Chapter 943

Of course, Xu Shu wanted to stop Xingchen Shu not just because of You Sisi, but more out of admiration for talent—he saw a powerful expert loyal to the Qing Division in this chaotic situation, and such a person should be won over, not pushed away.

If someone got angry and quit their Qing Division post to join one of the other three divisions, it would be the Qing Division itself that suffered.

But Xingchen Shu still seemed furious and wouldn't listen to reason—he had mobilized large numbers of personnel to search outside, so Xu Shu could only reluctantly accompany him, ready to intervene if anything happened.

You Sisi understood the situation, but figuring out how to avoid Xingchen Shu's surveillance while still inviting Master Qiankun to help became her dilemma.

Especially in such a turbulent time, getting a physician to move about was even harder—they were treated like precious treasures, kept safely enshrined.

Fortunately, Master Qiankun was unusual—he had always been kind to her since childhood, and he particularly loved complex, puzzling cases, often saying such challenges were the key to advancing his medical skills.

"I must go in person, and I can't delay it."

You Sisi looked up at Niu Niu.

"I'll have a carriage prepared—we're going to find Master Qiankun now."

"Huh? Am I going too?"

"Of course—I don't know exactly what symptoms Captain Lin is showing."

"... Alright, if my sister-in-law says so, how could I refuse?"

Sister-in-law?!!

Was it too soon to call a girl still raised as a refined lady by that title?

You Sisi's cheeks warmed slightly, yet her heart leapt—she even found Niu Niu's plain face a little more pleasing now.

The carriage was quickly ready; after disguising themselves, the two departed You Fu in short order.

With everyone in You Fu mobilized to search outside, no one noticed You Sisi and Niu Niu leaving.

But after You Sisi's carriage departed, a shadow in the darkness watched the direction she had gone.

Only after You Sisi's carriage was gone did the black shadow emerge from its corner and swiftly leave the scene.

…

Dixia Midao.

The labyrinthine underground passageways twisted and intersected like a vast maze, dizzying to the eye.

Anyone entering this vast underground network without a map or guide would be trapped alive, reduced to a pile of bones.

Yet now, the Seventh Prince—who should have been dead—bent down, touched the fresh blood on the ground, sniffed it, then straightened and gazed ahead.

Ahead, the blood trailed forward along the path, ending in a pitch-black, sealed tunnel.

Without hesitation, the Seventh Prince followed the blood into the dark tunnel—but when the Human Soul fire ignited, it revealed only a solid wall—this was a dead end.

"Did she escape? Fifth Princess, it seems you really do have some ability—you're not as useless as I thought, if you could eliminate Fourth Brother."

Though someone important had escaped, the Seventh Prince showed no sign of panic.

Because the Fifth Princess could not escape the Dixia Midao.

No one knew this underground network better than he did!

His ability to pursue multiple paths, to live freely while building his own power, all came from this underground network—and his late mother had briefly glimpsed its original blueprints, then taught him every detail.

Though the current Dixia Midao differed greatly from the original design, the Seventh Prince still held a massive advantage over others.

"Fifth Princess, you won't escape my grasp!"

The Seventh Prince sneered—but at that moment, a black shadow suddenly protruded from the darkness beside him.

The Seventh Prince's smile froze, his expression turning cold, as if his mood had been spoiled—he asked icily: "Ghost Shadow Assassin, what is it?"

"You Sisi… left…"

The Ghost Shadow Assassin left only those five fragmented words, then dissolved into the darkness and vanished.

But the Seventh Prince froze.

"Damn it! Why is she going out now, of all times?!"

He glanced at the blood on the ground, hesitated, then bit his lip and slammed his palm against the left wall—his internal energy distributed precisely across his palm, striking the wall with a perfectly calibrated force.

As if passing a test—Boom—

The solid wall of the dead-end corridor suddenly retracted violently, revealing a brand-new passage.

The Seventh Prince walked through the tunnels as if strolling in his own backyard—taking shortcuts, opening hidden doors—until he emerged from the Dixia Midao onto the surface.

"Your Highness?"

The waiting subordinate stared in shock at the Seventh Prince's sudden appearance.

According to both time and plan, the Seventh Prince shouldn't have returned yet.

"You Sisi left the mansion—Ku Xun, you and Xi Dao, plus a squad of elite troops, follow her quietly and ensure her safety."

Hearing this, Ku Xun immediately understood why the Seventh Prince had rushed up so abruptly.

In this world, only the You Fu's young lady could make the Seventh Prince momentarily forget the struggle for the Nine Dragon Throne and act irrationally.

After receiving the order, Ku Xun quickly summoned Xi Dao and led a squad of elite troops away.

Only after Ku Xun left did the Seventh Prince feel slightly reassured.

Had he trusted the Ghost Shadow Assassin, he might have ordered it to follow and protect You Sisi on the spot.

"They're just Niu Niu's tools—I can't entrust everything to them, especially something this important."

Having settled this, the Seventh Prince descended again into the Dixia Midao.

But after searching, he discovered the Fifth Princess he had been hunting had already escaped the underground network.

"Abandoning the Dixia Midao—does she think my current state prevents me from appearing publicly?"

The Seventh Prince sneered coldly.

Feigning death was only a temporary retreat behind the scenes—not a permanent disappearance.

When needed, he could revive himself at any moment!

No—rather, this ritual gave it a greater sense of legitimacy!

"This kind of resurrection—surely even His Majesty the Emperor won't find any flaw? The bloodline you left inside me may not truly be mine to wield, but in this way, it has still served its purpose, hasn't it?"

The Seventh Prince placed his right hand atop his left, gradually applying pressure, squeezing tighter.

His left hand quickly filled with blood, veins bulging.

And within the flowing blood, faint golden threads shimmered!

The Seventh Prince stared at the nearly invisible golden threads within the veins, as if repulsed by them, intensifying his grip, as if wanting to rupture the entire arm and tear it off to destroy it.

But soon, he seemed to sense something, calmed down, and relaxed his hold.

He took a deep breath, turned his back to the shadow behind him, and asked coldly, "Where is he? Which exit did he escape through?"

"The Red Division... the Nian family."

(End of Chapter)