> "Move, or I'll put a hole in you first."
— Hanshuang
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[1] Stepping Through the Air
Under the night sky, the woman was clad in black-gold armor, a long spear gleaming like a frosted moon, its tip sharp enough to slice the air.
The wind lifted her hair as her icy gaze swept over the corpses littering the courtyard—without a ripple of emotion.
Crown Prince Chiyan leveled his blade, standing in front of Lin Zhou. "Hanshuang, what are you here for?"
Her tone was frigid. "To take someone."
Lin Zhou blinked, then pointed at himself. "You don't mean… me, do you?"
Hanshuang replied flatly, "Other than you, no one else is worth the trip."
The courtyard fell silent for half a second. Crown Prince Chiyan's face darkened. "What's that supposed to mean? He's my guest!"
Hanshuang sneered. "So you want to protect him… or fight me?"
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[2] The Dragon Clan Saint Son's Little Move
The Dragon Clan Saint Son lounged to the side, lightly shaking his folding fan, smiling with a hint of mischief. "Oh? Looks like this Miss Hanshuang has quite an interest in Lin Zhou."
Hanshuang shot him a cold glance. "Shut it, little dragon."
The two young dragons immediately retreated into the Saint Son's sleeves, trembling.
Watching this, Lin Zhou thought to himself—this woman's presence is terrifying; even the baby dragons cower.
He scratched his head. "Uh… should I at least ask why you're here for me?"
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[3] The Cold Invitation
Hanshuang stepped up to him, her spear crossing in front of his chest, stopping just half an inch away. "Qingqiu Terrace won't be the last to try and kill you. If you want to live past tomorrow, come with me."
Lin Zhou gave an awkward smile. "That does sound reasonable, but tonight I still have fields to—"
Before he could finish, Hanshuang flicked her spear's butt, hoisting him onto her shoulder like a sack of grain.
Lin Zhou patted her back. "Hey, hey, hey, I'm pretty heavy, you know!"
Hanshuang's voice was cool. "Lighter than my spear."
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[4] The Squad's Reactions
Crown Prince Chiyan immediately blocked her path. "Put him down!"
Honglei narrowed her eyes, blood threads twitching between her fingers. "Hanshuang, you dare snatch someone?"
Li Xinglan stood off to the side, face unreadable, pulling out a thick stack of talismans. "I can blow you up."
Hanshuang swept her gaze over them, voice like steel. "You protect him because he's important; I'm taking him because he's more important."
That single sentence added an extra weight to the air.
Hoisted on her shoulder, Lin Zhou glanced around and chuckled. "Hey, hey, no need to argue—I can walk myself—"
Hanshuang didn't even turn her head. "No. You might run."
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[5] A Brief Test of Strength
Crown Prince Chiyan's fury flared, his long blade slicing straight for Hanshuang's back.
Hanshuang gave her spear a single shake, spinning it in a smooth arc. The butt met the blade with a deafening metallic clang.
Honglei's blood threads instantly sealed off the area, but Hanshuang's footwork was like the wind—she stomped through the threads' anchor points, breaking the formation outright.
The Dragon Clan Saint Son moved as well, flicking his fan. The two young dragons spat dragon breath to block her way.
Hanshuang gave a sharp snort, her spear sweeping wide, slicing the dragon breath neatly in two.
Still slung over her shoulder, Lin Zhou sighed. "You're all fighting so hard, my head's spinning."
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[6] An Unexpected End
Just as the tension was about to explode, the Xiling King's voice rang out. "Enough."
It wasn't loud, but it stilled every movement.
"Hanshuang, if you insist on taking him, remember—guard his life well. Every one of our factions owes him a life."
Hanshuang didn't look back, only replied evenly, "Alright."
The next moment, wind surged under her feet, and she vanished into the night with Lin Zhou.
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[7] A Conversation Under the Moon
Outside the city, Hanshuang finally set him down.
Lin Zhou rubbed his shoulder. "Your way of picking someone up is… a bit too direct, don't you think?"
Hanshuang's gaze was cold. "If you want to live, follow me. If you die, this world will fall into chaos."
Lin Zhou raised a brow. "And how do you know that?"
Hanshuang was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "Because—I've looked into all eighteen years of your past… and you were never supposed to exist."
Lin Zhou: "…"
"So should I be scared right now?"
Hanshuang's slight smile held a trace of killing intent. "You'd better be."