The leader of the black-clothed men let out a sneer, "You two, stop boasting. Today, no one, absolutely no one, will escape!"
As he spoke, all the black-clothed men surged forward. Amidst the flashing blades, Bi Xi, lacking internal energy, could not fight back. Xue Ji, holding his hand, dodged back and forth, but still sustained several cuts.
Bi Xi's heart was filled with humiliation and helplessness.
If only he still had his internal energy, if only his inner core was still intact.
If that were the case, neither he nor Xue Ji would be in any trouble. He could protect her, instead of her protecting him.
In reality, without Bi Xi, with Xue Ji's skills, she could have retreated relatively unscathed despite a minor injury. But precisely because he was there, she could not leave.
Xue Ji executed a spinning kick, knocking down several black-clothed attackers. However, due to her exhaustion and injuries, her movements gradually slowed.
The only thing she could do was protect him.
Meanwhile, Xue Ji, riddled with multiple sword and saber wounds on her shoulders and back, was thoroughly drenched in blood.
Yet, she gritted her teeth, refusing to let go of Bi Xi's hand even for a moment.
Ultimately, she fainted in Bi Xi's arms.
Bi Xi cradled Xue Ji's body, his eyes red, gritting his teeth fiercely, stubbornly refusing to let tears fall.
The black-clothed men surrounded the two in the center. The leader looked at Bi Xi and gave a mocking laugh, "Don't be stubborn, young lady. It's best to come with us obediently."
Bi Xi glanced at him with disdain and spat, "How dare you, mere scoundrel!"
The black-clothed man's face changed drastically. He raised his hand and slapped Bi Xi.
The blow sent Bi Xi's vision black, and he immediately fainted.
This body of Gu Pan'er was far too weak; it couldn't even withstand a single slap.
Bi Xi woke up through sheer courage and willpower.
He looked around, enduring the burning pain on his cheek, and sat up. He found himself in a dark and damp dungeon.
No one was around.
He softly called Xue Ji's name, but there was no response.
Bi Xi grew anxious, fearing something had happened to Xue Ji.
The dungeon door was opened at that moment. Two guards with cold expressions walked in, flanking him on either side, and dragged him out.
"Who are you? Where is this? Where are you taking me?" Bi Xi's questions went unanswered. The two guards were cold and unresponsive, as if deaf.
"Do you know that the person you captured today is Princess Xue Ji? If His Majesty finds out about this, no matter who you are, you will be punished. I advise you to quickly reveal the princess's whereabouts. Speak! Where is the princess?"
The guards remained silent.
His throat parched from asking, Bi Xi finally gave up questioning.
He was led into a room resembling an interrogation chamber. Shangguan Hong, whom he hadn't seen in some time, was seated before a low couch. On the couch, sleeping, was Ye Qingcheng, the master Bi Xi longed for.
Bi Xi opened his mouth, looking at the scene before him in disbelief.
Shangguan Hong sat on the edge of the couch, holding Ye Qingcheng's hand with a devout and gentle demeanor, utterly devoid of any sacrilege.
Without even looking at Bi Xi, he asked casually, "Who are you?"
Bi Xi paused for a moment but quickly composed himself.
He didn't know what Shangguan Hong's intentions were at this moment, but the wisest course of action was certainly not to reveal his identity easily.
Shangguan Hong had caused such a commotion after obtaining his inner core. If he were to find out that he was indeed Bi Xi, who knew what wicked plans he might concoct.
"I am Gu Pan'er. You'd better release me quickly. Otherwise, if my father finds out that you, Shangguan Hong, captured me, he will report you to His Majesty and have you executed." He tried his best to mimic Gu Pan'er's previous tone of speaking.
After imitating, Bi Xi couldn't help but praise himself internally.
He had indeed learned it quite convincingly.
Shangguan Hong sneered, "Do you think I'm still the Shangguan Hong of the past? Can't I see through such a petty trick?"
Bi Xi frowned, looking at Shangguan Hong.
"You are not Gu Pan'er," he said faintly. "Speak quickly, who exactly are you?"
"I am Gu Pan'er. Believe it or not, but I advise you to release me quickly."
Bi Xi crossed his hands over his chest, assuming an arrogant posture. "Oh, right, and Princess Xue Ji. The princess and I were both captured by you. You should know how serious the consequences of capturing both of us are."
Shangguan Hong's eyebrows suddenly rose as he looked at Bi Xi. "Your words remind me of something."
A very bad premonition surged through Bi Xi's heart.
Shangguan Hong raised his hand and beckoned to a nearby guard, saying, "Go, bring Princess Xue Ji here, and let her have a good meeting with Miss Gu Pan'er."
Bi Xi gritted his teeth and asked, "Shangguan Hong, what exactly do you want to do?"
"You will know what I want to do soon enough," Shangguan Hong smiled.
The guards quickly brought Xue Ji forward.
Xue Ji was covered in wounds but was conscious. She had been struggling to break free from the guards' restraints. Upon entering the room and seeing Bi Xi, her eyes lit up, and her struggles became even more vigorous.
"Princess Xue Ji, your relationship with Miss Gu Pan'er seems quite extraordinary!" Shangguan Hong said with a smile.
"Shangguan Hong, it really was you," Xue Ji glared at him fiercely.
Shangguan Hong shrugged, "It was me, so what?"
Xue Ji let out a cold laugh. "You know I am a princess. Do you know how great a crime your current actions will bring upon yourself?"
Shangguan Hong sighed, "You people, can't your threats have some originality? You only know how to pressure me with your status. I am not afraid at all."
After a brief pause, as if recalling something amusing, he said with a smile, "Princess Xue Ji, you probably don't know that your imperial brother, your empress mother, have both met their current fates because of whom."
"Besides you, Princess, I truly cannot think of anyone else who would do such things," Xue Ji said angrily.
"But you can't blame it all on me," Shangguan Hong chuckled. "Think about it, after visiting a brothel once, your imperial brother actively asked if he could go again. As for your empress mother, she practically climbed into my bed herself."
Xue Ji froze, her eyes widening as she looked at Shangguan Hong. "What did you say?"
"What, did Your Highness not understand? Shall I tell you some of the private characteristics of your empress mother's body?" Shangguan Hong said with a smile.
"You are rebellious!" Xue Ji rebuked angrily.
Shangguan Hong, looking completely relaxed and having thoroughly infuriated Xue Ji, turned back to Bi Xi. "Well, Gu Pan'er, do you still intend to hide your identity?"
Bi Xi frowned and said word by word, "I am Gu Pan'er."
Shangguan Hong seemed to sigh, saying regretfully, "Then our Princess Xue Ji will have to endure some hardship."
After a moment's pause, he nodded to the guards. "Torture Xue Ji."