Chapter 277: Hunters Often Appear in the Form of Prey

I can't say they're extremely similar; I can only say they were carved from the same mold!

If we talk about the only difference, it's just the clothing...

Chen Yan, bound to the pillar, is dressed in the ordinary noble Young Master's attire, covered in a fair amount of dust.

The one leading a group of Embroidered Emissaries, however, wears the overseer's official robe, eyes blazing.

Cough cough cough!

Zhao Qingshi lets out a light cough, glances at the two Chen Yans, eyes wide in astonishment, and can't help but ask, "What on earth is going on?!"

"How can there be two Chen Yans?!"

"And they're exactly identical?!"

At that moment, my brain overloaded, the CPU was about to burn out...

Chen Yan? Two of him? Could it be that I'm still dreaming?

"Chen Yan's mother only gave birth to one, didn't she?"

Dugu Zhang also stared until his head felt clogged, exclaiming, "I've never heard he has any twin brother???"

I don't understand, I can't grasp it...

If Chen Yan had a sibling, the Duke of Wei could never have sent only one person into the Tianlao Death Prison!

And no matter how identical twins are, could it really come to this?!

"It's Disguise Technique!"

Zhuo Puyu stared intently, and when the Chen Yan who walked in from outside entered his view, he suddenly had an epiphany and blurted out.

He paused, then continued, "The one who was bound is a fake!"

"Got you!"

In that instant, Zhuo Puyu linked all of this together...

What Chen Yan was bound?

It was done on purpose!

Without his cooperation, could those idiots have succeeded so easily?

Hunters often appear in the form of prey!

"Congratulations!"

Chen Yan heard that, gave a calm smile, and said, "You guessed correctly..."

"But there's no reward!"

"Take them down!"

Having said that, he snapped his fingers and gave a light wave.

"Yes."

The Embroidered Emissaries behind him responded and moved to surround the five.

Zhu Yi and Hongye stood firm, guarding Chen Yan's sides.

"Chen Yan, the number of Embroidered Emissaries you brought is indeed not small..."

Zhuo Puyu looked at those gathering around, let out a cold snort, and said, "But do you think you've won and can take the whole field?"

"Capture the king before the thief!"

"Understood."

The words hung in the air.

The five did not retreat but advanced, gripping Weapons, charging straight ahead.

Years of partnership had forged perfect tacit understanding; a simple command or a glance was enough to be read.

Four provided cover while Zhuo Puyu struck straight at the Yellow Dragon, seized the real Chen Yan, and the situation was settled!

"Of course!"

Chen Yan, unhurried, raised his hand, tapped his fingertips forward, and said lightly, "Fall!"

"Ugh!"

Zhuo Puyu, just after exerting force and barely taking a few steps, staggered, his legs went limp, and he fell uncontrollably to the ground.

The other four, including Li Chengyao who were ready to cover and hold back the Embroidered Emissaries, fell right after, before any Weapons made contact.

Without exception, all lost the ability to resist.

"That White Smoke's effect can be so terrifying?"

Cold sweat streamed down Zhuo Puyu's temple, his arm drooped halfway, and he barely had the strength to wipe his brow.

His vision blurred, ears buzzed, chest tightened to the point of breathlessness, and the soft, powerless feeling was more draining than a serious wound.

He tried to summon internal force to expel the Poison, but his dantian felt empty, the once smooth flow of Qi seemed stripped of sinew, a thread gathered then scattered.

"The fight you just had already shows you're masters..."

Chen Yan clasped his hands to his chest, walked slowly to Zhuo Puyu, lowered his gaze and said, "Naturally, the dosage must increase."

"The yellow sparrow, still tastier when roasted!"

"Take them all down!"

With Yun Xi in the residence, Chen Yan lacks nothing, especially the myriad "Secret Medicine"...

He had witnessed that sharp hunt, and deliberately increased the amount threefold to ensure absolute safety.

The yellow sparrow was indeed later, but the captured cicada was the true hunter!

"As you command."

The Embroidered Emissaries nodded, and the first thing they did upon advancing was to extract the lethal Poison hidden in Li Chengyao and others' teeth, clear the concealed hidden weapons from their bodies, and finally bind them tightly.

"Young Soldier Immortal truly lives up to the name!"

Ha ha ha ha!

Zhuo Puyu, his whole body weak and bound like a rice dumpling, laughed at himself and sighed helplessly.

After sparring with Chen Yan and being toyed with in circles, Zhuo Puyu finally understood that this seventeen‑year‑old youth had no accidental battles; every fight was due to his strength…

Only those who have personally endured such merciless crushing can truly comprehend the helplessness.

It's laughable that just a quarter of an hour ago they thought they had the victory secured…

Bang!

Bang!

Chen Yan's eyes suddenly narrowed, a low roar issuing from his throat as Qi surged violently through his body.

Two crisp cracks sounded, and the hemp rope at his arm was torn cleanly by the bulging force of his muscles!

The broken hemp strands fluttered down; without waiting for the remaining rope to fall, he twisted his body, slamming his shoulder into the stone stake behind him.

The fierce recoil traveled up his spine to his waist, snapping the waist rope; the dangling rope end still trembled, but he bent his knee and drove his heel hard against the ankle bindings.

In an instant, the ropes covering his body fell into a tangled heap at his feet.

It broke already?!

Dugu Zhang, who had watched the whole scene, was awestruck, suddenly realizing something and, belatedly astonished, exclaimed, "He… he was deliberately captured too?!"

Just this single rope‑breaking move alone proves his martial skill is remarkable.

No wonder he remained so calm; it turns out he was toying with them all along…

I have seen the Supervisor!

Chen Yan came to Chen Yan's side, bowed and clasped his fists in a salute.

No need for formalities!

Chen Yan raised his hand and laughed, "For risking yourself this time, I'll credit you with the first merit!"

"Serving the Supervisor is my duty as a subordinate; I dare not claim credit!" Chen Yan straightened up, speaking respectfully.

Come, let these people have a good look at who you are!

I'm sure they're already extremely curious…

Chen Yan smiled calmly, raised his hand and pointed at Dugu Zhang and the others, and said.

Yes.

Chen Yan responded, then reached up and tore off the human‑skin mask attached deep to his neck, revealing his true face.

Gao Jiong stared at the equally familiar face, his pupils narrowing to needles, his voice trembling, "Yin… Yin Shizhi?!"

How could it be you?!

"Yin Shizhi?" Zhao Qingshi was also stunned, "The White Tiger Mirror Keeper of the Mingjing Office?"

The bound fake Chen Yan was Yin Shizhi's disguise—bizarre, yet somehow plausible…

The two had similar builds, and the latter had trained in martial arts since childhood, his skill not ordinary.

It is indeed me!

Yin Shizhi turned his head, blinked, and laughed, "Dugu Gongzi, Yang Gongzi, Gao Gongzi, and the two Zhao Gongzi, do you know how hard it was for me to hold back my laughter when you were so smug just now?"

Every line was unfiltered sarcasm.

To kill, one must also crush the heart.

You!

The schemer Yang Yaren's face turned ashen, and the Zhao brothers were likewise gloomy; after all, they had just delivered the harshest tirade, only to be slapped in the face now.

"No, that's not right—how could you, Yin Shizhi, know so many details and deduce so much?!" Zhao Tishou suddenly realized something and spoke.

Isn't that simple?

Yin Shizhi shrugged, clasped his fists toward Chen Yan, and said with measured cadence, "Because our Supervisor had already foreseen every possible outcome and informed us of them all in advance!"

I only need to look at the menu below, match it, and recite!

Is that hard?

When deciding on Yin Shizhi's disguise, Chen Yan listed all possible scenarios in written form.

And the story's progression happened to match one of them…

Fool!

Dugu Zhang heard this, couldn't help but scold Zhao Tishou, saying gravely, "Since Chen Yan has set the trap, it must have been thoroughly prepared…"

Shouldn't the point be how he foresaw everything and turned the scheme to his advantage?

Dugu Zhang keenly grasped the crux of everything.

Zhu Yi, sword in hand, a sneer curling his mouth, said, "After the daily patrol, on the road from the office to the manor, Weiba follows from afar…"

Do you really think I, as a guard, am just a pretender?

If you can't even spot this, you should have gone home to farm!

From the first day Weiba began following, both Zhu Yi and Hongye had long noticed its presence…

They tried to deal with it casually, but Chen Yan stopped them, pretending nothing was noticed.

So you've known everything all along…

Dugu Zhang forced a bitter smile, "The reason we didn't clean it up was to convey that you enjoy watching sensational fake news, right?"

While toying with us, we can also lure out the hidden masters of Qi State, capturing them in a bloodless net!

Only now, after switching to a God's perspective, Dugu Zhang realized how masterful this nested scheme truly was…

"Indeed, what a perfect bait, they came right to the door…," Chen Yan shrugged, "No need to waste it!"

Enjoy the spectacle?

He, who once devoured countless dramas inside and outside the circle, now wonders what could still spark his interest?

"Chen... Chief Chen, you wouldn't kill us, would you?" Zhao Qingshi seemed to recall something and asked tentatively.

But the more he spoke, the less confidence he seemed to have.

After all, the one before us can do anything and will surely repay any slight.....

Anyone who falls into his hands meets a grim fate.

Rest assured!

Chen Yan smiled, his smile warm as a spring breeze, and said, "You are still of great use to me; how could I possibly be willing to take your lives?"