You’ve devoured so many souls. Aren’t you afraid they’ll haunt you at night?” Su Qing hefted her uniquely shaped, lethally sharp axe.
“I’d welcome them,” Jiang Qianyu replied, stepping back.
Two choices: test this Grade A Hunter’s strength—consuming even a fragment of her soul would help immensely, but the risk was huge. Or leap off the rooftop and flee.
“In the dead of night, when you try to sleep… dozens of voices will surround you. Cursing, screaming vile words into your ear. Cover your ears—it won’t matter. The voices come from *within*.”
Su Qing spoke to distract her. Mid-sentence, her legs coiled—*whoosh*—closed the gap in a blink. The axe cut the air, aimed at Jiang Qianyu’s slender neck.
One strike. Her head would fly.
Too fast. By the time Jiang Qianyu reacted, the blade was already there.
Pupils shrank. She arched back instinctively—the sharp edge grazed her collarbone.
The axe missed. Su Qing flipped the short knife mid-air, thrusting upward at a vicious angle toward Jiang Qianyu’s abdomen.
Jiang Qianyu bent her knees and leaped—dodging cleanly.
A faint smirk touched Su Qing’s lips.
Jumping mid-fight? Clearly a novice.
Weight shifted low. A flawless whip kick snapped out—*thud*—slammed into Jiang Qianyu’s stomach. Her small body flew backward, crashing hard into a solar water heater.
“We might not be needed,” Lu Yunzhi murmured, watching the scene. She clicked her tongue. “Looks like Sister Su’s about to beat this Witch to a pulp.”
·
·
