No matter how united the demonic organizations appeared, they were driven by their own interests.
The three major demonic sects were the same—united when it came to dealing with Haan Di and maintaining a status quo, but rivals and enemies when it came to the resources in the Wild Devil Lands.
Despite all this, All three major demonic sects would have to recognize a talent like Haitin. If he were to die at the hands of a righteous faction under suspicious circumstances, his death could unite the fragmented demonic forces. That would create a huge mess for the righteous and neutral factions represented by Haan Di.
This was why there was an unspoken understanding between all the major forces across the Dadangar Subcontinent—righteous, neutral, and demonic—that they wouldn’t target the future of their organizations: their most talented scions and disciples.
Haitin was one of those figures. He had the power to crush Aksai’s teammates several times over.
Dealing with someone like him using brute strength or manipulation was futile. The only option was to strike deals and find common ground. Even Ren Greenleaf, a disciple of one of Haan Di’s Core Formation Lords, had come to a tacit understanding with Haitin.
What right did Lin Mei and others like her have to take Haitin’s existence lightly?
Even if Lin Mei were to turn out to be just like Haitin when it came to representing the future of the organization that supported them, overall speaking, she was nowhere as capable as Haitin.
***
Two days later.
Two days had passed since Lin Mei and Bai Yu set off from the last battleground.
With Rai City just hours away, they thought they’d escaped the worst of it. The plan had been simple enough—return to Haan Di, regroup, and put this whole ordeal behind them. But fate had other plans.
The air around them turned cold as shadows moved in the distance. Lin Mei sensed it before it happened, a group of masked cultivators appearing like specters on the horizon. They struck fast, silent and lethal, their faces obscured by dark cloth.
“Damn it. I knew this was coming because we had it too easy. Ambush!” Bai Yu shouted, unsheathing his sword, the metal gleaming as it caught the dim light.
Lin Mei wasted no time, her fingers already forming the familiar signs to summon one of her trump cards.
But just as she was about to unleash her technique, a cold sensation washed over her body, making her Spirit essence useless. A Foundation Building Expert from the opposing side had activated a one-time talisman, trapping her like a bird in a cage.
She couldn’t move.
“So… so fast. Damn it!” Lin Mei cursed under her breath. Her energy surged, but the talisman was too powerful. She could only watch as the masked cultivators advanced, their strikes coming in quick succession.
She and Bai Yu were soon outmatched, blades clashing, blood staining their clothes. Both were severely wounded in the ensuing battle.
Lin Mei was sure that the enemies could have killed her if they wanted to. However, they seemed to be harboring some other intentions. It seemed that they were very keen on capturing her alive.
Panting, Lin Mei spat blood onto the ground. “You fools! We’re near Rai City! The city enforcement will hunt you down!” she warned, trying to keep her voice steady despite the pain.
But instead of retreating, the masked men all laughed, their chuckles dark and mocking.
“What’s so funny?” Lin Mei snarled, glancing at Bai Yu. He looked tense, his brows furrowed. “Bai Yu, what’s going on?”
“I don’t think these are demonic cultivators…” Bai Yu said quietly, his voice edged with suspicion. “Their aura—it doesn’t feel like demonic dao.”
Lin Mei’s eyes widened. “What? But if they’re not from the demonic faction…”
Before she could finish the thought, the masked Foundation Building Expert stepped forward, seemingly ready to explain. But his words never came.
Out of nowhere, a dagger flashed through the air, piercing the man’s chest, right where his heart would be. Before he could even react, another dagger sliced through his neck, a clean cut from behind. His body collapsed in an instant.
Emerging from the shadows behind him, a woman stepped forward. She moved with the silence of a predator, her presence suddenly dominating the scene.
She was dressed in tight black robes that clung to her athletic form, with a crimson scarf around her neck that fluttered in the wind. Her face was partially obscured by a black mask, leaving only her piercing green eyes visible. Long raven-black hair cascaded down her back, a few strands framing her sharp features.
Her every move was precise, lethal, and without hesitation.
“Restrain our two friends. Kill all the others,” the assassin woman commanded coolly, her voice carrying an air of authority as her subordinates moved in to bind Lin Mei and Bai Yu. At the same time, the other group killed off the masked men who had ambushed Lin Mei’s group earlier.
This was a complete massacre.
Lin Mei’s breath caught in her throat. “Who the hell are you?” she snapped, trying to struggle despite her injuries. “You have no idea who you’re messing with!”
The assassin woman tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Oh, but I do know exactly who I’m dealing with.” She stepped closer, her voice lowering into a mocking tone. “You can drop the act, ‘Lin Mei.’ Or should I say… Siya Solaris?”
Lin Mei—no, Siya—froze. Her blood ran cold as the name left the woman’s lips.
It wasn’t possible. No one was supposed to know…
“How…” Siya stammered, her mind racing. “How do you know that name?”
The assassin woman smirked, leaning in slightly. “Your real identity is exposed. Haan Di knows who you are. And it is planning to use your death as a way to stir up trouble between the Sun Ocean Society and the demonic faction.”
Siya’s head spun, her heart thudding against her chest. “Haan Di? But… it is a neutral faction and not much different from the righteous faction! Why would they—”
“Stop being so naive, silly girl,” the assassin woman interrupted, her tone suddenly sharp. “You know damn well why Haan Di’s after you. It is going to use you as a pawn. Don’t you get it?
Your death is the fuel Haan Di needs to burn the demonic faction with Sun Ocean Society’s flames.”
Siya’s mind whirled in disbelief. Everything she thought she knew about Haan Di, about her own place in the righteous faction, crumbled in an instant. “No…” she breathed. “That can’t be.”
“Oh, but it can be. And it is. And right now, the only ones trying to keep you alive are from the demonic faction. Congratulations—you’re officially being hunted by the people you once called allies.”
Siya stared, dumbfounded. Her chest felt tight, and she could barely process what was happening. The demonic faction had just saved her, and Haan Di—her supposed ally—was trying to kill her.
She took a shaky breath. “I…” She closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself before she reached up to undo the illusion artifact that had been concealing her true form.
As she deactivated the artifact, her appearance began to shift.
Her lustrous hair brightened into a golden hue, cascading like sunlight down her back. Her eyes gleamed a striking shade of amber, glowing with intensity. Her previously simple features morphed into something sharper, more regal.
Siya Solaris was a vision of radiant beauty, far more stunning than her previous guise as Lin Mei. her previous cultivation base was also fake. Her real cultivation base as the mid-stage Foundation Building Expert was revealed at this point.
The assassin woman’s subordinates exchanged glances, momentarily taken aback by the transformation. But their leader remained unfazed.
“Much better. Now let’s go, Miss Siya Solaris. You are officially being kidnapped… um… no… being invited to stay with us for some tea and snacks.” the assassin woman said, smirking.
This stunning demonic assassin was a genuine late-stage Foundation Building Expert. As such, she wasn’t scared of Siya.
Before Siya could protest further, the sound of large wings flapping echoed in the air.
A pack of massive Bluewind Eagles descended from the sky, their feathers shimmering in hues of deep blue and silver. The assassin woman motioned to her subordinates, who guided Siya and Bai Yu onto one of the eagles.
As the eagle lifted into the air, Siya let out a heavy sigh, the wind whipping through her golden hair. It seemed that things were out of her control even after she revealed her identity and cultivation base. Rather, it was her original identity that had gotten her into trouble this time.
She glanced at Bai Yu, who remained silent but alert beside her.
“I should’ve listened to Aksai,” Siya muttered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the wind. “I… I thought my disguise was perfect. He warned me about this… I was too naive. Too ignorant.”
Bai Yu glanced at her, his expression conflicted but unreadable.
The assassin woman, riding ahead of them on her own eagle, cast a glance back. “Regret later. Right now, focus on staying alive, Princess.”
With that, the eagles soared higher into the sky, carrying them toward an unknown location.