Jiang Qianyu’s words pulled Lu Yunzhi back to reality. She turned toward where the Witch had leaped, mouth slightly agape, momentarily stunned.

Su Qing was gone—just like that. It had all happened in mere seconds.

What could even unfold in a few seconds? The critical moment was this: when Lu Yunzhi turned to face the woman in white, Su Qing still held absolute advantage—she’d cleaved the Witch’s head clean off with one axe swing.

Lu Yunzhi couldn’t fathom it. How could someone counterattack *after* losing their head? Utterly unbelievable.

This only proved how cunning that Witch truly was.

She feigned weakness the entire time, revealing zero flaws even as her head was severed. Such endurance—Lu Yunzhi had never seen its like, not even from a seasoned Class A Hunter like Sister Su. Unimaginable. Impossible to guard against.

Normally, a head severed by Su Qing’s axe would leave a monster dead or barely clinging to life. Few lingered even in that state; most vanished without a trace.

Sister Su was so cautious—she’d clearly moved to deliver a finishing blow at the last second. And still, it failed.

Clearly, the Witch feigned weakness for a reason: she truly couldn’t match Sister Su head-on. In fair combat, she’d have been crushed.

Her victory relied entirely on deception.

She’d been setting the trap from the very first move—even that clumsy mid-air leap and the brutal beating that followed were part of her scheme.

A sharp wave of helplessness washed over Lu Yunzhi.

Even if she’d stepped in just now, it wouldn’t have mattered.

That little Witch was simply beyond her.

“Sigh… If Sister Su hadn’t wounded her badly, I’d probably be dead too,” Lu Yunzhi murmured, sighing.

She believed the Witch fled only due to severe injuries. Otherwise, she’d have killed Lu Yunzhi next.

“Not necessarily,” Jiang Qianyu soothed gently. “You saw it—the Witch only schemes. Sister Su simply didn’t anticipate the trick. Their power gap remains huge. Head-on? The Witch stood zero chance.”

“Put plainly, she’s just Class B. Stay vigilant, and we *will* take her down.”

“I believe in your strength.”

Lu Yunzhi offered a bitter smile. “How could I possibly face someone that formidable?”

“Set that aside for now, Yunzhi. Can you contact headquarters? Request backup to handle the bodies. Tonight’s mission ends here. That girl on the water tank isn’t moving against you yet. Wait for reinforcements.”

“Mm.”

“Yunzhi, I know your heart aches. Pull yourself together. Didn’t you once tell me casualties during missions are normal? Stay calm in the moment. Process everything later, once we’re home.”

Jiang Qianyu’s voice was soft, stirring something wordless in Lu Yunzhi.

“Don’t fear. I may not offer big help, but I can still give advice.”

Guided by Jiang Qianyu, Lu Yunzhi took cover in a blind spot near the gate—able to watch the stairwell, back protected. Anything climbing up? She’d react instantly.

Crucially, this spot kept safe distance from the water tank. If the little girl approached, Lu Yunzhi would spot her first.

Even Lu Yunzhi had to admit Jiang Qianyu had a knack for this. Under her calm guidance, Lu Yunzhi’s tense nerves finally eased, just a little.

Seconds ticked by. Nightwatchers’ reinforcements wouldn’t arrive for at least thirty minutes.

The rooftop lay silent. Lu Yunzhi stood guard, grip tight on her longsword.

Sensing her distress, Jiang Qianyu spoke softly:

“Yunzhi… I joined this mission today because I feared for your safety. I know you’re a Nightwatcher. I know the danger.”

“I’m terrified of the day I hear you’ve fallen. I’ve wrestled with it: stop you? Or support you differently?”

“Honestly? I wish you’d leave this job. Anything else. I still feel that way. If you quit, I’ll support you fully—even become the sole breadwinner.”

“My legs are disabled, but I can still do handicrafts. Truly.”

If possible, keeping Lu Yunzhi safe at home felt ideal. Let her handle the Nightwatchers, the anomalies, the horrors.

She knew her feelings for Lu Yunzhi stemmed partly from the body’s instinct—but emotions could grow.

Her actions needed purpose: for family, for their daughter, for herself.

Or she might shatter.

This body’s instincts warred with her soul—a stranger’s consciousness. She hated killing before Lu Yunzhi… yet calculated how eliminating those Hunters benefited her.

She held a blood feud with the Nightwatchers.

But revenge? What meaning did it hold? Those burned children were gone forever. Living well mattered more.

Revenge meant risk. Too many kills, and the Nightwatchers would hunt *her*.

But Lu Yunzhi was one of them. Was she an enemy too?

Even if Jiang Qianyu didn’t see her that way… what if Lu Yunzhi discovered her truth someday?

She couldn’t say, *“I kill Nightwatchers to protect our daughter when they come for her.”*

These thoughts, the soul-deep hunger, the fractured urge to puppet others—they haunted her. Jiang Qianyu wondered, not for the first time, if she was losing her mind.

Yet within this chaotic fusion of body and soul, this fragile, almost make-believe family had become her anchor. Her reason to endure.

That was why she stayed close to Lu Yunzhi.

Who truly was a partner worth keeping.

“I don’t know what drives you… why the Nightwatchers hold such pull for you.”

“And that’s the other reason for my choice.”

“I won’t persuade you. Won’t force you. I’ll simply play my part.”

“Our family is fragile. One in a deadly profession. One with disabled legs. One accident… and we shatter.”

“So for you. For me. For our daughter—steady your heart. I’ll be waiting for you at home.”