The Trap Springs

Julian, however, remained perfectly calm, almost as though he had expected this exact moment from the beginning.

[What the hell, how did these two idiots sneak in?]

[Didn’t Lina Ashford and Liza Voss notice?]

Seeing the man approaching, Julian couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

What he didn’t know was that Liza Voss had briefly stepped away after drinking too much water while they waited in the courtyard. During those few moments, Black Ghost and White Ghost had silently vaulted over the wall and slipped inside the Ravenswood residence without being noticed.

White Ghost also sensed something was wrong the instant he spotted two figures hiding in the corner. He immediately abandoned the original plan of searching for the medicinal needles first and followed behind his brother. In his mind, anyone who had seen their faces had to disappear before the mission continued.

The chilly night breeze swept across the courtyard. Bamboo leaves rustled softly under the moonlight while the ancient buildings stood in complete silence. The atmosphere grew heavier with every passing heartbeat.

Watching the two men steadily approach, Julian knew there was no point remaining hidden.

He slowly exhaled.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He stepped out from the shadows and into the silver moonlight, his black hair gently swaying in the night breeze. His golden eyes calmly met the intruders without the slightest trace of panic.

Looking at the two men, he let out a cold sneer.

"Oh, coming towards me voluntarily?"

His voice echoed through the quiet courtyard.

"Not running away, but instead approaching me, Julian D’Aurelius?"

He folded his arms leisurely before continuing.

"Isn’t it rare for your master Steffan to be like a student frantically answering questions as the exam time runs out?"

A faint chuckle escaped his lips.

"After being beaten by me, he told you about my strength, and yet you still dare to come closer to die?"

The moment Julian stepped fully beneath the moonlight, Black Ghost and White Ghost froze where they stood.

Their confident expressions instantly stiffened.

Cold sweat slowly formed across their foreheads.

Neither of them had expected that, in such a vast Valemont, the one person waiting here tonight would be Julian D’Aurelius.

Their hearts sank.

Steffan had personally warned them about Julian’s terrifying strength.

Whether Steffan had truly been defeated or not didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was that Steffan himself had admitted Julian possessed strength comparable to his own.

For someone as proud as Steffan to acknowledge another man’s power...

That alone was enough to frighten them.

Black Ghost’s jaw tightened.

White Ghost swallowed nervously.

Looking at Julian’s calm posture, it almost seemed as if the words "completely invincible" were written across his face.

Neither brother dared underestimate him.

The courtyard fell into complete silence.

Even Amara Ravenswood, standing several steps behind Julian, could feel the invisible pressure filling the air.

White Ghost finally grabbed his brother’s sleeve.

"Bro, let’s go."

His voice was barely above a whisper, yet the urgency beneath it was unmistakable.

The confidence that had carried them into the Ashford Estate had completely disappeared. In its place remained only fear—a fear born from witnessing something far beyond their understanding.

Black Ghost’s jaw tightened.

His pride screamed at him to fight.

His instincts screamed louder.

After the briefest hesitation, he gave a heavy nod.

Retreating now was better than dying here.

As long as they escaped tonight, there would always be another chance.

Without another word, the two brothers pivoted in perfect sync, their movements honed through years of fighting side by side. Spiritual energy surged beneath their feet as they prepared to vault over the courtyard wall and disappear into the darkness.

But before either of them could move—

Whoosh!

A powerful gust of wind swept across the courtyard, stirring fallen leaves into the air.

Two graceful figures descended from above almost simultaneously.

Their landings were so light that they barely disturbed the stone beneath their feet, yet the pressure they carried instantly sealed off the brothers’ escape route.

Lina Ashford stood calmly with one hand resting on the hilt of her sword, her sharp eyes fixed on the intruders without the slightest trace of hesitation.

Beside her, Liza Voss casually stretched her shoulders before scratching the back of her head with an embarrassed smile.

"Sorry, Young Master Julian," she said sheepishly. "I stepped away for a moment."

Despite her carefree expression, her body had already settled into a fighting stance.

Lina inclined her head respectfully.

"We won’t let them escape."

Julian looked at the two women and smiled faintly.

"Good timing."

His calm voice carried no excitement, only quiet confidence, as though their arrival had merely completed a plan that was already destined to succeed.

The courtyard fell silent once more.

Only the faint rustling of leaves could be heard.

Black Ghost and White Ghost instinctively stopped in their tracks.

For a split second, their hearts sank.

Their escape route had vanished.

Yet after exchanging a quick glance, something unexpected happened.

Instead of growing more desperate, the panic in their eyes gradually faded.

A sliver of hope quietly returned.

Julian...

They couldn’t defeat him.

After witnessing his terrifying strength firsthand, neither brother held even the slightest illusion about overcoming him.

But these two women...

That was another matter.

Although they had appeared impressive, the brothers had never sensed the same overwhelming pressure from them that Julian radiated effortlessly.

If they moved fast enough...

If they struck without hesitation...

If they captured one of them before Julian could react...

They might still have a chance.

A hostage.

The thought flashed through both of their minds at exactly the same moment.

Even someone as terrifying as Julian couldn’t attack recklessly if one of his own people was held at knifepoint.

The situation could still be turned around.

Black Ghost lowered his voice until it was almost inaudible.

"I’ll take the one on the left."

White Ghost’s eyes narrowed as he subtly shifted his weight.

"The one on the right is mine."

Neither brother spoke another word.

Years of fighting together meant they no longer needed lengthy discussions.

One exchanged glance was enough.

One breath was enough.

The instant they moved...

They would strike with everything they had.

Victory no longer mattered.

All they needed...

...was a single hostage.

Without another word, both brothers exploded forward with astonishing speed.

Their true energy surged as they lunged toward the two women, each extending a hand, intending to capture a hostage before Julian could interfere.

As they reached the two women, Lina Ashford and Liza Voss simultaneously used the Dragon’s Tempest Step, easily dodging their attacks and countering with a strike of the Mountain Flip Hand Strike!