Chapter 264

Lu Yunzhan frowned, after a long pause, he transmitted a voice message to Bai Yu: “If that’s the case, I can’t leave rashly—if what you said is true, the potential danger you fear may already have noticed me.”

“If I sneak away now, won’t I end up like the people you sent out—killed to silence them?”

“I’m truly curious—Bai family is a prestigious clan, surely they have experts guarding them. How could a viscount, as head of the clan, be so easily impersonated without anyone noticing?”

Bai Yu silently sighed; these past days, she had been too anxious—torn between fearing her father might already be dead and dreading that those people might kill her at any moment.

She had drifted through each day in a daze, failing to consider enough details.

In truth, the marriage proposal was merely her test of the fake father, but it had spiraled out of control into an event she couldn't back out of.

She thought, since it was already happening, she might as well use it to find a savior.

But on the day of the marriage proposal, overwhelmed with fear, she regretted it—afraid those who seemed like saviors were actually sent by the ones impersonating her father.

By then, she was already trapped.

If she didn’t choose a husband, she feared suspicion—so when she saw Lu Yunzhan about to withdraw, she seized the opportunity to pick him, at least he certainly wasn’t sent by the one impersonating her father.

Only yesterday, when she confirmed none of her dispatched messengers had replied, did she belatedly realize they knew she knew everything.

Her reason for coming to Lu Yunzhan was to avoid dragging others in—but now, with his warning, she realized she’d already pulled him into this.

Now, she and he were on the same rope, tied together as grasshoppers.

“I didn’t think this through,” Bai Yu sighed, transmitting her voice: “Bai family does have experts guarding it, but I’ve secretly tested them—they seem unaware that something’s wrong with my father.”

“Though I hold great power in Bai family, everything still follows my father’s orders. Without proof, even if I speak out, few will stand with me.”

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

Bai Yu’s face was filled with regret.

Lu Yunzhan, now knowing the truth, felt strangely at ease and pressed further: “Earlier, I asked a friend—here in Beiyah City, your Bai family ranks among the top few prestigious clans.”

“Who could possibly have the power to impersonate your father without anyone noticing? What do they want?”

“Do you think they have a conflict of interest with Bai family, or something else?”

Bai Yu shook her head; she had pondered this too, and still couldn’t make sense of it. She transmitted: “I don’t know their purpose.”

Just as Lu Yunzhan was about to ask more, Bai Yu’s maid entered, smiling: “Miss, Master has instructed me not to let you stay here too long with the prospective son-in-law—he fears gossip spreading outside.”

“When did my father tell you this?” Bai Yu’s face darkened as she stared at the maid, feeling a strange unfamiliarity.

This maid had served her for years—she had trusted her.

But now, it seemed possible she’d been bought by the fake father.

The maid looked helpless: “Miss, Master told the steward just before leaving, and the steward passed the message to me to remind you.”

Bai Yu fell silent for a moment, then said: “Go back and report to my father—I’ll stay here these two days. If I’m upright, why fear gossip? Father wouldn’t care about such things.”

“But Miss…” the maid tried to persuade further.

Bai Yu waved her hand impatiently: “Enough. Go back and report. Stay in the mansion. I’ll return in two days.”

Seeing Bai Yu’s firmness, the maid hesitated, then bowed and left.

“Why do you look so pale? Are you unwell?” Bai Yu, having just exhaled in relief after the maid left, noticed Lu Yunzhan’s distant expression, furrowed brows, and beads of sweat on his forehead.

“I’m fine—just a headache. Let me rest a moment,” Lu Yunzhan forced a smile.

Bai Yu quickly pulled an elixir from her storage pouch and handed it to Lu Yunzhan.

He took it but didn’t swallow it—he wasn’t truly suffering a headache; just now, a self-proclaimed unknown demonic heart had spoken to him.

The intense heartbeat had left him dazed.

Most shocking was that the demonic heart claimed he was Lu Fang, the Marquis of Wenguan of Da Zhou—and that he’d forgotten everything because he’d wandered the world to evade the Heavenly Dao.

The demonic heart had promised not to interfere.

But just now, sensing danger, fearing events might spiral beyond control, it had spoken up.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The violent heartbeat grew louder, like thunder splitting open his mind.

The next moment, Lu Yunzhan shut his eyes in agony—and when he opened them again, a flash of sharp brilliance vanished.

All memories sealed and altered by the Infinite Secret were restored in an instant—he was indeed Lu Fang, Marquis of Wenguan of Da Zhou.

At that moment, the violent heartbeat ceased.

Once Lu Fang understood everything, he immediately asked the demonic heart: “What’s going on? Didn’t I tell you beforehand? Don’t disturb my mortal trials. And what danger did you just sense?”

The demonic heart replied solemnly: “Do you remember that maid just now?”

“Bai Yu’s maid?” Lu Fang frowned.

The demonic heart said gravely: “I don’t know how, but she concealed herself well—I didn’t notice her at first. But just now, when she sensed you, I caught it—she’s an old acquaintance of yours.”

“An old acquaintance?” Lu Fang grew impatient: “Stop playing cryptic games—who is she?”

Even though he’d sealed part of his power with the Infinite Secret, his hyper-perception remained unsealed—yet neither he nor the demonic heart had detected the maid’s disguise until now. Only because she sensed him did the demonic heart catch her.

That was astonishing.

He thought rapidly, but couldn’t identify who this old acquaintance might be.

The demonic heart declared firmly: “She is Que, the Guardian of the Wuyi Clan.”

“Que!” Lu Fang’s eyelids twitched violently—Que, one of the Four Guardians of the Wuyi Clan? Why was she here, disguised as a maid to Bai Yu?

“Are you certain you didn’t misread her? Given her nature, even in flight, she wouldn’t sink so low…” Lu Fang fell silent—he’d just realized a possibility.

Bai Yu had said her father had been impersonated.

And the demonic heart had detected the maid as Que, disguised as a Wuyi Clan Guardian—now the truth was clear.