Chapter 683: Behind!

Masked Man sat quietly for a moment, gazing at the painting on the table.

Cheng Jing rubbed his forehead and walked from the inner hall to his side, following his gaze over: "Xiao Ran?"

"Yes," the Masked Man nodded, "that's exactly what Xiao Ran looked like when he was captured."

"I strictly investigated the Nine Gates, yet not a single person had seen him."

Cheng Jing understood: "So you suspect there's a secret passage beneath Jingcheng?"

"Otherwise, how did he get in?" the Masked Man frowned, "If he can get in, what about Xiao Yuanhang?"

"If the Xibei rebels could sneak into Jingcheng through a secret passage, even just a small elite force would make this battle hard to fight."

He turned his head to look at Cheng Jing: "How's your headache?"

"I can still hold on." Cheng Jing gave a wry smile, "Mo Zhanggeng's medical skill is indeed not bad."

"Although he wasn't wholehearted, it's good that he still cared about the students of the Nüzi Jian."

He paused: "Although the Shadow Blade is good, we still have to rely on the secret medicine in Lu Wu's hands."

"Is there any way to get a few? Let Gui Yan take a look."

"If she can make it, then this troop can truly be under your control."

"Already working on it," the Masked Man nodded, "once I have it I'll send it over to you."

"Go rest now, Liu Guiyan is waiting anxiously."

"Okay."

That night, in the Guoshi Residence, in the secret chamber.

Chen Hao said: "Since early this morning there's been no sound, the whole day has been dead quiet; it looks like they've given up."

"Great!" Tuan Tuan stretched lazily: "Big brother, want to go out and have some fun tonight? I've been bored for days, besides the Imperial Kitchen I haven't gone anywhere."

"Go out and have fun?" Xiao Ningyuan blinked in surprise.

Xiao Er looked at his young lady with pity: "Yeah, young master, the miss has been cooped up here all day, she's bored stiff."

Lu Qi said frankly: "Right, with the two of us around. Getting into the palace is troublesome, but getting out isn't that simple either?"

"Fine, fine, fine, I'm about to die of boredom," Xiao Ran perked up at the news, "I also want to go out with the little one!"

"Just forget it," Chen Hao rolled his eyes, "if anything really happened, they'd be looking after Tuan Tuan, would they still have to look after you?"

Eunuch Cheng covered his mouth and laughed straight out: "The Little Princess just needs to lie on Xiao Er's back, then she can go anywhere conveniently, Ninth Prince, what about you?"

"I..." Xiao Ran looked at Lu Qi, wronged and pitiful.

Lu Qi turned away, pretending not to see.

Everyone laughed.

Xiao Ningyuan shook his head helplessly: "Alright, since we're going out, don't go empty-handed—let's make a trip to the Jinghai Marquis Residence."

"Sure!" Tuan Tuan hugged Xiao Feifei, buried her little face in its long fur and took a deep breath, "Big brother, what are we going to have him do?"

"The embroidered pouch your mother made for you, Tuan Tuan, do you still have one on you?"

"Yes! I brought several! Mother said, match the color of your embroidered pouch to the color of your clothes, that's how it looks good!"

"Okay," Xiao Ningyuan nodded, "then pick one to give Zhou Jinhua."

"That's something my mother made for me," Tuan Tuan pouted, unhappy, "why give it to him? He doesn't have any treasures to put in it."

"Be good," Xiao Ningyuan lifted her up, "these days he's already defected to our side."

"But Father and Second Brother and Third Brother don't know that."

"If the army attacks the city and we need him to meet up, do you think Father would dare trust him?"

"With Second Brother's temper, not chopping him outright would already be lenient."

He stroked the little embroidered pouch at his sister's waist: "No token is as good as this embroidered pouch for making Father understand that Zhou Jinhua is already one of us."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan understood, "all right, then let's lend it to him for now; I'll take it back later."

"Good! I'll listen to you!" Xiao Ningyuan kissed his sister's little cheek, "Tuan Tuan is truly obedient!"

That night, Xiao Er carried Tuan Tuan on his back, and together with Lu Qi they slipped out of the Cold Palace.

All the way out of the palace they arrived at the Jinghai Marquis Residence.

Zhou Jinhua held the embroidered pouch, overjoyed—this was a personal item of Princess Jiayou!

"With this, in front of Prince Ning and His Majesty the marquisate will have something to rely on:" "Thank you, Princess!"

"Don't break it, okay?" Tuan Tuan said reluctantly, "after the war I still need to get it back!"

Zhou Jinhua's face stiffened.

How can a token be taken back? Could it be that you still don't trust me?

"Don't misunderstand, Marquis," Xiao Er explained while holding back laughter, "that was personally made by the Princess Consort for the miss. That's why she's reluctant to part with it."

"Marquis, this is the first time our miss has given her embroidered pouch to someone else."

"Oh oh oh," Zhou Jinhua hurriedly said, "Princess, rest assured, this marquis will surely keep it safe, not a single thread will fall!"

The three said farewell to Zhou Jinhua, weaving through the rooftops of Jingcheng.

The moon shone bright, stars sparse, a gentle breeze blew.

Tuan Tuan gazed at the quiet streets, wrapped her arms around Xiao Er's neck and whispered in his ear: "Uncle Er, when will we be able to stroll around here in broad daylight?"

"Just like before."

Xiao Er's heart softened: "Soon, Miss."

"Miss," Lu Qi sighed lightly, "let's head back."

Tuan Tuan obediently nodded: "All right."

The three headed toward the Imperial Palace.

They had barely walked a moment when Xiao Er's steps halted, suddenly he lowered his body, lying flat on the roof ridge, eyes fixed dead ahead.

Lu Qi also flung himself down hastily, following Xiao Er's gaze forward.

Two black shadows darted over the nearby roof ridge, their movement eerie—as if sliding along the tiles—utterly silent.

"Excellent lightness skill!" Lu Qi whispered, "This movement looks somewhat familiar."

Tuan Tuan asked, "Uncle Two, who are they?"

Xiao Er's face turned cold: "They seem to be the black-clad assassins who once tried to kill the miss."

"I'll go meet them." Xiao Er turned Tuan Tuan to his chest, gently placed him on Lu Qi's back, "See if we can catch one alive."

Tuan Tuan wrapped his arms around Lu Qi's neck: "Uncle Two, go for it! Beat them!"

Xiao Er gave a faint smile: "Understood."

Lu Qi added a warning: "There are two of them, be careful."

Xiao Er nodded, then shot forward like a released arrow.

"Miss," Lu Qi lifted Tuan Tuan up, "Hold on tight!" Then he leapt after him.

Tuan Tuan peered out from Lu Qi's shoulder, his big eyes fixed on the two eerie black shadows ahead.

Xiao Er's steps were lightning fast, his toes tapping the roof ridges, quickly closing the distance to the shadows.

Suddenly, the two black shadows stopped at once.

As if they had eyes in the back of their heads.

They slowly turned around.

In the moonlight, two pairs of eyes stared coldly at the approaching Xiao Er.

One of them lunged forward, tracing a strange arc in the air.

He raised both arms behind him in an odd posture, like a soft whip.

Xiao Er's pupils contracted; his right fist shot out like a blast, aiming straight at the man's face.

The man did not dodge or evade.

"Bang!"

The muffled thud of fist meeting flesh exploded in the night sky.

Xiao Er's fist struck the man's chest, but it felt not like hitting flesh, more like striking an iron wall wrapped in cowhide.

His thumb and index finger went numb from the shock, yet the man didn't even flinch.

Xiao Er felt a chill in his heart.

He had put seventy percent of his strength into that punch; an ordinary martial artist would have had his sternum shattered.

The other man instantly drew his blade, a cold flash grazing his ribs.

Xiao Er sidestepped hastily; the blade scraped his robe, cutting a three-inch slit.

Before he could steady himself, a second slash came in diagonally.

That man's arm bent backward unnaturally, folding directly from under his armpit!

What kind of martial art is this?

Xiao Er retreated three steps, barely avoiding the blow.

He let out a low shout, drew his waist sword in reverse, held it horizontally, the blade unfurling like a silk sheet, swinging wide, he brought it down in a sweeping overhead strike at the two.

"Clang——!"

The ringing of metal on metal pierced the night.

At the same time, a black shadow flashed out from the blade's light, silently moving to Xiao Er's rear.

Lu Qi saw it clearly and bellowed: "Behind!"