Chapter 248

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

The next morning, before dawn had fully broken, Qianqian got up impatiently. She recalled with eager anticipation the mysterious place Shangguan Xingyan had told her about yesterday, her heart filled with curiosity and excitement.

After a simple wash-up, Qianqian stepped lightly out of the Imperial Palace's back gate. Outside the gate, a narrow and quiet alleyway appeared before her. The walls on both sides of the alley were mottled and old, as if recounting the vicissitudes of time.

Qianqian stepped carefully into this alleyway, the stone slabs under her feet emitting a faint "creak" sound. She walked slowly forward, all the way to the end of the alley. Right then, a difficult problem lay before her: go left or go right?

Qianqian halted, brows furrowing slightly, striving to recall every word Shangguan Xingyan had said yesterday. However, no matter how she thought back, she could not determine which direction to proceed. Ultimately, she shook her head helplessly, muttering to herself: "Never mind, I won't worry about it so much, I'll just see which side looks more pleasing!"

After a bout of indecision, Qianqian decided to go right. She strode with light steps, continuing along the right-hand road. At first, everything seemed normal, but as the journey progressed, Qianqian gradually felt something was off.

According to Shangguan Xingyan, there should be a dense forest here, so why did a dilapidated temple appear before her eyes? This temple looked long abandoned, overgrown with weeds all around, its great gate swaying on the verge of collapse.

Qianqian originally intended to turn back and take the left road. But just as she was about to turn, her peripheral vision suddenly caught a flicker of a figure inside the temple. This made her wonder: how could there be anyone in such a dilapidated temple? What kind of person would appear here?

Strong curiosity, like an invisible hand, tightly gripped Qianqian's heart. Though a little afraid, she finally mustered courage and decided to go to that temple ahead to investigate...

Qianqian's figure flashed, like a light swallow displaying peerless lightness skill, instantly leaping atop that temple's roof.

This temple's roof was an A-frame construction, cleverly forming a visual blind spot, so that when Qianqian lay prone at the rear, those ahead could not detect her existence.

Qianqian lay carefully on the roof, movements so gentle as if fearing to disturb even a wisp of dust.

She slowly reached out, gently lifted a roof tile, then slightly lowered her head, peering through that tiny gap into the interior.

However, due to the viewing angle's restriction and the Buddha statue's own towering solemnity, Qianqian could not for a moment discern which Buddha was enshrined below.

Just then, Qianqian keenly sensed two black shadows inside speaking in lowered voices. So she quietly pressed her ear to the roof, trying to hear the two people's conversation clearly.

Only to hear one speak with a tone of slight reproach: "How did you return alone? Where are the others?" The other's voice sounded panicked and helpless, hurriedly replying: "Don't mention it! If not for me seeing the situation turn bad and deciding instantly to run for my life, I'd hardly have returned unscathed."

The first person flew into a rage at those words, cursing: "Truly a useless piece of trash! We dispatched twenty-odd men to ambush their mere three people, and we still nearly got wiped out by them?"

The one cursed as trash hurriedly explained: "Big Brother, calm down! Who could guess they secretly had so many guards, Dark Guards alone numbering ten! And An Wang is exceptionally skilled, long possessing the ability to fight five alone; facing such a strong enemy, we were truly powerless..."

Hearing this, Qianqian's heart gave a sudden thump, as if a huge stone pressed heavily on her heart. However, as she listened closely to the two's exchange, she gradually sensed Father seemed unharmed, so she relaxed her tensed heartstrings a little, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

Just then, one said: "Never mind, this operation we were unprepared; I'll return first to report to Master, request more hands, and wait for the next ripe opportunity to act." Having spoken, his figure flashed, flying away like a bolt of black lightning.

After he went far, disappearing from sight, the remaining black-clothed person cursed softly: "Bah! Just a running dog by Master's side, yet strutting and posturing here! Are you the only one who isn't trash? Hmph, even if they really sent you on a task, you'd likely never return, dead for sure!"

He cursed resentfully, yet the more he thought the angrier he grew, his chest heaving nonstop. Finally he simply shut his eyes, took several deep breaths, trying to calm his inner anger.

But the instant he opened his eyes, a petite and delicate figure suddenly appeared before him. Fixed gaze: it was actually a little girl looking at him with a beaming smile, cheerfully shouting: "Hi, hello there!"

This sudden change instantly panicked the black-clothed person; his eyes widened, stammering: "You... you... when did you get here? You heard..."

Alas, his words unfinished, Qianqian's swift slap struck his back brain, knocking him unconscious immediately.

Immediately after, Qianqian swiftly swung the long whip in hand, coiling tightly around the black-clothed person like a spirit snake, then effortlessly hoisted him onto her shoulder. Then she displayed light and ethereal lightness skill, racing back along the road she came like a gust of wind.

When Qianqian slipped in lightly from the Empress Palace's back gate, the two guards responsible for sentry duty at the gate instantly noticed her figure. One guard hurried forward several steps, bowing respectfully to Qianqian, then asking softly: "Miss Qianqian, what brings you? Need this lowly one to serve you?"

Seeing this guard so polite, Qianqian smiled: "That's wonderful! Young man, trouble you to carry this person to Star Speech Elder Sister's sleeping palace." Speaking, she pointed at the man lying on the ground.

The guard looked where Qianqian pointed, seeing the man clad in black night-walking clothes, face masked with black cloth, features unclear, but from build and attire ten to eighteen an assassin infiltrating the palace. The guard originally wanted to remind Qianqian per palace rules that men outside the harem may not enter freely.