Soon, the three figures wrapped in black robes got away. Hun Yu and Huang Yu, still at the location, watched as the figures disappeared into the night.
Hun Yu finally moved his hand from the princess's mouth.
"Are they gone?" she asked in a low voice.
He nodded. "It seems you were right. Someone really does want you dead," he replied, gently lowering her to the ground.
Huang Yu scanned the area cautiously. "We should move. It's not safe here," he said, his voice steady but urgent.
The princess took a deep breath "Where will we go?" she asked, locking eyes with Hun Yu.
"Somewhere they can't find us," Hun Yu answered, his gaze intense. "But first, we need to understand why they want you dead."
"All of them seemed to be at the Elementary Realm," he thought.
With his cloak, he could probably take one of them down and interrogate them.
Using his senses, he found a nearby cave. Entering, he gently set the princess down.
"Wait here. I'll be back," he said firmly.
She knew Hun Yu was going after the men who attacked her. Worried, she was about to stop him, but he had already disappeared from sight.
Hun Yu moved silently through the dense forest, each step calculated and deliberate.
He looked at the location of the three men, a feature the system provided for free, but it only worked on enemies.
He soon arrived near one assassin.
{Name: Duan Hei
Age: 37
Occupation: Assassin
Cultivation: Elementary Realm 3}
He crept closer to Duan Hei, who sat casually against a tree, relaxed and confident. His guard was down, making him an easy target.
As Hun Yu approached from behind, the tension in the air grew. He could hear the faint rustling of leaves as Duan Hei shifted, oblivious to the impending danger.
Just as Hun Yu was about to strike, a sudden gust of wind blew through the clearing, catching the edge of Duan Hei's cloak.
The assassin's senses heightened; he instinctively turned his head, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Hun Yu paused, remaining perfectly still and hidden by the cloak. With a deep breath, he took the risk and moved swiftly, closing the gap in an instant.
Duan Hei's senses were still alert, but he was too slow to react as Hun Yu lunged. Hun Yu's blade, sharp and deadly, slashed through the air with practiced grace.
The attack was precise, aimed directly at the vulnerable spot on Duan Hei's neck.
The assassin barely had time to react. He managed to deflect the blow with a swift swipe of his curved dagger.
The clash of metal rang out, echoing through the forest. Duan Hei's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered, rolling away and rising to his feet.
Hun Yu didn't relent. He pressed the attack with a series of rapid, fluid movements, each strike carefully calculated to keep Duan Hei on the defensive.
The assassin tried to counter, his elemental powers flaring up as he unleashed a burst of wind to push Hun Yu back.
Hun Yu, agile and swift, evaded the attack, flipping through the air and landing gracefully on his feet. He adjusted his stance, focusing on exploiting Duan Hei's weaknesses.
The assassin, though skilled, was struggling to keep up with Hun Yu's relentless assault.
In a moment of desperation, Duan Hei channeled his elemental power, summoning a swirling vortex of wind to create a barrier around himself.
He hoped the wind barrier would give him the time he needed to regroup and counterattack.
Hun Yu wasn't fooled. He swiftly adapted, using the environment to his advantage.
He leapt onto a nearby branch, launching himself into the air and coming down with a powerful downward strike aimed directly at the top of the barrier.
The force of the blow shattered Duan Hei's wind barrier, sending the assassin staggering back. Hun Yu didn't waste the opportunity.
Gathering Hole Qi in his hand, he unleashed a powerful strike directly to the assassin's stomach.
The blow landed with a resounding boom, leaving Duan Hei gasping, his eyes wide with shock and pain as he crumpled to the ground.
He clutched his abdomen, struggling to breathe, the force of the attack leaving him disoriented and defenseless.
Panic flickered across his face as he realized the extent of his vulnerability.
Hun Yu landed gracefully, his expression cold and unyielding. He watched Duan Hei's futile attempts to recover with a mixture of disdain and satisfaction.
Without wasting any time, Hun Yu knocked the assassin out and carried him back.
He knew he had to hurry; the commotion would likely alert the other two assassins, who might arrive any moment.
...
In the cave, Huang Yi suddenly sensed something entering. Her senses heightened, and she stood up, alert and ready.
A low growl echoed through the cavern, sending a chill down her spine.
Emerging from the shadows was a Wolf Prana Beast, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
The beast's sleek, muscular form moved with deadly grace, its razor-sharp teeth glinting ominously in the dim light.
She backed up, only to be stopped by the cave wall. She looked around and spotted a sharp stone.
Slowly, she picked up the stone, not taking her eyes off the wolf.
The beast crouched, preparing to lunge at her. Just as it was about to spring, a blur of motion flashed before her eyes.
Hun Yu appeared, his presence commanding and fierce. With a swift, decisive strike, he killed the Wolf Prana Beast, its lifeless body collapsing at his feet.
Huang Yi's grip on the stone loosened, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Are you okay?" Hun Yu asked, his voice steady and reassuring. It was fortunate he arrived at the perfect time and that it was only a Tier 1 Prana Beast.
She nodded, feeling a special connection forming in her heart as she gazed at him.
She finally noticed Hun Yu carrying someone on his shoulder.
"Who is this?" she asked.
"The one who came to look for you," he replied.
"What...?"
As he put the assassin down, he threw some water on the man's face, waking him up.
The assassin gasped, his eyes fluttering open. He tried to move but found himself restrained. Hun Yu stood over him, his expression cold and unyielding.
"Why were you hunting Huang Yi?" Hun Yu demanded, his voice sharp and commanding. "Who sent you?"
The assassin glared at him, defiance flickering in his eyes. "You'll get nothing from me," he spat, his voice dripping with venom.
Hun Yu's gaze hardened. He crouched down, bringing his face close to the assassin's.
"You don't understand the position you're in," he said quietly, the menace in his voice unmistakable. "Talk, or things will get much worse for you."
As he spoke, his eyes glowed with an ominous orange-saffron color, sending a shiver down the assassin's spine.
The assassin's defiance melted away, replaced by palpable fear. Even the hardened killer felt chills as Hun Yu's intense gaze bore into him.
"Talk, or things will get much worse for you," Hun Yu repeated, his voice low and threatening.
The assassin swallowed hard, his bravado crumbling. "Fine," he muttered reluctantly. "I was hired to eliminate her. That's all I know."
"By whom?" Hun Yu pressed, his patience wearing thin, the glow in his eyes intensifying.
"I don't know!" the assassin insisted, his voice rising in panic. "I was just given a name and a payment. I never met my employer."
Hun Yu studied the assassin's face, searching for any signs of deception. Satisfied that he was telling the truth, he stood up and looked back at Huang Yi, who had been watching the exchange silently.
In just a matter of seconds, he drew his sword and pierced through the head of the assassin.
Huang Yi, who was standing silently, gasped, covering her mouth in shock. She never expected Hun Yu to be this ruthless.
She had never seen such a thing.
Suddenly, Huang Yi felt a wave of nausea overtake her. She turned away and vomited, overwhelmed by the grisly scene.
Hun Yu quickly put the body of the assassin into his storage ring and closed the distance between them.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle and reassuring.
"Here," he said softly, offering her some water to clean her mouth.
Huang Yi gratefully accepted the water, rinsed her mouth, and felt a bit steadier. After a moment, she looked up at Hun Yu, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and lingering fear.
Without thinking, she moved closer and hugged him, burying her head in his chest.
Hun Yu momentarily froze but quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
He could feel her trembling slightly.
"It's okay," he murmured, his voice soothing. "You're safe now."
As he placed his hand on her soft waist.