“Brother Lu… looking at your face, it seems like you’ve made some discovery?” Li Shunxi finally gave voice to the question weighing on him.
After another fruitless search, the group gathered beneath the withered tree at the center of the courtyard. Lu Sheng heard him but only continued sweeping his gaze across their dim surroundings.
They were the only ones in the pitch-black courtyard. Every room around them lay silent, empty, lifeless.
“Someone’s not here yet. Where’s that Miss Gong Rumeng?” he suddenly said.
The words jolted everyone; only then did they realize Gong Rumeng was missing. Gong Ruqing’s expression tightened in confusion.
“Isn’t my sister right behind me?” she asked. She had felt someone following her the entire way and had even exchanged a few words with her sister moments ago.
“Are you sure?” Lu Sheng looked directly at her.
The others followed suit, turning their attention to Gong Ruqing.
Behind her stood a woman in a white dress. But her face was hidden behind Gong Ruqing’s hair, and so they had all simply assumed she was Gong Rumeng.
Now, that woman stood utterly still, silent as a statue, hands limp at her sides.
“But she’s clearly behind me…” Gong Ruqing’s voice died as her face drained of color. The others’ gazes fixed on the figure behind her—first in confusion, then in dawning terror.
If that wasn’t Gong Rumeng… then who had been trailing her this whole time?
Every hair on her body bristled; goosebumps swept across her in a single wave. Trembling, she began to turn.
“Don’t turn around!!!” Li Shunxi shot forward like an arrow, grabbing her shoulders and yanking her back.
Boom!
They collided heavily. At the same time, silver sparks burst from Li Shunxi’s hand—something metallic flicked out toward the woman in white.
A heartbeat later, the world wavered. Their vision blurred—and the woman in white vanished without a trace.
The silver spark hit the ground with a sharp clink, spinning in tight circles before coming to a halt.
It was a palm-sized silver top.
Li Shunxi lay pinned to the ground beneath Gong Ruqing. Their position was painfully awkward—her arms wrapped around him like the desperate grip of an octopus, clinging for dear life in her terror.
“Miss Qingqing, it’s alright now. It’s alright now… will you let go of me first?” Li Shunxi managed, caught between laughing and crying.
Only then did the others snap out of their shock. The two guards rushed over and helped the pair back to their feet.
Lu Sheng’s brows were drawn tightly together. Beside him, Duan Meng’an trembled uncontrollably, drenched in cold sweat.
“B… Boss… let’s get out of this manor first…”
Lu Sheng shot him a glare but said nothing. None of them had seen the woman in white’s face, nor how she had vanished. Whatever Li Shunxi had used clearly had some effect.
“That was a Soul of the Will. No one should split up now… it’s hard to fully explain how dangerous these things are.” Li Shunxi dusted off his robes as he stood. “From this point on, do not move more than ten meters away from me. If I’m right, the key to this manor lies within these withered trees.” He pointed toward the gnarled trunk in the courtyard, lowering his voice.
Lu Sheng glanced at him. “Brother Li, care to share your insights?”
Li Shunxi answered steadily, “To find those who’ve gone missing, we may need to destroy all the withered trees in this manor.”
“Withered trees?” Lu Sheng’s expression remained unchanged.
“I suspect these trees are the source and heart of the formation here,” Li Shunxi continued.178Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguzALBp6LG
“So one task is to destroy them. The second is to locate a metallic object in the central bedroom from earlier. That should be the true eye of the formation.”
“We can try walking toward the manor’s exit,” Lu Sheng cut in abruptly.
Li Shunxi stopped mid-thought and met his gaze.
“Looks like Brother Lu disagrees with me. Leaving the manor now won’t do any good.”
“We can try,” Lu Sheng replied, his tone icy and flat.
Li Shunxi held his stare for a long moment before slowly nodding.
“Alright then. Since Brother Lu says so… we can also escort these people who can’t help much out of the manor and ensure their safety first.”
“But my sister…!” Gong Ruqing’s pale face tightened with worry.
“We’ll come back to look for her,” Li Shunxi reassured her with a gentle smile. He reached forward and pulled her into his arms, her forehead brushing against his chest.
Gong Ruqing’s cheeks flushed crimson. Lost and terrified, she had no one else to cling to; Li Shunxi was her only anchor. From his attire and bearing, she could tell he came from a family far wealthier than hers—perhaps even aristocratic. It felt natural to lean on him.
In his embrace, she gave a token struggle before yielding, allowing him to hold her softly.
“Don’t worry. With me and Brother Lu here, your sister will be fine,” Li Shunxi promised lightly.
“Mm.” Gong Ruqing nodded, her voice barely a whisper.
The guards let out a collective sigh of relief. This manor was far too strange for their liking. Had they dared, they would’ve abandoned their young miss and run long ago. Naturally, they welcomed the suggestion to leave.
Duan Meng’an was equally relieved, nearly sagging with gratitude.
Once their plan was agreed upon, the group began moving toward the manor’s main gate.
But halfway there, an unease crept over all of them. The gate, plainly visible ahead, refused to draw closer. Even after hundreds of steps, they remained more than ten meters away.
Li Shunxi narrowed his eyes and shot Lu Sheng a knowing look—as if saying he had been right all along.
“Y-Young Master…” Duan Meng’an stammered, trembling as he kept close to Lu Sheng. “H-have we… have we run into ghosts…?”
Lu Sheng’s expression darkened. He said nothing.
“Something’s wrong indeed.”
Li Shunxi stopped, his tone turning cold. “There’s still something suspicious in that underground cellar. I intend to take another look. Are you coming, Brother Lu? That should be the nexus of this manor.”
Lu Sheng gave a small shake of his head.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying put.”
Li Shunxi paused, taken aback. “You’re serious, Brother Lu?”
“Of course,” Lu Sheng replied without hesitation.
Li Shunxi studied him for a long moment, then let out a soft smile. “Very well. Everyone, choose whom you will follow. I’m heading to the cellar. Brother Lu will be staying here.”
Gong Ruqing and her two guards glanced back and forth between them.
To one side stood Li Shunxi—refined as carved jade, his presence calm and distinguished.178Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHVCLzsT56
To the other stood Lu Sheng—expression dark, mood unreadable.
“This humble girl will follow Young Master Li,” Gong Ruqing declared, her voice firm.
“Then we’ll stay with Young Master Li as well!” her guards echoed quickly. After witnessing Li Shunxi’s earlier display of skill, he seemed far more capable than the dull and silent Lu Sheng.
Duan Meng’an’s knees wobbled, and for a moment he almost moved to join them. But one look at Lu Sheng—standing coldly in front of him—made him plant his feet and stay.
The result was clear: four stood behind Li Shunxi, while only two remained with Lu Sheng.
Both young men wore the clothing of the wealthy, but the contrast in followers spoke volumes.
“In that case, I wish Brother Lu peace and safety while you remain here,” Li Shunxi said, his tone carrying layered meaning. With a turn of his robes, he led the others toward the backyard.
As they walked, silent disdain flickered in the eyes of Gong Ruqing and her guards.178Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bPL0zM4QP
‘This Young Master Lu clearly has no courage. Just wants to protect himself. Young Master Li is willing to risk everything to rescue the missing, but him… he’s nothing in comparison.’
Lu Sheng watched them leave without a word.
Li Shunxi stepped along the side of the house, his almond-shaped eyes narrowing in thought. He still couldn’t fathom why Lu Sheng would choose to remain at the exit.
In these circumstances, merely standing there was pointless—nothing more than a waste of precious time.
‘I wonder what Brother Lu is thinking… to choose something so—’
A sudden, sharp pulse of danger surged up his spine. He snapped his head around.
Behind him stretched only a wall of dense darkness—still, silent, and empty as a grave.
Where were Gong Ruqing and the others who had been right behind him just moments earlier? Had they vanished in an instant, just like the others?
“Miss Qingqing?” Li Shunxi called out, heart tightening.
His voice echoed through the manor’s night air—yet no reply came.
“An illusion?” A yellow talisman slipped into his hand. With a flick of his finger, he pierced it cleanly, activating its power.
In an instant, clarity returned. Gong Ruqing and the rest stood around him once more—motionless, rigid, as if frozen in place. Only their eyeballs rolled wildly within their sockets, pupils blown wide and unfocused.
A single glance told Li Shunxi they were ensnared in an illusion. Swiftly, he produced more talismans, pointing at each of them in turn.
“Miss Qingqing, are you alright?” He caught Gong Ruqing as her body sagged, weak and unsteady.
“I’m… I’m alright…” Her beautiful face was bone-white, her voice trembling with fear.
After steadying her, Li Shunxi fell into deep thought once again. If an illusion had been cast so close to him, he should have sensed it—yet even he had been trapped without realizing it.
“Young Master, if it hadn’t been for you…” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she leaned closer, her soft figure pressing against him.
That gentle warmth made his thoughts spark chaotically. A fierce, reckless impulse surged in his mind—an urge to reach out and touch her forbidden places.
“CHI!”
A sudden grimace twisted his features. He shoved Gong Ruqing away with force.
A streak of silver sliced through the gap between them. Gong Ruqing’s hand gripped a short sword, swinging it toward his chest with vicious intent.
Fortunately, he moved in time—escaping with only a shallow gash across his chest. Blood trickled steadily, but the wound wasn’t fatal.
“Miss Qingqing…! You…!?” he exclaimed—only to see her whirl around and drive the short sword straight into the abdomen of one of her guards.
“What’s wrong with me?! Young Master Li, help me!!!” Gong Ruqing cried out, terror twisting her features. Her body jerked uncontrollably, the short sword in her hand slashing wildly in every direction. She shoved the stunned guard aside with unnatural strength and lunged straight at Li Shunxi.
Li Shunxi parried left, dodged right—yet Gong Ruqing’s movements had grown frighteningly swift, her strikes heavy and precise. After only a few exchanges, he found himself forced back, barely keeping up.
Gritting his teeth, he reached into his waist pouch and pulled out a dark golden hammer. Intricate, ancient patterns coiled across its surface like living veins.
But when he looked at Gong Ruqing—her tear-streaked face twisted in agony—his resolve faltered. She wasn’t his enemy. She was possessed. Striking her would be no different from killing her with his own hands.
That single heartbeat of hesitation cost him dearly.
A sharp arc of silver cut across the air, and he took another vicious slash.
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