Rustling sounds...
Fang Zhou picked up the chamber pot placed in the corner and walked awkwardly towards the bedroom. This scene infuriated Lou Huixiang, who was recuperating on the bed in the bedroom. He cursed, "What the hell are you doing, taking a shit in front of ?"
Hearing this, Fang Zhou stopped in his tracks, his expression unnaturally awkward as he replied softly, "It’s getting... getting dark now, I can’t just go outside..."
"If you dare shit inside this room, I’ll fucking kill you!" Lou Huixiang was seething with pent-up anger, having been fed up with Fang Zhou for a while.
"It’s fine, go to the opposite room; the door is open," said Nalan Shuo, whose words seed to get Fang Zhou out of the encirclent, as there was still so ti left before nightfall.
After thanking him, Fang Zhou clutched his stomach with one hand and the chamber pot with the other, and, facing the setting sun, trotted to the room he was staying in, not far away. As Nalan Shuo had ntioned, he opened the room door and entered the bedroom inside.
After entering the bedroom, Fang Zhou set down the chamber pot and listened carefully. Hearing no one following him, he reached into his bosom and took out a folded square piece of paper.
The paper had been given to him by the Great Mage and was hidden inside the wrapping of the Divine Turtle Shell. When the bundle was thrown to him, it was concealed within.
Linking this to the words the Great Mage spoke to him before his death, Fang Zhou was convinced that the mage had sothing to say to him but had to resort to this thod of passing on a ssage due to the presence of others.
He unfolded the note cautiously while keeping alert for any sound from outside. The ssage contained only a few words.
"Follow upon seeing the coffin, wane at the full moon, ascend in despair, do no good deeds."
Staring at the words on the note, Fang Zhou determined it was so kind of prophecy or a cryptic ssage, sothing that could potentially save his life.
He struggled internally with whether or not to share this note with everyone. Nalan Shuo and Yang Xiao had treated him well, but the last four words stopped him from doing so: do no good deeds, do no good deeds!
"Are you dead in there? If not, make a sound!" Suddenly, Lou Huixiang’s shout ca from the opposite room, his voice indicating he wished for Fang Zhou’s demise.
Quickly putting away the note, Fang Zhou pretended to be weak and drained from diarrhea, replying in a hoarse voice, "I’m fine, just a stomach upset, it’s almost over, almost there!"
"Useless fool..." Lou Huixiang muttered, cursing under his breath, prompting Jiang Qingluan to frown slightly.
"Cut the chatter."
Lou Huixiang only shut up when Nalan Shuo spoke up. Lying on the bed, the injury on his shoulder made him restless. He couldn’t understand why, with so many people around, that old man chose to hack at him, despite him being new to the place.
After Fang Zhou returned, everyone closed the door and hastened to rest.
Ti ticked by, second by second, and as the night deepened, a prepared Nalan Shuo gathered everyone to discuss the night’s actions. He and Jiang Qingluan were responsible for sneaking out to send a ssage to Prince Qi, with the others coordinating their movents.
However, just as everyone sat around the table discussing details of the plan, suddenly, unmistakable footsteps ca from outside the courtyard. The heavy boots hit the ground, creating a series of dull thuds. Yang Xiao furrowed his brow—these were not footsteps of martial masters or servants from the mansion but soldiers!
In no ti, a troop of soldiers dressed in military uniforms burst into the courtyard, pounded on the door, and a man with a full beard burst in as the door was opened.
"What’s going on..." Nalan Shuo feigned a just-awoken appearance, looking sowhat panicked at the newcor.
"By order of Prince Qi, he summons you now," the bearded hulk commanded.
By then, Yang Xiao and the others had a clear view of the arriving party. These n were dressed relatively lavishly, well-built, well-trained, and all bore the character "Qi" on their chests, likely the personal soldiers of the Vassal King, Prince Qi.
But why would Prince Qi take notice of them, re minor figures? Could it be... that the plot of the Earl Mansion was exposed, and Prince Qi wanted to interrogate them?
"Please wait a mont; we’ll pack up our things," Nalan Shuo still thought to delay, to adapt to the changes.
"Pack what?" To everyone’s surprise, the brawny leader glared and kicked over the table, the teapot and bowls clattering and smashing to the ground. "Co with us now; who dares defy Prince Qi’s commands?"
Without further discussion, the soldiers outside drew their swords, holding gleaming blades nacingly in hand, ready to slaughter them all at any sign of resistance. Seeing this, everyone had no choice but to obediently follow, heading to et Prince Qi.
"With Prince Qi’s high authority, everyone be sure not to speak out of turn," Nalan Shuo reminded with seemingly respectful intent as they walked.
This was actually a signal to everyone—the journey was extrely dangerous; one false step could ruin everything. If Prince Qi asked questions, veterans like him from the world of martial arts would handle it.
On the way, Yang Xiao noticed that sothing was amiss. Not a single servant from the mansion was seen, and crucial positions were guarded by soldiers, each ard with a sword and torch, their faces grim and cold, emanating a formidable Evil Qi.
Chang Chuchu was so scared that she didn’t dare to breathe heavily. She knew sothing had gone wrong, most likely the Earl Mansion’s plan had been exposed. Indeed, this Vassal King was no easy mark.
After a short while, Yang Xiao and his company were brought to a large courtyard, heavily guarded at the entrance. Bloodstains marred the steps outside the gate, and several bodies were piled up carelessly, bearing ghastly wounds, making the scene gruesoly bloody.
The clothing on the bodies clearly identified them as servants from the mansion. Getting closer, Fang Zhou stole a glance at the bodies, recognizing the face of the one on top; it seed to be the scar-faced martial master who frequently followed Steward Wu.
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