As night fell, all was silent.
A figure fled in the darkness, disheveled and desperate.
For ten years, there had been peace, but recently, their people had been murdered one after another. Having barely escaped, he naturally needed to seek help. He could no longer remain in Yusheng Imperial Capital.
Si Chen watched the escaping Yunqi scout and sneered. When they made a move, how could anyone escape?
Even if one did, it was because they were intentionally allowed to.
"Second Brother, is this 'cast a long line to catch a big fish' strategy of ours effective?"
"It's not us casting a long line to catch a big fish, it's the Master!" Si Chen looked at Nangong Yu, whose face was stern. When their Master was about to kill someone, his expression was particularly cold. "Have you ever seen our Master fail?"
"Your Highness, you suspect there are other Yunqi spies in the Imperial Capital?" Wen Ruyu asked with confusion.
"Yunqi has planted so many spies in our Imperial Capital, there must be someone managing them. To manage so many spies, there must be an organization. If we let one person escape, this person will definitely go to find their organization, and then we can catch them all in one go."
In an inconspicuous manor on the outskirts of the city, Xiao Man, with several men in black, surrounded the entire manor.
"Who are you, and why are you attacking us?"
"Qian Yihan, you're truly lucky. Murong Shengrui is indeed willing to send you to take charge of the secret guards here. Aren't you afraid you won't return?"
Qian Yihan was a little surprised. This person actually recognized him!
He was the Emperor's childhood companion, rarely appearing in public. Even among Yunqi, very few people knew him, let alone in Yusheng!
"Who are you?"
Xiao Man stepped forward with her sword, "The one who will take your life!"
With that, she shot out like an arrow, her long sword aiming directly for vital points with no flair, as if her sword existed only for killing.
However, the sword was not a renowned weapon. Facing Qian Yihan's Cold Water Sword, it was cleanly cut into two pieces.
Xiao Man looked at the broken sword and sighed. If she had Tian Gan, Qian Yihan wouldn't even have a chance to retaliate. She then discarded her long sword and charged again with a dagger.
Her heart held only one thought: Qian Yihan must die!
Qian Yihan was also shocked by the ferocity of his attacker. This person seemed to harbor immense malice towards him, clearly intending to kill him on the spot. But he had only recently joined Yunqi. Who had leaked his whereabouts? And who had leaked his identity?
At this moment, in the Tianji Pavilion, Tian Gan suddenly buzzed incessantly.
Wu Xiang looked at the buzzing Tian Gan, his face filled with shock. "How is this possible? How can Tian Gan be agitated? Has a new master appeared?! Impossible, absolutely impossible. Tian Gan only chooses a master once every hundred years. If the master dies, it's impossible for it to choose another master within a hundred years. Could Du Gu Man truly be alive?"
Nangong Yu, leading his men, followed the escaped scout and, as they tracked him outside the city, they happened upon Xiao Man and Qian Yihan fighting fiercely.
Xiao Man, wielding a dagger, sparred with Qian Yihan's Cold Water Sword. Amidst the flashing blades and sword light, an intense killing intent filled the air. The scout, witnessing this scene, was terrified. Before he could even react, Si Chen, who had caught up, stabbed him through the heart.
"Master, it seems someone has beaten us to it."
Nangong Yu leaped onto the rooftop. Xiao Man, disadvantaged by her weapon, was fighting Qian Yihan. Even though she had the upper hand, she couldn't kill Qian Yihan in a short time.
Qian Yihan's surprise grew with each exchange. His every move, before he even initiated it, was already countered. This person seemed to be able to read his thoughts and anticipate his techniques!
After several rounds, Xiao Man's dagger plunged into Qian Yihan's heart. Qian Yihan stared at the dagger in his chest, his gaze fixed on the person whose face was half-covered by a mask. "You... who exactly are you?"
Xiao Man leaned close to Qian Yihan's ear and said in a voice only they could hear, "What, you don't even recognize me anymore?"
Qian Yihan's eyes widened in terror, his pupils dilating infinitely, as if he had heard something dreadful.
Empress Dowager Du Gu, she was alive! No, how could she be alive? Her body was clearly sealed in the imperial tomb of Yunqi Palace. She couldn't be alive!
Xiao Man pulled out the dagger, her eyes cold. Qian Yihan's body slumped to the ground, his eyes wide open, filled with disbelief and fear.
As he died, only one thought echoed in his mind: Yunqi is in danger!
"Kill them all," Xiao Man commanded coldly. As she turned, she paused upon seeing the person sitting on the rooftop and changed her mind. "Withdraw!"
"Want to leave? It's not that easy!" Nangong Yu leaped and pursued Xiao Man. He had painstakingly tracked them here, only for this person to dismantle everything. He had toiled all night, only for it to be in vain!
"Flee separately." Xiao Man didn't care how many men Nangong Yu had brought. The group quickly dispersed and rushed into the nearby dense forest. Sudan Novel Network
Nangong Yu's men chased after them. But once Xiao Man's group entered the dense forest, they ran like rabbits and disappeared in an instant!
While the others escaped, Xiao Man was in trouble. Nangong Yu pursued her relentlessly. She had pushed her Qinggong (lightness skill) to its limit, yet she still couldn't shake him off.
Seeing Nangong Yu was about to catch up, Xiao Man gritted her teeth, suddenly stopped, and attacked Nangong Yu with her dagger.
Nangong Yu saw Xiao Man charging at him and immediately stopped, a cold smile curving his lips. She had quite the courage, trying to engage him in a head-on confrontation. Little did he know, when Xiao Man reached him, she stopped and stepped on something. Nangong Yu's foot then sank into the ground.
Nangong Yu was startled and began to fall rapidly. Xiao Man's expression turned cold: You asked for this!
Just as she was about to leave, a belt flew up and wrapped around Xiao Man's ankle, dragging her down with Nangong Yu.
"Ah!"
Xiao Man screamed as she fell, tumbling into Nangong Yu. However, the moment they landed, before they could cry out in pain, they began attacking each other.
Nangong Yu's target was the mask on Xiao Man's face, while Xiao Man attacked vital points with every strike, forcing Nangong Yu to defend.
Nangong Yu grabbed Xiao Man's hand and flipped her beneath him. His handsome face was filled with sternness, and his eyes were devoid of emotion.
Seeing that Nangong Yu was about to rip off her mask, Xiao Man, in desperation, bit down on Nangong Yu's hand.
Nangong Yu cried out in pain and tightened his grip on Xiao Man's hand. Xiao Man winced and immediately let go. However, she pushed herself up and violently headbutted Nangong Yu, knocking him to the ground. She herself was also dazed and dizzy. She stood up, supporting herself against the wall to regain her balance, but her back was to Nangong Yu.
Nangong Yu saw stars from the blow, but he managed a slight smile. He quickly suppressed it. "Woman, I'm behind you!"