A swift blade beneath the moon

A cool sensation rose from Er Leng's lower abdomen, spread through his body, and surged straight to the crown of his head.

His lust and obsession with Liu Ling'er were suppressed in an instant, vanishing without a trace.

In the pitch-black corridor, Er Leng's mind gradually cleared, and his eyes regained their focus.

He saw Lian'er clutching a glowing Daoist Talisman in her right hand, pressing it against his lower abdomen. Her pretty face was ice-cold.

"I... I... what happened?" Coming to his senses, Er Leng suddenly grabbed Lian'er's arms. "That... that female villain took my virginity?!"

"You filthy thing, get away!" Thoroughly disgusted, Lian'er twisted her arms free and stood beside Ren Ye.

"Huh?!"

Er Leng clutched his hair in anguish. Memories flooded his mind, replaying everything he had done over the past two days.

Pain, regret, shame, and the humiliation of being raped by Liu Ling'er...

"Heavens, what have I done?!"

Er Leng dropped to his knees with a thud, tears pouring down his face. "Your Highness, just kill me... I've failed you. I couldn't resist that temptress. I lied. Yesterday at Spring Fragrance Garden, she didn't use any lightness technique. She simply bewitched me and dragged me into the grove...!"

Three paces away, Ren Ye watched Er Leng and asked gravely, "Does she have accomplices? Did you meet her today? What magical artifacts does she have? Did you really set up traps in the bedchamber this evening?!"

"Boohoo...!"

Er Leng truly broke down, weeping tears of remorse like a child. Without thinking, he answered, "I don't know whether she has accomplices, but she was alone whenever she met me. Ever since last night at Spring Fragrance Garden, it was like I was possessed. All I... wanted was to... do that with her. This afternoon, I used a visit to the personal guard camp as an excuse to meet her secretly, and told her... everything... about the secret chamber. When she went down there, she was holding a scroll. I don't know whether it was a magical artifact. This evening in the bedchamber, I did set up hidden-weapon traps, but those were all... meant to deal with you if the plan failed."

"Shameless scoundrel! Lust-crazed pig!" Lian'er cursed fiercely upon hearing this.

The questions Ren Ye had asked concerned things he had secretly sent people to observe, without Er Leng's knowledge. Er Leng had answered quickly and truthfully, proving... that he was no longer in his lovesick lapdog state.

There was no time for more bullshit. Ren Ye stepped forward to reassure him. "Even I might have gone into that grove in your place. I asked the Princess Consort, and you were most likely under a charm spell... Get up. I have an important task for you."

"Hmph, even if Your Highness had gone into the grove with that woman, you would certainly have seen through her scheme," Lian'er added, displaying a blatant double standard.

Er Leng looked up in delight and mustered his courage. "Y-Your Highness still trusts me?"

"In this vast residence, who can I trust besides you and Lian'er?" Ren Ye held his gaze. "I left twelve eunuchs at the hall entrance. Hurry over and lead them in guarding it. Until I'm done, don't let anyone inside."

"Even if I die, I won't let a single person through," Er Leng replied solemnly through gritted teeth.

"Go."

Er Leng rose, wiped his tears with a stubborn, earnest expression, and charged toward the hall entrance in great strides.

Ren Ye took the Daoist Talisman from Lian'er and hung it around his neck again. "Gather the others. We're going to the secret chamber entrance..."

The Daoist Talisman was called Tranquil Heart. It refreshed the mind, warded off evil and misfortune, and dispelled all manner of ghostly entities. The Princess Consort had given it to him so that, when his Heavenly Pardon Qi dwindled and his yang soul weakened, he would not attract anything unclean. She had never expected it to be used on Er Leng first...

Thirty breaths earlier.

Holding an antique-looking candle lamp in her right hand, Liu Ling'er crouched before the secret chamber's iron door, carefully examining the patterns on its surface...

She seemed very interested in the iron door, even trying to scrape at the rust with her left hand.

"Snap!"

Just then, Liu Ling'er felt an inexplicable pang of alarm. She immediately focused her mind to probe it, only to discover that the subtle connection between her and Er Leng had vanished.

Huh? Where's my lapdog?

Did he run away? Die?

Suddenly, Liu Ling'er's scalp prickled. She rose and ran toward the secret chamber's exit.

"Creeeak... bang!"

A teeth-grating noise rang out, followed by the collision of solid objects. It was the sound of the hidden passage door closing.

Liu Ling'er froze briefly, then stopped at once. Rather than rushing out recklessly, she looked around...

Dim lamplight shrouded the secret chamber. A dazzling assortment of objects filled the shelves. Frowning, she took a random case file off a shelf and opened it.

Blank!

There was nothing in the file.

"Swish!"

She immediately picked up a second file, then a third, and opened them. Both were blank too.

Shit.

I've walked into a countertrap!

In an instant, Liu Ling'er understood her predicament, yet not a trace of panic appeared on her face.

This woman had no higher education or professional skills, but after nearly twenty years of hustling through society, what sort of person hadn't she met? What hadn't she experienced?

Pill-poppers, gangsters, perverts, bosses with peculiar tastes, police officers, high-ranking officials... She had been in detention and taken people to places she couldn't talk about.

Ordinary people lacked such experiences. Besides, she had been a Star Gate player for several years and had seen plenty of bizarre things.

So at this moment, she was actually clearheaded. Her heart remained steady, and her thinking stayed sharp.

What should I do?

That useless Prince Huai has definitely been replaced. A player must be working against me, and if he dared to act, he must be reasonably confident.

They must have everything set up outside. Escaping on my own will probably be difficult.

I can only call for help, and I have to be decisive.

But how should I call for help?

After a moment's thought, Liu Ling'er immediately pulled an oval token from her waist. This was a Disc Order, an exclusive item of the imperial court faction, possessing the supernatural ability to transmit voices over a distance.

No more hesitation!

Liu Ling'er immediately focused her intent on calling out, and the Disc Order began to glow faintly.

"I'm a player in the imperial court faction. My name is Liu Ling'er, and my identity card is Songstress, affiliated with Liyuan Garden." Speaking clearly and calmly into the Disc Order, she called, "I found a secret chamber in Tranquil Heart Hall at Prince Huai's Residence. There's a huge amount of information here, and I've already obtained an important item-the Blueprints for the Former Dynasty Princess's Tomb. It's connected to the Heavenly Pardon-Blessed One, and we'll definitely need it later. Those in my faction, decide for yourselves whether you're going to help me."

This was a group "message" that every player in the imperial court faction would receive. Liu Ling'er made no elaborate attempt to conceal her identity, revealing it immediately as a show of sincerity.

The Disc Order glimmered faintly. After less than three breaths of silence, a voice whose gender was impossible to distinguish replied with a question. "I'm a player in the imperial court faction. Just call me 'Little War Wolf.' Tell me, how do you want us to help?"

"Prince Huai turned the tables on me and trapped me in the secret chamber. I can't get out," Liu Ling'er replied.

After that exchange, the Disc Order fell completely silent.

Liu Ling'er waited briefly, then urgently transmitted her voice again. "If we can't get the important item and the faction mission fails, we'll all die!"

"I'm not going yet. I'll wait and see." Little War Wolf offered only that refusal, then fell silent.

A long while later, a familiar voice came through. "If you haven't obtained the Blueprints for the Former Dynasty Princess's Tomb, you'll die horribly. Very horribly."

It was Old Taoist Xu's voice, filled with cold indifference and cruelty. Yet Liu Ling'er secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

There's still a chance to save myself.

Although Little War Wolf was the only other imperial court faction player to reply, the others must have received the message too. Their silence did not mean they would take no action.

"I don't have much time. If you want to win, hurry!" Liu Ling'er wasted no more words. Leaving that final remark, she put away the Disc Order and prepared to fight for her life.

Tranquil Heart Hall.

Ren Ye, Lian'er, and a group of eunuchs with practically no fighting ability had surrounded the secret chamber entrance, armed with assorted bows, crossbows, and hidden weapons.

"Get ready to fight!"

Ren Ye rolled up his sleeves and growled, his eyes bloodshot and his face waxen yellow.

Between three and five in the morning, stars twinkled in the night sky, and the cool wind cut like a blade.

The main entrance of Tranquil Heart Hall, Prince Huai's Residence.

Er Leng had fully "awakened," and guilt filled his heart. He and Zhu Zigui were about the same age and had grown up together. Whether bullying men and women or indulging in pleasure, they had always been inseparable.

When the old Prince Huai was alive, he had even groomed Er Leng to become his son's trusted military aide...

Ah, thank goodness His Highness had that Daoist Talisman. Otherwise, I would have caused a disaster...

Er Leng felt uneasy and deeply shaken by what might have happened. Standing on the steps with twelve young eunuchs, he surveyed his surroundings even more cautiously.

Still, he couldn't quite understand Ren Ye's thinking. He had clearly said Liu Ling'er had no accomplices, yet Ren Ye had ordered him to guard this place anyway.

Isn't this a waste of talent? Ah, perhaps His Highness's intelligence has fallen back to its old level...

What Er Leng didn't know was that, upon entering the Star Gate, Ren Ye had received an explicit prompt stating that this scenario contained three factions. If Liu Ling'er was a player, nearly three days had passed since entry, and she might already have found her teammates. That was why he had ordered Er Leng to stand guard here, just in case.

"Keep your ears open. If there's any noise inside...!"

Under the lamplight, Er Leng was about to give the young eunuchs some instructions when his ears suddenly twitched and his expression stiffened. "Hoofbeats. Warhorses!"

"What noise?!" one young eunuch asked, looking around nervously in confusion.

Er Leng turned and looked beyond Tranquil Heart Hall's courtyard, his expression grave. "People are coming. A lot of them...!"

"Guard Hong... I... I don't hear anything."

"Yes, everything's quiet..."

Clop, clop...

Suddenly, rapid hoofbeats rang out. The two broad roads outside the courtyard gate of Tranquil Heart Hall shook violently, and a murderous atmosphere swiftly spread.

"The Qingzhou Guard is here to protect His Highness! All unauthorized persons, withdraw at once!"

Banners bearing the character for "Qing" swept past beyond the courtyard wall as shouted commands rang out. The personal guard soldiers stationed there watched over a hundred armored men ride past on tall horses, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Whoa!"

The hoofbeats stopped. A tall general wearing silver armor, with a steel saber at his waist, leaped from his warhorse. Striding swiftly to the entrance, he kicked open the heavy, red-lacquered gates.

His name was Zhong Kuishan, commander of the Qingzhou Guard in Qingliang Prefecture. He had followed the old Prince Huai for over a decade, but had ultimately sided with imperial authority and the court.

Stepping through the courtyard gate, Zhong Kuishan raised his head and shouted, "I received a secret report that someone broke into Tranquil Heart Hall tonight, intending to murder Prince Huai! All unauthorized persons, withdraw immediately. I'm taking my troops inside to protect His Highness!"

His shout echoed through the courtyard. Behind him, a hundred Qingzhou Guard soldiers drew their steel sabers and advanced three paces in orderly ranks.

A hundred men drew their blades, and killing intent spread. The overwhelming pressure surged onto the raised platform like an invisible wave. The young eunuchs behind Er Leng instantly began trembling, their legs shaking beneath them.

"Swish, swish...!"

As his words faded, soft sounds of leaping arose atop the surrounding walls. Over forty men in black robes, silver headpieces, and python-patterned sabers at their waists appeared like phantoms, standing motionless on the walls.

"Heh, what a coincidence. I also received a secret report that a criminal infiltrated Tranquil Heart Hall tonight."

A delicate-featured man in silver robes embroidered with two giant pythons rested his toes atop the spirit screen wall, standing half suspended in the air. His gaze was arrogant. "As commander, I thought I'd join the fun too."

This man was Wu Asi, commander of the Spy Battalion at Prince Huai's Residence.

The black-robed men on the walls were all agents under his command.

On the platform, once the young eunuchs saw the Spy Battalion appear, they collectively followed their survival instincts and sidestepped several paces, decisively clearing the way into the hall.

Now only Er Leng remained standing at the hall entrance.

None of them were idiots. In a situation like this, it wasn't really a question of disloyalty. They simply didn't want to die.

The Qingzhou Guard and the Spy Battalion were both outfits that killed without blinking!

Clop, clop...

Another burst of urgent hoofbeats rang out. Outside Tranquil Heart Hall's courtyard, heads and horses crowded together as a mass of people in official robes rushed inside.

Their leader was none other than the imperial court's foremost lackey, Chief Administrator Li Yan.

Alongside him came a group of Qingliang Prefecture officials and soldiers from the local government offices, numbering over a hundred in all.

God only knew how these officials living at the foot of the mountain had assembled so many government soldiers in such a short time, then reached the prince's residence so quickly.

Educated men, however, chose much more courteous words. Chief Administrator Li Yan stepped forward to stand beside Zhong Kuishan. "I heard a criminal has entered the prince's residence. This may involve spies from the Southern Border. Guard Hong, withdraw at once. We'll handle things here..."

"Get lost!" The crude military man had no patience for such niceties. After cursing, Zhong Kuishan ignored Er Leng entirely and moved to enter the hall.

Behind him, a hundred Qingzhou Guard soldiers followed with blades in hand.

Seeing the Qingzhou Guard move first, the government men and the Spy Battalion grew impatient too.

"Swish, swish...!"

The Spy Battalion's agents leaped down from the walls and converged on the hall, hands on their python-patterned sabers. The surrounding officials and government soldiers also broke into a jog, preparing to rush inside.

A forcible challenge to the prince!

Another forcible challenge, only this time they had come armed with blades and spears.

The cold wind brushed Er Leng's face as he stood on the platform, his tear tracks not yet fully dry. He slowly raised an arm, tore a strip from the corner of his clothes, and tied it around his face with deliberate movements, covering his eyes.

Liu Ling'er's charm spell worked through her eyes. The experience had left Er Leng with lingering fears, so he had torn off the cloth to blindfold himself.

The instant his eyes were covered, his mind became as still as water. Even the wind beside his ears seemed to vanish...

"Thud, thud!"

Heavy footsteps sounded as Zhong Kuishan attempted to force his way into Tranquil Heart Hall.

Er Leng did not move. His words were concise. "The prince ordered me to guard this place. I cannot let anyone enter."

Zhong Kuishan paused, then dismissed further argument as a waste of breath. "Your master might not even survive tonight. Get out of the way!"

Stillness, silence, a relaxed stance...

Like a blind man, Er Leng clumsily felt toward his waist. "Lord Zhong, my blade is fast. Insist on entering, and you'll die."

With those words, the platform became so quiet that a pin could have been heard dropping.

Zhong Kuishan glanced at Er Leng, his mouth twitching. He actually stopped advancing, standing five paces away as he shouted, "He must be in league with the criminal! Kill him!"

"Thud, thud...!"

The Qingzhou Guard soldiers, poised to act, instantly surged onto the platform and charged together with their blades raised.

"Swish!"

Blindfolded, Er Leng moved the instant his fingers touched Invite the Moon.

A flash of cold light,

a fleeting blur,

met the hundred armored soldiers head-on.

Five paces away, Zhong Kuishan felt a rush of cold air strike his face. Almost instinctively, he drew his steel saber with incredible speed.

"Clang!"

The blades collided with a bell-like ring.

"Crack... crunch...!"

A gleaming steel saber fractured section by section, shattering and falling to the ground.

Zhong Kuishan stood on the steps, his eyes stunned...

A moment later, he stiffly lowered his head. The silver armor over his chest had shattered, and his entire chest had been sliced open, gushing scalding blood...

Behind him, Er Leng rested his right hand on the Famous Blade Invite the Moon, already returned to its sheath. His body stood as straight as a pine.

One slash shattered armor, and blood flowed ceaselessly across the royal platform.

"Thud!"

Zhong Kuishan fell onto his back. His body twitched several times, then he breathed his last.

"I am Prince Huai's guard!"

"I have no other talents. My blade is simply fast! Take one step forward, and you die!"

The corpse was still warm as that cold voice exploded in everyone's ears.