Chapter 94

The man seemed quite pleased with her reaction, his voice becoming a bit lighter: "Just follow me."

Li Qingluo felt uneasy; she had put herself into this situation, never expecting to encounter such a complication!

I thought we were only facing those three desperadoes, but I never expected to run into remnants of the Lotus Sect this time.

This was something she had inadvertently heard yesterday; upon hearing the three words "Lotus Sect," Li Qingluo felt her vision go dark.

She really was reckless this time.

In her previous life, she had heard quite a lot about the Lotus Sect.

In this life, after encountering the Lotus Sect's murderous rampage on the Qinhuai River last time, she returned to the General's Manor and heard Deng Mama mention the Lotus Sect as well.

The Lotus Sect was originally just an ordinary martial arts school, but somehow it came to worship the Lotus God, who claimed he could protect the people and find a new world.

In that world, everyone could enjoy fairness, freedom, and equality.

Even women could serve in office, study, and educate others.

Even men and women could freely choose whether to marry or have children, along with the ideal of peace...

Though shocking and unconventional, many people in this world are moved by it and become fanatical.

In its first few years, the Lotus Sect grew at an incomparable speed, and within just a few years it became the largest sect throughout the Daliang realm.

But the fact is, the current emperor of the Daliang dynasty is actually quite a good ruler.

The people's lives were tolerable—no war, no displacement, no extreme hardship.

Moreover, while the Lotus Sect preaches bold ideas, it actually often commits wanton killing and harms the populace.

They shout that this is a necessary sacrifice for their ideal.

They kill corrupt officials and heinous evildoers.

But over time, they have begun to burn and kill without restraint, and many people invoking the Lotus Sect's name have only worsened its reputation.

Thus, the Lotus Sect became an evil cult.

It also became the primary target for suppression by the imperial court.

Now, everyone around her must be from the Lotus Sect, and this place is practically their nest.

Yet someone within the Lotus Sect knows her, though she does not know them.

Who could it be?

In Jinling City, what acquaintances could she possibly have?

Li Qingluo thought of that dagger; everything changed from that dagger onward.

A blacksmith's shop!

The blacksmith once said he had an employer!

But she has never met that person before, let alone had any dealings with them.

Did the blacksmith's shop purchase that dagger's blueprint, perhaps because of it?

This person's voice sounds completely unfamiliar.

Yet catching a faint scent nearby, she feels as if she has encountered it before.

Not long after walking, Li Qingluo heard Li Qingzhu's sobbing.

From inside the house came a strange laugh: "The eldest daughter of the General's Manor, give us a few foot-washings—even if we die today, it'll be worth it!"

"Hahaha..."

"If it weren't for our sect's rules forbidding us from defiling girls like you, you'd think you're just washing my feet, wouldn't you?"

"Wash or not—if you don't wash, you'll drink this basin of water!"

Li Qingzhu let out a sharp scream: "I'll wash! I'll wash! Sniffle… I'll wash…"

"Gentlemen, please, spare me!"

"The girl who was kidnapped with me yesterday—she looks cleaner and prettier than me! I, I've never washed anyone's feet before, sniffle…"

With a bang, the water basin seemed to tip over.

Li Qingluo then heard cursing: "How dare you drag others into this? You're really no good. I heard that girl opened the door to save you, yet you treat her like this—are you even human?"

"Well, don't say that. She might not be any good either. Miss, I heard your elder brother's quarters have recently gained a girl who looks extremely like you—said to be your stand‑in, inseparable, sharing meals and sleep. So… are you and your brother already violating ethics and doing something shameful?"

Li Qingzhu immediately shrieked: "No! I haven't—I and my older brother are innocent! Ah—"

Another shriek rang out.

From nearby came a weak plea: "Please, spare her…"

Li Qingzhu: "Auntie, save me——"

Li Qingluo outside heard: "Auntie?"

That woman—Li Qingzhu actually called her auntie!?

Unfortunately, she didn't have time to think before that person pulled her away, and then she heard Que'er and Grandma's voices.

"Where is our young lady exactly? Please tell us, or don't blame us grandparents for being impolite!"

"Oh? Just the two of you, one old and one young, and you still want to be rude? If it weren't for our incense chief ordering us to treat you well, you wouldn't be having such a good time."

Li Qingluo quickly called out: "Que'er! Grandma! I'm here!"

At that moment, the man also loosened his grip and shoved her forward!

"Go in, they're waiting for you. I'll have someone send you home——"

Li Qingluo: "No……"

Before her voice could fade, a sudden booming roar came from outside!

"Someone's coming——"

"It's the government office, it's the government office!"

It's the government office, it's the government office!

Everyone, immediately go down the secret passage, activate the Zi Zui Jiguān——

In the chaos, Li Qingluo had no time to hesitate, lunging toward the direction where Que'er and Deng Mama's voices had just come from, and tried to pull off the black cloth on her face.

But before she could pull off the black cloth, another deafening "Boom—" shook her to the ground!

Before she could get up, something came crashing down on her, and Li Qingluo was knocked out cold on the ground.

Immediately after, she uncontrollably lost consciousness…

But only a moment later, someone dug her up from the ground.

That person scooped her up into his arms; Li Qingluo brushed the ash from her nostrils, gasped for air, and the black cloth on her face fell away, allowing her to look up at her rescuer—Prince Su!?

How could it be him!?

Duan Rongshi also lowered his head, gazing at the young woman in his arms.

She looked, and surprisingly she was unharmed.

The two looked at each other, but only exchanged a brief glance before Li Qingluo, frightened and anxious, forced herself to stand upright and stepped back.

"This commoner thanks Your Highness for saving her."

Duan Rongshi likewise loosened his grip, setting her free.

But his hand behind his back clenched involuntarily, rubbing the thumb ring.

Is she afraid of him?

He narrowed his eyes, about to speak, when Po Feng and Zhui Yu came running over with swords in hand.

"Your Highness, everyone has fled. Not a single person remains in any room!"

"A few didn't manage to escape; my subordinates captured two, while several others took poison and killed themselves."

How could there be no one?

Li Qingluo immediately asked, "May I ask, have you seen my maid and granny?"

Zhui Yu shook his head.

"Miss Li, do you know how many people were originally here?"

Li Qingluo naturally didn't know either.

She lifted her gaze around and realized the manor was built against the mountain, likely on the mountainside, so she could see the nearby clouds.

At this moment, likely because Prince Su's forces had stormed in, the place was everywhere in ruins and collapse.

Li Qingluo could be certain: this place is absolutely the Lotus Sect's nest!

Therefore, it's absolutely impossible for only a few people to be here!

She recalled something and hurriedly turned to run back the way she came.

Following her recent memory, she arrived outside a woodshed door.

Inside the room, aside from a few overturned foot-washing basins, it was completely empty—there was no sign of Li Qingzhu or that woman.

Were they rescued, or were they taken away?

Duan Rongshi and the others followed her to her rear, and Li Qingluo turned back to look at them.

Po Feng immediately asked, "Were there also people imprisoned here?"

Li Qingluo: "It's Li Qingzhu. They were also taken away!"

With that, she confirmed the fact.

And she wasn't taken, perhaps because she happened to be pinned under a collapsed door panel, so those people couldn't find her at once, which let her slip through the cracks.

Li Qingluo entered the woodshed and looked around.

"I seem to have heard them say something about… going into a secret passage, activating the self-destruct mechanism—"