The Ice Seal Guild’s base was located northwest of Snowdrift City, a couple of hours’ journey further into the coniferous forest. Seeing Piaoling here was unexpected for Xiao Hua. Piaoling’s escape route was toward Snowdrift City, which was an unwise move under the Level One Guild Warrant; she wouldn’t find any safe haven in the city, and once surrounded, there would be no escape. Even if attacked, the guards wouldn’t come to her aid!

Upon landing, Piaoling raised her staff to cast a spell, but another sharp arrow from the archer struck her, interrupting her incantation halfway through.

The other person on the black tiger mount dismounted and walked alongside the archer, holding a weapon that suggested he was an assassin. Despite Piaoling’s ability to teleport using her Shape Shift skill, her mount was dead, leaving her unable to outrun these two. After her failed attempt to cast a spell, she lowered her staff, seemingly resigning herself to her fate.

"Sister Piaoling, you’ve always been someone I deeply respect. I don’t want to harm you. Come back with us to the base, and tell us what’s troubling you. I believe the Guild Leader and our fellow members will understand," said the young archer, around eighteen or nineteen years old, stopping a few meters away from Piaoling with sincere concern.

The assassin standing beside the archer had no objections, appearing to support the archer’s approach. Despite the situation, these two still chose to trust Piaoling, a testament to her high regard within the Ice Seal Guild!

"Xiao Bo, things are just as you’ve seen and heard. Since joining the guild a year ago, I’ve been plotting to give Ice Seal a taste of betrayal. Tonight presented the perfect opportunity, but unfortunately, human plans cannot match destiny! Xiao Bo, do what you must. I won’t return with you. Had you not interrupted my spell, I would have killed you without hesitation. So, spare no mercy."

Hearing Piaoling’s words, Xiao Hua, who was watching the two Ice Seal Guild members, took action. He retrieved a black mask from his backpack and covered his face. This item, common in the Second World, was now put to use for the first time.

The archer knew Piaoling’s character well. Once she spoke, there was no turning back. Realizing further persuasion would be futile, he exchanged a glance with the assassin and slowly raised his bow, aiming it at Piaoling.

Suddenly, a loud boom erupted in front of the archer and the assassin as several magic bombs exploded! The bright light from the explosions was strikingly visible against the pale night sky, and both were caught in the blast. The sudden glare forced them to close their eyes momentarily.

Seeing this, Piaoling seized the opportunity and began casting a spell!

The archer and the assassin’s faces darkened; they knew the power of Piaoling’s skill. With only the two of them, if she managed to cast it, they would be helpless and doomed!

Illusion emerged from the air, and Xiao Hua cautiously controlled it, hurling magic bombs at the archer and the assassin. From their conversation, he understood that if Piaoling could successfully cast her spell, she could kill them both. He decided to take action. Spells typically required one to several seconds to cast, and Xiao Hua was confident he could buy Piaoling enough time. Even if the plan failed, the worst outcome would be the death of the illusion, causing no real loss to him.

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"You’re asking for trouble!" The silent assassin, seeing someone interfere, immediately entered stealth mode. Stealth, stun, ambush, gouge, backstab, eviscerate – a series of moves that rarely left anyone alive. Unfortunately, he forgot what Xiao Hua was using.

Xiao Hua tossed a magic bomb, and the assassin’s stealth was disrupted, revealing his presence.

The archer saw Xiao Hua’s unconventional tactics and realized the assassin would need time to get close due to the magic bombs. Although he could attack the newcomer with his bow, his primary target was Piaoling.

He couldn’t let her cast that skill!

The archer calmly stepped back, avoiding Xiao Hua’s magic bombs, and fired another explosive arrow!

Xiao Hua knew something was wrong when the archer retreated. He threw several magic bombs at the archer but missed. With the assassin blocking his path, attacking the archer was impossible. There was no way to stop the archer’s attack!

Seeing the archer shoot an arrow at Piaoling, Xiao Hua quickly directed the illusion to intercept the arrow!

Boom! The powerful explosive arrow struck the illusion, instantly killing it and turning it into a white light.

Xiao Hua sighed. He had done all he could. It was now up to Piaoling.

The archer drew his bow again, and the assassin sprinted toward Piaoling. But before the archer could fire, and before the assassin reached her, Piaoling shouted, "Demon’s Curse!"

Two pitch-black rays burst from Piaoling’s staff, like thunder and lightning, instantly reaching the archer and the assassin and binding them tightly!

The archer and the assassin looked at each other, sighed bitterly, and abandoned resistance.

Their life points drained rapidly, and within seconds, they both turned into white light, the black rays connecting them to Piaoling’s staff disappearing.

What a powerful skill! Xiao Hua was secretly astonished. Initially, he doubted that a single spell could kill a level-appropriate archer and assassin. Archers and assassins were notorious for countering mages; archers could prevent mages from casting powerful spells, while assassins could sneak up and kill them directly.

"Thank you for your help. Would you mind coming out and meeting me?" Piaoling surveyed the surrounding snow-covered woods and followed the trail of footprints leading to Xiao Hua’s hiding place.

The snow revealed a clear trail of footprints. With his hiding spot found, Xiao Hua had no choice but to emerge. Besides, he wanted to meet this formidable woman. He stepped out from behind the larch tree.

Embarrassed to reveal his name, Xiao Hua sent Piaoling a friend request.

Piaoling smiled upon seeing the name on the friend request and accepted it.

"The one that died from the explosion was your free skill, similar to a clone, right?" Piaoling asked after a smile.

"Have you seen such a skill?" Xiao Hua was surprised.

"No. But if someone dislikes the Ice Seal Guild and helps out casually, it’s possible. However, sacrificing oneself to save me isn’t something anyone would do, especially not someone I know well enough to die for me. As for my appearance, if someone is willing to die for it, they must have ulterior motives! And the treasure chest stolen from the Ice Seal Guild’s warehouse can only be opened by me and the higher-ups in the guild. Taking it would serve no purpose and make one a target of the Ice Seal Guild’s pursuit. The only plausible explanation is that you used a free skill similar to a clone, where dying doesn’t cause any loss."

Xiao Hua was impressed. This woman was indeed no ordinary person, her analysis accurate. Compared to her nearly year-long hidden efforts within the Ice Seal Guild, developing it and then striking at the opportune moment, this was minor!

"Let’s leave here. They’ll catch up soon." Piaoling waved her hand, and her fiery horse, somehow resurrected, was summoned again.

"Climb on. This is a Tier Four mount." Piaoling sat on the fiery horse and extended her right hand to Xiao Hua.

"Just a moment." Xiao Hua summoned an illusion, then took Piaoling’s hand and climbed onto the horse.

Piaoling patted the horse’s neck, and it let out a long neigh, galloping down the forest path.