Volume One: Intrigue and Deception in the Imperial Capital - Deep-Seated Cunning
Haoyue, you... came to save me?
I wanted to speak, but my numb throat and tongue couldn't utter a sound.
But she immediately understood what I wanted to ask.
"It's alright now, Xiao Ye, it's alright..."
A smooth, jade-like hand gently stroked my back—just that, and the fear that had filled my heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a sense of peace, a strong sense of peace, which warmed my once despairing heart once more.
Yes,
There's nothing to be afraid of anymore.
Because there is a bright moon.
"Yue Lan!"
A storm of light erupted in the confined space, while a silvery mist Moon Mist Silver Veil, enveloped us, protecting us from its effects.
I strained to turn my eyes and discovered that Haoyue was not alone; she was accompanied by a dozen or so men and women in brown uniforms, who were probably all from the Tartaglia Family.
"Damn it! How dare that little Tartaglia ruin my plans!"
Amidst the storm, the roar of Si Nan Feng could be faintly heard.
"Young Master Feng! This happened suddenly and it's not in our favor! We'd better leave!"
"Tsk--!"
"Let's go, Xiao Ye." Despite the chaotic scene, Hao Yue's whisper was unusually clear.
An orange- Moon Bridge took shape beneath our feet, lifting us straight up, with the other brown-clad figures quickly following. I glanced down one last time and saw Si Nan Feng and Gong Yan disappear into the portal, leaving this place of trouble.
It's like a dream.
Really, I'm saved.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Si Nan Feng was furious.
In the end, all she got was a few rubs on her chest. Forget about losing her virginity, she didn't even get her first kiss! All that planning, not only bringing in Gong Yan, but also building a large house in a secluded location far from the Si Nan Main Family to avoid being disturbed—all of it was for nothing!
Damn it... Once I get back to my own territory, East Garden, I need to pick out a few stamina-rich girls to relieve my pent-up desires...
"Young Master Feng, we've arrived."
"Oh," Si Nan Feng replied casually, stepping out of the teleportation portal, still pondering whether to carry out the next plan.
That's why, after walking several steps, he realized that the place was a bit off.
Looking around, it was indeed the main residence of the Si Nan Main Family, but this was definitely not their own East Garden; it was more like... the West Garden?
"Second, second brother!? What brings you here?"
A surprised voice came from ahead. Si Nan Cheng stood at the end of the corridor, his eyes wide open, which made him look even more comical with his baby face. His domineering and powerful second brother suddenly appearing in front of him clearly caught him off guard.
"Oh, Ah Cheng..." The weak Si Nan Cheng naturally couldn't get Si Nan Feng's attention. Si Nan Feng only looked up at him once and then ignored him.
Si Nan Feng turned around angrily and glared at Gong Yan, shouting, "What did you do?! Not only did you let them escape, but you even opened the wrong portal!"
"I'm sorry, Young Master Feng, but 'he' wants to witness all of this with his own eyes..."
"What did you say--"
Pfft! "... Eh?"
A chilling sensation filled Si Nan Feng's chest.
He lowered his head.
A foreign object appeared on his muscular chest.
It is a sword.
A blood-stained sword pierced through his chest.
There was no room for resistance.
Because the most vital organ, the heart, was precisely destroyed.
The sword was drawn from behind, and blood gushed out like a fountain. The arrogant young nobleman, the strongest contender for the next Patriarch, the most dashing playboy in the capital, Si One Wind, the second young Si Nan Feng of the Si Nan Family...
It was dumped on the ground in such an unsightly way, like garbage.
At the last moment, he mustered all his strength and turned around—
No one will believe it, absolutely no one could believe it.
Si Nan Cheng, the infamous and useless fourth young master of the Si Nan Family, gently wiped the blood off his sword with a cold smile.
Looking at his brother's corpse, Si Nan Cheng leisurely wiped the blood off his sword and sheathed it.
"Well done, Gong Yan, that solves the first one. I bet Gan Ming is busy interrogating the assassins I sent. While he's away, quickly clean up the scene."
"That's good... but Young Master Cheng, isn't it a bit too hasty to act now? After all, the place where Liu Ye was abducted by Si Nan Feng is the one we leaked to Tartaglia."
"It's alright. With that idiot Second Brother dead, Xing-ge and Gan Ming will definitely assume it was the other's doing, after all—" Si Nan Cheng's expression gradually twisted, and his smile became increasingly sinister.
"Who would suspect the cowardly Fourth Young Master? I've been pretending to be a good-for-nothing in front of everyone since I was seven!"
Haoyue carried me over buildings, and I realized that I had been abducted to a relatively remote area in the capital. Si Nan Feng had even built a villa there just to play with me.
They're really rich and can do whatever they want.
"Xiao Ye, are you feeling better?" Hao Yue asked with concern.
"Well... I can speak now, but my strength and abilities haven't fully recovered yet," I answered honestly.
"As long as there are no lasting effects, that's fine. Come on, let's go down and rest."
As he spoke, the bright moon began to descend, landing smoothly on a small, secluded, and deserted clearing, with the brown-clad people following closely behind.
"By the way, Haoyue, how did you find me?"
"I don't know who leaked the news, but luckily we arrived in time."
"Thank you so much... By the way, are they your guards?" I asked, looking at the men in brown.
"Them—"
"Miss!"
A woman who appeared to be of high status interrupted Haoyue, looking at me with an icy expression.
Suddenly, I had a very bad feeling.
"... What is it?"
"I just wanted to remind you, Miss..." The woman slowly approached, and the other men in brown robes also gathered around.
"What are you reminding me of?"
"Now is the perfect time to strike. Don't let personal feelings interfere with the mission!"
Suddenly, the woman pulled out a musket and pointed it at my head. As a signal, some of the brown-clad people took out their weapons, while others used their supernatural abilities, and everyone aimed at me.
"... Haoyue, what's going on?" I asked in a deep voice.
"What else could it be?" The woman with the musket sneered. "Both your looks and your strength are enough to give many people a headache, so the master assigned this task to you, Miss. Do you understand?"
"Really, Haoyue?"
"..."
Haoyue did not answer.
She simply smiled gently at me.
In that instant, I understood.
Ha ha.
I fully understand the fact that you, who have followed her for so long, know her less than I, an outsider.
"Long live understanding, Xiao Ye." Seeing through my thoughts, Haoyue seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then raised her hand above her head.
"Silver Moon--"
He waved his hand down.
"--Moon Elf!"
In that instant, something small flickered at the collar of the group of men in brown, swords drawn, and then—
Explode.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! A series of crisp explosions rang out, and with each one, a head turned into minced meat in a flash of silver light. The brown-clad men, who had not expected this outcome, were powerless to resist and were unilaterally slaughtered!
Only the musketeer girl reacted, screaming, "What, what are you doing? This is a back--"
Don't give me that nonsense.
The last flash of silver light exploded, and not only was the musket girl's head severed, but her entire upper body was also cut off, making for an extremely bloody scene.
Headless corpses, scattered bits of flesh, flowing blood... what was once a quiet little clearing has been transformed into hell in the blink of an eye.
"Alright, my dear Xiao Ye," Haoyue lifted the hem of her cheongsam and twirled gracefully, "Now that neither of us is watching, let's have a proper talk."
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A long-awaited bonus chapter!