Chapter 189: Rescue Xiao Yu

Jiang Xiaomu suppressed the surging unease in his heart and returned to the manor. He needed to stay calm; the most important thing now was to find Xiao Yu, and he could not let any clue slip away. He carefully recalled the details before and after Xiao Yu's disappearance, trying to find some leads.

He recalled that Xiao Yu had mentioned a few days earlier that a new candy figurine shop had opened outside the city, and she wanted to check it out. Could it be… that Xiao Yu had sneaked out of the city?

Thinking this, Jiang Xiaomu immediately mounted his horse and galloped toward the outskirts of the city.

The candy figurine shop outside the city was bustling, with variously shaped figurines dazzling the eyes and attracting many children. Jiang Xiaomu looked around, but he did not see Xiao Yu's figure.

"Boss, have you seen a little girl in green clothes?"

Jiang Xiaomu urgently grabbed the candy shop owner and roughly described Jiang Xiaoyu's appearance.

The owner was a thin old man, who narrowed his eyes to size up Jiang Xiaomu, then said slowly:

"Sir, your description is too vague; I see so many people a day, how could I remember?"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart sank; he sensed the owner was hiding something. He took out a silver ingot from his bosom and pressed it into the man's hand, saying, "Boss, as long as you tell me where that girl went, this silver is yours."

The owner's eyes lit up, and he immediately put on a smiling face,

"Oh dear, sir, if you had said so earlier! I recall now: there was such a pretty girl. She bought a rabbit-shaped candy figurine and then headed west."

Following the direction the owner pointed, Jiang Xiaomu looked west to see a dense forest, with a winding path leading out of the city disappearing deep into the woods.

"Thank you, boss!"

Jiang Xiaomu tossed out those words, spurred his horse, and rode toward the forest.

Inside the forest, the light was dim, fallen leaves piled up, and the horse's hooves made a rustling sound as they stepped on them. Jiang Xiaomu tracked all the way and finally found Xiao Yu's traces in a clearing.

Scattered on the ground were some broken candy crumbs and a piece of blue cloth stained with blood, which was from Xiao Yu's clothing.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart sank sharply; he knew Xiao Yu must have encountered danger!

He dismounted, drew his sword, and vigilantly scanned the surroundings.

Suddenly, a cold, eerie laugh came from deep within the forest.

"Heh heh heh… Jiang Xiaomu, you've finally come!"

Following the laugh, a mysterious person clad in black tight-fitting clothes and wearing a bamboo hat slowly stepped out.

"Who are you? Why did you abduct Xiao Yu?" Jiang Xiaomu shouted sternly.

The mysterious person removed the bamboo hat, revealing a pale, sinister face—indeed, it was the East Sea ninja who had tried to assassinate him at the Prime Minister's Mansion before!

"It's you!" Jiang Xiaomu gritted his teeth and spat out the name.

Bei Ye gave a grim laugh and said:

"Jiang Xiaomu, your sister is adorable, and I like her. Too bad she'll soon become a cold corpse!"

Jiang Xiaomu burned with rage, wishing he could immediately tear Bei Ye to pieces.

"If you dare harm her even a hair, I will make you wish you were dead!"

"Hehe… then let's see!"

Bei Ye let out a wild laugh, his form flickered, and he vanished into the depths of the forest.

"Stop!" Jiang Xiaomu roared, raised his sword, and gave chase.

He pursued all the way and arrived before a concealed cave.

The cave entrance was dark and damp, a foul stench gusting forth, making one want to vomit.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart tightened; he felt a powerful evil aura emanating from deep within the cave.

He gripped his sword hilt tightly and cautiously stepped into the cave…

Deep in the cave, a massive altar stood in the center, with a petite figure bound upon it—none other than Jiang Xiaoyu!

Xiao Yu's face was pallid, her eyes tightly shut, her body covered in wounds; she had clearly lost consciousness.

Around the altar stood over a dozen ninjas in black tight-fitting clothes, holding samurai swords, their expressions solemn, as if performing some evil rite.

Bei Ye stood at the altar's center, wielding a sharp dagger that flickered with an eerie red light.

He gave a vicious grin and looked at Jiang Xiaomu,

"Jiang Xiaomu, you've come just in time—witness your sister's death!"

Saying this, he raised the dagger, aiming it at Xiao Yu's heart…

"You're asking for death!" Jiang Xiaomu's voice trembled slightly, filled with bone-chilling killing intent.

Bei Ye remained unmoved, instead laughing even more arrogantly: "Jiang Xiaomu, do you think you can still save her? Today, you and your sister will both go down to hell together!"

Having said that, he thrust the dagger down violently.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Xiaomu's figure flickered like a ghost beside Bei Ye, his sword striking the dagger away. With a "clang," the dagger fell to the floor, emitting a clear ring that was especially piercing in the silent cave.

Bei Ye's face changed drastically; he clearly hadn't expected Jiang Xiaomu to be so fast. Just as he was about to speak, he discovered Jiang Xiaomu's sword already at his throat, the icy blade pressed against his skin, making him feel the threat of death.

"You deserve to die!" Jiang Xiaomu's eyes blazed with killing intent.

Feeling the cold at his neck, Bei Ye forced himself to calm: "Jiang Xiaomu, you'd better think it through—if you kill me, you won't survive either! Our organization won't let you off!"

"Is that so?" Jiang Xiaomu snorted coldly, his words full of disdain, "I'd like to see what you can do to me!" He flicked his wrist, about to end Bei Ye's life.

At that critical moment, a noisy clatter of footsteps suddenly came from outside the cave, accompanied by the clashing of weapons, drawing near from afar.

Jiang Xiaomu's motion paused; he turned his head toward the cave mouth, wondering: Could it be reinforcements?

Before he could ponder further, a dozen or so Embroidered Uniform Guard troops in flying-fish robes rushed in, their leader being Commander Lu Bing.

"Lord Jiang, I've arrived late!" Lu Bing bowed his fists, at the same time ordering his men to surround the East Sea ninjas inside the cave.

Jiang Xiaomu felt somewhat relieved; it seemed his hidden outposts had worked. He gave Bei Ye a cold glance and told Lu Bing, "Commander Lu, take these bandits down; kill any who resist!"

"As you command!" Lu Bing gave the order, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately clashed with the East Sea ninjas. Blades flashed, and the cave instantly descended into chaos.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Jiang Xiaomu rescued Xiao Yu from the altar; he saw her face pallid, her breathing weak, and her body still bearing many wounds.

"Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu!" Jiang Xiaomu softly called his sister's name, his heart full of self-reproach.

He gently held Xiao Yu in his arms, his gaze once again falling on Bei Ye, his killing intent intensifying.

Bei Ye, seeing the tide turn, blustered despite his inner fear: "Jiang Xiaomu, don't get too pleased! Today I fell into your hands because my skill was inferior, but if you kill me, our organization will never let it rest! Prepare to endure endless revenge!"

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he said sternly, "Revenge? I'm waiting for it. But before that, you should go to hell and repent!" Having said that, he turned his sword blade and thrust straight at Bei Ye's throat.

"Sir! Keep him alive!"

Lu Bing shouted loudly, stopping Jiang Xiaomu's movement.

Jiang Xiaomu's sword tip stopped just an inch from Bei Ye's throat, sword qi surging, drawing a fine line of blood on Bei Ye's neck. Bei Ye was so frightened his soul fled, his body going limp.

Jiang Xiaomu's expression turned grim, he sheathed his sword, and said coldly:

"Commander Lu, this person is left to you for interrogation; you must pry open his mouth and find out the details of their organization!"

"I understand, sir!" Lu Bing bowed, accepted the order, and immediately had people tie Bei Ye up with a five-fold binding, gag him, and drag him away.

The fight in the cave ended quickly, the remaining ninjas were all captured, none escaping. Jiang Xiaomu then relaxed, lowered his head to look at his unconscious sister in his arms, his heart feeling as if cut by a knife.

"Xiao Yu, brother will definitely avenge you!"

He carefully carried Xiao Yu out of the cave; a carriage had already been prepared outside. Jiang Xiaomu gently placed Xiao Yu on the soft cushion inside the carriage, then ordered the driver to set off immediately for the mansion.