Chapter 672: Flames

Yun Duo has been by Gu Jiu Ling's side lately, gaining plenty of experience, and since Xiao Yin holds Gu Jiu Ling in high regard, she also greatly values the few maidens around her.

Xiao Yin knows Yun Duo is a promising talent; with her by Gu Jiu Ling's side, Gu Jiu Ling is safer.

Therefore Xiao Yin arranged many martial instructors for Yun Duo to teach her martial arts, and even personally joined her for several training sessions, offering guidance.

Now Yun Duo's lightness skill, sword technique, and even inner strength are incomparable to those of the little maid she once was.

This time she keenly sensed someone approaching Fengyi Palace; although the person was cautious and still some distance from the main hall.

But how could Yun Duo tolerate any unsafe factor near Gu Jiu Ling?

She inhaled, drew the sword at her waist, and chased after the fleeting silhouette.

After taking a hard blow from a military baton, the wound healed well, but her movements have been rather sluggish these past few days.

So the night patrol duty fell to Yun Duo.

The secret guards behind saw the young lady Yun Duo pursue westward and followed.

The Emperor has ordered: now that the new dynasty has just been established, everything is chaotic, and palace security is especially crucial.

Emperor Qianyuan not only mobilized the Imperial Guard but also troops from the Five Cities Military Office to surround the imperial palace.

Xiao Yin personally replaced those Imperial Secret Guard with a new batch, all his own confidants.

Even so, another layer of secret guard was added to Fengyi Palace where Gu Jiu Ling resides; under such heavy protection, someone still dared to cause trouble—perhaps that person doesn't want to live.

A dozen people followed Yun Duo, chasing toward the northwest corner.

Yun Duo's lightness skill is superb; after a few twists she spotted the figure not far away, leapt, vaulted, and sprinted toward the Taiye Pool.

By now they had passed through numerous palaces, and the surroundings were filled with woods, making the terrain increasingly complex.

The figure grew clearer; he was tall and unmistakably a man.

"Thief! Where do you think you're escaping?" Yun Duo's eyes flashed slightly; she gave a signal, and a dozen secret guards, under her command, spread out like a fan to surround the man, with the Taiye Pool not far ahead.

Under the moonlight, the lake's surface glittered, and the two palace concubines' leisure boats had come ashore, gently rocking with the waves.

If the assassin runs toward the Taiye Pool, it's a dead end.

After all, Taiye Pool is the inner lake of the imperial palace; once he reaches it there's no cover, and Yun Duo can order arrows to be shot, guaranteeing his death.

Even if there are two wooden boats, they can only glide from the shore to the pavilion at the lake's center; entering the pavilion leaves no chance of escape.

Yun Duo watched the man panic and flee toward Taiye Pool; she breathed a sigh of relief, having feared that the assassin might have vanished into the woods along the shore.

She hadn't expected it, but with that skill Yun Duo burst out of the woods in a few strides, and the rapid sound of running sliced through the night's silence.

Yun Duo dared not disturb her superiors; the Emperor and her own master were already resting in Fengyi Palace.

Those two had been truly restless all night; now, in the darkest hour before dawn, she still dared not disturb their rest.

Perhaps she should lead her men to capture that person herself; that would count as a merit.

Thinking of this, Yun Duo quickened her steps a few more paces.

She followed Gu Jiu Ling; the last time Gu Jiu Ling went to Yingzhou she nearly got into trouble, and this secret guard by Gu Jiu Ling's side did nothing at all.

Every time she thought of it, Yun Duo felt like slapping herself.

Now Yun Duo's heart stirred with a competitive urge; she lunged forward, seeing the assassin draw nearer, and the assassin was actually fleeing toward the wooden boat by the shore.. b.

Yun Duo's clear eyes slowly narrowed; truly, he was courting death.

The secret guards on both sides also moved to encircle the man.

As Yun Duo's men surrounded the two wooden boats, a strange sound suddenly came from behind.

It sounded like an animal's roar and also like an explosion; behind them a flash of fire erupted.

The firelight was bizarre, as if the side of Fengyi Palace had caught fire.

Yun Duo's heart lurched; could she have fallen for a "luring the tiger away from the mountain" stratagem?

Yun Duo became extremely anxious; despite her injuries, she only had the secret guards guarding the place by day, and tonight there could be no mistakes.

"Retreat! Quickly!" Yun Duo ordered at once.

Chasing the assassin is the little wind maid's comfort, it is him. These days, with many people, having trained alongside Gu Jiu Ling, one naturally understands the balance of urgency; he hurriedly turned his men and sprinted toward the direction of a fierce attack.

But unexpectedly, the firelight that had filled the sky earlier, now seemed to accompany Yun Duo; after they walked a hundred or so steps toward the wind‑rain‑empty direction, the firelight suddenly vanished, like a brilliant sunrise at dawn that flashes briefly and then disappears.

I, holding the comfort from the maid, saw Yun Duo and the others rush back hurriedly.

The leading comfort stepped forward toward Yun Duo and asked, "Miss Yun Duo, what happened?"

Yun Duo was stunned on the spot; she had thought the firelight came from the wind‑rain area, yet now, looking at the Wind‑Rain Palace, it remained completely tranquil—where could a fire disaster be?

Yun Duo suddenly felt a surge of anger; she feared she had been fooled all night.

"Did Fengyi Palace just have water catch fire just now?"

Comfort blindly replied: "No, Miss Yun Duo, how could you think—"

Yun Duo's complexion turned a bit sour; she wondered if she was being paranoid, yet the figure she had just seen was crystal clear—could she have misread it? What about that massive firelight? It would be one thing if only she misperceived, but the dozen or so comforts beside her also saw it, and they all thought…

Yun Duo, being a proud woman, could not tolerate such words; she quickly assigned several of her guards to Fengyi Palace, whispering, "You all stay here on guard, be extra careful; I'll go check again."

"Some lady, be careful."

I'm not afraid of staying put; with many people it actually scares the grass and snakes, and I want to see who's causing trouble in secret. I'll go and be back soon, and if danger arises I'll definitely return to find you, or send you a signal. You must guard me well and share a gong.

Yun Duo also feels at ease leaving, letting these people guard alone, after all there's a silencing martial technique inside, especially on him. If any real peril occurs, the effect on the master ensures safety. He immediately leapt onto a branch, rushed back the way he came, and fled again. Tonight, if the little thief isn't caught, Yun Duo vows not to cease.