Then he reached into the bedding and worked carefully for a while, tightening the bandages around his wounds.

Such movements naturally caused excruciating pain throughout his body. His face grew even paler, and despite the cold weather, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Yet his hands didn’t stop until everything was properly arranged. He pulled out a small cloth bundle from the edge of the bedding.

That was something he had just pilfered from Chazi.

Opening the small bundle, he swallowed one of the pills he had previously refused to take. After closing his eyes to rest briefly and feeling somewhat better, he let out a groan.

The Liaodong guard opened his eyes and came forward to check on him. Seeing him with eyes tightly closed and nothing unusual, the guard retreated again.

The moment he turned around.

A cold light flashed and withdrew.

The guard’s body stiffened. With great difficulty, he slowly turned back, seemingly wanting to see clearly what had happened behind him, what weapon could instantly slice through the golden silk armor he wore underneath and sever his entire spine.

He was even more puzzled about how, even with such a terrifying weapon, it still required true force to be effective – how had this dying man managed it?

But he no longer had the chance to get answers. His body, now in two halves, fell to the ground – one half forward, the other remaining in place.

Only then did Murong Yi slowly rise.

He paused at the bedside, catching his breath.

When standing up, he paused again, nearly sitting back down. He crouched halfway, supporting himself on the bed edge, his foot stepping on half the corpse.

His slender fingers gripped the bed edge tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands.

After a long while, he caught his breath again.

On his first step, his legs went soft like noodles, his entire body trembling slightly.

But after catching his breath once more, he slowly straightened up.

At the door, he took a cloak and put it on, his entire figure shrouded in the shadow of the black cloak from head to toe.

Unable to stand steadily, his hands under the black cloak gripped the wall tightly, causing the earthen wall’s surface to crumble and fall, leaving deep claw marks.

Leaning against the wall, step by step, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of blood that kept surging up.

He finally reached the place where the sounds had come from earlier.

There was no one in the passage. The Liaodong masters had also endured for a long time and decided to rest after checking Murong Yi’s condition.

After all, someone with only one breath left really didn’t warrant treating as a formidable enemy.

This group was King of Liaodong’s secret guards, who had always only been responsible for protecting him and never interacted with others. Although they knew this prince was unprecedentedly mad, they ultimately lacked real experience. Therefore, despite King of Liaodong’s repeated warnings that as long as this heir had one breath left, he would kill people – and dare to kill anyone – they still didn’t take it seriously.

Prince Da’an didn’t dare send other masters to Shengdu, after all, he didn’t know which people had been infiltrated by Murong Yi. He could only send out this group who had always been by his side with no opportunity to be infiltrated.

In the dimly lit room at the end of the passage, Xiao Liheng’s remaining guards slept wearily on the ground, not even knowing when Murong Yi stepped over their knees.

Xiao Liheng was resting on the bed, sleeping restlessly from severe pain. In his daze, he felt his vision darken.

Opening his eyes, he saw a black shadow before him, a pale face vaguely visible in the chaotic darkness.

His first reaction was to press the mechanism on his waist belt while opening his mouth to shout.

A cold light flashed before his eyes.

Something flew out like a graceful butterfly, yet faster, lighter, and more traceless than any butterfly.

It was the brightness of lightning across the sky in that instant before a thunderstorm – before pupils could capture it, it had already crossed ten thousand miles of clouds.

A streak of blue-purple light silently swept across his throat without any pause, like the final stroke of a master painter’s brush – decisive and elegant.

A perfectly good head was lightly and cleverly separated from its body.

Too fast – the mouth was still wide open, the face still frozen with the terror of that final moment.

Murong Yi caught his breath, a trace of regret passing through his eyes.

This old scoundrel should have been properly executed according to law, before the Meridian Gate, before ten thousand people, death by a thousand cuts.

Dying like this was letting him off easy.

But this old thief with countless rabbit holes – who knew how much remaining power he had hidden in Da Qian? If he escaped from Shengdu and colluded with others, constantly causing trouble, the consequences would be endless.

Since he had stumbled before him, when better to kill him than now?

He straightened his back, the corner of his lips curving slightly.

A’Ci.

Let me first help you exact some revenge.

The Yuantie Fan circled slightly in the air before once again penetrating the throat of a guard at the door, emerging soundlessly without a drop of blood.

He picked up Xiao Liheng’s head, hastily tore a piece of bedsheet to wrap it, and hung it at his waist.

Stepping over the corpse, he walked out the door, leaving only a ground covered in blood and half a body behind.

In several rooms on the west side of the passage, most Liaodong secret guards were snoring thunderously.

In an adjacent room, Mu Si, Zhao San, and four guards looked at each other.

As Murong Yi’s trusted subordinates, they were also under strict surveillance.

The Liaodong secret guards knew Murong Yi was severely injured and barely breathing, certainly unable to run. Instead, they feared these two subordinates with decent martial skills might rescue Murong Yi.

Although Murong Yi should know that going out now would mean death, who knew what he was thinking?

Wasn’t he just a madman?

Six people stared at each other. Zhao San and Mu Si faced the door, so the four guards had their backs to the open doorway.

Zhao San suddenly saw a black shadow silently floating past.

He was intimately familiar with that figure, even though the person was cloaked from head to toe.

His whole body shook, instinctively about to shout, when suddenly his palm stung with pain.

Mu Si was pinching him.

Zhao San stiffened his spine, suppressing the urge to look at Mu Si, vaguely understanding something in his heart as his face went pale.

He said in an extremely low voice, “No!”

Although security was most relaxed now, if he went out like this, he would die!

Mu Si shook his head extremely lightly and coldly, “Letting him be escorted back to Liaodong like this would be a fate worse than death.”

“But…”

“The Young Master still has a secret force, have you forgotten?”

With that group in hand, escorting the Young Master back to Liaodong might give them a chance at freedom and turning the tables.

“But that group is… now there’s simply no way… what if…” Even whispering, Zhao San didn’t dare say all the important details.

“Let him fight desperately to try,” Mu Si said. “Better death than no freedom.”

Zhao San held back tears and gritted his teeth.

Murong Yi silently drifted toward the exit.

Even though every step was like walking on knife points, his steps remained light, not disturbing even a speck of dust.

His childhood experiences had trained him to have powerful control over his body and pain, helping him at this moment, when everyone thought he should be collapsed in bed, to still dare to kill and escape.

At this time, Chazi was making tangyuan in a crude kitchen.

Zhao San and Mu Si began making faces and gestures, simply drawing the guards’ attention.

Under their intentional and unintentional cover, Murong Yi had already reached the exit.

The exit had a mechanism. He had been unconscious when carried in and had to stop to study it.

After looking for a while, he had some ideas and extended his finger.

Just then, a Liaodong secret guard came out of his room to relieve himself.

This underground chamber was designed as a long passage to the end with rooms on both sides. Once out of the door, you could see both ends.

This person inadvertently turned his head and saw a black shadow at the exit.

He instinctively walked over.

Because he was sleepy and the light was dim, he couldn’t see the person clearly. He didn’t think of anyone escaping, only assuming some brother wanted to go out, so he didn’t immediately shout.

Zhao San saw a secret guard suddenly walk past the door.

His expression changed.

Not good!

Mu Si’s reaction was always faster than his. He immediately slapped toward Zhao San.

Making it seem as if Zhao San’s change of expression was because of his sudden attack.

Zhao San blocked his palm and cursed loudly, “What are you doing!”

He deliberately made his voice loud to cover Murong Yi’s movements, preferably drawing that secret guard back to check here.

The four guards opposite looked over in astonishment.

Mu Si slapped again, “The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Damn it, I’ve found you displeasing for a long time! Always fawning and currying favor, you pretty boy!”

Zhao San was furious, “Always pretending and posturing, you idiot!”

The two began wrestling on the spot. The four guards’ heads turned left to right, right to left, endlessly.

However, the secret guard who had walked past the door didn’t come over.

Mu Si gave Zhao San a look. The two wrestled to the doorway and threw each other out. The four guards followed behind, gloating and laughing.

As soon as they threw themselves out the door, Zhao San immediately slammed the iron door shut with a bang. There were sturdy bolts outside the iron door. Mu Si pounced over and lightning-fast secured the bolts.

Click.

Curses and door-banging sounds came from inside.

Zhao San turned around to see that secret guard had already reached the end of the passage, and there was also movement from the adjacent room.

He and Mu Si exchanged glances. Having been companions for years, they understood each other perfectly. One pounced toward the adjacent room, slamming that door shut with a bang and clicking the bolt into place, using his body to block the door.

The other rushed forward.

At this time, Murong Yi had already found the mechanism and opened the exit. Hearing the commotion behind him, he didn’t turn back. His cloak flashed around the corner and disappeared.

The secret guard behind had already sensed something was wrong and shouted, “Who’s there? No one’s allowed out!” while quickening his pace.

Suddenly he felt a strong wind sweep past his side.

Zhao San exerted the fastest speed of his life, passing by his side, pushing Murong Yi outward with one hand while drawing his blade with the other.

Not knowing how to close the mechanism, he blocked the exit with his own body.

With a thunderous crash, a door sprang from the wall. Mu Si, who had been blocking the door with his body, was sent flying and crashed against the wall, spitting out blood.

A large group of secret guards rushed out and without thinking drew their blades against Mu Si.

At the end of the passage, Zhao San brought his blade down toward the opposing secret guard. Seeing this scene from the corner of his eye, his eyes burned with fury, but it was already too late.

But at this moment, Chazi came over carrying a bowl of steaming tangyuan.

She saw Mu Si fall and the secret guards’ chaotic blades about to strike down.

Chazi flicked her finger, and fine powder from her fingernail fell into the soup bowl.

Then she threw the bowl toward the crowd.

Hot soup splashed out, and the secret guards all shouted and retreated.

Inevitably splashed with hot soup, someone reached to brush it off and immediately shouted, “It’s poisoned!”

What splashed on sleeves had already created holes in the fabric.

Poison was more fearsome than blade edges. The secret guards all retreated. Chazi grabbed Mu Si and with a backhand scattered a handful of powder, dragging Mu Si toward the passage entrance while asking, “Where’s the Young Master!”

Mu Si pointed toward the exit.

Chazi’s face went pale.

At the passage entrance, that secret guard dodged Zhao San’s blade and counterattacked. After several exchanges, Zhao San was outmatched and stabbed in the arm, his clothes stained with blood.

From the corner of his eye, Zhao San saw the Young Master had already left without looking back. His heart felt both relieved and worried, not even feeling the pain.

The opponent took advantage of his distraction to strike down with a blade overhead.

Fortunately, Chazi and Mu Si arrived then. Mu Si silently crashed into him, cold light flashing in his hand as it penetrated the opponent’s back with a hiss.

Zhao San had already taken this opportunity to crawl out, followed by Chazi and Mu Si. When Chazi went out, she scattered another handful of poison, shouting, “Behold my Shadowless Soul-Chasing Powder!”

This shout made the pursuers pause slightly, and all three rushed out. However, this delay meant they could no longer find Murong Yi.

Mu Si decided immediately, “They’ll definitely pursue us. We’ll go in three directions. Even if we can’t find the Young Master, we can scatter their targets and make hiding easier. If we can get out of the city, meet at the old place.”

Murong Yi’s subordinates had multiple contact points everywhere, and there were fixed places outside the city that everyone knew.

The three nodded and took advantage of the fact that the people below hadn’t emerged yet to scatter into the snowy southern city.

In the southern city slums, many people were still searching, but because it was too chaotic here – alleys within alleys, houses connected to houses – it brought many difficulties to the search, making progress very slow.

Zhu Yi sat in a temporarily erected small shelter wearing his cloak, commanding from his position, still stamping his feet from the cold.

Beside him was the Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Military Commission, looking at the low houses whose eaves were about to be crushed by snow and the constantly questioned, haggard-faced civilians, his brow furrowed tightly.

He advised, “Sir, the southern city has the densest population, most roads, and most chaotic dwellings. Since they’re fleeing for their lives, they would naturally use the terrain here to escape immediately. There’s no reason they’d linger here. In this freezing weather, why must you suffer here? Besides, hasn’t the palace still not issued an arrest warrant?”

Hearing this gave Zhu Yi a headache. He sighed with resentment in his heart, “Sir You, we as ministers should actively share worries for country and ruler. The palace is currently troubled with various matters and can’t attend to pursuing the criminals immediately, but if we delay the best opportunity for capture because of this, it would be our fault.”

Deputy Commander You cursed silently in his heart. Sure enough, scholars were best at putting on airs, but he could only agree submissively.

Zhu Yi sneezed and said, “I followed them all the way here. I can be certain they should be in this area, possibly hidden underground in some civilian house. Please arrange for another thorough search.”

Deputy Commander You groaned inwardly.

These low shacks couldn’t block wind or rain – how could they have underground passages?

If even underground had to be searched, wouldn’t that mean turning every shack upside down? Never mind the trouble – the stench alone would be unbearable.

But thinking again, hearing that the Shengdu garrison had rebelled and there was fighting in the outer city, just searching for one injured fugitive was still a light assignment.

So he went to arrange it personally.

Zhu Yi sighed, stood up, and planned to relieve himself.

He took out his handkerchief and blew his nose, thinking that if he hadn’t noticed these people weren’t taking it seriously, why would a civil official without imperial orders need to stay here?

He left the shelter and looked around, wanting to find a secluded place to relieve himself. There was no hope for a proper latrine.

But the surrounding shacks were adjacent to each other with almost no secluded spots. He couldn’t bring himself to urinate at someone’s doorstep, so he had to walk further to find a place. Without realizing it, he walked farther and farther until he saw a large tree with a well beneath it. Therefore, there were no shacks around, and in this snowy weather, no one came to draw water – it was deserted on all sides.

He was delighted and quickly walked behind the tree. After relieving himself, he felt refreshed all over as he tied his pants.

Suddenly he heard some movement. Poking his head out to look, he saw a person climbing out of the well and making eye contact with him.