Gu Yan didn't show the slightest hint of panic. He merely glanced sideways at the dagger resting against his neck.
The blade was pitch-black, its surface etched with an eerie plum blossom pattern.
According to the original novel, every member of the Night organization carried black daggers like this. The pattern engraved on the blade represented their codename.
With that thought, Gu Yan calmly shifted his gaze backward and spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Is there a problem, Miss?"
"I don't recall ever offending you~"
At his words, Mei Xue stared at the man before her—someone she could kill with a single flick of her wrist.
There was no trace of cultivation aura on him. He was clearly just an ordinary person.
And yet—
Why was he so calm?
Pretending?
Mei Xue sneered inwardly. She had seen plenty of people like this—those who acted fearless right up until the blade pierced their flesh. Once that happened, they all cried, begged, and collapsed into miserable heaps.
What a useless man.
She really couldn't understand what her master saw in him.
In her mind, Gu Yan was already no different from the countless corpses she'd left behind.
With that thought, Mei Xue applied a bit more pressure. The icy tip of the dagger pressed firmly against Gu Yan's skin, making the chill unmistakably clear.
Her voice was cold and sharp.
"Stop talking nonsense."
"I just don't like you. That's why I'm here to kill you."
"Blame your bad luck."
A sharp sting bloomed at Gu Yan's neck.
Yet he still didn't panic.
Instead, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, his tone almost regretful.
"Ah… is that so?"
"I thought Miss Mei Xue came to ask about her younger brother's whereabouts~~~"
The moment those words left his mouth—
Buzz!
Mei Xue's mind exploded.
Swish!
The dagger at Gu Yan's neck instantly dissolved into a swirl of black smoke and vanished.
"You—what did you say?!"
"Do you know where my brother is?!"
She grabbed Gu Yan by the collar and yanked him forward until they were face to face.
Only now did Gu Yan truly see her clearly.
Just as described in the original novel—Mei Xue, Leng Qingqiu's most trusted subordinate.
She wore an elegant crimson robe, her long hair cascading down her back like a dark waterfall. Her skin was pale as snow, her figure slender and poised.
Her eyes were pure black—no whites, no pupils—like bottomless night.
And now, for the first time, panic and hope flickered across that flawless face.
Before joining the Night organization, Mei Xue had once lived an ordinary life—with a younger brother.
When Leng Qingqiu summoned her, she was already desperately searching for the only family she had left.
But she never found him.
Gu Yan, having read the original novel, knew exactly where that brother was.
Seeing the panic in Mei Xue's eyes, he didn't answer directly. Instead, he smiled faintly.
"Miss Mei Xue is even more beautiful than I imagined."
"Your brother talks about you often…"
Gu Yan sighed softly.
"You've been gone for so long. You even took on a name like Mei Xue."
Hope ignited instantly in Mei Xue's chest.
She and her brother had once lived poor but peaceful lives—until the day a mysterious figure appeared, claiming she possessed exceptional talent and dragging her into the ancient martial world.
From then on, she was endlessly brainwashed.
Serve the Night King.
Exist for the Night King.
Year after year.
But through all of it, she never forgot her brother.
She swore that once she found him—once she made sure he could marry, have children, and live a stable life—she would sever all ties with the past and devote herself entirely to the Night King.
So now, her voice trembled with emotion.
"Tell me."
"Where is my brother?!"
The thought of killing Gu Yan had completely vanished.
Watching this, Gu Yan smiled on the surface—
But inside, a chill crept up his spine.
In the original story, Mei Xue was an unstable variable.
The brother she searched for so desperately eventually became part of the protagonist's camp.
And the protagonist's so-called "mouth cannon" was terrifying.
Between her brother's words and the protagonists' manipulation, Mei Xue betrayed Leng Qingqiu—leaking critical information.
It was only after Leng Qingqiu ordered the execution of her brother that Mei Xue completely broke, becoming nothing more than a grief-driven killing tool… before being discarded and killed.
A hidden bomb.
In the early and mid stages, she was Leng Qingqiu's sharpest blade.
In the late stage, she shattered everything from within.
Gu Yan had only wanted to test how deeply her brother still mattered to her.
Now, the answer was obvious.
Calmly, Gu Yan shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Miss Mei."
"I can't tell you anything about your brother right now."
"What?!"
Mei Xue's eyes burned as she grabbed his throat.
"Say that again, and I'll kill you!"
Gu Yan frowned slightly but showed no fear, ignoring the tightening grip.
"Miss Mei, your brother is still school-aged."
"You're drenched in blood."
"Do you really think it's appropriate to appear in front of him like this?"
"Would he even recognize a sister whose hands are stained with blood?"
"I can't tell you. At least—not yet."
Her heart jolted.
Mei Xue stared at her own hand around Gu Yan's neck, then at his calm, sincere expression.
Slowly, shame washed over her.
She released him and pressed a hand against her chest.
Thump. Thump.
Her heart was racing.
Gu Yan was right.
She had become a murderer.
If she appeared before her brother now, she would only frighten him.
Even secretly watching him…
After a long silence, Mei Xue finally spoke, her voice low.
"How do you know me?"
"I've never appeared before you. Yet you know my name."
Her master would never leak such information.
So how?
Gu Yan touched his neck and smiled faintly.
"Miss Mei Xue, does it really matter how I know you?"
"I know far more than you think."
He was fearless because he held the one thing she wanted most.
As long as he had that information, Mei Xue would never dare expose him to Leng Qingqiu.
She fell silent.
Staring at him, she tried to see through him—but all she saw was an ordinary man.
And that was exactly what made him terrifying.
For the first time, Mei Xue felt irritation she couldn't suppress.
By her instincts, she should kill him now—eliminate the threat.
But—
"When will you tell me about my brother?" she asked hoarsely.
Gu Yan knew her thoughts perfectly.
He shook his head.
"Let me think."
Then he smiled and raised five fingers.
"How about this."
"Do five things for me."
"I'll tell you where your brother is."
"Don't worry—I won't ask you to do anything that harms your organization."
Mei Xue was silent for a long moment.
Five things…
So he wanted her strength.
She suddenly remembered her master's earlier order—to quietly deal with the Gu family members unfavorable to Gu Yan.
Before she could even begin investigating, Gu Yan had already seen through her.
After a brief pause, she nodded coldly.
"Fine."
"I hope you keep your word."
Gu Yan's eyes flickered with a faint, icy gleam. He smiled gently.
"Of course."
Just like in the original book…
For her brother, she can betray anyone—even Qingqiu.
But it doesn't matter.
This time…
I'll make Mei Xue mine.