As night fell, a nimble figure silently infiltrated the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, heading straight for its treasure trove.
Within the treasure chamber, weapons lined a wall. Tian Gan hung there, seemingly masterless, as if awaiting its owner's return.
As the figure reached out for Tian Gan, the chamber suddenly lit up with candlelight. Wu Xiang lounged with his legs crossed by a desk, "You trespass into my Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in the dead of night. What do you wish to steal?"
The figure seized Tian Gan and immediately attempted to escape.
Wu Xiang let out a cold laugh. Did they truly believe the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was a place one could enter and leave at will? Su Dan Novel Network.
The figure tried to leap out the window, but as they neared it, a gleaming sword thrust forward, forcing them to retreat back inside.
A shadow, as swift as lightning, reached out to grasp Tian Gan, intending to reclaim it. However, the opponent held on tightly. Each person gripped one side, neither able to make the other let go.
A flicker of surprise crossed Nan Gong Yu's eyes. "Who are you?"
"Everyone in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is a petty thief, stealing what belongs to others!" The man's face was covered, and his dark robes helped him blend seamlessly with the night. Had it not been for the numerous traps of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, he might have succeeded in stealing Tian Gan.
"An ownerless item. Our Pavilion Master merely had it brought here!"
"This clearly belonged to Du Gu Man. When did it become ownerless!" the man retorted.
Nan Gong Yu's gaze shifted slightly. "The world knows Du Gu Man is dead. If the owner is dead, the sword naturally becomes ownerless."
The man fell silent, yet his grip did not loosen. How could the cunning and treacherous Du Gu Man be dead? Anyone else could die, but not her, not so easily…
She must still be alive!
Seeing the opponent's mind in turmoil, Nan Gong Yu immediately struck his chest with a palm, intending to retrieve Tian Gan. However, the man spat out blood from the blow but still refused to release his grip.
"She's alive! How could she die so easily!" The man suddenly erupted with intense killing intent. "She must be alive!"
Grasping Tian Gan's hilt, the man slowly began to draw it out. To everyone's astonishment, Tian Gan was indeed pulled out slightly. Nan Gong Yu was utterly stunned.
Wasn't Tian Gan sealed? Why could this person draw it out?
However, after being drawn out by a third of its length, Tian Gan could be pulled no further. The man exerted all his strength to draw it out, but ultimately, he could do nothing. Tian Gan returned to its placid state, resting securely within its scabbard.
The man's legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground. "She's alive. She must be alive. As long as I guard Tian Gan, I can find her. Return Tian Gan to me!"
The man lunged again, attempting to snatch Tian Gan. Nan Gong Yu waved his sleeve, sending him flying back, crashing into the wall and landing on the ground in a sorry state.
His mask fell, revealing a face that was neither male nor female. The face was contorted with ferocity, yet even so, it did not detract from his handsomeness.
"You are the Demonic Cult's leader!" Wu Xiang exclaimed in shock. "Aren't you supposed to be dead for years?"
Few people knew the Demonic Cult leader's name was Yu Qian Mo.
This was mainly because Yu Qian Mo enjoyed roaming the martial world and was prone to reckless behavior, causing trouble wherever he went.
As for how Yu Qian Mo earned the title of Demonic Cult leader, it was impossible to trace. Regardless, people in the martial world all knew he was the Demonic Cult leader.
Yu Qian Mo shakily rose from the ground, his long fingers wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're the one who's dead! Your whole family is dead! Return Tian Gan to me!"
"As the leader of the Demonic Cult, I never expected you to live in disguise beside Du Gu Man," Nan Gong Yu said slowly. "Is Du Gu Man truly still alive?"
"Give me Tian Gan!"
"I cannot comply," Nan Gong Yu replied calmly. "If you wish to have Tian Gan, you must take it by your own abilities."
Yu Qian Mo, enraged, charged at Nan Gong Yu again. However, when he reached Nan Gong Yu, he collapsed to the ground like a deflated puppet, unconscious.
Wu Xiang reached out and felt Yu Qian Mo's pulse. "He's alive, but his pulse is weak… Hiss, this fellow is so heavily injured…"
Wu Xiang lifted Yu Qian Mo's black robe and discovered he was covered in wounds. It was a miracle that he had survived this long.
"Call Ye Qing over. Ensure he stays alive."
The unfortunate Ye Qing was dragged to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in the middle of the night, his expression extremely grim.
After treating Yu Qian Mo's wounds, he was about to leave when he saw Nan Gong Yu sitting in the candlelight, lost in thought, holding Tian Gan.
"Even if you stare a hole through it, Du Gu Man won't come back to life."
"No, she's still alive," Nan Gong Yu stated with certainty. "People and events related to her are surfacing, appearing before this king. Therefore, she must be alive."
"If she were alive, she wouldn't be appearing before you, but by the Emperor Yun Qi's side, beheading him!" Ye Qing yawned. "By the way, Xiao Man seems to be skilled in medicine."
Nan Gong Yu looked at Ye Qing. "Skilled in medicine?"
"I merely suspect. From the Scorpion Stone Powder to the Heart Protection Pills, she's never asked me for help with these things."
Nan Gong Yu's expression was unreadable.
Xiao Man was skilled in medicine, capable of concocting lost secret medicines like Crimson Dew. How could she achieve this without understanding medicine?
Nan Gong Yu got up to leave. Ye Qing called out to him, "Where are you going? If you're going to find Xiao Man, take this sachet with you."
Nan Gong Yu caught the sachet tossed by Ye Qing.
"This is all someone's fault for intruding into Water Moon Cottage one night and ambushing someone. That someone planted poisonous flowers and plants around the perimeter of Water Moon Cottage. They're not poisonous during the day but are at night. If you rashly enter again, you deserve to be poisoned!"
Ye Qing was exasperated. "You went to test Xiao Man in the middle of the night. How could that girl be easily dealt with?
The next day, after you left, Xiao Man somehow got a batch of poisonous flora and planted them beneath the wall. If Nan Gong Yu dared to climb over the wall again, he would surely be poisoned!
"Her guard is as strong as ever."
"Her vigilance is chilling," Ye Qing couldn't help but touch his neck.
The first time he went to feel Xiao Man's pulse, she had almost broken his neck. "Speaking of which, Nong Yue told me something very strange. Before Xiao Man eats, her personal maid, Ying Xue, tests the food for poison one by one with silver needles. If I recall correctly, this is a technique commonly used by people in the palace, isn't it?"
Nan Gong Yu sighed. "Has her situation in the General's mansion deteriorated to this extent? She can't even relax her vigilance when eating? No wonder she's so guarded. Fine, let her recuperate peacefully for a few days."