Chapter 152: Confrontation

Qingyun escorted Shen Shuangning as they ran westward at full speed.

The further they ran, the more perilous the terrain and the stronger the wind, until a steep cliff loomed ahead—this was actually a dead end!

Below the cliff, clouds and mist churned, depth unseen; a cold wind laced with sand and gravel blew into their faces, stinging the skin.

Footsteps followed from behind at an unhurried pace, like a death‑summoning drumbeat pounding on the heart.

Xie Yan led over ten assassins to block the only escape route.

He still wore the blood‑stained scarlet wedding robe, the garment snapping in the gale, and the half‑bloodied cheek looked even more eerie beneath the overcast sky.

"Miss Shen, we meet again."

Xie Yan stood a few steps away, his gaze fixed on Shen Shuangning, and spoke in a faint voice: "Last time you got away, but this time you won't be so lucky—only a pity..."

His gaze swept over them.

Shen Shuangning knew what he regretted.

It's a pity Xiao Jingyuan isn't here this time; otherwise he could have caught them all and washed away the previous disgrace in blood.

The wind lifted Shen Shuangning's hair; she steadied herself, narrowed her eyes slightly, and stood at the cliff's edge, saying, "Xie Yan, let's make a deal."

Apparently surprised she could remain so calm in the face of death, Xie Yan looked at her with leisurely interest.

Shen Shuangning raised her voice: "Just to revenge yourself on me, you've gone to such great lengths—surely it's not worth it. After all, I'm merely a woman, no threat to you. The one you truly want to kill ought to be Xiao Jingyuan, right?"

Xie Yan raised his eyebrows, noncommittal.

"Killing me would at most sadden him for a few days; your little revenge wouldn't even be enough to make him itch."

Shen Shuangning stepped forward, leaving the protection of the Black Armor Guard, and faced Xie Yan directly: "Spare them, and I'll go with you."

Xie Yan chuckled: "You've got guts, but why should I trust you?"

"Just because I'm his beloved, the future consort of the Yan Prince's Manor."

Xie Yan seemed to have just learned of this, looking at her with a mocking smile: "Xie Lin likes you so much, yet you've turned to someone else—women really are..."

Shen Shuangning snapped angrily: "You're not worthy to mention him!" Her lovely face showed a hint of fierceness.

Xie Yan then fell silent.

Shen Shuangning forced herself to stay calm.

Her voice was low but each word clear: "If you hold me hostage, you can lure Xiao Jingyuan to come rescue me. Then you can set up an all‑encompassing trap—avenging your personal grudge while helping the Heavenly Sect eliminate a major threat—far more profitable than killing me, a mere foot soldier, wouldn't you say?"

Seeing him waver, Shen Shuangning pressed on: "You slaughtered the Jiangting Farmstead; the imperial court will soon investigate. If you try to flee south, it won't be easy. Rather than linger here, it's better to seize me as a bargaining chip and settle this quickly."

Those words were half‑true, half‑false.

Shen Shuangning didn't want to die, and she wanted to protect the others' lives; as long as she survived first, there would be hope.

Xie Yan fell silent for a moment, as if weighing his options.

"Interesting." He suddenly gave a low chuckle, then raised his hand to stop the restless assassins behind him and extended a hand toward Shen Shuangning.

His knuckles stood out stark, his fingers flashing a cold white against the overcast sky.

He said, "Come over."

Qingyun, hidden in the darkness, gripped his long blade tighter.

As long as Shen Shuangning faced any danger, he would rush out immediately, even if it meant dying together, just to shield her for a moment!

Shen Shuangning's fingertips grew slightly cold, yet she steadied herself and stepped toward Xie Yan one step at a time.

When she reached Xie Yan but hadn't yet found her footing, he suddenly seized her wrist and pulled her in front of him.

Next, he gripped her shoulders, forced her to turn, and compelled her to look at the few Black Armor Guard members still vigilant nearby.

Her shoulder blades ached from the pinch, her whole body tensed, and a strong sense of unease crawled up her spine

Xie Yan seemed to lower his head, and his usual soft voice reached her ears: "Miss Shen, you're clever, but you shouldn't play tricks in front of me."

His fingertips traced slow circles on her shoulder bone, as if toying with prey, while his gaze passed over her shoulder to fall on the distant Black Armor Guard.

"If I'm not mistaken, someone's missing over there—it's Qingyun, right?"

Shen Shuangning's body went rigid in an instant, a chill shot from her feet to her head, and her blood seemed to freeze.

He knows! He knows Qingyun is hiding!

Xie Yan: "You want to use yourself as bait to send him for reinforcements?"

His tone sounded offhand, yet it sent a bone‑deep chill through Shen Shuangning.

Xie Yan laughed: "I agreed to a deal with you, but you lack sincerity, so I'll give you a little lesson."

Shen Shuangning instantly felt uneasy: "No……"

Xie Yan coldly uttered two words to the archers behind him: "Fire!"

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—"

Several cold arrows tore through the air, carrying a sharp whistle.

Shen Shuangning watched helplessly as several Black Armor Guard members collapsed before her, not knowing whether from rage or fear, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Xie Yan released her with satisfaction.

Shen Shuangning squeezed her eyes shut, her face deathly pale, and she heard Xie Yan's icy voice: "As for Qingyun, I'll let him go back to deliver the message."

Shen Shuangning squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth: "You're truly a demon."

Xie Yan lowered his gaze to her, his eyes resting on her strained, trembling cheek that she could not hide despite her disgust; his long lashes were wet with tears, like a porcelain doll about to shatter.

He hadn't intended to let those few live, but seeing her self‑reproach, a twisted pleasure inexplicably welled up in his heart.

Xie Yan gestured for the assassins to step forward, binding Shen Shuangning's arms behind her back with coarse rope that bit into her wrists.

"Take her away."

Shen Shuangning was shoved forward by the assassins.

Seeing that Shen Shuangning was temporarily safe, Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to leave to fetch reinforcements.

A black figure burst from the forest, face full of panic, shouting: "Not good, the imperial troops are chasing us! It's that Pei——"

Before the words even faded, a sharp arrow whistled out from the deep woods, piercing straight through that person's throat!

"Ah..." the messenger clutched his throat,

The assassin who had come to deliver the message fell to the ground, with a "Thud" he heavily fell to the ground, twitched twice, and then lost breath.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden change.

Immediately after, another cold arrow shot straight at Xie Yan's face!

Xie Yan's expression changed; he shot out his hand like lightning, actually gripping the arrow tightly with his fingers!

The arrow tip was only a hair's breadth from his brow! Too close for comfort!

Xie Yan's tiger's mouth went numb from the shock, and it was rubbed raw, drawing blood.

Seeing that he wasn't dead, a hint of regret flickered in Shen Shuangning's eyes.

She lifted her gaze toward the woods——

In the swaying forest shadows, several figures in official uniforms quickly appeared, swords drawn, cold light glinting— they were the imperial troops!

They were surrounded from all sides.

The situation instantly reversed, forcing Xie Yan and his group to retreat to the cliff's edge!

The leader, dressed in white and standing tall, was none other than Pei Zhi!

Xie Yan stared at him with a grim expression, thoroughly displeased.

It was this person who had chased him all the way from Jingcheng to Li County; no matter where he hid, the enemy could predict his location precisely— several times they nearly trapped him to death in his hideout!

Pei Zhi had driven him like a stray dog!

He had no choice but to change his strategy.

Rather than be caught in a trap by the enemy within the Holy Heaven Sect's territory, it would be better to do the opposite and flee to those 'pure lands' untouched by the sect.

Half a month ago, he happened to meet Chen Jia, learning that the other party was headed to a manor in Jiangting County.

Jiangting County is far from the sect's influence, and the manor's location is especially remote, making it convenient to conduct many affairs in secret.

More importantly, the manor belongs to the Rong Duke's Estate; hiding here is the perfect cover, and in the short term no one will discover this place.

Who would have thought Pei Zhi would chase him so quickly! Before he could finish everything, that persistent fellow appeared again!

Xie Yan never expected that his flaw would be posing as "Chen Yuan".

He also never imagined that Pei Zhi was his past self, thus knowing him and the sect's affairs inside out.