089. Reclaiming the Secret Manual!

Le Qianxue felt a little dazed, so she became even more cautious. Her steps slowed slightly, but suddenly a gust of smoke swept past ahead. Alert, Le Qianxue held her breath. Yet, in the blink of an eye, the scene shifted before her—it was now under a blazing sun!

Startled, Le Qianxue found that Ma Tian had vanished without a trace, leaving her alone in the courtyard. Even her own clothes had changed; pausing for a moment, she touched her garments—they seemed real enough. She could not fathom what had happened; in an instant, her entire appearance had changed.

Then she recalled that since this was a branch of the Yuan family, they might know the Five Elements arts. Such being the case, she was likely trapped within a Five Elements maze! With this realization, her heart steadied a little, though she found it strange—why would the array remain even after Old Yuan had left? Could something have gone wrong on Zhan Lianjing’s side?

With no other options, Le Qianxue continued forward. Without Yin Susu, she had no idea how to escape. Vigilant, she tried to find her way out of the maze, not knowing that this time, the maze was unlike the last.

In the Red Manor, an old man stroked his beard, gazing at Le Qianxue who lay unconscious on the ground. This was Old Yuan. His eyes were sharp; he snorted, “The Third Prince was right—someone did come tonight. Now that she’s fallen under my Bewilderment spell, she’ll never escape.”

Madam Yuan, seeing it was just a girl, softened, “Master, the Third Prince said not to kill her. We need her to find Feng’er.”

Old Yuan, irritated, slapped the table, “Useless! To be tricked by a little girl. Don’t worry, she won’t die—she’ll just be trapped in the maze for now. Unless she has enough willpower to break free, she can’t escape.” With a wave of his hand, he ordered someone to drag Le Qianxue away.

Still angry, Old Yuan was furious that anyone dared harm his son—it was a ploy to force him out of hiding. Rising to check his bred venomous insects, he paused. He halted, for a sword was pressed to his throat, its cold gleam chilling the heart.

Zhan Lianjing narrowed his eyes, regarding Old Yuan coolly. “Where is she?” he demanded.

Old Yuan knew this man had come to rescue Le Qianxue, but the Third Prince had said that if a woman came, she was the key to saving his son—she must not be handed over. For his only child, Old Yuan snorted, “You wish to rescue her and leave? Impossible!”

Madam Yuan froze, wanting to step forward but afraid. She cried, “Master...”

Old Yuan glanced at her, “Why be so weak? We still need to save Feng’er!” Madam Yuan nodded tearfully; soon, Yu Zhiyang would surely come to their aid.

Zhan Lianjing was anxious—Ma Tian was already dead, Le Qianxue likely still alive. “If you don’t hand her over, it’ll be you who die. How will you save Yuan Feng then?”

Old Yuan laughed coldly. “What difference does it make if we die? The girl has already been secretly taken away by the Shadow Guard. If you want to save her, bring me my son in exchange!”

Zhan Lianjing was truly enraged. This was not the Emperor’s scheme—he suddenly thought of Yu Zhiyang. Unlike Yu Guhan, Yu Zhiyang was far more difficult to deal with.

Zhan Lianjing pondered his next move, but Old Yuan had already resolved—he could not escape Zhan Lianjing’s grasp anyway. Better to end it now, and use Le Qianxue’s life to bargain for Yuan Feng.

Determined, Old Yuan pressed closer to the blade, severing his own throat.

“Master!” Blood spattered. Madam Yuan cried out, tears streaming down her face.

Zhan Lianjing was taken aback, but quickly regained his composure, leaving Old Yuan’s fate behind as he hurried outside in pursuit.

No sooner had Zhan Lianjing left than a petite figure rushed in. Seeing her father fallen in a pool of blood, she was stunned.

“Mother! What happened?” Yuan Jiaojiao cried, grief overwhelming her.

Madam Yuan sobbed, “Your father… Remember, you must help the Third Prince save your brother! You must!”

Yuan Jiaojiao nodded, always living carefree in the Red Manor; now faced with calamity, she struggled to accept it.

Madam Yuan groaned again and collapsed. Yuan Jiaojiao, startled, discovered her mother had secretly stabbed herself with a hairpin, following her husband in death.

“Mother!” Yuan Jiaojiao called out, almost unable to breathe. She nudged Madam Yuan, but neither parent would awaken again.

Yuan Jiaojiao wept for a long time. Most of the main manor’s guards had been slain by Zhan Lianjing, and for some reason, the rest had not arrived.

Grief-stricken, Yuan Jiaojiao remembered her parents’ last wishes. Taking a deep breath, she slowly stood, her body trembling. She meant to leave, but then turned back, “Right, the secret manual! Father said if anything happened, I must take it away.”

Muttering to herself, she ran to a pillar, knocking and feeling around. Her hands shook, but she calmed herself, finding an empty spot and pressing hard. A wooden board slid up above her.

She quickly retrieved the items inside—a secret manual, a Yuan family token, and a small incense burner.

She was about to wrap them in cloth when a chilly wind swept past. She paused, and realized her hands felt much lighter.

Startled, she looked up to see a woman dressed in red had snatched her treasures.

Yuan Jiaojiao, not knowing her, shouted, “Give those back!”

These were her Yuan family’s heirlooms—they must not be lost! Where were the guards? Why were they gone?

Yuan Jiaojiao’s martial skills were lacking, making it easy for Yin Susu to take the items.

Yin Susu, her face veiled in red silk, said, “Today, I reclaim what once belonged to my clan. Why should I return it to you?”

With a glance, she tucked the items away.

Yuan Jiaojiao, furious, tried to snatch them back, but Yin Susu struck her aside with a palm.

Yin Susu’s gaze was cold. “Years ago, your family slaughtered more than ten of mine. I ought to kill you, but since we share the same ancestor, I’ll spare you. If you wish for revenge, seek me out. My name is Yin Susu.”

She turned away, lingering no longer.

Yuan Jiaojiao climbed up, glaring at Yin Susu, “What are you saying? You will not take the treasures of the Yuan family!”

She rushed forward, trying to grab Yin Susu, but it was futile.

She couldn’t even touch a corner of Yin Susu’s robe, and Yin Susu had already left using lightness skills.

Yuan Jiaojiao staggered a few steps, then collapsed weakly—she had been wounded earlier, and now had no strength left.

She coughed, and Yu Zhiyang arrived just in time with his men.

Seeing all the guards fallen, and both Old Yuan and his wife dead, he realized he was too late.

He quickly helped Yuan Jiaojiao up, “Miss Yuan, are you all right?”

Yuan Jiaojiao raised her teary eyes, rimmed red. “My parents are dead… and someone took my family’s treasures. Third Prince, what should we do?”

The Third Prince frowned—a true miscalculation. He should have had Old Yuan hand over the secret manual. But even if he’d asked, Old Yuan would never have given it to an outsider; he trusted no one.

Now the manual was stolen—it was troublesome.

Yet his plan had succeeded; Le Qianxue should have been captured, so Yuan Feng could be exchanged.

But Yu Zhiyang did not know that Yuan Feng had already lost his sanity.

The Shadow Guards were escorting Le Qianxue back to the capital at speed.

Zhan Lianjing was only slightly late; catching up was not impossible.

Three Shadow Guards rode, one carrying Le Qianxue in front, two guarding beside.

A sinister wind blew; the guards sensed something amiss. One shouted, “Danger!”

His weapon swept down several hidden darts.

Then a flash of sword flowers—no time to breathe!

Zhan Lianjing’s sword nearly struck down all three guards.

One was wounded; the other two dismounted and barely escaped.

Zhan Lianjing, fierce and cold-eyed, was chilling as frost.

“Leave her,” Zhan Lianjing said quietly—this was his limit.

“Never!” The guards refused; disobeying imperial orders meant death.

Zhan Lianjing’s hand tightened on his sword hilt.

He spoke only once—if these three wanted death, he could not help them.

When his sword was sheathed, all three lay on the ground.

Zhan Lianjing took a deep breath—the killing blow had taxed his internal energy greatly.

But he cared little, hastening to help Le Qianxue down.

Her hands were bound, but she was unharmed.

He quickly pressed her philtrum, yet she showed no sign of waking.

Zhan Lianjing frowned. What was happening? Had she been affected by the bewildering smoke?

At this point, he could only seek out Yin Susu.

He tried to lift Le Qianxue, but his legs felt weak. Touching his own thigh, he was frustrated.