Chapter 82: Flower Rain

"What godstone?" Yang Chen furrowed his brows, looking utterly confused and innocent. "No need to play dumb in front of me," Banruo said expressionlessly. "Several years ago, you nearly single-handedly destroyed Zero. Although your current strength doesn't seem as formidable as rumored, perhaps you had assistance back then. However, after the destruction of Zero, the godstone it possessed vanished without a trace. All factions have searched the ruins of Zero, but to no avail. Anyone with a brain can deduce that you must have controlled the godstone, as only you understand its true value..."

Seeing Yang Chen still unresponsive, Banruo snorted. "If you had stayed within your own kingdom, perhaps we would still fear you to some extent. But since you've decided to meddle in Yanxia's affairs and have dismissed your subordinates, don't blame us for taking action. We may not act now, but someone will eventually. It's just that everyone fears you, even the seemingly loyal and selfless Yanxia people of the Flame Iron Brigade. They are just not as visionary as our leader. Dark King, don't doubt our ability to send you to the Sacred Fire and turn you to ashes. In our eyes, only the Emperor of the Great Sakura Empire reigns supreme!"

"Um..." Yang Chen smacked his lips. "Perhaps you don't know, but Yanxia is no longer a feudal system. Talking about kings and emperors might get you killed."

"By whom?" Banruo raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Who do you think could come to your rescue?"

Before she finished her sentence, one of the two Jonin standing beside her suddenly tilted backward and fell with a loud crash!

"Who's there?!" Banruo immediately entered combat mode, calmly listening to her surroundings. The remaining Jonin didn't panic either; they wielded two diamond-shaped blades each, vigilantly surveying their surroundings.

At that moment, from the top space of the alley, a black figure resembling a nimble swallow leaped back and forth on a few rain shelters, its graceful movements resembling an exquisite performance.

"Watch out!"

Banruo sensed something was wrong and shifted her footing, just in time to warn her companion, but it was already too late!

"Cough!"

After a barely audible sound of breaking through the air, the other Jonin couldn't dodge in time; a small hole suddenly opened in his skull, and blood burst out!

With disbelief, the Jonin collapsed, leaving only Banruo in the alley.

Banruo glanced at the object that had been shot down to the ground—it was a tiny dart-like projectile. Her expression turned solemn as she looked up at the fallen figure and said, "Hua Yu from the Flame Iron Brigade of Yanxia?"

The figure descending from above was a tall woman, dressed in a slightly tight black t-shirt and jeans, outlining full yet not exaggerated curves. Her shoulder-length hair lightly brushed her indifferent face in the night breeze, like a black rose blooming in the dark.

"This is not where you should be," Hua Yu's voice sounded ethereal, but the emotions within were clear, indicating her disdain towards the woman in front of her.

Banruo composed herself and chuckled. "I didn't expect the Dark King to establish a partnership with the Flame Iron Brigade and even send Hua Yu, one of the Eight Guardians, for personal protection. If this news spreads, I wonder what those old folks in other countries who maintain peace on the surface would think. By the way, does this mean that the godstone has fallen into Yanxia's hands?"

"No wonder you can only reach Jonin level and can't make any further progress. It seems your talent is limited..." Yang Chen suddenly stood up from the ground, dusting off his pants with a playful smile. "If I needed her protection, I would have died over a decade ago."

"How could you..." Banruo finally showed surprise, her expression full of disbelief. "How could you stand up?!"

"I've always been able to stand up. Just now was just playing along with you," Yang Chen glanced at Hua Yu, who remained silent. "And if I didn't act out this scene, who knows when this woman would have decided to reveal herself? I don't want to keep being followed around."

Banruo's face flushed with anger. "You knew I was fake from the beginning?!"

"At first, it was just a suspicion because when you came out of the bathroom, there was no yellowish tint left from the orange juice on your tongue. Of course, you could think my observation skills are a bit creepy, but I just happened to notice," Yang Chen continued. "Later, you directly followed two unfamiliar men, and from their eyes, I could see pure awe for you, without any pity or concern. It just shows your acting skills are not good enough."

"So you've been using me!" Banruo felt immense shame. Her best disguise, and this lecherous man had seen through it!

"Wrong, it's your Eightfold Society that came looking for trouble. I didn't invite you, did I, Miss Hua Yu?" Yang Chen winked at Hua Yu. This young and beautiful woman was one of the mysterious members of the Flame Iron Brigade within the Yanxia Iron Brigade, even more enigmatic than the Dragon Team. Amidst his incredulity, Yang Chen found her face oddly familiar.

Hua Yu didn't respond to his remark, instead asking, "You're not poisoned?"

Yang Chen shook his head. "I am, but the poison isn't strong enough to bring me down."

Banruo looked at Yang Chen as if he were a monster, unable to believe it. "Impossible! Even with this toxin, even an elephant would be paralyzed. You... you monster..."

Yang Chen flashed a toothy grin. "Bingo! You guessed right, but unfortunately, I can't give you any points for that."

"You better focus on yourself," Hua Yu raised her hand, holding a small silver pistol in her fair palm. Banruo knew well that this kind of pistol couldn't shoot bullets but could fire dart-like projectiles as lethal as bullets, silently and swiftly. It was a common method in the assassin world. However, she had heard earlier that Hua Yu, one of the Eight Guardians, originated from the ancient Tang Clan of Yanxia. She inherited the most mysterious technique called "Floral Rain," hence her code name "Hua Yu."

Her dart attacks could come from anywhere on her body, not just from the gun!

Initially, facing just Hua Yu, Banruo, one of the Three Jonin of the Eightfold Society, wouldn't be particularly afraid and could put up a fight. But with the presence of the insidious man behind her, whose attitude was inexplicable and profound, Banruo knew she couldn't match them.

"Think about escaping, hurry!" Yang Chen urged, sensing Banruo's intentions.

Banruo glared at him resentfully, her body suddenly becoming blurred in place until she seemed to have turned into a wisp of smoke, vanishing from the alley.

Hua Yu furrowed her elegant brows tightly, a flash of determination in her eyes. The small pistol in her hand swiftly transferred to her left hand, and she spun to her left, two dart-like projectiles shooting out instantaneously!

"Swish, swish!"

The two projectiles cut through the air with a chilling trajectory, embedding into the cement wall. A broken purple ribbon fell from the air, and Banruo's figure disappeared entirely from the alley.

"Vanishing Technique..." Hua Yu reluctantly holstered her gun, questioning Yang Chen, "You had the ability to capture her, why didn't you intervene?!"

Yang Chen shrugged. "If I intervened, wouldn't that truly mean I'm on your side?"

"You're originally from Yanxia," Hua Yu's face turned cold, "she is an enemy of the state."

"Capturing her would attract more enemies," Yang Chen explained. "When she reappears later, I'll naturally take action, but definitely not now."

"A spineless man," Hua Yu scornfully glanced at Yang Chen before turning to leave.

Yang Chen wasn't angry, but he remembered something else and quickly called out, "Wait a moment, you bear a striking resemblance to a female police officer I know. Are you two sisters?" To be honest, he didn't really care about Banruo and the likes, but the resemblance between Hua Yu and Cai Yan was too uncanny.

Hua Yu paused in her steps, still not turning around, and replied in a slightly softened tone, "She's my younger sister."

Ah, that explained it. Yang Chen nodded with a grin. So, they were indeed sisters. Then he asked, "What about Tangtang, that girl? Did you save her?"

"She's safe now, but her clothes were stripped off. After informing her family's bodyguards, I gave her some clothes, and she should have been taken back by now," Hua Yu replied.

Yang Chen nodded in satisfaction. "You handle things quite well. It seems having you around isn't bad at all."

"My mission failed. I won't be following you anymore. A specialist will arrive soon to deal with the bodies left here. You should leave quickly too," Hua Yu said before briskly walking out of the alley.