◎Coming to save you◎

While Luo Wanqing was frantically running toward the dungeon, Xie Heng sat in his room, calculating the time.

His blood could neutralize poison, but his bones were highly toxic.

So he ground bone powder into this lamp. Besides him, no one else could enter this room. But this lamp could only burn for two hours at most. That explosion just now should have been Cui Heng making his move. If he acted, Cui Heng should arrive within two hours.

If he couldn’t get in…

Xie Heng lowered his eyes, clearly understanding that he too should die.

After his death, Luo Wanqing should be able to smoothly obtain Xie Minran’s internal energy.

Once she got Xie Minran’s internal energy, she would have the power to protect herself. When Cui Heng attacked the mountain and Ji Ruifang sent people to kill him, with Xie Minran dead, in such chaos, she should—perhaps—be able to escape.

This was the last chance at survival he had won for her.

As for the Supervision Department…

Cui Heng was still alive, the item was in hand. Cui Heng should have his own plans, which were no longer his to manage.

Having calculated all possible futures and prepared for even the worst outcomes, Xie Heng felt at ease. Just as he was about to meditate, he heard fighting sounds from outside the door.

Xie Heng listened for a moment, then stood and walked to the door, rolling a medicine pill in his blood and waiting by the entrance.

The fighting sounds quickly disappeared, and hurried footsteps approached. Moments later, Xing Ling suddenly opened the door. In that instant, Xie Heng directly pressed the pill into Xing Ling’s mouth.

Xing Ling froze in place. When she realized what had happened, she looked up in surprise: “Young Master?”

“Antidote.”

Xie Heng explained coldly, glancing at the corpses around.

Intimidated by the poisonous gas from his bone powder, there weren’t many people near his cell. After Xing Ling killed two guards who had been forced to watch here, the entire prison was empty.

He turned back into the room to get the lamp, saying softly: “Did Cui Junye send you to fetch me?”

Hearing this, Xing Ling seemed to come to her senses, bowing as she spoke: “Yes, Lord Cui is currently in the main hall, dealing with Ji Ruifang. He had this subordinate infiltrate the underground palace to find Young Master and escort you out. Once Young Master is safe, Lord Cui will signal, and Xuanwu Envoy will lead the general attack.”

“Is Zhuque by his side?”

“Yes.”

Xing Ling answered honestly: “Ji Ruifang only allowed us to bring three people at most.”

“Xiling is with you.”

Xie Heng turned to look at her, naming the blade at her waist.

Xing Ling paused for a moment, then understood what Xie Heng meant and immediately said: “Previously, to prove she had captured Inspector Liu and threaten Lord Cui, Ji Ruifang sent Inspector Liu’s blade back. Lord Cui had me bring the blade in, so if I encountered Inspector Liu, I could return it to her.”

“Give me the blade.”

Xie Heng extended his hand toward Xing Ling. Xing Ling studied him, then respectfully offered the blade with both hands.

Xie Heng inserted the blade at his waist, took the lamp, and turned to look at her: “Do you know the way?”

“The people from Jirui Palace have all been transferred to the front hall, so there aren’t many outside,” Xing Ling lowered her head to explain, concealing the expression in her eyes. “This subordinate has already found a route when entering. Please follow me, Young Master.”

“Let’s go.”

Xie Heng seemed to have no suspicions, following Xing Ling outside.

The two walked through the underground palace corridor. Xie Heng walked while observing his surroundings by lamplight.

Xing Ling followed behind Xie Heng, constantly observing the young man ahead.

His posture was light, his steps steady, showing excellent muscle control—he showed no signs of being severely injured.

She gripped her sword hilt, following Xie Heng outward while probing: “Young Master, we still have some distance to go. Should we have Doctor Wei come in and wait?”

Wei Qianqiu was Xie Heng’s physician. With Jirui Palace being so dangerous, if Xie Heng couldn’t even wait for this short distance, he must be severely injured.

Hearing this, Xie Heng glanced at her coldly: “Is this something you should ask?”

All matters related to Xie Heng’s physical condition were not for ordinary Inspectors to inquire about.

This was a rule of the Supervision Department.

Xing Ling looked uneasy, quickly saying: “This subordinate overstepped.”

Then, hearing footsteps outside, Xie Heng raised his hand to pull Xing Ling back, avoiding the patrol.

Xing Ling noticed something, looking down at the constantly flickering lamp in Xie Heng’s hand: “Young Master, why not extinguish this lamp?”

Xie Heng’s words paused, then he heard Xing Ling say: “The lamplight attracts attention. Let me help Young Master extinguish it.”

The moment the words fell, sword wind suddenly struck, instantly severing the lamp wick!

As darkness fell, only a “ding” sounded—Xie Heng had already drawn his blade to block the sword behind him.

“The Director has been guarding against me all along?”

Xing Ling’s voice came from the darkness.

Xie Heng’s expression remained unchanged. He suppressed his labored breathing, saying calmly: “I never trust anyone.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Xing Ling’s sword pressed Xie Heng’s blade down bit by bit, saying calmly, “Since we’ve reached the point of scraping bone and burning poison, whether you trust me or not, it’s enough for me to kill you.”

As soon as the words finished, Xing Ling’s sword momentum surged greatly. She raised her sword and chopped down viciously. Xie Heng heard the sword wind and retreated rapidly, instantly activating the Qianji!

Hundreds of steel needles shot toward Xing Ling. Xie Heng simultaneously turned and rushed outward.

Xing Ling turned her sword, and the steel needles fell like rain against the blade with clanging sounds. Moments later, Xie Heng heard fierce wind approaching from behind. He instinctively turned to block but was kicked flying by Xing Ling’s foot!

He crashed heavily to the ground, then felt a sword wind following closely. He instinctively rolled aside, only to have Xing Ling’s foot pressed against his chest.

Blood surged up from his chest cavity. Xie Heng spat out a mouthful, and Xing Ling looked down at him with sword in hand, saying calmly: “Are you that afraid of death?”

Xie Heng coughed violently, reaching out to grab Xing Ling’s hem as if wanting to say something.

Xing Ling looked at him coldly, only saying: “So afraid that you’d sacrifice so many lives for your own without hesitation?”

Xie Heng’s movements stiffened as he suddenly realized something.

“But it doesn’t matter. I’ll send you now,” Xing Ling raised her sword, suspending it above Xie Heng’s head, and suddenly shouted, “To see His Highness!”

With that, Xing Ling gripped the sword hilt and thrust straight down toward Xie Heng’s head!

Xie Heng watched the sword point descend, but his body was too sluggish to even move.

He watched helplessly as the sword tip fell.

Too late to argue, too late to speak, too late to dodge.

The sharp sword point reflected cold light. He didn’t know why, but what flashed through his mind was his last glimpse of Luo Wanqing.

She had her back to him; he was in darkness while she was in light, a warm glow coating her body, outlining her curves.

This was the first time in these days he had seen her clearly, even if only her silhouette.

Thinking of that silhouette, he suddenly couldn’t think of anything else.

Just watching the sword point before his eyes, and just as it was about to pierce through him—

A figure burst in from the side like a leopard, slamming into Xing Ling and knocking her aside!

The two women rolled on the ground with the momentum. Luo Wanqing smoothly disarmed Xing Ling and threw the sword aside. Xing Ling took the opportunity to press her to the ground, raining punches down like a storm. After desperately dodging for a moment, Luo Wanqing found her chance, grabbed Xing Ling’s hair and flung her away, then leaped back to Xie Heng’s side, gasping as she shielded him, staring fixedly at Xing Ling, who had rolled to kneel on one knee.

They were like two confronting beasts, intimidating each other with their gazes. Xing Ling stared at Luo Wanqing, gritting her teeth: “Step aside and I’ll take you with me.”

“I can’t step aside,” Luo Wanqing immediately replied. “If we’re truly friends, let me take him away.”

“Do you know what he’s done?!”

“I know!”

Luo Wanqing lowered her voice in a suppressed roar, then said: “But he’s also avenging Li Shengzhao!”

“What revenge!” Xing Ling spoke excitedly. “He caused his death—what revenge?! I rescued His Highness. I finally hid him away. I thought he would save him, so I told him where His Highness was hidden. And then?”

Xing Ling’s eyes reddened, her lips trembling: “He deliberately tricked His Highness into revealing himself. When His Highness died, blood flowed from his feet to mine—three zhang away! He caused his death. He was controlled by沉骨香—let him seek revenge? What revenge can he seek? He’s just His Majesty’s dog—”

“He’s alive.”

Xie Heng suddenly spoke. Everyone froze. Luo Wanqing looked back in surprise to see Xie Heng covering the blood seeping from his shoulder, coughing as he said: “Li Shengzhao is alive.”

Xing Ling looked at Xie Heng in disbelief as he raised his head, staring at her: “Don’t you feel it? This whole journey south.”

Hearing this, Xing Ling’s eyes slowly widened. Xie Heng suppressed his coughing, saying slowly, “If you don’t save him today, that would truly be causing his death.”

“Cui Heng,” Xing Ling’s voice trembled. “Cui Junye?”

“It’s him.”

Xie Heng spoke with labored breathing: “I saved him. I can’t explain the details, but today, if you kill him—”

Before he finished speaking, Xing Ling immediately took her sword and turned to leave urgently.

However, after running just a few steps, she immediately turned back.

Luo Wanqing immediately became alert, seeing Xing Ling return to her, taking out a medicine bottle from her sleeve and handing it to her, speaking quickly: “The valley entrance to Jirui Palace was bombed. The Supervision Department people are all blocked outside. I deliberately gave Cui Junye and Zhuque directions to escape. I’m going to save them now.”

“Good.”

Luo Wanqing understood Xing Ling’s plan, taking the medicine: “What about afterward? Where shall we meet?”

“The Director’s poison earlier kept everyone away. Ji Ruifang had me lead the Director out alone, so the underground palace is now empty. Take the Director out through the window. Escape if you can, hold on if you can’t. Before tomorrow, the Supervision Department can dig through the mountain to get in.”

“Good.”

Luo Wanqing responded. Xing Ling looked up at her, and neither spoke.

In the darkness, morning light fell through a distant window, becoming the only illumination in the entire dungeon.

They gazed into each other’s eyes for a long time before Xing Ling smiled bitterly: “This time I’ve wronged you both. If there’s a chance—”

“Treat me to drinks when we return to the Eastern Capital.”

Luo Wanqing interrupted her. Xing Ling’s eyes reddened slightly, then she smiled: “It’s a promise.”