Chapter 495: Long Awaited

At this moment, Jiang Yun Chu waved his crimson longsword, and his entire aura carried a hint of brutality.

Jiang Ze Yang and Jiang Wen Fu had both arrived, and the three of them faced the evil Daoist together.

Meanwhile, outside, the city guard's betrayal threw the entire Ning Jing capital into chaos, as the major mansions and common folk all shut their doors and stayed inside.

For a moment, panic spread among the people.

"Boss, what should we do?" a youth, heroic and spirited, with a hint of resolve on his face, gripped the silver spear in his hand.

"Since someone is obstructing us, we'll just cut them down."

The leader, dressed in a jet‑black robe, wore a black mask and held a silver longsword, eyeing each of the city guards.

To guard the peace of a region—that is the city guard's duty.

Since they wish to disturb the tranquility of Ning Jing, we shall slay them.

"Toward the Wang Fu, we kill our way forward." Ning Hanmo pointed his sword to the sky; his whole body exuded a sharp aura, a white sword qi flickering faintly.

"Yes!"

The eleven men behind shouted loudly, then urged their mounts; the horses seemed to sense their riders' emotions, raising their forehooves high and neighing.

"Giddyap!"

Ning Hanmo took the lead on horseback.

The common folk had long since hidden away; innocent people would not come out to watch the spectacle.

Those outside, kill them.

Wherever the sword reached, it was time to reap lives one by one.

Kang Ziwei was shielded in the center, but her slender hands, whenever she struck, released sheets of lives, a colorless, tasteless poison that seemed inexhaustible.

"Report—"

"What happened?"

Zi Su sprang to her feet, her face tense as she looked at the newcomer.

"Miss Zi Su, twelve people have come from outside, each wearing a black mask on their face."

"They say…"

The messenger hesitated a moment, then continued the report.

"They say they are our Wang Fu's Young Master."

Zi Su widened her eyes, her brows slightly furrowed—Young Master?

"Why now, of all times, when he neither came earlier nor later? Is he really the Young Master?"

Or perhaps…

…it's their scheme?

Zi Su's thoughts turned over and over, she considered many possibilities.

"Take me to see."

In the end, the master and the prince are not in the manor; the Wang Fu holds nothing the enemy seeks.

And she is merely a small life.

"Zi Su elder sister." Ning Hanmo saw the arrival, looked left and right, but could not find that figure.

Zi Su heard the familiar tone, not knowing when, her voice had already changed.

"May I see your faces?" Zi Su asked gently, her voice soft, tinged with a smile.

After all these years, the way they looked when they left home remains deeply etched in her heart.

But…

They have grown up, each a tall figure; when wearing masks, it is impossible to guess their age.

"Zi Su elder sister."

Ning Hanmo removed his mask, a light smile on his face, and called out again.

The other eleven also took off their masks, smiling as they looked at Zi Su.

They miss home so much!

Having been away for years, unless there is something necessary, they dare not move about near Ning Jing at all, for fear they cannot hold back.

They have not yet matured; how could they return home to face the Dean?

"You've come back."

Zi Su looked at each face; she didn't know when, but each bore a few scars, yet those smiling faces were still as if from yesterday.

"We're back."

Ning Hanmo nodded, then asked his most pressing concern: "Zi Su elder sister, where is my mother?"

Zi Su blinked, then gently shook her head.

"Perhaps she is in the imperial palace."

"Last night the Princess Consort ordered the Wang Fu to close its gates and shut its windows; no visitors are to be admitted."

"Anyone who dares intrude upon the Wang Fu shall be killed without mercy."

As she said this, Zi Su's eyes took on a harshness unlike her usual gentleness, filled with killing intent.

Ning Hanmo glanced at the few people, then said, "I will stay at the Wang Fu."

"The Dean has her own affairs to attend to; I will guard the Wang Fu in her place."

"What arrangements do you have?"

He respected his companions' choices; over these years they had worked together, but also struck out alone, they all needed training, and they had come this far step by step, treading on blood.

They are no longer flowers in a greenhouse, nor fledglings needing to hide behind the Dean; they have learned to spread their wings and to fly.

"Returning to the manor now would require explaining our identities—too troublesome." Kang Wu shook his head. "I will stay at the Wang Fu."

The other ten people smiled and said, "The boss just gives the order directly."

Ning Hanmo looked at his eleven companions and said, "Good, this time we fight to defend the Wang Fu."

This time.

This is also their first battle upon returning.

Yes!

In that moment, the eleven people gripped their weapons tightly; this time, it was their turn to defend the Wang Fu.

"Zi Su elder sister, we have returned."

Ning Hanmo gave a light smile, then said to her, "We guard the main gate; as long as we are alive, no one will set foot in the Wang Fu."

The turmoil outside never ceased.

Casualties were heavy on both sides; battle after battle, the whole Ning Jing seemed to reek of blood.

"Open the door!"

"Search for the court's wanted criminals; hurry and open the door."

In the dead of night at the third watch, the pitch-black night lacked its usual quiet; the violent knocking shattered the gentle moonlight.

Ning Hanmo narrowed his eyes, shook his head at those around him; everyone gripped their weapons tightly, faces grim.

They have come.

They finally came after all.

"Hurry and open the door, or we'll smash it in!" The people outside had grim faces.

The palace gate fell; outside, the various armies, not knowing when they would return, had seized the city gates; they must find sufficient vital resources, or else face only a desperate fight.

The leaders came straight to the Regent Prince's Manor; if not for the two people from the Regent Prince's Manor meddling, the Third Prince's ascension would have granted them lifelong wealth and honor.

But the Regent Prince's Manor interfered, causing everything to fall short at the last moment.

Then we will strike at the Regent Prince's Manor; since they destroyed everything our brothers cared about, we will destroy them even if it means our deaths.

"Smash the door!"

"Climb over the wall and kill anyone you see."

Since no one opened the door, they dropped all pretense; each skilled person had already climbed over the wall.

But when they leapt into the courtyard, beneath the wall were not spikes but rows of oil tanks.

"Welcome to the Wang Fu; we've been waiting for you."

……

A cold male voice, tinged with a hint of youthfulness, yet the sound made one feel a bone‑deep chill, shuddering involuntarily.

Ning Hanmo watched each person jump down from the wall top, then told those behind him, "Throw."

Previously thought to be a lighting torch, at this moment it was suddenly hurled into the wall corner; the person who had just leapt from the oil tank was instantly swallowed by the sea of fire.

That fire snake swept across the entire corner of the Regent Prince's Manor.