Chapter 122 – The Women of the Xu Family

“Young Miss!”

“Young Miss!”

The moment Xu Yanyan was taken hostage by Xu Qianqian, all the Family Hunters present cried out in alarm.

There was no helping it.

No one could have anticipated that Xu Qianqian would actually sneak up behind Xu Yanyan.

She hadn’t chosen to flee, but instead targeted Xu Yanyan.

Gao Xu almost immediately understood Xu Qianqian’s plan.

“I see,” Gao Xu said with remarkable calm. “Knowing you likely couldn’t escape from us, you deliberately feinted as a distraction?”

Yes.

From the very beginning, Xu Qianqian had never intended to escape.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to escape, but that she couldn’t.

As an opponent, Xu Qianqian knew Xu Yanyan’s methods all too well. If Xu Yanyan hadn’t made a move, that would be one thing, but once she acted, she definitely wouldn’t give Xu Qianqian any chance to flee.

Coupled with the presence of a formidable enemy like Gao Xu, Xu Qianqian felt that if she were to engage them in battle, her chances of victory would be extremely low.

For this reason, over the past two days, Xu Qianqian had not only been gathering intelligence on Xu Yanyan and the others but had also been contemplating what to do if she truly found herself in a perilous situation.

In the end, Xu Qianqian had indeed devised a plan.

That was, in a desperate situation, to find a way to take Xu Yanyan hostage.

“You don’t want her to die, do you?” Xu Qianqian pressed a dagger against Xu Yanyan’s neck and said coldly, “If you want her to live, then release the Alchemy Device.”

This was the most effective way to break the deadlock that Xu Qianqian could think of.

Gao Xu gave Xu Qianqian a deep look.

He truly had no choice but to play along.

No matter how unfathomable he might be, he had already pledged allegiance to Xu Yanyan’s father and was considered his subordinate.

As such, Gao Xu indeed couldn’t ignore the safety of his superior’s daughter.

“Well done.”

Gao Xu offered Xu Qianqian a word of praise.

To execute such a plan to break the deadlock in this situation required considerable determination.

Of course, Gao Xu had no intention of letting Xu Qianqian succeed.

“Are you so sure you can escape from here?” Gao Xu said indifferently. “Don’t blame me for not warning you—even if you escape for now, you can’t escape forever.”

The current situation was far from favorable for Xu Qianqian.

Her father had already left Longyao City for Yinze City and wouldn’t be able to return anytime soon.

Her grandfather, as one of the strongest Professionals in Longyao City, had to remain stationed at the Frontline until the war ended. Even after the war, he would have a mountain of messes to clean up.

It could be said that Xu Qianqian’s two biggest supporters were currently unavailable.

To make matters worse, this Defense Line was already under Gao Xu’s control, and he had plenty of ways to deal with Xu Qianqian.

Therefore, Gao Xu didn’t feel particularly angry.

This was merely a desperate struggle. Even if she escaped this time, she would eventually fall into his hands.

Naturally, Xu Qianqian hadn’t failed to consider this.

She knew that ever since arriving at this Defense Line, her situation had become extremely precarious. Danger could strike at any moment, making her feel as if she had fallen into a spider’s web.

But even prey caught in a spider’s web struggles desperately, let alone herself.

So, Xu Qianqian responded with these words.

“No one can win forever.”In Xu Qianqian’s eyes burned an unquenchable fire and sharp determination.

This made Gao Xu narrow his eyes further, his gaze filled with both hesitation and killing intent.

Clearly, Xu Qianqian’s calm composure had somewhat changed Gao Xu’s perception of her.

With such mental fortitude, this young woman might indeed find a way to break the deadlock, even turning the tables on them.

If such a genius were allowed to leave safely, she could truly become a formidable enemy in the future.

(No wonder that person insisted on targeting Xu Qianqian no matter what.)

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Gao Xu fell into silence.

The surrounding Family Hunters immediately ceased any reckless movements.

“Young Miss…”

The members of the private army struggled to their feet, watching the scene with both shock and delight.

Xu Qianqian had no intention of wasting time.

“I’ll say it again, deactivate the alchemy device.” Xu Qianqian pressed the dagger closer to Xu Yanyan’s throat, stating, “You should know I’m capable of following through.”

Someone as ruthless as Xu Qianqian would indeed not naively show mercy.

Even though the person she held hostage was her own cousin, if the other party wanted to kill her, they should be prepared to be killed in return.

They had long become enemies, and showing mercy would only push herself into the abyss.

Given this, if truly necessary, Xu Qianqian would act without hesitation, just as she had decisively moved against Xu Yanyan twice before.

However…

“Hehe…”

Xu Yanyan, who had remained silent since being taken hostage, suddenly laughed.

The laughter was soft and faint, completely different from this woman’s usual laughs.

Yet, for some reason, hearing this laughter made Xu Qianqian feel uneasy.

“What are you laughing at?”

Xu Qianqian applied pressure, causing the dagger to slightly sink into the flesh of Xu Yanyan’s neck.

The cold sensation was unmistakably clear, yet Xu Yanyan continued laughing, softly and calmly.

“Tell me, my dear sister, aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

Xu Yanyan spoke these words with abnormal calmness.

“Do you think I’m afraid of death?” Xu Yanyan laughed thus. “I truly didn’t know you looked down on me so much.”

As she spoke, a clearly audible anger gradually ignited in Xu Yanyan’s voice.

“I’m going to replace you as the most outstanding genius of the Xu Family.”

“I’m going to make my grandfather and my father continue to be proud of me.”

“I want to prove I’m not inferior to you, to prove my value far exceeds what others imagine.”

“If losing this life can help me achieve my goals, do you think I’d be afraid?”

As these words spilled from Xu Yanyan’s lips, the unease in Xu Qianqian’s heart finally solidified into reality.

“I am the eldest Young Miss of the Xu Family.” Xu Yanyan laughed heartily. “Did you think you were the only ruthless one?”

Hearing this, Xu Qianqian’s heart trembled. With a sudden forceful motion, she acted against Xu Yanyan.

“Schlick!”

The sound of cutting flesh immediately rang out, causing blood to flash into view.

Driven by the unease in her heart, Xu Qianqian no longer hesitated and slit Xu Yanyan’s throat.

But almost at the exact moment Xu Qianqian moved, Xu Yanyan also acted.She completely disregarded the dagger pressed against her throat, ignored her sliced neck, and paid no mind to the splattering blood. With a violent turn, she allowed the sharp blade to cut halfway through her throat as she raised the small knife in her hand.

Thwack!

The next second, another tearing sound of flesh echoed.

Xu Yanyan’s life-risking strike had pierced Xu Qianqian’s abdomen, burying the hilt deep within.

Cough…!

Ugh…!

Both girls let out simultaneous cries of agony.

“Young Miss!”

“Young Miss!”

The members of the private army and the surrounding Family Hunters watched the scene unfold, their voices breaking as they cried out.

Unfortunately, neither Xu Qianqian nor Xu Yanyan could hear them anymore.

Thud!

Both severely wounded, they simultaneously kicked out, striking each other fiercely and sending one another flying.

In an instant, the two young misses of the Xu Family plummeted to the ground like kites with severed strings, tumbling and rolling away.

Beneath them, a trail of blood spread, painting a scene of utter misery.

Witnessing this, the onlookers felt their eyes nearly burst with fury.

“Young Miss!”

Lie Heyin shouted loudly, rushing toward Xu Qianqian alongside the rest of the private army.

They did not succeed.

The moment they moved, a shadowy figure flashed past.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!…

As the black shadow swept by like a phantom, elite after elite of the private army was sent flying as if struck by lightning.

The phantom finally halted, revealing Gao Xu’s form.

Gazing at Xu Yanyan, who lay in a pool of blood with her throat half-sliced, her head seemingly on the verge of falling off, her entire body on the brink of death—even someone as cold-natured as Gao Xu was shocked.

He had never imagined that Xu Yanyan could be so ruthless toward herself.

“The Xu Family’s Bloodline truly has no mediocrities.”

Gao Xu now regarded Xu Yanyan with newfound respect. He pulled a vial of alchemical potion from his robes, uncorked it, and poured it over her neck.

Sizzle…

Tendrils of green smoke rose from Xu Yanyan’s neck, as though it were being cauterized.

Ugh… Ah…

Xu Yanyan let out an excruciating groan, but her wound began to heal at a visible rate.

“Sir…”

Feeling her fading life being restored, Xu Yanyan’s gaze focused intently on Gao Xu.

“This is the highest-grade recovery potion. Though it won’t replenish the blood you’ve lost, it works wonders in mending flesh and tissue.” Gao Xu looked at Xu Yanyan with admiration. “You’ve done well, worthy of being that one’s daughter.”

To Xu Yanyan, these words were the highest form of praise.

Thus, even she couldn’t help but smile genuinely from the heart.

Gao Xu stood up and turned toward Xu Qianqian.

Guh…!

Xu Qianqian was struggling to rise from the ground. She forcefully pulled the small knife from her abdomen, letting out a muffled groan. With trembling hands, she tried to retrieve a vial of alchemical potion.

Crack!

Suddenly, the potion in Xu Qianqian’s hand shattered.

Gao Xu had flashed before her with astonishing speed, smashing the potion in her grasp.”……!?”

Xu Qianqian’s pupils trembled along with her.

Gao Xu quietly watched her like this and made his declaration.

“Unfortunately, you can’t escape anymore.”

As he spoke, Gao Xu reached out his hand toward Xu Qianqian’s head.

That hand kept growing larger in Xu Qianqian’s vision.

————Am I going to die?

As this thought flashed through her mind, Xu Qianqian unexpectedly became calm.

————Maybe it’s for the best. I’m truly tired.

Recalling all the experiences of this lifetime, Xu Qianqian couldn’t help but close her eyes.

Until…

“Whoosh!”

A faint sound of something cutting through the air suddenly assaulted them.

(End of Chapter)