“There are footsteps, quick, follow me!” Ning Hui’s expression changed, his hand gripping the knife tighter. Someone was definitely coming to rescue them. “If this is exposed, no one will survive!”
“Stop right there!” Not too late, they hadn’t been caught by Yun Qi, “Leave them, or don’t blame me for being merciless!”
The two saw Yun Qi rush into the room, quickly gathering their energy and jumping out the window, running across rooftops, with Yun Qi in hot pursuit.
Their lightness kung fu was inferior to Yun Qi’s.
Seeing they would soon be caught, Ning Hui ordered Xiao Ai: “Quickly, throw her down!” Carrying Xun Luo Xia had clearly slowed Xiao Ai down and dragged Ning Hui back.
Xiao Ai’s face was pale, at a loss. She still instinctively followed Ning Hui’s run. How could she do such a thing?
Ning Hui remembered Ning Fei’s instructions and spoke again: “If you don’t let go, I’ll knock you down too!” Hearing this, Xiao Ai’s survival instinct kicked in. She released her grip on Xun Luo Xia, who fell straight down. Ning Hui felt this wasn’t enough to escape Yun Qi’s pursuit, so he raised his hand and sent a wind to push Xun Luo Xia further away.
Seeing Xun Luo Xia pushed down, Yun Qi cursed “Despicable.” He had to choose between his lover and mother. He could not watch his mother fall to her death. Yun Qi’s heart sank, stopping abruptly and turning back to catch Xun Luo Xia. The moment he caught her, he could only watch Bing Zhi being taken away by the two, disappearing from view.
“Why? Why?” Tears flowed in Yun Qi’s heart. With nowhere to vent, he could only ask the heavens why he must face such obstacles and difficulties!
“
“Senior brother, I’m not someone who can’t handle life and death. Otherwise, how could I practice martial arts? I just feel a bit uncomfortable inside. I feel I’ve wronged her. And today I pushed her mother-in-law down from a height, not knowing if she’s alive or dead… They’ve always been kind to me.”
The man’s tone was gentle and persuasive: “I know, I know. We were forced. If we weren’t pushed to desperate measures, we wouldn’t do this. Do you want to watch me die? We won’t harm her. Leaving you to watch her is the same as taking care of her. We’ll give her a good room, good food. Except for losing her freedom, her life will be the same as before. As long as the person surnamed Yun withdraws from around Dragon Pride Manor, we can let her return to her husband and family. Her mother-in-law will definitely be rescued by the person surnamed Yun and will be safe.”
Xiao Ai felt more comfortable hearing her senior brother, but then asked: “Why haven’t I seen your elder brother for so long?”
The man spoke cryptically: “Just remember that this person no longer exists. From now on, I am the master of this entire Dragon Pride Manor.”
Xiao Ai softly responded, lost in thought.
“Alright, junior sister, stop thinking about it! Trust your senior brother. Everything will pass, and then…”
Correction report:
Xiao Ai interpreted his unfinished words as promises of staying together, her tone filled with happiness. “Okay, senior brother, go rest.”
Bing Zhi had been calmly listening to their conversation, trying to deduce the man’s identity in the darkness, wanting to open her eyes but unable to find any strength. The dose Ning Hui used to knock her out was indeed ruthless!
Xiao Ai gently walked to Bing Zhi’s bed. Ah! Xiao Ai noticed that Bing Zhi’s hand was still tightly gripping the jade pendant. She often saw Bing Zhi staring at it in a daze, so she felt the jade might have an unusual significance.
Xiao Ai reached out to take the jade from Bing Zhi’s hand and help restring it. But when she tried to pry open Bing Zhi’s hand, Bing Zhi suddenly opened her eyes, seemingly wanting to grip the pendant tightly but lacking the strength, only able to stare at Xiao Ai as she took the jade away.
Xiao Ai wanted to speak, but her gaze paused, and she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. She understood Bing Zhi’s look – she had already lost Bing Zhi’s trust.
“You can only lie down now.”
Ning Hui seemed angry today and was quite harsh with you. Don’t worry, the jade will be safe with me.” Xiao Ai sat back and calmly began threading her needle.
“Xiao Ai, how old are you really? Don’t lie to me anymore.” Bing Zhi looked at the jade in Xiao Ai’s hand and asked, only now beginning to doubt Xiao Ai’s true age, as her words, actions, and demeanor were unlike those of an inexperienced young girl.
Xiao Ai gave a bitter smile, looking at Bing Zhi through the mirror with a bitter expression: “What do I have to lie to you about now? My appearance has always looked four or five years younger than my actual age. I’m actually twenty this year, which makes me older than you. You calling me Xiao Ai has mixed up our generations! My surname is Ai, single name Xue. As for how you’ll address me in the future, suit yourself.”
So that was it – she was even older! Bing Zhi’s gaze clearly showed surprise and heartache, and she questioned: “So, you’ve been involved in this conspiracy from the very beginning? That’s why you never told me the truth?”
Ning Fei seemed to be smiling yet not smiling. “Lady Yun, please don’t be anxious. Today, I will negotiate with the Young Palace Master. I believe you are still important in Young Palace Master Yun’s heart.”
“Why are you coming to negotiate? Where is your brother Ning Shi?”
“My brother? Hah! He has long been underground, so how could he come to negotiate? Naturally, I must take over the management of the entire manor.”
“I’m afraid it was you who did it.” Bing Zhi knew Ning Fei would not take her life at this moment, so her words were less restrained.
Ning Fei did not deny it, and showed no remorse, “So what if it was me? Ning Shi has managed our Ao Long Manor for so many years, yet the manor’s power has not expanded at all. If I manage it, I will make it dominate the martial arts world, overshadowing the first of the three palaces, the Lonely Hawk Palace!”
Bing Zhi was momentarily stunned by Ning Fei’s hidden ambition.
Ning Fei laughed strangely, “Lady Yun, don’t worry. I just want to ask Young Palace Master to spare me and Ao Long Manor. Lady Yun is kind-hearted and surely doesn’t want to see bloodshed.”
“Have you thought about Falling Glow Palace’s lives?! Do you think dying without clarity can console their families?!” Bing Zhi raised her voice. “I believe in my husband. He will never compromise, and he will always find a way to rescue me.”
Ning Fei’s face became ferocious, “I am also ten-tenths confident that he cannot rescue you. I have planted explosives around this entire room, even throughout the entire manor. If anyone forcibly enters, I will detonate the explosives. At worst, we’ll die together!”
Bing Zhi’s face turned pale. What should she do? Yun Qi would definitely come to save her, but that would put him in danger!
She believed that with Ning Fei’s ambition, even if Yun Qi were willing to spare him, Ning Fei would not let Yun Qi escape unscathed! The explosives would likely be detonated no matter what! Now, she could only try to convince Ai Xue to help her escape.
