Night fell.

The lights in the Xiang residence extinguished one by one.

On the rooftop—

Ding Yi sat while Huang Qi reclined, their swords placed beside them. Compared to endless long-distance travel, night watch duty was already the most comfortable work.

Ding Yi: “Will that person come?”

Huang Qi: “If he comes, even better. We’ll catch him like a turtle in a jar and make sure he never returns.”

Ding Yi’s tense muscles relaxed. Though neither his nor Huang Qi’s martial skills matched Zhu Qing’s, together they could still put up a fight.

Suddenly it darkened before his eyes—the lamp in Master Xiang’s bedroom had gone out.

Huang Qi turned his head: “Old rules. I take the first half of the night, you take the second half.”

Finished speaking, he lightly lifted his body and landed outside the courtyard. Following habit, he first inspected the courtyard to see if there were any corners where someone could hide.

After one circuit, all was normal. Huang Qi leaped back onto the rooftop.

After the hour of zi passed, he pushed Ding Yi, and the two switched shifts.

Ding Yi’s first action was also to circle around the courtyard wall. Seeing nothing amiss, he returned to the rooftop and lay down beside Huang Qi.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly sat up and forcefully pushed Huang Qi.

Huang Qi was sleeping hazily: “What?”

“Something’s not right.”

Huang Qi started, his eyes rolling several times—no one. He focused his senses—no killing intent either.

Just then, his scalp suddenly tingled. Looking up, he saw a masked figure in black landing lightly on the rooftop.

Damn it.

He actually dared to come!

Ding Yi leaped up with a bound, raising his sword to meet him.

The figure in black seemed to have anticipated people on the rooftop. Not the least bit fazed, he slowly drew a blade from his back.

That bearing was like an absolute master encountering two little chickens.

Ding Yi’s pupils contracted sharply as his sword swept out.

In a flash of lightning and flint, after exchanging over ten moves, the figure in black suddenly thrust his large blade forward.

“Clang—”

Ding Yi felt his arm go numb as his sword fell to the ground.

The figure in black raised his large blade toward Ding Yi again. Huang Qi rushed over and engaged him in combat.

Ding Yi swiftly picked up his sword, only to discover that when he lifted it, it split into two pieces—it had actually been shattered by the figure in black’s internal force.

Shocked until his vision went dark, he opened his mouth to shout: “The—”

Before “There’s” could emerge, his chest took a kick, and he tumbled several times on the rooftop before heavily crashing onto the stone path in the courtyard.

Ding Yi’s mouth opened as he spat out blood.

This martial skill…

Was meant to ensure he and Huang Qi would never return.

Ding Yi struggled to rise from the ground, smashed the window with one fist, and shouted loudly: “Master Xiang, the assassin is here! Quick…”

“Bang!”

Something was smashed down.

Ding Yi didn’t need to turn his head to know it was Huang Qi.

His maternal grandmother’s family!

Ding Yi’s fury ignited instantly. Enduring the pain in his chest, he turned to face the approaching enemy.

At this moment, the figure in black had also landed in the courtyard, his gaze coldly sweeping past Ding Yi to rest on Master Xiang’s pitch-black bedroom.

Ding Yi glanced at Huang Qi lying on the ground barely breathing, shifted his foot, and stood before the window, blocking the figure in black’s line of sight.

Grandson, Miss Yan and my master want to protect this person. Even if Grandpa Ding has to stake his life, I won’t let you harm a hair on his head.

Contempt showed in the figure in black’s eyes as he raised his blade toward Ding Yi.

At this critical moment, rapid drumming sounds of “dong dong dong” came from the bedroom. After several drum beats, responding gong sounds echoed from the distance.

The figure in black’s gaze darkened. With one kick, he sent Ding Yi flying against the wall, and with several bounds, his figure vanished.

The Crown Prince’s hidden guards broke through the door and entered.

Ding Yi slowly slid down to sit on the ground, weakly saying: “Quick, quickly notify the Crown Prince and Third Master.”

…

“What? Both Ding Yi and Huang Qi are seriously injured?”

The veins at Xie Zhifei’s temples throbbed violently. “Has Imperial Physician Pei been summoned?”

“Reporting to Third Master, we’ve already sent for him. His Highness has also been notified.”

“I’ll go to the Xiang residence first.”

Xie Zhifei turned: “Mingting, get dressed quickly. I’ll notify Yan Sanhe.”

Pei Xiao was still caught in tremendous shock. One was Ding Yi, one was Huang Qi—their martial skills weren’t poor. How could they be beaten like this?

Before long, four horses galloped from the villa straight toward the Xiang residence.

Upon reaching the Xiang residence, Xiang Yanrui was waiting at the entrance.

Xie Zhifei leaped from his horse: “Is Master Xiang injured?”

“No, just somewhat frightened.”

Xiang Yanrui’s gaze turned to Yan Sanhe: “Thanks to Miss Yan’s insistence, otherwise…”

“Let’s not speak of this.”

Yan Sanhe ascended the steps: “I’ll go see Ding Yi and Huang Qi first. By the way, has Imperial Physician Pei arrived?”

“Not yet.”

Yan Sanhe shot Li Buyan a meaningful look: “Accompany Young Master Pei to wait at the alley entrance.”

Pei Xiao: “No need to accompany, I myself…”

“From now on, none of us can act alone.”

Yan Sanhe’s tone was unprecedentedly stern.

“Young Master Pei, come, I’ll accompany you.”

Li Buyan looked at Yan Sanhe’s figure vanishing hastily at the entrance and patted Pei Xiao’s shoulder.

“She’s someone who values old relationships. No one who holds a place in her heart can come to harm.”

…

Inside the room—

Huang Qi was covered in blood, unconscious.

Ding Yi’s face was deathly pale, like a ghost.

The moment Yan Sanhe saw the two of them, her eyes grew hot. For a time she stood rooted in place, unmoving, as if possessed.

A large palm settled on her head, gently rubbing a few times.

“They’re both alive. With some rest they’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

The warmth from his palm seeped through.

Yan Sanhe’s tightly wound heartstrings from the journey relaxed, and her whole person softened.

She raised her head: “I want to see Zhao Yishi.”

Xie Zhifei looked at her. “With such a major incident, he’s probably on his way. If he doesn’t come, tomorrow morning I’ll take you to see him. Rest assured, I’ll arrange everything.”

Her suspended heart was steadily supported.

Only then did Yan Sanhe walk before Ding Yi, asking gently: “Can you still speak?”

Ding Yi pulled out a smile more bitter than coptis root.

“Miss Yan, this person’s martial skills are truly high. Huang Qi and I together were absolutely no match for him.”

“What weapon did he use?”

“A wide blade.”

“What was his build?”

“Neither tall nor short, on the thin side.”

After thinking, Ding Yi added: “He had his face covered, only his eyes showing. His eyelids were already drooping down—he shouldn’t be young.”

Yan Sanhe: “Approximately how old?”

Ding Yi: “Over forty years of age.”

Yan Sanhe: “Just him alone? Any accomplices?”

Ding Yi: “Just one person.”

No wonder he dared to brazenly enter houses to kill—truly skilled and bold.

Yan Sanhe crouched down. “You’ve suffered. In a moment Imperial Physician Pei will arrive. Rest and recover well. Don’t think about anything else.”

Ding Yi’s heart warmed, unable to speak a word.

Just then, two shouts came from outside:

“Imperial Physician Pei has arrived—”

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived—”

Yan Sanhe immediately pulled Xie Zhifei outside.

Pei Yu trotted into the courtyard, nodding hurriedly to Yan Sanhe and the others before going inside.

Behind him, Zhao Yishi entered with a stern face, a thin layer of frost in his eyes.

Yan Sanhe met his gaze, speaking each word clearly:

“Your Highness, I meet one person, they kill one person. How can this case be investigated?”

—

Sorry, today there’s only one update. The other update was scrapped and rewritten.