Chapter Ninety-One: The Ambush

Qin Yu and her companions exchanged glances, the meaning in their eyes unspoken yet unmistakable.

Not far from them, Tian Jian watched the group gathered together, then made a throat-slitting gesture toward the others. Fan Fan hesitated, shaking his head, worry written clearly in his gaze as he mouthed, "Are we really going to do this?" Tian Jian's eyes darkened, and he nodded. Fan Fan could only lower his head in resignation, keeping silent. The others, witnessing this, also said nothing. Since Tian Jian had become their captain, he seemed to have changed greatly. He now committed acts he once loathed, things he'd never have done before—how else could they have fallen to such a state? They looked at each other, sharing mutual concern.

Tian Jian cared little for their worries; he knew only that Qin Yu must be eliminated. This thought circled in his mind, persistent and unyielding.

He gazed at the sleeping Qin Yu and her people, his lips curling into a wicked smile. He signaled the others to provide cover. Tonight, they would launch a surprise attack.

But what of Qin Yu and her companions?

It was Zhao Meng who suspected Tian Jian and his group, seeing their hesitant approach. So they pretended to sleep, waiting for Tian Jian and the others to attempt their ambush.

The moonless night was pitch-black, and the usual unseen evils surged forth.

Tian Jian directed his men to cautiously approach Qin Yu's group, then used his fire abilities to strike at the seemingly sleeping Qin Yu.

But Qin Yu was not so easily caught off guard. She shifted slightly, as if disturbed by something annoying, evading the attack.

Tian Jian watched as Qin Yu dodged, gritting his teeth—such luck! Seeing the group stir as if waking, he signaled the others to attack with all their might.

Simultaneously, he hurled several large fireballs from all directions toward Qin Yu. Since advancing to the third rank, his control over his abilities had become deft. With Qin Yu seemingly cornered, his lips twisted into a cold smile. So this was a powerful survivor of the apocalypse? He alone would suffice!

Qin Yu sensed the incoming fireballs from every direction, leaning slightly and summoning several water spheres to counter them. Alas, her abilities were of a lower rank, so her water spheres could not extinguish all the fireballs, yet they bought her time to escape.

She dashed out of the encirclement, then faced Tian Jian. The others, having prepared in advance, also evaded the ambush, and Fen Fen stood by Qin Yu's side.

Tian Jian, seeing their alert eyes, growled, "You were only pretending to sleep!"

Qin Yu laughed and replied, "Captain Tian, that's not quite right. Knowing there are wolves lurking with ill intent, how could we possibly sleep peacefully?"

Tian Jian's face darkened. He snorted, "Today I admit defeat. We part ways!" With that, he turned to leave.

Zhao Meng sent a fireball that scorched Tian Jian's pant leg. Tian Jian turned and demanded, "Captain Qin, what is the meaning of this?"

Qin Yu stepped forward with a smile, "Captain Tian, you take us far too lightly. Ambushing us as you please, failing and then leaving as you wish—how odd! What makes you think we are so easy to deal with?"

"Do you really think you can stop me?" Tian Jian sneered, "With your abilities? Not even a single third-rank among you, and you dare try to block us? Don't think we won't kill you!"

"Why not try and see if you can be stopped?" Qin Yu replied airily, launching an attack toward Tian Jian and his group.

Zhao Meng and the others had long been prepared for battle. Seeing Qin Yu, knife in hand, charging at Tian Jian, they immediately attacked the rest.

How to describe it? Aside from Qin Yu matching Tian Jian evenly, the battlefield was decisively one-sided.

Zhao Meng unleashed fireballs more powerful than any ordinary fire wielder, Xia Cheng wielded his versatile anti-healing abilities, Tao’s enigmatic hypnosis, and Nan Gong Yao’s spells in rapid succession—it was dazzling to watch!

Soon, except for the fierce duel between Qin Yu and Tian Jian, the rest were subdued. Zhao Meng, observing the heated fight, prepared a fireball, but Xia Cheng caught his hand, shaking his head, "Trust her."

Zhao Meng withdrew his ability and fixed his gaze on Qin Yu.

At that moment, Qin Yu was feeling anything but well. The suppression of her abilities, her own water power being weaker than others, left her powerless. Most crucially, Tian Jian seemed professionally trained—he evaded her knife attacks as if he could predict her every move.

Qin Yu felt stifled; she could not best him, nor he her. In the midst of their duel, Tian Jian suddenly flashed a strange smile. He deflected her knife, retreated a few steps, and as Qin Yu prepared to press the attack, he spoke,

"Didn't you want to know who killed Qian Ying? I'll tell you! I did! Do you know why? Because he dared—he dared to kill Feng Mei'er! He dared to kill her! She was the one I cherished above all!"

Qin Yu frowned, looking at Tian Jian. The moonlight, previously hidden behind clouds, now spilled forth. By its light, she saw Tian Jian’s eyes glowing red, his expression twisted.

He stared intently at Qin Yu and continued, "Hahaha! That bastard Qian Ying thought he could fool me! I wish I could grind his bones to dust! But now, he's not so bad—soon he'll be my servant! You foolish humans, wait for my revenge!"

With those words, Tian Jian vanished before their eyes, his arrogant laughter lingering in the air.

Nan Gong Yao, witnessing this, muttered, "Demon cultivator."

Zhao Meng, nearby, heard and asked, "What demon cultivator?"

Nan Gong Yao shook his head and turned to Qin Yu, "He must have some magical artifact. Even I didn't see he was a cultivator of demonic arts."

Qin Yu’s mind was in turmoil. What did Tian Jian's words mean? Beloved? Feng Mei'er was killed by Qian Ying? And how could Qian Ying become his servant? Everything grew ever more confused—she felt trapped in a maze with no way out.

Nan Gong Yao looked at Qin Yu's furrowed brow, his gaze complex. Could Qin Yu unravel this tangled web?

He sighed softly, and with a gesture, put the subdued men into a deep sleep. The others watched Qin Yu’s calm face, uncertain what she was thinking.