Chapter 166: Indeed Dead

The two of them brought some necessary items and set off.

Because Nan Xueyin had escaped, the Duan Prince Mansion and even the entire Lianzhou were in a state of utter chaos, with government soldiers filling every street and alley of the city.

"They've even alerted the authorities," Xiao Qingling muttered in a low voice, "this Xiao Mingyu is truly..."

He wanted to say "lovestruck," but turned his head to glance at Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin's expression was cold and indifferent; she only said, "Abuse of power."

Xiao Qingling couldn't help but chuckle, then lowered his voice again and said, "It's fine, our Disguise Technique is very successful; we will definitely be able to get out."

But Nan Xueyin was not as optimistic as he was.

The two passed by the West Gate.

At first, Xiao Mingyu had sealed off Lianzhou, not allowing anyone to enter or leave.

But this was clearly not sustainable, so the city gates had been opened again.

One could see the soldiers guarding the city each holding a cloth, dipping it into some kind of water, and wiping the faces of everyone wanting to enter or leave the city.

Xiao Qingling frowned: "What is that..."

"A medicinal liquid, specifically for countering the Disguise Technique." Nan Xueyin did not find it surprising.

"Is it effective against ours too?" This was something personally taught by their master; it couldn't be compared to those miscellaneous Disguise Techniques outside.

"Who do you think created that medicinal liquid of theirs?" Nan Xueyin countered.

Xiao Qingling shut his mouth.

Who else could it be? Naturally, it was Nan Xueyin.

Since she knew their master's Disguise Technique, the medicinal liquid she created was naturally the most effective.

"Then doesn't that mean we can't get out?" Xiao Qingling began to worry.

"We can get out, we just need to use a different method," Nan Xueyin said.

"For example?"

Nan Xueyin did not speak; she continued walking forward until she reached a coffin shop and stood still.

Xiao Qingling was bewildered: "What is this for?"

"Someone is going to die, so naturally, we need to buy a coffin," Nan Xueyin said without changing her expression.

Xiao Qingling:?

Xiao Qingling: "You wouldn't happen to be planning to have all the city guards..."

That would mean killing a lot of people; after killing them all, the sword blades would surely become notched.

He pondered for a moment, thinking that even if they were to kill them, there was no need to buy a coffin; couldn't they just dump the bodies wherever they died?

Are the Assassins of your Duan Prince Mansion all this professional? Even providing a coffin after killing someone...

Before he could speak, Nan Xueyin had already said to the shopkeeper: "I want one coffin, the cheapest one will do."

Xiao Qingling was even more confused. One? Just one is enough?

Are they going to chop up all the city guards and pack them in?

Wouldn't that be a bit too exhausting?

After settling on the coffin, Nan Xueyin also bought a donkey cart on the way and pulled it to a deserted, secluded corner.

She rummaged through her robes and handed Xiao Qingling a bottle, "This is the medicinal liquid; remove the Human Skin Mask from your face."

Xiao Qingling worried, "What if we get discovered?"

"The people here in Lianzhou have never seen you and don't know your identity. Xiao Mingyu won't come to this side either; there are too many city gates in Lianzhou, he can't watch them all."

Xiao Qingling was still completely confused, but heeding her words, he obediently took the medicinal liquid.

Before long, Xiao Qingling had returned to his original appearance.

Nan Xueyin instructed him: "Now, you are my younger brother. You and I have been dependent on each other for survival. I have died of a serious illness, and you are taking me out of the city to be buried with our parents."

Xiao Qingling finally understood her plan and tilted his head: "Why can't it be husband and wife?"

Nan Xueyin ignored his question entirely and only said: "I am very skilled at playing a corpse; you don't need to worry about anything, just act the part of the younger brother well."

Having said that, she stepped into the coffin, lay down, and covered herself.

She knocked on the wooden wall, signaling that they could set off.

Xiao Qingling sighed helplessly and led the donkey.

Upon arriving at the city gate, the guarding soldiers also wiped him with the medicinal liquid. Seeing that no Human Skin Mask peeled off, they felt slightly relieved and asked: "What is your name? Why are you leaving the city?"

Xiao Qingling said what Nan Xueyin had taught him.

Another soldier walked over and knocked on the coffin, "Open it and let's see."

Xiao Qingling was stunned: "The person is already dead, opening the coffin... isn't that inappropriate?"

The soldier couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind and reached out to pry it open.

If someone were to escape, the Duan Prince would surely make them all pay with their lives, so it was best to be as cautious as possible.

Seeing them about to open the coffin, Xiao Qingling naturally refused and struggled to stop them, but was blocked by other soldiers.

Once the coffin was opened, everyone saw the young girl lying peacefully inside, with an unremarkable appearance and pale lips.

The soldier reached in to check her breath; sure enough, she was no longer breathing.

He withdrew his hand, "Indeed dead."

Xiao Qingling roared: "My sister is dead, she is dead! Would I make a joke out of my sister's life!"

The soldier ignored him and was about to close the coffin.

"Wait."

Another soldier called out to him.

Xiao Qingling was very weary: "What is it now?"

The soldier said nothing, drew the saber at his waist, and with a "squelch," stabbed it directly into the body of the young girl in the coffin.

The young girl did not move at all; only blood seeped through the cracks of the coffin, dripping onto the ground.

Xiao Qingling was stunned for a moment, then struggled even more violently: "Are you people even human?!"

The soldier, however, seemed unconcerned; he stared at the young girl for a while before pulling his saber back out, "No problem here."

He wiped the blood off his blade, walked to the side, and joked with others: "I don't know who exactly ran off to make our Prince so nervous. But with us guarding, she can forget about escaping even in her dreams!"

The other soldiers confirmed there were no issues and released Xiao Qingling, "You can go."

Xiao Qingling was shaking all over with rage; after cursing and swearing for a long time, he clumsily covered the coffin by himself and pulled the donkey cart toward the outside of the city.

The neighing of horses came from behind him.

Xiao Qingling heard the crowd respectfully call out: "Prince."

He then heard Xiao Mingyu ask in a cold voice: "Was there anything unusual?"

The soldier gave a brief report and concluded: "No suspicious persons have left."

Xiao Mingyu glanced toward the city gate, "That coffin, what is that about?"

The soldier explained: "There was a youth taking his older sister out to be buried."

Another added: "Subordinates have opened the coffin to check; it is indeed a corpse inside."

Xiao Mingyu frowned: "That corpse..."

The soldier who had stabbed it earlier said loudly: "This subordinate has verified it, there is no problem! It didn't move even after being stabbed; it must be truly dead!"

The coffin was no longer visible within his field of vision; Xiao Mingyu paused, and although he still had a bad feeling, he ultimately withdrew his gaze and instructed the others: "Keep watching!"

"Yes!"

At this moment, Xiao Qingling finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He did not relax; leading the donkey, he traveled four or five miles away from Lianzhou City, found an uninhabited forest, and hurried over to open the coffin.

The night was slightly cool; seeing Nan Xueyin with her eyes tightly shut, his heart was in a panic.

"Sister Nan! Are you alright?"

In his desperation, Xiao Qingling called out the title from their childhood.

Nan Xueyin suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him, "What did you call me?"

Seeing that she was fine, Xiao Qingling felt a bit more at ease and replied: "Sister... Sister Nan."

Nan Xueyin stared at him for a while and frowned, as if she had remembered something.

"Did that stab just now hurt?" Xiao Qingling asked, his eyes full of worry.

"That healed long ago..."

Nan Xueyin did not care about that; she propped herself up in the coffin, sat up, and her gaze fell on Xiao Qingling's face, "You... were you a monk in the past?"