After watching them leave, Na Tuo’s expression—originally filled with fury yet comprehension—suddenly twisted together.

His eyes darkened!

The hand inside his robe clenched tightly.

All of this was observed by Gong Shilin standing at the doorway.

He slowly walked in from outside, his gaze falling on the corpse on the ground.

The bright red blood flowing from the corpse’s throat covered the floor, as if about to stain the soles of his shoes.

A thick, heavy scent of blood also filled the entire main hall.

Pungent and foul-smelling.

Enough to make one vomit.

Gong Shilin’s expression was extremely unpleasant—whether because of the assassination attempt just now or because of that corpse and the pungent smell of blood, one couldn’t say.

He walked to Na Tuo’s side, staring at the other’s sharply defined profile, and asked: “Why did you do this?”

With a questioning tone!

Clearly, he had completely seen through the purpose of that assassination scene just now.

Na Tuo was not surprised. He withdrew his gaze from outside the door and turned it toward Gong Shilin beside him.

He said: “You’re asking why I did this?”

Turning the question back on him!

He didn’t know.

Na Tuo laughed coldly: “Last time an assassin appeared in my manor and nearly took my life, yet the person escaped. I had people search for a long time with no results! Now there’s still a ball of fire burning in my heart that hasn’t dissipated. If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t have been outmaneuvered by that Yan in front of Father, nearly losing everything! And that man surnamed Jing—the first time I saw him in the City Bureau’s morgue, I found him extremely familiar. How could I possibly forget those eyes full of killing intent?”

“So you suspect?”

“That’s right, I deliberately wanted to test his martial arts skills.” Na Tuo said, “I wanted to see whether he was the one who boldly broke into my manor that night.”

“So what have you proven now?”

“The black-clothed man that night had very high martial arts skills and extremely cruel methods—his martial arts were definitely above those of these warriors in my manor. But just now, I saw he had no ability to fight back at all, only able to keep dodging. His movements were clumsy, his kung fu seemingly mediocre—just some self-defense techniques! If I hadn’t ordered someone to stop that warrior, they might have already died here, so… he probably isn’t the assassin I’m looking for!”

Na Tuo knitted his brow. Though some doubt remained in his heart, seeing was believing—Jingrong’s skills were indeed different from the person who attempted the assassination that night.

After listening, Gong Shilin had concerns: “Although you’ve proven he isn’t the assassin who attacked you that night, but… I’m afraid your actions this time will make Master Ji and Young Master Jing suspicious. You originally intended to win them over, yet you staged such a scene behind their backs. In the future, if you want to gain such talents, I’m afraid it will take much more effort.”

“Of course I thought of that, but to find the assassin, I’ll pay any price. Besides, who in this world doesn’t love wealth? Doesn’t love power? As long as the conditions I offer are enticing enough, they’ll definitely be used by me.”

Resounding with certainty!

Extremely confident.

I’m afraid, child, you’re overthinking this.

Gong Shilin said nothing.

But sighed inwardly.

This prince truly doesn’t understand how to conduct affairs!

Even if he becomes Prince of Huyi in the future, he probably won’t be able to withstand others’ schemes.

But he couldn’t very well say anything.

After all, Na Tuo was even more stubborn than Li Cheng.

Afterward, Na Tuo looked at the warrior on the ground whose throat he had sealed with one sword stroke, saying: “What a pity I had to sacrifice a warrior. Such a waste.” Shaking his head repeatedly, he ordered the guards, “Drag him out and give him a proper burial.”

“Yes!”

The guards carried the body out, and those frightened maids from earlier also quickly brought cleaning supplies to tidy up the chaotic main hall!

…

Outside the prince’s manor.

The three emerged.

Li Cheng nudged Jingrong and asked: “What exactly happened just now?”

Jingrong’s expression was cold as he replied: “Just a jianghu blood feud.”

“Really?”

“Didn’t you see it yourself?”

“How would you have blood enemies?” Li Cheng was half-convinced.

Jingrong smiled: “Who doesn’t have a few enemies!”

Pfft—

With that said, Li Cheng was rendered speechless.

Indeed, who doesn’t have a few enemies!

He himself had been enemies with Gong Shilin since childhood, and those young ladies in Gaoding City with whom he’d had dealings all regarded him as an enemy too.

“You’re right. Walking the jianghu, you’re bound to encounter a few life-threatening enemies. But your enemy is truly formidable—actually able to infiltrate the Third Prince’s manor to assassinate you.” Li Cheng said.

As for the real meaning behind it, Jingrong didn’t explain in detail to him.

At this moment, it was already very late!

Since Li Cheng’s route home was different from theirs, they could only part ways.

After Jingrong and Ji Yinshu boarded the carriage, both their expressions suddenly became grave.

Ji Yinshu gripped his hand: “Could the Third Prince have discovered something?”

“Don’t worry. He just wanted to test my martial arts to determine whether I was the one who went to his manor to assassinate him that night. Fortunately, I was already prepared and didn’t strike, so he couldn’t tell. Otherwise… he wouldn’t have let us leave!”

“True, but…”

“You want to ask whether he had other purposes tonight besides testing me?”

Yes, this fellow was absolutely the roundworm in Ji Yinshu’s belly.

Just like a biological roundworm!

Ji Yinshu nodded slightly and said: “I’m afraid he’s like that second Prince of Huyi—both intending to win us over as retainers, which is why tonight’s banquet was held.”

“If that’s really the case, it would actually be good.” Jingrong said.

“Why do you say that?”

“At least for now, we’re neutral! We’re neither their friends nor their enemies. If there’s going to be a struggle, it’s between those two ambitious princes. So before we solve Du Mubai’s case, we won’t have any trouble. And after the case is solved, once we find out Chahe’s identity through Young Master Cheng, we’ll withdraw completely!”

Ji Yinshu: “Everything can only be thus.”

Only by temporarily maintaining neutrality could they avoid harm from either side.

Let the two extremely ambitious princes fight each other to the death—at least it won’t reach them yet.

As the carriage gradually moved away from the Third Prince’s manor—

Suddenly a strong wind arose.

Lifting the thin curtain of the carriage window.

Cold wind rushed straight in.

Ji Yinshu shivered.

Jingrong instinctively held her tighter, then pressed the curtain down.

But in that instant, his gaze fell on a certain place outside and remained motionless.

Slightly shocked!

He immediately shouted: “Stop!”

His voice was loud.

The guard driving the carriage outside suddenly pulled the reins.

The horse neighed, then suddenly halted.

The carriage jolted violently as a result!

Fortunately, Jingrong was already protecting Ji Yinshu, so she wasn’t injured.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Jingrong’s brow furrowed high.

The guard outside asked: “Your Highness, what’s the matter?”

Jingrong got out of the carriage, his gaze fixed on a white kite floating above the Third Prince’s manor.

His heart trembled!

Jing Xuan!