“Ha — I am doing this for A’Jiu. How could he hate me for it?”

Madam Butterfly paid not the slightest attention to Leng Yue’s words.

Even if A’Jiu hated her afterward, that would only be a passing thing. Once time had gone by and A’Jiu had forgotten Feng Jiu’er, he would be grateful for her decisiveness in that moment, for having preserved his life.

After all, A’Jiu still bore a burden on his shoulders that was heavy and weighty beyond measure. He absolutely could not come to harm.

“Since you understand this, hand her over to me. I will not hurt you.” Madam Butterfly stepped inside.

Leng Yue’s brow furrowed more tightly, yet she showed no intention of stopping her. “Where is my foster father?”

“He is perfectly fine — only sitting in the side hall for a while. Go and tend to him.”

In this moment, the only person in Madam Butterfly’s eyes was Feng Jiu’er, asleep on the bed.

She walked to the bedside, staring at the sleeping girl, gazing at her fair and delicate neck — as though she could see the blood flowing slowly within.

In this moment, Madam Butterfly’s eyes — which had grown so accustomed to their placid, undisturbed calm — were now flooded with an agitated fervor.

As long as she brought her back, A’Jiu would return to the A’Jiu of the past — he would no longer have such wayward thoughts over a girl, no longer be so disobedient, no longer keep his mind on the world outside.

As long as this girl’s blood could revive A’Jiu, let A’Jiu live well…

She reached out her hand, just about to touch Feng Jiu’er on the bed.

Suddenly, from behind her came a thunderous shout: “Let her go!”

A tremendous boom — that palm strike came surging forward and was met head-on by Madam Butterfly’s own palm in return.

The entire room seemed to shudder as though the earth itself had moved. Long Eleven and Long Twelve, standing guard outside, instantly snapped back to their senses.

Seeing Hu Shuang attempting to force her way inside, the two of them at once stepped forward to intercept.

When Qiao Mu returned, she found several figures locked in combat in the courtyard.

The only one who remained undisturbed was Feng Jiu’er, still asleep on the bed, and Leng Yue, standing guard at her side.

Watching as Long Eleven and Long Twelve gradually began to lose ground against Hu Shuang’s assault, Qiao Mu’s hand moved to her waist. With a sharp ring of metal, the Dragon Tongue Silver Spear swept toward Hu Shuang’s vital point in an instant.

Hu Shuang had not expected there to be another skilled fighter here — and moreover, this person’s martial arts were entirely on par with her own!

With Qiao Mu joining the fight, combined with Long Eleven and Long Twelve, Hu Shuang’s side gradually began to show signs of losing ground.

Madam Butterfly and Emperor Ji were still locked in struggle. Seeing that Emperor Ji was truly doing everything in his power to stop her, Madam Butterfly said in anger, “Do you truly not care whether A’Jiu lives or dies?”

“Whether I care about Wu Ya is one matter — but today, I will not allow you to take Feng Jiu’er away!”

He had made a promise to Wu Ya to protect Feng Jiu’er’s safety. He could not back down from that!

Wu Ya had entrusted her to him out of trust. No matter what, he could not do something that would let Wu Ya down!

Madam Butterfly was overcome with a surge of frustration. Yet this Emperor Ji, who appeared so utterly unremarkable, had inner power that was, unexpectedly, profoundly deep.

Another tremendous boom — Madam Butterfly was sent stumbling back several paces by the force of the blow.

Hu Shuang’s heart seized with alarm. Pushing back Long Twelve with a single palm, she rushed over quickly and caught her. “Madam!”

Madam Butterfly felt a churning of blood and energy in her chest, and she glared at Emperor Ji. At last she swept her long sleeve with a flourish, lightly touched her toes to the ground, and leaped away with Hu Shuang.

Qiao Mu moved to give chase, but Emperor Ji, his voice hoarse, called out from behind, “Do not pursue a desperate enemy!”

They had no real enmity with Madam Butterfly. Madam Butterfly had come here only to take Feng Jiu’er away.

Since she had now given up and left, pursuing her would serve no purpose whatsoever. Moreover…

Once Madam Butterfly and Hu Shuang had moved far enough away, Emperor Ji’s complexion suddenly changed. His mouth opened, and a great rush of fresh blood surged out.

He was injured!

“My Lord!” Several people came rushing over. Qiao Mu immediately took his wrist, intending to channel her inner energy into him.

But Emperor Ji withdrew his hand and said in a low, firm voice, “How is the girl?”

“She is inside — Leng Yue is watching over her.” Qiao Mu had indeed seen Leng Yue inside watching over Feng Jiu’er when she had returned just now.

But now that she thought of it — had it not been strangely quiet inside?

Leng Yue had been inside all along, and yet she had not once come out to help?

For some reason, the moment Qiao Mu and Emperor Ji exchanged a glance, the same sense of foreboding struck them both at once.

Qiao Mu spun around and strode quickly into the room. Long Eleven followed close at her heels. Long Twelve pushed Emperor Ji’s wheelchair and followed them inside as well.

But… Feng Jiu’er was gone!

Inside the room, there were traces of a struggle, but not many things had been damaged. Yet Leng Yue was nowhere to be seen, and Feng Jiu’er was no longer on the bed.

They had been entirely focused on dealing with the enemy outside and had paid no attention to the two people inside the room. Had someone taken advantage of the chaos to slip in and take Feng Jiu’er away?

Damned — none of them had known anything at all!

They should never have sealed Feng Jiu’er’s pressure points. If she had been conscious, she would at least have had the ability to protect herself.

But if they had not sealed her pressure points — if they had not let her fall unconscious — she would have found her own way back to Butterfly Valley. She simply would not have abandoned her Ninth Imperial Uncle.

Yet now — where was Feng Jiu’er? And where was Leng Yue?

The window was thrown wide open. Without a second thought, Qiao Mu leaped out after them.

Emperor Ji, Long Eleven, Long Twelve, and the others gave chase at full speed as well.

The rear courtyard was utterly still. Qiao Mu traced the direction at a run, heading toward the front of the inn. Finally, at a street corner, she found Leng Yue, collapsed in a pool of blood.

“Leng Yue, are you all right?” Qiao Mu crossed over and lifted her up.

Leng Yue had taken a sword strike to the shoulder. The wound was not light — blood was flowing steadily from it, and she was still somewhat dazed and disoriented.

“Where is Jiu’er?” Qiao Mu had no desire to put her through more distress at a moment like this, but if she did not regain consciousness, there would be no one to tell her where Feng Jiu’er was.

“Was it people from Butterfly Valley? Was it?”

“I… don’t know. They wore… night-stalker garments. They went… that way…” Leng Yue pointed toward another direction along the street, but then her breath gave out completely — her eyes rolled back, and she fell unconscious.

“Leng Yue!”

This time, no matter how Qiao Mu shook her, she would not wake.

Night-stalker garments… but the women of Butterfly Valley all favored white robes — would they wear black garments for night movement?

Seeing Emperor Ji and the others arrive, Qiao Mu set Leng Yue down and said, “She says it was people in black. I will go and look. You all stay with her.”

Feng Jiu’er was gone. Though Leng Yue was gravely injured, Qiao Mu had no heart to tend to her now.

For her, finding Feng Jiu’er was the most important thing at this moment.

Following the direction Leng Yue had indicated, Qiao Mu set off at her fastest pace.

Emperor Ji had moved too quickly — blood and energy surged inside him again, and he coughed up another mouthful of fresh blood.

Long Eleven and Long Twelve were caught in an impossible dilemma.

“Long Eleven, you stay and look after them. I will go after Leng Yue.” With those words tossed behind him, Long Twelve immediately set off in pursuit, without a half-moment’s hesitation. Everyone knew how important Jiu’er was to His Highness. Whether he would be beheaded for dereliction of duty — that did not matter now. What mattered was that Jiu’er had to be found and brought back.