Chapter 406: The Arsonist

Xiao Wei arrived at Qin Tuo Temple with his men in a hurry; the person who delivered the jade pendant had already slipped into the gate of Qin Tuo Temple, vanishing without a trace.

"Your Highness!" the dark‑clad guard bowed before Xiao Wei, who was seated on his horse, and said, "Your Highness! We've arrived! That person entered the mountain gate."

Xiao Wei lifted his eyes to the dilapidated Qin Tuo Temple before him, his hand gripping the jade pendant tightly; the cold pendant bit into his palm, sending pangs of pain.

He drew a harsh breath, his gaze leaking a hint of frenzied murderous intent.

Tonight, with Xiao Wei inside Qin Tuo Temple, no living creature will be left.

Xiao Wei slowly raised his hand, swung his arm, and the guards behind him kicked open the mountain gate, charging inside.

Xiao Wei dismounted, stepping toward the now‑opened mountain gate.

He had a strong premonition that the woman had returned; if she dared to come back, he would kill her this time.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! There's no one inside the temple," the searching covert guards reported.

Both the front hall and the Buddha hall were empty; after the person who delivered the jade pendant fled into the temple, they vanished without a trace.

Xiao Wei's complexion grew even darker as he and his guards arrived before a tightly shut meditation room in the rear courtyard.

The entire temple, inside and out, had been searched, yet only this meditation room's door remained shut, with no sign of movement inside.

Only at the doorway hung a strap, a colorful silk‑braided ribbon unique to Fu Yu Guo, usually used for prayers, especially as a blessing for newlyweds.

It is often hung at the entrance.

Xiao Wei had once stayed in Fu Yu Guo for a while, so he naturally understood the meaning of this strap on the door.

He stared fixedly at the strap, feeling a taut string in his mind snap instantly; his legs moved beyond his control, and he kicked the wooden door open with a Bang—, rushing straight in.

The guards behind him were unprepared for Xiao Wei's kick, momentarily stunned, then followed him inside.

But after taking a few steps forward, they all halted and instinctively retreated.

Xiao Wei, upon seeing the woman lying on the bed before him, was also stunned, a look of disbelief flashing across his face.

On the bed lay a unconscious, completely naked woman, covered only by a dark indigo brocade quilt, which only made the scene more scandalously vivid.

The woman was none other than Princess Yuanqing, who had recently come to Southern Qi's capital to arrange a marriage alliance with the Ninth Imperial Uncle.

The young men who followed Xiao Wei inside were all hot‑blooded youths; witnessing such a lewd scene, even those with great martial skill promptly fled.

Xiao Wei, however, was accustomed to such dalliances and had seen such lewd scenes before; this time, his face twitched slightly, then a hint of disgust and mockery flashed in his eyes.

"Is this woman insane? How did she end up in this desolate ancient temple, stripping herself bare—what is she trying to do?"

The scene before him was too bizarre, and Xiao Wei felt a sudden thump in his chest.

He stepped into the room, fearing he had been led by the nose; he had thought entering would uncover clues about Princess Yalan, but instead a Bei Di princess lay before him, displaying such a seductive posture.

Xiao Wei wasn't foolish; his complexion shifted slightly, and he turned to head toward the exit, but just as he rushed for the doorway, a huge roar suddenly erupted from outside.

Immediately, a massive explosion roared, followed by the anguished cries of his own followers, the acrid smell of gunpowder, and a wave of blood scent.

After the blast, dust swirled outside; Xiao Wei drew his sword and charged toward the doorway, only to find something blocking the exit, immovable.

Even the windows belched thick smoke, with bursts of flame lashing in, and Xiao Wei's face changed dramatically.

"Help! What's happening?"

"Quick, help!!"

Xiao Wei suddenly panicked; something seemed to block the outside, and his guards' cries of agony came first, then the sounds of being crushed by heavy objects, and finally fell silent.

Xiao Wei cursed loudly, swung his sword at the wooden window frame of the lattice and hacked it hard, opening a big hole.

A booming sound rang out, and a massive fireball hurled toward the window; scorching smoke and tongues of flame swept toward Xiao Wei, causing him to cough and stagger back, only to realize in terror that someone outside was setting the fire, trapping them inside.

Xiao Wei went berserk, swearing as he repeatedly hacked at doors and windows, each time being driven back by the flames.

Panic surged repeatedly, and he bitterly blamed himself for caring so much about that scoundrel Yalan; had he known, he wouldn't have come, yet he still didn't know who was responsible this time.

If he catches the culprit, he'll tear them limb from limb, to satisfy his vengeance.

The flames of Qin Tuo Temple startled Ying Gu, who had arrived at the mid‑mountain slope, as the night felt eerie everywhere.

First, Xiao Yin showed up; tonight she had plotted to kill the person Gu Jiu Ling most wanted to evade—Xiao Yin—but she hadn't expected Xiao Yin to actually appear.

If only one or two people had misidentified, it would be excusable, but so many saw Xiao Yin appear around Qin Tuo Temple; that means she really came.

She decided to bring people herself to check, so that if anything went wrong, she could always have an escape.

After all, Xiao Yin once owed the Li family a life; there was still some courtesy, so they wouldn't do her any harm.

Ying Gu resolved to climb with her men to the mid‑mountain, but as soon as she looked up she saw Qin Tuo Temple ablaze, the flames raging.

Ying Gu's complexion changed instantly; she hurried with her men into Qin Tuo Temple. She truly liked Xiao Yin, but didn't want that person trapped in the fire to be burned alive.

"Quick! The Prince is inside!"

"You all hurry to extinguish the fire!"

Ying Gu was already thrown into disarray, unable to think of anything else, and rushed into the temple with her men.

She didn't expect the front courtyard to be completely empty; in panic, Ying Gu led her men into the rear courtyard.

She never imagined the entire rear courtyard engulfed in a sea of fire, the ground littered with corpses pierced by hidden weapon traps—truly a horrific sight.

"Prince!" Ying Gu's face changed dramatically, she rushed forward, then her steps abruptly halted as she examined the corpses on the ground, whose clothing was not at all that of Rui Wang Fu members.

"Miss!" the guards who followed Ying Gu also showed shocked expressions.

"Bad! Run!" Ying Gu felt an indescribable sensation, as if a chilling, cold aura slithered up her spine, startling her into a helpless panic.

She instinctively sensed a trap; the place was not fit for lingering.

Just as Ying Gu left the rear courtyard, preparing to dash out the mountain gate, a rush of rapid horse hooves sounded outside, followed by a mass of dark‑cloaked people crowding the gate.

At the front, a young man rode a horse, one half of his face full of compassion, the other half concealing murderous aura.

Behind him were the Metropolitan Inspector, the Five‑City Military Office, and even members of the patrol Imperial Guard.

Gu Kang tightened his reins and coldly stared at the panicked Ying Gu, his gaze icy.

"Men, seize these arsonists!"