Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 502 The Hehuan Sect's Conspiracy (12,000 words, thanks to Yong Su for the Alliance Leader reward)

The crescent moon shines brightly.

The night wind was chilly, swirling up broken ice crystals that floated and swayed in the air, occasionally reflecting bright light.

Song Yan fainted and collapsed onto Luo Yuheng.

The shattered ice crystals slowly scattered down, covering the area in a thick layer. Luo Yuheng's body was still somewhat cold, but at least it wasn't as severe as when the cold poison had erupted. Without the support of the cold poison, the ice crystals melted under Song Yan's body heat, and his body was soaked in icy water.

Song Yan's fainting startled Zi Yu, Lei Yi, numerous soldiers, and Gao Yang, who had just appeared in the back courtyard following behind the silver-armored guards. Their expressions changed drastically, and they instinctively surrounded him. Zi Yu, who was closest, rushed to Song Yan's side in one stride. Her small, white hand landed on Song Yan's wrist. Although the pulse was weak, it was still present. Her fingers were placed in front of Song Yan's nose, and she could feel a faint breath. Zi Yu's heart finally settled down: "It's alright."

"Song Yan is fine."

"I'm just exhausted."

He was struck by Kong Nianhan's palm, and his injuries were quite serious. In addition, his internal energy was exhausted, which is why he was unconscious. However, as long as he takes good care of himself, his life will not be in danger. He will just have to avoid strenuous exercise for a while.

Gao Yang, Lei Yi, and the soldiers were finally somewhat relieved. Song Yan was the backbone of countless soldiers and civilians in Liaodong. They simply couldn't imagine what Liaodong would become without the Marquis, or what they would become.

Ziyu's small hand landed on Luo Yuheng's heart again.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Compared to Song Yan, Luo Yuheng's situation seems to be more troublesome right now.

Her heartbeat was so weak it was imperceptible, and the frequency was extremely low, only about one-tenth of that of a normal person. Her fingers were now placed in front of Luo Yuheng's nose, making her breathing even more difficult to detect. If it weren't for the occasional trace of breath flowing from her fingertips, Ziyu would probably have thought that Luo Yuheng had already stopped breathing.

My body was also ice-cold.

That's normal, though; anyone trapped inside an iceberg for that long would probably not warm up.

"Prepare a carriage and go back to the Marquis's residence first." After thinking for a moment, Ziyu arranged, "In addition, someone needs to enter the palace to summon Luo Tianxuan and Hua Lianyue back. Moreover, try to avoid the eunuchs and maids and find Luo Tianxuan and Hua Lianyue directly, since we don't know who the Empress's spy is in the palace."

Without a Grandmaster-level expert to oversee things, the current situation is quite unstable. Today's events are truly bizarre. The timing of the Empress's summons to Luo Tianxuan and Hua Lianyue's entry into the palace is far too coincidental. Ziyu can't help but think of the worst-case scenario for the Empress, whom she has never met before.

"Furthermore, everyone in the Marquis of Champion's mansion, regardless of who they are, including the soldiers of the Silver Armor Guard, must travel in groups and must not be alone." After all, she was once the Holy Maiden of the Joyful Union Sect, and Ziyu was quite capable of handling emergency situations.

“I have been to the palace, and I know where the Empress’s residence is.” Gao Yang thought for a moment and said, “But the palace gates are locked right now, and I can’t get in.”

“I will take a group of people to go with the princess.” Lei Yi said in a deep voice, “Currently, there are more than two thousand silver-armored guards led by Zhang Han guarding the palace, so it is not too difficult to enter the palace.”

The matter was temporarily settled.

While searching for the carriage, Ziyu took the opportunity to check on the martial arts masters who had been dealt with by the Silver Armor Guards. As each of them removed their veils and their faces were examined, Ziyu's expression gradually became grave.

This group of skilled martial artists totaled fifty-four people.

All the bodies were gathered together, but there were only fifty-three.

One is missing.

The missing person was Kong Nianhan.

Although it's unclear how Kong Nianhan managed to escape despite being surrounded, she must have indeed managed to get away.

Upon careful recollection, it seems that when these martial arts masters were forced back by the archers outside the courtyard wall and regrouped in the backyard, Kong Nianhan was nowhere to be seen.

He is indeed not an easy person.

When the carriage arrived, Ziyu transferred Song Yan and Luo Yuheng into it. Then, escorted by 1,500 silver-armored guards, they returned to the Marquis's residence. As for Lei Yi, he led 1,000 silver-armored guards and headed straight for the palace with Gao Yang.

The carriage creaked and groaned.

Song Yan's neck rested on Zi Yu's legs.

Ziyu's figure is also quite good. Although she can't compare to Lin Xue's naturally long legs, her thighs are still round and jade-like with excellent elasticity. Using them as a pillow would be an unparalleled enjoyment.

Unfortunately, Song Yan was unaware of this enjoyment.

The clattering of hooves seemed to stir a restlessness within Zi Yu, causing an inexplicable irritation. Her expression became strange, her brows furrowed, and her eyes fixed intently on Song Yan's face. Although unconscious, Song Yan was still enduring immense pain, evident in the contortions on his face.

With her pearly white teeth gently biting her lower lip, Zi Yu inexplicably recalled the scene from before. Just when she was besieged by martial arts masters, with Kong Nianhan watching her covetously from the side, it was Song Yan who threw a thunderbolt that directly killed and injured many people, preventing her from falling into a heavy encirclement right at the start of the battle.

Judging from the timing of the Thunderclap Bomb, Song Yan made such a plan and preparation almost without any hesitation or delay, the moment Kong Nianhan's subordinates surrounded them.

This is hardly a wise decision.

After all, she wasn't an important person to Song Yan.

She was neither a relative of Song Yan nor his woman.

She was merely a sinner who had been punished by both Hua Lianyue and Luo Tianxuan for trying to harm Song Yan, and was just a servant by Song Yan's side.

In this era, is the fate of a servant determined by fortune telling?
Song Yan's more sensible decision would have been to watch her fight Kong Nianhan and the other martial arts figures until they were both severely injured or even killed. This would have significantly reduced the threat he faced. Song Yan threw out a devastating bomb, which, while killing many martial arts experts, also drew everyone's attention, making Kong Nianhan's killing intent directly focused on him… Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a sorry state.

Thinking this, Zi Yu's pretty face showed a complicated expression. Her slender, white fingers gently caressed Song Yan's pale cheek, and an indescribable emotion welled up in her eyes... She was very curious about what Song Yan was thinking when he made this decision.
He would rather bear some of the danger than watch her die.
Perhaps, she held a slightly heavier place in his heart than she imagined?
Does he also care about and value himself?

Even……

For some unknown reason, a slight blush suddenly appeared on Ziyu's face, and even her dark eyes were filled with a layer of mist.

Ah ah ah ah ah……

Ziyu made some strange and unpleasant sounds, and her small hands rubbed her face haphazardly, as if trying to suppress some bad thoughts in her mind.

After an unknown amount of time, Ziyu finally stopped, staring blankly at Song Yan's face. Her cheeks puffed out, and she silently pulled a pure white silk handkerchief from her sleeve, gently wiping away the bloodstains from Song Yan's face and lips. A strange, oppressive atmosphere filled the carriage; no one spoke, only shallow breathing and heartbeats echoed.

About fifteen minutes later, the carriage finally returned to the Marquis of Champion's residence.

Ziyu moved Song Yan and Luo Yuheng to the same room. Currently, she was the only one in the Marquis of Champion's mansion who could be considered a master. Putting the two together would make it easier to take care of and protect them. The room was surrounded by more than a thousand silver-armored guards, three layers deep, making it impossible to get through. Even if Kong Nianhan really had the courage to appear again, he would definitely not be able to break through these layers of blockade.

Seeing that Song Yan's face was abnormally red, he placed his hand on Song Yan's forehead.

It is scalding hot to the touch.

This is a fever.

Martial artists rarely fall ill, but if they suffer internal injuries, fever is a common symptom. Ziyu wasn't very knowledgeable about medicine, but she understood that a prolonged fever was extremely dangerous for anyone; even the strongest and healthiest person couldn't withstand the torment of illness. With a sigh, Ziyu finally went out.

Seeing the densely packed silver-armored guards surrounding the bedroom, Ziyu felt slightly relieved. Noticing that there was nothing on the roof, she pointed in that direction, and immediately several scouts quickly climbed onto the roof, their wary eyes scanning the surroundings, their crossbows already poised to fire.

"The Marquis is not feeling well. I'm going to find a doctor. Don't let anyone near him," Ziyu instructed in a calm voice.

For something as trivial as finding a doctor, it seems that Ziyu really needs to come in person.

On the one hand, although the Silver Armor Guards were numerous, they were new to Dongling and unfamiliar with the situation in the imperial city. They had no idea which way the clinic's door was open, and it would take a long time for them to find a doctor.

Secondly, although the Marquis of Champion's mansion has many maids, most of them are palace maids sent from the imperial palace. Ziyu doesn't know what their relationship is with the Empress, or whether they are spies planted by the Empress. If the doctor they find has problems, Song Yan will be in great danger.

Although the assassins who appeared today were led by Kong Nianhan, Ziyu still felt that the Empress was involved. It's always best to be cautious about something as important as the doctor… Moreover, Song Yan's internal injuries are extremely severe; his internal organs are damaged, his internal energy is depleted, and his meridians are disordered. Ordinary medicine probably won't be very effective.

Of course, Ziyu wouldn't leave for too long or too far; she wouldn't give anyone even the slightest chance to make a move.

After explaining everything, Ziyu tiptoed out of the Marquis's residence, tracing a graceful arc in the moonlight.

A night breeze caressed my face.

Curling up the fine, black hair.

Her fair and delicate face showed a slight dishevelment, so Ziyu raised her right hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

I looked around but didn't see anyone.

The inner city was very quiet late at night.

Ziyu gave a slightly mocking chuckle and walked towards an empty alley. Once she was completely enveloped in darkness, she stopped and said, "Come out!"

As soon as the voice fell, a gust of wind suddenly rose behind her. Turning around, Ziyu found that a human figure had appeared out of nowhere in the alley behind her. In the silvery moonlight, she could see an old woman with a hunched back, probably in her sixties or seventies. Her face was loose, with wrinkles crisscrossing her face. She was leaning on a cane, and her whole body was trembling.

It looked as if a strong gust of wind could blow it away.

Of course, Ziyu knew that this old woman was definitely not as simple as she appeared on the surface, and even she herself was not very confident in dealing with her.

The old woman held an even more revered position in the Hehuan sect.

Supreme Elder.

That person is of a higher seniority than the sect leader of the Hehuan Sect.

It is said that before the Grandmaster of the Hehuan Sect disappeared, this Supreme Elder was the Grandmaster's furnace.

Yes, one of them.

After all, decades ago, almost every female disciple of the Joyful Union Sect had engaged in dual cultivation with that Grandmaster. The number might have been hundreds, or it might have been thousands.

It is said that a major event occurred in the Hehuan Sect at that time. Subsequently, the Grandmaster disappeared, and some of the sect's powerful members either left to establish their own sects, mysteriously vanished, or died suddenly and tragically. Forty or fifty years later, only a few remained alive, and this old woman was one of them. As for what exactly happened back then, it has long been lost to the dust of time, and no one knows. Even this Supreme Elder, due to her lowly status at the time, had no way of knowing the sect's true secrets.

The legends surrounding that Grandmaster have spawned various versions. Some say that upon reaching the Grandmaster level, one's inner strength surges like a tidal wave, beyond human control, causing the Grandmaster to suffer a qi deviation and explode in death. Others say the Grandmaster went into seclusion, attempting to reach an even higher realm. Still others claim that the Grandmaster had already attained a state of transcendence, shattering the void and transcending this world…

Besides, even the current sect leader of the Hehuan Sect, and Hua Lianyue, the sect leader of the Su Nu Pavilion, all joined the Hehuan Sect many years after that Grandmaster died.

These thoughts arose in her mind, and Ziyu bowed to the old woman in front of her, saying, "Greetings, Elder Chen." Ziyu was slightly surprised by Elder Chen's appearance. She knew that ever since she was assigned to Song Yan's side, there had always been people from the Hehuan Sect staying not far from her residence, but she never expected that it would be someone like this.

The old woman chuckled, her wrinkled face revealing a sinister smile: "You're too kind, Holy Maiden. May I ask what brings you to this old woman so late at night?"

Ziyu frowned: "Elder Chen is joking. Ziyu is no longer a saintess. She has long been kicked out of the Hehuan Sect."

The old woman's smile deepened, and a strange, gurgling laugh came from her throat: "Holy Maiden, you are joking. You know perfectly well that stripping you of your Holy Maiden status was a last resort, a temporary measure. In the Sect Master's heart, there is no one else but Miss Ziyu who deserves the title of Holy Maiden."

"Otherwise, why would the sect leader arrange for me to live across from the Marquis's residence, and even specifically instruct me that no matter what the Holy Maiden asks for, I must agree to it?"

Zi Yu chuckled and said, "Very well. Then please ask Elder Chen to return to the Hehuan Sect and tell my master that I need a... Great Rejuvenation Pill."

Great return elixir.

The old woman, who had been calm and smiling all along, suddenly changed her expression upon hearing those three words, her eyes filled with surprise.

The Great Rejuvenation Pill is the most supreme medicine in the entire martial arts world.

It is said to have miraculous effects such as bringing the dead back to life, prolonging life and healing wounds, and enhancing internal energy... Of course, bringing the dead back to life may be a bit of an exaggeration, but prolonging life and healing wounds, and enhancing internal energy are real. There are only a few of these sacred medicines in the entire Buddhist sect. The reason why the Hehuan Sect has one is because the former sect leader once tempted the abbot of the Prajna Temple to break his vows, and only then did he manage to get one from him.

So much time has passed, and the Hehuan Sect has never been willing to take it, which shows how much they cherish this Great Rejuvenation Pill.

Now that Ziyu was asking for the Great Rejuvenation Pill, the old woman hesitated.

Zi Yu's face was cold and stern: "Song Yan has suffered extremely serious injuries and urgently needs the Great Rejuvenation Pill to save his life. Don't think I'm joking. Elder Chen can naturally see what the situation is like in the Marquis's mansion. I don't care about it, but if Song Yan dies, how can the Hehuan Sect's plan be implemented?"

plan!

The old woman's face darkened, as if she were pondering something. After a long while, she slowly raised her head and said, "In that case, I will explain to the sect leader, but I cannot guarantee whether the sect leader is willing to give up the Great Rejuvenation Pill."

As she spoke, the old woman nodded to Ziyu and slowly backed away.

"Wait a minute, does Elder Chen have any other healing medicines? Could I have some?" Ziyu said, blinking.

The old woman's face twitched, and she finally sighed helplessly. She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a porcelain bottle, and tossed it to Ziyu: "A bottle of Minor Rejuvenation Pills, use it for now."

After speaking, he retreated again. Although his movements seemed extremely slow, in just a few breaths, he completely disappeared into the darkness, leaving no trace.

Ziyu let out a soft breath.

She bit her lower lip with her pearly white teeth, not understanding why she was doing it.

She had no idea why her master would deliberately send her to Song Yan's side, even at the cost of offering up her virginity, to bewitch Song Yan at all costs... Perhaps he wanted to use Song Yan to accomplish something.

But what exactly could it be?

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Ziyu's mind, and an idea surged into her mind uncontrollably: It can't be...

Is it related to that grandmaster who disappeared long ago?

(End of this chapter)