Chapter 73: SECOND LIFE

Just as if answering Jiang Sui’s earlier words, the already fierce gust of wind suddenly intensified again, rolling up dust and blowing away the thick haze in the air.

“Huh? What did you just say—”

When Hu Ming turned around, he found that Jiang Sui had already vanished. Even the mask on the ground was taken away.

She moved so fast… no, at this distance she couldn’t have gotten far. If he chased right now—

Before Hu Ming could turn his body, a violent gust exploded beside him—so sharp it felt like an ice-cold blade brushing past his ribs.

Footsteps approached, slow and steady. Wherever that silhouette wrapped in wind passed, even the strange scents in the air were blown apart.

It was Luo Yao.

She walked forward calmly. After detecting gunshots and the strange fragrance engulfing the area, she traced the chaos here.

Standing at the center of the raging wind, her jet-black hair remained motionless—untouched by the storm, untouched by the scent.

Her face was pale—frighteningly pale. When she saw Hu Ming, she frowned slightly, but when her gaze landed on the unconscious Ah Zhen on the ground, her face darkened sharply.

“The gunshots earlier—and the reason this whole town reeks of this disgusting scent—was your doing?”

Hu Ming had heard of Luo Yao’s name before, but this was the first time they faced each other. Rumor said she was a genius among mystics, but reports from his men described her as nothing more than a delicate, spoiled lady.

He doubted she even knew how to fight.

But before he could finish that thought, Luo Yao raised a hand and snapped her fingers.

A ripple burst outward—wind roared violently, tearing across the street. The howling was so sharp it ached the ears.

When the storm stopped, Luo Yao inhaled deeply and spoke coldly:

“There. Now all the annoying things are gone.”

The wind zone expanded, scattering every trace of the poisonous mist and blocking more from drifting in.

Hu Ming stared at her in disbelief. A single snap could produce something like that? Her ability far exceeded his expectations.

“So this is what happens when Lu Yunze goes out for some fresh air—he gets wrapped up in garbage like this.”

Every word she spoke dripped with killing intent.

“Recently, I feel like Lu Yunze has been less interested in me… so is this why? Something disgusting trying to shake him?”

Hu Ming smirked. She’d inhaled plenty of his drug already—her body was failing. Soon, the haze would seep back into this area.

Yes—his plan was working.

With Luo Yao taken down here, Hu Ming could practically see the promotion waiting for him inside the Black Star Cult.

Luo Yao lifted her hand again, forming a gun-like shape with her fingers, aiming directly at him.

Wind spiraled at her fingertips—shot forward like a drill—too fast for Hu Ming to react. It pierced his shoulder clean through.

“AHHH—!”

He collapsed with a scream. Though the attack was made of wind, it was more painful than a bullet.

Clutching his bleeding shoulder, Hu Ming raised his gun and fired wildly.

Before a single bullet could reach her, Luo Yao flicked her fingers and summoned a solid wind barrier before herself. Every round shattered against it like brittle glass. Even the drifting poison fumes could not reach her.

“That trick is useless.”

Luo Yao waved her hand, blowing aside all debris and chemical vapor.

“If Lu Yunze were here, maybe he’d stupidly tank your bullets and end up poisoned… but I’m not him.”

Hu Ming kept pulling the trigger, but his gun had emptied. He had spare magazines, but any attempt to reload would get him killed immediately.

So he could only act submissive—and rely on the drug hidden in his coat to win.

Luo Yao stepped in slowly, the wind around her tightening like a cage. If she said nothing, the scent would soon reach her lungs.

It would work—he was sure.

But right as Hu Ming grew smug, Luo Yao stopped, then unleashed a full wind zone blast.

Hu Ming was ripped off his feet, dizziness flooding his senses. Before he could hit the ground, Luo Yao dragged him upward with cyclonic force—only to slam him back into the street like a rag.

Something shattered—a vial of multicolored narcotic liquid spilled across the ground.

“I knew it. Your clothing wasn’t moving with the wind because you hid something there. What a pathetic trick.”

Luo Yao flexed her fingers—the swirling wind around Hu Ming squeezed tighter, ready to shred him.

“If you wanted revenge on me, I’d accept it. But you chose Lu Yunze as your target.”

Another second—and Hu Ming would be carved apart.

“You people who don’t understand his worth… deserve nothing but death.”

She said nothing more—only watched quietly as the moment of death approached.

But the next instant—her already pale face turned even whiter. She clutched her throat and violently coughed.

It was the worst attack she had ever had—she nearly collapsed.

The wind barrier weakened—just enough for Hu Ming to cover himself and bolt away.

He ran—dragging himself into the darkness before collapsing behind a corner.

“Seriously… women these days are terrifying…”

Even weakened, Luo Yao had nearly killed him. He wiped the sweat burning into his wounds.

Her condition was deteriorating.

Hu Ming regained composure, retrieving a black box from his coat—the core device responsible for spreading the nightmare haze through the town. His plan was nearly complete; he wouldn’t abandon it now.

If he boosted its output one more time, he could counterattack Luo Yao.

He pictured the reward, the power…

“Yes… just a little more… with this, everything changes!”

But—

As he gripped the box tighter—cold steel flashed.

A blade swept past—his wrists dropped to the floor.

Stunned, he looked down at the black box rolling away, then up—at the girl picking it up casually.

Jiang Sui.

She raised the moon-blade under Hu Ming’s chin.

“Oh? Sounds like this is something valuable, huh?”

She slapped the black container.

“What is it?”

He refused to answer.

Jiang Sui smiled coldly, picking up his severed hand.

“Those fumes don’t affect you, right? But they don’t affect me either.”

She smeared the blood on the ancient grimoire pages. Crimson light flared—and new text appeared.

“Success. Thanks for the donation.”

Reading the new script, Jiang Sui finally understood Hu Ming’s mystic ability—no more secrets.

Then she looked up at the colorful fog approaching them.

“If I wanted, I could ask you many things… but forget it.”

She lifted the blade.

“People like you dying early is a favor to the world.”

The blade came down.

Hu Ming died.

Her second collected life.

Jiang Sui tossed the black container to the shadowed alley for Black Hunters to retrieve—just as the wind approached behind her.

She turned—Luo Yao had returned.

Seeing Hu Ming’s corpse shocked Luo Yao.

But the woman who killed him?

Wearing a flowing white robe trimmed with purple.

Silver-white hair hanging loose.

Clear, luminous purple eyes exposed.

No mask.

Her real identity revealed—

The woman involved with Lu Yunze.

“So you really ARE suspicious,” Luo Yao growled. “You approached Lu Yunze for his life, didn’t you?”

“If that were true, would he still be alive now?” Jiang Sui replied flatly.

She pulled up her hood.

“Spoiled princess raised in a greenhouse—stay inside your pretty little room and stop getting in the way.”

Luo Yao froze. She had never been insulted like that in her life.

“You stop right there!”

Jiang Sui snorted.

“With legs as weak as yours, you seriously think you can catch me?”

Before Luo Yao’s wind could touch her—Jiang Sui turned into lightning and vanished into the night.

Leaving Luo Yao standing alone—realizing she had been toyed with—kicking the ground in fury.