The capital slept.
Or at least—
It thought it did.
---
### LEI HUA'S ROOM — MIDNIGHT
Lei Hua rolled on her bed.
Wide awake.
Sweaty.
Heart racing.
(*Why do I feel like someone is about to die… Why does every calm moment feel like foreshadowing…*)
The candle flickered.
Her window creaked.
Lei Hua froze.
(*No no no no no. This is how people die in historical dramas.*)
Then—
A shadow landed silently on her roof.
Her body stiffened.
The system chimed.
[DING. Multiple hostile presences detected in the capital.]
Lei Hua slapped her blanket over her head.
(*I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR NIGHT ASSASSINATION ARC—*)
---
### ALL ACROSS THE CAPITAL
Black-clothed figures poured over rooftops.
Courtyards.
Palace walls.
Minister estates.
All under attack at once.
Xiao Long had finally moved.
---
### AT THE LEI RESIDENCE — OUTER YARD
Lei Tian drew his sword as three masked assassins dropped before him.
"So it begins," he muttered.
Steel clashed.
Sparks flew.
No blood splatter.
No gore.
Only sharp, deadly movements.
---
### INSIDE LEI HUA'S ROOM
The door burst open.
Lei Hua screamed.
"YAAAAAAAA—!!!"
Two assassins rushed in.
Before they touched the floor—
The air froze.
Their bodies slammed backward as if hit by invisible walls.
They crashed into the pillars unconscious.
Lei Hua peeked out from her blanket.
"…Huh?"
Lei Yue stood in the doorway.
Hands behind her back.
Expression calm.
"I told you to lock your windows."
Lei Hua burst into tears.
"YOU SHOWED UP SO COOL SO LATE—!!!"
---
### ACROSS THE PALACE
Zhen Wu stood on the palace wall.
Troops surged beneath him.
"All units, protect the inner court! No assassin breaks through!"
His sword flashed.
One masked man fell unconscious at his feet.
His gaze was cold.
"They came earlier than expected."
---
### JUN MANSION
Jun Hao was dragged out of bed by his guards.
"Young master! There are assassins!"
Jun Lin stood at the doorway in panic.
"Brother! Stay near me for safety!"
(*Why does this feel… staged?*) Jun Hao thought.
Above the ceiling—
A blade dropped straight toward Jun Hao's neck.
Before it reached him—
An arrow pierced the assassin's wrist.
The blade fell.
Tain Yu landed silently behind them.
"Wrong target tonight," he said coldly.
Jun Hao stared.
"…You saved me?"
Tain Yu disappeared without answering.
Jun Lin's smile cracked.
---
### LEI HUA'S PANIC MOMENT
Lei Hua clutched Lei Yue's sleeve.
"Sister Yue… this is them, right?? Xiao Long's people??"
Lei Yue nodded.
"And Zhen Ruo's."
Lei Hua nearly fainted.
"THEY'RE NOT EVEN HIDING ANYMORE—"
The system chimed again.
[DING. Enemy forces are testing defensive response speed.]
Lei Hua screamed internally.
(*TESTING? THIS IS A FINAL EXAM—*)
---
### AT THE EMPEROR'S PALACE
The Emperor stood awake.
Listening to chaos outside.
Zhen Xi held his arm tightly.
"Father… are we going to die?"
The Emperor closed his eyes.
Then opened them firmly.
"No."
"Tonight, the throne stands."
---
### DAWN BROKE WITH BLOODLESS SILENCE
The assassins retreated before sunrise.
Not victorious.
But not defeated either.
They left behind:
Fear.
Warnings.
And war signals.
---
### AFTERMATH — LEI HUA'S REALIZATION
Lei Hua sat on the steps wrapped in a cloak.
Shaking.
(*This is no longer palace drama. This is open warfare.*)
Lei Yue looked at the rising sun.
"They have crossed the last line."
Lei Hua whispered:
"So… what happens now?"
Lei Yue replied calmly:
"Now we stop pretending this is politics."
Lei Hua swallowed.
(*THIS HAS UPGRADED TO BOSS FIGHT LEVEL—*)
END OF CHAPTER 18