"You dare attack me without any reason?"
Ye Shishi looked at the white-haired man in black and sneered, "Do you know the price of attacking me?"
"Of course, I do. Miss Ye is a renowned businesswoman. Your Zhongzhou Bank pays nearly ten billion in taxes annually, making it one of the largest taxpayers in Nanling. Attacking you is tantamount to opposing the Nanling authorities, and the consequences are severe."
The white-haired man in black smiled and said, "We also know the consequences are severe, which is why we dare to act in the dead of night. That way, no one will know."
"What's your name?"
Hearing the white-haired man's words, Ye Shishi frowned and asked.
"Replying to Miss Ye, my name is Tang Qixing. In the Tang Sect, I am merely an insignificant pawn."
The white-haired man in black spoke, "There are many people like me in the Tang Sect. I have no outstanding qualities, which is why I was assigned to do this kind of clandestine work."
"However, I'm used to it. After all, this is where my value lies. I hope Miss Ye will cooperate with us. It will be better for everyone."
Ye Shishi sneered upon hearing this, "What if I don't cooperate?"
"Then we'll have to use force."
Tang Qixing smiled slightly at two men in black and said, "Capture Miss Ye and take her away."
"Yes—"
Upon hearing Tang Qixing's words, the two men in black quickly lunged at Ye Shishi, reaching out to grab her shoulders.
However, at this very moment, a cold smile appeared on Ye Shishi's lips.
As Ye Shishi's cold smile surfaced, a flash of cold light streaked across the air. The next second, the two men in black collapsed to the ground, a crimson line appearing on their throats.
"What's going on?"
Seeing his two companions fall, Tang Qixing's expression changed drastically as he shouted. The other black-clad men also looked stunned.
"This..."
Even the senior executives of Zhongzhou Bank didn't know what had happened, their eyes wide open, staring intently at Ye Shishi.
Yet, Ye Shishi showed no signs of being affected. Her eyes were surprisingly calm, as if what had just transpired had never occurred.
"This woman is strange, be careful."
Tang Qixing hadn't even seen how his two subordinates were killed. His face paled, and he yelled at his other subordinates, "Be more careful."
Upon hearing Tang Qixing's words, the two subordinates who rushed at Ye Shishi again were clearly much more cautious.
But even with their heightened caution, as they neared Ye Shishi, the same flash of cold light reappeared. The two men in black fell to the ground once more, meeting the same fate.
"Ye Shishi, are you a sword master?"
This time, by observing the throats of his two subordinates, Tang Qixing realized they had both been killed with a single sword thrust. His eyes widened as he looked at Ye Shishi and asked.
"Using a sword? What are you talking about? I've never even touched a sword in my life, nor do I personally cut fruit."
Ye Shishi smiled at Tang Qixing and said, "Don't falsely accuse me. I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Ye Shishi, I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to be a sword master. But don't get complacent; you won't escape today."
Tang Qixing couldn't see how Ye Shishi had attacked, but the fact that she could kill without leaving a trace before his eyes told him that Ye Shishi was more troublesome than he had imagined. Therefore, he needed to resort to some drastic measures.
Saying that, Tang Qixing instructed the remaining men in black, "You control the others. Ye Shishi is mine to deal with."
"Yes—"
The sixteen men in black nodded in unison and charged at the Zhongzhou Bank executives. According to the original plan, they would use knockout gas to incapacitate everyone one by one, making them forget what had happened.
Meanwhile, Tang Qixing had already approached Ye Shishi. He stared at her and was taken aback. Then, with his right hand, which was equipped with a Wolverine-like metal claw, he fiercely attacked Ye Shishi.
Tang Qixing's attack was incredibly fast, too fast for anyone to follow. However, just as the metal claw was about to reach Ye Shishi's shoulder, she moved.
With a flick of Ye Shishi's wrist, a broken sword emerged from her sleeve, which she grasped.
The speed of Ye Shishi's sword strike was indescribable; it felt as if time itself had stood still in that instant.
With a metallic *crack*, Tang Qixing's Wolverine-like metal claw was cleanly severed.
"What?"
This sudden turn of events startled Tang Qixing. But before he could retreat two steps, Ye Shishi had already closed the distance. A cold gleam flashed from the short sword in her hand, and Tang Qixing's right hand was sliced off and fell to the ground.
"Ah—"
Tang Qixing let out a scream, but his reaction was not dulled by the pain. He raised his left hand and shot out three sleeve darts, forcing Ye Shishi to block them repeatedly, creating a safe distance.
"Ye Shishi, you've been hiding your true capabilities deeply..."
Tang Qixing stopped the bleeding and stared intently at Ye Shishi, saying, "Who would have thought the famous Ye Shishi was a sword master? I'm very curious, how long have you been hiding this, and how many people have you deceived?"
Ye Shishi smiled upon hearing this and said, "I once asked someone how long it would take to achieve mastery in swordsmanship. She said that with a skilled master's guidance and one's own effort, one would definitely achieve it within ten years."
"However, the person who taught me swordsmanship is the number one swordsman in the world today. So, she only taught me for two months, and I have already achieved some proficiency. It's not enough to deal with true powerhouses, but it's more than enough for you."
Hearing Ye Shishi's words, Tang Qixing's expression changed dramatically, and he said, "I've long heard of your close relationship with Jian Jie. It seems it's true."
"Tang Qixing, you should be grateful that Jian Jie is not here. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be your hand that's severed now."
Ye Shishi looked at Tang Qixing and sneered, "I don't know what your purpose is in capturing me today, and I don't care to know right now. Because, later, I will personally go find Tang Jiutian to ask for an explanation."
"Get lost—"
Ye Shishi commanded.
"Ye Shishi, I admit I underestimated you, but you've also underestimated me, or rather, underestimated the Tang Sect."
Hearing Ye Shishi's words, Tang Qixing smiled and said, "The Tang Sect's strength has never been in brute force, but in hidden weapons and poisons. Haven't you noticed your head starting to feel dizzy?"
"What?"
Upon hearing Tang Qixing's words, Ye Shishi suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and then her vision blackened as she collapsed to the ground.
At this moment, the more than a dozen men in black had finished dealing with the others and returned to Tang Qixing's side, asking with concern, "Brother Xing, are you alright?"
"I've lost a hand, but it's alright. As long as it can be reattached within six hours."
Tang Qixing said to his subordinates, "The martial guards will be here soon, so let's quickly take Ye Shishi away. And tell the young lady that our mission is complete."