[Urban] The Flag of Desire (Complete) - 7-9

Chapter 24: Who Holds the Power?

At the next meeting, Feng San once again presented the stakes to everyone, finally revealing his true intentions. "Based on the testimonies of Granny Qian, Granny Qin, and Mr. Lu, there is no doubt that Miss is not Master's biological daughter. Therefore, Miss has no right to be the heir of the Sima family, much less to concern herself with the affairs of Lieyun Ranch. For the sake of the late Madam, I hereby propose that Miss may continue to be the ranch's daughter, but she must no longer manage the ranch's affairs. As for Miss's background, it concerns the reputation of the Sima family and the ranch, so everyone must not spread it, lest it become a laughing stock."

Hu Tian was the first to agree, "That's right, I also agree to this. Miss has no further connection with the Sima family, so naturally she should no longer concern herself with the ranch's affairs. But Miss is, after all, Madam's flesh and blood, so we should still take good care of her."

He put on a magnanimous and generous demeanor.

Sima Wanqing coldly watched these two people who were putting on a show. They were slandering her background, but upon closer examination, it was all for the purpose of seizing power. But she couldn't understand. They could kill her father and brothers, so why didn't they kill her, instead only framing her to strip her of her rights on the ranch? It couldn't be that they suddenly had a change of heart. Besides, neither of them seemed like the mastermind. Who was the mastermind?

Perhaps, after she withdrew from managing the ranch, whoever benefited the most was the mastermind. Should she pretend to be oblivious and let the mastermind surface on their own?

Seeing her silent and indifferent demeanor, Duan Yuhan was momentarily confused about her thoughts. If she believed the witnesses and evidence, she should be heartbroken about her past; if she didn't believe them, she should be angry and upset about being framed. But her current behavior was strange. These past few days, it seemed the more he schemed, the less he could understand what she was thinking.

Yue Zhongzheng coughed lightly, "Miss, managing a ranch is actually tedious and exhausting, not something a girl should do. If you don't do these things, you can be happy doing something else."

He genuinely wanted her to be happy.

“Yes,”

Old Zhang said with a smile, “A wise man submits to circumstances. Miss, you lack the talent to manage the ranch; a daughter is better suited to be a wife and mother.”

He had strongly supported Sima Wanqing just a few days ago, but his tone today carried a different meaning. Had he sided with the enemy? Sima Wanqing’s sharp gaze fixed on him.

If Sima Wanqing were lazy and irresponsible, she might listen to everyone and settle for being a devoted wife and mother. But she had vowed to be an outstanding heir to the Sima family. She had promised her father that she would never abandon the Lieyun Ranch, no matter the circumstances. Her stubbornness, persistence, and unwavering spirit had never changed. The Sima family's assets outside the pass must not fall into the hands of others, much less into the hands of murderers.

Old Zhao, who had been silent for a long time, sighed and finally spoke, “I have devoted myself to the Sima family for forty years; today I can finally retire.”

He had naturally believed the enemy’s words and therefore no longer supported Sima Wanqing.

“Old Zhao, you are still vigorous despite your age, why retire now?”

Yue Zhongzheng understood his implication and couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.

“I’m getting old, it’s time for me to rest.”

Although Old Zhao still had attachments to the Sima family, there was no one to inherit it, so he had no choice but to leave and return to enjoy his later years.

Hu Tian happily chimed in, “Everyone can understand Old Zhao’s decision. Miss, you should do the same. From now on, you can focus on being a good wife and mother, without having to worry about the ranch as before, and without having to trouble your son-in-law. To be honest, we can’t even enjoy such a peaceful life.”

Sima Wanqing was shocked. She used to be the owner of the ranch, and if anyone was going to share the burdens, it was Duan Yuhan who did it for her. Hu Tian’s words came out without thinking,

but upon reflection, they were quite problematic. Judging from Hu Tian’s tone, it seemed as if Duan Yuhan was the one in charge, and she was the one who had nothing to do with it. Looking at the others, no one objected to his words, not even Duan Yuhan? An ominous thought flashed through her mind.

The decisions made at the meeting were no longer Sima Wanqing's to make. The enemy was seizing power; she wanted to see who would hold the reins after her departure, and who the mastermind was behind it all.

Three days later, Sima Wanqing quickly heard that everyone at the ranch greatly admired Duan Yuhan and unanimously elected him as the decision-maker for all matters, big and small.

Seeing this change in the situation, Sima Wanqing didn't know whether to be happy or worried. Duan Yuhan's influence at the ranch far exceeded her imagination. His influence wasn't because he was the son-in-law of the Sima family, but because he had built it up over a long period.

Talent, prestige, and wisdom—had made him the object of everyone's affections? Sima Wanqing was willing to believe this explanation.

But her mind remained clear; she hadn't forgotten another explanation—that Duan Yuhan was the real mastermind, the culprit who killed her father and brothers and seized the Lieyun Ranch.

This hypothesis sent chills down her spine. Her beloved husband, the father of her child, was actually the mortal enemy who had destroyed her family. But there's a sliver of a possibility, isn't there? She'd witnessed his past cruelty and ruthlessness towards her.

Or perhaps, time will prove everything. If Duan Yuhan wasn't the mastermind, the real mastermind would surely use other means to deal with him. And if the ranch were to be peaceful from now on, without any more disputes, then Duan Yuhan would undoubtedly be the mastermind.

Outside the Gongyu Xiaozhu, Sima Wanqing gazed at the starry sky, her mind unusually clear and bright. Even someone as close as Aunt Qin, someone who loved her, could betray her so easily. Human nature in this world is inherently untrustworthy, isn't it? Even the deepest feelings crumble under the temptation of self-interest? Even the most sincere love can be discarded like trash when faced with a choice of self-interest?

Under the moonlight, a figure stood quietly behind her. Sima Wanqing was startled to see the long shadow at her feet. Lost in thought, she hadn't even noticed anyone approaching. If the person behind her intended to harm her, wouldn't it be too easy?

A soft laugh came from behind her, "Xiao Qing."

The voice was exceptionally clear and pure.

When she turned around, Pei Mubai, dressed in snow-white robes, stood tall and imposing as ever. A year had passed, and his face had gained a touch of maturity, adding to his captivating charm. Her father's death, the birth of her son, the change of ownership of the ranch—all these had brought about earth-shattering changes in her life within a year. Seeing him again felt like many years had passed.

Pei Mubai, seeing her somber expression, instantly understood her feelings, but not wanting her to be so upset, he deliberately said, "What? You won't even call me 'Big Brother'? I knew I shouldn't have come to see you."

Seeing his cheerful smile, she suddenly felt a little lighter. "Big Brother Pei."

"I've heard about what happened."

Pei Mubai didn't know how to comfort her.

"How did things go in Loulan?"

She noticed he had lost a lot of weight.

"That matter isn't finished yet, but one day, it will be."

A flash of cold hatred crossed Pei Mubai's eyes. Could this man, who always seemed so cheerful and happy, also harbor such deep-seated hatred?

"Let's leave my affairs aside for now. On my way back, I heard many rumors, some extremely nasty. You know that?"

Pei Mubai looked at her with affection. How could the once noble and pure Miss Sima be so easily misunderstood and slandered? He paused, finally revealing his thoughts, "I suspect someone is deliberately spreading rumors."

Her smile was bleak. Her enemies had overturned her origins and ruined her reputation; no one inside or outside the ranch would support her anymore. They had forced her into a vulnerable position; even if she saw through their schemes and wanted revenge, it would be incredibly difficult.

She told Pei Mubai everything that had happened recently, along with her own speculations. Was it laughable? In the ranch where she had lived for eighteen years, she couldn't find a single person she could trust. But Pei Mubai, though they had only known each other for two or three months, and now a year had passed since they last met, she trusted him completely and was willing to share everything with him.

She held back some details until the very end. She didn't want to tell anyone that the person she suspected most was Duan Yuhan. Pei Mubai's questioning gaze swept across her face, and she remained silent.

"You were by your uncle's side when he died. Think back carefully, what else did your uncle say?"

Pei Mubai still felt something was off about her description of Sima Lie's deathbed.

She pondered deeply, and in a daze, her father's dying moments became clearer and clearer.

"It's no use, your father just wants to see you properly now."

"You've grown up, your father can't take care of you anymore, you'll have to rely on yourself for everything from now on, understand? You'll be a mother soon, you can't be willful anymore. It's just a pity... it's a pity your father won't be able to see his grandson born..."

"Listen to me."

She repeated those three sentences to Pei Mubai. Pei Mubai pondered deeply and finally understood what was strange. Sima Lie only said three sentences from beginning to end. But why wasn't a single one about revenge? He didn't mention Xuan Ying, didn't say who his killer was? Why didn't he say?

Sima Wanqing was deeply saddened by her father's death and subconsciously avoided recalling his gruesome demise. Today, however, she repeatedly tried to remember it to clearly explain it to Pei Mubai. In that instant, her heart pounded, and something seemed to leap out.

Sometimes, "nothing" carries a richer meaning than "something." A piece of wood, hollowed out, can hold water and other objects; a painting, with blank spaces, often appears more balanced and evocative. An unfinished sentence can evoke more associations and speculations.

Sima Lie, before his death, "didn't" reveal the killer's identity.

"Who else was present?"

Pei Mubai asked anxiously. He too had grasped the crux of the matter.

Her hands trembled slightly as she stared at him, unable to utter a single word. Her father hadn't revealed the killer's identity, hadn't urged her to seek revenge, because the killer was right in front of him, making it impossible for him to speak. If he did, the killer could take her life at any moment. There was only one such person—Duan Yuhan.

Hu Tian subconsciously regarded Duan Yuhan as the master.

In just three days, Duan Yuhan became the true master of Lieyun Ranch.

Before his death, her father didn't reveal the murderer's identity, precisely because Duan Yuhan was present.

Furthermore, the murderer killed her father and brother, but why didn't he kill her, the weakest in martial arts at the time?

And Duan Yuhan's cruel actions on her sixteenth birthday were to force her to leave the ranch so he could freely carry out his schemes?

One thing after another, all suspicions pointed to Duan Yuhan. But why? Why did he do this?

In an instant, cold sweat poured down her back, her heart numb, unwilling to think any further. She believed him as much as she believed herself. She loved him even more than she loved herself. But he was actually the Sima family's mortal enemy?

Pei Mubai, seeing her expression, seemed to sense her inner thoughts, "It was him?"

She lowered her head, like a withered rose, her spirit seemingly drained in an instant.

He reached out and gripped her hand tightly, as if that would transfer his spirit and energy to her. "It's suspicion, there's no concrete evidence yet. Whether it's him or not, it's too early to draw conclusions."

He was telling the truth, and also trying to comfort her. Perhaps it was just a coincidence? Deep down, she always hoped so. However, reason told her not to deceive herself, to let the facts speak for themselves.

"I'll help you."

He gazed into her eyes, his gaze as clear as spring water.

"No,"

she still felt the enemy was too terrifying, she didn't want Pei Mubai to be in danger.

"Hey, have you forgotten we said we'd share the good times and the bad?"

He deliberately sounded a little angry, as if blaming her for forgetting their sworn brotherhood vow. Her gaze wavered; even with such a vow, she didn't want him to risk his life to help her.

He urged her, "Tell me, where should we start our investigation?"

He fully understood her concerns, but he wasn't afraid.

She bit her lip and finally told him that Duan Yuhan had a large mansion outside the ranch, which might hold some secrets. He smiled and assured her he would investigate thoroughly. Moreover, Duan Yuhan was unaware of his arrival; having him investigate in the shadows would make things much easier.

He truly resembled a brother; perhaps he was the only person she could trust now. Sima Wanqing looked at his warm, comforting expression, her nose stinging with tears. Pei Mubai put his arm around her shoulder, quickly hugged her, and laughed, "I'm not exactly a gentleman. If you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to fall for you."

She lowered her head shyly.

When she looked up again, Pei Mubai was already gone.

Sima Wanqing returned to her room alone, tossing and turning in bed for a long time before finally falling asleep with deep doubts.

In her dream, she saw Duan Yuhan's hand on her father's chest, seemingly trying to expel poison from him… Her father coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering her dress with red spots, a shocking sight.

"Ah!"

Sima Wanqing sat up abruptly, cold sweat pouring down her back.

"What's wrong?"

She didn't know when, but Duan Yuhan had returned and was sleeping beside her. The dim moonlight streamed in through the window,

casting a soft, unsettling glow on his deep, mysterious eyes. As he pulled her into his arms, he felt the cool, slightly astringent sweat on her skin. She had been restless these past few days, perhaps troubled by her past.

"Tell them to make some nourishing soup tomorrow. Look how weak you are, you've lost weight,"

he said, still treating her like a precious jewel, his care unwavering.

She gazed at him. If he were the murderer, wouldn't he be more terrifying than anyone else in the world? How could he do such a cruel thing to the one he loved? How could he kill her father and brother while tenderly embracing her, showering her with concern?

Her eyes held no tenderness or affection; was she still reeling from a nightmare? He pulled her close, saying, "I'm here with you, you have nothing to fear."

She wasn't afraid of the nightmare; she was afraid of the truth. If he was proven to be the murderer, she wouldn't hesitate. She would take revenge and reclaim Lieyun Ranch. It was her responsibility and her mission; she had no other choice. Or perhaps, it would be either him or her who died; one of them had to leave this world for this feud to end.

Perhaps she was overthinking it. He was so good to her; he would give his life to save her—how could he be the murderer? She reached out and hugged his waist, feeling his warmth. But she couldn't help wanting to test him, so she looked up at her pretty but slightly haggard face. "I just dreamt of Father. He was covered in blood..."

"Don't think too much. Father's gone, but I'll take care of you."

A hint of sadness lingered at the corner of his lips. Was he mourning Sima Lie's death, or was he feigning it to match her emotions? She suddenly wanted to cry. She had once thought she understood him best, but now, she couldn't discern the truth in his emotions.

She buried her head in his chest, not wanting him to see her sorrow. He, however, thought she was still grieving her father's passing.

"Do you believe what they said?"

she asked in a muffled voice.

"Whether you're a daughter of the Sima family or not, I'll treat you the same way."

He truly didn't care about her background. She sighed softly, turned over, and lay down on her pillow, falling asleep peacefully.

When the seed of doubt sprouted in her heart, the only thing she could do was to investigate. No matter how cruel the truth might be, she must not be afraid or back down.

Chapter 25: By the Hot Spring

At dawn, Sima Wanqing had just opened her eyes when she saw Duan Yuhan's large face grinning at her.

"Get up quickly, let's go somewhere nice."

His eyes smiled like a crescent moon, his warm smile enveloping her.

"I don't want to go."

She refused him, her tone slightly unnatural. Filled with doubt, she realized she couldn't face him nonchalantly, could still chat and laugh with him.

"Not feeling well again?"

His concerned gaze was like charming sunlight, shining on her face, making her unable to resist its radiance.

She avoided his gaze, shrinking into the covers. "I want to sleep."

His dark eyes were so clear and bright, sparkling like stars, yet he could be a ruthless, cunning murderer.

She was in a bad mood, probably because of her past, he thought. Or perhaps he should shower her with even more love to make her understand that as long as she had his love, she could have anything she wanted.

He lifted her into the air, saying, "Alright, just sleep. You can wash up when we get there."

She struggled slightly, but knew she couldn't win against him. So, he carried her to the carriage. Her sleepy face was nestled in his arms, her long black hair flowing in the morning breeze, her crystal-clear jade feet sparkling with endless imagination, her light red dress nestled against his elegant blue robe—a scene of breathtaking beauty, like a poem or a painting.

Amidst the whispers and low laughter of the servants, soon everyone knew that the master's love for his wife was unparalleled, and their intimate moments were even more exquisite than the legendary love of lovers.

In the carriage, she pretended to be asleep, but she clearly felt his gaze fixed on her. His hands played with her hair, entwining and twisting it, just like their endless entanglement.

She didn't want to open her eyes and surprisingly drifted off to sleep again. She only woke up when he carried her out of the carriage and into the house. She let Xiaoyu help her wash and dress, and then ate breakfast with him before finally deciding what to do.

If he really was the murderer, with her current strength, she was no match for him. All she could do was appear normal on the surface, even pretending to be immersed in his affection, to lower his guard and make it easier to secretly investigate the truth. She had to face him bravely, and absolutely not reveal a single flaw to him. She told herself this, and finally smiled brightly at Duan Yuhan.

Seeing her go from listless to refreshed, he was delighted. "Let's go out and see, you'll definitely like it."

She followed him out, and upon looking up, she was deeply attracted by the scene before her. Lieyun Ranch was a lush, green pasture, but here it seemed like a completely different world, a place where birds sang and flowers bloomed. Under the warm sunshine, everything was vibrant with life, exotic flowers and trees vying for attention, a scene unlike anything seen beyond the Great Wall, but more like a scene from springtime in southern China.

"This place is only a hundred miles from the pasture, a newly discovered gem. Come on, there's even more fun ahead."

Just like when they were children, he took her little hand and strolled through the mountains and fields. A warm breeze caressed their faces, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees that drifted from afar. She greedily inhaled the fragrance, letting it permeate her heart and soul.

Here, only by casting aside worldly troubles could one truly appreciate the wonder of nature. That gentleness, that elegance, that natural simplicity, was intoxicating. But she had no heart to savor these things; she was only looking at him beside her. How long ago was it that she had to be so wary and suspicious of him? If only they could still be like they were as children, carefree, able to cry when they wanted to cry and laugh when they wanted to laugh.

He was so engrossed in the beautiful scenery that he didn't notice her unusual behavior. She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure.

As they walked further, she was even more amazed. Springs frequently gushed forth from the ground, spewing forth warm steam of varying sizes. Perhaps it was because of this spring that the climate here was so warm, and the surrounding area so vibrant with flowers. Looking ahead, sheer cliffs hung high, as if cleaved by a knife, a truly magnificent sight. Flocks of wild pigeons flew freely, their habitat nested in thousands of caves carved into the rock face.

He led her into a large cave, where stalactites hung upside down, exquisitely translucent and vibrantly beautiful, like entering a fairyland. Sunlight streamed in, refracting into a rainbow of colors that shone brilliantly against his exquisitely handsome features. Dazzled by the otherworldly beauty, she couldn't help but lean forward, gently pressing her cherry lips to his cheek.

He was slightly taken aback; she had never been so proactive before. But she only touched him lightly before running away, seemingly still shy. He didn't know that she ran away because of deep regret.

Inside the cave, a spring gushed forth from the rock wall, emitting wisps of steam. The steam filled the cave like a morning mist, veiling everything in a thin, ethereal white veil.

Curious, she reached out to test the water temperature. Surprisingly, it was neither too hot nor too cold, just right, and she let out a soft "Eh!"

"You've forgotten Bai Juyi's poem, 'In the spring chill, the emperor bestows a bath at Huaqing Pool; the smooth hot spring water washes away the congealed fat.' Yang Guifei's Huaqing Pool also had this kind of warm spring water."

When he said "washes away the congealed fat," his gaze lingered on her, as if imagining her beauty as she did so. She keenly sensed the intensity of his gaze and turned her face away.

"I know you don't like extravagance, so after discovering this place, I didn't make any changes, leaving it in its natural, simple state. Don't you like that?"

she feigned anger. "Anyway, you brought me here; it seems you have ulterior motives..." She

stamped her foot and was about to leave.

"Use what ulterior motives?"

he asked, pretending not to understand, looking at her with a mocking expression. Seeing her about to leave, he grabbed her again. "Ancient books record that soaking in hot springs can cure all diseases, and it can also beautify women and strengthen men. You've been listless these past few days, so I found this wonderful place to bring you here. Don't wrong me."

Soaking in a hot spring? Although they were married, the thought of being naked together in the spring still made her blush. Besides, her suspicions about him prevented her from feeling comfortable being close to him.

She twisted her hand, her arm slipping out of his grasp like a snake. This wasn't the Sima family's martial art, he quickly judged. How strange, the closer he tried to get these past few days, the more he felt there were many things he didn't know about her. Was this feeling due to his wariness and defensiveness, or was it because the distance between them was growing?

She lightly escaped the cave, and only when she felt "safe" did she turn back to look at him. She maintained a distance of six feet from him, which amused him.

Hundreds of wild pigeons flew freely in the sky. Some of the pigeons were walking around on the ground beside them; presumably, because the area was relatively secluded, these wild pigeons weren't afraid of people.

He looked at the sky and suggested with a smile, "How about we have a bird-catching contest? Whoever wins gets to do what they want today?"

"No!"

she hurriedly objected. He was sure there was a trap in his suggestion; she wasn't going to fall for it.

"But I think it's a good idea."

His figure floated to her side like a ghost, and in an instant, they were snuggled together again. "Now you have two choices: a bird-catching contest, or go back to the cave?"

She was secretly on guard; his lightness skill was beyond her imagination. A bird-catching contest? She had a 50% chance of winning. Being taken back to the cave by him… she could imagine it wouldn't be as simple as just a bath. At this moment, she didn't want to experience that fiery, heart-pounding feeling with him again.

"How can we have a bird-catching contest?"

she glared at him, pouting. Since he said that, did he already have a sure thing about winning?

"Catch the birds, but don't hurt them, and don't put them in cages. Whoever catches the most wins."

He had anticipated her question.

Seeing his confident demeanor, she deliberately got angry, "If you catch it but don't put it in a cage, it'll fly away. Show me."

He flicked his sleeve, and a small bird that had been flying merrily in the upper right sky suddenly stopped, motionless. It was a very strange scene; the bird was clearly flapping its wings frantically, yet it couldn't move an inch. He flicked his finger lightly, and with a "whoosh," a feather from the bird's left wing drifted down. Flicking a feather off a bird with a finger wasn't difficult; what was difficult was his precision, his absolute control over the direction and strength of the force. He flicked off the feather without harming the rest of the bird in the slightest.

She was confident she could flick a feather off a bird too, but she wasn't confident in controlling her internal energy so precisely, without the slightest error, injuring the target exactly as she wished. This wasn't a matter of the strength of her internal energy; it was entirely a matter of experience.

He reached out and grabbed, and the bird panicked, flapping its wings even more frantically, but the more it flapped, the further it fell, finally landing steadily half a foot above his palm, never to escape his grasp again. He repeated the process, and the second, the third… In no time, all ten birds that had flown by hovered above his right palm, refusing to leave.

She knew this was the pinnacle of the "sticking" and "absorbing" techniques in his internal energy cultivation, far surpassing his control of the fireflies that night. It was known that for every increase in the size of the controlled object, the required internal energy might double. The birds were several times heavier and stronger than the fireflies; the depth of his internal energy seemed to be only being revealed today. Yet, seeing his composed and effortless demeanor, it was as if he hadn't used his full strength at all. She was secretly alarmed.

"Why don't you try?"

She had no chance of winning this contest. After a moment's thought, she deliberately sighed, "It's a pity Xiaoyu isn't here."

"What if Xiaoyu were here?"

He was surprised by her statement.

"I brought back a spice from a village in Jiangnan; even the birds are reluctant to fly away after smelling it. If Xiaoyu were here, I could ask her to fetch it, and I would definitely win."

She spoke with great conviction.

"Just admit defeat, no need for all this talk!"

His teasing gaze infuriated her, as if he looked down on her.

"I'm telling the truth."

She cried out, her face flushed, making her alluring.

"Even if it's true, will you admit defeat now?"

No, she couldn't give up so easily. Although she knew she was no match for him, losing without a fight was worse; she'd better give it a try. She looked around; there was a spring at her feet, bubbling with hot water. An idea formed in her mind.

With a flick of her wrist, the water from the spring flowed upwards to her hands. She gently kneaded the water in circular motions, gradually shaping it into a perfectly round ball. Expanding her hands further, the water ball slowly grew larger, leaving a small opening on its surface, filling the center with air. Had she made a cage out of water to hold a bird?

Sure enough, she held the water ball in her left hand and flicked it with her right, sending a drop of water shooting out like an arrow, striking a passing bird with a "plop." The bird tumbled headfirst to the ground, struggling in mid-air before she caught it and stuffed it into the water sphere. In this manner, she caught birds, and in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, ten birds were already inside the water sphere.

The sphere spun continuously, its surface shimmering with iridescent colors in the sunlight, while the birds inside fluttered and danced freely, a truly beautiful sight.

Her method was completely different from his, but controlling the water flow to form the sphere, and stuffing so many birds inside without deforming or breaking it, required considerable inner strength to maintain.

"See, I can do it too,"

she said proudly, her demeanor no different from the little girl she had been many years ago. Back then, she often did the same, showing him everything she was proud of, needing his praise to be satisfied.

He smiled slightly, and with a few flicks of his sleeve, he collected the surrounding birds one by one into his grasp. Not to be outdone, she caught birds one by one and stuffed them into the water sphere in her hand. Naturally, with each bird he caught, the "sticking" and "suction" power of his internal energy increased; while her water sphere grew larger, requiring increasing control.

Though ostensibly a bird-catching competition, it was now clearly a demonstration of internal strength. He controlled the birds with invisible internal energy, while she used water as a medium; comparatively, his internal energy was superior.

He knew her competitive nature, her tendency to grow stronger with adversity, and her unwillingness to admit defeat. Ever since she casually killed Grace with a single blow, he had been curious about the depth of her martial arts. Now, he wanted to see how far her internal energy had reached after absorbing Sima Lie's. So, he continued catching birds, occasionally watching her with a half-smile, trying to ignite her competitive spirit.

She, of course, wouldn't easily admit defeat. But at that moment, in a ray of sunlight, she seemed to catch a fleeting glimpse of inquiry in his eyes. Was he using the bird-catching competition to probe the depth of her internal energy? She let out a soft cry, and the water balloon in her hand shattered, sending birds scattering in a flurry. It seemed as if her inner strength was waning.

"That doesn't count, that doesn't count,"

she said, shaking his arm playfully, her charming and endearing appearance stirring his heart.

"Look, your clothes are all wet. Let's go to the hot springs."

The water balloon burst, splashing water onto her clothes, subtly outlining the beautiful curves of her chest.

He smiled, looking her up and down. She blushed and tried to escape, "No!"

But in her mind, she was already thinking about how to avoid going to the hot springs.

"I won. You'll do whatever I say today."

He stood still, just smiling. A gentle tenderness, like a ray of dawn in the clear sky beyond the Great Wall, soft yet bright and dazzling, penetrated her heart.

She suppressed her inner turmoil, smiling sweetly, and took his hand. "You..."

Before she could finish, her delicate brows furrowed. "Hmm..."

Her face instantly turned as red as a magnificent sunset, but her lips remained bloodless.

"Qing..."

He quickly turned her face towards him. Her breathing was rapid, her petal-like lips tightly pressed together, as if she were enduring some pain.

"I... feel so uncomfortable..."

She leaned against him timidly.

His right hand and her left hand palms met, their fingers interlaced, and instantly her internal energy surged wildly. Could it be that Sima Lie's internal energy had not been fully integrated into her? But she hadn't felt any discomfort when she used her energy to catch the bird earlier.

"I don't know what's wrong... lately my internal energy has been a bit out of control when I practice."

She deliberately forced her internal energy to move erratically, just to have an excuse to go back inside.

Duan Yuhan was extremely astute, but at this moment he couldn't believe that the innocent Sima Wanqing would lie to him. Everyone who falls in love is the same, stubbornly believing that their lover wouldn't deceive them, and he was no exception.

Chapter 26: The Joy of Love (Part 3)

Sima Wanqing originally wanted to say that she should go back to the villa to rest. But unexpectedly, Duan Yuhan was afraid that her internal energy was unstable and would lead to qi deviation, so he used his energy to press his palm on her lower abdomen.

"It must be because you're too eager to achieve results in your practice. You know, haste makes waste. Don't move around."

Duan Yuhan pulled her to sit on the grass and carefully helped her circulate her internal energy. Her original intention was to feign illness to avoid bathing with him, but seeing how anxious he was, she couldn't explain anything and could only go with the flow, pretending that she had made a mistake while practicing.

Warm, soothing internal energy gradually flowed into her body from his palm, and a comfortable feeling slowly spread throughout her body. She secretly circulated her internal energy, deliberately causing it to rush around wildly, as if it were difficult to control.

Duan Yuhan became even more worried, and suddenly strengthened the internal energy in his palm, trying his best to gather her chaotic energy in one place. "Relax, follow my energy to open up your Ren meridian first, and don't worry about anything else."

Sima Wanqing only wanted to deceive him, and given her already profound internal energy cultivation, her true qi was running rampant, making it difficult for Duan Yuhan to handle. It took him almost half an hour to completely tame her chaotic true qi. After

such an ordeal, Sima Wanqing was exhausted and weak, and although Duan Yuhan appeared normal, he was also extremely tired.

Duan Yuhan helped her up, looking at her gradually returning face with concern. "You almost suffered a qi deviation. If you feel unwell during your practice in the future, tell me immediately, okay?"

Sima Wanqing knew that he had expended a great deal of his energy to help her. He was truly good to her; perhaps she had wronged him. Thinking this, her love for him surged forth from all directions.

The two of them had been practicing for a long time, and were already covered in sweat. She took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck. He was truly handsome, with deep black eyes, sharply defined features, and perfectly shaped thin lips. Even the sweat couldn't mask his refreshing scent, a scent she loved.

Duan Yuhan saw his reflection shimmering in her clear, lake-like eyes, and couldn't help but smile, lifting her up in his arms. "Let's go back to the villa to rest first, then have lunch before going to the hot springs, okay?"

He was asking her opinion, but his tone was like speaking to a child. In his heart, his Qing was still a kind, innocent, occasionally mischievous and willful little girl, needing his care in everything.

"Okay,"

she didn't object, letting him carry her back to the villa. Under the warm sunlight, their shadows intertwined tenderly, still so harmonious and beautiful. Unfortunately, this was just a fleeting moment of true love, a brief moment of mutual understanding that couldn't undo the undying devotion of the past.

After lunch, Sima Wanqing didn't want to get up. A deep-seated doubt pierced her like a thorn, making her want to avoid any further intimacy with him.

Duan Yuhan came over and put his arm around her slender waist, his fingers lightly tracing her snow-white neck. "You've sweated a lot too."

She naturally knew what he was going to say next, and gently pushed him away. "I haven't seen Bing'er today. I want to go back and see him."

This wasn't a lie; she genuinely missed the child. He studied her little face. "Now that you have Bing'er, you don't care about me anymore."

Judging from his feignedly mournful tone, was he jealous of the child? She couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Yu came in from outside with a wet nurse carrying the baby. "Young Master is here."

She looked at him in surprise. How come the child arrived so soon after she mentioned him? Four-month-old Sima Bing was fast asleep, his rosy little face incredibly cute. His delicate little nose was a perfect replica of Sima Wanqing, but the overall facial contours were a shadow of Duan Yuhan.

"I knew you couldn't bear to leave Bing'er, so I brought him along."

Duan Yuhan skillfully took the child in his arms, smiling as he looked at him. "Your parents are out having fun, how could we leave you alone at home?"

He spoke with utmost seriousness, as if the child understood him.

She came over to hold the child, but he wouldn't let her. Finally, Sima Bing burst into tears, and no amount of patting or soothing worked; he just cried harder. He then hurriedly handed the child to Sima Wanqing.

Smiling, Sima Wanqing took Sima Bing in her arms and gently rocked him until he finally fell asleep. Sima Wanqing looked at the child, feeling for the first time how heavy he was in her arms. What if Duan Yuhan really was the murderer, and she was determined to take revenge? Wouldn't Bing'er be the most pitiful child in the world?

"Now that Bing'er is alright, can we go out?"

Duan Yuhan said with a hint of teasing, his lips brushing against her ear.

"Fine, I'll go, but you're not allowed to get any funny ideas."

Sima Wanqing couldn't find a reason not to go, so she could only say this.

"What constitutes a funny idea?"

He pretended not to understand, deliberately teasing her. She gave him a playful glare. She had just worked up a sweat from practicing her internal energy and was indeed quite tired now. Perhaps soaking in the hot spring would be a good choice.

The two left the villa and walked into the cave. The cave ceiling was adorned with magnificent stalactites, and the edge of the hot spring pool was surrounded by a patch of dark brown rock. White mist filled the cave, creating a world that seemed both real and surreal.

"You go first, or me first?"

He smiled, looking at the pool, revealing his clean, white teeth, his expression somewhat mischievous. She seemed to remember that he had smiled like that many times before.

She composed herself, turned her back to him, as if afraid of seeing his naked body, "You go down first."

"How about... we go down together?"

His voice suddenly reached her ears. Before she could struggle, he had already pulled her tightly into the pool.

"Qing, it's so hot..."

In the water, their bodies remained pressed tightly together. Their clothes, wet and clinging to their skin, were almost transparent, revealing glimpses of her alluring curves. He seemed genuinely worried about her heat, pulling open her collar from behind and tearing off her entire dress.

"Mmm."

She felt the warmth of the water enveloping her, every inch of her skin receiving nature's caress and blessing. Looking back, she saw him also wrapped tightly in wet clothes, and the phrase "a feast for the eyes" suddenly popped into her mind.

"I'm so tired from practicing my internal energy earlier, I need to rest."

She suppressed her fantasies and hurriedly pushed him away.

He lovingly held her hand, feeling that her internal energy had calmed down. "Good, you can relax and regulate your breathing."

He moved to her left, closed his eyes, and stopped looking at her. Helping her regulate her internal energy had also greatly depleted his own.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but Sima Wanqing finished regulating her breathing and immediately felt a sense of lightness and comfort. When she opened her eyes, Duan Yuhan seemed to be asleep. His sleeping posture was exactly like Sima Bing's. She quietly moved closer and gently leaned on his shoulder. Strangely, she felt more inclined to be close to him at this moment.

Duan Yuhan suddenly opened his eyes with a smile, one hand firmly gripping her waist, the other sliding down to her chest. Sima Wanqing was startled, struggling shyly, trying to escape his temptation. But he wouldn't let go for a moment. She had nowhere to avoid him and could only turn around to face him. Tears blurred her vision, and she suddenly wanted to let go of everything; she wanted to know just how much influence she had on him.

She took a deep breath, her slender hand touching his chest, unbuttoning his shirt, then sliding down to loosen his belt. He was a little surprised; he had been running away just moments before, and now he was being so proactive. His little wife also knew how to play the "push and pull" game?

His lines were perfectly smooth, his sun-kissed skin only reminding her of health, beauty, and sexiness. Surrounded by the heat, she felt a little dizzy, as if she couldn't breathe. Her small hand hesitantly reached for his chest, firm and warm, giving her a sense of security.

"Do you like it?"

His dark eyes were unfathomable, watching her small hand "stirring things up" all over his body. She secretly smiled, suddenly sticking out her small tongue, slowly gliding it across his strong chest. "Oh..."

He gasped, trying to calm his increasingly erratic breathing.

She gently licked his clitoris, as if wanting to taste it. He had treated her like that before; she wanted to see how he would react. He almost gritted his teeth to keep a pleasurable moan from escaping his throat. Even the slightest movement from her ignited his desire.

She seemed unsatisfied, even using her pearly teeth to bite his clitoris, an intense pleasure instantly coursing through his body.

"Oh..."

He tightened his arms around her waist, pressing her against his chest. His erection, hidden deep underwater, was now large and firm, pressing tightly against her clitoris.

His expression was a mixture of pleasure and pain. She was uncertain. "Did I bite you too hard?"

Then she felt his heat pressing against hers.

She shifted her hips, not wanting him to penetrate so easily. It slid to the side with her movement, the warm water surrounding and surging around her secret garden, a strange pleasure welling up within her. It rubbed against her firm thighs, seemingly still growing larger.

His dark eyes blazed with a fierce fire, a dizzying, alluring smile playing on his lips. His large hand slid over her soft breasts, like a caress, or perhaps a bath. His other hand swept through the water, a warm current rushing into her flower, massaging her clitoris, again and again, wave after wave. She swallowed hard, her body inexplicably hot, a feeling of fullness followed by emptiness making her crave something.

Involuntarily, she extended her tongue to moisten her parched lips, an unintentional act that ignited his passion.

He pressed closer, making her lean against the rock. Her soft breasts pressed tightly against his strong chest, rubbing against each other, each craving more pleasure from their skin-to-skin contact.

Her hand inadvertently touched his erection. At this moment, it was as handsome and vibrant as its owner. She deliberately ignored it, merely stroking its proud head before leaving it alone.

"Naughty, see how I punish you..."

"Mmm..."

His lips brushed against her like feathers, again and again, her nerve endings immediately picking up on this gentle touch. He began to touch her again, then touch her again, kiss her lightly, then kiss her deeply, then kiss her passionately, his smooth, soft tongue swirling and probing in her mouth, finally sucking on hers, slowly savoring it in his mouth. She seemed unable to withstand his passionate torment, her cheeks flushed, her starry eyes half-closed, her thick eyelashes trembling incessantly.

She was truly beautiful; in his eyes, she was now a peerless treasure.

"Mmm..."

His penetration elicited a satisfied moan, a warm current flowing through her body, making her blood boil. His own senses were aroused, and he could no longer control himself. The burning heat that filled his body felt like a wildfire about to ignite his entire being, and he plunged her headlong into an endless sea of desire.

Her slender body trembled uncontrollably, her hips rising excitedly, as if anticipating more, more intense pleasure. Sensing her passionate response, he breathed heavily, his enormous desire thrusting slowly and gradually, deeper and shallower.

"..."

She couldn't speak, her body overwhelmed by the intense pleasure, gripping his shoulders tightly, her legs weakening, her flower involuntarily contracting, feeling as if she could barely breathe.

"Tell me, is it pleasurable?"

he demanded, forcing her to admit the joy.

"Han...Han..."

she murmured intermittently, her face, as radiant as the morning sun, glowing with an unusual light from the raging passion. She was completely unaware of what she was saying, only fully cooperating with his frenzied movements, letting the surging heat within her control her consciousness.

He gasped sharply; her moans and groans were like the most potent aphrodisiac to him. His strong arms spread her thighs, exposing her private parts completely to him, and he began to thrust wildly into her tenderness, eliciting even more intense moans from her.

"Ah..."

In her dazed state, she was completely lost in the moment, involuntarily screaming.

Finally, with her body contracting wildly, tightly gripping him, he roared and erupted, a massive wave of pleasure crashing over them, engulfing them in a cathartic climax.

They embraced tightly, speechless for a long time. Her heart gradually calmed, and a terrible thought flashed through her mind. If he was the murderer, even if her martial arts skills were inferior to his, she still had a chance to kill him. The peak of lovemaking, the man's ultimate ecstasy, was also the moment when she was most likely to kill.

"Satisfied?"

He held her contentedly, his tongue playfully licking her snow-white shoulder. Her slender, perfectly proportioned figure, a blend of innocent shyness and wild sensuality, was the wife of his dreams.

Her naturally beautiful body was partially obscured by the rising steam of the hot spring, exuding a captivating charm, meant only for him to possess and admire. Only now, with her, did he experience the ultimate satisfaction of both lust and emotion.

She didn't answer him, but rested her head on his shoulder, seemingly fragile and delicate.

"Cough cough..."

Xiaoyu's violent coughing came from outside the cave. He wondered if she had arrived early, as he hadn't dared to enter because of the mesmerizing sounds inside.

"What is it?"

he asked lazily, not wanting to be disturbed. But Xiaoyu should know her place; she wouldn't dare come unless it was important.

"It's... time for dinner,"

Xiaoyu said hesitantly.

They exchanged a glance. Time had flown by; why didn't he feel hungry at all? He lightly pecked her cheek, then let Xiaoyu in. Xiaoyu brought in a towel and two sets of clean clothes and shoes.

She was a little shy, unsure if Xiaoyu had overheard anything. He chuckled softly in her ear, "It's alright, everyone knows we're husband and wife."

"You're so annoying!" She got up and went ashore, drying herself with the towel, ignoring him.

A faint, ethereal fragrance emanated from the clean clothes, a scent she had never experienced before. "What's that fragrance?"

she asked in surprise. She never liked scenting her clothes, finding it too effeminate and not befitting the carefree spirit of a daughter from a martial arts family.

"It was a gift from a silk merchant. It's said to be the Deer-Lottery Incense from Loulan, priceless and invigorating. I noticed you weren't feeling well, so I asked Xiaoyu to use it to scent your clothes,"

he explained. She put on her clothes and shoes, then sniffed them again. Hmm, it smelled quite nice.

“Yes, this is a fragrance that the master specifically instructed us to use to scent the lady’s clothes. This fragrance is unique for hundreds of miles around the entire ranch, which shows the master’s affection for the lady,”

Xiaoyu added opportunely.

Hearing this, her heart pounded. Her personal maid, who had been with her since childhood, no longer called her “Miss” but “Madam.” Was it that from now on, her existence was merely that of Duan Yuhan’s wife? The respect and obedience others showed her were all because she was Duan Yuhan’s “Madam,” and he was no longer “son-in-law” but “master.” The ranch no longer belonged to the Sima family; it was completely under his control.

“You may leave,”

she unconsciously instructed Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu, though confused, still left, handing her Duan Yuhan’s clean clothes as she went.

“What are you thinking about?”

he asked, noticing her sudden reverie.

"It's nothing."

She snapped out of her reverie, glancing at him as he was still in the water. "I was wondering if you usually have maids helping you bathe and change?"

She deliberately sounded a little jealous, as if her daze was due to jealousy.

"Yes, you're afraid they..."

He realized her domineering nature was similar to his.

"I hate it when other women see you naked."

She went along with his tone, pulling him up, drying him off, and dressing him.

"So you'll help me dress from now on?"

She smiled, a sly smile. "How about replacing all your maids with servants from now on?"

He laughed loudly. How wonderful it would be if his wife were always like this. However, he wasn't sure if she believed the fabricated story they had given her. If she believed it, she would have no further connection with the Sima family, and she would wholeheartedly be his good wife. But what if she didn't believe it? Given her intelligence, if she saw through the strangeness, she probably wouldn't so easily abandon her responsibilities to the Sima family.

Judging from her current behavior, she was listless and got along very well with him, as if she had accepted her past and only wanted to rely on him. This was a situation he was happy to see. But he still had some doubts. If Sima Wanqing was so foolish, so easily manipulated, so content with pleasure, she wasn't the woman he deeply loved.
Chapter 27: Clues

It was night again. Sima Wanqing calculated that Pei Mubai had been investigating the mansion outside Duan Yuhan's ranch for three days. She wondered how things were going. She was a little worried, after all, Pei Mubai was unfamiliar with the area.

"Xiao Qing."

Pei Mubai's gentle voice sounded beside her, and she looked at him with surprise.

"I was worried about you, I'm so glad you're alright."

Her words of concern warmed Pei Mubai's heart.

Pei Mubai took out a booklet from his pocket and handed it to her. "There aren't many people in that house, mostly maids and servants. I found this in the study, take a look."

When she took it, she immediately realized it was an account book. Account books weren't unusual; any business would need one. But this account book wasn't from Lieyun Ranch. Did Duan Yuhan have other businesses?

She read through it page by page. The account book was indeed quite strange. The income entries were numerous, while the expenses were fixed, making it seem like a business with no capital. The daily income amounts varied greatly, the names of the people making the entries were numerous and varied, and the amounts noted under each name also differed significantly. If it were a normal account book, there would at least be some categorization, but this account book had no categorization whatsoever. It was truly baffling how it was kept.

On the outermost cover of the account book, a hastily written "nine" was faintly visible. Could this ledger record the accounts for September, or is this the ninth one?

"This is the ledger, is there anything else besides this?"

She was eager to know more.

Pei Mubai thought carefully for a moment, "It's not much different from ordinary wealthy families. When I went there at night, I didn't see anyone special. The security of the mansion was lax, with only two people guarding one door. When I led them away and went inside, I found it was a study. There were some strange notebooks like this on the bookshelf, so I took one back to show you."

Calling the ledger a "strange notebook" was typical of a young master.

He was the only son of the Pei family in Jiangnan, and after his home was burned down, he had been living with his maternal grandfather, the Grand Tutor of the court. Naturally, he had never touched an ledger before, so it was normal that he didn't recognize it. As for Sima Wanqing, if Sima Lie hadn't wanted her to inherit the Lieyun Ranch, she probably would never have come into contact with such things in her life.

"Have you looked at the other ledgers? What's written on them?"

"There's one that's even stranger, like a roster, with names like Jianxi, Jiaorui, and Shuling, all of which seem to be women's names. Under each name, there's a record of how many taels of silver."

Pei Mubai secretly suspected it was from a brothel, but he was too embarrassed to say it to her.

Shuling? Mantianfang? Could the other ledger Pei Mubai mentioned be a record of the prostitution income of the girls at Mantianfang? Her mind raced as she looked at the ledger in front of her. "Nine"—could it refer to Pai Gow? Suddenly, she realized, "I see."

"What's going on?"

"You probably don't know, but there's a Mantianfang outside the ranch, which is arguably the largest gambling den and brothel outside the Great Wall. It's said to make tens of thousands of taels of silver a day, and my father used to take customers there often. You just mentioned Shuling, which is the name of one of the prostitutes there. So I guessed that the other ledger you saw was a record of the girls' income from prostitution. And this one in your hand is the ledger for Pai Gow gambling at Mantianfang."

She explained carefully to him, afraid he wasn't familiar with the situation.

Pei Mubai looked at her with some surprise. She actually knew prostitutes? Sima Wanqing seemed to understand his thoughts, so she recounted the details of her second brother Sima Hui's death to him.

Sima Hui's death, Shuling, Mantianfang, the account books were in Duan Yuhan's residence. Pei Mubai felt as if there was a clue pulling his thoughts, but for a moment, he couldn't quite make sense of it.

"The gambling accounts and prostitution accounts of Mantianfang were found in his study. Could he be the mastermind behind Mantianfang?"

Sima Wanqing blurted out her speculation.

In an instant, Pei Mubai's doubts cleared up. He glanced at Sima Wanqing, hesitating. Would it be too hurtful for him to reveal his guess? Or should he let her figure it out herself?

Seeing his hesitant expression and slightly sorrowful eyes, she suddenly understood that his guess must be related to Duan Yuhan, but he couldn't bear to say it, afraid of hurting her.

Duan Yuhan is the owner of Mantianfang, and Shuling is a prostitute there. Sima Hui died in Shuling's bed, so by this reasoning, Duan Yuhan is likely involved in Sima Hui's death. They already suspect Duan Yuhan of being the murderer of Sima Lie and the mastermind behind the plot to seize Lieyun Ranch, and now they inevitably have to investigate the true cause of Sima Hui's death.

Why does Duan Yuhan become more suspicious with each step closer to the truth? Although Sima Wanqing had prepared for the worst, she still felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Where is Shuling now? She must know something."

Pei Mubai's deduction sounded reasonable.

"Shuling is at the ranch. She was pregnant with my second brother's child, but the child died."

Sima Wanqing said this calmly. She wondered if her second brother's child, because it belonged to the Sima family, was never given a chance to be born by Duan Yuhan.

"Do you want me to help you investigate her?"

"I'll go find her myself."

Sima Wanqing felt it would be more convenient for her to find her, since Pei Mubai wasn't familiar with the ranch.

"Is there anything else you need me to do? Just let me know."

Pei Mubai was only interested in helping her. In terms of their fathers' relationship, he was her sworn brother; in terms of his feelings for her, it started as admiration and has now become friendship; plus, they were sworn siblings, so he felt a responsibility and obligation to protect her. Seeing her current situation, he couldn't stand idly by. No matter how dangerous it was, he had to help her find the murderer.

She smiled reassuringly, knowing there was no need to be polite with him. "Have you found any Xuanbing Poison?"

The deaths of Sima Lie and Sima Xu were closely related to Xuanbing Poison. If Duan Yuhan was the murderer, he should have it in his possession. Hiding Xuanbing Poison in the ranch was too dangerous; if he had it, he must have hidden it outside the ranch.

Pei Mubai pondered for a moment. "No, we didn't find any medicine or anything like that there, not even a secret room."

She was happy to hear his answer, but upon reflection, if Duan Yuhan was the mastermind, he wouldn't need to hide Xuanbing Poison in his own residence; he would probably have it with Hu Tian or Feng San.

"Investigate Hu Tian for me. He's one of the four stewards of the ranch."

She immediately decided to start with Hu Tian. Hu Tian was Duan Yuhan's most capable subordinate. If Duan Yuhan was the murderer, Hu Tian would definitely have many clues. Conversely, if the Xuanbing Poison couldn't be found, Duan Yuhan's suspicion as the murderer would be greatly reduced.

"Okay."

Pei Mubai readily agreed.

"Come with me."

She led Pei Mubai, using her lightness skill to evade the servants, to a house in the southwest of the ranch. The house seemed to be quite old, but it was well-maintained. Pushing open the door, the interior was extremely simple and clean. On the table in the center was a benevolent-looking Thousand-Armed Guanyin, making the house look like a place for chanting scriptures and cultivating oneself.

“This Jingzhai is where my mother used to chant scriptures and worship Buddha. Since she died, few people have come here. It will be more convenient for us to meet here in the future.”

Duan Yuhan’s presence is ubiquitous, and she needs to be extra careful when she meets him.

Pei Mubai looked around. “How about this, if I have any news or want to meet you, I’ll write a note and leave it here.”

He leaped and tapped a spot on the roof beam.

She thought for a moment. “That’s not a good spot. It gets dusty easily and leaves traces of tampering. Let’s leave it here. If I find anything, I’ll leave a note for you here too.”

She took the vase from Guanyin’s hand and pointed inside. The maids dared not touch the sacred object in Guanyin’s hand, except to wipe the outside clean.

Pei Mubai nodded in agreement. He had another question that had been on his mind for a long time, and finally couldn’t help but ask, “I heard from outside that he is… very good to you now?”

“Yes.”

She answered sadly, her heart filled with sorrow. No one would have thought that Duan Yuhan could be so cruel and terrifying when he was heartless, and so tender and affectionate when he was affectionate.

"You—"

Pei Mubai couldn't bring himself to ask that question. If Duan Yuhan was truly the murderer, would she decide to kill him for revenge?

Sima Wanqing smiled at Pei Mubai, indicating that she was strong and that he didn't need to worry too much. If Duan Yuhan was indeed the murderer, she would definitely not let him go. Killing a loved one and seizing the ranch was unforgivable. No matter how reluctant or heartbroken she was, she had to take revenge, but the most pitiful one was her Bing'er.

Seeing the hint of heartache flash in her eyes, Pei Mubai naturally understood her pain. He wanted to comfort her, but for a moment he didn't know where to begin. Putting himself in her shoes, it was best to find out the truth as soon as possible. Once everything was clear, she would naturally make the best choice.

"Don't think too much, let the facts speak for themselves."

No matter what the truth was, no matter what decision she made, he would always stand by her side and support her.

Sima Wanqing couldn't help but look up at him gratefully. Pei Mubai was always her caring and loving brother. How fortunate she was to have such a brother by her side, selflessly helping her.

"Where are you resting now?"

She looked at his slightly tired face and felt uneasy.

Pei Mubai didn't want her to look so gloomy, so he deliberately moved closer to her face. "After saying so much, you only ask me one question. I'm so sad."

He seemed to have inherited his father Pei Yizhi's flirtatious nature. Although he had no intention of flirting, he couldn't help but tease a girl he liked. At this moment, even though he considered Sima Wanqing a good sister and friend, such slightly frivolous words still slipped out.

Sima Wanqing looked at him in surprise, but saw that his eyes were full of cheerful smiles, without a trace of flirting. She understood that his words were purely a joke. She sighed inwardly. With his looks, talent, and personality, how many girls would secretly fall in love with him in the future, only to be heartbroken?

The night was dim, and to avoid any further complications, the two finished their discussion and hurriedly returned home.

When Sima Wanqing returned to Gongyu Xiaozhu, Duan Yuhan had already returned. "Where have you been so late?"

he asked casually. It was indeed strange; she wasn't in the bedroom so late, nor had she gone to see Bing'er. Even Xiaoyu couldn't explain where she'd gone.

"I was bored without you, so I just wandered around,"

she said, her tone slightly annoyed, as if she was angry that he hadn't spent the night with her.

He gently removed her hairpins and earrings, preparing to get her to bed. "You know there's a lot going on at the ranch, and we can't just delegate it to anyone. If you get bored, ask Xiaoyu to keep you company. You can eat whatever you want, use whatever you want, and it'll be more convenient to have someone

at your beck and call." He spoke like a dutiful husband caring for his beloved wife.

Hearing these words, her heart trembled involuntarily. After seeing the accounts of Mantianfang tonight, she could no longer trust him.

She didn't speak, obediently following him to bed. On nights devoid of passionate lovemaking, he habitually held her from behind as they fell asleep. His hand rested gently on her waist as usual, but her thoughts were in turmoil, and she couldn't sleep.

Before her, he concealed himself almost flawlessly. He was actually the owner of Mantianfang; how many secrets did he hold that she didn't know? She had once thought they were of one mind, but now, gazing at his sleeping face, a chill ran through her, frightening her. The closer she got to him, the less she knew him. The more she understood him, the further her heart drifted away.

Chapter 28: The Death of Shuling

Shuling's current residence was in a very remote location in Lieyun Ranch. Since the loss of her child, she had lived a secluded life, rarely interacting with outsiders. Those who weren't paying attention would completely overlook her existence.

In truth, Shuling was only in her early twenties, the most beautiful time of a woman's life. Many people were moved by her devoted mourning for Sima Hui. Love is deep, but what can be done?

Sima Wanqing went to find her at noon. With her light-footed skills and familiarity with the ranch, she effortlessly avoided the servants. Reaching the door, Sima Wanqing hesitated slightly. How should she treat Shuling? Shuling appeared quiet and gentle, with a chaste and dignified demeanor, but she was likely connected to her second brother's death. Could she be another person who appeared kind on the surface but was insidious inside?

When Sima Wanqing pushed open the door, Shuling was chanting scriptures again.

"Long time no see."

Sima Wanqing wondered if her sudden appearance would frighten her.

Shuling slowly raised her head, seeing Sima Wanqing, seemingly unsurprised. "I knew you would come looking for me one day."

"You knew?"

Sima Wanqing stared at Shuling, whose face was haggard, lips pale, and hands thin and dry, as if she were seriously ill.

"We originally had no relation. You are a young lady of the Sima family, and I am a girl from Mantianfang. If it weren't for those two men, we would never have been talking face-to-face like this."

Shuling acknowledged the "two men"—Sima Hui and Duan Yuhan?

Seeing that Shuling was so direct, Sima Wanqing also spoke up just as bluntly, "Since you know why I'm here, please tell me."

Shuling looked at Sima Wanqing, as if scrutinizing her beauty, or as if looking through her at someone else. "Has anyone ever said that you and your second brother look alike?"

Sima Wanqing recalled a funny incident from her childhood and couldn't help but smile. "Since I was little, my father said that my second brother had a feminine appearance and wouldn't amount to much, so he practiced martial arts even harder. My second brother was determined to be a good son of the Sima family, but unfortunately..."

Her tone changed, and her sharp gaze pierced Shuling. She was responsible for her second brother's death, wasn't she?

"It's just a pity he met a bad woman like me."

Shuling spoke calmly, as if she had come to a realization. "I don't expect you not to hate me; I only hate myself for being so foolish. I'll tell you what you need to know."

"I used to be just like you, a girl who only knew how to play and have fun every day. Until that day, my father came to the border to do some small business, and my mother and I followed him. We encountered bandits."

Shuling's face contorted with extreme pain as she spoke of the "bandits." "The bandits killed my parents, tried to rape me, and then sold me. At that moment, he appeared, like a god descending from heaven, easily killing the bandits and saving me."

Him? Was it Sima Hui or Duan Yuhan?

Shuling smiled, as if returning to the moment she first met him. "He ruined my life, but he also saved my life. So I don't hate him; I only hate myself for being so stupid."

"He entrusted me to Yao Si Niang and told her to treat me well. He would come to see me occasionally and talk to me. When he smiled, even the sky seemed bluer. I had never seen such a beautiful man."

Was she talking about Duan Yuhan?

"One day, he asked me to do him a favor. I was so glad he thought of me."

"What did he ask you to do?"

Sima Wanqing vaguely guessed Duan Yuhan's intention, but she still wanted to hear Shuling say it herself.

Shuling smiled bitterly. "He changed my name to Shuling, saying it sounded more gentle and charming. He also took me to meet a young master and asked me to keep him company while we drank tea and chatted. I didn't understand what was going on. He just told me to try to please the young master, to be as simple and gentle as possible, and just make him happy."

"That young master is my second brother?"

"Yes. Your second brother is very simple-minded. Seeing that I was all alone, he always came to see me and brought me many things to cheer me up. The best people in this world to me, besides my parents, are him. But I didn't know how to cherish him."

Duan Yuhan was indeed very good at judging people. He had long predicted that his simple and impulsive second brother would like the simple and gentle Shuling. So what he did at first was simply to bring Shuling to his second brother and let him fall in love on his own.

"Did you ruin my second brother?"

Sima Wanqing suddenly took a step closer.

Shuling didn't back down in fear, but smiled bitterly. "I didn't know he would die, I really didn't know. Duan Yuhan asked me to take some pills for your second brother, saying they were to invigorate him. Your second brother took them without suspicion. Later, Yao Siniang took me away. Then, I heard that your second brother died in my bed from overindulgence. When your second brother died, I was so scared that I cried. I wanted to tell everyone that this had nothing to do with me. But, at that time, Duan Yuhan hugged me."

"The moment he hugged me, I forgot everything. That night, he was very gentle."

Shuling's face gradually turned red, but her eyes were filled with tears of regret.

Shuling's words shocked Sima Wanqing and confirmed that Duan Yuhan had planned to kill her second brother. If before, the deduction that Duan Yuhan was the murderer was without any evidence, now Shuling was a real witness pointing the finger at Duan Yuhan. Her resilient nerves felt as if they were being slowly sliced apart, the fragmented pain solidifying, so heavy that she could hardly breathe.

“He taught me to say those things, saying that only by saying them would the Sima family let me go. I listened to him, and no matter who asked, I said the same few things. For those few days, he was very good to me. I thought he loved me, or at least liked me.”

“But later, he never came to see me again. I asked Yao Siniang how I could see him. Yao Siniang scolded me, and I was heartbroken. Later, I found out I was pregnant, and I really wanted to tell him. No matter what, for the sake of the child, he would keep me by his side, right? But I was wrong, terribly wrong.”

Shuling gradually calmed down, as if she were narrating someone else's story.

Sima Wanqing's fists clenched involuntarily, her nails digging deep into her palms, the intense pain making her even more clear-headed. Duan Yuhan not only harmed her second brother, but also Shuling. If he didn't love Shuling, why did he hold her? Why did he have a child with her? Why did he make her sad? As long as he was happy, could he ignore the suffering of others?

“Somehow, your father found out I was pregnant and wanted to take me to the ranch. I didn’t want to come, but the thought of perhaps seeing him there made me decide to come. Before I left, Yao Si Niang told me everything. Isn’t it ridiculous? He took me that night because I looked like you when I cried.”

“What’s even more ridiculous is that I wasn’t giving up. Before your wedding, I finally bribed his men to take me to see him. I told him about the child, but he completely ignored me, saying he didn’t want the child and warning me not to say anything more. At that moment, I was truly heartbroken. I rushed back to the ranch, afraid to go out, afraid he would kill the child. But I couldn’t escape after all. That day, I tripped over a tree branch on the road and fell; the child died right after birth.”

Shuling said blankly.

A bone-chilling cold enveloped Sima Wanqing, and she shivered. The child was gone. Was it that heaven didn’t want the child to be born, or did Duan Yuhan send someone to do it? His love for Bing’er was no less than hers; how could he harm his own flesh and blood?

Shuling's gaze was somewhat vacant, her heart filled with utter despair. "It was I who harmed your second brother, so Heaven is punishing me by taking the child away. No matter how many scriptures I chant, Buddha will not return the child to me."

Sima Wanqing looked at her with pity and said softly, "It has nothing to do with you. Duan Yuhan is the real culprit."

Shuling turned her head and glanced at her indifferently, her gaze cold. Duan Yuhan didn't love her; it was entirely because of Sima Wanqing's existence.

A thought suddenly flashed through Sima Wanqing's mind like lightning: Could she be lying? Could she be deliberately stirring up her hatred for Duan Yuhan out of jealousy?

Shuling seemed to understand her doubts. "I do hate you a little. But you met him before me, so I have nothing to say. You're wondering why I told you everything, perhaps because I still hate him. I just wanted to see how he would resolve your deep-seated hatred for him. I wanted to see how heartbroken he would be if he killed you with his own hands; or if you hurt him so badly that he would suffer and regret it for the rest of his life."

As she spoke, she became somewhat neurotic, her delicate face contorted.

Sima Wanqing suddenly smiled at her, a smile that was terrifying. "Don't worry, heaven is fair. Buddha will give you justice. No matter what, you will be satisfied." Shuling

looked at her, then suddenly murmured to herself, "Actually, I've wanted to tell you all this for a long time, but I hate that I'm too weak and didn't have the courage to come to you. You've come at the right time, putting my mind at ease. I can now go to your second brother and ask for his forgiveness."

Sima Wanqing looked at her desperate eyes, as if she wanted to die. Suddenly, she felt that Shuling was the most pitiful person in the whole affair. She was naive and innocent, yet she loved the wrong person and was used by him, committing the only mistake of her life. Now she has nothing: her parents, the man who loved her, the man she loved, her unborn child—all abandoned her, leaving her only with the daily torment of her conscience.

Sima Wanqing didn't know how to comfort her. Shuling, however, stopped looking at her, picked up her prayer beads, and murmured scriptures, as if confessing to Buddha or trying to save herself.

Sima Wanqing sighed and finally went home.

Seeing Shuling resolved a doubt in her heart, but the oppressive bitterness in her chest gradually spread throughout her body and even the surrounding air. She silently went to her mother's quiet study, left a note for Pei Mubai, placed it in a vase, and hurriedly returned to Gongyu Xiaozhu.

Rushing to Sima Bing's cradle, she hugged him, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. Why, even though she was mentally prepared and learned the truth, was she still experiencing heart-wrenching pain?

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. She desperately wiped them away, only to find them icy cold. Were she crying for him, for herself, or for her child?

Sima Bing, with his large, bright eyes, gazed at his mother, babbling incoherently. His tiny, pink hands reached out, exploring his mother's beautiful face, curiously playing with the wetness, then giggling as he sucked on his fingers. The bitter taste of the tears made him burst into loud sobs.

His cries awakened Sima Wanqing. At this moment, she should be grateful for discovering the truth, not weakly weeping. The Sima family's unwavering belief in repaying kindness and avenging wrongs reminded her once again that she could not let Duan Yuhan go. She needed to know the whole truth, and even if she died in the end, even if Sima Bing was the most pitiful child, she would never forgive him.

An hour later, tragedy struck the ranch. Shuling hanged herself in her room. For a time, everyone said that she followed Sima Hui because she was deeply in love with him.

Duan Yuhan was stunned when he heard the news. The image of that girl, with her slightly pouting lips when she cried, so strikingly similar to Sima Wanqing, flashed through his mind. Shuling's sudden death was somewhat unusual. But perhaps, for her, death was a kind of relief. He ordered his servants to give her a proper burial and then paid no further attention.

It wasn't until the next day, when someone reported to him that Sima Wanqing had visited Shuling's room, that he began to take the matter seriously. He didn't know whether Shuling was alive or dead when Sima Wanqing saw her, or what Shuling had said. But the fact that Sima Wanqing had visited Shuling was always strange.

Perhaps because he had killed too many members of the Sima family, the intimacy they once shared seemed to be slowly eroding away when facing Sima Wanqing. Even though he wholeheartedly smiled and cared for her, he couldn't let go of that deep sense of wariness.

He still paid close attention to her every move, but the love within him was diminishing, replaced by a sense of surveillance. This was something he didn't want to see, but had to do.

Chapter 29: No Regrets After a Move

Sima Wanqing anxiously awaited Pei Mubai's arrival in the quiet study. Inside the jade bottle was a note she had left for him, arranging to meet that evening. He must have seen it, because the note was gone.

Sima Wanqing stared blankly at the rain-soaked sky outside the window. Shuling was dead; she must have felt life was meaningless, which was why she made that decision. Shuling was ultimately weak; after meeting Duan Yuhan, she was completely manipulated. Her only initiative was to tell Sima Wanqing the truth. But after that, she fell into eternal silence. Was she waiting in the shadows to see Duan Yuhan's retribution?

In truth, Sima Wanqing's personality also contained a weakness and an escapist nature. Otherwise, she wouldn't have repeatedly left the ranch, just to escape Duan Yuhan. But Shuling's death seemed to be reminding her, warning her, that no matter how much she ran, she couldn't escape her own fate. As the sole heir of the Sima family, she had to shoulder her responsibilities and mission.

Last night, as she calmed down, the more she thought about it, the more suspicious she became. Duan Yuhan wouldn't have planned to kill her second brother without a reason. If he was the mastermind behind everything that followed, was his sole purpose to seize the Lieyun Ranch? But she couldn't believe that reason; he wasn't the kind of person who coveted wealth so much. In a moment of impulse, she even considered asking Duan Yuhan for clarification.

But she immediately suppressed the thought; she absolutely couldn't alert him. If Duan Yuhan knew she was investigating him, Pei Mubai would be in grave danger. She couldn't put Pei Mubai in such a perilous situation.

How was Pei Mubai's investigation of Hu Tian going? What role did Hu Tian play in the entire conspiracy? Sima Wanqing desperately hoped his arrival could unravel her many doubts.

"Madam, are you inside?"

Xiaoyu's voice rang out from outside the door, startling Sima Wanqing. She hadn't told anyone when she came out; how did Xiaoyu know she was there?

"What is it?"

Sima Wanqing decided to answer anyway.

"Madam, I've been looking for you. A distinguished guest has arrived, and the master sent me to find you."

Xiaoyu pushed open the door, looking at Sima Wanqing with delight.

Sima Wanqing frowned slightly. "I'm going to stay here to chant sutras for my mother; I won't see any guests."

Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment, then finally mustered her courage. "Madam, the master requests that you come to the Hall of Ten Thousand Yin. This guest is a foreign monk named something like Bamok, who claims to be here to fulfill a twenty-year promise made by the master and insists on seeing you." An

old acquaintance of her father? Sima Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. Seeing Xiaoyu's pitiful appearance, she knew that if she didn't go, Xiaoyu would likely be punished. And Duan Yuhan would call other servants over. So, she stood up and sighed. "Go back and change your clothes."

"Yes, Madam."

Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief.

When Sima Wanqing appeared at the Hall of Ten Thousand Yin, dressed in her finest attire, it was already half an hour later. Seated at the guest table was a man with a high nose and deep-set eyes, around forty or fifty years old, dressed as a wandering monk, but the fabric of his clothes was extremely luxurious, and his demeanor exuded a carefree and unrestrained air, clearly indicating he was no ordinary monk.

When Bamok saw Sima Wanqing enter, his eyes lit up. "You're Sima Lie's daughter?"

He addressed her father by his given name, extremely rudely. But Sima Wanqing assumed he was from a foreign land and unfamiliar with etiquette, so she didn't blame him. She nodded slightly and went to sit next to Duan Yuhan.

"Indeed, naturally beautiful, exactly like your mother back then."

Bamok seemed to be praising Sima Wanqing's beauty, but his mention of her mother seemed somewhat inappropriate.

Sima Wanqing smiled politely, "Master, you flatter me. I heard you are an old friend of my late father, and you have come to fulfill a twenty-year promise, but I don't know the reason for it."

Bamok looked at her expectantly, "We'll talk about that later. I heard your mother's 'Rainbow Feather Dance' has a successor, and I'd like to see it."

Sima Wanqing was surprised by his words. This man, a monk, was actually asking to see the "Rainbow Feather Dance" and seemed very interested—it was strange. She smiled, "Master, you'll be disappointed. My late mother never took on any disciples; the Rainbow Feather Dance has been taken underground." She was

n't lying; she wasn't her mother's disciple.

"At your child's one-month celebration, there were dancers performing the Rainbow Feather Dance in public at Lieyun Ranch, isn't that true?"

Bamok didn't believe Sima Wanqing's words; it seemed he had come prepared.

Duan Yuhan smiled at Sima Wanqing, wanting to see how she would answer. Sima Wanqing pondered for a moment, "The dance performed by the dancers that day was not the 'Rainbow Feather Dance.' It seems the guests were simply blind and misled the audience

, leading to this misunderstanding." She paused, then took the initiative, "Master, you traveled a long way to Lieyun Ranch just to see a dance? A monk should be unmoved by worldly entertainment. Your lingering worldly desires are truly regrettable."

Bamok, hearing her words, paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Indeed, you are Sima Lie's daughter. Twenty years ago, your father said the same thing. However, I want to see this dance not for entertainment. The 'Rainbow Feather Dance' is unparalleled in its beauty, said to incorporate many of the light and agile footwork techniques from lost murals. I'm not exaggerating, but if I were to see this dance and add some variations, it would be a superior form of lightness skill. It wouldn't be much inferior to Shaolin's 'Crossing the River on a Reed' or Wudang's 'Soaring to the Sky.'"

So that was his purpose; this man was a martial arts fanatic. Seeing his confident expression, not even taking the supreme lightness skills of Shaolin and Wudang seriously, could he also be a martial arts master?

"Your father wouldn't let your mother dance back then, which made me fight with him."

Bamok recalled the past with resentment.

Sima Wanqing was surprised and couldn't help but laugh. Her mother was the mistress of the Sima family outside the pass, how could her father allow anyone to watch her dance? This man actually dared to fight with the owner of Lieyun Ranch, he's quite bold. She couldn't help but ask, "Who won between Master and my late father?"

"Neither of them won, that's why there was a twenty-year agreement. It's a pity that your parents have passed away when I came this time."

Bamok was very emotional. Thinking back to the Sima couple, the man was dashing and the woman was elegant and graceful, how pleasing to the eye they were standing side by side, how enviable they were. But now the ranch is still there, but everyone is different.

Suddenly, Barmok said, "The Rainbow Feather Dance, your mother certainly wouldn't have left it lost without teaching it to anyone. Tell me honestly, did your mother teach you?"

His sudden question startled Sima Wanqing.

Duan Yuhan chimed in, "So what if she taught you? So what if she didn't?"

Barmok was passionate about martial arts and had been obsessed with the Rainbow Feather Dance for twenty years, wanting to transform it into a peerless light-body technique. Hearing Duan Yuhan's words now, it seemed as if Sima Wanqing knew how to dance it. Overjoyed, he said, "If she taught you, show me. I'll transform it into a light-body technique and then teach it to you all later, how about that?"

He was indeed selfless.

"It's a pity my late mother didn't teach me,"

Sima Wanqing politely declined his offer.

Bamok glared at her angrily, "Then you'll stand in for your father and keep this twenty-year promise."

"What promise did you and my late father make?" "

A martial arts contest to determine the winner. The winner can order the loser to do one thing. Even if it's murder, arson, rape, or kidnapping, the loser must do it."

Bamok was clearly displeased and spoke even more directly.

Sima Wanqing frowned. Why would her father make such a strange promise with him? What if he won and made some unreasonable demands?

Seeing that she didn't answer immediately, Bamok assumed she was afraid. Of course, her father and Bamok were evenly matched in martial arts; how could she possibly be his match? Barmok quickly added, "If we really fight, do you have a chance of winning? Then I'll demand you hand over the Lieyun Ranch to me, or tell me your family's Supreme Heaven-Supreme Heart Sutra. Will you keep your promise? How about this, you just dance for me, and I won't mention the agreement again."

Hearing this, Sima Wanqing hesitated. Dancing wasn't a big deal, but if she lost the fight and he really made things difficult for her, it would be troublesome.

Barmok's right hand, holding the teacup, moved slightly. Sima Wanqing felt an extremely gentle breeze brush against her face, and a strand of hair suddenly floated down from her left forehead, past her eyelid, and landed on her clothes. His sudden attack, the speed of his movements, the accuracy of his positioning, and the perfect force were truly astonishing. Sima Wanqing's expression changed slightly; she prepared to agree to his demands.

Duan Yuhan preemptively answered for her, "A martial arts contest is fine. My wife doesn't dance for just anyone. Lieyun Ranch isn't a place where people can take whatever they want."

"You're saying the same thing as Sima Lie. Sigh, why are you all so stubborn?"

Bamok sighed again, seeing that even after he had shown off his skills, they still wouldn't agree.

Sima Wanqing found this man straightforward and easy to get along with. "It's getting late, Master, why don't you rest in the guest room first? Lieyun Ranch has beautiful scenery; it would be good for you to stay a few more days. As for the martial arts contest..." "

You can reconsider the martial arts contest. I don't want people to say I'm bullying a junior when I make a move. Alright, I'm tired too. Where's the maid? Take me to the guest room."

Bamok got up on his own, and Sima Wanqing quickly instructed the maid to take him to rest.

Seeing Bamok leave, Sima Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief, but then suddenly wondered if Pei Mubai had arrived at Jingzhai. Would she wait foolishly if she couldn't find him? At this moment, with Duan Yuhan by her side, it wouldn't be so easy for her to go to Jingzhai again.

Seeing her thoughtful expression, Duan Yuhan assumed she was worried about Bamok and affectionately took her hand. "Don't worry."

Sima Wanqing snapped out of her reverie and buried her head in his chest. "Why fight him? A dance would be a good way to learn light-body skills, wouldn't it?"

She always felt Duan Yuhan could see right through her, so she chose to avoid his gaze.

"You're my wife. No one can force you to do what you don't want to do,"

he said matter-of-factly. But these words struck her as ridiculous. He was the one who most loved imposing his will on others. Now, his words were a clear case of double standards. She glanced at him with a hint of sarcasm.

Duan Yuhan seemed to sense the strangeness in her gaze, but his face remained relaxed with a smile. "Trust me. I won't lose to him."

He was so confident? She couldn't help but look at him. If what he said was true, then his martial arts skills must have already surpassed her father's. Seeing her probing gaze, he sighed inwardly. Why did they both want to see through each other more and more, yet always remain separated by a veil?

Sima Wanqing seemed to believe him, and also craved the warmth of his chest, lying there comfortably. "Ah, I almost forgot. That Xuan Ying disciple, Feifei, has been locked up in the dungeon for a long time. She's innocent, she should have been released long ago." "

Yes, we all forgot about her. She's quite pitiful, following such a master, and being imprisoned in the dungeon for almost a year for no reason."

Whether Feifei was imprisoned or released was irrelevant to Duan Yuhan at this moment. Since she liked it, he would go along with her wishes.

"Okay, I'll release her tomorrow."

She smiled happily, her genuine joy instantly illuminating her face. At that moment, she was clear and pure as crystal, and Duan Yuhan clearly saw the joy in her heart. She was still so kind, just like when she was a child, always finding joy in helping others. Back then, he would sometimes deliberately injure himself to appear before her, just to let her clumsily bandage his wounds, to see her pitiful expression and her adorable nagging about being careful in the future.

In this world, only she and her uncle were people who had no ulterior motives towards him, asked for nothing in return, and wholeheartedly wanted to bring him happiness.

His intense gaze made her heart race involuntarily.

"It's still early, let's find something to do."

She got up and looked around.

Duan Yuhan smiled, "It's been a long time since we played chess, how about a game? But you're not allowed to cry if you lose."

When they were little, he and she often learned to play Go from Yue Zhongzheng. But when they played against each other, Duan Yuhan almost always won. Of course, sometimes when she saw that she was doomed, she would deliberately mess up the pieces and ask to start over; or she would pout and look like she was about to cry, at which point he couldn't stop her from winning.

Recalling the past, Sima Wanqing couldn't help but smile. But the wins and losses of childhood can't be taken seriously. Back then, she played chess just for fun, unlike him, who took everything so seriously.

Xiaoyu quickly brought the chessboard and pieces, and then went to prepare tea and snacks. Duan Yuhan, as always, played black, giving Sima Wanqing a one-stone handicap. She didn't say much, casually placing a white stone on the board.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the balance of power between the black and white stones gradually became clear. Duan Yuhan's black stones were subtly gaining the upper hand, their encirclement of the white stones becoming increasingly tight. His style remained consistent; each move was carefully considered, taking into account the next twenty or so moves, with meticulous planning. He often lured his opponent into a trap unintentionally, and by the time the opponent realized it, defeat was inevitable, too late.

Sima Wanqing, however, remained calm and composed. Her moves were no longer as careless and impulsive as in her childhood; they were much more cautious. Although they hadn't played together in a long time, she was still very familiar with Duan Yuhan's style. She could almost predict his next move. However, even knowing his next move, she still chose to avoid his attacks. Winning now was extremely difficult, but remaining undefeated was not.

Seeing her incredibly clear thinking as she placed her pieces, unmoved by his attempts to lure her, and noticing her earnest contemplation, Duan Yuhan suddenly realized she had grown up. He stubbornly clung to the image of the little girl he once knew, but she already possessed her own thoughts and will.

Before, when she was carefree, she was like a transparent crystal, her thoughts always crystal clear. But now, seeing her determined to fight, he was somewhat surprised. Her playing style was still somewhat impulsive, but calm, confident, and meticulous—quite similar to his own.

After another short while, the black pieces continued their aggressive attack, but the white pieces held firm. For a moment, the game was deadlocked.

"Oops,"

Xiaoyu accidentally bumped into Sima Wanqing's elbow as she brought over osmanthus cakes to the table. The white piece landed with a "thud" on the board, blocking a group of white pieces in the southeast corner. Now, the black pieces could immediately advance unimpeded, and Duan Yuhan's victory seemed assured.

“Once a move is made, there’s no going back…”

Duan Yuhan deliberately held down Sima Wanqing’s hand, wanting to see her incredibly cute appearance when she went back on her word and acted like a spoiled child.

Life is like a game of chess; once a move is made, there's no going back. One wrong move, and the whole game is lost. The phrase "no going back" is simple yet profoundly weighty. But after all Duan Yuhan has done, has he also truly embodied the principle of "no going back"? Sima Wanqing didn't, like she did when she was a child, ask to start over after making a move

. She simply smiled and said, "Continue." She didn't care about winning or losing; her childhood concern was merely a way of deliberately

teasing Duan Yuhan. Duan Yuhan continued with a smile. The black pieces didn't let this golden opportunity slip by, pressing forward relentlessly, waiting for the white pieces to surrender. But even the wisest can make a mistake. While he was launching a full-scale attack, he also gave Sima Wanqing an opening in the rear.

The saying "placing oneself in a desperate situation leads to survival" suddenly resonated with Sima Wanqing. Even if the white pieces could completely surround the black pieces in the northwest, the outcome would likely remain uncertain, a protracted and unresolved struggle. She suddenly felt disheartened. Exhausting herself to compete with him for victory wasn't what she wanted.

"I'm not playing anymore,"

she said, scattering the chess pieces with a "whoosh," "It's not fun."

He thought she was throwing a childish tantrum because she thought he was going to lose.

"If you don't want to play, then don't play. It's my fault."

He affectionately ruffled her hair, the smooth, silky texture making his heart flutter. Seeing her drooping little head listlessly, he felt a pang of heartache. He should have let her win; wouldn't it have been better to make her smile?

"Madam, Madam, the young master refuses to nurse,"

the wet nurse reported frantically at the door. Sima Wanqing quickly got up, perked up, and hurried away.

Later, when Duan Yuhan looked at the unfinished game again, he couldn't help but admire Sima Wanqing's chess skills, which were now far superior to what they used to be. From the perspective of the white pieces, he suddenly realized that the black pieces' greatest weakness was in the northwest corner. If the white pieces launched a counterattack, a large number of black pieces would also be lost, making the entire game completely unpredictable.

He wondered if Sima Wanqing hadn't noticed, or if she simply didn't want to see the black and white pieces fighting to the death. He fell into deep thought.

Early that morning, Sima Wanqing was extremely busy. After breakfast, she first wrote a letter to Feifei, then went to the dungeon to release her, finally giving her the letter mixed in with a few silver notes, and escorting her out of the ranch before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Sima Wanqing knew that if she sought revenge, Lieyun Ranch would soon be plunged into a terrible struggle, and she didn't want Feifei to be implicated. In the letter, she detailed her speculations and several suspicious points regarding Xuan Ying's death, urging Feifei to immediately return to the pass and continue to uphold Xuan Ying's chivalrous spirit. Of course, she didn't forget to remind her to destroy the letter immediately after reading it.

After finishing with Feifei's matter, Sima Wanqing went to Jingzhai alone. On the way, she encountered Xiaoyu, who insisted on going along, saying it was Duan Yuhan's order to have her serve her at all times. Sima Wanqing didn't object, but instructed Xiaoyu to fetch a few scriptures from the study and find her at Jingzhai later.

Upon arriving at Jingzhai, Sima Wanqing looked around to make sure no one was there, then quickly reached into the clean bottle. Sure enough, there was a note inside. Pei Mubai hadn't seen her when he came yesterday, guessing she was preoccupied with other matters, so he had written down what he knew.

"Hu Tian, thirty-seven years old, came to Lieyun Ranch at twenty. He started as a horse trainer, always diligent and conscientious, his diligence and steadiness earning him much praise. What people talk about most is that seven years ago, during an avalanche in Tianshan, he risked his life to rescue Sima Lie from a snow cave, thus being promoted to one of the four stewards."

Sima Wanqing frowned; she already knew all this.

"Hu Tian's origins are unknown. He claims to be from within the Great Wall, and his martial arts are from Shaolin, but when he first appeared at Lieyun Ranch, he was dressed in local clothing, and some of his moves during the fight were quite insidious, definitely not Shaolin martial arts."

This Hu Tian is indeed not simple; he seems to have a lot of problems. Perhaps Father trusts him so much because he was saved by him years ago.

"Hu Tian has three residences outside the ranch, one of which is more secluded, located fifty miles west of the ranch at Moke Ridge. This residence is in a dangerous location, heavily guarded, and may hold some secrets. Meet me at 7 PM on the fifteenth night."

Pei Mubai's handwriting became increasingly messy towards the end, probably because there was still much to write before he was interrupted by an unexpected event.

Today is the fifteenth, and he wants to meet her tonight to talk further. Is there something important he wants to say?

Heavy footsteps outside the door interrupted Sima Wanqing's thoughts. The footsteps reached the door but then stopped, as if hesitating whether to come in. Sima Wanqing quickly burned the note, gently brushing the ashes into the incense burner to mix with the ash.

With a creak, the door opened. Turning around, Sima Wanqing was surprised to see Yue Zhongzheng enter. She hadn't seen him for several days, and he seemed to have aged considerably; the few new gray hairs at his temples startled her. Yue

Zhongzheng was also surprised that Sima Wanqing was at Jingzhai at this time. She had always looked down on gods and Buddhas, saying that everything depended on oneself, and that praying to gods and Buddhas was useless. Why was she now sincerely worshipping Buddha here?

"Uncle Yue, what brings you here?"

Although he was Duan Yuhan's uncle, Sima Wanqing believed he genuinely cared for her. Otherwise, Uncle Yue wouldn't have taken a blow from her father's hand to save her that night. Although everyone said she wasn't Sima Lie's daughter, Uncle Yue had never said anything.

"Just out for a walk, somehow ended up here."

Since Duan Yuhan became the owner of Lieyun Ranch, Yue Zhongzheng had fewer responsibilities and was quite idle all day.

“Your mother used to come and chant sutras almost every day,”

Yue Zhongzheng said with deep emotion. Seeing Sima Wanqing always reminded him of her mother. The noble and elegant Madam Sima, her long gown trailing on the ground, devoutly worshipping Buddha, as pure and holy as Guanyin. And he, back then, would often watch her from outside the window.

Sima Wanqing thought of her parents and brother's departure, and how she was now a true orphan, and couldn't help but smile sadly. “Yes, that 's how my mother was

. I remember I loved to cause trouble, and I always got scolded by her, but Aunt Qin always protected me. It's a pity…” It's a pity that Aunt Qin was now in league with Duan Yuhan, no longer the Aunt Qin who

loved her so dearly. Yue Zhongzheng seemed to sense her grief and resentment, and suddenly said, “If one day you find that Han'er has done something to wrong you, you must forgive him.”

His sudden words startled Sima Wanqing. Did Yue Zhongzheng also know about what Duan Yuhan had done?

"What could he possibly do to wrong me?"

Sima Wanqing suppressed her grief, gazing at Yue Zhongzheng, wanting to know what he knew.

"Han'er is ruthless, but you can't blame him. He suffered too much since childhood, which is why he's so extreme now. It's also my fault for not properly guiding him."

Yue Zhongzheng spoke of Duan Yuhan with more affection than blame.

"The Duan family is a wealthy family in Hangzhou. My sister, Han'er's mother, thought that marrying into the Duan family would mean a happy life as a wife and mother. But his father quickly grew tired of her and took one concubine after another. The jealousy and rivalry between wives and concubines is terrible. His mother, being weak-willed, was bullied day and night, forced to endure a life worse than a maid. One concubine even tried to poison them, replacing his mother as the first wife. His father knew but didn't say anything."

Yue Zhongzheng's sudden mention of Duan Yuhan's background confused and shocked Sima Wanqing.

Duan Yuhan had never told her these things. How could there be such a heartless husband, such a father who didn't cherish his children, and such a vicious woman in the world?

"Later, his father became addicted to gambling, and the Duan family's fortune was quickly gambled away. The concubines scattered. Only his mother, always remembering their marriage, managed the household affairs for his father, working tirelessly and without complaint. But that beast, worse than a pig or a dog, actually..."

Yue Zhongzheng paused here. His eyes, usually so calm and composed, burned with a furious rage that Sima Wanqing had never seen before.

"To pay off gambling debts, he sold her to a brothel. Han'er was only ten years old then. He borrowed money everywhere to save his mother, but no one paid him any attention. He even begged the brothel madam, but it was no use. Finally, he met the famous philanthropist Cheng from Hangzhou at the brothel's entrance. Philanthropist Cheng readily helped him, redeeming his mother and taking them home."

The mother and son's rescue sounded like good news, but Yue Zhongzheng's expression grew increasingly somber. Had something even worse happened?

Yue Zhongzheng sighed and continued, "The mother and son were very grateful to the benevolent Mr. Cheng and wanted to repay his kindness. But that Mr. Cheng was a beast in human form. He didn't save them; he treated Han'er's mother as a bed warmer, toying with her and humiliating her in every way. He even gave Han'er to a customer as a male prostitute to make a deal, and even tortured him with heinous acts, almost killing him."

Yue Zhongzheng didn't say that Sima Lie was responsible for the latter incident; he attributed it to Mr. Cheng. He just wanted Sima Wanqing to know Duan Yuhan's past. (

Chapter 30, April 5th: Shocking Revelation of the Past?

Was the person who saved them actually more despicable and shameless? Did the person who saved them only treat Duan Yuhan and his mother as playthings, as tools to be used? The so-called benevolent man was just a facade, a mask, a hypocrite. Isn't such a person more terrifying and despicable than a truly evil person!

Male prostitute? A boy for others to play with?) Outrageous? Sima Wanqing couldn't imagine the terrible things Duan Yuhan had suffered as a child. In her imagination, Duan Yuhan must have been an extremely handsome boy with an incomparably beautiful face. A lonely light often flashed in his dark eyes, inspiring affection and closeness; occasionally, when he smiled, his eyes curved like two bright crescent moons, making one marvel at the perfection of nature. Could such beauty have brought him such a terrible calamity?

No wonder he always avoided answering her questions about his childhood, about any fun or interesting things. So that's how it was, so that's how it was! Sima Wanqing lowered her head, her eyes welling up, as if tears were about to roll down her cheeks.

"Not long after, that beast surnamed Cheng was killed by Han'er with a single blow when he seized the opportunity,"

Yue Zhongzheng narrated calmly. Sima Wanqing was stunned. He killed someone at the age of ten? Although she understood Duan Yuhan's character and knew he would definitely seek revenge, hearing Yue Zhongzheng say it himself still filled her with inexplicable horror.

"Qing'er, if it were you, would you kill that Cheng guy?"

Yue Zhongzheng suddenly asked Sima Wanqing, wanting her to put herself in Duan Yuhan's shoes and experience that intense hatred.

Sima Wanqing took a deep breath, suppressing the grief in her heart, and looked calmly at Yue Zhongzheng. "If someone hurts me, I might forgive them. But if someone hurts my dearest loved ones, I will definitely kill them."

Her words were clear and unwavering, but it seemed more like she was speaking to herself than to Yue Zhongzheng.

Because she loved Duan Yuhan, no matter how he initially bullied her, or even repeatedly forced her, she could endure and forgive him as long as he changed his ways. But once she found out he had indeed killed her beloved father and brothers, she could never forgive him. And if she were Duan Yuhan, and someone treated her mother that way, she would definitely kill that person too.

Yue Zhongzheng didn't fully understand her meaning, only assuming she agreed with Duan Yuhan's actions, and he finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. He thought Sima Wanqing understood Duan Yuhan.

"Han'er escaped with his mother, but she succumbed to illness from overwork and died, leaving him behind. It was three years later when I finally found him after all the hardships."

Yue Zhongzheng recalled the terrifying sight Duan Yuhan had caused when he first found him, and his heart still pounded.

Seeing his expression, Sima Wanqing guessed that Duan Yuhan must have suffered some hardship again. Although she couldn't bear to listen any longer, she still wanted to know the whole story of Duan Yuhan. "How did he spend those three years?"

"He wandered the streets with a group of orphans, and later they were taken in by the Shahe Gang. Every day, he not only had to find ways to fill his stomach, but he also had to pay protection money to the Shahe Gang. If he couldn't pay enough, he would be beaten. In addition, other thugs bullied him, so he often got into fights and often ran around with bruises. When I found him, he was fighting with five children and a minor leader of the Whale Sea Gang. At that time, he didn't have a single patch of intact skin on his body. The Whale Sea Gang members told him to kneel down and beg for mercy in exchange for letting him go, but he refused. They kept beating him, and he didn't say a word. No one around him spoke up to help him; instead, some people watched the spectacle, and some shouted that it was good that he was being beaten. Before I took him to the ranch, I spent a whole month treating him to heal all his new and old wounds."

Yue Zhongzheng was determined to tell the whole story. He hoped his two beloved children could live together harmoniously, their love unchanged. He hoped that even if Sima Wanqing knew the truth, she could forgive Duan Yuhan.

Sima Wanqing turned her face slightly to the side, and unknowingly, warm tears uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks. Gazing at the benevolent-looking Guanyin statue on the table, she was overwhelmed with thoughts.

Had Duan Yuhan witnessed the ugliest things in the world since childhood? Blood relatives, as close as a father, showed no concern for their son's life; the love between husband and wife was fleeting, ultimately abandoned and betrayed for money; even the act of saving a life was nothing but a hypocritical pretense. And when he was tormented, no one offered a helping hand or upheld justice; they simply stood by and watched. In the end, people in this world are nothing more than selfish. There is no fairness or justice in this world.

Had Duan Yuhan clearly seen the cruelty of the survival of the fittest since childhood? Had he clearly known that no one could be trusted, and that he could only rely on himself in everything? The saying "the winner takes all, the loser is condemned" suggests that any means are justified to achieve one's goals. As long as one is happy, the lives of others are irrelevant. If the final result is what one desires, nothing is off-limits!

Does he truly believe in the inherent evil of humanity? Is this the source of his current cruelty and ruthlessness?

Does his heart only hold the eight words, "Every man for himself, or the world will destroy him"?

When they first met, his strong rejection of her stemmed from his extreme distrust of so-called kindness and goodwill.

She had been too naive before. Raised in luxury and pampered, she only saw and heard stories of loving couples, filial children, and happy lives. She was unaware of the ugliness and disgust within the world, and had no understanding of human greed.

She knew Duan Yuhan's childhood was unhappy, but never imagined it was like this. Recalling their time before sixteen, they had chased away falcons chasing rabbits together, rescued girls bullied by bad people, and taught a lesson to the bullies on the ranch. Wasn't he inherently kind? Doesn't he know what justice is?

And what about his actions now? The pity and pain in Sima Wanqing's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a cold and piercing gaze. Seeing her like this, Yue Zhongzheng grew even more anxious. "I brought him to the ranch, but I didn't properly educate him. This is my dereliction of duty; blame me if you must."

Sima Wanqing tried to calm herself. "Uncle Yue, don't say that. Everyone must take full responsibility for their actions. Although I'm young, I know how to distinguish right from wrong."

Yue Zhongzheng was about to speak again when he suddenly saw a figure flash outside the door—it was Duan Yuhan entering. He quickly stopped talking.

"I ran into Xiaoyu and knew you were here, so I came to see you. Are you having a heart-to-heart talk with your uncle?"

Duan Yuhan found it strange to see Yue Zhongzheng and Sima Wanqing together in Jingzhai, and even more strange that they seemed somewhat unnatural upon seeing him. Sima Wanqing's eyes were a little red, as if she had just cried. Since Sima Lie's death, Duan Yuhan hadn't seen her cry. What was it about today? Duan Yuhan

gently stroked her brow with pity. "Why are you crying?"

Sima Wanqing didn't dare look at him. She was afraid that if she looked at him, she would be reminded of the suffering he had endured and would want to hug him.

"She was just talking about some things from her mother's past."

Yue Zhongzheng's timely explanation dispelled any doubts Duan Yuhan had. He knew she had been coming to Jingzhai frequently these past few days, probably missing her mother.

"Don't be sad,"

Duan Yuhan gently comforted her. She, however, kept her eyes lowered, lost in thought.

Yue Zhongzheng suddenly smiled and suggested, "I heard you played chess yesterday, and your uncle is itching to play too. Let's go play chess. Qing'er will be the referee."

Duan Yuhan immediately agreed, and Sima Wanqing silently let him lead her out.

Looking at Duan Yuhan's profile, the beautiful curve of his lips, the corners of his mouth still faintly retaining the former pride and strength, but without a trace of his former unruly nature. He had never mentioned the suffering he had endured to her; did he not want her to witness too much ugliness, or did he not want her sympathy or pity?

But even if Duan Yuhan had suffered such hardship, it could not be an excuse for his current recklessness. Sima Wanqing considered herself a person of clear likes and dislikes; she would never allow herself to act on emotion again.

Chapter 31: A Meeting Too Late?

After dinner, Yue Zhongzheng and Duan Yuhan were in high spirits and wanted to continue playing chess. Sima Wanqing excused herself to check on the children and quietly slipped away to Jingzhai.

"Xiao Qing."

Pei Mubai greeted her with delight as she entered.

"Brother Pei."

Actually, Pei Mubai was only a year older than Sima Wanqing. This "Brother" was only because of their sworn brother-sister relationship. Speaking of their true feelings, they both felt that this way of addressing each other was rather awkward.

Pei Mubai looked at her with a smile, "From now on, call me Mubai. I'm not used to calling you Brother."

"Mubai?"

Sima Wanqing murmured. Her voice sounded extremely soft, even carrying a hint of tenderness. Pei Mubai knew that she had no romantic feelings for him, but he still couldn't help but look at her pink lips, his heart fluttering.

From the day she got married, he had decided to let go of that affection. Why, after a year, did he still feel his heart flutter upon seeing her again?

He recalled the first time he saw her in Wuxi. In the gentle spring breeze, she rode a pure white horse, her flowing red dress like a brilliant sunset in a clear sky, instantly illuminating the entire street. In that instant, he saw her profile, and that one glance was unforgettable. At that moment, he wondered how such a dazzling girl existed in the world, possessing both the elegance of Jiangnan and the bold spirit of the North.

He always believed they were destined to be together. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that, while dining at the same restaurant in Wuxi, he caught a thief and helped her retrieve her purse? A little over a month later in Chang'an, they met again at the lantern festival. It wasn't

until that day, when he learned she was pregnant, that he suddenly understood their connection wasn't love. Since meeting her, why was she unhappy? Why did she always resist his advances? Why was she willing to die to protect the child? It was all because she loved Duan Yuhan.

On her wedding day, he sincerely wished her well, hoping she would live happily ever after with the one she loved. But after returning from Loulan, the changes at Lieyun Ranch forced him to stand by her side again, helping and supporting her.

Now, she was no longer the pure and lovely girl of the past, sometimes melancholic, sometimes speaking innocent childlike words. She exuded a calm and captivating charm, mesmerizing those who approached her. Were all these changes because of Duan Yuhan?

Sima Wanqing, seeing his half-smile and thoughtful expression, was puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Pei Mubai composed himself. "Let's talk about serious matters. Last night, when I left you a note, before I could finish writing it, I saw Steward Yue pacing outside. I was afraid he'd discover it, so I had to ask you to meet me again tonight."

Sima Wanqing was quite surprised. Uncle Yue had come to Jingzhai last night? This was, after all, her mother's old residence; it didn't seem reasonable for him to be here so late at night. But she didn't have time to think about that now; she was more concerned about Hu Tian's situation. "What else have you discovered?"

"The Xuanbing Poison is the direct cause of your uncle's and your elder brother's deaths. When I was investigating Hu Tian, I found that he went to Tibet to visit a Living Buddha in October of the year before last, saying it was to pray for the souls of his parents, but it's very likely he went to Zhigong Monastery to search for the Xuanbing Poison."

Pei Mubai's words made Sima Wanqing's heart sink. Her elder brother died last March, and Hu Tian went to Tibet in October of the year before last. Could it be that Duan Yuhan and Hu Tian started colluding at that time, plotting to kill her father and brother?

Pei Mubai continued, "The Xuanbing Poison might be in Hu Tian's hands. If it really is in his hands, then Hu Tian is definitely one of the murderers. We can subdue Hu Tian and make him tell the whole truth. I've checked his two residences, nothing special. Only his residence in Moke Ridge hasn't been there yet, and I plan to go check it out tonight."

"I'll go with you."

Sima Wanqing was eager to know the truth. In fact, even if the Xuanbing Poison was in Hu Tian's hands, it still didn't prove that Duan Yuhan was the mastermind. What she needed to do was first confirm whether Hu Tian was one of the murderers, and then decide whether to force Hu Tian to tell the truth. Everything had to be done quickly; if she alerted him, she and Pei Mubai might be doomed. She was doing this for her father, brothers, and family; if she died, it would be a worthy death. But Pei Mubai had risked his life to help her; she absolutely couldn't let him go to Hu Tian's lair alone. Her

long eyelashes cast a shadow on her fair face, and when she gazed at Pei Mubai, her eyes were as deep as the sea. Her sharp gaze, however, was like a divine weapon ready to be drawn at any moment; though its sharpness was concealed, its killing intent was already evident.

"Not good. If you don't return to Gongyu Xiaozhu for a long time, he'll find out."

Pei Mubai didn't want her to take the risk.

"He and his uncle are playing chess; they said they'll play all night. It's fine."

Sima Wanqing had naturally considered this as well.

Pei Mubai thought for a moment, "Still not good. It's more convenient for me to go alone."

His implication seemed to be that he thought she was in his way.

Sima Wanqing saw through his intentions. He said that on purpose to anger her and make her give up the idea of going with him. Actually, he was afraid something would happen to her.

"When we swore brotherhood, we said we would share happiness and hardship together, and we should advance and retreat together."

Sima Wanqing didn't allow him to refuse and pulled a small bundle from behind the shrine. Opening it, she found a black night outfit, a black veil, a flint and tinder, and a black silk ribbon. She must have brought this as a weapon to prevent her whip from being recognized.

"I prepared these and put them here a while ago. I didn't expect them to come in handy today. Turn around."

Sima Wanqing spoke to herself, not giving him a chance to leave her behind. Seeing that she was going to change her clothes, Pei Mubai had no choice but to turn his back.

"Alright, let's go."

She quickly changed her clothes, tied her veil, and pulled Pei Mubai out. The two used their lightness skills and rushed out of Lieyun Ranch. They hadn't gone more than a mile when Pei Mubai stopped in front of a secluded little house.

"Mokering is fifty li west of the pasture; I'm going to ride there,"

Pei Mubai said, leading a horse from the stable. "But I only have one horse prepared."

He still didn't want her to go.

Sima Wanqing readily mounted first. "It's alright, ride together, I don't mind."

Pei Mubai sighed inwardly; she was unusually stubborn. Now, sharing a horse, with her so soft and fragrant, sitting before him, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't be moved again.

"Hahahaha!" A loud laugh suddenly came from behind a tree not far away, followed by a figure emerging. Sima Wanqing was startled; upon closer inspection, it was actually Bamok.

"Let's go."

Pei Mubai didn't want to provoke this suddenly appearing fellow, so he mounted his horse behind Sima Wanqing and prepared to leave.

Bamok chuckled, "Sima Lie's daughter meeting a man late at night, that's inappropriate."

Sima Wanqing was veiled; did he still recognize her? She instinctively reined in her horse. If Bamok spoke carelessly and Duan Yuhan found out, wouldn't that be disastrous?

"I was just taking a stroll when I unexpectedly witnessed you and your lover's tryst. I wonder what your husband would think if he knew,"

Bamok said deliberately, his tone unhurried. He wasn't usually a meddlesome or despicable person, but to catch a glimpse of the Rainbow Feather Dance, he wouldn't let go of this opportunity to blackmail Sima Wanqing.

Pei Mubai, hearing his words, was momentarily confused as to how this foreign monk knew Sima Wanqing. Sima Wanqing rode over, "Master, you have such a leisurely time, strolling around so late at night. How about this, Wanqing will ask you to instruct me on the Rainbow Feather Dance tomorrow. You've been resting at the pasture tonight and haven't seen anything. Is that alright?"

Bamok misunderstood her relationship with Pei Mubai, and she didn't want to explain further.

Bamok was overjoyed; something he had kept in mind for twenty years was about to be resolved so easily. He was a straightforward man and didn't want to make things difficult for Sima Wanqing any further. "Alright, it's a deal."

He paused, then seemed to remember something. "Since you're so easy to talk to, let me remind you. Your husband might be suspicious of you. You should be a good wife and not tarnish the Sima family's reputation."

His words were somewhat strange. Duan Yuhan was suspicious of Sima Wanqing?

"What do you know?"

Sima Wanqing stopped Bamok, who was about to leave. Bamok moved closer to her and took two deep breaths. "Thankfully, you're safe tonight."

His words were increasingly strange. What did he mean by "safe tonight"? What was he trying to say?

Bamok was in a good mood and found Sima Wanqing particularly pleasing to the eye. "Let me make this clear first, I'm not trying to sow discord."

The more he said this, the more suspicious Sima Wanqing became.

"When we met yesterday, your clothes were scented with a Loulan fragrance?"

Bamok asked suspiciously.

Sima Wanqing thought for a moment, "It's the Deer-Scented Incense from Loulan."

Suddenly, she remembered Xiaoyu's words, "This was specially ordered by the Lord to be used to scent the Lady's clothes. This incense is unique within hundreds of miles of the entire ranch." She seemed to be guessing something, but couldn't quite grasp it.

Having received her affirmative answer, Barmok slowly revealed what he knew, "Deer-Scented Incense is very rare in Loulan. I heard it's made from some kind of scent gland on the musk deer, a top-grade incense with a strong fragrance that doesn't dissipate for a long time. So..."

The following thought was his conjecture, and he hesitated whether to say it or let Sima Wanqing figure it out herself.

"So wherever I go, the hunting dogs can smell it and follow immediately?"

Sima Wanqing's voice trembled slightly; she didn't want to be right.

"Indeed clever, that's it. Anywhere, as long as you've been there, even if you've left, the dogs can smell it for twelve hours."

Barmok hadn't expected her to grasp the crux of the matter so quickly and couldn't help but praise her.

Sima Wanqing felt as if she had been struck by a stick out of nowhere, her head spinning. Duan Yuhan's words from that day echoed clearly in her ears: "It was a gift from a silk merchant. It's said to be the Deer-Lottery Incense from Loulan, priceless, and has the effect of invigorating the spirit. I saw you weren't feeling well, so I asked Xiaoyu to use it to scent your clothes."

His so-called concern was actually disguised by such intentions. Between him and her, all the tenderness, affection, and care were hypocritical, nothing more than "deceit and treachery." Following this logic, did he also know she went to see Shuling that day? Was he already on guard against her, yet he acted as if nothing was wrong, engaging in intimate conversation with her? Duan Yuhan's terrifying nature sent chills down Sima Wanqing's spine.

Sima Wanqing forced herself to continue, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Bamoke waved his hand, his figure flickering and disappearing into the darkness in an instant.

Sima Wanqing was somewhat dazed. Pei Mubai gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. You've changed into your night clothes, so that scent isn't there anymore."

She calmed down and nodded. The two rode westward.

In the night breeze, the faint fragrance emanating from Sima Wanqing made Pei Mubai feel somewhat dazed. Was meeting her all he could feel was regret for not having met her sooner?

"Are you tired?"

Sima Wanqing noticed his breathing becoming heavier.

"No,"

Pei Mubai said somewhat embarrassedly, "I smell a fragrance on you."

Sima Wanqing paused, thinking for a moment, "It's probably the scent of jasmine oil in your hair."

Pei Mubai calmed himself down and carefully savored the fragrance; it was indeed the elegant and ethereal scent of jasmine.

"I've only ever used this kind of scented oil since I was little. I'm so familiar with its fragrance; he wouldn't try anything funny with it,"

Sima Wanqing said confidently. Indeed, Duan Yuhan was using the Deer Enchanting Scent to track Sima Wanqing's movements; there was no need for him to use hair oil as a substitute.

The two rode swiftly towards Moke Ridge. Sima Wanqing was determined to uncover the truth, while Pei Mubai was wholeheartedly committed to helping her. Whether she was his sister, his confidante, or his beloved, he couldn't let her fight this battle alone.

Chapter 32: Night Raid on the Hu Mansion.

Moke Ridge was a treacherous terrain, appearing as a vast mountain hollow in the darkness. Sima Wanqing glanced back at Pei Mubai, who chuckled smugly and spurred his horse towards a dark, winding path on his left. Gradually, the view opened up, and dim lights flickered ahead, revealing a large mansion.

"How did you know to go this way?"

Sima Wanqing asked him suspiciously. Hadn't he said he hadn't investigated?

"Hu Tian's wife once came here to catch him in the act of adultery, so I found Madam Hu's personal maid, gave her a silver note, and she told me everything. She was afraid I wouldn't understand, so she insisted on bringing me to see it, and I had no choice but to go with her."

The maid was so enthusiastic that Pei Mubai still felt a little scared when he thought about it.

Sima Wanqing glanced at him. Such a cheerful and charming young man naturally attracted many women, some even falling in love at first sight. She just wondered what kind of extraordinary woman his future lover would be to make him so devoted. She didn't know that the woman he was closest to and most willing to protect was only her. If she wanted, they could truly achieve "envy not even the immortals, only the lovebirds." The two tied their horses to the bushes and hid them before slowly approaching Hu Tian's residence.

Sima Wanqing suddenly heard rustling of clothes ahead. Pei Mubai tugged at her sleeve and leaped onto a nearby tree, temporarily hiding themselves.

The man and woman embraced each other and walked closer and closer, eventually sitting down next to the tree roots where they were hiding. The full moon shone brightly, and Sima Wanqing easily made out the two men. The woman was dressed in flamboyant clothes and heavily made up, while the man lewdly groped her. The woman half-heartedly resisted, and the two were about to engage in their debauchery under the open sky.

Sima Wanqing was extremely embarrassed. Pei Mubai leaped down and, with lightning speed, identified the two men. This was a desolate wilderness, and these two were almost certainly from Hu Tian's residence. It was best to extract information from them first.

The two men were immediately terrified, crying, "Your Majesty, spare us! Your Majesty, spare us!"

They probably thought he was a highway robber because of his black clothes and mask.

Pei Mubai decided to play along, saying, "Hand over all the silver, or I'll kill you!"

Sima Wanqing was surprised by his question. After thinking about it carefully, she realized they wouldn't kill these two; making them mistake him for a robber would be easier. Pei Mubai probably wanted to scare them first and then force them to reveal what was happening inside the mansion.

The two men exchanged glances . Out having an affair so late at night, they naturally wouldn't have any money on them. Pei Mubai roared, " What

are you dawdling for?" The man said with a forced smile, "I have no money on me."

"What?" Pei Mubai 's voice was even more intimidating as he lowered his voice. The woman quickly approached, "Your Majesty, don't be angry. Getting money is easy; our master's house is just ahead. Our master is Steward Hu of the Lieyun Ranch; he has plenty of money." This woman was no simpleton; she even knew how to say such things. By leading the robbers to Hu Tian's residence, regardless of whether the robbers got any money, they would be safe. Pei Mubai feigned interest, "You know where the money is kept?" "Yes, yes," the two men nodded hurriedly. Sima Wanqing also climbed down from the tree, "What rare treasures does your master possess?" The two men thought for a moment and shook their heads. "What treasures he has, he's hidden them away long ago; I doubt you'd know," Pei Mubai said deliberately. The two men perked up. "How could we not know? There's a pavilion in the backyard, and our master forbids us from getting close. It's probably where the King wants his treasure." "Where's the pavilion?" Seeing the robbers weren't planning to kill anymore, the two hurriedly said, "Go out through the southwest gate of the back garden, then turn right." Their explanation sounded complicated. "You two lead the way," Sima Wanqing said, thinking it would be easier to find it with someone leading the way. "This…" The two hesitated. Pei Mubai pressed them, "Do you want to die?" "Yes, whatever the King says." The two men shrank back, prioritizing their lives. So, the two men led the way, with Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing following behind. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of Hu Tian's residence. The residence's walls were very high, and upon closer inspection, some barbed objects were placed on top. Normally, with their light-footed skills, leaping over the wall wouldn't be difficult, but to stay close to the two in front, it was better not to use their light-footed skills. The door was small and dark, with no one guarding it, suggesting heavy security inside. The man knocked and whispered, "Open the door, it's me." The door slid open silently, and a head popped out. "Back from your affair so soon? Come in." Presumably, the man had bribed the doorman to get out for his tryst. Pei Mubai moved with lightning speed; the person who had poked their head out didn't even utter a sound before being put to "sleep," sliding limply against the door. Pei Mubai slipped inside, quickly catching the person and gently placing them behind the door in the darkness, all without a sound. The man and woman, seeing how powerful the robber was, turned pale with fright. They probably had initially planned to flee, but now they just stood there, too afraid to move. The four of them entered one after another. From the doorman's room, they could faintly hear shouts and laughter, as if several people were drinking and playing drinking games. Just as the four were about to continue inside, someone called out, "Third brother, aren't you coming in? It's your turn." Pei Mubai tugged at the adulterer, who was quick-witted enough to reply, "I need to see Brother Wu, don't wait for him." "You little rascal, you're always looking for him, damn it, it's never anything good." The man inside cursed, resentful for not getting anything out of him. The adulterer hurriedly agreed, "I'll treat you all to drinks another day, another day." The man inside ignored him and continued his enthusiastic shouting. The four breathed a sigh of relief and continued inside. Hu Tian probably didn't want to attract attention, as there weren't many servants in the house, and not many lights were on, which made it easier for the four to move around. Following the long corridor, turning left and right, they finally arrived at the back garden. Walking southwest again, they came out of an arched doorway, turned right, and saw a three-story pavilion standing alone in an open space. "Your Majesty, that's the pavilion with the treasure," the adulterer said obsequiously. “These two are useless, just kill them.” Sima Wanqing suddenly struck, her movements like knives, slicing across the faces of the two men with two quick, sharp movements. The two men felt a cold wind brush against their faces, mistaking it for blades, and trembled all over. “Forget it.” Pei Mubai, playing the good guy, stopped Sima Wanqing. “You can go now. If you go and call for help, hmph, when we’re caught, we’ll say you brought them in, and we’ll all die together.” The two men, still terrified, felt like they’d been granted a pardon upon hearing his words. They hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, rest assured, we will not utter a single word,” and immediately fled in panic. Having achieved their goal of intimidating the two men, and knowing they wouldn’t dare utter a word, Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing began to head towards the pavilion. The ground floor and second floor of the pavilion were pitch black, except for a room on the third floor to the east, where candlelight shone. The two silently leaped onto the western eaves of the third floor and slowly moved to the east side. Peeking through the crack in the window frame, a mature and beautiful woman lay languidly on the bed. She wore only a bodice, the blanket draped diagonally over her body, revealing a section of her snow-white thigh, incredibly alluring. Sima Wanqing suddenly remembered that she was Yao Siniang from Mantianfang. Yao Siniang seemed to be half-asleep, uttering strange, lingering moans, as if she were having a wet dream. Pei Mubai kept staring inside, his gaze unwavering. Sima Wanqing held out her hand to him, waving it away, not wanting him to keep staring so intently and neglecting their business. Pei Mubai used telepathy to tell her, "This woman has taken an aphrodisiac." An aphrodisiac? Sima Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. Shuling had given her second brother this, which was why he was killed. She turned to look at Pei Mubai suspiciously. How did he know she had taken that? Something seemed to be moving under the blanket covering Yao Siniang, but Sima Wanqing couldn't figure it out. Pei Mubai pulled her back and continued to use telepathy to tell her, "Let's look elsewhere." Although Sima Wanqing was very curious about what was under Yao Siniang's blanket, she still had business to attend to. Besides Yao Siniang's room, there were two other rooms on the third floor. The two went in and searched them by the bright moonlight, but found nothing unusual. The second floor also had three rooms, which they searched one by one, finding nothing amiss. They returned to the first floor, where the main door was locked and every window was bolted from the inside, which was very suspicious. Pei Mubai took something out of his pocket and showed it to Sima Wanqing. The object was neither gold nor solid, with a strange shape, jagged and protruding, resembling a key. "This is a master key," Pei Mubai explained. Sima Wanqing looked at him strangely. He came from a wealthy family, and even though his home was destroyed, he grew up in the home of his maternal grandfather, the Grand Tutor of the court. It was strange that he would possess such a thing. Pei Mubai had traveled to Loulan to avenge his family. He vividly remembered the cruelty and power of the Netherworld Sect back then. Therefore, he had made many preparations before setting off for the border region. He hadn't told Sima Wanqing about these things in detail, so she naturally didn't know. He took the master key, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it a few times, successfully unlocking it. The two went inside and found a large, spacious room on the first floor. There was only one seat in the center for the master, with chairs arranged on either side, seemingly a place for people to discuss matters. The two carefully searched the room, even the walls, beams, pillars, and floor tiles, but they didn't find any secret rooms or hidden compartments. Now, they had searched everywhere except Yao Siniang's room. Why did Hu Tian forbid his servants from approaching this pavilion? Could it be just because Yao Siniang was here? Yao Siniang usually stayed in Mantianfang, so perhaps she had an appointment with Hu Tian tonight? And where was Hu Tian?

“Let’s go upstairs to see Yao Si Niang,”

Sima Wanqing said, feeling that the only clue lay there. Pei Mubai nodded. Just as they were about to leave, they heard footsteps outside. They quickly ducked behind the door, carefully controlling their breathing.

The person outside didn’t enter, but stopped at the doorway, letting out a soft “Eh!” Judging from the voice, it was a woman, probably surprised that the lock opened so easily. Logically, if it were Hu Tian’s men, discovering the lock open without warning, they should have immediately become alert, perhaps even shouting. But the woman remained silent, tiptoeing in. Was she also sneaking in?

Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing acted simultaneously, determined not to let the woman discover them and ruin their plans. The woman had also anticipated someone inside, but hadn’t expected such a skilled fighter. Feeling the strong winds from both sides, it was too late to retreat. Pei Mubai didn’t want to hurt her, but merely pointed out her weakness.

The woman was also dressed in black, her face veiled. She was struck, unable to move, and involuntarily fell towards Sima Wanqing. Sima Wanqing reached out to catch her, preventing her from falling and making a sound, and suddenly realized that the woman's figure and posture seemed familiar. So without saying a word, she quickly lifted her veil.

At this, both Sima Wanqing and Pei Mubai were taken aback. How could it be her?

Chapter 33: The Poison of Xuanbing (Part 1)

Sima Wanqing and Pei Mubai did not expect that the woman was actually Feifei.

"You haven't left yet?"

Sima Wanqing blurted out. With this, she undoubtedly revealed her identity. Although Feifei could not see her face, she guessed from her voice and the meaning in her words that the person who lifted her veil was Sima Wanqing.

"I want to avenge my master, I want to clear my master's name of the crime of murder, I want to give my master justice."

Feifei answered crisply. She was loyal and righteous to her master, and even knowing that her martial arts were inferior, she still risked her life. Sima Wanqing naturally understood Feifei's hatred; wasn't she just as resentful?

Pei Mubai smiled, "Miss Feifei is quite something. Released this morning, she's already here by nightfall. I admire her greatly."

Feifei raised her head, a hint of pride mixed with her grief and indignation, "After all, I'm a disciple of the chivalrous thief. While my martial arts skills aren't great, when it comes to scouting and stealing, I've certainly inherited some of my master's skills."

Her greatest pride in life was being a disciple of Xuan Ying, but sadly, her master was framed and killed, leaving her with no less resentment than Sima Wanqing.

"Master was wronged because of that poison. If Duan Yuhan and Hu Tianzhen are the culprits, the poison must be in their hands. Hu Tianzhen recognized Master, so I suspect he's the one who asked Master to steal the jade bottle. That's why I came looking for him as soon as I was released. If I find the poison here, I'll naturally find a way to steal it. Even if I can't defeat them, I can still poison them. This kind of revenge isn't exactly honorable, but dealing with them doesn't require any special methods."

Feifei stated her plans directly. With her martial arts skills, this method was indeed the easiest and most likely to succeed in revenge.

Sima Wanqing avoided Feifei's gaze, feeling a sudden pang of sadness. Did she secretly hope that the Xuanbing Poison wouldn't be found? Did she hope that if it wasn't found, she could deceive herself into thinking that her elder brother might not have died at Duan Yuhan's hands?

Pei Mubai was still somewhat confused. "How did you find your way in here?"

Feifei's eyes suddenly glistened with tears. "Master must be guiding me from heaven. I was just about to go find Hu Tian when I heard two people arguing at the market. The vegetable deliveryman said the road was far. The vegetable vendor got angry and said that delivering vegetables to Steward Hu was an honor. So I volunteered to deliver vegetables. The vendor then brought me in with a cartload of vegetables. I spotted a dog hole near the kitchen, so I changed my clothes at night and sneaked in. I didn't expect to run into you."

"Crawling through a dog hole?"

Pei Mubai repeated in surprise. Feifei's face flushed red. Crawling through a dog hole was hardly a clever move. Fortunately, she was backlit, so Pei Mubai might not be able to see her clearly. For some reason, she was very concerned about his opinion of her.

Sima Wanqing untied Feifei's veil, saying, "Those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles. Crawling through a dog hole is nothing."

Her words naturally relieved Feifei's embarrassment. Pei Mubai suddenly remembered his family's grudge and couldn't help but sigh at the truth of the matter.

The two briefly recounted what they had seen and heard to Feifei. "Let's go to the third floor and take a look,"

Feifei said, quickly retying her veil. The three of them went out, locked the door again, and leaped up to the third floor.

Through the crack in the window, they saw Yao Siniang still lying on the bed and vaguely heard her speaking in a coquettish voice, "Why aren't you here yet? People are getting impatient." Judging from her words, it seemed that Hu Tian was nearby, but there was clearly no one else in the room. The three of them cautiously looked around, listening for any movement.

Suddenly, Feifei swayed and leaped to the second floor. Sima Wanqing wanted to stop her, but it was too late. She was worried that Feifei's martial arts skills were too poor and that she would alert the enemy. Pei Mubai secretly transmitted his voice to her, "It's good to let her go take a look. She's a disciple of Xuan Ying, and her skills in finding things and checking mechanisms should be quite good. Maybe she can find something we've overlooked." Sima Wanqing pointed inside, indicating that she wanted to go in. Yao Siniang's room should be the key to the attic. Pei Mubai shook his head and secretly transmitted his voice to her, "Don't show yourself, I'll go." After saying that, he carefully moved to the door and slipped inside. The door wasn't closed, which was a bit strange.

Yao Siniang's murmured voice, "Why did you take so long to come?"

Pei Mubai's footsteps were extremely light, but Yao Siniang could still hear them? Sima Wanqing immediately concluded that she not only knew martial arts, but was also quite skilled. However, Yao Siniang didn't expect someone to break in. She thought the visitor was Hu Tian, so she deliberately rolled over inside, pretending to be angry, waiting for Hu Tian to coax her.

Pei Mubai didn't want to touch Yao Siniang's body, so he drew his soft sword from his waist, and the sword energy directly struck three major acupoints on her back. Yao Siniang felt a chill creeping in and hastily rolled onto the bed, her posture extremely awkward, barely dodging the sword's edge. As she rolled, the blankets slipped off, leaving her almost naked. Pei Mubai froze for a moment. There's an old saying, "Do not look at what is improper," but he couldn't care less at this moment; he had to subdue this woman quickly.

Yao Siniang pulled two Emei daggers from under her pillow, cautiously taking a step back, opening her mouth to scream. Sima Wanqing was afraid her scream would alert the people in the house. Although Pei Mubai had told her not to show herself, she rushed in swiftly, unleashing a move called "Graceful as a Swimming Dragon"—a black silk ribbon leaping from the water like a dragon, suddenly constricting Yao Siniang's neck. Pei Mubai stepped forward, his sword energy continuous, enveloping Yao Siniang. The two attacked simultaneously, one at a distance, one close, one soft, one hard.

The Pei family of Jiangnan and the Sima family of Guanwai were among the three great martial arts families, their inherited martial arts naturally possessing unique and extraordinary qualities. Although Sima Wanqing and Pei Mubai were not yet twenty, their strength was probably unmatched among the younger generation of martial artists. Now, with the two joining forces and launching a sudden attack, even Yao Siniang, a highly skilled martial artist, was terrified, her throat gurgling. In her panic, she couldn't escape no matter how she dodged left or right.

The black silk ribbon tightened around her neck. Yao Siniang felt her vision go black, her head spinning, stars flashing before her eyes, her breathing becoming increasingly heavy and slow—she had never been so close to death in her life.

"Who are you?"

Sima Wanqing loosened the ribbon slightly, lowering her voice to ask, afraid of being recognized. She asked this to pretend she didn't know Yao Siniang.

"Cough...cough...my name is Yao Siniang."

Yao Siniang had almost reached the King of Hell, and was now very obedient. Her skin was flushed pink, and her legs were tightly pressed together, indicating the effects of the aphrodisiac hadn't worn off yet.

Sima Wanqing pulled the blanket over her. "Tell me, what treasures are here?"

She actually wanted to ask where the secret chamber was, but fearing that asking directly would reveal her intentions, she chose to ask indirectly.

"Treasures?"

Yao Siniang was stunned. Were these two experts merely thieves?

"Tell me quickly!"

Pei Mubai's sword grazed her cheek, its icy touch sending a chill down her spine. Yao Siniang, usually shrewd and capable, was now terrified, especially afraid of being cut. She hurriedly said, "There are treasures! Over there, in that large wardrobe, push open the inner shelf, there's a secret room full of treasures."

As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on Pei Mubai, unblinking, showing no guilt whatsoever, as if she weren't lying.

Sima Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. If Yao Siniang was telling the truth, she shouldn't be staring directly at her enemy, unless she was lying; staring directly at someone was an attempt to cover up her lie. As she thought this, Pei Mubai shouted sharply, "Lying!"

Yao Siniang's gaze flickered, gradually calming down. "I'm not lying. If you want treasures, just go into the secret room. If you have the ability, you can take them."

Her tone was firm, as if she were fearless. Could it be that Hu Tian was in the secret room, and she was deliberately leading them in? Perhaps the secret room is filled with deadly traps. She described its location so clearly because she knew they wouldn't come out alive? Or maybe the wardrobe shelf was a trap, launching hidden weapons at the slightest touch?

Sima Wanqing said coldly, "You're lying. Do you want to die?"

Yao Siniang's eyes were somewhat glazed, perhaps the aphrodisiac was working again. "You don't believe me… fine, don't believe me then…"

Seeing her seductive and lewd expression, Sima Wanqing frowned in disgust and poked her with a finger until she fell unconscious.

Pei Mubai pulled Sima Wanqing aside. "I'll try it. Stand back a bit."

"No, I'll go with you."

Sima Wanqing couldn't let Pei Mubai risk his life alone.

"You guys took care of her."

Feifei tiptoed in.

"Did you find anything downstairs?"

"No."

Feifei answered dejectedly, glancing around as she did so.

“She just said to open the wardrobe over there, push open the inner shelf, and there’s a secret room. We were just about to go take a look.”

“Wait a minute,”

Fei Fei’s eyes lit up, “I’ll do it, my master taught me how to use mechanisms.”

“Be careful.”

Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing said in unison. It was strange, their thoughts were often in sync. Even without speaking, Pei Mubai often understood Sima Wanqing’s feelings, and Sima Wanqing often understood Pei Mubai’s thoughts.

So, Fei Fei went first, and the two of them followed on either side, carefully opening the wardrobe. Inside the wardrobe were some revealing and alluring clothes, presumably Yao Siniang’s, and some men’s clothes, probably Hu Tian’s. There were also some strange handcuffs and shackles. Pei Mubai rummaged through the mess, and the inner shelf of the wardrobe was fully revealed.

Fei Fei took a candle and examined it carefully, and sure enough, she found that one of the shelves was a slightly different color. Fei Fei was about to reach out and press the shelf when she suddenly remembered something and withdrew her hand.

"What did you find?"

Sima Wanqing asked impatiently.

Feifei shook her head anxiously, feeling that something was wrong, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. "Let me think, let me think."

While she was thinking, Sima Wanqing and Pei Mubai checked the rest of the room. They had been busy fighting with Yao Siniang as soon as they entered and hadn't had a chance to properly look at the room. There was a small box in the bedside table drawer, filled with red pills. Could this be an aphrodisiac? Yao Siniang was also involved in the murder of her second brother, wasn't she?

Sima Wanqing's expression shifted uncertainly as she slowly walked to the unconscious Yao Siniang. The first person she had ever killed was Grace, a purely accidental killing that had caused her great regret for a long time. Now, facing Yao Siniang, an accomplice in the murder of her second brother, could she bring herself to do it?

"Don't forget our purpose tonight,"

Pei Mubai reminded her, gently pulling her away. He still didn't want her hands to be stained with blood. Sima Wanqing looked at him in surprise. The person who understood her best in this world was actually him.

Feifei suddenly rushed over, "I know, I know!"

She had just checked the whole room again and finally realized where the problem lay.

Feifei happily explained her deduction to them, "Did you notice that the layout of the third floor is the same as the second floor? But how does this room compare to the room in the same location on the second floor?"

Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing looked at Feifei with some doubt. Feifei continued to state her discovery, "This room is bigger than the one on the second floor, and directly under this wardrobe on the second floor is a wall. Don't you find that strange?"

According to this reasoning, there must be a space behind that wall on the second floor that cannot be seen from the outside. But this wardrobe is only six feet long and three feet wide. If there is a secret room directly under the wardrobe, this secret room is too small.

Feifei deliberately kept them in suspense, to see their reaction. Sima Wanqing quickly thought back and suddenly understood, "I know."

She glanced at Pei Mubai, to see if he understood as well.

"That wall on the second floor isn't behind a secret room; it's a passageway or staircase leading down. Because there's a huge supporting pillar in the same spot on the first floor. Am I right?"

Pei Mubai calmly stated his guess, which was exactly the same as hers.

The three of them reasoned in this way, which made perfect sense. But where was the mechanism to open the secret room? Was it really, as Yao Si Niang said, by pushing open the partition in the wardrobe? Or was it behind that wall on the second floor?

“Judging from Yao Siniang’s behavior just now,”

Sima Wanqing said after thinking for a moment, “she was probably trying to warn Hu Tian that someone had broken in.”

“Ah, right, how come I didn’t think of that?”

Feifei exclaimed in sudden realization, “Master said that some secret chambers have mechanisms that, when activated, will notify the person inside.”

“I think the switch is on the wardrobe shelf. Yao Siniang wasn’t lying. Hu Tian must be in the secret chamber now, and she wants to notify him. Also, the entrance to the secret chamber isn’t here with the wardrobe.”

Pei Mubai pondered for a moment, “If I’m not mistaken, activating the mechanism here will reveal an entrance in the wall on the second floor. The huge main beam on the first floor is hollow. Going in through the entrance and then down the stairs or ropes, the secret chamber should be located below the first floor, to be precise, underground.”

This was the most reasonable explanation.

Sima Wanqing looked at Pei Mubai approvingly, “I think so too. Feifei, you stay here and watch over Yao Siniang. If she suddenly wakes up, you can subdue her in time. The two of us will go to the secret chamber to take a look.”

Of the three, Feifei was the weakest in martial arts. Sima Wanqing said this because she feared that once the mechanism was activated, Hu Tian might release various deadly traps and hidden weapons in the secret room, and Feifei would be injured.

"No, no, how can you abandon us after we've served our purpose?"

Feifei cried anxiously.

"You stay here and keep watch. If anyone comes, notify us immediately. Think about it, if no one is outside, it would be terrible if we were locked in the secret room. Your mission is very important."

Pei Mubai's tone was surprisingly gentle. He didn't want Feifei to go in and risk her life.

Feifei suddenly lowered her head, "But I want to be with you... with you all."

From her tone, Sima Wanqing vaguely guessed her thoughts. She actually had a strong liking for Pei Mubai. With Pei Mubai's intelligence, he should understand Feifei's feelings after hearing her speak like this.

Pei Mubai, however, seemed oblivious to these sentimental feelings, "Don't worry, we will definitely investigate thoroughly."

Feifei knew her martial arts skills weren't great, and going in might only be a burden, so she finally agreed to stay outside. After Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing went down to the second floor, she carefully reached out and felt the slightly different-colored panel on the partition, her fingertips inch by inch sensing its hardness and unevenness. Finally, in a place invisible to the naked eye, she felt a slight protrusion, and pressed down hard with her right index finger. The point immediately sank in. She knew she had found the right spot. She

was grateful to her master for rigorously training her finger sensitivity; otherwise, she really wouldn't know how to open it. She stood sadly in front of the wardrobe, silently praying to the Bodhisattva, hoping everyone would be safe and that she could successfully avenge her master. Her thoughts lingered on the man who made her feel like a gentle breeze, but had he always stood beside Sima Wanqing, never noticing her insignificance?

Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing stood before the wall on the second floor, only to see the wall silently slide to one side. This "wall" was actually extremely thin. The two slipped inside, lit a tinderbox, and sure enough, saw an iron chain, one end fixed to the ceiling, the other extending into the darkness below.

This secret chamber was actually built underground, and the mechanism to open it and the entrance weren't in the same place. The person who designed and built it had certainly come up with a clever and unexpected idea.

Sima Wanqing pulled on the chain, weighing it in her hand. Pei Mubai grabbed her arm, "Be careful, there might be traps. I'll go first." He would always be there for her; he was her sworn brother.

His pull calmed Sima Wanqing down. As the saying goes, "It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark." Knowing Hu Tian's character, he would most likely try to ambush them. The secret chamber was so meticulously constructed; there must be many dangerous traps. It was pitch black below; wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to carry out a sneak attack?

Pei Mubai suddenly gently picked her up and quickly put her down again.

"What are you doing?"

Sima Wanqing knew he meant no harm.

Pei Mubai chuckled and explained, "Hu Tian must have a trap. We need to hold onto the chains while also preventing ambushes; it's too dangerous for us to act alone. How about I hold onto the chains with one hand and hug you with the other, while you defend yourself?"

So, he had hugged her earlier to test her weight.

"Okay."

With a formidable enemy at hand, Sima Wanqing wasn't one to hesitate.

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