He had simply overlooked the spirit vine hanging on the window lattice in his haste. It seemed that the thrill of discovering his prey had left him almost beside himself with joy, and such carelessness was bound to come at a price.

The moment the wisteria was disturbed, it instantly transformed into a vine as thick as a teacup, rolling and spreading like an enraged venomous dragon. It slithered up along the legs of the black-scarved, masked man, the barbs on the vine digging deep into his body like tightening garrotes, causing a look of pain to flash in his eyes.

“Hey!” A brilliant light flared in his hand, shimmering blue radiance rapidly coursing over his body. In a single breath, the wisteria was severed inch by inch and fell to the ground, the twisting vine segments writhing like the corpses of snakes not yet dead, sap gushing everywhere.

With a muffled roar, the barbs that had pierced his body were suddenly forced out by a countershock of his inner energy, shooting out with a “swish, swish, swish, swish,” scattering and embedding themselves all over the cabin.

Brian Carter inwardly cried out in alarm.

Just from this move alone, it was clear the opponent’s strength was far beyond what he could handle. Instinctively, he rolled forward to the girl’s side, wrapped an arm around her waist before she could react, and rolled sideways with her.

His other hand had already grabbed the brocade curtain hanging in the middle of the cabin and yanked it down, tossing it forward in a blur.

“Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!”

The rebounding vine barbs struck the outstretched brocade curtain like a rainstorm, sending ripples through the fabric. At the same time, Brian Carter grabbed the brocade stool beneath the girl and hurled it fiercely at the candle hanging between the beams. The flame was instantly extinguished, plunging the cabin into darkness.

A faint fragrance wafted from the soft body beneath him as Brian Carter strained his eyes to observe his surroundings, but he could not spot the opponent’s figure.

The adversary was clearly a master as well, vanishing to seek another opportunity after failing with the first strike.

Every muscle tensed, Brian Carter focused all his attention on searching for his foe, completely unaware that his arm was pressing against the girl’s body—his upper arm resting right against her chest. The already slightly exposed undergarment had slipped down even further due to the violent movement, revealing most of her full bosom. Even in the pitch-dark cabin, Brian Carter seemed to sense that alluring, creamy whiteness.

Feeling the body beneath him begin to struggle, Brian Carter instinctively glanced down. At such close range, aided by the faint light from outside the cabin, he realized that the proud curve was less than half a foot from his cheek and nose. The rich fragrance mingled with the faint scent, and it was coming from right there.

His shock and agitation, along with certain bodily changes, were immediately noticed by the girl beneath him, who struggled even harder. Just as Brian Carter was about to exert force to restrain her, he suddenly sensed imminent danger!

A chill swept in silently from the flank. Startled, Brian Carter hadn’t expected the enemy to sneak so close. In his panic, he had no time to think—he braced one hand hard against the floor, lifted the girl’s body with the other, and flung her with all his might toward the dressing table!

The girl couldn’t help but scream. To be suddenly thrown through the air by a man in the dark of night was a terrifying, helpless experience for any young woman.

But at this moment, Brian Carter had no time to worry about that. The blade already at his back brought a wave of murderous intent, the cold edge surging with such force that even as he retreated, Brian Carter felt a stinging pain on his face, his eyes watering from the sharpness.

This was a true master assassin—no warning, no wasted movement, able to kill with a single strike!

Brian Carter rolled sideways at top speed, the blade’s energy splitting the air behind him. The hard wooden floorboards of the cabin were as fragile as rotten wood under the fierce force of the blade!

A sharp pain shot from his shoulder blade—he still hadn’t managed to completely dodge that vicious blow. Gritting his teeth against the agony, Brian Carter curled up, hugged his knees, twisted his body gracefully to the side, and sprang through the opposite window lattice. But the chilling murderous intent clung to him like a maggot to the bone, relentlessly pursuing his back!

“Courting death!” The entire cabin suddenly lit up. The girl, now standing by the window with a scroll in hand, wore a frosty expression. Without hesitation, she unfurled the scroll.

With a flick of her finger, three brilliant fire serpents spiraled out from the scroll, lunging straight at the black-scarved man. As soon as the fire serpents appeared, the girl discarded the scroll with a fluid motion, and a bamboo talisman leaf appeared in her hand—no one knew when she had grabbed it. Clearly, it was a spell talisman powered by spiritual energy, and of no low grade, ready to be activated at any moment.

The black-scarved man knew his target was no ordinary person, but he hadn’t expected her to be so troublesome. Still, he had come prepared. With a flick of his wrist, he produced an ice shard, which transformed into a three-foot-wide diamond-shaped ice shield to meet the fire serpents, the two forces entangling.

He himself didn’t pause, darting through the air. His plans ruined by Brian Carter, he knew his chance was lost and was filled with hatred, intent on killing Brian Carter at all costs.

At the instant he crashed through the window lattice, Brian Carter stretched out, grabbed the upper edge of the window frame, inhaled, tightened his abdomen, and lifted his legs, narrowly dodging the fatal blow. Then, with a vicious kick, he stomped down at the opponent’s body, which was suspended in midair with nowhere to gain leverage!