Chapter 2361: Chapter 2361 True Nature
"Got it!" the Songstress replied cheerfully, taking Ye Liuyun’s hand as they walked into the tournament arena together.
However, Ye Liuyun remained on high alert. He dared not let his guard down for even a moment, worried that more assassins might be lying in wait for another opportunity to strike.
As soon as they entered the waiting area and took their seats, they could both feel hostile gazes fixed on them.
Looking over, they quickly identified the source — Hong Kun and his son. Seated in a prime viewing spot, Hong Kun was flanked by several powerful experts for protection.
As for Hong Feng, he deliberately locked eyes with Songstress and made a provocative throat-slitting gesture to intimidate her.
"He’s begging for death!"
The Songstress sent a voice transmission to Ye Liuyun, not even bothering to spare Hong Feng another glance.
Ye Liuyun withdrew his gaze as well and quietly told her, "Just focus on your match. Don’t let him get under your skin. I’ll deal with them myself."
"Underestimating me? I’ll settle this score on my own. It’s time I reminded them I’m not someone to trifle with!" Songstress huffed, her tone filled with contempt.
Since the tournament began, the Songstress had been restraining herself during battles. Though she had accidentally killed two opponents, those incidents occurred in the heat of intense combat, where she had failed to hold back her power.
Still, this marked a significant shift from her previous, more ruthless behavior. Her restraint wasn’t to leave a good impression on others. Rather, it was to show Ye Liuyun the change in her.
But now that she was facing someone who wanted her dead, she had no intention of showing mercy.
"Alright, I’ll be watching your performance then. But don’t let your desire for revenge get you hurt. You’ll need to be at full strength for the next rounds."
Ye Liuyun had been quite satisfied with the Songstress’s recent performance. Because of that, he no longer tried to restrain her actions. He only reminded her to avoid injury.
Songstress readily agreed without hesitation.
That day’s matches were fierce, with the remaining contestants all possessing formidable strength. The excitement of the audience surged as the battles escalated in intensity.
Yet Ye Liuyun paid little attention to the matches. His focus remained firmly on the surroundings, remaining alert in case anyone attempted to ambush Songstress again.
Before long, it was Songstress’ turn to step onto the stage. Her opponent was none other than Hong Feng.
"Wait for my good news!" Songstress said brightly to Ye Liuyun before hopping onto the platform to prepare for battle.
Hong Feng also reassured his father before following suit.
As soon as the referee announced the start, Hong Feng rushed forward with a wicked grin.
Songstress advanced as well. Just before engaging, she suddenly unleashed the Soul-Crushing Tactic. Caught off guard, Hong Feng faltered for a moment. Then, she immediately slipped beneath his guard, slashing him across the side with her dagger.
The blade sank halfway into his waist, carving a gash nearly half a palm deep.
"You wretch! You used tricks!" Hong Feng roared in humiliation after taking a serious hit right at the start. He quickly swallowed an Elixir, followed by the antidote to the poison powder he had prepared in advance.
Now injured, he feared he might not be able to defeat Songstress in a fair fight and wanted to prepare himself fully.
"Die!" Songstress’s expression suddenly turned chilling. Her figure became like a ghost’s shadow, flickering unpredictably around Hong Feng. At the same time, her dagger struck again and again at his vital points.
Hong Feng tried his best to widen the distance between them, unwilling to engage in close combat. But no matter how he dodged, he couldn’t shake her off. In fact, he took two more shallow cuts. Although not severe, they were enough to leave him thoroughly embarrassed.
Realizing he was gaining no advantage, he swiftly brought out his fan, his concealed weapon, and began using it to counterattack.
As soon as Ye Liuyun saw Hong Feng pull out a folding fan as a weapon, he immediately activated his Golden Phantom Eyes to inspect it closely. He quickly noticed traces of powder hidden within the fan’s seams.
Though he was too far away to determine the exact type of poison, it was clear that Hong Feng was preparing a dirty trick.
Without delay, Ye Liuyun sent a Slaving Seal-transmitted message to the Songstress, warning her to stay on high alert.
Meanwhile, Songstress was already wary after seeing her opponent suddenly switch weapons. She became even more cautious.
When she sensed the Fatal Scripture within her body beginning to circulate on its own, she immediately realized what was happening. Hong Feng had just released a toxin into the air.
Without hesitation, she stepped up her assault for two rapid strikes, then abruptly pulled back and feigned weakness. She retracted all her genuine energy, making it look like she was suppressing a sudden onset of poisoning.
Seeing Songstress withdraw her genuine energy so abruptly, Hong Feng believed his poison had taken effect. He thought that she was now using her genuine energy to suppress its onset.
Seizing the opportunity, he charged forward at full speed, determined to finish her off before Songstress had the chance to surrender.
If the Songstress were to surrender now, not only would he lose his chance to kill her, but his poisoning tactics might also be exposed. While the competition didn’t explicitly ban poisoning, it was still widely frowned upon and certainly not something that would earn him honor.
From the sidelines, Hong Kun started to look smug, casting a gloating glance in Ye Liuyun’s direction.
With a cold sneer, he transmitted a message: "How does it feel to watch your sister die before your very eyes?"
Ye Liuyun didn’t respond. He kept his gaze steady and calm, fixed firmly on the Songstress’s every move.
His Golden Phantom Eyes had already seen through it. He realized that Songstress was deliberately luring Hong Feng into a trap. So, he wasn’t worried at all.
Sure enough, just as Hong Feng charged forward, the Songstress suddenly dashed toward him as well. The two of them hurtled toward each other at blazing speed.
The Songstress’s genuine energy burst forth all at once, surging into the dagger in her hand.
"Ah!" Hong Feng was alarmed, but it was already too late to dodge. He could only try his best to defend.
Normally, he fought opponents of similar height. But defending against the petite Songstress required him to specifically adjust the angle of his attacks, which inevitably made his movements awkward and sluggish.
Just as he struck downward, Songstress suddenly leapt into the air, flipping upside down as she soared over his head. With her hand gripping the dagger, she smoothly slashed across his neck as she passed.
By the time Hong Feng turned to block, Songstress had already landed behind him.
Hong Feng felt his hands freeze midair. The next moment, a line of blood burst open across his neck. He hastily clutched his throat with both hands, but blood gushed uncontrollably through his fingers. His throat emitted a muffled sound, but no words came out.
Songstress immediately spun around again. She slashed once more toward the back of his neck, just in case he wasn’t completely dead.
"How dare you!"
Hong Kun couldn’t hold back and shouted in fury.
"Heh...how does it feel watching your son die right before your eyes?" Ye Liuyun sent a calm voice transmission back to Hong Kun, mocking him in return for the provocation he’d received earlier.
At that moment, a flash of cold light swept past. Songstress cleanly severed Hong Feng’s head.
Without hesitation, she calmly took Hong Feng’s Interspatial Ring.
She had initially planned to leave the stage. But after glancing at Hong Kun, who had threatened her, she suddenly turned back. With a swift motion, she used her blade to cut out Hong Feng’s virtuoso. Then, she held it up before him, a silent display of disdain. Only after that did she calmly slip it into her Interspatial Ring.
The crowd beneath the stage immediately exploded into a roar of excitement and shock, voices rising in waves.
"Who would’ve thought this little girl had such a ruthless side?"
"Something must’ve happened behind the scenes. Otherwise, why would she only go all out against him and not anyone else?"
Wan Weihou, who was watching the match, felt nothing but delight when he saw Songstress strike with such decisiveness.
He had long set his sights on Songstress. However, upon noticing that she wasn’t ruthless enough in her attacks, he had been somewhat hesitant about whether she was worth the effort to cultivate.
Now that he had witnessed the ruthless side of the Songstress, he made up his mind to take this girl under his wing.
"Argh!"
Hong Kun roared with fury and barked an order to his men, "Kill them both!"
Several of his martial practitioners immediately lunged toward Ye Liuyun and the Songstress.
"Stand down!" Wan Weihou shouted before they could strike.
A squad of guards at his side rushed forward at once, intercepting Hong Kun’s subordinates and blocking their advance.
