“Take him away!” Mei Zhengyan commanded sternly. “This is an order.”
The Mei clan needed someone with vision and wisdom to guide them in these dire circumstances. Mei Zhengyan knew his approach was too conservative, and continuing like this would eventually lead to the clan’s downfall.
Mei Zhengying was just temporarily fixated on his inability to accept an incompetent ruler. Once he could think clearly, he would be more suitable as the Mei clan’s leader. At this moment, Mei Zhengyan decided to trust Elder Zhi’s judgment.
“Understood!” The elder accepted the order and turned towards the women’s section.
Elder Zhao helped Mei Zhengying expel the drug’s effects, preventing him from running around recklessly. By the time his internal energy recovered, Lingxi had already taken the opportunity to help the Old Madam escape from the banquet hall.
Mei Zhengying raised his sword to give chase, but Elder Zhao grabbed him. “Don’t pursue them. We must leave quickly!”
Another elder arrived, and the two ninth-rank experts firmly held onto Mei Zhengying, dragging him toward the secret passage entrance.
“Why are you pulling me? You should be protecting the family head!” Mei Zhengying shouted angrily.
“The family head chose to protect you,” the elder said gravely.
Mei Zhengying was stunned for a moment as he was pulled to the secret passage entrance. He looked back. “Third Brother, let me stay!”
Mei Zhengyan smiled. “If something happens to me, you must uphold the Mei family name. You can’t be willful anymore.”
“Third Brother!” For the first time, Mei Zhengying felt panic rising in his heart.
His brother was courageously facing death, yet he couldn’t calmly accept his duty!
In the past, he could act as he pleased because someone else had shouldered the heavy burden for him. Now, that weighty responsibility was suddenly and unceremoniously thrust upon his shoulders. Only he could truly understand the feeling.
An Jiu emerged from the side hall and followed them into the secret passage.
“An Jiu, will my sister be in danger here?” Mei Jiu asked.
Behind them, arrows flew like locusts, densely striking the doors, windows, and ground with a staccato of thuds, reminiscent of heavy rain on an oilcloth umbrella. In this situation, An Jiu couldn’t bring another person along. Even if Mei Ruyan was in danger where she was hidden, there was nothing An Jiu could do.
An Jiu believed that hiding Mei Ruyan was already the most she could do.
As the secret passage entrance closed, darkness enveloped them, focusing all their senses on hearing. After a short distance, An Jiu heard the clash of weapons outside.
Everyone moved forward in silence, walking briskly.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, as the air grew thin, a faint light appeared in the distance.
Warm, orange light seeped through the cracks of the secret passage door. Those in front quickened their pace.
As the elder at the front opened the secret passage door, an arrow wrapped in blue light flew toward them.
The passage was narrow, forcing the elder to parry with his sword. The arrowhead struck the blade, creating dazzling sparks, but its trajectory remained unchanged. It pierced through the elder’s heart and embedded itself in the person behind him.
The person behind the elder was Mei Tingchun. He stared at the arrow shaft protruding from his chest in disbelief until blood gushed from the wound. Only then did he let out a terrified scream.
His dying cry of terror echoed through the entire passage.
Death came so suddenly.
The sound ceased abruptly as he fell. Mei Rujian, who was right behind him, turned deathly pale, his lips trembling uncontrollably. His legs seemed to have a mind of their own, slowly backing away.
After just two steps backward, a warm hand pressed against his back. Mei Zhengying said solemnly, “We can only fight our way out now. We can’t retreat.”
Their whereabouts had been exposed. If they didn’t retreat into the trap set in the banquet hall, they would be buried alive in the secret passage.
Mei Zhengying had steadied himself. He drew his sword and moved in front of Mei Rujian, but an elder pulled him back. “You can’t be harmed. Let me go!”
Mei Zhengying closed the secret passage door. “Wait a moment.”
Everyone understood his meaning. Mei Zhengyan would certainly do everything possible to notify the Old Madam. For the current Mei clan, the Old Madam was their only hope. Her life had been a miracle, and everyone yearned for her to bring another miracle to the Mei clan.
“It’s them!” Mei Tingzhu said in a low voice. “The ones who attacked us at the ancient temple!”
After a moment, a deep voice came from outside. “Where is Mei Fourteen?”
The people in the secret passage looked at each other, finally realizing An Jiu was standing at the very back.
The voice continued, “Come out, and I’ll spare your life!”
An Jiu recognized the voice as belonging to the “madman” who had abducted her that day. She naturally wouldn’t trust the promise of a madman.
When the madman received no response, his mood suddenly turned volatile. He roared, “Come out! Come out and compete in archery with me!”
“Who is it?” Mei Zhengying asked quietly.
An Jiu knew the question was directed at her and replied, “A martial arts fanatic, a master of the transformation realm. They call him the madman.”
“Come out, Mei Fourteen! I heard you talking! Come out and compete in archery with me. I can shoot the Startled String now, haha!” By the end, his tone sounded like a boastful child.
As the standoff continued, the attackers piled wet kindling at the door and set it ablaze. Thick smoke poured through the cracks, quickly obscuring the light.
The narrow space of the passage was rapidly filled with dense smoke. After holding their breath for a while, people began to cough uncontrollably.
Mei Zhengying’s expression grew grave. At this rate, they would suffocate.
Meanwhile, in the banquet hall, twelve black-clad figures surrounded Mei Zhengyan and another elder. The two were already in a sorry state, their breathing labored.
Facing these twelve experts, the two were horrified to realize they were all ninth-rank masters! With such a disparity in strength, no matter how they resisted, escape seemed impossible. Mei Zhengyan’s heart was filled with despair.
Mei Zhengyan thought of those he needed to protect in the secret passage—the entire Mei clan, including his two daughters. This thought drove away his despair—he would hold out as long as he could!
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the twelve Black Seals launched their attack.
Mei Zhengyan was a ninth-rank expert, but now he was surrounded by six others of the same rank. He immediately found himself at a disadvantage, suffering severe wounds to his chest and abdomen, blood gushing forth.
In the short span of half a cup of tea, Mei Zhengyan was already faltering, his movements slowing. Two black-clad figures seized the opportunity, their swords piercing both his sides.
“Zhengyan!” The elder’s concentration wavered for a moment, allowing his opponents to easily find an opening. Five or six swords plunged into his body.
Mei Zhengyan let out a thunderous roar, channeling all his internal energy into a frenzied counterattack. At this point, he no longer cared about technique, wildly slashing and stabbing like a tempest, actually forcing the six attackers back.
He fought alone, the blood spraying from his body mixing with his flurrying sword strikes to create a grisly scene.
At the other end of the secret passage, some were already at their limit.
“Sixth Uncle, Grandmother can’t hold on much longer,” Mei Tingyuan said.
Mei Zhengying supported the Second Old Madam, infusing her with a bit of his internal energy to protect her vital organs.
“My son, your mother is done for. Don’t waste your energy,” the Second Old Madam said weakly. She wasn’t a clever woman and had never been much help to the Mei clan, but she truly loved her descendants.