Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Alliance Is Forged

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Qu Wanqing gripped the black wooden token and turned toward the source of the voice. A woman dressed in white stood not far away. It was Miss Bai, who had fought alongside them earlier, and her expression was complicated.

“You... what do you know?” Qu Wanqing asked directly, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Miss Bai let out a soft sigh and walked over to her, her gaze sincere yet tinged with helplessness. “This wooden token has a great deal to do with me. I was once a mountain spirit who cultivated herself into human form, but Daoist Liu controlled me with an evil technique. I had no choice but to obey him and spread the rumor that you were a harbinger of disaster.”

Miss Bai slowly revealed the story of her origins, her voice filled with sorrow. Daoist Liu had used her as a pawn in his conspiracy, leaving her heart heavy with regret and helplessness. She had once lived freely, but after being captured by Daoist Liu in an accident, she lost her freedom and was forced to act according to his orders. She yearned to break free of his control and regain her liberty.

After hearing Miss Bai’s story, Qu Wanqing felt a deep sympathy for her. She understood the pain of being controlled, as well as the resolve it took to resist.

“I believe you,” Qu Wanqing said firmly. “Let us uncover the mastermind together and reveal the truth!”

Miss Bai looked into Qu Wanqing’s sincere eyes, and a glimmer of hope kindled within her. “Very well! I am willing to work with you!”

The three returned to the inn and shut the door. The atmosphere immediately grew solemn. On the table lay two identical black wooden tokens, along with the other clues they had gathered: Old Madam Ma’s testimony, Tutor Qin’s prejudice, and Master He’s strange behavior...

“Let us organize everything we know so far.” Qu Wanqing picked up one of the tokens and examined the symbols engraved upon it. “The markings on this token seem to be some kind of ancient incantation. I once saw something similar recorded in an old manuscript...”

Jiang Yu added, “Master He’s recent behavior has indeed been highly suspicious. He has been meeting frequently with strangers, and every time he does so, he acts furtively...”

Miss Bai spoke as well. “Daoist Liu often goes to an abandoned temple outside the city. I suspect that is where they conduct their dark rituals...”

Qu Wanqing linked the clues together, her mind racing as a much larger conspiracy gradually emerged.

“I understand now! None of this is coincidence. Someone has been manipulating everything from behind the scenes, and my marriage to Master He is merely one part of their plan...” A sharp gleam flashed through her eyes. “It seems this water is far deeper than I imagined...” She tapped her fingers against the table, and a thrill of control rose within her.

Jiang Yu and Miss Bai exchanged a glance, their admiration for Qu Wanqing’s intelligence and insight deepening.

“Then our next step...” Jiang Yu had just begun to speak when a hurried knock at the door interrupted him.

“Who is it?” Jiang Yu asked warily.

A low voice came from outside. “It is I, Steward Feng...”

Steward Feng entered the room in a panic, speaking rapidly. “Something has happened to Master He!”

Qu Wanqing, Jiang Yu, and Miss Bai exchanged glances, an ominous premonition rising in their hearts. It seemed their investigation had struck a nerve.

“Take your time. What happened?” Qu Wanqing gestured for Steward Feng to calm down.

Steward Feng drew a deep breath. “This morning, Master He suddenly fell unconscious and could not be roused. The physician says he has been poisoned by some kind of deadly toxin...”

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“Poisoned?” Qu Wanqing’s brows drew together. “Take us to him.”

The He residence was shrouded in a grave atmosphere. Master He lay on the bed, his face pale and his breathing faint. The physicians were helpless, able only to stand nearby in anxious silence.

Qu Wanqing went to the bedside and carefully examined Master He’s symptoms, then questioned the physicians about several details.

“This poison is rather peculiar...” she murmured.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside the door. A group of people stormed in, led by a middle-aged man dressed in official robes.

“You insolent shrew! How dare you try to murder Master He!” the middle-aged man roared, pointing at Qu Wanqing.

A surge of anger flared within Qu Wanqing, but she knew she could not act rashly. Her mind swiftly ran through the various texts she had read and similar cases she had handled. A cold smile curved her lips, and she answered neither obsequiously nor defiantly:

“Where is your evidence, my lord? Do not falsely accuse an innocent person without cause.”

“Hmph! We have both witnesses and physical evidence! Guards, seize her!”

At the middle-aged man’s command, the constables behind him moved forward to arrest her.

Jiang Yu stepped in front of Qu Wanqing, his gaze icy. “I would like to see who dares.”

Miss Bai stepped forward as well, releasing a powerful aura of supernatural energy that intimidated the constables into stopping in their tracks.

At that moment, Tutor Qin arrived with another group of people. With righteous indignation, he accused Qu Wanqing of being a harbinger of disaster, inciting the people, and plotting to seize the He family fortune.

The surrounding townspeople began whispering among themselves, pointing at Qu Wanqing.

“When someone is determined to convict you, any pretext will do.” Qu Wanqing gave a cold laugh. “I would very much like to see what tricks you intend to play!”

She swept her gaze across the crowd, her eyes filled with disdain and challenge.

“You want to come after me? Then I will see this through to the very end!”

Jiang Yu gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind Qu Wanqing’s ear and said softly, “Do not be afraid. I am here.”

Feeling his tenderness, Qu Wanqing’s heart warmed, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks. She nodded lightly, her eyes filled with determination and trust.

Watching the exchange between them, Miss Bai could not help sighing inwardly. Now that was true love.

“It seems we will have to find another way...” Qu Wanqing murmured, her gaze settling on Steward Feng.

Steward Feng gave a slight nod, seemingly understanding her meaning.

Night fell, and the He residence was enveloped in an eerie silence. Qu Wanqing, Jiang Yu, and Miss Bai quietly slipped away, vanishing into the darkness.

“Where have they gone?” a shadow appeared behind the middle-aged man.

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“Hmph. Do you think they can escape? I have already sent people to keep watch on them...” The middle-aged man let out a cold laugh. “This time, they will not get away!”

He clutched a black wooden token tightly in his hand, and a sinister glint flashed across his eyes...

After leaving the He residence, the three headed straight for an abandoned temple outside the city.

The moment they arrived, a group of black-clad enforcers descended from above and surrounded the ruined temple so completely that not even a drop of water could have passed through.

Jiang Yu and Miss Bai exchanged a glance. In the next instant, they threw themselves into battle with the attackers.

Jiang Yu moved like lightning. Every stroke brought with it a sharp rush of wind, and his sword flashed with icy light beneath the moon. Wherever it passed, the black-clad men cried out in agony.

Miss Bai moved with graceful lightness, the silk ribbons in her hands whipping through the air like spirit serpents. Once they coiled around an enemy’s weapon, she gave a gentle flick and sent him tumbling several yards away.

Qu Wanqing stood to one side, activating her “omniscient view” and sensing the dangers around them. From time to time, she called out a warning:

“Left! Watch for an ambush!”

“Behind you! Hidden weapons!”

The townspeople who had gathered to watch had originally been preparing to leave, but now they became excited again, transforming into avid spectators. Some even began placing bets.

“I’ll wager a packet of spicy snack sticks on the one in white!”

Although the attackers greatly outnumbered them and had the advantage of professional training, Jiang Yu and Miss Bai worked together seamlessly, leaving their opponents utterly unable to defend themselves.

With Qu Wanqing’s timely assistance, the scene became almost absurd. Anyone who did not know better might have thought the attackers were deliberately feeding moves to Jiang Yu and Miss Bai.

Suddenly, Qu Wanqing’s gaze locked onto the attackers’ gloves.

In that instant, time seemed to freeze. The surrounding clamor vanished, leaving only the pounding of her own heart. The discovery was like a sliver of dawn in the darkness.

She pointed at the gloves and shouted, “Wait! Their gloves!”

“Attack the symbols on the gloves!”

Jiang Yu and Miss Bai understood at once. They immediately changed tactics and focused their attacks on the symbols.

Sure enough, the markings on the gloves appeared to be a special seal. Once damaged, the attackers’ combat ability fell sharply.

Seeing that the situation had turned against them, the attackers fled in all directions, faster than rabbits.

“They are running already? They are even more useless than I thought!” Qu Wanqing could not help complaining.

The surrounding townspeople cheered and praised their intelligence and skill. It was practically a grand spectacle of winning admirers.

After the attackers fled, they left behind a mysterious box.

Qu Wanqing picked it up and discovered that it was engraved with the same symbols as those on the attackers’ gloves.

“What is this?” she murmured, her brows tightly furrowed as an ominous premonition rose within her.

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