Chapter 246: Luo'er and Prince Su—Their Auras Are Naturally Incompatible?

Facing Li Qingluo's doubt, the man's eyes flickered twice.

He coughed softly twice again, then replied, "What I'm called doesn't matter. You've already guessed that I'm acquainted with the Pei family's third young master, haven't you?"

"I rescued you merely because I don't want to see him make more mistakes; there's no other intention, young lady, don't overthink it."

"As for this Pei family dungeon, I know this place not because I'm a Pei, but because with a little attention, discovering this spot is not difficult."

"Let's go. Pei Sanlang hasn't chased after us; he's deliberately giving us time to escape. If we dawdle any longer, once he changes his mind, there'll be no chance."

Having said that, the man propped himself against the wall, straightened up again, and continued walking forward.

Li Qingluo looked at Pan Li, who gritted her teeth and stood up: "I'm much better now, let's go."

However, the further they went, the narrower the passage became.

They had walked less than a quarter of an hour when suddenly a dense patter of footsteps came from behind.

Pan Li exclaimed in alarm: "Someone's chasing us!"

Li Qingluo grabbed Pan Li's hand tightly: "Let's hurry!"

But the man walking ahead, at that moment, lacked the strength to move; leaning on the wall, he couldn't walk.

"You..." Li Qingluo looked at the man, her face full of anxiety.

The man, however, shook his head: "You go quickly, don't worry about me. He won't do anything to me."

Pan Li shook her head: "No! I once thought my older brother wouldn't harm me either, but the fact is, when faced with his true interests, no matter who you are, if you block his path, you only have a dead end."

"Sir, you saved us; we won't abandon you!"

Upon hearing her say that, the man's face showed a hint of doubt.

Li Qingluo: "Yes, she's right. We won't leave you behind. Sir, hold on a bit longer—we'll get out together!"

Li Qingluo and Pan Li each took one side, supporting the man, and hurried forward.

But the man was too tall.

Li Qingluo's height was fine; she could reach his shoulders.

But Pan Li was shorter, tucked under the man's armpit, completely like a crutch.

Moreover, the man's clothing was excessively thick, making it inconvenient for the two women to support him.

"Up ahead—pursue!!"

Those chasing from behind held torches in their hands; Li Qingluo glanced back and saw a dense crowd of at least a dozen people.

It seems Pei Sanlang has no intention of letting them go today.

"Go!"

The three quickened their pace.

However, once they reached the back, the three could no longer walk abreast; Pan Li went to the rear, while Li Qingluo alone supported the man and moved quickly.

Yet the further she went, the more strenuous it became.

Because the man's strength seemed to be waning more and more, now about half of his weight was pressing onto her.

Just as Li Qingluo was about to collapse from exhaustion, a sound of flowing water suddenly came from ahead.

The three stepped forward and saw it was a dark river.

Li Qingluo's face broke into a smile: "Great, can you guys swim?"

However, the fact is, aside from Li Qingluo, neither Pan Li nor this man can swim.

Moreover, Li Qingluo didn't notice that when the man saw the water, a deep fear flashed in his eyes.

Li Qingluo also couldn't abandon them and flee alone.

So she gritted her teeth and said: "Quick, Pan Li, you and I each take off one shoe and leave it on the shore."

Although Pan Li didn't understand, she still did as told.

After clumsily discarding the shoes, Li Qingluo looked around, then laboriously pushed a large stone nearby into the river.

With a loud "plop," Li Qingluo and the two others quickly passed through a narrower, now slippery path, crossing a stone screen.

At that moment, those people behind caught up.

"They jumped into the river?!"

"Just now there was a sound, and the shoes—it's them!"

"Two damned girls, still trying to flee—chase—"

Following that came several more loud "plops," and several people jumped into the dark river after them.

Yet these people also remained cautious, leaving a few to continue searching along the shore, and they soon spotted the silhouettes of Li Qingluo and her two companions.

"Here! They're here—"

"Stop!"

These people moved quickly; catching up to Li Qingluo and her group, who were supporting a frail man, took only a moment.

Li Qingluo shoved Pan Li: "Quick, you support this sir and hurry!"

Pan Li's face was full of anxiety: "But you—"

Li Qingluo: "I'm the granddaughter of my grandmother Pei Xiuzhen; I can certainly handle a couple of moves. You go quickly, don't burden me!"

Li Qingluo let out a loud shout; Pan Li bit her lip, helped the man up, and continued running forward.

That man, however, took three steps while looking back each time, his hand on his chest, his eyes full of worry.

Li Qingluo looked at the first thug charging over, extended her hand, and shot out a sleeve arrow.

That thug was unexpectedly hit by an arrow, his body swayed, and he slid into the dark river.

Li Qingluo still had another arrow in hand, which she had already taken as a weapon; when the people behind came rushing up cursing, she turned and leaned against the wall, putting on a look of frightened helplessness and frailty.

"You damned girl, dare to scheme against us—"

The thug raised his knife and came over; seeing Li Qingluo's appearance of surrender, recalling his master's order to take a captive alive, he could only suppress his anger and reach out to grab her.

However, what Li Qingluo had been waiting for was this moment; as soon as someone lunged at her, she raised her hand and viciously stabbed toward that person's throat——

A swift, ruthless, and precise killing technique—she practiced it every day at home without interruption.

Finally, she is now quite satisfied with her own speed.

That man clutched his neck, eyes wide with disbelief, yet the blood spurting from his neck still caused him to swiftly tumble into the dark river.

Only then did the people behind dare not underestimate Li Qingluo, who had already picked up the knife from the ground.

Because the stone passage was narrow, she saw that only one after another could line up, cautiously squeezing along the stone passage toward her; she gave a cold smile: 'He sent you these lackeys over, intending to let me practice my hands?'

'Stubborn-mouthed. You filthy wretch, if you don't surrender now, I'll kill them!'

A low shout came from behind—turns out the few who had earlier jumped into the river had swum ahead, then climbed ashore and seized Pan Li and that man.

Pan Li wore a defeated expression: 'Sorry, Luo'er, I've ultimately become your burden and drag……'

That man also looked apologetic: 'Don't be afraid, someone will come to rescue us shortly.'

No sooner had his words finished than they provoked a burst of mockery from the Pei family's thugs.

'Hahaha…… In our Pei family's dungeon, there isn't a single person in this world who can walk out alive. Still dreaming someone will come to rescue you? Hahaha, hahaha……'

'You will now, one by one, line up to meet your death——'

Whoosh——

A cold arrow sliced through the dark sky with a sound, and the arrow directly sealed that thug's throat.

Li Qingluo turned to look for the archer, seeing only a tall figure standing on the stone steps, holding a longbow, striding over toward this side.

Immediately after, a group of black-clad people emerged behind him, each drawing swords and knives, eyeing this side tiger‑like.

'Who dares?! How dare you break into the Pei family's secret passage dungeon—are you seeking death?'

Obviously, upon seeing such a show of force, the Pei family's thugs each felt a urge to retreat and fear, yet they had no choice but to continue putting up a pretended intimidating formation.

'Who are you? We are officials of the Dali Temple; whatever schemes and conspiracies your Pei family harbor, today they will all be exposed!'

'Those who surrender will still have a chance to live.'

'Those who resist to the death will all be slaughtered without mercy——'

Li Qingluo instantly recognized the voice—it was Zhui Yu's!!

Her face instantly lit up with ecstatic joy.

Upon hearing the name of the Dali Temple, the Pei family's thugs were instantly terrified out of their wits.

But where could they possibly surrender?

Who doesn't know the Dali Temple's methods and reputation? Falling into their hands would likely be a fate worse than death.

'Brothers, anyway it's death either way—let's fight——'

Having said that, these thugs brandished their knives and charged forward.

Seeing this, the Dali Temple officials on the other side immediately surged forward ferociously, killing any Pei family thug they saw; ultimately they prevailed thanks to Prince Su's regular thorough training, their superior numbers, each strike ruthless and merciless, and every blade swiftly sealing the throat for a fatal blow.

One after another, lives with a 'plop' kept falling into the dark river without cease.

Li Qingluo was caught in the middle; she could only raise her hand to stab at the Pei family thugs lunging forward, then follow with a kick to send them tumbling into the dark river.

After killing one, Li Qingluo quickly turned and found Pan Li and the frail man.

Fortunately, the passageway ahead was no longer that narrow.

The three huddled close together; if any thug rashly lunged, she would raise her blade and kill.

After those Dali Temple people swiftly dealt with the Pei family thugs behind, Li Qingluo hadn't even had a chance to catch her breath when she noticed the Dali Temple officials were now fixing their gaze on the three of them, one by one.

Suddenly, for no reason, a deathly silence fell……

Three people being relentlessly pursued appeared in the passage leading to the Pei family; anyone could tell something was wrong.

Li Qingluo feared a misunderstanding, so she immediately lowered her veil: 'It's me, Zhui Yu Langjun, Sha Lei Langjun!'

Seeing her face, the leading Zhui Yu didn't even have time to be shocked, while the tall figure far behind pushed through the crowd and stepped forward first.

'Li, Qing, Luo! How could you be here?!'

One could hear that the voice carried a grit‑teeth, resentful tone.

Li Qingluo, however, smiled: 'Your Highness, you almost came too late. This matter, to tell the long story……'

As she spoke, Li Qingluo's gaze burned as she fixed it on Duan Rongshi before her, thinking: Why do they always meet in such situations? Could it be that the two are simply born with clashing auras?

Meeting her smile, Prince Su glared at her fiercely: 'Then make it short! Come over to me!'

Pan Li's gaze darted back and forth between the two.

The frail man also stared at Prince Su.

Duan Rongshi turned his head to glance at the two; Pan Li quickly lowered her head, while the frail man locked eyes directly with Prince Su.

Prince Su stared at that person, his unfriendly gaze lingering especially on the man for a moment before he turned and walked away.

Li Qingluo could only grit her teeth and follow Prince Su away.

The Dali Temple people all instinctively made way, not daring to glance at Li Qingluo more than once.

Only Zhui Yu's gaze dared to follow the two involuntarily; after they reached a large rock, he could no longer see them.

Zhui Yu was about to tilt his body to keep watching, when Prince Su issued a shout: 'All of you, get lost!'

One could tell the master's mood was not very good at this moment.

Sha Lei gave Zhui Yu a push; Zhui Yu hurriedly led everyone onward: 'Your Highness, we subordinates will go ahead and wait for you!'

'Hurry, let's keep searching forward; today we must utterly uncover the Pei family's secrets!'