The night after Lei Hua's first victory at court…
The moon hung high.
Bright.
Cold.
Watching.
Inside the Lei residence, everything seemed peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Lei Hua lay on her bed, wide awake, staring at the ceiling like her soul had left her body.
(*I executed a man today.*
*With my mouth.*
*I'm officially a government weapon.*)
She turned to the side and hugged her pillow.
(*If this is a dream, I beg someone to wake me with food and Wi-Fi.*)
Outside her window—
A shadow moved.
Silent.
Swift.
Deadly.
---
### THE ASSASSIN ENTERS
A black figure slipped through the window like mist.
Xiao Long.
His blade glimmered under moonlight.
Cold.
Sharp.
Hungry.
He raised his sword.
Just as it was about to fall—
Lei Hua suddenly rolled off the bed.
"AHHH— I FORGOT TO DRINK WATER—"
The blade sliced through the pillow instead.
Stuffing exploded everywhere.
Lei Hua froze mid-sip.
"…My pillow."
Xiao Long's eyes widened.
(*HOW DID SHE DODGE THAT*)
Lei Hua slowly lifted her head.
Our eyes met.
Her brain screamed.
(*ASSASSIN ASSASSIN ASSASSIN ASSASSIN—*)
She opened her mouth.
But before she could scream—
**BOOM!!**
The door exploded outward.
General Bo Qiang crashed into the room like a violent hurricane.
His sword collided with Xiao Long's.
Sparks flew.
Steel screamed.
Lei Hua screamed louder.
Both men fought with deadly speed.
The room shattered.
Furniture split.
Walls cracked.
Lei Hua crawled under the table like a scared hamster.
(*THIS IS NOT A NORMAL NIGHT. THIS IS A FINAL BOSS AMBUSH—*)
Xiao Long retreated to the window.
Bo Qiang chased.
Their silhouettes flashed under the moon.
And then—
**A THIRD PRESENCE DESCENDED.**
The air suddenly went heavy.
The temperature dropped.
Lei Hua felt it instantly.
A terrifying pressure crushed the entire courtyard.
The assassin froze mid-air.
Bo Qiang stiffened.
A calm voice echoed from above.
"So noisy."
Lei Yue stood on the roof.
Moonlight behind her.
Cold eyes ahead.
Xiao Long felt true fear for the first time.
Lei Yue raised her hand slightly.
The air compressed.
**BOOM!!!**
Xiao Long was slammed into the ground like a broken doll.
Bo Qiang stared in shock.
Lei Hua peeked from under the table.
(*ONE MOVE. ONLY ONE MOVE. SHE IS THE REAL FINAL BOSS—*)
Lei Yue looked down at Xiao Long.
"Go back."
Xiao Long struggled, blood at the corner of his mouth.
Lei Yue's eyes chilled.
"And tell Zhen Ruo…"
Everyone froze.
"He sent the wrong assassin."
Xiao Long's pupils shrank.
And then—
Lei Yue flicked her finger.
Xiao Long vanished into the night like he was thrown by the wind.
---
### AFTER THE ATTACK
Silence returned.
Broken silence.
Bo Qiang sheathed his sword slowly.
"…Thank you."
Lei Yue did not answer.
She turned to Lei Hua.
Lei Hua instantly stood straight like a punished student.
"I DID NOTHING WRONG THIS TIME I SWEAR—"
Lei Yue stared at her.
"You survived again."
Lei Hua burst into tears.
"I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO DIE—"
Bo Qiang almost laughed.
Almost.
Lei Yue turned away.
"Zhen Ruo has officially moved."
Lei Hua wiped her tears.
(*SO THE REAL VILLAIN HAS ENTERED PHASE TWO—*)
The system chimed softly.
[DING. Host, your assassination count has increased to 1.]
Lei Hua nearly fainted.
"WHY IS THAT A STAT?!"
Lei Yue walked past her.
Her voice was cold.
"From today onward…"
"The game begins."
Outside the compound, far away—
Zhen Ruo stood under the moon.
Listening to Xiao Long's failure report.
He smiled.
"So she intervened personally…"
His smile deepened.
"Good."
"That means she's angry now."
END OF CHAPTER 12