"You two stay here to provide support, the other two will come with me into the manor!"
The leading silhouette commanded, then his toes touched the ground and he leaped over the wall.
The next moment, he was startled by the large black dog sleeping by the corner!
"Damn, this dog doesn't even bark?"
"Don't panic, I brought a meat bone laced with sleeping powder!"
"Why bring a meat bone? Just finish it with a single strike!"
"Wait a moment, look, this dog is missing an ear. It might be deaf. Let's not create unnecessary trouble, focus on the main task!"
After the three dark figures moved away, the only remaining ear of the black dog, which had been nestled by the wall, 'whooshed' and perked up. It twitched back and forth. Confirming that the three figures were gone, it then stood up straight.
A pair of dog eyes, glowing faintly in the night, first stared at the manor wall beside it for a long time, then, with its tongue sticking out, it dashed towards the direction of the prison.
On the other side.
The three dark figures successfully avoided all patrolling guards and reached the inner chambers of the yamen, the back courtyard.
"Brother, impressive!"
One of the figures, hiding in the bushes, couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
"The teacher said, knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in every battle. It seems that person didn't lie to me; the manor layout map and guard patrol routes they provided were accurate."
"Haha, it's that guy's bad luck to run into us! But brother, hasn't that Lin Jingxing not returned to the manor yet?"
"You don't understand. Ambushing in the room beforehand has a much higher success rate than assassination. I imagine that Lord Lin never dreamed that after a day of hard work outside, the King of Hell's deadly blade would await him in his manor!"
"But doesn't Lin Jingxing have a wife and children?"
"Hmph, that Lin Jingxing sealed off Lotus Pond and exposed all of Sweet Soup Pavilion's illicit businesses, causing the teacher to fall into the hands of his arch-nemesis. Moreover, Lin Jingxing also condoned the prisoners in the jail to torture Third Master, turning Third Master into a living cripple. Now that Second Master is dead and the teacher is imprisoned, the teacher's family is completely without heirs. Since the teacher's family has no successor, how can Lin Jingxing be worthy of having children!"
"Heh~"
A low, cold chuckle came from behind, sounding particularly abrupt in the silent night. The leading silhouette, who had been closely observing the situation in the nearby room, heard the laughter and said somewhat angrily:
"What are you laughing at? All of you, get your act together! When we enter the room later, no matter who we encounter, it's a swift death. Even if the King of Heaven himself arrives, none of them will be of any use! Leave no one alive, kill them all!"
"Yes, there's indeed no need to leave any survivors."
A woman's ethereal voice sounded from behind, carrying a sharp, piercing coldness, like a bone-chilling gust of wind blowing past the ear. The leading silhouette's hair stood on end. Believing it impossible for a woman's voice to be present, he quickly turned to look while retreating rapidly. However, he was still a step too slow. Before the leading silhouette could create any distance, he felt a flash of cold light before his eyes. The next moment, his body, out of his control, pitched forward. Before hitting the ground, he saw his companions, already dead, their mouths frozen in the shape of the words they had been speaking...
Leng Ning Yue, after disposing of the three large pieces of trash, frowned slightly and suddenly threw the dagger in her hand towards the other side. Immediately, Ye Shengxiao's characteristic voice, mixed with a strange yelp, pleaded for mercy from not far away:
"Little Moon Moon, show mercy! It's me, it's this young master!"
Hearing this, Leng Ning Yue reached out and broke a branch beside her. Terrified, Ye Shengxiao quickly changed his tune:
"Grand Aunt! No! Please, don't throw it again! I was just soaked in the river for an hour by that scoundrel Ling Han. When I returned, I heard there were thieves in the manor. I ran over eagerly without even changing my clothes. Who knew that instead of catching the thieves, I almost died by your hand, Little Moon Moon! Fortunately, this young master is fast. If it were anyone else, that last strike would have already turned them into a string of candied hawthorns! But speaking of which, Little Moon Moon, what did you do before? Your skill at killing and slitting throats is as effortless as chopping vegetables; it's awe-inspiring every time I see it!"
Leng Ning Yue glanced at Ye Shengxiao, whose hair was still dripping water and who looked as if he had just been fished out of the water, and coldly commanded:
"Clean this place up, don't let her discover it."
Ye Shengxiao, who automatically understood 'her' as 'him', pestered her again, sparing no effort to dig at her affection: "Little Moon Moon, Lord Lin is not suitable for you. He's an official, and we are outlaws. No, this young master is an outlaw. Little Moon Moon, you are extraordinary and pure, a fairy descended from heaven."
Leng Ning Yue immediately raised the branch she was holding. Ye Shengxiao retreated repeatedly:
"No, no, no! What I mean is, Little Moon Moon, you and Lord Lin are simply not from the same world, and it's not suitable for you to be together. If Little Moon Moon, you were to follow this young master, we'd roam the jianghu freely, and our lives would be envied by immortals!"
Upon hearing the last sentence, Leng Ning Yue still unhesitatingly threw the branch she was holding. Being too close, Ye Shengxiao had no time to dodge. Just as he thought he was about to sacrifice himself for love, his back leg was suddenly kicked, and he fell to the ground with a 'plop', looking utterly pathetic. Ling Han emerged from the shadows under the tree, holding the dagger Leng Ning Yue had thrown earlier.
"The master has use for him." Ling Han said, returning the dagger to its rightful owner. Leng Ning Yue, however, remained silent. Ling Han continued: "His two accomplices outside the wall have been captured by me. Shall we wait for the master to return for interrogation?"
"No need. They are just insignificant flies. You can handle them as you see fit."
"Alright."
After speaking, Leng Ning Yue lowered her head and looked at her blood-stained skirt hem. As if remembering something, she added, "By the way, she is very sensitive to the smell of blood. Remember to find some mugwort or incense."
"Alright."
A cold wind blew. Ye Shengxiao, who had been watching his beloved return to her room, got up from the ground and then let out a solid sneeze.
"I'll leave this place to you to handle. Remember to use mugwort or incense."
After giving the instructions, Ling Han also turned and left. Ye Shengxiao, left behind: ???
On the other side.
Lin Qingge and Hua Jinrong, who had been waiting for Lu Mingxuan for a long time without him appearing, moved from the wonton stall to a nearby tea stall. Perhaps because it was located in the Flower Willow Lane, the tea stall still had many customers at this hour. Lin Qingge and Hua Jinrong found a table near the window, ensuring they could spot Lu Mingxuan the moment he came out. After the tea was served, Hua Jinrong, while pouring tea, casually asked:
"My Lord, this student has a question I'd like to ask you~"