In the royal city, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion, suppressing Bai Xi, stepped out of the city, cautious with every stride.
Elder Yun and others followed closely. If Lu Fan and his group wanted to escape today, it naturally wouldn't be easy. After all, they intended to use Lu Fan to kill Bai Xi, but Lu Fan and his group couldn't just slip away, lest the Eighth Prince blame them.
"Everyone retreat, do not leave the royal city!"
Bai Xi said coldly, "If anything happens to me, you will not be able to bear the consequences."
Elder Yun paused slightly. He hadn't expected Bai Xi to speak like this.
"Did you hear that? Your young master has said not to approach casually, or you'll be inviting death."
Lu Fan sneered, looking at the people of the royal city, feeling a touch of smugness.
Seeing this, the people of the royal city immediately frowned and could only stop at the city walls.
"Young Master, we must protect your safety and absolutely cannot let them harm you."
An Ying spoke, preparing to leave the royal city and pursue Lu Fan and his group.
"Are you even disregarding my words?"
Bai Xi's expression was indifferent, "Or are you trying to put me to death?"
"Your subordinate dares not!"
An Ying quickly cupped his fists, his expression flustered. He hadn't expected Bai Xi to speak like this, leaving him almost at a loss for how to respond.
"Since you dare not, then do not leave the royal city. Otherwise, when my father returns, I will surely have him punish you!" Bai Xi's expression was cold.
An Ying and others dared not act rashly and could only temporarily remain within the royal city.
"Elder Yun, have you noticed that the Young Master is somewhat different today?" An Ying said, "Could everything the Young Master has done these past few days have been an act?"
"He has certainly acted deeply," Elder Yun narrowed his eyes. "I truly did not expect our Young Master to be able to maintain this charade for so long."
"So it really is an act?"
An Ying's expression shifted. He knew very well that Bai Xi had mental issues since childhood. If it was all an act, it was a chilling thought.
"The Eldest Young Master, Bai Hu, is no easy opponent!"
Elder Yun stated directly, "If this young master hadn't feigned foolishness, he wouldn't have lived this long. However, now that he has revealed himself, he still won't survive."
"So, Elder Yun has always been the Eldest Young Master's man?" An Ying narrowed his eyes, "Not loyal to the Eighth Prince?"
"You speak the truth. I have been the Eldest Young Master's man for 20 years."
Elder Yun narrowed his eyes, "Now that you know all this, do you intend to inform on me?"
"Your subordinate dares not!"
An Ying quickly cupped his fists. "Although the Shadow Guards are loyal to the Eighth Prince, being loyal to the Eldest Young Master is equivalent to being loyal to the Eighth Prince."
"You are quite eloquent!"
Elder Yun nodded slightly, "If the Young Master dies an unnatural death this time, you will surely earn great merit in front of the Eldest Young Master."
"Thank you, Elder Yun!"
An Ying quickly cupped his fists. Within the Eighth Prince's manor, they were all pieces. Choosing a better destination for themselves was only natural.
Not long after, Lu Fan and his group arrived at a forest. Bai Xi smiled and said, "You are safe now. Shouldn't you release me?"
"By rights, I should release you. But I see that the people in the royal city may not be sincere towards you," Lu Fan said, "It's really not easy being the Young Master of the Prince's manor!"
"Indeed!"
Bai Xi nodded slightly, "But what does it matter? Regardless, I am still the Young Master of the Prince's manor, and they cannot control me."
"Do not be too confident."
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, "If they truly wish to use a borrowed knife to kill, you might not even have a chance to survive."
"Thank you for your reminder. However, as the Young Master of the Prince's manor, if I didn't have this foundation, how could I have survived until now?" Bai Xi smiled faintly.
Lu Fan was slightly surprised. They thought Bai Xi would be fearful, but now it seemed he had been overthinking. With Bai Xi's current demeanor, he didn't seem like a fool at all, but rather someone who had planned ahead.
"It seems all this was me worrying unnecessarily."
Lu Fan nodded slightly, "But no matter what, I must thank the Young Master. If not for you, we probably wouldn't have gotten out!"
"There's no need for thanks. You captured me, and using me as a bargaining chip is only natural!"
Bai Xi waved his hand, then prepared to leave. However, at that very moment, within the entire forest, a surging aura erupted, filled with a killing intent.
Surrounding the forest were numerous Shadow Guards, their presence imposing.
"How dare you ignore my words?"
With a cold expression, Bai Xi looked towards the crowd, his gaze carrying a hint of killing intent.
Seeing the scene before them, many of the black-clothed men's expressions flickered. They had received orders from the captain of the Shadow Guards and could only leave the royal city without any delay.
"Young Master, please do not misunderstand. I have come to save you." An Ying appeared, a smile on his face. "These people are audacious enough to hold the Young Master captive. The Shadow Guards will never let them go easily."
"Hmph, I see you are prepared. Your target is not them, is it?"
Bai Xi's expression was cold, "Could you also be my elder brother's man?"
"The Young Master is indeed astute. It seems the Young Master is truly acting. His words were never this sharp before," An Ying revealed a smile.
And at that very moment, Elder Yun also appeared, his eyes narrowing. "Young Master, now that it has come to this, we will no longer deceive you. If you had continued to feign foolishness your entire life, the Eldest Young Master would not have troubled you. Unfortunately, the intelligence you are now displaying is not like that of a fool."
"So my elder brother knew you were observing me in secret?"
Bai Xi sneered, "And was ready to take my life at any moment?"
"Please forgive me, Young Master. The royal family is inherently heartless, and we are merely following orders. It's just that the Young Master was too naive and didn't understand the ways of the world," Elder Yun smiled slightly.
"These matters are the business of your Eighth Prince's manor. They have nothing to do with us, right?" Lu Fan said, "If there's nothing else, we'll be leaving now, so as not to disturb you here!"
As Lu Fan led the Heavenly Fire Pavilion members away, the Shadow Guard squad stopped them. "You have overheard all our conversation, and how can we let you leave? Today, we must deal with you, besides the Young Master."
His brow furrowed slightly, Lu Fan's expression instantly turned grim. "You speak with quite an arrogance. Are you alone enough to handle us?"
"Young man, do not speak so boastfully!" Elder Yun smiled. "The Shadow Guards are powerful and not something you can contend with."
Facing these words, Lu Fan was unconcerned. "You wish to deal with the Young Master, and then you want to trouble us. I doubt you can do it."
"Whether we can do it or not is not for you to say!"
Elder Yun's aura suddenly surged forth.