The masked figure assumed an attacking posture and charged. Xiao Man watched with cold eyes, as if an adult playing with a child, effortlessly deflecting the opponent's attacks without delivering a fatal blow.
Ling Xuan stood to the side, watching in disbelief as Xiao Man toyed with the masked person. He knew Xiao Man's martial arts were exceptional; after all, he had been one-sidedly beaten by her in the General's Mansion, unable to even retaliate. Seeing Xiao Man now dominating someone else, Ling Xuan felt a considerable amount of his pent-up frustration dissipate. After all, he wasn't the only one Xiao Man had dominated, which meant he wasn't too weak, but rather Xiao Man was too monstrous.
"Has your young lady ever met her match?" Ling Xuan asked Ying Xue curiously.
Ying Xue thought carefully. "Yes, His Highness Prince Qin."
Ling Xuan chuckled awkwardly. Prince Qin was famously belligerent and incredibly powerful, rumored to be among the top ten monstrous figures on the Imperial Capital's expert ranking. Even if Xiao Man was monstrous, she was only a little bit monstrous. Prince Qin was a genuinely colossal monster!
"Besides His Highness Prince Qin?"
Ying Xue racked her brain. "Does getting injured count?"
"It counts."
"She was once injured by Dongfang Wei. Also, Young Lady probably can't defeat the State Preceptor."
"Nonsense. The State Preceptor once fought Prince Qin, and Prince Qin was even spat up blood. The State Preceptor's robes were undisturbed. Even if your young lady is the State Preceptor's beloved disciple, she can't possibly be the State Preceptor's opponent," Ling Xuan said irritably. As for Dongfang Wei, he was the young master of the Martial Arts Alliance, with a profound family heritage. It was only natural that Xiao Man wouldn't be his opponent. However, with Xiao Man's temperament, if she was injured by Dongfang Wei, wouldn't she retaliate?
"One day, my young lady will win against him."
"I fear your young lady will never defeat the State Preceptor in her lifetime."
"Is that so?" Ying Xue replied with a sarcastic tone. "My young lady is young. She can't defeat the State Preceptor now, but she can outlive him!"
Ling Xuan thought carefully. It was true. Xiao Man was only seventeen, while the State Preceptor was nearly forty. Outliving him was a possibility, after all, whoever lasted until the end was the winner!
"Tell me, when will this match end?"
"This match ended long ago," Ying Xue said slowly. "From the moment she appeared here, she had already lost."
Ling Xuan was a little surprised. "You know her?"
"Strictly speaking, no," Ying Xue said, staring at the masked figure. After all, no one knew her true identity.
The masked figure had been engaging Xiao Man, searching for a weakness. However, Xiao Man was always composed, making it difficult to find her flaws. It was also not easy to provoke Xiao Man into breaking the rules.
In her subsequent attacks, the masked figure couldn't even touch Xiao Man's hem. She became somewhat annoyed. "I'll fight you with everything I have!"
The masked figure suddenly lunged at Xiao Man. Xiao Man sidestepped and slapped the masked person's chest. To her surprise, a poisonous needle shot out from the masked person's mouth. Xiao Man had to use her other hand to catch the needle. As she caught the needle, her hand, which had been aimed at the masked person's chest, ripped off the mask as the person was sent flying.
The masked figure was sent flying by Xiao Man's palm, overturning a table. She landed ungracefully on the ground, spitting out a large mouthful of blood. Ignoring her injuries, she scrambled up and looked at Xiao Man, laughing. "You lost. You used both hands!"
Xiao Man glanced at the poisonous needle between her fingers, then her gaze fell on the figure kneeling on the ground. "Xiao Xiang, it really is you."
Xiao Xiang's expression flickered. Since Xiao Man began to neglect her, she knew Xiao Man must suspect her. But Feng Xi was too important. The Empress had said that whoever brought Feng Xi back would be the Imperial Princess of Blue Moon Kingdom. This was why she had come to snatch it, even knowing it would expose her.
Xiao Xiang wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. "Elder Sister is indeed intelligent. When did Elder Sister start suspecting me?"
"I'm afraid you are not a young lady of my General's Mansion," Xiao Man said softly. "Where is my second sister?"
"Why pretend to be such devoted sisters? Xiao Ling has already been killed by you. I killed Xiao Xiang for you, which saved you trouble. You should be happy," Xiao Xiang sneered.
"My General's Mansion's young ladies are not for outsiders to lay hands on." Xiao Man moved her hand, and the poisonous needle shot from her fingers towards Xiao Xiang. Xiao Xiang flipped to dodge, roaring in fury.
"You broke your promise! I won against you, you should let me go!"
"Don't worry, I always keep my word," Xiao Man said slowly. "I will definitely let you leave alive. However, before you leave, please tell me the whereabouts of my second sister."
"A dead person, what use is knowing her whereabouts?" Xiao Xiang scoffed. "Besides, do you dare to kill me? I am Princess Lan Qin, the third princess of Blue Moon Kingdom. Do you know the consequences of killing me?"
Ling Xuan's face turned pale. The second young lady of the General's Mansion was not the real second young lady but the third princess of Blue Moon Kingdom in disguise. How many Blue Moon spies had infiltrated the Imperial Capital? Were they in the mansions of high officials?
"If I kill you, I will ensure no one knows it was me," Xiao Man said softly. "Do you want to test if I dare to kill you?"
Xiao Xiang, or rather, Princess Lan Qin of Blue Moon, watched Xiao Man warily. Xiao Man had always been ruthless. If provoked, Xiao Man might truly kill her.
"Four years ago, Xiao Xiang was already dead," Lan Qin sneered. "I didn't intend to kill her. She fell down a mountain cliff while escaping and was pierced through the chest by branches. As she was dying, she kept calling for Elder Sister, 'Save me.'"
Xiao Man's eyes deepened slightly, but her expression showed no abnormality. "Where is the body?"
"At the foot of Donghui Mountain, there is a solitary grave. That is where her tomb lies."
Xiao Man closed her eyes, remained silent for a moment, then turned. "Don't let her leave too easily. Just ensure she doesn't die."
"Xiao Man, you despicable wretch! You went back on your word!"
"I only said I would let you leave alive, but I didn't say you would leave intact. No one who harms my General's Mansion's young lady can do so without paying a price!"
"Wait!" Ling Xuan quickly called out. "Xiao Xiang... no, Lan Qin, were you responsible for the seven lives lost at Longsheng Trading Company?"
"No, but it should be other Blue Moon spies. After all, only people from Blue Moon would be interested in Blue Moon's possessions." Lan Qin looked at Xiao Man's retreating back. "Xiao Man, we will meet again."
"The next time we meet, I'll take your dog life." Xiao Man left the teahouse. Countless hidden guards poured into the teahouse. Fierce fighting sounds and Lan Qin's curses emanated from within. However, Xiao Man no longer cared. Since she was not the young lady of the General's Mansion, she was no longer within the scope of Xiao Man's tolerance.