Chapter Eighty-Six: Encountering a Shocking Turn of Events

Ye Ling pulled Angela into the observation deck. Although the staff member at the entrance didn’t say anything, Ye Ling still felt something was off. Everyone else had come as couples, but here she was, paired up with the silly Angela as a makeshift couple. Judging by Angela’s expression, the girl seemed completely unaware of what was going on, still overjoyed just to be watching the fireworks.

“How she’s managed to survive this long, I really don’t know—must be luck,” Ye Ling grumbled inwardly, holding Angela’s small hand as they ran toward the night market. She’d seen such markets countless times on TV, but this was her first time experiencing one in real life. The moment she arrived, Ye Ling felt like a caged bird set free, greedily breathing in the night air.

“Look, look over there! What’s that?” Ye Ling’s eyes sparkled as she spotted something interesting amidst the countless stalls—a vendor selling bright red candied apples. Excited, she dragged Angela over. “Two sticks of candied apples, please.”

Angela looked uneasy, glancing repeatedly at her surroundings. Without Franny in sight, she always lacked a sense of security. She instinctively clung to Ye Ling’s yukata.

Handing Angela a candied apple, Ye Ling noticed the girl’s anxious state. She gently patted Angela’s head. “Angela, you’re not a little kid anymore. It’s time to be more independent and make your own decisions. You can’t always live under your sister’s protection.”

Angela remained silent as always, and Ye Ling, well used to her temperament, didn’t press further. She let Angela cling to her yukata as they walked away together.

Moments after they left, three young men appeared at the candy apple stall, each with a scantily clad woman in his arms. One of them watched Ye Ling and Angela’s retreating figures and asked, “Did you get a good look? Is it her?”

The leader, holding a can of beer, took a swig and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I, Attila, never mistake my targets. You’ve seen that woman too—what do you say?” He turned to the first speaker, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? She’s with the Misfortune Squad.”

Before Toyotomi could answer, the third man spoke up. “The Misfortune Squad? They’re nothing but trash. I’ve never liked Deadeye. If not for their director backing them, I’d have shoved his face in the toilet already.”

“Come on, Alexander, you’re just mad because he stole your target and the boss chewed you out. Still holding a grudge?” Toyotomi Hideyoshi grinned strangely. Alexander scowled. “They dared to snatch a target from the Godslayer Squad. How can you just swallow that?”

“Well, rumor has it that after this tournament, the Misfortune Squad will be removed from the direct teams. Then no one will be backing them, and we can take our time crushing them. After all, we’re a direct hunting squad and have privileges over non-direct hunters,” Attila sneered. “Too bad we can’t touch them yet.”

“What does it matter?” Alexander shoved the woman beside him away with a cold laugh. “Sooner or later, they’ll be kicked out. Even if we act now, what’s the worst that can happen? By the way, did you see that other girl with her? First time I’ve seen someone that stunning. Any idea who she is?”

“Forget about her. If you lay a finger on her, not even the bosses could protect you,” Toyotomi Hideyoshi warned. “If you’re set on this, let’s move. Deadeye and the others could be nearby. Don’t alert them.”

“Fine, let’s do it.” Alexander’s face twisted into a sinister smile. “Let them learn what happens when you cross the Godslayer Squad.”

...

Ye Ling, still in high spirits, seemed oblivious to the fact that they were being watched. She dragged Angela around the stalls, while Angela, sensing something amiss, kept tugging at Ye Ling’s sleeve. But Ye Ling, ever carefree, didn’t notice and led Angela toward a part of the market where the crowds thinned.

“Sister Ye Ling, I think someone’s following us,” Angela finally mustered the courage to say. She wasn’t sure, but she kept feeling someone’s gaze on her and Ye Ling. Ye Ling shrugged it off. “Following us? Who would bother, besides those five losers? And even if someone is following, what can they do? There are so many people here. It’s not like they’d dare make a move.” She gestured to the city guards up ahead. “Don’t worry, we’re safe here.”

Reassured somewhat by Ye Ling’s words, Angela was still uneasy. She murmured, “Maybe we should go back and find my sister. I have a bad feeling about this.”

Ye Ling sighed, put her hands on her hips, and faced Angela. “Angela, if you keep this up, you’ll never grow up. You need to be brave and face the world yourself. Stop relying on your sister for everything. If you keep clinging to her, she’ll never get married.”

Angela couldn’t quite see what her attachment to Franny had to do with marriage, but before she could protest, Ye Ling grabbed her hand and broke into a run. “Look over there!” Ye Ling pointed to the rainbow lights atop the hill. “Let’s go!”

“But... but...”

Angela’s objections were drowned out by Ye Ling’s excited shouts as she dragged her along. Their wooden clogs clattered as they hurried up the path.

Soon, they reached the halfway point up the hill, with only a short distance left to the summit. Ye Ling glanced back—the world behind them was bathed in a kaleidoscope of fireworks, a breathtaking sight. “See? The view is so much better here. Let’s keep going.”

“Sister Ye Ling!” Angela suddenly cried out, jerking her hand free. Ye Ling was startled to see Angela’s little face full of anger.

Yes, Angela was usually quiet and even a bit dim-witted, but that didn’t mean she never got angry or had her own opinions. Now, she was genuinely upset; her eyes flashed with rare fury, and her lips pouted like a wronged child.

“What’s wrong, Angela?” Ye Ling was surprised—she’d never seen Angela angry before. Angela shook her head, hesitated, then pleaded, “Sister Ye Ling, someone’s following us. Please, let’s go back.” Her eyes brimmed with desperation.

Only then did Ye Ling sense something off. She spun around, scanning the area. “There were so many people here a moment ago. Where did they all go?”

“Civilian repulsion!” Ye Ling recalled the term—she’d seen Lee Shizhu use it before. It was a simple telepathic technique: implant the subconscious idea that a location is repulsive, and people would unconsciously avoid it.

“Damn!” Ye Ling turned sharply. The path to the summit was now deserted.

“They have a psychic!” she realized.

“Angela, we have to go! Contact Sister Franny!” Ye Ling grasped the gravity of the situation. The enemy was clearly after them. But Ye Ling was just an ordinary member of the Misfortune Squad, hardly famous—why target her? There was only one possibility: Angela.

And Angela had nothing worth targeting—except her connection to Franny. They must want to capture Angela to threaten Franny. Ye Ling, you fool, you should have realized sooner.

“Angela, run!” She grabbed Angela’s hand and dashed uphill. If they were being followed, the pursuers were likely behind them, not at the summit. There must still be people up there. If they reached the crowds, the enemy wouldn’t dare act. Ye Ling felt a surge of cleverness, certain she could outwit even Xie Liu.

Her hopes were dashed the next moment. Three figures blocked the mountain path ahead.

“Who are you?” Ye Ling shielded Angela behind her, eyes wary.

“That’s not something you need to know,” one of them sneered, reaching out for Ye Ling. Ye Ling stepped back. “Angela, run! They’re after you! I’ll hold them off!”

Angela, startled like a frightened rabbit, shook her head frantically.

“Huh?” The three men paused, glancing at Angela, then shook their heads in unison. “No, no, you’ve got it wrong. Our target is you,” they said, all pointing at Ye Ling.

“Me?” Ye Ling was stunned, pointing to her own nose in confusion. The next instant, she cursed herself for being an idiot. Why was she still standing here? “Run!” She bent down, kicked off her clogs, and hurled them at the three men. They dodged aside, and Ye Ling seized Angela’s hand to flee.

“Trying to run? Not a chance. No one escapes from Attila,” the burly, bearded man at the front sneered, muttering under his breath before shouting, “Hah!”

His voice thundered like a bolt from the blue, slamming into Ye Ling and Angela’s hearts. Both girls staggered, collapsing to the ground. If Ye Ling hadn’t clung to the nearly unconscious Angela, they would have tumbled down the mountain path.

“What do you want?” Ye Ling, clutching her aching head, struggled to remain conscious as the three men approached. “What did you do to me?”

“Sonic assault—a mental attack. Attila’s already at level eight. He could kill a dinosaur with his voice. He went easy on you,” Alexander said, stepping forward and grabbing Ye Ling’s chin. “I remember, at the Hunter’s Guild in the Huaxia branch, Deadeye nearly chopped off my hand for your sake. Seems you’re important to him.”

“When was that...” Ye Ling’s mind was growing murky.

“Enough talk. Let’s get her out of here,” Toyotomi Hideyoshi interrupted. “There are more civilians coming this way. My repulsion technique is reaching its limit.”

“Fine.” Alexander slung Ye Ling over his shoulder, while Attila glanced at Angela. “What about her?” He looked reluctant to leave. “A girl like that—you won’t find many in the whole city.”

“She’s Franny’s treasure. Touch her and you’re dead,” Alexander managed to stay rational. “Let’s go. Franny could be here any minute.” He dragged the still unwilling Attila away.

Angela lay on the ground, watching helplessly as Ye Ling was carried away. She reached out, but couldn’t even lift her hand.

“Franny...” Angela fought the pain clouding her mind, on the verge of fainting. There was nothing she could do except cry out in her mind. She didn’t know if Franny could hear, but with all her strength, she screamed, “Franny, save Sister Ye Ling!”