Chapter 47 Chapter 47 After leaving, I never want to live again...

Under the bright moonlight, the ink was crystal clear, the characters crooked and distorted, unlike those of someone who often wields a pen.

Seeing the characters clearly, the girl's knuckles trembled as she gripped the paper, her delicate features gradually furrowing. She raised her gaze and looked around again.

Biezhi clutched the paper tightly, her clear eyes filled with confusion.

She examined the arrowhead in the moonlight. The shape was familiar, something she had never seen before. She lowered her eyes from the paper to the arrowhead, then to the hole left in the treetop by the arrowhead.

The visitor's archery skills were exceptionally advanced. The arrowhead penetrated the treetop with perfect precision, neither impaling the paper on the treetop and rendering it useless when it was pulled out, nor did it collapse to the ground the moment it entered the treetop, leaving no trace.

Such archery skills require years of practice.

Biezhi frowned and lowered her eyes again to look at the ink-stained writing.

It wasn't a warning, more like an urgent urge, a plea to leave this troubled place as quickly as possible. Biezhi stared at the deserted street, then hurried away without stopping.

She wasn't sure what the visitor's intentions were. She wasn't sure if the seemingly urgent urging was a trap set outside the capital to await her arrival.

The only certainty was that she had been targeted.

Outside her master's courtyard, Biezhi found the rickshaw driver who had taken her out earlier. He stood beside her, their faces slightly grim as they discussed something.

Ling Feng caught a glimpse of his disciple's slowing pace. He stopped the words on the tip of his tongue and patted the driver's shoulder, "Please help take her back to the villa."

Biezhi stepped forward: "Master, I—" She paused, gazing at the puzzled look in her master's expression. Suddenly, she remembered how, when she was very young, her master had led her back to Xianyun Tower, bending down to explain everything and introducing herself to the passing disciples.

Danger lurks outside Xianyun Tower, but within, it's a safe haven for everyone.

After staring at each other for a moment, Biezhi shook her head

. Facing her master's increasingly suspicious expression, she glanced at the driver and lowered her voice, "I just want to know if the Hot Spring Villa is trustworthy. What if they're kidnapped while we're asleep?" Ling Feng was stunned for a moment, then chuckled.

His gaze swept over his disciple, who looked serious, and he couldn't help but touch her forehead. "What are you thinking? How can I trust you there if it's unsafe?"

Biezhi hissed in pain, rubbing her forehead and muttering, "Of course I trust my master."

"Just stay there peacefully," Ling Feng pondered for a moment, then added, "That's one of the master's residences. No one in the martial arts world would dare to disturb them."

"The master's residence..." Biezhi's tone rose slightly, a hint of disdain in her voice. "Isn't he living there too?"

Ling Feng laughed at that.

He smiled until he had finished before replying, "My master has been away from the capital for some business lately. He

won't be back for ten days or half a month." Ten days or half a month?

A flash of inspiration struck Biezhi, and his eyebrows quirked slightly.

The master's absence from the capital was a perfect opportunity for escape, a perfect time for him to escape without being immediately apprehended. By the time he realized he was gone, it would likely be more than half a month.

Biezhi remembered a story from a senior sister long ago about someone in the sect who had fled Xianyun Tower before his bond expired, unable to bear the violence, and was subsequently apprehended by the master. A shudder ran through him in the summer heat.

He had heard that the apprehended senior brother had been imprisoned in a dark, cramped chamber, and eventually driven mad.

Fearing death, Biezhi swallowed hard.

Otherwise, he might as well wait until his bond expired.

Biezhi said goodbye to his master, picked two Chinese camellias that his master had planted, and before his master could react, he swiftly stepped into the carriage, urging the driver to hurry.

As the wheel ruts rolled over, Ling Feng's voice, broken with anger, echoed through the air, startling birds resting in the treetops.

A carriage slowly rolled along the quiet street. Biezhi sat inside, counting petals. She plucked one and muttered quietly, "Leave early, leave when my adopted child's birthdate expires. Leave early, leave when my adopted child's birthdate expires..."

"Leave when my adopted child's birthdate expires." Biezhi plucked the second-to-last petal, looked at the last remaining camel petal on the branch, and tossed it aside. "It doesn't count."

She picked up another camel and began counting.

"Leave early." At this point, Biezhi watched as the bright yellow camel petals in her hand fell to only two. She frowned, plucked one, and abruptly turned the corner, repeating the words she had just chanted: "Leave early."

Then, looking at the last remaining petal on the branch, she curled her eyes and said, "It's God's will that I leave when my adopted child's birthdate expires."

Suddenly, Biezhi felt refreshed.

Who could say that forced will wasn't God's will?

She lifted the curtains from the carriage window and gazed at the brightly lit streets not far away.

She wondered how many years would pass before she would see the capital city of Shengjing at night again. As she looked, the figure of Senior Brother Jingqing suddenly passed by her eyes. He walked hurriedly, followed by a few people. They did not look like the brothers and sisters in Xianyun Tower. Biezhi frowned, staring at their figures until they disappeared around the corner of the street.

"Your subordinates and others went to investigate according to the prince's speculation. Jingqing is indeed connected to the people of Xilan Kingdom." Xiang Lin stood at the foot of the hall, looking solemnly at the man on the imperial chair. The light reflected on his face, making it difficult to see his expression. "He was born in a small village on the border of our dynasty. He was born from the union of a married man and woman. I heard from the villagers that he was thrown into a village within the borders of Xilan Kingdom at night after he was born. A young couple adopted him."

Fu Huaiqing tapped his knuckles on the memorial, his eyes solemn.

The young couple treated him like their own child, raising him with good food and drink until he was seven. When he turned seven, the Xilan Kingdom launched a military conscription campaign, searching for adult men. The small village on the border was the first to be drafted. To quickly dispatch men to the battlefield, Helan Daisong's closest subordinates led the troops.

Helan Daisong's subordinates, instead of favoring anyone else, set their sights on the then-seven-year-old Jing Qing. Seeing that he resembled a Li Dynasty citizen, they immediately rounded up hundreds of villagers and took them back to the camp, threatening their lives to keep him from doing their bidding.

Within six months, the still-young Jing Qing was assigned to the Li Dynasty.

It all happened perfectly: after only three months of wandering, Jing Qing met Ling Feng, who was out searching for promising young men, and naturally, he joined Xianyun Tower. Xiang

Lin, after a long silence, said, "Rather than calling him a traitor, he's more of a spy."

Fu Huaiqing's eyes narrowed slightly, and he chuckled softly.

A clear, indifferent laugh suddenly reached his ears, and beads of sweat broke out on Xiang Lin's forehead. Lines of sweat dripped down his face, wetting the dry ground.

He couldn't tell if the smile was directed at the others, or at himself, who hadn't taken action yet.

Xiang Lin's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground.

Since ancient times, Yingyuan Hall had executed spies upon discovery, but since this matter involved Xianyun Tower, Xiang Lin and his companions dared not act rashly.

It was said that the master of Xianyun Tower was very protective of his protégés. Although the people below were afraid of him, they also knew that if anyone came to cause trouble, regardless of whether they were right or wrong, he would definitely stand on Xianyun Tower's side when facing outsiders. Not long ago, someone in Hezhou posted a bounty order, and many people from the martial arts world responded to the order, but in the end, none of them returned.

Xiang Lin only heard later that the master of Xianyun Tower had long ago ordered everyone in Xianyun Tower to go on a killing spree, killing until no one dared to respond to the order again. The people in the martial arts world suddenly became docile and no longer dared to confront Xianyun Tower.

"Jing Qing belongs to Xianyun Tower." Xiang Lin took out a new memorial and handed it to Jiang Yue, who then delivered it to His Royal Highness Prince Su, who was silent in the hall. He lowered his head a little and asked uncertainly, "If we want to touch him, should we first inform Xianyun Tower?"

Fu Huaiqing raised his eyes and stared at Xiang Lin. Jiang Yue handed him the memorial, but he didn't take it. After a brief pause, Jiang Yue understood and silently slipped it into his sleeve.

Under the Prince Su's half-concerned gaze, cold sweat ran down Xiang Lin's back, soaking his clothes like beads. After a long period without receiving an answer, he breathed a sigh of relief and spoke again, "I heard that Jing Qing has someone in his heart, a junior sister from the same school as him."

Jiang Yue: "..."

He furtively glanced at his master's expression.

Really, he was bringing up the wrong topic.

Xiang Lin wondered whether Prince Su would be willing to communicate with the master of Xianyun Tower in advance. After all, he was the ruler, and the master was the subject. It was perfectly natural for the ruler to follow his orders. However, Xiang Lin still had to prepare a backup plan, offering him an option: "If possible, we could also use his junior sister to lure him into a fight."

Jiang Yue often felt that Yingyuan Hall was filled with experts, and Xiang Lin's interest in the prince was largely due to his similar approach to his master. For example, the plan to lure Jing Qing through Biezhi was a decision the prince had made two years ago.

The prince had indeed carried it out, but he had personally entered the game.

A year ago, when Jing Qing first showed signs of being involved, he had been on a mission, passing information from the Ministry of War to Helan Daisong through other channels. If he hadn't been intercepted in time, disaster would have beenfallen. The prince had ordered his secret guards to shoot him on his way back to the capital, but after visiting Wuweipu, he rescinded the order.

They were baffled as to why, but only at the beginning of this year did they learn that there was another powerful figure behind Jing Qing's back.

"Don't worry about this."

The man's indifferent voice sounded slowly, breaking the silence of the palace. Xiang Lin's back stiffened. He didn't understand the intention of His Highness Su Wang. He secretly lifted his eyelids to glance at Jiang Yue, then lowered them again: "Yes."

Fu Huaiqing tossed the memorial back to him, "You will personally lead people to Suzhou and Hezhou to assist Qin Xiao in investigating the Suzhou and Hezhou massacres. If there are any unusual movements, you will report back to the capital."

Xiang Lin nodded in acceptance, stood up, took a few steps back, pushed open the door and left.

As he stepped back, Fu Huaiqing also stood up, "Tell Qun Xiao to enter the palace."

Jiang Yue, who had unfolded the memorial, was startled. Qun Xiao was the secret guard who had disguised the prince. He glanced at the night outside the window. It was already the latter half of the Xu hour, and there was still a quarter of an hour until the Hai hour. He thought for a moment and reminded: "Miss Biezhi should have returned to the Hot Spring Villa by now."

The palace city was a long way from the Hot Spring Villa, and it would take half an hour even if he rode at full speed.

Fu Huaiqing glanced at him indifferently.

Jiang Yue stood up straight in an instant, "I'll go right away."

He glanced at Xiang Lin who had stepped out of the Chengtian Palace, winked at the guards outside, and silently said Qun Xiao's name, who immediately obeyed.

The door closed behind him, and Xiang Lin breathed a sigh of relief. Before he even left the Chengtian Palace, he saw Cheng Jin coming towards him, his steps brisk and dusty. Cheng Jin didn't even have time to greet him, but nodded, indicating that he should hurry in three steps at a time.

Cheng Jin knocked on the door, and only after receiving his consent did he push it open and enter.

He quickly walked to the imperial desk and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, Lord Qin has taken people to pry open the coffin."

Fu Huaiqing stopped, his eyes cold.

Following the prince's side, Jiang Yue had seen many storms and waves, and he saw through everything in the world. But he suddenly showed an expression of astonishment, and he subconsciously looked at the prince.

A storm was coming.

After Biezhi's accident, to avoid attention, the entire Qin family believed she had truly met with misfortune. Jiang Yue was ordered to inform Qin Peibai of the grand funeral arrangements for the second daughter of the Qin family. This was done to inform the mastermind that his purpose had been achieved, and also so the Qin family could use the event as a cenotaph for their deceased child.

The coffin actually contained baby clothes and belongings, and a stone was specially found and placed inside to prevent the bearers from arousing suspicion.

The funeral lasted seven days, and during these seven days, Qin Peibai only revealed to others that the person in the coffin was Biezhi. He also told Qin Xiao the same thing.

Fu Huaiqing's face darkened, and he remained silent for a long time.

He hurried out of Chengtian Palace.

Cheng Jin took a breath, exchanged a glance with Jiang Yue, and hurried to catch up with the prince.

Jiang Yue whispered, "Where is Biezhi?" "

On the way back to the Hot Spring Villa," Cheng Jin said.

"Just returned?" Jiang Yue frowned. She had left before sunset, so why hadn't she returned to the villa yet? "Your Highness, go there now."

Cheng Jin nodded, counting the hours. "Biezhi will be back at the villa by the time Your Highness arrives."

The ruts of a carriage rolled along the forest path toward the city gate, the quiet, endless streets filled with the rustling of wheels. The carriage was covered with camellia petals, a faint fragrance lingering in the air.

Biezhi stared silently at the paper in her hand, her eyes fixed.

The moment Jing Qing disappeared from her sight, she suddenly realized that if the fellow disciples of Youxu Pavilion were second to none in archery, no one in the martial arts world would dare to claim first place, and they were the only ones who feared for their safety.

She had been worried about the possibility of an ambush after leaving the city, which was why she hadn't gone to Youxu Pavilion. Now everything made sense.

If it was really them, then the purpose of this paper was valid.

But...

if it was Youxu Pavilion that did it, the master would have certainly told her. But if it was someone from Youxu Pavilion, how would he have known she was in danger?

Besides, Biezhi wasn't sure if that person was actually her senior brother.

She sighed, folded the paper and put it away, her eyes fixed solemnly on the curtains fluttering in the wind. The moment a sharp light and shadow flashed by, Biezhi quickly dodged half an inch, avoiding the sword that pierced through the window and into the carriage.

The light and shadow reflected by the sword flashed across the girl's eyes. She reached out swiftly and grabbed the wrist of the man who had entered with the sword, easily breaking his wrist bone and picking up the longsword that had fallen into the carriage.

The driver's voice came to her ears: "Sit tight, young lady!"

Biezhi immediately held the carriage. In just half a breath, the carriage sped along the official road, and the whistling wind made it impossible for Biezhi to distinguish the footsteps outside.

She held her breath and concentrated, counting the footsteps one by one.

As she counted, she realized a fight had broken out outside. There were only about five people running toward her, and it was hard to tell friend from foe.

Suddenly, a muffled groan reached her ears.

Biezhi immediately opened the curtains and saw the driver clutching his chest with one hand, the other gripping the reins. She stepped forward to steady him, but as her palm touched his back, a sharp touch pierced it. She looked down in shock, realizing an arrow had pierced his chest.

Without caring too much, she frowned and helped the driver into the carriage. She took out the hemostatic medicine she always carried with her and applied it to him. She then fed him a life-saving pill. She quickly left the tent, grabbed the reins, and stopped the horses from running wildly.

Biezhi drove the carriage into the woods to hide, then forced the horses to stop. She turned around and glanced at the driver who had fallen in the carriage, then ran southwest without hesitation.

As expected, the dark shadows behind her all ran towards her.

They were indeed coming for her.

Biezhi frowned, holding her breath to avoid the arrows that were shot from time to time. She followed the direction of the arrows with her peripheral vision and finally locked onto the treetops thirty feet away. She turned slightly, used the momentum to run over and flew to the treetops. The knife in her sleeve slipped out and slashed across the man's neck.

In an instant, the man fell from the treetops.

The arrows that pierced the clouds and mist had not stopped, and were even more powerful.

Looking at the guards who were dodging arrows while fighting with the shadows, Biezhi locked onto an arrow and ran in the direction it came from, killing another person.

The shadow behind her was still following.

Biezhi could not care about them. She had experienced it herself and knew that instead of killing them, she had to kill the archers hiding in the dark. The

arrows were poisoned last time, and it was possible that it would be the same this time.

But what she did not expect was that there were no less than ten archers coming this time. She killed ten people, but the rain of arrows continued without stopping, as if one person fell, the others would follow.

Biezhi frowned, unable to remember when she had offended someone. In order to kill her, she did not hesitate to send out so many archers and assassins. It was obvious that they did not kill her last time, and they were determined to succeed this time.

While thinking, she calmly dealt with the archer hiding at the highest point. Standing at the high point, she suddenly saw a tall figure hidden in the dark. Behind him were other people. If one archer fell, the others would take his place.

She frowned, confused.

They could obviously attack together, so why wait until she dealt with one before ordering the next one to take his place?

To catch a thief, you must catch the leader first.

Biezhi jumped down from the treetop and ran quickly in the direction of the man.

She walked stealthily along the bushes, and her body froze when she saw the man's figure clearly.

The man's back seemed very similar to that of her senior brother.

Biezhi immediately remembered the paper in her arms, her almond eyes widened, and she stared at him in disbelief.

If he was really her senior brother, then it would really explain it.

But why did he want to kill her!?

Was the order he followed to take her own life?

Or was it the order of the master?

No matter which point, it means that the master had approved it.

Why?

Biezhi didn't have time to think too much. When he was about to get close, he stabbed the man standing in front of the crowd with his sword without hesitation and lifted his mask.

When their eyes met, the surprise in her eyes gradually turned into speechlessness.

It was indeed him.

The sword that lifted the mask stabbed at Jingqing again. Jingqing's gloomy eyes suddenly became stern. He waved his sword to block the sharp sword energy, glanced at his subordinates who were about to rush over, and signaled them to stop with his other hand. He was entangled with her.

Biezhi pressed forward step by step, and Jingqing retreated one after another.

Jingqing looked at the anger in the eyes of his junior sister. There was no hesitation in the sword she stabbed. It was obvious that she was furious and didn't want to hear his explanation.

It was just right, he didn't know how to explain.

Their positions were different, so how could there be any recognition.

Biezhi sensed his retreat, and her almond-shaped eyes, usually brimming with a clear smile, grew even colder. She pressed forward again, "Brother, what are you doing? Are you pitying me?"

Jing Qing waved his sword to block her fury. Instead of answering, he asked, "Why don't you leave?"

"Brother, you've brought so many men to take my life. Where can I go?" Biezhi swung her free hand swiftly, seizing a moment of distraction to strike him in the chest. "What if I leave the city and Brother has his men waiting for me outside?"

Jing Qing groaned at the blow and retreated several steps, only stopping when his back rested against the treetops.

Biezhi was truly furious, her mind a tangle, unable to comprehend.

She stared at her brother's distressed expression, clenched her fists, and spoke in a hoarse, low voice, suppressing her anger. "So, the ones who attacked me seven days ago were also Brother's men?"

Biezhi demanded an answer.

But it took a long time for her to receive one.

Suddenly, Biezhi no longer needed his answer. She understood instantly, and her large almond-shaped eyes flushed red: "I don't know how I have offended Senior Brother, that he wants to take my life like this."

She thought they were family. They

were the closest people to her in this world besides her master.

Now, the person she thought was closest to her was holding a sword and leading people to kill her.

Biezhi smiled self-deprecatingly.

After all, it was all her own wishful thinking.

She took a deep breath and said, "Senior Brother wants my life, so of course I will accompany him." She glanced back at the entangled black shadows behind her, "They have nothing to do with me. If Senior Brother takes their lives, I'm afraid they won't survive the night."

Biezhi had long guessed that the people following her all the way were guards from the palace.

Jing Qing pursed her lips: "Junior Sister, you don't have to worry about whether I can survive tonight."

Hearing this, Biezhi fell silent.

Catching a glimpse of the shadows following behind her, Bie Zhi, already perceiving the depth in Jing Qing's eyes, suddenly raised her hand to grab his neck. Turning, she deftly raised her sword to his neck, and shouted, "Stop right there! Or I'll kill him!"

The four or five shadows charging toward them paused, glancing at each other, none daring to move.

"Your life is quite useful," Bie Zhi said with a hint of sarcasm. She glanced at the silent Jing Qing and led him back a few steps. Four or five men followed. She pressed her sword against Jing Qing's neck a half-inch, drawing blood.

Her voice cooled, "Back off."

The men frowned, dropped their weapons, and retreated step by step.

As they retreated, Bie Zhi also retreated, holding Jing Qing at her side, slowly disappearing from their sight.

As soon as Pu Yi left everyone's sight, she let go of the sword, and before Jing Qing could come to his senses, she grabbed his neck with her backhand, and pushed his figure against the wall.

Intense pain hit him, and Jing Qing groaned, but there was a smile in his eyes: "Sure enough."

"Don't talk too much when you are about to die." Bie Zhi tightened her grip on his neck and frowned: "Don't think that you can offset your mistake by giving me a look."

Jing Qing coughed several times in succession, and the veins on his neck bulged. "Of course I don't think so."

There was something difficult to say in Bie Zhi's eyes, but she couldn't be soft-hearted at the moment. If she couldn't get the truth, there would be more days like this in the future: "Who sent you, and why did you take my life?"

"It's not good for you to know too much." Jing Qing said.

"We're being hunted, what could possibly go wrong?" Biezhi's gaze lingered for a moment on the blood flowing from her palm, then she retracted her gaze to look at him: "Don't you want to say it, or can't you?"

Jing Qing remained silent, his palm gripping her wrist.

Biezhi immediately raised his sword-holding palm, using the hilt to press down with a palm wind: "If you don't say it, I'll guess."

She was puzzled.

Who was it that wanted her life, and why would her senior brother obey him?

"It's your new mission." Biezhi's eyes fixed on the man's deep eyes, but his eyes didn't move at all. "It seems not."

"Or did the master order you to come?" she asked again.

Jing Qing glimpsed the person coming from behind her and frowned: "You--"

"It seems to be him." Biezhi concluded quickly that apart from the master who could drive her senior brother to act, no one else could drive him, unless he betrayed Xianyun Tower and threw himself into the arms of someone else, but the probability of this was extremely small. She curled her lips: "How much silver did he give you to make you disregard our brotherhood?"

"Go!" Jing Qing lowered his voice and scolded. He endured the pain and took out a hidden weapon, swung it at the person inconspicuously, and said: "Don't come back, and don't go northwest."

Biezhi stared, then looked back at the black figure that had fallen behind him, and loosened the palm that was holding his neck.

"Remember, the farther the better." Jing Qing said again, his eyes swept over the girl's face. It was this face that led to so many things.

He pulled out the banknotes he had prepared long ago, shoved them into her palm, and solemnly warned, "Change your appearance immediately after leaving the capital. Remember not to reveal your true face to the world. Once you leave, don't ever come back."

Bie Zhi frowned, staring intently at her senior brother, whose expression was more agitated than usual. She closed her eyes and sighed, "I understand." She took a few steps, then turned back, pulled out the hemostatic medicine from her bosom, and tossed it to him, saying, "We will never see each other again in this life."

She hurried on, passing through the jungle and disappearing into the woods.

As the two sides tangled and fought, the shadow guard who had followed them had already rushed back. When they reached the palace at full speed, they learned that the prince had left the palace a quarter of an hour ago. The shadow guard was at a loss as to where to go. Fortunately, he had only taken a few steps before encountering Xiang Lin, who was leading his men out of the city, and he stopped him.

The two had worked together several times before, so Xiang Lin naturally recognized him. Seeing that he was very anxious, he said, "When I left, I happened to hear the prince say that he was going to the hot spring villa. Although I don't know which villa it is, you can split up into multiple groups to look for it."

Hearing this, the shadow guard breathed a sigh of relief.

They did split up into multiple groups. One of them went back to the palace to reinforce, and another was already on his way to the hot spring villa.

When the other shadow guard arrived at the villa, the prince had not arrived yet.

He summoned the chief guard in the villa, took out the token and ordered him to send people to the city for reinforcements, and make sure to hold on until the prince arrived. Before he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves rang out all around.

The shadow guard hurriedly rushed up, without bothering to salute, and said hurriedly, "Prince, something happened to Miss Biezhi."