“Calm down!” I shouted at her, but she didn’t settle. Instead, she kept muttering Zhao Gao’s name under her breath.
“I’m going to kill him!” She stood up abruptly, ready to leave.
I quickly grabbed her arm to stop her. She tried to shake me off, but when she saw my face, she suddenly froze.
“S-sorry…” she stammered before collapsing back to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
I took a deep breath, relieved that she had calmed down. If she had continued in that frenzied state, I might have had no choice but to eliminate her…
Watching her, I hesitantly asked, “Why did you mention Zhao—” I cut myself off, afraid that just hearing his name would send her into another fit of rage.
“After the job was done, Zhao Gao didn’t pay me. Instead, he gave me a necklace, promising the money would be transferred the next day. But in the end, you weren’t arrested—you were released. Furious, Zhao Gao simply forgot about it…” Her voice was eerily calm, not at all the violent outburst I had expected.
“But the hospital had already issued a critical notice for my father. Without the surgery, he would die. I had no choice—I had to beg Zhao Gao for the money…” Her words faltered as tears streamed down her face, no matter how hard she wiped them away.
“You don’t have to—” I started, but she continued, “At first, Zhao Gao refused. He said the job wasn’t done. I had given up hope, but that night, he called me. He told me to meet him at a restaurant, promising to pay me after dinner. Desperate to save my father, I went without thinking…”
“But when I got there… he drugged my drink. When I woke up, I was in bed… surrounded by naked men…” Her entire body trembled as she choked back sobs. “Zhao Gao not only refused to pay me, but he insulted me… and then… he let those thugs… vi0late me!”
As she spoke, a dark aura began radiating from her again. Sensing the danger, I quickly channeled True Qi into her body.
Fortunately, the True Qi seemed to work—she gradually steadied.
I wanted to stop her from reliving the pain, but she continued as if unable to stop. “I didn’t want to live anymore… but I thought of my father. I couldn’t leave him alone. Crying, I returned to uni… but then the hospital called. My father… was gone. My whole world collapsed. In the end, I chose to end my l!fe. I jumped from this very building. When I woke up again… I met you. But now, it’s clear… I must already be dead…”
I didn’t know what to say. This woman was a tragic figure.
I had wondered why there had been no news of a student suicide at the school. Now I understood—with the Zhao family’s power and influence, the life of a mere student meant nothing. A single word from them, and the incident would be buried.
As for why she became a yin soul… it was likely her hatred for Zhao Gao before death, which briefly amplified her spiritual energy.
“Zhao Gao… that b*stard!” I clenched my fists, my teeth gritted.
I had thought Zhao Gao was ruthless only toward his enemies. I never imagined he would destroy a girl’s life just because of a momentary whim.
A surge of anger rose in me—I wanted to take this yin soul and kill Zhao Gao myself. But I knew it was unrealistic. If Zhao Gao died now, the Zhao family would investigate me. And if they traced me back, my own family would be dragged into this. The Xia family was already too weak. If not for the old man holding things together, the Zhaos would have struck long ago.
“Zhao Gao is the second son of the Zhao family. I advise you to leave Shenghua… or one day, you’ll end up dead too.” The yin soul wiped her tears and looked at me.
Her words filled me with guilt. Her death… was entirely because of the feud between me and Zhao Gao.
I sighed. “Don’t worry about me. It’s just… I’m sorry…” I frowned, then hardened my resolve. “I’ll avenge you.”
“Thank you…” She gave me a grateful look, then pointed at Qin Mengdie. “When I was out of control earlier, I possessed her body and damaged her soul. It might take a long time for her to wake up…”
Damn it! Soul damage was no joke! I was about to berate the yin soul when suddenly, her aura turned violent again. Her eyes locked onto me, filled with malice.
Had she been lying this whole time? Was she just stalling to gather her strength? But her emotions had seemed so real!
“Watch out!” she screamed, lunging at me. I immediately raised my black dagger, ready to defend myself.
Her warning confused me, but survival came first—there was no time to think!
Yet, to my surprise, she wasn’t attacking me. Instead, she leaped over my head, charging toward something behind me.
Behind me?! Was someone there?!
I spun around just in time to see a towering figure standing in the shadows. The yin soul’s target was him.
But the difference in power was too great. The tall man effortlessly grabbed her by the throat, leaving her struggling helplessly.
“Who are you?!” I demanded, instantly on guard. Anyone who could restrain a yin soul with one hand was no ordinary foe.
Instead of answering, he spoke in a chilling voice. “I thought this thing would kill you and save me some time. But she disappointed me.”
“Goodbye…” The yin soul glanced back at me, as if preparing for one final act—but the tall man moved first. With a single squeeze, he crushed her, reducing her to ashes.
He shook his head disdainfully. “Hmph. Trying to self-destruct? What harm could an ant like her do to me?”
So this was what it meant to be utterly annihilated… Only now did I realize I never even learned her name. And yet, she had died trying to save me.
Rage burned inside me as I glared at the man. “You killed her… I won’t let you get away with this!”
“Hah! A worthless insect who knows a little martial arts and hypnosis dares to talk big? I don’t know why the organization sent me here. That fool Yaross actually died by your hands—what a joke!” He strode toward me menacingly.
His words sent a chill down my spine. “You’re from the SR organization?!”
“So you know our name. Good. Now, insect—will you kill yourself, or shall I do it for you?” He laughed darkly.
I hadn’t expected SR to send another assassin so soon. And this one… was far stronger than the last.