Chapter 260

The three people's faces changed instantly.

Gu Rongjin asked the guard with a cold face, "What exactly happened?"

"I don't know either; I was on duty at the gate today when an arrow suddenly flew in, its tip tied to a letter that says Young Master Di and Miss Mu are in their hands!"

The guard struggled to find words, then said, "Afterwards we searched the entire manor but found no one; Young Master Qilin also said he hasn't seen Miss Mu all day, and he's now out looking for people!"

Gu Rongjin's voice changed slightly: "Bring the letter over so I can look at it!"

The guard presented the letter, and Qi Shihuai and Prince Jia leaned in; the expressions of all three were grim as if a storm were approaching.

Gu Rongjin opened it and saw, gripping the letter so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"They really are missing; this handwriting belongs to Azi."

Gu Rongjin recognized it at once.

Qi Shihuai narrowed his eyes: "How exactly did she manage this?"

Prince Jia pressed his lips into a straight line, remaining silent.

At this critical juncture, he naturally knew why this happened.

The battle for Weicheng is imminent; the purpose goes without saying!

The letter says that Gu Rongjin and Prince Jia must go to the designated location, or else they will bear the consequences.

They are unfamiliar with this place, only knowing it lies in the suburbs of Weicheng.

The letter only lets the two of them go, the purpose is obvious; if Gu Rongjin hasn't guessed wrong, Azi intends to use a scheme to sow discord between him and Prince Jia.

After calming down, Qi Shihuai said, "She only wants the two of you to go; how about I set up defenses nearby?"

"Azi will surely notice." Gu Rongjin said.

"So you intend to do as she says?" Qi Shihuai disagreed, "That's too risky; they know you inside out, especially you, Rongjin, and she surely has a foolproof plan to deal with you."

Prince Jia nodded: "General Qi is right, it's too risky."

"Just stay here and analyze calmly; I'm going to rescue them." Gu Rongjin turned and left.

"Young Master Jin, don't rush; as the prince's son, I'm naturally anxious too." Prince Jia grabbed Gu Rongjin, "A little impatience spoils great plans."

Gu Rongjin's face was expressionless: "You can plot here; I don't have time to waste, nor will I gamble."

"Rongjin, I know you're anxious, we are too; don't lose your reason." Qi Shihuai advised, "Young Master Di and Miss Mu are missing, and I'm worried as well."

Gu Rongjin didn't want to waste words with them, and vanished in a flash.

Qi Shihuai sighed helplessly, "He's too nervous."

Prince Jia said, "Just as Azi said, the prince and Young Master Jin will go."

Qi Shihuai frowned, watching their retreating figures as they vanished.

They're all people who talk to themselves.

"Gu Rongjin!"

Qilin's voice sounded from behind; Qi Shihuai turned around, the fiery Miao youth was like an angry little lion, unable to see Gu Rongjin, he grew even angrier: "Where are they?!"

"I went to look for your senior sister." Qi Shihuai said.

Upon hearing that, Qilin's expression eased a bit, but he was still on the verge of exploding: "I've looked everywhere and can't find my senior sister; she must really be missing!"

"That's right; the letter was written by Azi, and Rongjin recognized the handwriting."

"So they just went with the two of them, right?" Qilin asked.

Qi Shihuai nodded, "I was originally going to reinforce, but Rongjin insisted on going himself, fearing something might change."

"He did the right thing." Qilin frowned, "But this also plays right into the enemy's hands."

One could say it's a case of knowingly heading toward the tiger's mountain.

What else could we do?

The enemy lurks in the dark while we are in the light!

Qilin didn't have time to think about it either, and turned and left.

"Where are you going?"

"To find Yuan Yan!"

He must have a way!

Gu Rongjin quickly arrived at the place Azi designated, in the suburbs of Weicheng, a desolate spot with an abandoned-looking manor.

Little Zhiyan…

"Azi!"

Gu Rongjin shouted outside: "I'm here!"

No one responded.

He lifted his foot to kick the door, but the massive bronze door didn't budge in the slightest, even with a fraction of his internal strength.

It must be a mechanism.

Gu Rongjin's expression darkened further, his eyes deep and gloomy like an abyss of the underworld, emitting a dangerous light.

He understood what Azi meant—she wanted to wait until Prince Jia also arrived before responding.

About a quarter of an hour later, just as Gu Rongjin was growing impatient, Prince Jia finally arrived.

His face showed anxiety he couldn't hide, looking at Gu Rongjin, whose expression was grave and unwilling to speak, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

When both of them had arrived, without needing to shout, the heavy bronze door slowly opened from both sides, as if someone inside had peered out and then decided to open it.

Gu Rongjin and Prince Jia exchanged a glance, then stepped inside.

Passing through a long corridor, the interior suddenly opened up into a manor fragrant with birdsong and flowers, yet inexplicably deathly still, likely because everywhere lay ruined walls and broken statues scattered on the ground, utterly bizarre.

"Azi! We're here! Come out!"

Gu Rongjin shouted loudly at the empty air, still no one answered.

He flared with anger, his face stern as he walked ahead.

Prince Jia was obviously a bit calmer than him, observing the surroundings all the way, walking a little slower than Gu Rongjin.

The mountain villa was huge and spacious; standing here, one would feel at a loss, not knowing where to begin searching.

Are we supposed to let them blindly search the entire mountain villa?

When will we find it?

Prince Jia inevitably felt worried.

The war situation was urgent and imminent, yet he had to waste time in this place, letting the enemy lead him by the nose.

Gu Rongjin walked faster and faster, not knowing where to go himself; based on his understanding of A Zi, he guessed where the other might be hiding.

"A Zi! We've arrived! What do you want?!"

Gu Rongjin started shouting from a distance again.

This time there finally was a response, but it wasn't A Zi's voice—it was a faint sound of movement, so subtle that without Shuangjiang's hearing it couldn't be detected.

Over there!

Gu Rongjin quickly located the source of the sound and leapt onto the long staircase.

This staircase seemed to stretch up to the heavens, appearing endless.

Prince Jia also hurried to follow, but his lightness skill was somewhat lacking compared to Gu Rongjin's; soon, Gu Rongjin vanished from his sight.

But A Zi apparently wanted to wait for both of them; Gu Rongjin reached the top, where the path ended, blocked by a dilapidated Buddha statue that stood several tens of meters high.

He didn't leap over it, because he knew this meant he should wait for Prince Jia.

As expected, when Prince Jia arrived, the Buddha statue toppled over!

Gu Rongjin and Prince Jia jumped left and right, barely dodging the huge Buddha statue.

Ahead lay another endless road, with no one in sight.

Gu Rongjin grew impatient again.