[Urban] The Flag of Desire (Complete) - 16-18

Chapter 13: Life and Death

For three days, Duan Yuhan and Pei Mubai seemed to have vanished from the world without a trace. Yunlaiju claimed Aunt Qin's body and searched everywhere for the two.

Under the silvery moonlight, Sima Wanqing tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She jumped out of her room and went straight to the lake.

The water of West Lake was long, deep, turquoise, and tranquil. Staring blankly at the water, she seemed to see their radiant smiles, one unrestrained and proud, the other reserved and gentle.

"It's late."

Sheng Xixian quietly stood beside her, only to see her gaze calm and profound, like a plum blossom braving the cold in the first snow.

"Someone just reported that two floating corpses were found in the Qiantang River, which connects to West Lake."

Seeing her growing increasingly haggard these past few days, he couldn't bear to tell her, but after facing death, she would surely pull herself together for Sima Bing.

She silently followed him back, silently examined the two male corpses, and silently went upstairs. Some were mutilated, some were swollen, some had deformed faces, but undeniably, judging from their attire, physique, and appearance, they were indeed Duan Yuhan and Pei Mubai.

"Wanqing."

Sheng Xixian, seeing her extremely pale face, followed her with concern.

Standing by the window, under the desolate moonlight, she was like a white jade statue, motionless. After a long silence, she suddenly trembled, blood gushing like a waterfall. He supported her shoulder, and she did not refuse.

The world remained the same, the red carpet still vibrant, but she felt only despair, with no more desire to stay. She still remembered Duan Yuhan and her intertwined fingers, exchanging a smile, and she silently recited, "In life and death, we made a vow; holding your hand, we will grow old together," hoping that those beautiful verses would accompany them to their final days. She still remembered how Pei Mubai and she knelt side by side, swearing brotherhood and vowing, "We will share happiness and hardship; if we cannot be born on the same day, we wish to die on the same day," hoping that their true affection would last a lifetime.

Now, fate was unjust, and she could no longer fight back. It was better

to go with the wind than to suffer the excruciating pain in her heart. She leaped onto the roof of the pavilion, her white robes fluttering wildly in the night wind. On the colorful glazed tiles, she was unsteady on her feet, teetering on the verge of collapse. Looking down, she was only five zhang above the ground. She only needed to leap, and she would no longer suffer the torment of heartache; everything would return to dust.

He was beside her, noticing her strange expression, and suddenly realized what was happening. He moved with lightning speed, but only grazed her clothes. The white figure swooped down, like a brilliant shooting star streaking across the night sky, as if about to be swallowed by darkness.

He swooped down like a soaring eagle, swiftly catching her around the waist. She was slightly startled, instinctively pushing him away with her palm. Unknowingly, she unleashed the "Rising Wind and Surging Clouds" move, the third move of the "Overturning Clouds and Rain Hand." He hurriedly dodged the powerful palm strike, but still didn't let go.

"Let go!"

she shouted softly, her palm strikes continuing relentlessly.

"Fine, if you're so eager to die, I'll kill Sima Bing and then take back the Lieyun Ranch."

His clear voice sounded particularly terrifying.

"You—"

She was both shocked and furious, and suddenly used all her strength to strike his chest, wanting to kill him. His blood surged, and he clearly felt the domineering force of her right hand on his chest. She was stunned for a moment. Had she hit him so easily? Suddenly, a clear understanding dawned on her. He was saying this on purpose, to prevent her from seeking death. In that moment of hesitation, he quickly grabbed the second-floor window frame, using the momentum to pull her inside.

"If you can't let go, why do this?"

His slender phoenix eyes were full of affection.

She stared at him blankly, feeling cold sweat pouring down her back. In her moment of extreme pain, she had almost committed suicide, nearly making a grave mistake. How could she shirk her responsibility as a mother? And there was the ranch. Even if she wasn't surnamed Sima, Sima Lie had raised her and passed on his life's inner strength to her. She had to do everything in her power to protect the ranch and prevent it from falling into the hands of malicious people. Besides, the bombing of the embroidered boat hadn't been investigated; how could she simply die?

"Thank you,"

she said sincerely for the first time. He smiled, turned, and went downstairs.

Looking at his still steady steps, she felt a little relieved; he wasn't seriously injured, was he? However, she still heard him slump down heavily. She rushed downstairs. His sharp eyebrows and phoenix eyes showed a rare hint of discomfort.

"How are you?"

"I didn't expect your martial arts to have improved so much."

"I'm sorry."

A deep sense of regret welled up in her heart. Although he always used both soft and hard tactics to force her to fulfill her promises quickly, causing her distress, he had never wronged her in the slightest. On the contrary, she had misunderstood his good intentions and hurt him.

“I’ll call Mr. Ling for you.”

“No need, it’s not that serious.”

“Then… what can I do?”

She always wanted to make amends to him.

“If you really want to do something, just have a drink with me and chat.”

He knew that keeping that deep sorrow bottled up inside was even more painful.

“Okay.”

Her thoughts were somewhat dazed. Ever since Duan Yuhan got her drunk on her sixteenth birthday, she had vowed never to touch a drop of alcohol. But right now, she longed to get thoroughly drunk.

Bao’er set out the food and drinks and silently withdrew. Sima Wanqing poured herself a cup, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp. Instantly, a warm feeling rose from her lower abdomen, and the palpitations caused by vomiting blood earlier subsided slightly.

“This is medicinal wine. It contains ginseng, lingzhi, poria, and wolfberry. It’s excellent for nourishing essence and blood, calming the mind and spirit.”

He also drank a cup.

“Good wine.”

Looking out at the endless green bamboo outside the window, recalling Duan Yuhan’s peerless elegance standing proudly atop it that day, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. Unconsciously, she drank one cup after another. The temperature of her blood-red plum blossom-patterned dress trembling in the night was the temperature of her tears.

He didn't speak, just kept her company, drinking cup after cup.

“Do you know? Mu Bai and I made plans to go to Luoyang to see the peony festival as soon as we met… and Bing’er, who always hoped that his parents would come with him…”

Her voice grew softer and softer, “but now nothing is possible…”

“I know,”

he unconsciously softened his voice, “but the past is gone, gone like the wind, you must always look forward.”

The more she drank, the more her cheeks flushed a tragic red, her starry eyes filled with boundless sorrow, and then she smiled faintly, “Before, when my eldest and second brothers left, I also advised Father in the same way… Later, Father died, and he advised me in the same way, and now you say the same thing… Why does the dead have to be gone like the wind? Why are the living always more miserable than the departed?”

“If I hadn’t come back earlier that day, I could have lived and died with them… I would rather it be like that…”

“Before, I always thought that God was the most just and merciful… Now I know that all the talk of good and evil retribution is a lie…”

She spoke intermittently, crying and laughing at the same time, completely unlike her usual self.

He put his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned weakly against him, sobbing, until finally, exhausted, she drifted off to sleep. He listened to her breathing, which gradually calmed, and gazed at her tear-streaked face, a strange warmth welling up in his heart.

He remembered noticing her because of her status as the heir to the Guanwai Sima. To better control her, he ordered investigations into her affairs, both big and small, to understand her strengths and weaknesses. But gradually, listening to his subordinates' detailed reports on her became a habit; gradually, he wanted to know more and more; gradually, her face became permanently etched in his mind.

Undeniably, part of his desire for her stemmed from her identity. If he could help her reclaim the Lieyun Ranch and marry her, then the Sima clan of the Outer Pass and the Holy Martial Palace would be truly one family, bringing him one step closer to his goal of unifying the martial world. But at some point, none of that mattered. When she jumped in despair, when she refused his help, he felt an unprecedented fear, as if his most precious possession was about to be taken away.

At this moment, she clung to him heartbrokenly, filling him with both pity and love. His right hand gently stroked her black hair, the soft, silky touch of his fingertips stirring his heart.

With a sigh, he resolutely laid her down on the bed and turned to leave. Even if he longed to possess her, he would never take advantage of her vulnerability. Even if he cherished the brief moment of her drunken embrace, he still needed to remain sober and let go when necessary.

When Sima Wanqing awoke, it was already late afternoon the next day, just as the sun was setting. Bao'er diligently came to help her wash and eat. Although Lady Ni Chang's appearance had drastically changed, startling everyone in the Holy Martial Palace, as long as the Palace Master's favor towards her remained unchanged, they treated her as before, and no one dared to speak out of turn.

Sima Wanqing was somewhat dazed, vaguely trying not to remember anything, yet memories still returned to her heart bit by bit, as if her heart were being tightly pulled by an iron wire, each movement bringing waves of pain.

"Awake?"

Sheng Xixian came down from the third floor.

"Yes."

She answered casually, glancing at his somewhat pale lips, and felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, I acted impulsively last night."

Sheng Xixian smiled faintly. "As long as you don't act impulsively again in the future, that's fine."

She remained silent, turning her head to look at the green bamboo outside the window, and after a long while said, "I still want to see them."

"They're in the ice cellar."

He took her to the ice cellar, and since she wanted to go in alone, he allowed it.

An hour later, she came out. For some reason, he felt she was different from when he entered, like a newly honed, peerless blade, chilling and piercing.

"Did you spread the news of their deaths, make it public, Senior Brother?"

Her expression was unusually grave.

"Of course not."

She stared indifferently at the ice cellar door. "Yes, if the martial arts world knew that the masters of Lieyun Ranch and Yitian Manor had died at the same time, those despicable people greedy for wealth would swarm like flies to blood, and no one would be able to control the situation. Besides, they died on the embroidered boat of the Holy Martial Palace; I'm afraid someone might deliberately frame them, saying it was Senior Brother who did it."

"You're right."

"Actually, my thoughts are similar to yours, Senior Brother. Like the attack on Bing'er, I believe Senior Brother has some clues."

After last night's events, she trusted him much more, and decided to speak frankly about many things.

“My guess is that someone inside the Lieyun Ranch is behind this. Therefore, they knew Duan Yuhan's destination perfectly well, so they went to Hangzhou first to ambush him. They also have informants inside Yunlai Residence, but these informants must be on the periphery; otherwise, they could have easily ambushed Duan Yuhan inside Yunlai Residence without needing to deal with Sima Bing by the lake. Retrieving the body is naturally because Duan Yuhan is very familiar with them; they were afraid he might notice some clue and deduce the mastermind.”

He calmly explained his analysis.

She looked at him, a hint of mockery suddenly appearing in her eyes.

He continued, “You’re right. I did intend to break our agreement, but you didn’t kill Duan Yuhan. Half of the Lieyun Ranch isn’t something I can obtain without cooperating with you. The traitor within that ranch can easily come to me with a slight hint. Hangzhou is, after all, within the Holy Martial Palace’s sphere of influence. If he wants to deal with Duan Yuhan here, I can simply ignore him. If I help Duan Yuhan, that traitor will surely meet a gruesome end.”

“He’s dead, so you still want to cooperate with me?”

Her voice was soft yet incredibly calm, her deep, unfathomable eyes concealing boundless sorrow.

“He’s dead. It’s much easier for me to get half of the Lieyun Ranch now. But cooperating with that traitor, even if successful, would be illegitimate. Therefore, I won’t break my promise to you.”

He didn’t want to reveal his true thoughts. Because he loved her, because he wanted her to be with him willingly, he would absolutely not help that traitor.

He paused, looking intently into her eyes, and said, word by word, "I will definitely help you find the traitor, kill him, and take back the ranch."

She didn't avoid his gaze, staring at him for a long time, a rare occurrence, before falling silent.

"A few days ago, Ling Kezhou went to Yunlai Residence to give Bing'er another checkup, but was stopped at the gate. Did you know that?"

He only wanted her to show more concern for the living and forget the man who etched his heart into her soul.

"It was his order; no outsider is allowed to enter Yunlai Residence."

Her gaze drifted away, her thoughts returning to that day, to the handsome man in his blue robe looking at her slightly damp clothes with such tender concern.

He saw a dreamy, faint smile on her face, knowing she must be thinking of Duan Yuhan again. Perhaps time is the best healer. Duan Yuhan and Pei Mubai were dead; as long as he had enough patience and sincerity, he would surely win the beauty's heart in the end.

"Reporting to the Palace Master, the head steward of Yunlai Residence has come to pay a visit,"

someone hurriedly reported.

“Tell him I happen to be away. Be polite.”

“Yes.”

She then seemed to snap

out of her daze. “Did Feng Si receive any news?” “We can’t let them know about Duan Yuhan’s death, otherwise that traitor will immediately rebel.”

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “We don’t know who the traitor is yet. Instead of wasting our time and effort investigating here, we should lure him out. I think he must be waiting for news of Duan Yuhan’s death. As soon as he confirms Duan Yuhan’s death, he will immediately jump out, then use the emperor to command the princes, and under the guise of assisting the young master, seize power for himself. The fastest and safest way to control the ranch is this. And since he serves Bing’er as his master, it’s legitimate, and others who want to take over the ranch can’t say anything.”

“But luring him out is too risky. If he has already made preparations, I’m afraid the Lieyun Ranch will soon be completely under his control. At that time, his power will be strong, and it will be even more difficult to deal with him.”

He had to remind her.

“I think the ranch people won’t submit to that traitor anytime soon. Right now, we need to lure him out, then subdue him swiftly and decisively. That will naturally resolve the ranch’s crisis.”

She smiled coldly. “Most importantly, we need to avenge them.”

“Fine, you’ve decided to do this. I’ll help you. I’ll immediately send someone to inform Feng Si of Duan Yuhan’s death.”

Her gaze flickered, finally settling into the distance, the chill vanishing, replaced by a sorrowful yet resolute expression.

“Are you worried about Bing’er?”

“He’ll be alright. They wouldn’t dare hurt him.”

She seemed to be convincing herself.

Her Bing’er, only three years old, was forced into this brutal struggle. As the only son of Sima Wanqing and Duan Yuhan, the universally acknowledged heir to the Lieyun Ranch, a status many envied. But fortune and misfortune are intertwined. If he became a puppet used by the traitor to control the ranch, how tragic would his life be? She vowed never to let that happen.

If bloodshed or even killing were necessary to ensure Bing'er's future happiness and to protect the ranch, she wasn't afraid of becoming ruthless and unscrupulous.

"Don't worry, Ruhua will do her best to take good care of him,"

he tried to reassure her.

She lowered her head sadly. She had trained Ruhua entirely to deal with Duan Yuhan, yet he had left so quickly. Now, in Yunlai Residence, the only person she could trust was Ruhua, and she could only hope that Ruhua would live up to her trust and take care of Bing'er in her place.

"Actually, stealing Bing'er back now isn't difficult, but doing so will inevitably alert the enemy. Wait a few days, and once we find out who the traitor is, we can bring Bing'er back immediately,"

he suggested after careful consideration.

She forced a smile, squeezing out a hint of approval, "Yes, that's the best arrangement."

"There's news."

He flicked his hand, and a snow-white shadow swept down from the azure sky. Removing its leg ring, he pulled out a small piece of paper, and his expression grew increasingly serious as he read it carefully.

"What is it?"

"Another group of ranch people just arrived at Yunlai Residence."

Chapter 14: All's Fair in War

The night wind blew, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Duan Yuhan's elegant, poetic face, everything dim yet beautiful. He slept soundly on the soft couch, a slight, elegant curve to his lips, though it was unclear whether it was joy or sorrow in his heart.

Pei Mubai got up and closed the window, the candlelight flickering softly, gradually warming the room.

Seeing Duan Yuhan lying there motionless, Pei Mubai suddenly felt a pang of emotion. Before coming to Hangzhou, he had imagined a thousand ways to help Wanqing deal with Duan Yuhan, but who could have foreseen that he would now be doing his utmost to care for him, hoping for his speedy recovery?

Was it laughable? In the instant the embroidered boat exploded, he had clearly leaped off the ship, yet when he looked back and saw that Duan Yuhan hadn't disembarked, his first reaction was to rush back to save him, disregarding his own life. He tried to grab Qin Mama with his other hand, but it was too late; he could only watch helplessly as she was blown away.

Why did he save him? Pei Mubai had asked himself this question for days. Was it his kind nature acting up, or was it for Xiaoqing? Or perhaps, after hearing about his experiences and having a long talk with him, his opinion of him had changed drastically.

Duan Yuhan let out a soft groan, finally waking up again after five days of deep sleep.

"It's good that you're awake."

Pei Mubai checked his forehead; it was no longer hot.

Duan Yuhan's dark eyes stared at him, still a little confused, but then his mind gradually cleared.

Pei Mubai picked up the bowl of medicine. "Drink it quickly."

Duan Yuhan looked at the thick, dark liquid, hesitating slightly. He wouldn't drink it easily without knowing its ingredients. For a long time, a high degree of vigilance had become a habit. Even if Pei Mubai didn't intend to harm him, there was always someone to prescribe, fill, and prepare the medicine.

"No need to worry. This medicine was prescribed by Physician Chen, who has been retired for many years. He only knows you are my distant cousin. I personally went to his residence to get the medicine, and I was the one who prepared it."

Pei Mubai was meticulous; how could he not know his thoughts? Duan

Yuhan suddenly smiled, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. "Thank you for saving me."

The events of that day were still vivid in his mind. Pei Mubai was a true gentleman; he would remember this kindness and favor.

"It was merely a coincidence,"

Pei Mubai said truthfully, not wanting to take credit.

"Where is this place?"

"It's Physician Chen's villa. That day, we followed the water to the shore, and when I woke up, I found myself in Xiaoshan County, naturally remembering him."

Pei Mubai explained carefully, "Don't worry, my maternal grandfather pleaded for him before the Emperor, saving his life. Moreover, he has been living in seclusion for a long time, never interacting with the martial arts world, so he would absolutely not harm you or me."

Duan Yuhan sighed inwardly. If he were in Pei Mubai's shoes, he certainly wouldn't have acted as he did. He had once wanted to kill him, yet today Pei Mubai disregarded past grievances and did everything in his power to save him. Such magnanimity was something he knew he could never achieve.

"Doctor Chen said your superficial injuries are nothing serious. However, your meridians were already severely damaged, and you've lost all your internal energy, so you couldn't withstand the powerful impact of the explosion, which has increased the burden on your meridians. You're very weak now and need to rest. These medicines are to clear the stagnation in your body, regulate your meridians, and replenish your blood and essence."

Pei Mubai was completely baffled as to why Duan Yuhan had lost all his martial arts skills before the explosion. Seeing him about to get out of bed, he quickly stopped him.

Duan Yuhan slumped back onto the bed, his expression shifting constantly. When had he become so weak?

"Do you remember what you said to me when you first woke up five days ago?"

Pei Mubai was eager to unravel the mystery in his heart.

"I woke up five days ago?"

Duan Yuhan looked puzzled.

Pei Mubai's expression changed drastically. "You don't remember?"

If he was really talking nonsense in a nightmare that day, wouldn't he have caused the two of them to leave this world prematurely?

"What did I say?"

"That day you suddenly sat up, and when I called you, you didn't respond. You just stood there in a daze for a long time. Then you suddenly grabbed me and asked me to find two people who looked and were similar to us, and then throw their bodies into West Lake. I had to be quick. I wanted to ask you why, but you fainted and only just woke up."

Pei Mubai clearly remembered how Duan Yuhan had earnestly pleaded with him back then. How could he have forgotten it all now?

Duan Yuhan's dark eyes subtly gleamed, a smile playing on his lips. "I thought I was dreaming, but it's real. You must have done me a great favor, right?"

"It's good that you remember,"

Pei Mubai said with a slight sigh of relief. "I drew portraits of you and me and sent them by carrier pigeon, asking various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan to secretly search for people with similar appearances in the prisons. Luckily, two death row inmates happened to bear some resemblance, and they were sent over the day before yesterday. As you said, their bodies have been thrown into the nearest Qiantang River. Whoever finds them will surely think that it was you and me who died."

Duan Yuhan looked at Pei Mubai. He had indeed not underestimated his strength, and he couldn't help but feel secretly glad that he had resolved the hostility between

them. On the surface, his Yitian Manor was not yet completed, and he was just a lone figure. But he came from the Pei family of Jiangnan, and his maternal grandfather was the Grand Tutor of the court, so he had friends all over the world. Last year, he became the top scholar in the imperial examination and was highly favored by the emperor, accompanying him on his inspection tour of Jiangnan. Rumors circulated that the Seventeenth Princess was deeply in love with him, and the Emperor was also considering a son-in-law. Naturally, he commanded immense influence in various government offices, and everyone wanted to curry favor and climb the social ladder.

"Death row inmates? I didn't expect our appearances to resemble those of death row inmates,"

Duan Yuhan chuckled slightly.

Pei Mubai's heart tightened; he suddenly understood his meaning. The two men sent by the government might not actually be death row inmates. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence in such a short time? The truth was, they had captured two people from the common people to curry favor with him.

In that case, weren't those two people unjustly killed? Pei Mubai felt extremely distressed at this thought. A glance revealed Duan Yuhan still smiling, and a surge of resentment rose within him.

"Tell me, why did you insist they impersonate you and me?"

"Since everyone wants me dead, I'll grant their wish. Naturally, with the embroidered boat exploding, it's normal for us to die together. If only I died, it would still arouse suspicion,"

Duan Yuhan's smile vanished, and he slowly explained.

"I never imagined that the arrogant Duan Yuhan would one day fake his own death to save his own life!"

Pei Mubai couldn't help but sarcastically remark, considering he had caused the deaths of two innocent people and showed no remorse.

Duan Yuhan calmly replied, "I have nothing to say about the deaths of those two. Since things have come to this, I can only make some compensation to their families later. Regret now is useless."

Pei Mubai was stunned. Knowing how cold-blooded he was, he hadn't expected him to mourn unrelated people. His words, though ruthless, were reasonable. The dead cannot be brought back to life, so he could only do as Duan Yuhan said and make amends later.

“Speaking of saving my life, yes, I don’t want to die. If you were me, would you be willing to leave Qing and Bing’er?”

Duan Yuhan said somewhat sadly. He was an extremely proud man, and faking his death was not his wish, but the situation forced him to make this the only option.

Pei Mubai seemed to be infected by his sadness, feeling a little melancholy. No one would be willing to leave their beloved wife and children, to leave their dearest and most beloved people. Pei Mubai naturally understood this reluctance.

In the silence, he suddenly remembered the sentence, “Everyone wants me dead.” Pei Mubai was full of doubt, “Besides Xiao Qing, is there anyone else who wants to kill you?”

“Yes.”

Duan Yuhan then told Pei Mubai in detail what had happened in Hangzhou. Pei Mubai pondered for a long time and understood his intention.

"You're thinking that instead of going to great lengths to guard against the mole, fearing it might harm Bing'er, and exhausting yourself to avoid Xiao Qing's revenge, it's better to play along and make them all think you're dead. That way, Xiao Qing and the mole will shift their focus to fighting for the ranch, right?"

Pei Mubai gave a slight approval. "That's right. Now that you've lost your martial arts, this plan avoids the enemy's sharp edge and can temporarily ensure your safety. It can also make Xiao Qing remember all the good things you did when you were alive, and maybe she'll forgive you in her grief. It's indeed a good plan to fake your death."

Strangely, even though Duan Yuhan was his rival in love and not a good person, for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to dislike him, and even felt a sense of kinship.

Duan Yuhan raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "You really understand me. Fortunately, you're not my enemy now."

"But I still don't understand, how can you be sure that the Holy Martial Palace will support Xiao Qing? If they don't support her, Xiao Qing will be all alone, fighting against the mole. Wouldn't that be too dangerous?"

Pei Mubai remained on Sima Wanqing's side.

"Did you notice anything amiss with Li Lie on the way to the embroidered boat?"

Duan Yuhan smiled calmly.

"His gait was a bit strange, as if he was injured and enduring some pain."

"I guess he must be injured, and the timing is so coincidental, it naturally means he was punished by Sheng Xixian. He also secretly glared at Qing three times, indicating that he still harbors resentment towards her. But when Qing looked at him, he immediately turned his gaze away, indicating that he dared not openly show hostility towards her. Putting everything together, I can only see one fact." A hint of

seriousness appeared in his dark eyes, Duan Yuhan knew that he was still taking a risk. "As wise and shrewd as Sheng Xixian is, to injure Li Lie, the second most meritorious official in the palace, for a mere nominal wife, what do you think that means?"

"How can you be sure that Xiao Qing is Sheng Xixian's 'nominal' wife?"

Pei Mubai couldn't help but blurt out, then regretted asking so abruptly.

Duan Yuhan wasn't surprised; his dark eyes instantly shone brightly, dazzling beyond compare. "Of course I know."

Some things can only be understood intuitively, not explained in words. Just like when he helped her cure the poison of the Wave Butterfly, he noticed her subtle reactions and knew that she hadn't been so intimate with other men in the past three years.

Pei Mubai seemed to understand something and couldn't help but admire Duan Yuhan's keen observation and ability to draw inferences. In any case, Sheng Xixian's attention to Xiao Qing was undeniable, and it was likely that there was even romantic affection involved. Now that Duan Yuhan had faked his death, Sheng Xixian would spare no effort to help Xiao Qing.

By watching the two tigers fight from the sidelines—on one side, Wan Qing, fully supported by the Holy Martial Palace, and on the other, a traitor lurking in the shadows—both sides would suffer significant losses in their struggle for the Lieyun Ranch, regardless of who won or lost. It would be best if Duan Yuhan could ultimately clean up the mess. It was a classic case of "when the clam and the crane fight, the fisherman benefits.

" "How can you ensure the safety of Xiao Qing and Bing'er?"

Although Pei Mubai agreed with Duan Yuhan's approach, he was still somewhat worried.

“The mole wants to use Bing’er to appease everyone at the ranch and seize power legitimately, so of course he wouldn’t dare harm him in the slightest. As for Sheng Xixian, who wants Qing’s true love, he certainly wouldn’t harm Bing’er either. As for Qing… she’s grown up now. With her martial arts skills and wit, I believe she can protect herself.”

He said this, but fate is unpredictable, and concern can cloud judgment; Duan Yuhan felt a little uneasy.

His Qing had long since grown up, and thinking of this, Duan Yuhan felt a vague sense of loss.

He remembered when she was ten years old, she insisted on riding a horse alone like him, but fell off. Fortunately, he caught her in time, and she wasn’t hurt. At that time, her soft, downy hair brushed against his chin, her beautiful little head nestled against his chest, and her jade-like hands clung tightly to his arm. He felt his heart pounding wildly, and from then on, he was captivated by the feeling of holding her in his arms, never wanting to let go.

“With me here, you don’t have to be afraid of anything.”

He smiled reassuringly at her pale, frightened face.

“I’m not scared at all,”

she said defiantly, her color returning as she was embraced warmly. Then her expression turned sour, “But when will I learn to ride a horse by myself?”

Her slightly melancholy expression was incredibly endearing, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t laugh at me, or I won’t talk to you anymore!”

She pouted, turning her head away as if she were genuinely angry. Her big eyes, however, darted back, watching his reaction.

He quietly tickled her, and she, as expected, couldn’t resist the tickle, giggling and retaliating. He tried to dodge, but she clung to him, leaving him nowhere to escape. They stopped laughing when they were both too tired to continue.

“I want to grow up quickly,”

she said seriously.

“Why?”

“When I grow up, I can go anywhere I want by myself.”

“Why do you want to go alone?”

he asked, a little annoyed.

"When I grow up, I can take care of myself wherever I go. Dad and brother won't have to worry about me. Isn't that great?"

"You don't want me around either?"

He stroked her soft earlobe, asking resentfully.

She rested her chin on her hand and smiled sweetly, "No. I'm fine on my own."

He glared at her, his grip tightening unconsciously. This little devil often said hurtful things to annoy him.

"Ouch—"

she pouted, trying to pull away from his hand on her earlobe, but couldn't. "I haven't finished yet. You can come with me, but you have to be a good child and I'll be the adult. I'll protect you."

"Okay, then grow up quickly. I'll wait for you to protect me."

At that moment, his heart melted; he only wished to cherish her for a lifetime.

Her childish words still echoed in his ears, but today she had truly grown up, and this was the situation between them. How could he rekindle their sweet days?

Seeing the gentle tenderness in Duan Yuhan's eyes, Pei Mubai guessed he was lost in memories. Suddenly, he remembered something. "Even if others can't immediately tell if the corpse is real or fake, Xiaoqing will definitely notice something's wrong."

Duan Yuhan quickly returned to reality. "She should be able to tell. I believe she'll understand my intentions. Is killing me more important, or is saving the ranch more important? She'll make her own decision."

He had considered this long ago. Perhaps Wanqing wouldn't forgive him in the end, and would still kill him for revenge, but he was certain she wouldn't expose him. Between the ranch mole and him, she probably hated the person who harmed Bing'er more.

"You should rest well. I'm going out for a bit."

Since Pei Mubai knew everything, he naturally couldn't stand idly by. No matter what, he had to help Wanqing.

Duan Yuhan knew his thoughts perfectly well and smiled faintly. "I'll go with you."

"No, you've lost your martial arts and are now weak. It would be too dangerous if you were discovered,"

Pei Mubai stopped him.

"Isn't it dangerous for you to leave me here? Besides, even if I lose my martial arts, no one can necessarily hurt me."

No matter how much he prided himself on his perfect strategy, Duan Yuhan couldn't remain uninvolved.

Pei Mubai looked at him for a long time, knowing his mind was made up. If he didn't go with him, Duan Yuhan would probably go alone, which would be even more dangerous. He sighed, wondering why Duan Yuhan, who cared so deeply for Xiao Qing, had been so ruthless in his revenge.

He vaguely remembered the Jade Auspicious Hundred Flower Pill that the Kingdom of Kucha had presented as tribute last year, said to have the effect of healing flesh and bone and reviving the dead. He wondered if it could heal Duan Yuhan's meridians and restore his martial arts.

He hesitated. He still didn't know Xiao Qing's true feelings for Duan Yuhan. Whether or not he should seek revenge was best left unsaid.

“Since you insist, let’s go together.”

Pei Mubai took out two human skin masks from his robes and sighed softly, “I never thought all the good things I prepared for my revenge in Loulan would come in handy.”

The two put on the masks and set off for Hangzhou, lodging at a small inn near Yunlai Residence. They learned that Feng San and Hu Tian had arrived at Yunlai Residence with groups of people. The inn in the front courtyard of Yunlai Residence was temporarily closed and heavily guarded; ordinary people were not allowed to approach.

The next morning, they heard a great commotion outside. Asking the innkeeper, they learned that the master of Shengwu Palace had brought his favorite concubine, Lady Ni Chang, to Yunlai Residence for a visit. Later, as the sedan chair passed through East Street, a warm breeze blew, lifting Lady Ni Chang's curtain. Men, women, and children, who admired Lady Ni Chang's beauty, poured out, vying to catch a glimpse of the peerless beauty, resulting in the sedan chair being trapped and the street being packed with people.

"Let's seize this opportunity and sneak into Yunlai Residence. We'll act according to the situation later."

"Alright."

Chapter 15: The Feast at Hongmen

When Sheng Xixian and Sima Wanqing stepped into the hall of Yunlai Residence, Hu Tian, Feng San, and Feng Si came to greet them. In terms of status, Sheng Xixian was higher than them, so he only nodded slightly in return.

"I am deeply grateful that the Palace Master has returned the Lord's remains. I am only offering this simple feast to express my gratitude. In the future, I will personally visit to express my thanks."

After the host and guests were seated and the banquet began, Hu Tian spoke respectfully, but his burning gaze swept suspiciously over Sima Wanqing. He had heard that although Sheng Xixian was fond of beautiful women, he never brought his concubines when discussing serious matters. Today, he unexpectedly brought a beauty with him, and he wondered what her intentions were.

"No need for formalities. I deeply regret the untimely death of Young Master Duan. It's a pity that I didn't get to share a drink with him when he came to Hangzhou."

Sheng Xixian spoke with genuine emotion, as he had originally intended to get closer to Duan Yuhan and have a good competition with him.

Hu Tian continued with pleasantries, "As the saying goes, 'a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery,' Shengwu Palace has long been located in Hangzhou, and with the Palace Master's great talent and ambition, even the scenery of West Lake is unparalleled in the world. I believe that if Your Majesty had met the Palace Master earlier, you would have hit it off immediately. It's just a pity that heaven is jealous of talent, and Your Majesty has unfortunately passed away."

Sheng Xixian playfully stroked the white jade cup in his hand, then suddenly smiled faintly, "This time, Young Master Duan was unfortunately murdered on my embroidered boat. I will definitely do my best to find the mastermind behind it. You all feel the same way, don't you?"

"Of course."

Hu Tian glanced at Sima Wanqing, hesitating to speak.

Everything was as expected. Sheng Xixian spoke softly to the stunning beauty beside him, “Ni’er, that child is the young master of this place. Didn’t you want to see him and even bring him a puppy?”

“Yes, I liked him very much when I saw him by the lake that day. I wonder where he is? May I ask him to come out and meet me?”

Sima Wanqing smiled gently, like a clear sky after a light snowfall, a beautiful jade reflecting the sun, her radiance so dazzling that Hu Tian turned his head away, not daring to look directly at her.

“Madam, you don’t know, the young master was heartbroken upon hearing the news of the master’s death and is bedridden. He is not fit to receive guests.”

Hu Tian refused decisively.

“Is that so?”

Sima Wanqing’s smile faded slightly. “Then I must go see him. Perhaps seeing my gift will cheer him up.”

She then turned to Bao’er and instructed, “Bring Shuang’er out.”

Feng Si was startled when he saw Bao’er take out the pure white puppy. “Xue’er?”

“This puppy?”

Feng San asked in a low voice.

“When the young master first arrived in Hangzhou, he also had a dog just like this, exactly the same. He said it was a gift from a pretty lady by the lake. Later, the young master encountered danger, and that dog died.”

Feng Si hurriedly recounted everything he knew.

Hu Tian listened, still smiling, but his tone remained firm. “I thank you on behalf of the young master for your kindness, Madam. However, the young master should be asleep now after taking his medicine. Perhaps Madam could come another day?”

“You keep refusing. Do you look down on me?”

Sima Wanqing’s pretty face hardened, her anger evident. He was stalling for time. They would definitely return to Lieyun Ranch in a few days, so why would he let her see Sima Bing?

Sheng Xixian pulled her hand. “Ni’er, they are just trying to protect their master. You don’t need to make things difficult for them.”

His voice was calm, but there was a hidden displeasure. Sima Wanqing snorted and glared at Hu Tian, looking like she had been spoiled by Sheng Xixian.

Hu Tian and Feng San exchanged a glance. Although they had decided not to let anyone see Sima Bing, being in Hangzhou and with Lady Ni Chang being Sheng Xixian's favorite concubine, offending the Shengwu Palace would be extremely unfortunate.

Sima Wanqing noticed their expressions and sneered inwardly. Neither Hu Tian nor Feng San were good people. At this moment, it seemed that Feng San followed Hu Tian's lead in everything, so Hu Tian was probably the traitor. Now, Bing'er had suddenly disappeared from Yunlai Residence, and Ru Hua couldn't be contacted either, so she assumed they were being held captive. Today's visit was merely an opportunity to investigate their whereabouts and then find a chance to take them away.

As long as Bing'er's safety was guaranteed, she would make Hu Tian and Feng San pay the price for their betrayal.

"Fine, if we can't see her, so be it. Since Shuang'er has been brought, I don't want to take her back. Remember to give her to him when the child wakes up."

Sima Wanqing gestured for Bao'er to hand the puppy over to them. It doesn't matter if we don't see anyone. This puppy is scented with orchid fragrance. As long as they give it to Bing'er, she will naturally find Bing'er's whereabouts.

"It's rare for Madam to show such care for the young master. Why don't I take Madam to see him?"

Feng San and Hu Tian exchanged glances and made a respectful suggestion.

Sheng Xixian's clear phoenix eyes showed a hint of a smile. "That would be very good. Ni'er, go and see the child. We have important matters to discuss."

"Mm," Sima Wanqing agreed, rising gracefully, with Li Lie and Bao'er following closely behind.

Feng San cupped his hands slightly. "Madam can go alone. As for these two, they can rest outside for a while."

Sima Wanqing knew he was very wary, especially of the highly skilled Li Lie, so she instructed the two to wait outside and carried the puppy with Feng San into the deep backyard.

They walked along, turning east and west, until they reached a room where Feng San suddenly stopped. Sima Wanqing carefully looked around. It was indeed unusually quiet, with no one around.

Feng San frowned, noticing the two unfamiliar guards at the gate. "Whose subordinates are you? Where are Zhang Hu and Wu Bao, who were originally in charge of guarding the gate?"

The guard on the left hurriedly replied, "We are subordinates of Master Feng and have been in charge of security at Yunlai Residence. Just now, the two elder brothers had to relieve themselves, so they asked us to temporarily fill in."

Feng San noticed the two men standing ramrod straight, looking dutiful, and felt slightly relieved. Seeing so many unfamiliar faces at Yunlai Residence made him uneasy, fearing they might be outsiders who had learned of Duan Yuhan's death and were trying to cause trouble. Fortunately, each time he questioned them carefully, the strangers were either Hu Tian's or Feng Si's men, and he hadn't found any outsiders. These two were complete strangers, and with Lady Ni Chang present, he couldn't question them too thoroughly. He hated that Zhang Hu and Wu Bao dared to slack off; Feng San secretly resolved to punish them severely once Ni Chang left.

Sima Wanqing figured there were definitely guards inside, and it seemed taking Bing'er away without a fight wouldn't be easy. While pondering, she felt two gentle gazes sweep over her. Looking closely, she saw Feng San with his back to her, and the two guards staring straight ahead, leaving her momentarily confused.

Suddenly, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind. Normally, guards should be focused on their duties, but who in the world can resist the stunning beauty of Ni Chang at first sight? The two

guards, with serious expressions and utter loyalty, seemed oblivious to her, a clear attempt to conceal their true intentions. Feng San took out the key, opened the door, and gestured for her to enter. Sima Wanqing, preoccupied with Sima Bing, didn't have time to examine the two guards closely and hurriedly followed him inside.

"Why did you lock the door? Did you treat that child like a prisoner?"

Knowing she shouldn't show her anger, Sima Wanqing couldn't help but speak, thankfully managing to control her emotions and soften her accusatory tone.

Feng San continued into the inner room, "Madam is unaware of the dangers of the world. Now that our lord has passed away, I fear those who have unknowingly made enemies will seek revenge. We did this for the young master's safety, it was a last resort."

Sima Wanqing smiled faintly, "Is that so?"

But anger involuntarily welled in her eyes. She knew they wouldn't dare harm Bing'er, but Bing'er would still suffer all sorts of injustices.

Seeing her displeasure, Feng San quickly explained, "The mastermind who plotted against the master hasn't been caught yet, and Hangzhou is ultimately a dangerous place. If the young master were to suffer another mishap, we subordinates would truly deserve to die."

His words were extremely sincere. Sima Wanqing suddenly realized that perhaps he didn't really intend to betray Duan Yuhan, but was merely temporarily deceived by Hu Tian.

As they spoke, they reached the innermost room. Sima Wanqing immediately saw Sima Bing sitting listlessly at the table, idly fiddling with a pile of clay chicks and ducks. A warm feeling surged through her heart; she really wanted to rush over and hug him tightly.

"Bing'er,"

with Feng San beside her, she could only slowly approach and softly call out.

The little guy turned his head and saw her, beaming with surprise, "Pretty Auntie? What brings you here? Huh?" He

quickly slid off the chair and ran over to pat the puppy's head. The puppy obediently rubbed against his legs.

"Do you like it? Its name is Shuang'er."

Sima Wanqing noticed the little guy's swollen eyes and felt a pang of heartache as she hugged him tightly.

"Auntie..."

Sima Bing's little mouth trembled, his eyes instantly reddened, and he began to sob.

"Good boy, Auntie knows what happened..."

Sima Wanqing held his chubby little hand, her nose stinging, her heart feeling like it was soaking in an autumn stream, impossible to dry.

The little guy stopped crying after a while and got down from her arms. "Daddy said boys shouldn't cry, boys should be strong and brave. Bing'er won't cry anymore."

"Come on, look at Shuang'er, do you like it?"

She didn't want the little guy to continue immersing himself in the pain of losing his father. Shuang'er, at first glance, was almost indistinguishable from Xue'er; he would definitely like it.

Sima Bing bit her lip and shook her head. "Auntie, I don't want Shuang'er, you can take her away."

"Why?"

"I only like Xue'er. Even if Shuang'er and Xue'er look alike, she's not Xue'er."

The little guy said very seriously, "Xue'er is gone, she won't come back."

Gazing at the exquisite features that resembled Duan Yuhan, she didn't know whether to cry or laugh for a moment. She and her son knew they had a special affection for each other at the age of three, and they would surely grow up to be very passionate people. But, did his obsession with the things he loved bring him more pain or more joy? Sometimes, if one could find a substitute to soothe a wounded heart, it would be a kind of happiness. But this child was so stubborn.

"Then... Auntie, look at your little chicks and ducks, wow, they look so real, so cute."

She picked up the little toys on the table and praised them endlessly.

"Not fun."

The little guy remained uninterested and a little listless.

She picked up a large lump of white clay. "What do you want? Auntie will make it for you."

"Really? Auntie can make anything?"

The little one's bright, star-like eyes lit up.

"Of course it's true."

She casually sculpted a little rabbit, with long ears and a short tail, chubby and curled up as if sleeping, incredibly lifelike.

"Auntie is so amazing!"

Sima Bing rushed over and took the rabbit, finally showing a hint of a smile, but in an instant, it turned into tears. "Auntie, can you make a father for me?"

"Okay, Auntie will make one for you,"

she said, her throat slightly choked, but her face still held that gentle smile, her hands skillfully kneading and twisting. Soon, the outline of that stubborn and proud figure appeared. Sima Bing stared blankly at her nimble fingers, blankly taking the lifelike miniature Duan Yuhan, crystal tears rolling down her cheeks, but ultimately not falling.

Sima Wanqing glanced at Feng San, who was standing guard to the side. "I want to play with Bing'er a little longer. If you have important business, please leave."

"This..."

Feng San wanted to know how Hu Tian and Sheng Xixian's conversation went, but he was also worried about letting an outsider accompany Sima Bing.

"Are you afraid I'll kidnap the child?"

Sima Wanqing smiled calmly, but the mockery in her beautiful eyes was quite obvious.

"In that case, I'll trouble Madam to look after the young master. I'll take my leave now. If you need anything, just pull the white line on the side of the table."

Originally, Feng San was a cautious person, but seeing such a delicate and beautiful woman as Madam Ni Chang, he figured that even if she had any schemes, she wouldn't be able to escape the many checkpoints of Yunlai Residence, so he left with peace of mind. He naturally didn't expect that he was facing a perfect collaboration between Sima Wanqing and Sheng Xixian.

Seeing Feng San leave, Sima Bing picked up the clay figure and looked at it from left to right with great interest. Sima Wanqing walked around the room, calmed down, and listened carefully to the sounds around her. She didn't believe that Sima Bing was only being watched by two ordinary guards at the door; there was probably some powerful figure or trap lurking nearby. She

could faintly hear soft, drawn-out breathing from the roof beam above, and she stopped in her tracks.

"Auntie, I want to go out and play,"

the little boy said pitifully, tugging at her sleeve.

"Okay, Auntie will take you out. By the way, where's your sister Ruhua?"

"When she eats or sleeps, she pulls that thread and comes out,"

the little boy pointed to the white thread Feng San had indicated.

Sima Wanqing was relieved to learn that Jiang Ruhua hadn't been exposed and suffered. "Auntie will secretly take you out. You have to be a good girl and not make a sound, okay?"

"Yes, Bing'er knows

," the little boy nodded seriously. "If I make a sound, Uncle Feng and Uncle Hu will find me and bring me back, right?"

"Yes, Bing'er is so smart."

Sima Wanqing picked him up and walked towards the door, remaining highly vigilant behind and above.

"Put him down."

A gust of wind swirled down, and a monk with a high nose and deep-set eyes stood before the door, blocking her path.

Sima Wanqing couldn't believe her eyes for a moment, and quickly took a step back. The man was none other than Bamok. Three years ago, Bamok took her to Sheng Xixian, where he gleaned the Flying Ascension Lightness Skill from the Rainbow Feather Dance. After teaching her, he went off to travel the world. Why was he here today?

"Master."

She looked at Bamok's cold eyes with suspicion and extreme unease. Bamok seemed not to hear her, only saying, "Put him down." "Master, it's me, Wanqing." Bamok

repeated "Put him down" again. His right hand struck out mercilessly, the palm wind just avoiding Sima Bing. In her shock, Sima Wanqing glided lightly to the side with a "Flying Ascension." But Bamok pursued relentlessly, like an eagle eyeing its prey, unwilling to let go, his palm strike becoming even more powerful.

Sima Wanqing knew that a fight with Bamok would be difficult to win quickly. If the fight dragged on, Feng San's return might alert the other guards of Yunlai Residence, potentially leading to widespread conflict and even bloodshed – something she desperately wanted. In her haste, she frequently used her lightness skill, leaping swiftly backward or gracefully darting away, trying to devise a plan to escape.

Seeing Bamok's unusually rapid movements and his indifference towards her, his eyes vacant, she suddenly remembered the legendary, eerie soul-shifting technique. It was said that those afflicted by this technique would obey the caster's every command, completely devoid of their own consciousness. Could Bamok be controlled by Hu Tian using this technique?

While pondering this, she dodged and weaved through Bamok's relentless attacks. The little one nestled in her arms, unafraid, his large eyes following Bamok's every move.

"Put him down,"

Bamok repeatedly uttered this phrase. Sima Wanqing had a sudden inspiration. Could it be that the person who cast the spell had ordered him to guard Sima Bing? Sure enough, when she put Sima Bing down, Barmok immediately stopped, leaped onto the roof beam, and vanished. But when she picked up Bing'er again and reached the door, Barmok reappeared and attacked.

Putting the child down, she sighed softly. It seemed she had no choice but to gather Li Lie and the others to deal with Barmok. Taking Bing'er away without fighting was impossible; she could only hope that no one would be hurt or killed. She took out a bamboo whistle from her sleeve and blew it continuously, but no sound came out.

"Auntie, why can't you make a sound when you whistle?"

Sima Bing frowned, very curious.

Sima Wanqing smiled calmly, "Uncle won't let Bing'er go out to play, so Auntie uses the magic whistle to find someone to help."

She really didn't know how to explain the principle of resonance to him, so she could only vaguely use the word "magic."

"Magic whistle? People can find Auntie even if they can't hear anything? Auntie is so amazing, she can do everything."

The little guy's face was full of admiration. Sima Wanqing smiled helplessly. The clever one wasn't her, but Sheng Xixian. In the whole world, probably only he could have come up with this method. Using her true energy to whistle, she silently used the principle of resonance to tell her subordinates her location.

Yes, she had deliberately caused chaos on the street to distract the guards at Yunlai Residence, allowing about ten people from Shengwu Palace to quietly infiltrate. Li Lie and the others should find this place in a little while. As long as they held off Bamok, she could naturally take Bing'er and leave quickly. Sima Wanqing gently stroked the little one's thick black hair, smiling reassuringly.

The outer room was silent until footsteps approached, one heavy and one light, like one completely ignorant of martial arts and the other highly skilled. Someone was coming, but the guards outside remained silent. Could it be Hu Tian? Or someone else? Sima Wanqing cautiously pulled Bing'er aside and carefully hid her behind the door.

Chapter 16, April 5th :

The two guards who dared to enter were the ones who were supposed to be guarding the outside.

Sima Wanqing raised a delicate eyebrow. "What brings you two here?"

The silkworm silk wrapped around her wrist flicked open, ready to strike at any moment.

"Little Qing, I was just wearing a human skin mask and took some herbs to change my voice. You can't recognize me?"

the first person to enter said with a hint of emotion. His tone was clearly Pei Mubai's usual manner. Sima Wanqing froze.

Turning her head, she caught sight of the deep, dark eyes of the person behind her. Her heart felt as if it had been twisted, an unusual pain shooting through her. She forced herself to turn her face away, refusing to look at him. Yes, no one could impersonate Duan Yuhan. She had discovered the truth during her second examination of the corpse. Her Han, if he was to die, could only die by her hand. But she hadn't expected to see him again so soon.

"I was going to wait for you outside, but you didn't come out, so I came in to check."

Pei Mubai quickly glanced around, a little puzzled as to why she hadn't left when there was no one else around.

Sima Wanqing forced a smile and pointed upwards, "Bamok is being controlled; he won't let me take Bing'er out."

Her heart suddenly pounded wildly, terrifying thoughts racing through her mind, impossible to grasp. Duan Yuhan's footsteps were heavy. How could he be like this?

Grabbing Duan Yuhan's pulse like lightning, she didn't flinch, only staring at him silently. She squeezed hard, but there was no sign of any internal force rebounding. Sima Wanqing was horrified, wanting to ask but unable to utter a word. He had always loved martial arts, and many praised him as a rare martial arts prodigy, but now his internal force was almost completely depleted, making him no different from an ordinary person. Even though he seemed calm and composed, she knew he must be very disappointed and distressed, but how could he have reached this point?

"I'm fine."

Duan Yuhan took her hand in return. Seeing her jade-like wrists seem even more slender, he felt a pang of regret. Even if he believed in her abilities, his feigned death, dragging her into the heart of the conflict, was ultimately dangerous. The

threads of tenderness in his dark eyes seemed to bewitch her heart, and an overwhelming sadness filled her chest. He didn't know that she had almost given up her life because of his faked death.

"Was it caused by the explosion of the embroidered boat?"

she asked muffledly.

"Yes,"

he didn't want to tell her the truth. He longed for her warmth, which flowed from his fingertips and truly seeped into his heart. His heart had been cold and desolate for too long.

Sima Wanqing silently shook off his hand and took a step back. "It's good that you're not dead." There are things one should do and things one shouldn't do. No matter how much it hurts, she won't abandon her principles.

Seeing the situation between the two, Pei Mubai couldn't help but sigh. Who can truly understand and comprehend the four words "love, hate, and revenge"?

"We can talk about our affairs later. Taking Bing'er out is the priority,"

Sima Wanqing said calmly.

Duan Yuhan bent down and picked up Sima Bing, a deep sorrow welling up in his heart. Was her forgiveness just a pipe dream for him?

The little one struggled in his arms for a moment, then quickly calmed down, resting her head limply on his shoulder. "Uncle, my dad often holds me like this too."

The childish voice made Duan Yuhan's heart tremble, and his arms tightened around her. He secretly vowed that, except for this time, he would never let Bing'er be sad again.

Bamok's figure pounced down, blocking Duan Yuhan's path. The Heavenly Silkworm Silk suddenly flew diagonally, swiftly wrapping around Bamok's right arm, while Pei Mubai's soft sword struck directly at four acupoints on Bamok's shoulder. Bamok let out a low roar, completely ignoring their combined attack, single-mindedly trying to intercept Duan Yuhan. The Heavenly Silkworm Silk was taut,

and the sword tip pierced the acupoints, but it still couldn't stop Bamok, who had lost his own consciousness. In her panic, Sima Wanqing was suddenly struck by a figure of ethereal grace, like a fairy soaring through the sky, who unexpectedly bypassed Bamok and stood in front of Duan Yuhan, grabbing his arm and hastily retreating several steps.

Bamok followed relentlessly, launching three consecutive palm strikes. Pei Mubai also unleashed three sword flourishes, each more powerful than the last, barely managing to withstand the frenzied attacks.

Sima Wanqing and Pei Mubai exchanged a glance, both hesitant. In terms of strength, the two of them combined could easily defeat Bamok, but Bamok only attacked, and he was completely unaware of being struck on pressure points. Was it truly only by severely injuring him, or even killing him, that they could take Bing'er away?

"Sparse shadows slant across the clear, shallow water,"

Duan Yuhan calmly said.

Sima Wanqing paused, recognizing it as her most prized whip technique from her youth. Seeing Bamok pounce like a tiger again, she didn't hesitate; her Heavenly Silkworm Silk naturally swept horizontally. The technique was the same as before, but combined with the Supreme Heaven-Supporting Heart Sutra, its power was extraordinary.

"Su Qin carries the sword,"

Duan Yuhan said, looking at Pei Mubai. It was one of the most basic sword techniques, known to every child practicing swordsmanship. Strangely, seeing the clarity in those dark eyes, Pei Mubai chose to trust him and did as he said.

"Snow blocks the Blue Pass, the horse cannot advance," "Azure Dragon emerges from the water," "Spring comes, the river water is as blue as indigo," "Immortal points the way"... As Duan Yuhan's voice grew faster and faster, Bamok gradually became flustered. Perhaps, for someone who only attacks relentlessly and is not clear-headed, there is no need to use any fancy moves. The simpler the movements, the more powerful and domineering the internal force can be.

The completely unrelated moves, when used by Sima Wanqing and Pei Mubai at this moment, were perfectly coordinated. The internal force of combining strength and gentleness forced Bamok to restrain himself.

"Flowers fall and water flows" The long silkworm silk, like a stream, rippled outwards and wrapped around Bamok's feet. "Stars hang low over the plains" The sword light shone brightly like a sky full of stars, and the crisscrossing sword energy enveloped Bamok's entire body.

The three exchanged glances, understanding each other perfectly. The silvery-white silkworm silk, like frost, pierced through the cold sword light, and Pei Mubai suddenly grabbed the other end of the silk. Figures clashed, nimbly weaving and circling, the supple silkworm silk binding Bamok's ankles and wrists. A slender hand deftly pulled and knotted.

In an instant, Bamok's hands and feet were bound together, but he didn't stop, still charging towards Duan Yuhan like a ball. Sima Wanqing bit her lip, her hand like a blade, swiftly striking Bamok's nape. Bamok immediately fell to the ground, finally still.

Her palms were slightly damp; Sima Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. This was the best way to subdue Bamok.

"Auntie, you're amazing!"

Sima Bing twisted her body, throwing herself into her arms.

"It's alright now."

Duan Yuhan smoothed the disheveled hair on her forehead, a gesture as gentle as ever. Seeing him like this, Sima Wanqing's heart raced, and she quickly stood beside Pei Mubai. Pei Mubai and Duan Yuhan had suddenly become friends who trusted and helped each other, something she hadn't expected. What she feared even more was the uncontrollable flutter in her heart for him. Why, in this critical moment, did she still only want him to be unharmed?

Seeing her subconscious actions and Pei Mubai's protective and concerned gaze, Duan Yuhan sighed. If she had never met him, would her life have been much happier? Recalling those days, their fiery red robes and snow-white attire entwined, they were a beautiful sight to behold, and others would probably praise them as a match made in heaven.

"Hurry, let's go. I wonder if Bamok's cries have alerted the people outside,"

Pei Mubai urged, then stopped when he saw Bamok on the ground. Logically, he should take him with him to prevent him from being controlled and used again.

"Take him with us?"

Pei Mubai hesitated slightly. In the current situation, to successfully leave Yunlai Residence, it was really not advisable to bring another person.

“Hmm,”

Sima Wanqing was also worried, after all, she and Bamoke had a master-disciple relationship. But then she thought that Li Lie would be here soon with his men and would naturally save Bamoke, so she took the lead and went out, “It’s better not to, someone will save him.”

Her words were vague, but her tone was very certain. Duan Pei and the other man were puzzled but didn’t ask any more questions and hurriedly went out of the inner room.

When they reached the outer room, they suddenly heard many careful footsteps outside the door, and the three of them quietly stopped.

“Huh?”

It was clearly Li Lie’s voice. He must have been surprised to find that the door was unlocked and there were no guards by the door.

Sima Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door. “Madam,”

Li Lie said, standing outside with more than ten men.

“Go in and safely escort Master Bamoke back to the Elegant Garden.”

“Yes.”

“Who are these two?”

Li Lie was sure that the two Yunlai Residence guards behind Sima Wanqing were not people from the Holy Martial Palace in disguise.

“They are old acquaintances from the former ranch.”

Sima Wanqing didn’t stop, carrying Sima Bingfei onto the roof. She just wanted to get Bing’er and Duan Pei to a safe place as soon as possible before returning to deal with Hu Tian. Pei Mubai followed closely behind with Duan Yuhan.

“Where is Madam taking Young Master Sima?” Li

Lie asked, his tone seemingly concerned but disrespectful.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Li Lie caught up, “The Palace Master has ordered me to stay by Madam’s side at all times.”

He paused, then added, “And to protect Young Master Sima’s safety.”

Sima Wanqing’s expression changed abruptly. Was Sheng Xixian concerned about her, or did he have a controlling and wary mindset? Li Lie, however, was truly stunned when he saw Bamok being carried out like a dumpling. He roughly understood the depth of Sima Wanqing’s martial arts skills. Although she was the best among the younger generation, it was almost impossible for her to defeat the Palace Master’s master. Could it be because of the help of those two Yunlaiju guards? If so, those two must be extraordinary.

Sima Wanqing glanced around and saw his sharp gaze lingering on Duan Pei and his companion, realizing he was suspicious. Her mind raced, and she made her decision. She smiled sweetly, "Since the Palace Master says so, then I'll trouble you." She

then turned to Duan Pei and his companion, "Yunlai Residence is about to face a major trouble. It would be best if you two left this dangerous place as soon as possible."

"Perhaps we can help if we stay."

Having finally seen her and Bing'er again, Duan Yuhan absolutely didn't want to leave them again.

"That's not necessary,"

Sima Wanqing continued gently, "With them here, Bing'er and I will be fine. I appreciate your kindness and generosity."

She didn't want them to leave, but if Sheng Xixian discovered that Duan Pei and his companion were still alive, and that she knew they had faked their deaths and were still deceiving him, the first thing he would probably do was kill Duan Yuhan.

"Alright, then we'll take our leave. Until we meet again."

Pei Mubai and Duan Yuhan exchanged a brief glance, both determined to stay quietly, but outwardly heading towards the exit of Yunlai Residence.

Watching their figures gradually disappear, Sima Wanqing hugged the small, warm child in her arms, feeling a deep sadness. Now, her closest person was Bing'er.

The little hand affectionately wrapped around her neck, Sima Bing'er's large eyes looking at her intently, "Auntie, are you unhappy?"

"How could I be? Auntie is happiest when she's with Bing'er."

Looking down at that adorable face, like a porcelain doll, Sima Wanqing's heart suddenly filled with fighting spirit. Struggle, conspiracy, bloodshed, killing—she loathed it, but to prevent Sima Lie's life's work from falling into Hu Tian's hands, and to prevent Bing'er from being used by them, she had to eliminate all dangerous elements.

The sounds of fierce fighting came from outside, and the bamboo whistle in her sleeve trembled slightly. Sima Wanqing came back to her senses. Were the Shengwu Palace people who had been waiting outside Yunlai Residence rushing in? With a light step, they quickly made their way to the hall, Li Lie following slowly behind.

The sounds of fighting grew clearer, interspersed with several screams. Sima Bing's face turned deathly pale, and her small hands trembled as she tightly gripped Sima Wanqing's clothes, presumably remembering what happened by the lake.

"Bing'er, would you like to take a nap?"

Sima Wanqing stopped and asked softly.

"I can't sleep,"

the little guy mumbled.

"Good boy, wake up and the bad guys will be gone."

Sima Wanqing swiftly pressed his pressure point to induce sleep, and the little guy immediately drifted off to sleep. Looking at his soundly sleeping face, she sighed softly.

In the hall, Hu Tian and Feng San and Feng Si were still sitting in the main seats. Two rows of personal guards stood on either side, all looking extremely loyal.

"Just now, I was having a pleasant conversation with the Palace Master. Now, the Palace Master has ordered people to invade my Yunlai Residence without cause. What is the meaning of this?"

Hu Tian asked coldly.

Sheng Xixian smiled leisurely, stood up and took a few steps, "I don't want to see the century-old foundation of Lieyun Ranch fall into the hands of a despicable and shameless traitor."

"Who is the traitor?"

Hu Tian's eyes darted around, and an expression of utter astonishment immediately appeared on his face.

"Actually, I have already captured the person who blew up the embroidered boat."

"Who is it? Palace Master, why don't you hand him over to us? The entire ranch will surely tear this person to pieces to avenge our master."

Feng San excitedly stood up abruptly.

"Exactly."

Hu Tian also feigned righteous indignation. Sima Wanqing gracefully entered from outside. "So Steward Hu also wants to avenge our master. That's truly remarkable."

She had just handed Sima Bing over to Jiang Ruhua, who had just been released, and ordered her to wait outside the door. Now it was time to deal with Hu Tian properly.

"What do you mean by that, Madam?"

Hu Tian was quite surprised by her open involvement in martial arts affairs, but he didn't back down.

"Bring the people up."

"Yes."

Sheng Xixian smiled and took Sima Wanqing's hand to sit down. He knew that she must have taken care of Sima Bing's matter before coming. As long as Bing'er was safe, Hu Tian would have no more leverage against them. Even if he had great abilities, he wouldn't be able to leave Yunlai Residence alive today.

With this traitor removed, Sima Wanqing could naturally take Bing'er back and regain control of Lieyun Ranch. Their agreement would then be considered complete. And with Duan Yuhan dead, he believed that given time, she would accept him.

A lean, middle-aged man was brought in, his eyes blindfolded. Feng San felt he recognized him, but couldn't recall where he'd seen him before. While pondering, he heard Sheng Xixian ask, "What's your name? Where are you from? Whom do you belong to? What brings you to Hangzhou?"

"My name is Chang Sheng, from Lieyun Ranch outside the pass. I brought my two younger brothers to Hangzhou ten days ago on the orders of the steward,"

the man answered honestly.

"Which steward?"

"Steward Hu."

Feng San suddenly remembered bumping into this man a few months ago at Hu Tian's residence, shattering his jade pendant. At the time, Madam Hu had said he was a distant relative of Hu Tian, not from the ranch.

"What did you do in Hangzhou?"

"Seven days ago, we received a message from the steward via carrier pigeon, ordering me to blow up an embroidered boat on West Lake. My brothers and I did as he instructed."

"You just blow up a boat because you're told to? Didn't you know there were people on board?"

Sima Wanqing retorted angrily. The image of Aunt Qin's tragic death vaguely flashed before her eyes.

"I lit the fuse and ran far away with my brothers, not daring to look any longer."

"You're quite loyal. It's just a pity that your master treats you worse than a pig or a dog."

Sheng Xixian looked at Hu Tian with a half-smile. Although Hu Tian tried his best to remain calm, the veins on his hands were throbbing, clearly indicating that he was not at peace.

Chang Sheng suddenly pulled down the black cloth covering his eyes, revealing a blood-red but empty eye socket, a truly horrifying sight. "Yes, I only regret being blind and following the wrong master. Hu Tian clearly said that as long as I did a good job, he would reward me with a thousand taels of gold. Who would have thought he would turn around and kill me to silence me? My two younger brothers are dead. If it weren't for you saving me, I would be a ghost in the underworld now."

His voice was extremely mournful, clearly filled with resentment.

Hu Tian laughed heartily and clapped his hands loudly, "Good, well said. I admire you most for putting on such a good show, Palace Master."

Then his face darkened, "I don't know what your intentions are. But that embroidered boat belongs to the Holy Martial Palace, so it would be easier for you to murder the Lord. Could it be that the Lord died at the hands of the Holy Martial Palace, and you fear I will find out the truth and seek revenge, so you preemptively slander me?"

"Hu Tian, you beast!"

Chang Sheng jumped up and rushed towards Hu Tian, wanting to strangle him, but was held back by the guards.

"Where did you get this person from, Palace Master? Please take him away as soon as possible. As one of the four stewards of the Lieyun Ranch, I am not one to be slandered and insulted!"

Hu Tian sneered as he looked back at Sheng Xixian.

Sima Wanqing's icy gaze pierced him. "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. No matter how you try to argue, it's useless."

"Hmph, you just bring anyone here, say some nonsensical things, and think you can accuse me of murdering the master, of being a traitor to the ranch? I can't bear such a fabricated charge."

"Calm down, there is still evidence."

Sheng Xixian had expected him to deny everything, but he had planned this for a long time and would not let him escape this inescapable net.

Feng San lowered his head and remained silent. Duan Yuhan's sudden death, the sudden attack by the Holy Martial Palace, the unpredictable Lady Ni Chang, the man Chang Sheng who strongly accused Hu Tian of being a traitor... He preferred to believe that Hu Tian was innocent, but Hu Tian did not admit to knowing Chang Sheng, which was suspicious.

Chapter 17: A Wise Man's Thoughts

"If the Palace Master sincerely wanted to guide us to find the culprit who murdered the master, there would be no need to order such a serious attack on Yunlai Residence."

Feng San said seriously.

Sheng Xixian smiled without speaking, while Sima Wanqing interjected, "Sending people in is for safety reasons. We fear that if someone's conspiracy is exposed, they might kill to silence them."

"Why don't we all stop fighting and properly investigate the truth?"

Regardless of whether Sheng Xixian's words were true or false, Feng San only wanted to quell the conflict.

"Alright, tell them to stop."

At Sheng Xixian's command, someone hurriedly reported.

"Stop everyone."

Feng San and Feng Si also gave their orders, and although Hu Tian was extremely angry, he outwardly had no choice but to comply. In a short while, the incessant fighting subsided.

Feng San suddenly turned to Sima Wanqing, "Excuse my intrusion, but is the young master alright?"

Hu Tian glared at her, clearly eager to know the answer. They had realized that everything was being planned by the Holy Martial Palace. Although Sima Bing had a top-tier expert like Bamok protecting him, they couldn't be sure of his current condition.

"He's fine, neither of you need to worry."

Sima Wanqing's gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced Hu Tian again. "Chang Sheng, please bring out the item so everyone can see it."

Chang Sheng angrily pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. She slowly walked over and took it, unfolding it before a mocking smile bloomed on her crimson lips. "Interesting. Just now, Steward Hu vehemently denied it. But this letter, ordering the immediate destruction of the embroidered boat moored on the east bank of West Lake, is clearly from Steward Hu's hand."

Feng San leaned over and took the paper, examining it closely. His expression changed drastically, staring at Hu Tian with suspicion, but remaining silent.

"Since the Palace Master is determined to frame me, it wouldn't be difficult to have someone imitate my handwriting."

Hu Tian glanced at the note disdainfully.

"Is that so?"

Sima Wanqing stepped closer, took the paper, and flung it in front of Hu Tian's eyes. "Is your seal fake too?"

Only then did Hu Tian see the signature at the end of the letter—a bright red seal, clearly his own steward's seal.

"How is this possible..."

Hu Tian could hardly believe his eyes, blurting out. The handwriting was indeed his, but he clearly hadn't stamped it.

"How could this still be intact in this world? That's right, you ordered Chang Sheng to destroy it immediately after reading the letter. However, man proposes, God disposes. Heaven insisted on leaving this evidence, letting everyone see your true colors."

Sima Wanqing coldly stared at him. First betraying Sima Lie, then betraying Duan Yuhan—such a despicable, shameless person deserved to die.

Feng San approached Chang Sheng. "Why didn't you destroy this letter?"

"I... I was greedy for a moment, thinking that after finishing my business, I could exchange this letter for some more silver from Hu Tian."

Chang Sheng knew his thoughts were too greedy, and his voice lowered involuntarily.

Feng Si also came over and read the letter. He and Feng San exchanged glances and sighed.

Back then, when Lieyun Ranch did business with many merchants, the seals of Duan Yuhan and the four deacons were crucial proof of their trustworthiness. Moreover, after someone was caught for forging their seals two years ago and swindling people, Duan Yuhan ordered that the seals of the four deacons be uniformly carved from rare thousand-year-old ice jade. The seal script, carving techniques, and even the ink were all specially customized by Lieyun Ranch to prevent counterfeiting. Therefore, even if someone deliberately forged it, the color, depth, line thickness, and clarity of the imprint on the paper would inevitably differ.

But now, the imprint was exactly the same as usual. Therefore, this letter was indeed from Hu Tian; Chang Sheng had not lied. The person who plotted to murder Duan Yuhan was none other than Hu Tian!

Hearing the sigh, Hu Tian knew they were almost entirely convinced. Suddenly, he shouted, "Since our lord's death, the Holy Martial Palace wants to take advantage of the ranch. It's a conspiracy! This is the Holy Martial Palace framing me and sowing discord among us!"

Though exposed, he remained defiant.

Feng San bowed slightly to Sheng Xixian, "On behalf of the entire ranch, I thank the Palace Master for his help in revealing the truth. However, dealing with the traitor and avenging our lord is a matter for the ranch. Please, Palace Master, leave quickly to avoid damaging our harmony."

His words seemed to be aimed at Hu Tian, but in reality, they were urging Sheng Xixian to leave.

"Leaving is easy for me. I'm afraid you can't handle him,"

Sheng Xixian replied calmly.

Feng San's expression changed slightly. "If the Palace Master refuses to leave and insists on interfering, I'm afraid the martial arts world will truly misunderstand that the Palace Master has designs on the Lieyun Ranch."

He naturally knew that in Hangzhou, if the Holy Martial Palace intended to kill, no one in Yunlai Residence could escape death. Now, the only way to restrain Sheng Xixian's actions is through reputation, hoping he will stop.

Sheng Xixian suddenly smiled, a hint of domineering arrogance rising within him, "Hu Tian dared to recklessly commit bloodshed in Hangzhou, so naturally I must intervene. Of course, more importantly, I sincerely hope that Lieyun Ranch can be returned intact."

"Of course, we will certainly do our utmost to protect and support the young master and manage the ranch well,"

Feng San answered without hesitation.

"Lieyun Ranch, since its establishment, has belonged to the Sima family outside the pass. Has Steward Feng forgotten?"

Sheng Xixian was still smiling, but a cold glint suddenly appeared in his slender phoenix eyes, causing Feng San to involuntarily take a step back.

"I suppose you've been too busy with important matters and have long forgotten who the true owner of the ranch is."

Sima Wanqing had returned sometime earlier, having reverted to her original appearance.

Hu Tian and Feng San had seen countless similar faces and figures in the past three years. At this moment, both of them couldn't help but shudder. Her eyes, still as bright as the rising sun, now seemed to pierce through layers of mist like an icy moon, carrying a sharp, silvery-white aura that swept over him.

Sheng Xixian rose and went to her side. "The Sima of the outer pass has an heir, so why should a three-year-old child manage the ranch?"

"Your Highness, you are unaware that Madam is not Master Sima's biological child. In principle

, she is not qualified to inherit the ranch," Feng San said, bowing. He then understood what Sheng Xixian meant by "returning the jade intact."

"Is that so? Perhaps it's a misunderstanding."

Sheng Xixian's meaningful gaze swept over Feng San and his group. Feng San was startled, wondering if Sheng Xixian was fully aware of their deceptive act.

Hu Tian's eyes darted around, and his right hand suddenly pointed directly at Sima Wanqing. "So it was you who colluded with the Holy Martial Palace to frame me."

He then turned to Feng San, "That Chang Sheng guy was definitely part of their scheme. With a formidable enemy at hand, we should be working together."

Feng San and Feng Si exchanged glances, seemingly believing Hu Tian's words.

Sima Wanqing smiled coldly, remaining silent. Perhaps she didn't need to say anything more to them. As long as she killed Hu Tian, subdued Feng San, and returned to the ranch to reveal the truth, she could reclaim the ranch just the same way.

Hu Tian waved his hand slightly, and the guards around him instantly blocked his way, grinning maliciously as he pressed his right hand against the auspicious crane painting behind him.

"Stop!"

Feng San, who was closest to him, shouted, striking out with his palm, trying to block Hu Tian's hand.

"Everyone, get out of the hall!"

Sima Wanqing's mind raced. I vaguely remember Sima Lie mentioning a long time ago that the living rooms of Lieyun Ranch's branches all had hidden traps that could kill, specifically designed to prevent guests with malicious intentions. Could Hu Tian's strange actions be to activate these traps?

Leaping forward, the silkworm from his sleeve coiled around Hu Tian's right arm without hesitation. Sheng Xixian advanced instead of retreating, casually pulling out the jade hairpin from her hair and shooting it out.

In the midst of attack and defense, Hu Tian spun around, dodging Feng San's palm strike. The guards in front of him all drew their swords to attack the silkworm's silk, slightly hindering its progress. The jade hairpin streaked through the air like a meteor, piercing deeply into Hu Tian's right wrist with lightning speed, pinning it to the wall.

Blood gushed from his right wrist, and Hu Tian groaned, laughing wildly, "You will all die!" He struggled with

his left hand, pressing down hard on the eye of the crane painted on the wall. With a series of muffled thuds, as if something enormous was about to crash down upon them, the walls on either side flipped over, revealing a dense array of small, sharp arrows poised to fire.

Feng San and Feng Si glared at Hu Tian, powerless to stop the activated mechanism. The members of the Holy Martial Palace who had retreated from the hall were greatly alarmed, watching the commotion inside with tense expressions, afraid to step inside. Sheng Xixian, however, whispered with a smile in Sima Wanqing's ear, "I don't believe there's any mechanism in this world that can harm us."

The clattering sound suddenly stopped, and the walls flipped back to their original state. For a moment, all was silent; everyone was stunned.

Large beads of sweat began to seep from Hu Tian's forehead and roll down his cheeks. His lips were ashen, and he desperately pressed down again, but the mechanism no longer responded. Had the mechanism malfunctioned due to lack of use?

Sima Wanqing instantly understood what had happened. It must be that Duan Yuhan and Pei Mubai didn't leave and secretly destroyed the mechanism. Otherwise, who else would know the location of the secret mechanism and stop it in time?

As she pondered, she heard Pei Mubai's voice transmitted through "secret sound transmission": "That was close, thankfully we made it in time." He paused, then continued, "Duan Yuhan guessed early on that Hu Tian would target you and use this mechanism, yet he still wholeheartedly protects you. Actually, you should think carefully about revenge." Her heart trembled. Pei Mubai always hoped she could be happier, but if she could truly let go of hatred, why would she make things difficult for herself?

"As the saying goes, fate is hard to defy, and even Heaven despises your actions. Go ahead and use whatever traps you have."

Sima Wanqing snapped out of her daze, her clear, resonant laughter echoing throughout the hall. She had unleashed the domineering internal energy of the Supreme Heaven-Supreme Heart Sutra, ensuring everyone at Yunlai Residence heard it clearly.

Sheng Xixian looked at her approvingly. To subdue an enemy, one must

first strike at their heart. By exploiting their awe of Heaven and displaying martial arts to intimidate Hu Tian's men, their resolve to protect Hu Tian would naturally crumble, causing them to abandon their resistance. Sure enough, the people of Yunlai Residence outside the door began whispering amongst themselves. Although Hu Tian's guards remained standing solemnly, their eyes darted around, clearly uneasy. Feng San and Feng Si also slowly moved further away from Hu Tian.

Hu Tian glanced around, his expression shifting as he hastily looked at the water clock with its dragon-shaped handle placed to the east. He said, "You colluded with outsiders, attempting to seize Yunlai Residence by force. I would rather die than

submit." "Sounds nice, but unfortunately, the only end for a traitor is death."

Sima Wanqing swiftly approached, and the guards hesitated briefly before instinctively reaching out to stop her.

Sima Wanqing stopped abruptly, standing gracefully. "I know some of you, like Chang Sheng, work for Hu Tian for a living, completely unaware of his despicable betrayal. I am not unreasonable. As long as you all abandon your evil ways, I will naturally not pursue any responsibility. You can still hold important positions at Lieyun Ranch in the future."

Her words were eloquent and persuasive, as if a revelation had struck them. They looked at each other, hesitantly stopping their attacks.

"Oh dear, I never imagined it was Steward Hu who sent someone to assassinate the master. He truly deserves to die."

"I can't be an accomplice to evil and bear the name of betrayal for nothing."

"Yes, Miss is always kind-hearted and will understand us."

Hearing the hushed discussions outside the hall, Sima Wanqing smiled quietly. Sun Tzu's Art of War states, "To win a hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill." She always kept in mind what Yue Zhongzheng had taught her. Killing Hu Tian wouldn't be difficult, but she didn't want her servants to blindly serve their masters and fight to the death.

Now, Hu Tian's forces at Yunlai Residence had been divided. Even if there were still some blindly loyal followers, they were few

and far between, not a cause for concern. Turning her gaze, she saw Duan Yuhan and Pei Mubai mingling in the crowd outside the hall. Those gentle black eyes were fixed on her. Old memories suddenly surfaced, stirring ripples in her heart.

Back then, she had tilted her head back, furrowed her brow, and asked him seriously, "What will I do if I encounter a really powerful enemy?"

He suppressed a laugh, also adopting a serious expression, and replied, "If you master martial arts, you won't be afraid of even the strongest enemy."

She glared at him, pouting, "You want me to fight the enemy alone? What will you be doing?"

"Me? I'll be watching you from afar, cheering you on. When you win, I'll celebrate with you, okay?"

His dark eyes looked at her with such gentle yet playful intensity, making her heart flutter. She

only remembered muttering to herself, "But you said you'd protect me no matter what, how can you leave me to face a powerful enemy alone?"

"Don't you want to grow up quickly? When you grow up, to be a truly strong person, you must learn to protect yourself."

His words still seemed to echo in her ears.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile serenely. Several screams and shouts erupted outside, snapping her back to reality.

For a moment, everyone inside and outside the hall was astonished; they had all just ordered a halt.

Hu Tian chuckled, "Don't be afraid, everyone. It's just some loyal ranchmen coming to the rescue. Those who know what's good for them, quickly return to your ranks. Duan Yuhan is dead; building a career with me is the same."

The sounds of chaos grew closer. Sheng Xixian and Sima Wanqing had anticipated that Hu Tian had other elite troops outside Yunlai Residence, but they hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly, and judging from the sounds, there seemed to be several hundred. Sheng Xixian wasn't afraid; if things truly became critical, he could summon more Shengwu Palace personnel at any time. However, Sima Wanqing desperately wanted to avoid the killing and bloodshed, but there was no way to escape.

"Bang!" "Ah!" Flames shot into the sky, screams echoed, and smoke spread—it was clearly the most lethal hidden weapon in the martial world, the Thunderclap. Legend has it that Lei Zhenzi was made from gunpowder, sulfur, and saltpeter, and could injure several people when thrown, but the technique has been lost for a long time. It seems that Hu Tian intended to rebel, had been plotting for a long time, and knew that his martial arts were no match for him, so he sought out this item to help him.

"Brother Feng, you and I have worked together for a long time. Would you be willing to join hands with me again and create another golden age for the ranch?"

Hu Tian's words sounded sincere, but his tone was smug, as if he had already won.

Feng San snorted coldly, "Although Feng San is foolish and has been deceived by you for a long time, he knows what righteousness is and will never be afraid of death to collude with a traitor like you

." "You have decided to side with that woman. Don't forget that you were the one who directed that scene of calling a deer a horse. She may not be so magnanimous as to let you go."

Hu Tian coldly reminded Feng San.

"She is the person the master cares about, and she is also the young master's mother. Helping her, no matter how bad the result is, is better than following a traitor like you!"

Feng San retorted seriously.

Sima Wanqing felt a pang of sadness as she watched another brutal massacre begin; though somewhat surprised by Feng San's resolute words, she was also relieved. The Heavenly Silkworm Silk swooshed out, aiming to capture the leader first; subduing Hu Tian would naturally stop the attack.

"Since you've made up your mind, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Hu Tian suddenly pulled two dark, round balls from his waist, throwing one at Sima Wanqing and the other at Feng San.

Lei Zhenzi? The people in the hall panicked and scattered in all directions.

"Bang!" "Bang!" The same sounds as outside. "Careful!"

Sheng Xixian rushed over, pulling Sima Wanqing back, but she broke free and followed Hu Tian's blurry figure in the swirling smoke. Even injured, she couldn't let him escape in the chaos.

"Cough cough..."

The group rushed out of the smoke-filled hall, but the three most important figures were nowhere to be seen. Pei Mubai, worried, only wanted to go in and see what was happening. Duan Yuhan stood motionless, seemingly unaffected. "She won't be hurt."

"How do you know?"

"If you were Hu Tian, with the enemy so close, would you really throw a powerful thunderbolt? If I'm not mistaken, that was just a smoke bomb."

Sure enough, the white smoke gradually dissipated, revealing Sima Wanqing dragging Hu Tian out, while Sheng Xixian strolled out leisurely. All three were unharmed.

"Tell your men to stop!"

The Heavenly Silkworm Silk wrapped around Hu Tian's neck; if she exerted force, she could easily decapitate him. Hu Tian shouted helplessly a few times, and the explosions outside immediately stopped, the fighting sounds quickly disappearing as well.

It was Hu Tian who went to Tibet to obtain the Xuanbing Poison, poisoning Sima Xu to death, causing Sima Lie's death, and even attempting to blow up Duan Yuhan to seize the ranch. Sima Wanqing looked at him, feeling she had never hated anyone so much.

"Before you kill me, there's something you must see."

Hu Tian had been somewhat furious when he was captured, but now he was surprisingly calm.

"What other tricks are you planning to play?"

Sima Wanqing tightened the Heavenly Silkworm Silk, watching his bloodshot face, unfocused eyes, and labored breathing, she felt a strange sense of vengeful pleasure.

"That thing... is in my right sleeve. If you don't look... you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Hu Tian struggled to squeeze out these words through clenched teeth.

Sima Wanqing suddenly felt a pang of panic, her right eyelid twitching wildly, as if something ominous was about to happen. She reached into his sleeve and pulled the thing out.

It was a finely carved piece of Hetian jade, crystal clear and translucent under the spring sun, its emerald hue shimmering. One

side was inlaid with the four characters "谦谦君子" (meaning "a humble gentleman") in gold thread, reflecting off her slender, fair hand, making her appear as elegant as a painting. Her hand trembled slightly before she gripped the jade tightly. Even the wisest can make a mistake. Sheng Xixian and Sima Wanqing's plan to deal with Hu Tian was flawless, but the one thing they hadn't considered was enough to allow Hu Tian to leave unscathed.

Chapter 18: The silkworm's

threads gradually loosened, and Hu Tian collapsed to the ground, coughing violently, slowly recovering.

"Where did you get this jade?"

Sima Wanqing tried her best to remain calm.

Hu Tian's eyes darted around, staring at her. "Of course, I got it from Yue Zhongzheng."

Touching the jade, its smooth texture stirred Sima Wanqing's emotions. A gentleman is one who is virtuous and upright. Back then, Sima Lie repeatedly praised Yue Zhongzheng, saying he lived up to his name, a true gentleman. She had just learned to write those few characters, and upon hearing them, driven by a playful impulse, she chose a beautiful piece of jade and had "A Gentleman's Character" carved on it—her first ever gift to Uncle Yue.

She knew Uncle Yue cherished this jade greatly, and later even commissioned a craftsman to meticulously polish it, string it with colorful brocade thread, and make it into a jade pendant he always carried. But now, the jade was in Hu Tian's hands; didn't that mean Uncle Yue was under Hu Tian's control?

"Why do you want me to look at this?"

she asked outwardly indifferently.

A strange smugness flashed across Hu Tian's face. "Yue Zhongzheng is in my hands. If you don't want him to die, release me immediately."

"What, do you think that a mere Yue Zhongzheng is more important to me than killing a traitor like you for revenge?"

She leaned down mockingly, a hint of coldness creeping into her delicate brows. "Or are you reminding me that strangling someone like you is too lenient. I should sever your tendons and let you taste all the pain of a fate worse than death."

"Three years ago, I overheard an interesting conversation. Would you like to hear it?"

Hu Tian said slowly. His confident demeanor startled her, while Sheng Xixian was deeply puzzled.

"I don't want to hear it."

She vaguely guessed what he was going to say and instinctively resisted.

Hu Tian smiled cunningly. "I'm telling you the truth out of kindness, because I don't want you to be the most unfilial daughter in the world."

"What do you mean?"

Sheng Xixian's gaze was intense, making Hu Tian's scalp tingle.

Sima Wanqing raised her hand, grabbed Hu Tian, and threw him into the side hall. "What else do you have to say? Speak!"

Sheng Xixian followed closely in and closed the door behind him. He guessed that she had deliberately come into the room because she wanted to say something in private.

"I admit that Feng San and I did put on an act before, saying that you weren't Sima Lie's daughter. Hehe, who knew that all the witnesses and evidence they found would be true. Your biological father is Yue Zhongzheng."

Hu Tian paused deliberately, wanting to see Sima Wanqing panic, but she remained expressionless and coldly replied, "You're about to die, and you want to tell such a huge lie?"

Hu Tian was stunned for a moment. "I heard it all with my own ears."

He then recounted the conversation between Duan Yuhan and Yue Zhongzheng three years ago. He repeated, adding a few more words for fear she wouldn't believe him, "Back then, I knew that even if Duan Yuhan hated you for running away with Pei Mubai, he wouldn't kill you out of consideration for family ties. Hmph, he was waiting for you to come back and continue being the mistress of the ranch, so how could I sit idly by and let you come back to kill me for revenge? Of course, I had to strike first. If it weren't for you, I might not have betrayed him."

Hu Tian's voice drifted into her ears, and Sima Wanqing felt a chill creeping into her body, freezing her stiff. What Hu Tian said coincided with Duan Yuhan's words. If she still had some doubts about the truth of Duan Yuhan's story at the embroidered boat, now she seemed unable to convince herself to deny it anymore.

"Such a big secret, and you just happened to hear it, what a coincidence."

She stared at Hu Tian as if in disbelief, wanting to find a flaw to refute his words.

"It wasn't a coincidence. I just opened my eyes briefly that day and saw Yue Zhongzheng holding the 'Slanting Wind and Fine Rain' sword, pointing it at Duan Yuhan. I wondered why he would do that, so I became suspicious. Later, when I saw Duan Yuhan wake up, I just listened in a bit more outside the room,"

Hu Tian explained.

Sima Wanqing scoffed, "You're just trying to use Yue Zhongzheng's life to blackmail me into letting you go. But do you think I'd believe such a ridiculous story based solely on your word?"

"Believe it or not is up to you. Anyway, I've hidden Yue Zhongzheng in a very secluded place. Before I came to Hangzhou, I gave orders that if I didn't contact them for two days, they should kill him. If you don't let me go, Yue Zhongzheng definitely won't live another twenty-four hours, and then you'll be an unfilial daughter who watched him die,"

Hu Tian said confidently.

At this critical moment, he dared to threaten her with Yue Zhongzheng, which naturally meant he was very certain of their father-daughter relationship. As for whether she believed him or not, whether she was willing to compromise, he was willing to gamble. If he lost, he would just be killed like before; if he won, he could leave safely and continue competing with her for the Fierce Cloud Ranch. He wouldn't lose this gamble no matter what.

Seeing his attitude, Sima Wanqing's mind raced. Should she use torture to force him to confess everything? Or should she pretend to release him and follow him to find Yue Zhongzheng's whereabouts?

Hu Tian saw her changing expression and chuckled coldly, "Don't even think about using torture. If I suffer even the slightest harm or torment today, I will not contact them again. Even if I die, it's worth it if Yue Zhongzheng dies with me."

He figured that with her kind and honest personality, even if she didn't believe Yue Zhongzheng was her father, she wouldn't be able to bear seeing him die because of all the kindness and affection he had shown her in the past.

Sima Wanqing suddenly realized that with just a piece of jade, she couldn't be sure whether Yue Zhongzheng had really been captured by Hu Tian. Just then, she felt a warmth on her ear. Sheng Xixian whispered, "News came from the ranch a few days ago that Yue Zhongzheng is seriously ill and won't see any guests. It seems he has indeed been captured." Her heart tightened, and she felt a pang of regret. They all thought Yue Zhongzheng didn't know martial arts and posed little threat to the traitors, so they hadn't assigned anyone to protect him. It was a serious oversight. But who could have imagined that Hu Tian also knew her great secret about her past?

"I'll let you go."

After hesitating for a moment, Sima Wanqing finally made her decision. If Hu Tian was released, he could be captured again, but if Yue Zhongzheng died, she would never forgive herself for the rest of her life.

"You've finally figured it out."

Hu Tian laughed heartily.

Sheng Xixian sighed softly and grabbed her hand, which was about to pull away from the silkworm thread. "Are you really sure?"

Hu Tian was the enemy she was determined to kill. Killing him would avenge her brother and Duan Yuhan, and the ranch could finally live in peace. But releasing him would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains, with endless troubles to come. " Then, something even more tragic will happen for the sake of the ranch.

" "I've thought of everything."

She lowered her head sadly.

"His words may not be true. Besides, why do you value Yue Zhongzheng's life so much?"

Sheng Xixian always believed that to achieve great things, sacrifices were inevitable. Moreover, Hu Tian was cunning and not trustworthy.

"I'll explain some things to you later."

Sima Wanqing pushed his hand away.

"I don't agree with releasing him."

Sima Wanqing stared at him intently. "Could it be... that you're afraid of losing half of the ranch you've already acquired?"

"Is that all you think I'm thinking?"

A ripple appeared in Sheng Xixian's clear, watery phoenix eyes, subtly revealing his displeasure at being misunderstood.

Sima Wanqing felt somewhat apologetic and unconsciously tugged at his sleeve. "I'm sorry, I misspoke. There have already been many casualties today, and I know you don't want more people to bleed for the ranch in the future."

She herself didn't understand why she was in such a hurry to clarify and explain to him. Perhaps, deep down, she still cared about him.

Sheng Xixian gazed at her thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled. "Fine. Do as you please."

"Thank you."

She smiled brightly, withdrew the silkworm silk, and released Hu Tian's acupoints.

Hu Tian swayed as he stood up, about to open the door, when he caught sight of two dark figures appearing beside the door. He hurriedly retreated, turning to Sima Wanqing and saying, "How you treat me now is how I'll treat Yue Zhongzheng when I get out, so you'd better not try anything funny. Forget about poisoning or controlling me."

"Everyone step back and let him go."

Sima Wanqing went out first, announcing loudly. Although everyone was full of doubts, they still made way. Hu Tian hurriedly left.

"You two?"

Sheng Xixian looked at the two dark figures beside the door with suspicion. They were both dressed as guards from Yunlai Residence, seemingly ordinary at first glance, yet they gave him a strange feeling.

The two were none other than Duan Yuhan and Pei Mubai. Sima Wanqing hurriedly interjected, "They are old acquaintances from my ranch, and they've decided to help me. They must have been afraid Hu Tian still had tricks up his sleeve, so they came to check."

Her tone sounded light, but she couldn't hide her protectiveness.

"I've never heard you mention them before,"

Sheng Xixian's sharp gaze swept over the two.

"I met them when I was rescuing Bing'er,"

Sima Wanqing said calmly, but her heart was filled with bitterness. As Sima Lie's daughter, she had always been proud of this, but it turned out to be nothing but an illusion. And Duan Yuhan really was her cousin. Once Hu Tian's matter was resolved, she would still have to face the tangled web of emotions she couldn't sever. Would she be heartbroken and lose all will to live if she had to kill him then?

Duan Yuhan glanced back indifferently. Perhaps Hu Tian had indirectly helped him; at least, Sima Wanqing had begun to acknowledge their blood ties. But he also knew she must be in great pain.

"I'm tired." Her

long, butterfly-like eyelashes drooped slightly, casting a small shadow.

"Madam, please rest in the backyard," Feng

San said respectfully.

"Alright,"

Sima Wanqing replied, taking a small step to keep her distance from Sheng Xixian. "I am deeply grateful for the Palace Master's righteous intervention."

"No need to be so polite,"

Sheng Xixian smiled and led his men away. Feng San and Feng Si also ordered their men to clean up the mess, and everyone dispersed. Sima Wanqing watched the figure in black gradually disappear into the distance and breathed a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid he would see through Duan and Pei's disguise.

"A little reluctant to part?" Duan Yuhan

asked calmly. His dark eyes shone with a jewel-like brilliance, as if trying to probe every corner of her heart.

Sima Wanqing paused, realizing he had misunderstood, but unwilling to explain, she lowered her head and walked away.

Grabbing her left arm, Duan Yuhan solemnly warned her, word by word, "Stay away from him."

He was still as domineering as ever, almost unreasonable, and Sima Wanqing suddenly wanted to stab him hard. Her beautiful eyes flashed, a cold smile like autumn grass covered in frost, "None of your business."

"You can use him, but you must remember. This man is too dangerous; he might betray you at any time for his own benefit."

Although Sheng Xixian had a good reputation in the martial arts world, Duan Yuhan understood men's ambition all too well.

"Betray me? No matter what, he can't be more ruthless than you."

Thinking of his past schemes and machinations against the Sima family, she felt a chill in her heart. Her bright eyes suddenly transformed into a thousand sharp knives, as if ready to fly out and pierce his heart at any moment.

Duan Yuhan helplessly released her, his eyes filled with her image, saying nothing. What right did he have to say that someone else would hurt her? He was the one who hurt her the most. Perhaps, besides him, no one else could inflict such heart-wrenching pain on her.

Sima Wanqing didn't look at him again and hurried away. Pei Mubai patted Duan Yuhan's shoulder to comfort him. Even onlookers could see that Wanqing wouldn't get too close to Sheng Xixian; Duan Yuhan was simply overly worried and confused.

That night, after putting Sima Bing to sleep, Sima Wanqing returned to her room alone. Memories of the past swirled in her mind, preventing her from sleeping. Back then, it was here that she crossed the raging fire to save him, wanting only to end her love for him. Unexpectedly, she conceived Bing'er, thus forging their predestined marriage, making them inseparable.

If she had known things would turn out so tragically, would she still have been so determined to save him? She slumped

out of bed, hastily threw on a coat, and opened the window. The mournful sigh of the evening wind outside, as light as snowflakes falling on her heart, sent chills down her spine.

A knock on the door, clear in the quiet night, rang out. Was it Duan Yuhan? She hesitated, pretending not to hear, and was about to close the window when a shadow flashed, revealing the embroidered cloud pattern on the windowpane.

"It's you?"

It wasn't Duan Yuhan. She didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

"Why are you sad again?"

Sheng Xixian quickly noticed the sadness she couldn't hide in her eyes.

She forced a smile. "Nothing."

"I have something to ask you."

The more she tried to appear strong, the more his heart ached. Even though Duan Yuhan was dead, she still cherished him in her heart, remembering him when no one was around. Perhaps at this moment, the only thing he could do was let her focus entirely on something else.

He entered the room, a half-smile playing on his lips as he stared at her. "When did your martial arts become so formidable that you were able to tie up Master?"

"Master seemed to have been affected by the legendary Soul-Shifting Technique at the time; he was completely dazed, which gave me the opportunity."

Fortunately, no one had witnessed Bamo's martial arts display, so she could easily fabricate a story.

"Is that so?"

He knew she was lying. Because after Bamo awoke in Qingxin Garden, the moment he untied the Heavenly Silkworm Silk, he attacked everyone like a tiger. Even Li Lie's attacks couldn't stop him, and it wasn't until he rushed over that he finally subdued Bamo.

"How is Master now? We need to find someone to undo the Soul-Shifting Technique as soon as possible. Oh, I completely forgot to ask Hu Tian what he did to Master!"

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly in annoyance.

He smiled gently. "Ling Kezhou has already checked on him; he has a way to save him. Master is alright."

He didn't want to expose her lie and embarrass her. He was only wondering what she was hiding from him.

"Really? That's wonderful."

Her face, bathed in the bright moonlight, with its delicate features and a hint of childlike innocence, stirred his heart.

"I also have something to ask you."

She keenly sensed the intensity of his gaze and subtly yielded a step. "How could Hu Tian's mark on that paper be so realistically forged?"

"It's not a forgery; it's his mark."

"How could that be? The first time I saw it, there was clearly no mark on the paper."

He said proudly, "I had someone find the contracts that Hu Tian made on behalf of the ranch with others, and then used a clever technique to graft his mark onto that paper."

She couldn't help but smile approvingly. "That's it. With the mark, he can no longer deny it. Now that he's been forced to reveal his true colors, Feng San and the others will no longer be fooled by him, nor will they help him."

He continued, "I'll return to the ranch with Feng San and the others tomorrow. The affairs of the Holy Martial Palace are busy; you should stay in Hangzhou."

Strangely, Sheng Xixian didn't answer, a hint of wildness flashing in his eyes. His fingers lightly touched her petal-like lips, lingering there. Her heart pounded, and she hurriedly tried to pull away, but his arms were already firmly around her slender waist.

"You... oh..."

The delicate fragrance of butterflies seeped into her heart from between her lips and breath, his scent enveloping her in layers, intoxicating her.

A blush rose to her cheeks, and she tried to turn her head away from his lips, but his hands supported her fair neck from behind, preventing her from escaping even a little. Intoxicated, the dizzying feeling made her feel as if she were floating on white clouds.

Entangled, lingering, he savored her sweetness, his fingertips tracing her smooth, silky skin, listening to her erratic heartbeat, he was somewhat lost in a trance. He greedily breathed in her fragrance, realizing how wonderful it was to be immersed in her elegant scent. Time seemed to stand still, and he wished he could stay like this forever.

After a long while, he reluctantly released her, only to see her dark, watery eyes misty with a dreamlike intoxication in her expression.

"I love you, I won't let you leave me."

In the quiet night, his clear, gentle voice flowed like a babbling brook in her ear.

A cold sensation touched her back; her coat had slipped off, and her vest was pressed tightly against a tall bronze mirror against the wall. The chilling touch jolted her awake. Thinking of his kiss, his words, she broke out in a cold sweat. Why, faced with his intimacy, did she only think of running away instead of resisting? Why hadn't she firmly refused, letting him kiss her for so long? Why, if she only loved Duan Yuhan, could she accept his behavior?

Her reflection in the mirror showed only bewilderment and helplessness; for a moment, she dared not look at him.

Little did she know that he was also deeply shocked. He had always disdained those passionate words between lovers; how could he have uttered them so readily, so sincerely and naturally? Perhaps he should stay far away from her and calm down. Romantic love wasn't what he wanted; he only craved her.

"Li Lie will go to the ranch with you. If you encounter any danger, give him this token, and he'll summon help as you instruct."

Composing himself, Sheng Xixian calmly explained.

She lowered her head and took the token; it still carried his warmth, feeling cozy to her touch.

"I'm leaving."

"Wait a moment."

"What is it?"

His gaze, so cold and domineering, made her almost doubt that what she had just felt and heard was an illusion. She abruptly stopped speaking.

"What do you want to say?"

Seeing her hesitation, he softened his tone, his clear eyes becoming gentler.

"Thank you. Also, I'm not Sima Lie's daughter; I have no right to own Lieyun Ranch."

She made it very clear.

His slender phoenix eyes suddenly shone with a dazzling light, like the morning sun. He laughed loudly, "What does it matter whether I am or not?"

She wanted to tell him not to try to control the ranch by possessing her? To tell him that he wanted to unify the martial world, and having her was of no use to him? She never felt the slightest bit moved by him?

The moonlight, like water, reflected her skin, making it appear as white as ice and as white as jade. Her brows and eyes were beautiful beyond reason, beautiful beyond comprehension. He glanced at her one last time, and as he turned away, all his smile vanished. Even if he said he loved her, even if he gave her his true feelings, even if he treated her well, she still wanted to push him away. If that was the case, why should he be good to her?

Her black dress, like eagle wings, soared into the boundless night. She stood blankly by the window, somewhat lost.

The next day, Sima Wanqing, Sima Bing, and Jiang Ruhua set off first in a carriage, followed closely by Duan Pei and Li Lie. Feng San and the others followed behind with the fake Duan Yuhan's ashes, hurrying towards the ranch.
Chapter 19: Once Upon a Time

Along the way, Sima Bing, having found her mother, gradually felt the pain fade and was finally able to laugh again. The others, however, remained heavy-hearted.

Aside from joking around with Bing'er, Sima Wanqing was quite serious the rest of the time. Analyzing Hu Tian's next move with Feng San and others, she spoke little but hit the nail on the head, earning Feng San and the others' newfound respect for her. In terms of meticulous thinking, thorough consideration, and deep cunning, given time, it wasn't impossible for her to become another Duan Yuhan; however, she would never match his cold-blooded ruthlessness.

Deliberately, she avoided eye contact with Duan Yuhan, and even more so, avoided being alone with him. She could no longer readily bear the boundless, deep affection in those dark eyes, and she feared the fluttering of her heart every time she saw him, the agonizing torment of love and hate, like a thousand ants gnawing at her heart.

Pei Mubai understood her feelings best, often comforting her with "secret telepathy," and later secretly taught her how to use it, allowing her to speak freely with him without anyone's eyes or ears. In this way, she wasn't so depressed and lonely.

Li Lie, except when she went to rest in her room, stayed by her side almost all the time, closely watching her every move. She didn't mind, pretending not to see.

After lunch that day, after everyone rested for a while, she heard Pei Mubai's voice again, transmitted through telepathy: "Duan Yuhan's body hasn't recovered yet, but he rushed to Yunlai Residence. He hasn't taken his medicine these past few days and has been busy traveling. I see his complexion is getting worse and worse. I'm afraid the stagnant qi in his body hasn't dissipated, his blood and qi are insufficient, and his spirit and physical strength are greatly depleted."

Her heart sank suddenly, but she replied nonchalantly, "He's always been in very good health, he won't die. Let him go." "Xiao Qing, you've become heartless."

Pei Mubai sighed.

"He said that being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to oneself. I don't want to be too merciful to the enemy."

"The reason he lost his martial arts was because he insisted on curing Langdie's poison for you despite his injured meridians, which caused him to miss the treatment time. Do you know that?"

Her ears were ringing, and she remembered the bloodstains on the sheets that day, and suddenly understood. She bit her cherry lips hard, until a faint blood seeped out, as if only the scent of blood could suppress the overwhelming sorrow in her heart. Since he had been so ruthless and cruel back then, why should he sacrifice so much for her now? She would rather he treated her the way he had taken revenge on Sima Lie, so she could kill him wholeheartedly, than suffer this excruciating heartache and be unable to find any painkiller.

She remained silent. Pei Mubai knew she must have softened, and continued, "Last year, the Kingdom of Kucha presented the Emperor with ten Jade Auspicious Hundred Flower Pills, said to cure all diseases, even have the effect of bringing the dead back to life. I wonder if they can cure his meridians. I've already written to my grandfather, asking him to request them from the Emperor; they should arrive soon."

"Mubai… thank you, but that medicine… is unnecessary."

In the distance, she saw Duan Yuhan playing marbles with Bing'er outside, Bing'er giggling happily. Suddenly, she felt utterly exhausted.

"He said he has something serious to discuss with you and wants to meet you after dinner. It's up to you."

Pei Mubai said no more and joined the game of marbles. The three of them played together harmoniously.

She stared at them blankly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under someone's gaze. Looking back, she saw it was Li Lie. A fleeting image of the black-clad figure shrouded in mist by the lake flashed through her mind, and she hurriedly boarded the carriage.

She lowered the curtain, feeling restless all afternoon until she saw Duan Yuhan on a hill near the inn that evening, when her heart finally settled.

He was still dressed as an ordinary guard, his mask revealing only an ordinary face, yet he stood casually in the wind, his white robes fluttering, his black hair flowing, exuding an understated elegance and unique charm. The surrounding night mist was ethereal, and countless lights twinkled, as if all were lingering and shimmering for him. She had to admit that some people are born neither to nor should be subordinate to others, and Duan Yuhan was precisely that kind of person.

"You've finally come to see me."

He smiled quietly, but gazed into the distance, avoiding her eyes.

"Say what you have to say quickly."

She stood beside him and spoke softly.

"Do you trust Feng San?"

"He's not trustworthy?"

she asked suspiciously. From her observation, Feng San certainly had no ill intentions.

"Back then, I was plotting revenge, and Feng San was completely kept in the dark. He didn't participate in anything. He only followed my instructions at the end to find witnesses to expose your background. So, you don't need to hate him. He's steady, reliable, cautious, and meticulous, often with innovative ideas. He's a rare talent for the ranch. Whether dealing with Hu Tian or managing the ranch, you can trust him to handle things."

He spoke calmly, ostensibly speaking for Feng San, but with a hint of entrusting his affairs.

A sharp pain welled up in her chest, and she tried her best to keep her tone stiff. "Back then, you were the mastermind, Hu Tian was an accomplice, and there was Yao Siniang, right?"

"Yes."

His voice was slightly hoarse, but still very clear.

"Alright, I know what to do. You don't need to worry about Feng San."

The events of that year flashed through her mind, a chilling smile playing on her lips. "As for you, Hu Tian, and Yao Si Niang, justice must be served for the dead."

He remained silent. She continued coldly, "Anything else?"

He shook his head.

She turned and walked away, but halfway there, remembering he hadn't even glanced at her, she felt uneasy and couldn't help but look back. In the distance, his figure was so lonely and desolate, as if even the stars in the sky had dimmed. Suddenly, his figure jerked and he collapsed.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she rushed over, frantically helping him up. His hands were icy cold, and drops of blood dripped from his nose onto her clothes, staining them crimson. She pinched his philtrum hard, but he didn't react. She channeled her inner energy into her fingertips and forcefully jabbed his Tanzhong acupoint. Normally, this would cause excruciating pain and instantly rouse someone, but he seemed completely oblivious, remaining unconscious.

Her heart pounded weakly and chaotically, and she tried to calm herself. Carefully peeling off his human skin mask, the face that haunted her thoughts daily was now clearly visible. His features were as exquisite as ever, but he was much thinner, his complexion sallow, clearly suffering from severe internal injuries.

She gently laid him against a tree, interlocked her fingers, palms together, and continuously channeled her inner energy into his meridians. After about half an incense stick's time, she finally heard a gurgling sound in his throat. She quickly patted his back, and a mouthful of blood gushed out. His beautiful eyes slowly opened, but his gaze was dull, as if he were delirious. His whites were bloodshot; no wonder he had refused to face her earlier.

His lifeless face terrified her. Gently stroking his delicate brows, tears streamed down her face without her realizing it.

She gritted her teeth and hastily wiped them away with a handkerchief. She supported his waist with all her might, letting him lean against her, and then, using her light-footed skill, quietly returned to the inn. Seeing that no one was around, she led him into Pei Mubai's room.

"What happened to him?"

Pei Mubai asked, startled.

"I don't know."

She carefully laid Duan Yuhan down on the bed, but he coughed violently, spitting out bright red blood.

"Han,"

she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears, unable to utter another word. She tightly grasped his hand, wanting to transfer all her energy and warmth to him.

Pei Mubai gently helped her up. "Don't worry, let's get a doctor to take a look."

He added, "Li Lie has been looking for you at the inn for ages, I wonder what happened. Your clothes are covered in blood, go back and change quickly, it won't be good if he finds out."

"Okay."

Her heart tightened, a sense of unease rising within her grief. Even though she was worried about Duan Yuhan, she couldn't let Li Lie see through her act, otherwise he would report to Sheng Xixian, and Duan Yuhan would likely die even faster.

She pushed open the door and looked around; there was no one outside. She quickly returned to her room. Just as she took off her blood-stained outer garment, she heard a rapid knocking. Looking up, she saw her reflection in the mirror, her tear-streaked face almost unrecognizable, and she was momentarily stunned.

A fleeting image appeared in the mirror, and behind her stood Li Lie. He hadn't waited for her to open the door; he had come in directly through the window.

"Get out!"

She was only wearing a thin silk undergarment, her private parts barely concealed. She quickly covered her neckline and angrily rebuked him.

Li Lie turned his back. "Where did you go just now?"

"I wouldn't dare trouble Protector Li."

She quickly grabbed an outer garment and put it on, saying indifferently, "But I wonder what urgent matter brings you here so late at night?"

Li Lie had left in a hurry that afternoon, and his return to see her so urgently must mean something important.

Li Lie didn't speak, placing the bundle he was carrying on the table. She slowly walked over and untied the bundle, her eyes immediately lighting up. Inside lay a garment, seemingly silver and snow-white, densely woven, its material unreadable.

Touching it lightly, it was as soft as silk and as warm as a spring breeze. A thought struck her, and she blurted out, "Is this the Immortal Spirit Armor?" She

channeled the inner force of her Supreme Heaven-Supporting Technique into her hands and pulled hard. Ordinary clothes would have long since shredded, but this garment remained unscathed—truly exceptionally tough and extraordinary.

She looked at Li Lie in surprise. Li Lie smiled, a rare occurrence. "That's right."

The world-renowned Immortal Spirit Armor was said to be impervious to blades and spears, and possessed the power to protect the heart, making martial arts training twice as effective. It had always been revered as a martial arts treasure. Li Lie had brought it—was it a gift from Sheng Xixian? This was undoubtedly a peerless treasure, coveted by all martial artists, but if she accepted it, wouldn't she owe Sheng Xixian a huge favor, fueling his fantasies?

She neatly tied the bundle and pushed it in front of Li Lie. "Please tell the Palace Master that I, Wanqing, am unworthy of his hospitality."

Li Lie hadn't expected her to refuse so decisively. His expression changed slightly, and he said gently, "Even if you don't need it, it would be perfect for Sima Bing to wear. This soft armor will protect him from injury at any time."

"No need. I will protect Bing'er. I will remember the Palace Master's kindness, but I cannot accept this soft armor. Please take it back."

She refused again without hesitation.

A strange smile appeared on Li Lie's brow. "Of course you can accept it."

His tone was ambiguous, as if he knew how intimate she and Sheng Xixian had been.

Her cheeks flushed. In the mirror, she looked like a beautiful jade with a halo, more radiant than a peach blossom. She turned her head slightly and said solemnly, "Protector Li had better not speak carelessly. Otherwise, even if you hold a high position in the Holy Martial Palace, I, Wanqing, will not let you off."

A cold glint flashed in Li Lie's eyes, then quickly vanished. He chuckled, "So many women yearn for it, and you refuse? I don't know whether to admire your courage or call you foolish."

"My situation is none of Protector Li's concern,"

she said dismissively, looking directly at him.

Li Lie stared intently at her for a long while before saying, "If you don't want the soft armor, then return it yourself."

He abruptly turned to leave.

"Wait. Take your things. If the Palace Master is bothered, just give him this letter."

She called after him, taking a letter from her bundle and handing it to him. She had written that letter long ago, unsure whether to give it to Sheng Xixian. Knowing that Sheng Xixian hadn't given up on her after tonight's events, she had no choice but to resolutely send the letter.

Li Lie stopped, took the letter, and suddenly said, "It's strange, one of your two old acquaintances, the guard, is completely ignorant of martial arts."

Her heart skipped a beat. How had Li Lie already noticed Duan Pei and the other man? Her face remained cold. "Protector Li is indeed very observant. It's a pity that paying attention to these trivial matters is completely pointless."

She grabbed the bundle with both hands and stuffed it into his hands.

Li Lie gazed deeply at the beautiful woman in the mirror, so lovely, yet so stubbornly and resolutely refusing. What should he do with her? Turning his gaze, he saw her icy eyes, quickly pushed aside the bundle beside him, and flew out the window, leaving only the words, "The soft armor has been given away; whether you want it or not, you won't get it back."

At this moment, her mind was mostly on Duan Yuhan, and she hadn't noticed anything different about Li Lie than usual. Bending down to pick up the bundle from the ground, a strange chill ran through her fingertips. Was Sheng Xixian's treatment of her also about forcing her to accept whatever she wanted, regardless of her desires?

In her letter to him, she had only written fourteen characters—"Having seen the vast ocean, other waters are insignificant; having beheld the clouds of Wushan, other clouds are not worth seeing." Sheng Xixian should understand the meaning. She only hoped he could understand her, hoped he understood that feelings cannot be forced. Thinking about it carefully, a proud man like him wouldn't force her, would he?

Eagerly, she wanted to be with Duan Yuhan, but remembering Li Lie's words, she had to force herself to stay in the room. She tossed and turned in bed until dawn, finally sneaking away to Pei Mubai's place while everyone was packing to leave.

A night had passed; the doctor had examined him, and he had taken the prescribed medicine, but Duan Yuhan still hadn't woken up. His breathing was extremely faint, almost inaudible, as if he were on the verge of death.

"Don't scare me like that! You promised you wouldn't make me worry about you anymore."

The memory of him being struck by the world's number one hidden weapon and his life hanging in the balance was vivid in her mind. She grabbed his hand and sobbed silently by the bedside.

"It's a pity I used up all my Great Rejuvenation Pills when I saved you before,"

Pei Mubai said anxiously. Her mind raced, and she jumped up abruptly. The Great Rejuvenation Pill—the best medicine for strengthening the body and enhancing physical strength. Pei Mubai didn't have any, Feng San and the others didn't have any either, but the Holy Martial Palace might have some.

She rushed to the door, then hesitated for a moment before running out. Upon asking, a servant said that Li Lie had left again, seemingly taking the mountain path to the east.

Using her light-footed skill, she swiftly gave chase. Through the dense morning mist, she vaguely saw a figure moving with the wind. "Stop a moment, I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

The person turned around, his heavy black hair slightly blurred in the white mist, yet his imposing aura remained undiminished.

For a moment, her mind was in turmoil. It was Sheng Xixian? What was he doing here? Where was Li Lie? Facing the person she most wanted to avoid, she only wanted to turn and leave, but Duan Yuhan's image flickered in her mind, and she decided to stay. Looking up at him, her heart was in turmoil, unsure how to speak.

"What is it?"

Approaching, he saw a trace of sorrow between her brows, a pitiful look he had never seen before, and couldn't help but be surprised.

"You…read the letter?"

His calm demeanor made her uneasy.

"Your calligraphy is rigorous in its rules, simple in its spirit, deeply capturing the essence of Yan Zhenqing's style."

He avoided mentioning "once a vast ocean," only smiling leisurely. She couldn't figure out what he wanted, only hoping that his calm demeanor indicated a determination to let go.

"What is it?"

he asked, rarely seeing her so hesitant.

She composed herself and cautiously began, "I wanted to ask if you have any Shaolin Temple's Great Rejuvenation Pills."

"Great Rejuvenation Pills? What do you need those for?"

He couldn't imagine who was seriously injured and needed such pills, making her so anxious.

"You have them? If you do, please lend them to me, okay?"

Hearing his tone, it seemed he did indeed have some, and she quickly replied with delight.

"You don't even want the Immortal Spirit Armor, why would you want my Great Rejuvenation Pills?"

He smiled faintly, his tone slightly sarcastic and indignant.

She bit her rosy lips, still resolute, and said, "I dare not accept the Immortal Spirit Armor. As for the Great Rejuvenation Pill, if you really have one, please lend me one, and I will naturally repay this favor later."

His burning gaze lingered on her stubborn little face for a long time before he said, "If you want it, I will give it to you. However, you must promise to do something for me as a reward."

He had clearly seen her resistance last night. He only wondered, for whom had she come to him for the medicine?

She looked at him with suspicion, unable to answer for a moment.

He suddenly laughed heartily, "Doing something for me is not difficult, and I will not use this opportunity to ask you to marry me."

"I promise you. But what I do for you cannot violate the principles of benevolence and righteousness, nor can it harm others."

Although she disliked his frivolous tone, hearing him say that still reassured her a lot.

He looked at her serious face with amusement, "Of course, you can rest assured. As for the Great Rejuvenation Pill, I don't have it with me, but I will have someone send it over later."

"Thank you."

In any case, she was still grateful to him for lending a helping hand.

"No need to thank me, just remember your promise."

"Wanqing takes her leave."

Now that she had hope, she only wanted to go back to see Duan Yuhan.

Her figure gracefully disappeared into the dissipating mist. He watched her go, a deep unease lingering in his heart. After their parting at Yunlai Residence that day, he had secluded himself to practice his martial arts, but he could never calm his mind and clear his mind of distractions. He told himself to be rational, to let her go, and to let himself go, which was the best choice for both of them, but he could not suppress the longing in his heart. "

Having seen the ocean, other waters are nothing; having seen the clouds of Wushan, other clouds are nothing." She used these fourteen words to reject him again, but the love in his heart grew stronger. He did not believe that he could not overcome Duan Yuhan, who was gone forever; he believed that sincerity could move mountains.

Chapter 20: Like a Lifetime

The next day, as expected, a servant from the Holy Martial Palace delivered the Great Rejuvenation Pill, not one, but two. Sima Wanqing gave the medicine to Duan Yuhan, and then she and Pei Mubai took turns helping him circulate his internal energy, dispersing the medicinal power and sending it throughout his meridians and bones before resting briefly.

Holding the remaining Great Rejuvenation Pill, Sima Wanqing was lost in thought. Sheng Xixian had given her an extra one, naturally for emergencies. Even though she had repeatedly rejected him, he had always cared for and loved her, but she could never repay his deep affection in this lifetime.

Putting the Great Rejuvenation Pill back into the white jade bottle, she thought of the identical bottle hidden deep in her bag and couldn't help but sigh. Perhaps she owed Sheng Xixian more than she owed Pei Mubai. At least, she had never schemed against Pei Mubai.

Her gaze swept over Duan Yuhan, who remained motionless. Looking at him for a long time, she had the illusion that he was a perfect stone statue sculpted by heaven itself, not belonging to this world.

Thinking of everything since their encounter, Sima Wanqing felt a deep sadness. He desperately wanted her forgiveness, but how could she convince herself to forgive him? Perhaps, thinking about anything now was pointless, for he might sleep forever, leaving her and Bing'er to depend on each other in this lonely world.

"Wake up! If you don't wake up, I'll hate you for the rest of my life!"

she choked out, her voice hoarse as she shouted in his ear. From childhood to adulthood, she had argued with him, been heartbroken for him, and been deliberately teased by him, each time ending in tears. Later, she hated him and swore she would never shed another tear for him, yet now, tears still flowed uncontrollably. She was so afraid; if the Great Rejuvenation Pill didn't work, she truly didn't know how much longer he could hold on.

"Your life is mine, I won't allow you to die, do you hear me!"

Seeing his face gradually turn from sallow to pale, making him appear even thinner, she felt a pang of heartache.

"Xiao Qing, calm down, he'll get better."

Her face was filled with anxiety and worry, and Pei Mubai almost wanted to hug her and comfort her, but he immediately restrained himself. From the first day they met, it was destined that they would be kindred spirits. He wouldn't try to keep someone who doesn't belong to him, only adding to her troubles.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Looking into Pei Mubai's sincere and warm eyes, she smiled sadly, hoping that things would turn out as she wished. Suddenly, a series of explosions rang out outside, followed by the cries and running sounds from many people inside the inn.

Hu Tian had sent men to attack? She was shocked and quickly pushed open the door. Sure enough, through the thick smoke, she saw dozens of men in black standing on the roof of the inn, each holding a thunderbolt .

"Madam, you're here! We've been looking everywhere for you."

Feng Si rushed over hurriedly. "Quickly, Steward Feng is protecting the young master as he leaves through the back door."

"Why leave?"

Sima Wanqing suddenly smiled coldly. If Hu Tian hadn't bombed the embroidery boat that day, Duan Yuhan would not have been so seriously injured. Today, Hu Tian wanted to kill her again, and she wouldn't let him succeed.

"Tell them to bring water, quickly!"

After giving Feng Si a brief instruction, she leaped onto the roof. At this moment, smoke billowed below the inn, and those above couldn't see the situation below, so they stopped throwing thunderbolts.

Her graceful figure, swift as lightning, approached the men in black. The men, who had been gloating, were caught off guard when she suddenly appeared from the thick smoke; it was too late to avoid her. They tried to throw thunderbolts, but were too close and feared the explosion would injure them. Panicked, they drew their swords and attacked her.

She used her ethereal, almost otherworldly, light-footed skills to her advantage, weaving through the men and their weapons like a fairy. Knowing that to catch the thief, one must first catch the leader, she only wanted to find the ringleader as quickly as possible to stop their actions, since she hadn't seen Hu Tian yet.

"Madam, the water is here!"

the ranch people shouted from below.

"Alright."

A silken thread flew from her wrist, piercing through the dissipating smoke, quickly wrapping around the handle of the bucket below, and pulling it up. With a casual grab, she used her supreme mental technique to condense water into a waterfall, cascading it down on the men in black.

The men in black knew that Lei Zhenzi was useless if it got wet, so they hurriedly tried to dodge. However, she moved like the wind, incredibly fast, and the water supply below was timely. In no time, the men in black were soaked to the bone.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

one of the men in black shouted, seemingly their leader.

"Since you're here, you won't leave so easily,"

Sima Wanqing sneered. Her silken threads wrapped around the man's ankle like a ghost, and with a tug, he staggered and fell, dragged to her feet.

"Don't leave! Whoever leaves, I'll kill them!"

Her voice, as cold as a piercing wind, echoed throughout the inn. Seeing that she had captured their leader in one move, the men in black, realizing their low martial arts skills meant they couldn't escape, obediently stopped. Feng San and the others quickly leaped onto the roof and surrounded them.

Sima Wanqing asked sharply, "Were you sent by Hu Tian?"

The men in black hurriedly nodded.

"Did he order you to kill us all?"

Seeing her icy demeanor, the men in black dared not nod in agreement, nor dared they shake their heads to lie to her; they all stood there dumbfounded.

"I know that you are Hu Tian's subordinates, and sometimes you have no choice. But now that so many people are injured, you must give an explanation. Don't you agree?"

Her tone softened slightly, but her words chilled the men in black to the bone, leaving them wondering what method she would use to punish them.

They looked down and saw screams of agony filling the inn, blood everywhere on the ground, and many of Feng San's men and innocent guests were injured. Was she going to retaliate in kind?

A silken thread pulled over the leader, and with a slender hand, a long sword flew into her hand. With a few swift movements, the chilling sword light circled around the man's head, chest, hands, and feet like lightning. The man was terrified, his face drained of color. When she sheathed her sword, he felt no pain and chuckled, "You're afraid of our master, too afraid to hurt me, aren't you?"

"Is that so?"

Her smile was enigmatic. Though it was springtime, a chill ran from the soles of their feet to their hearts, an icy coldness.

The leader struggled to get up, but in the instant he moved, his body exploded, shattering into countless pieces, scattering everywhere. Sticky liquid rained down on their faces and clothes like blood, still warm. Terrified, they dared not move.

She stood there nonchalantly, her sharp gaze sweeping over each of the men in black. They were all sweating profusely, fearing they would become her next target.

"I'm letting you go today, but you can't go back to work for Hu Tian. Otherwise, if I see you, this is what will happen to you."

She spoke slowly and deliberately. The men in black felt as if they had been granted a pardon, but they exchanged glances, none daring to leave first.

"Madam spared you, now get out of here!"

Feng San shouted, and the men hurriedly left.

She looked around at the group of people at the ranch and said gently, "In the future, if you encounter Lei Zhenzi, don't panic and run away. Although Lei Zhenzi is very powerful, it's difficult to use at close range. Also, its biggest weakness is that it's afraid of water; once it gets wet, it's completely useless."

She had thought of these things earlier, but because she was so focused on Duan Yuhan's injuries, she forgot to tell them.

"Yes,"

everyone had seen her decisive and correct decision and was completely convinced.

"Alright, go and settle them down and take good care of the injured. I'm a little tired,"

Sima Wanqing instructed calmly.

Feng San stepped forward and said, "Madam said yesterday that her training was hindered and she was feeling unwell, so her journey was temporarily postponed. Is she alright now?"

"She's fine. By the way, is there any new news from the ranch?"

"Hu Tian has arrived at the ranch and is spreading rumors everywhere, saying that Madam and her subordinates conspired to murder the Master in Hangzhou. The young master was also kidnapped by us, and he barely managed to escape back after learning the truth. He also forged the Master's ashes, pretending to offer them, and inciting many people on the ranch who are unaware of the inside story to seek revenge."

Feng San was very angry as he spoke.

"Has Elder Zhang been controlled by Hu Tian?"

She had expected Hu Tian to confuse the public and distort the truth.

"I'm not sure, because Elder Zhang hasn't shown up for a long time."

Feng San added, "Actually, Elder Zhang has always been a fence-sitter, always switching sides. He'll side with whoever has the advantage. It wouldn't be surprising if he has already sided with Hu Tian."

She frowned, "You can go now, I need to think about this carefully."

Feng San bowed and left.

Hu Tian must have already set up various traps on the ranch, waiting for them to return. How could she expose Hu Tian's facade while ensuring everyone's safety?

Lost in thought, a glance caught sight of Li Lie in a large tree not far behind her. She couldn't help but ask, "Where were you just now?"

"In the tree. Madam just didn't notice."

A surge of anger rose within her. She snapped, "In the tree? You stood by and watched them die? Letting them harm the innocent?"

"The Palace Master only told me to ensure your safety. I don't care about the lives of others."

She glared at him and quickly turned away. Before, the Holy Martial Palace was an ally, a friend. But how had Sheng Xixian and his men become a burden she desperately wanted to avoid and rid herself of?

Taking advantage of Li Lie's distraction, she slipped into Pei Mubai's room. She rushed to the bedside, but Duan Yuhan remained motionless. Even the deafening explosion hadn't woken him. Was he really going to abandon her and sleep like this?

She slumped on the edge of the bed, utterly exhausted, as if she had collapsed. She sighed, "Was I too ruthless just now? Maybe I shouldn't have killed that person. Perhaps heaven will forgive me for sparing his life and let Han wake up."

"You didn't do anything wrong. If you hadn't made an example of him, the other men in black wouldn't have stopped, nor would they have left Hu Tian, showing any remorse."

Pei Mubai knew she must be feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Mubai..."

She leaned weakly against his chest; she ultimately disliked killing and bloodshed. Pei Mubai naturally put his arm around her shoulder and patted it. The long-lost sense of security gradually calmed her down.

After a while, Pei Mubai tried to help her sit up, only to realize that she had fallen asleep. She had been guarding Duan Yuhan tirelessly for days, and had just fought another fierce battle; she deserved a good rest. He lifted her head, supported her waist, and carefully placed her on the bed, but she whimpered and snuggled closer to him, as if unwilling to leave this only source of warmth.

Her face was still faintly filled with sorrow. Pei Mubai sighed inwardly, unable to bear pushing her away. He shifted his body, letting her lean against him for a more comfortable sleep. Watching her softly lean against him, listening to her even, quiet breathing, and counting her long eyelashes, he almost wanted to immerse himself in this warmth forever. However, he was clear-headed. Some things, if forced, would only cause pain to everyone. As long as she was happy, he would rather just be her brother.

"Hmm..."

Duan Yuhan uttered a muffled nasal sound in a daze. She suddenly woke up, rushed over and grabbed his hand, staring at him intently.

"Qing..."

His voice was hoarse, but it was clearly her name. Boundless joy swept over her, and she couldn't speak. Only tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably, wetting their tightly clasped hands.

His eyes slowly opened, and those familiar black eyes finally appeared before her again, still clear as water, deep as a pool, now rippling gently, enveloping her small figure in the center of the pool.

It felt like a reunion after a lifetime, and she gazed at him intently. When she had him, she only knew his preciousness; only after losing him did she realize he was her soulmate. Had heaven finally sent him back to her, so she would cherish and treat him well from now on?

"Don't cry..."

he managed to squeeze out those two words, followed by a violent cough.

Carefully patting his back, she blurted out, "Don't speak again."

The words struck them both. How long had it been since she had spoken to him with such gentle yet slightly forceful words? In that instant, all the tender moments of their wedding night flashed through their minds, illuminating their hearts like a rainbow after the rain.

Back then, he always loved to hug and rub against her when she was just getting out of bed in the early morning. She would blush and scold him, "Don't move!" If she practiced martial arts for too long, he would deliberately say she was doing it wrong, actually wanting to take her hunting. She would glare at him, feigning anger as she warned him, "Don't talk!" When she was putting Bing'er to sleep, she inevitably neglected him, and he would deliberately hover in front of her. Each time, she would scold him playfully, "Don't disturb Bing'er!" "Are you hungry?"

She came to her senses, her voice now soft and gentle as before. He didn't move, just gazing at her longingly.

"I'll ask, you answer. If yes, blink once; if no, don't blink, okay?"

She guessed he must be too weak to nod or shake his head. He obediently blinked.

"Are you hungry?"

She carefully observed his eyes; he didn't move.

"Are you cold?"

His eyes didn't blink.

"Does it hurt?"

He still didn't react.

"Han..."

Her heart felt as if it had been plunged into snow water, a chilling fear almost suffocating her. She was terrified he would turn into a lifeless stone statue again. His

dark, watery eyes flickered, a faint smile floating on the surface, as if saying, "I'm alright, don't worry."

"Then why didn't you answer yes or no?"

She felt slightly relieved.

His dark eyes gazed at her with longing, and she suddenly understood his thoughts. If she had survived, she feared that upon waking, she would be just like him, unable to bear taking her eyes off him for even a moment.

She gently placed her hand on his forehead; his body temperature had returned to normal. She tried to release his hand with her other, but his dark eyes looked back reluctantly.

"Be good when you're injured..."

She smiled softly, withdrew her hand, went to the table, took out the remaining Great Rejuvenating Pill, dissolved it in warm water, and brought it over. She gently helped him sit up and fed him spoonful by spoonful, which he obediently swallowed.

This time, he didn't ask what kind of medicine it was. Was it because he deeply believed she wouldn't harm him, or because he was willing to accept it regardless of whether it was poison or medicine? Either way, it was because he loved Wanqing so much. Pei Mubai pondered Duan Yuhan's feelings, and seeing the harmonious intimacy between the two, he smiled contentedly. Sometimes, simply seeing Wanqing as a younger sister was a kind of relief and happiness for him.

In the following days, Sima Wanqing ordered everyone to recuperate at the inn, suspending their journey. Every day, she brought Duan Yuhan ginseng soup and other remedies, and also used her internal energy to help him clear the stagnant energy from his body. His face gradually regained color, and he was able to walk. Although his body was still weak, his life was no longer in danger. She and Pei Mubai could finally relax.

However, sometimes, gazing at his peaceful sleeping face, her heart was filled not with joy, but with bitterness. Only she knew that, apart from the first time she saw him wake up, her smiles and soft words to him these past two days had sometimes been deliberate. She didn't want him to die, and she wanted him to recover quickly, but she couldn't simply let all the hatred fade away like smoke.

Late that night, assuming Duan Yuhan was asleep, she went to see him. When she entered, he was indeed sleeping peacefully, a rare tranquility on his usually serene face. Perhaps, temporarily abstinent from the pinnacle of power, and being tenderly cared for by his beloved, this was a moment of relaxation he hadn't experienced in three years.

"How is he today?"

she asked softly.

"Very good, he went out for a walk and had a good appetite."

Pei Mubai said, then couldn't help but add, "He didn't ask about your absence, but I think he must be in a bad mood."

"Do you think I should be with him every day?"

She frowned slightly. "Besides him, there's Bing'er, and many other things to do."

"Are you worried about Hu Tian?"

She nodded and recounted Hu Tian's recent actions at the ranch, finally saying, "I'm thinking about how to deal with him quickly, effectively, and with the fewest casualties."

Pei Mubai pondered for a moment, "Try confronting him directly like we did at Yunlai Residence, I'm afraid that won't work. Hu Tian definitely won't give us that opportunity to explain in public."

"That's right, I'm afraid he'll send many people after us before we even get close to the ranch, and those people won't listen to our explanations."

She didn't want to get into conflict with innocent people and cause them unnecessary bloodshed.

Pei Mubai continued, "The key is to expose the rumors Hu Tian spread at the ranch and reveal his true colors. Once we have the opportunity and evidence to prove he's a traitor, I believe the people at the ranch will discern right from wrong and distance themselves from him. Then, capturing Hu Tian will be a piece of cake."

"I'm still worried about something. Feng San has sent people to investigate, but there's still no news of Uncle Yue. Even if we capture Hu Tian, there's no guarantee he won't use it to blackmail us later."

Although she was certain Yue Zhongzheng wouldn't be tortured, she was still worried about not being able to rescue him.

"Don't frown, or you'll look like an old woman. But I think even if you do, you'll still be the most beautiful one."

Seeing the growing melancholy between her brows, Pei Mubai only wanted to cheer her up. The immense pressure and burden she was placing on herself was definitely not a good thing.

It had been a long time since she'd heard him speak like this; she paused, then couldn't help but smile. "Save those compliments for others," she said

. They exchanged a smile, then fell into deep thought.

She walked to the bedside and leaned down to examine Duan Yuhan closely. His features had thinned somewhat, but his handsome appearance remained undiminished, only causing her a pang of heartache. Actually, she had already thought of a way to deal with Hu Tian, but she didn't want to do it, because the chances of winning were only fifty-fifty. And if she lost, she would lose the person she cherished most.

His refreshing and pleasant scent lingered around her; she closed her eyes slightly, letting it invade her soul. After a long pause, she whispered, "I know you're not asleep."

He sat up abruptly, a warm smile spreading from his lips to his brow, like a datura blooming in the hazy moonlight, elegant and captivating, alluring and irresistible, drawing her gaze. "There's a way to expose Hu Tian's true colors immediately. It's a bit dangerous, but worth a try."

"No need to say more. Mu Bai and you will return to Jiangnan tomorrow."

She keenly sensed that his thoughts coincided with her own and quickly interrupted him.

"Let me help you,"

he said earnestly, but she turned her head away as if she hadn't heard him.

A mocking smile suddenly appeared on his lips, "You can't bear to let me take the risk?"

Chapter 21: Returning Home

The next morning, Sima Wanqing handed Pei Mubai a packed bundle and used a secret communication channel, "Take him back to Jiangnan, just hide somewhere. There are some silver notes and clothes in the bundle, be careful on your journey."

"Don't you want to kill him for revenge?"

Her delicate eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled calmly, "Letting him go is better for everyone. I won't hold on to anything anymore."

Neither clinging to hatred nor clinging to love, from now on, he is him, she is her, neither owing the other anything, neither interfering with each other. Is this what she wanted to say?

Pei Mubai didn't take the bundle, "He won't leave, and neither will I."

"Mubai... taking back the ranch is my business, and it's also my way of repaying the Sima family for raising me. You and Han, I always hope you're safe and sound."

She wasn't unaware of his hidden feelings, but she preferred not to understand them.

Pei Mubai looked at her firmly. "Have you forgotten? I promised Uncle Sima I would take care of you and help you. Besides, we swore to share both good times and bad."

"Mubai..."

Looking back deeply, her nose tingled, and she was speechless for a moment. The only man in the world who would only give to her without asking for anything in return—why hadn't she met him sooner?

Clearing his throat twice, Duan Yuhan walked to their side. Seeing Pei Mubai's focused expression and the faint mist in her beautiful eyes, he frowned and pulled her closer. "Why are you crying?"

She gently pulled her hand away. "You're going to Jiangnan, and I'm just a little sad."

"Who said we were going to Jiangnan? I didn't agree to it."

Duan Yuhan casually adjusted the jade hairpin that was about to fall from her hair.

"Anyway, I've made up my mind. You should prepare to set off."

She knew that no matter what she said, the two of them wouldn't leave, so she didn't say anything more, only staring intently at the two people who had once been closest to her. " After today's parting, I truly don't know when we'll meet again."

"Xiao Qing,"

Pei Mubai was about to speak when she preemptively struck, pressing ten acupoints on his body before gently lifting him onto a chair.

Turning her head, she smiled, a smile both lonely and resolute. Duan Yuhan's heart tightened. When had she ever looked at someone with such a cold, almost cruel gaze?

"Qing, I can't resist whatever you want now, but I really don't want to leave you and Bing'er like this."

Duan Yuhan gently took her hand. Although it was early summer and the weather was getting warmer, her hand was as cold as marble.

She lowered her head slightly, as if seriously considering his words. The jade earrings on her small earlobes swayed back and forth like a swing, their intoxicating emerald green reflecting off her fair, jade-like neck, making her incomparably beautiful, captivating him and making him reluctant to part with her.

Suddenly looking up, she stared intently at him, wanting to etch every frown and every smile of his into her heart forever. "Later, I'll have someone send you to Jiangnan. Perhaps... I should silence you again, so you won't talk nonsense on the way." She

then did the same to Duan Yuhan, placing him on another chair.

Carefully adjusting their human skin masks until they were flawless, she smiled with satisfaction.

"Qing, if you really want to do this, I have nothing to say. But you have to tell me how you plan to deal with Hu Tian, so I can leave with peace of mind."

Duan Yuhan's tone was extremely helpless, as if he had already accepted her arrangement.

"Don't worry, once things here are settled, I'll naturally have Bing'er come to see you."

She took out a small ivory comb from her bosom, loosened Duan Yuhan's hair, and gently combed it.

For some reason, Pei Mubai had a bad feeling, and he and Duan Yuhan exchanged a glance, both startled.

"You're still going to cooperate with Sheng Xixian?"

Duan Yuhan asked sullenly.

"Why not?"

"I told you long ago, the farther away from him the better."

The long-dormant needle in his heart suddenly pierced him with excruciating pain. Duan Yuhan took a deep breath. "Do you think the Holy Martial Palace has such a vast power? It's not based on benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, or trustworthiness, nor on winning people over with virtue. A person like him wouldn't give up his own interests for you."

She carefully tied his hair, smiling faintly. "All done."

She seemed completely oblivious to his words.

Duan Yuhan endured the pain and said urgently, "In some ways, he's the same as me. He'll eliminate all obstacles to satisfy his ambition and gain the greatest benefit. Just like me back then, single-mindedly seeking revenge, ignoring everything, even knowing you'd eventually discover the truth and hate me, I still did it."

She glanced at him sideways, finding his words particularly grating. He had said it himself: no matter how much he loved her, no matter how carefully he cherished and protected her, it couldn't overcome a single word: "hate." So-called love that transcended life and death could be discarded by him.

"But I know you'll forgive me someday and come back to me, so I don't regret what I did."

Duan Yuhan's tone shifted, full of certainty and smugness. "You want me to leave because you can't bear to see me hurt, right?"

Her expression changed abruptly, and she hastily took two steps back.

"Can't bear to see me hurt," he was right! No matter how much she told herself, she couldn't take back her love for him. This cunning and treacherous man, everything was within his calculations. From the moment he began planning his revenge, he had already foreseen this outcome. He calculated that she loved him wholeheartedly, and even knowing the truth, she couldn't bear to kill him for revenge, which was why he dared to kill so recklessly and even seize the Sima family's ranch! He still showed no remorse!

She had finally convinced herself to let him go and stop dwelling on that hatred, but then he said these words, the pain in her heart spurting her anger. In an instant, she only wanted to slap him, to let him know that the Sima family's people didn't die in vain.

Seeing her uncertain expression and the murderous intent flowing in her watery eyes, Pei Mubai broke out in a cold sweat.

The instant she turned to look at Duan Yuhan, she suppressed her burgeoning murderous intent and coldly said, "You're wrong. I want you to leave only so I can torture you properly after I kill Hu Tian and quell my hatred. You haven't repaid my debt, so how could I let you go so easily?"

Duan Yuhan gazed deeply at her face, at her lips, her brows, her eyes, feeling a mixture of warmth and sorrow in his heart. No matter how cold and ruthless her words, they were nothing but a mask, a disguise. He could see through her indifference to her grief and anger, and truly felt the pain in her heart.

"Exposing Hu Tian is simple. As long as you come back to life, all the rumors will naturally fall apart. Since you owe the Sima family, I'll give you this opportunity to help them reclaim the ranch. As for whether you'll fall into Hu Tian's hands, good luck to you."

She continued calmly. Since he was so wicked, why should she care about his life?

Duan Yuhan readily agreed, "I couldn't be happier to fight alongside you."

Her sharp gaze pierced him. "You're wrong again. Our relationship isn't about 'fighting side by side.' Whatever you do, however you do it, you must follow my instructions."

Duan Yuhan remained silent, gazing at her intently. No matter what, as long as she made him stay, that was enough.

She quickly released Pei Mubai's pressure points and hurried out. Behind her, the few rays of dawn were a dim, yellowish glow, a heavy despair enveloping her figure.

Reaching her room, she finally couldn't control herself and bent over, spitting out a torrent of blood. In her anger, she had acted impulsively, unleashing the domineering internal force of the Supreme Heavenly Heart Technique to her fingertips. But at the last moment, she forcefully forced back that terrifying force, fearing she wouldn't be able to stop in time and would truly kill Duan Yuhan. Instead, it backfired, injuring her deeply.

Her subconscious choice was still to love him more than herself. Licking her lips, the bloody taste piercing her heart, she couldn't help but laugh at her own foolishness.

Over there, Pei Mubai released Duan Yuhan's pressure points, glaring at him helplessly, "They've only just reconciled, why did you deliberately provoke her again?"

Duan Yuhan didn't answer, only staring absently at the door. The situation was critical; as long as he could stay by her side and help her, he didn't care if she hated him. Even if he died at her hands one day, he wouldn't regret his choice.

That afternoon, Sima Wanqing ordered Feng San and the others to pack their belongings and set off immediately. When her gaze swept over Duan Yuhan, it was cold and distant, utterly unfamiliar. Pei Mubai repeatedly used telepathy to explain Duan Yuhan's good intentions to her, but she didn't reply, remaining in the carriage and rarely showing herself.

Three days later, the group was finally only ten miles from Lieyun Ranch. She ordered everyone to rest at an inn, spoke with Feng San and the others, and then came to see Duan and Pei.

“According to reports, Hu Tian is clamoring to avenge you and rescue Bing’er, and many people in the ranch have been deceived by him. Now, he has set up many archers around the ranch, and possibly traps with explosives and poison, just waiting for us to return. He himself, along with Yao Siniang and a group of confidants, has occupied Wanyintang and Gongyu Xiaozhu, acting as if they are the masters. As for Moke Ridge and Mantianfang, they are no different from usual. It seems that he thinks he has victory in his grasp and does not want to use his true strength yet.”

She briefly explained the situation.

Duan Yuhan chuckled, “I am certain that others will not be as shameless and rebellious as Hu Tian.”

“Is that so?”

Her lips, as beautiful as peach blossoms, curled up in a mocking smile. She also laughed, “The one who betrayed Sima Lie back then is now being betrayed in the same way. Isn’t this retribution?”

Duan Yuhan remained silent, feeling greatly gratified as he saw the increasing composure and determination on her beautiful and dignified face. Suddenly, a thought struck her. She usually hated such bright rouge, and with the temperature rising, why was she wearing an extra layer of clothing compared to the past few days?

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Pei Mubai noticed and reached out to take her pulse.

She casually turned away, her smile as pure and serene as a snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains. "I'm fine."

Then she added, "Mubai, I'm entrusting Bing'er to you."

As long as Bing'er was safe, she had no more worries and could fight Hu Tian to the death.

"Don't worry. Just don't forget our promise in Luoyang."

For once, Pei Mubai affectionately ruffled her hair, as if she were his most beloved little sister.

"I will never forget."

Looking back into Pei Mubai's clear, warm eyes, she told herself she had to come back alive; she still wanted to go to Luoyang with him to see the peony festival.

In that instant, a strange feeling welled up inside her, and Duan Yuhan suddenly felt like a failure. Even though she loved him, the only person she trusted wholeheartedly was Pei Mubai. And between him and her, there lay a chasm of hatred, could it never be crossed?

Looking at Duan Yuhan, she quietly took out the Immortal Spirit Armor and tossed it to him, "Wear it tomorrow."

"This is—"

Dazzling like silver and snow, soft and warm to the touch, Duan Yuhan, upon closer inspection, guessed it was the martial arts treasure.

"I don't want you to die too soon,"

she said calmly, turning and gracefully leaving.

Duan Yuhan paused, then smiled bitterly, handing the armor to Pei Mubai, "Give it to her. I see she's injured; she needs this more than I do."

"If you still want to come back alive to see Bing'er, do as she says. I have a way to deal with her injuries."

Pei Mubai placed the armor back in his hand, "And this medicine, take it first."

Hearing his confident tone, Duan Yuhan felt inexplicably relieved, and could only take the armor and the pills he offered. The pill was as white as snow, with a fragrant aroma that was refreshing and invigorating. He couldn't recall ever hearing of such a medicine before, and couldn't immediately determine its origin. Even so, he swallowed it without hesitation.

"Why didn't you ask what kind of medicine it was?"

Pei Mubai was somewhat surprised by his decisiveness this time.

Duan Yuhan smiled, "She trusts you, so naturally I trust her too."

He was inwardly puzzled; since childhood, he had never trusted so-called humanity or loyalty, so when had he come to trust Pei Mubai so much?

"To be honest, I don't know exactly how effective it is, but in short, it will be entirely beneficial to you."

Pei Mubai spoke vaguely, then smiled mysteriously, "Perhaps it even has some miraculous effects."

Duan Yuhan didn't press further, only thanking him.

After dinner, Sima Wanqing took Duan and Pei to meet Feng San and the others. Everyone was overjoyed, knowing that their chances of defeating Hu Tiansheng had greatly increased. Amidst their joy, a chill ran down their spines. Everyone secretly rejoiced that they hadn't colluded with Hu Tian; otherwise, facing their lord now, they would surely meet a terrible end.

The night passed without incident. At dawn, Sima Wanqing and Duan Yuhan reluctantly bid farewell to the sleeping Sima Bing before leading Feng San and forty others towards the ranch.

Riding together, both were filled with surging emotions. Duan Yuhan wrapped his arms around her waist, recalling her playful antics in his youth, her tender affection after marriage, and how he had longed for her return to the ranch for the past three years. He was overwhelmed with emotion. Now she was truly going home, but under these circumstances. Ultimately, it was his fault for not taking good care of the ranch, which had given Hu Tian the opportunity.

Three years had passed since her last return; the familiar roads, the familiar trees, even the scent of grass in the air and the dust kicked up by the horses' hooves, all felt dear to Sima Wanqing. Recalling the girl in red from years ago, running towards him and innocently throwing herself into his warm embrace, a mix of emotions welled up in his heart. He could only sigh that things had changed, and no one was the same as they were back then, nor did their feelings remain the same.

"Didn't you see Ruhua at Bing'er's place just now?"

Duan Yuhan's mellow voice rang in his ears.

“I’ve subdued Li Lie and Ru Hua, so the Holy Martial Palace shouldn’t know we went to the ranch today,”

Sima Wanqing replied briefly. Ultimately, she was worried that Sheng Xixian would turn ruthless if he found out Duan Yuhan wasn’t dead and that she had deliberately deceived him. Therefore, the only solution now was a swift victory. As long as most people in the ranch quickly sided with her and Duan Yuhan, Hu Tian and Sheng Xixian’s forces should be no threat.

Duan Yuhan’s body stiffened abruptly, then slowly relaxed. His Wanqing had finally broken free of the Holy Martial Palace, but he felt no joy. From the first moment he saw Sheng Xixian, he was even more certain of his intentions towards Wanqing. He knew that the more one gives, the more one expects in return. Sheng Xixian would never let Wanqing easily leave him. He

instinctively tightened his embrace; no matter what, he swore he would protect her with his life.

His warm breath suddenly approached, and she was a little surprised, wanting to push him away, but ultimately didn’t move. Perhaps creating the illusion of a loving couple among all the ranch dwellers would be more effective in dispelling the rumors and reclaiming the ranch.

As they drew closer to the ranch gate, Sima Wanqing suddenly gripped Duan Yuhan's hand tightly and whispered, "There's an ambush. Remember, don't let them realize you've lost your martial arts."

Duan Yuhan focused his attention; though he couldn't hear a sound, he sensed a heavy, murderous aura ahead.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" Countless sharp arrows reflected a ghastly white light in the sunlight, like bloodthirsty beasts howling and biting.

Sima Wanqing smiled calmly, her gentle elegance as serene as the bright moon in a clear sky. Power welled up from within, and her profound inner strength rapidly expanded into a powerful defensive circle. A dense swarm of arrows flew towards them, accompanied by a buzzing sound. When the arrows reached within three feet of the two, they all froze, as if their tips were stuck in something, fixed in place. A second wave of arrows surged forth, with the same result.

For a moment, the archers behind the wall, among the trees, and beside the haystacks, all waiting to fire, were stunned. There was clearly nothing there, yet the arrows couldn't penetrate even an inch, and all of them hovered horizontally in mid-air without falling—such a bizarre scene was unprecedented.

Duan Yuhan looked at her approvingly, when suddenly his palm burned, a warm current flowing continuously from her hand, instantly making his entire body feel as if boiling water was being injected, a burning pain accompanied by a surge of powerful true energy.

"Come out, all of you!"

Duan Yuhan's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed around, clear enough for everyone to hear. She subtly lifted his hand and gave it a shake, and the arrows immediately bounced back, some still embedded in tree trunks, vibrating violently—clearly, the force was extremely powerful.

"Ah, is that the Lord behind the Madam?"

"The Lord isn't dead?"

"Could it be someone impersonating him?"

"It's definitely not fake. Who else but the Lord has such powerful martial arts?" The archers initially peeked out cautiously, then stepped forward one by one.

"Hu Tian is plotting rebellion; he's a traitor to the ranch. Where is he right now?"

Duan Yuhan's beautiful black eyes flashed with a cold light, his icy indifference inspiring fear.

The archers exchanged glances, whispering amongst themselves, "Is Steward Hu the traitor?"

"The Madam and Steward Feng have been framed?"

"The Lord and Madam seem very close; he shouldn't be being held hostage by the Madam." "What? Have you all submitted to Hu Tian?"

Duan Yuhan frowned impatiently, his usual displeased expression evident.

"No, we wouldn't dare."

The archers hurriedly bowed.

Duan Yuhan smiled indifferently, "If you want to follow Hu Tian, I won't stop you now. However, if I encounter him again, I won't consider your past contributions to the ranch. Then, things will be as they are. I don't want to dwell on the fate of traitors."

"These past few years, our lord has led the ranch, repelling countless deliberate provocations from treacherous individuals, ensuring the ranch's business thrives and everyone's lives improve. Now, outside, who doesn't feel awe upon hearing the name 'Lieyun Ranch'? That traitor Hu Tian, in terms of intelligence, virtue, martial arts, and temperament, how can he compare to our lord? I, Feng San, swear to follow our lord to the death. What are you all hesitating for?"

Feng San stepped forward loyally.

The archers considered their options and unanimously said, "We are willing to follow our lord and will certainly kill Hu Tian to protect the ranch."

Duan Yuhan smiled leisurely, gesturing for everyone to follow behind his horse.

Despite winning this first battle, Sima Wanqing showed no joy. She knew Duan Yuhan was always fair in his rewards and punishments and very strict in his discipline, but she hadn't expected him to be so popular. Today, the Lieyun Ranch was even more powerful than when Sima Lie was in power. If he were to truly leave, it might not be a good thing for the ranch.

Duan Yuhan looked at her, so slender as a willow, yet now riding a horse, so upright and proud, and a tender feeling welled up in his heart. He gently pulled her delicate frame closer. Although they faced many dangers at this moment, he was still extremely happy to be able to fight alongside her.

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