The night was cool, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of tea. A crescent moon, like a delicate jade hook, hung in the sky, casting its gentle light upon the land.
Liu Liu stood by her ornate window, framed by lush banana leaves and a row of peonies. Moonlight filtered through the jade balustrade, creating dappled shadows that danced upon the flowers, lending them an ethereal, shifting glow. A faint mist rose, veiling everything in a soft, gauzy veil.
The night was deep, and the mansion was silent. Yet, Liu Liu could not sleep. She was troubled by the question of who would want to assassinate the Emperor. The thought weighed heavily on her. She had never wished for the Emperor's death. The dynasty was at its peak of prosperity. Did she want to be a sinner throughout history?
"Another eventful night," Liu Liu sighed, turning back into the room to prepare for bed. She had already sent Hong Xiu to rest.
Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred the delicate curtains, and a chill permeated the air. She remained motionless, her eyes flashing with anger, her hands idly playing with her silken robes, as if preparing to sleep.
Someone had dared to seek her out this night. Fortunately, her mask was still on. Who could it be? A mocking smile touched her lips.
Before the person arrived, their palm wind preceded them. Clearly, a master. The force was robust and filled with dominance. If struck, a single blow would likely mean death.
What deep-seated hatred could someone harbor for her to attempt such a lethal attack?
Liu Liu's eyes shifted. She dodged, narrowly avoiding the blow. In the faint light, she saw a figure clad in a dark robe, a mask covering their face, lunging rapidly towards her.
Liu Liu's expression turned cold. Her anger surged, and with a flick of her wrist, her soft sword straightened, unleashing a dazzling arc of light towards the assassin. Observing the attacker's attire,
Liu Liu suddenly recalled someone: Cang Lang of Dian Cang Pavilion. This man was insane. Her Seven Star Tower had always maintained a peaceful coexistence with their Dian Cang Pavilion. Was he tired of having too few enemies? Attacking her in the dead of night, Liu Liu inquired coolly as she fought.
"Cang Lang, our Seven Star Tower has always kept to itself, and your Dian Cang Pavilion has done the same. What has gotten into you to come and assassinate me?"
The attacker was indeed Cang Lang of Dian Cang Pavilion. Hearing Liu Liu's voice, his green, glowing eyes, like a wolf's bloodshot eyes, were ferocious, emitting a soul-devouring glare.
Liu Liu's heart trembled. She truly couldn't recall any reason for this man to offend her. He seemed intent on a desperate fight with her.
Seeing that he was no match for her bare hands, he produced a silver treasure saber. The blade flashed, striking directly at her.
The saber light intensified, rising like a fiery sun from rolling waves. It ascended into the air, and in an instant, a blinding radiance spread throughout the room, emanating a chilling aura. As he raised his hand,
Liu Liu suddenly sprang into the air. The powerful strike shattered everything within the room.
Seeing that the man was fighting with all his might, Liu Liu dared not be careless. She raised her soft sword, and its tip exploded into countless sword flowers, each transforming into a water dragon, shimmering brilliantly and surging towards Cang Lang.
Cang Lang met the assault with his saber. The saber energy and sword energy collided, producing a tremendous sound.
The violent noise had already alerted Dai Mei in the adjacent room and Hong Xiu outside. Several people rushed in, realizing an assassin was attacking their楼主.
Dai Mei did not hesitate, leaping into the air. Her long sword danced forth, carrying a domineering aura that sought to disarm Cang Lang's saber. Seeing the situation, Cang Lang knew he could not succeed tonight. He had no choice but to retreat, sheathe his saber, and hover in the air, gazing coldly at Liu Liu.
"I will kill you! You wretched creature, how dare you meddle in everything!"
With those words, he flashed and ascended. Dai Mei, filled with anger, moved to pursue him, but Liu Liu immediately stopped her. "Stop! Don't chase him. His martial arts are formidable; you might not be able to defeat him."
Dai Mei could only descend, surveying the room's chaos. Beds, chairs, and tea sets were all destroyed.
The commotion in this villa had already alerted the people of Feng Mansion. Feng Jiu, accompanied by the steward and a group of guards, entered. Seeing the state of affairs, he angrily reprimanded the guards for their unawareness when an assassin entered.
The guards dared not utter a sound under his chastisement. Liu Liu, however, waved her hand.
"Brother Feng, please don't blame them. The attacker's skill was too high. If they had encountered him, it would have been certain death."
A fleeting shadow of darkness crossed Feng Jiu's eyes. He hadn't expected someone to attempt murder at Wan Feng Tea House. Fortunately, his sworn brother was skilled. Had anything gone wrong, the reputation of his Wan Feng Tea House would have been ruined. Feng Jiu turned and ordered Steward Lu.
"Starting tomorrow, increase patrols everywhere. Such an incident must not happen again tonight."
Steward Lu and the guards, not daring to speak, lowered their heads in agreement. Liu Liu glanced at the mess in the room and spoke apologetically, "Brother Feng, everything is destroyed."
"That is a minor matter," Feng Jiu waved his hand, signaling Steward Lu to have the room reorganized tomorrow. Seeing that it was late and she had disturbed others, Liu Liu urged Feng Jiu to retire.
She would sleep in the outer room tonight. Feng Jiu led his men away. Dai Mei stood beside Liu Liu, seeing her master's fluctuating expression, her lips curving into a soft, pained smile.
She couldn't believe her master was concerned about others even after being attacked. Who was that assassin?
"Master, that person looked like Cang Lang of Dian Cang Pavilion. Do you know him?"
"I didn't know before, but after hearing his last words, I realized who he was. He is Nangong Yue. I can't believe Nangong Yue, the imperial physician, is Cang Lang, a renowned assassin from the notorious Dian Cang Pavilion. It's truly unbelievable."
Liu Liu shook her head and sighed, memories flooding back. Nangong Yue, as beautiful as an exiled immortal, distant towards others, yet always responsive to her, gentle and considerate.
Though cold towards others, he was not a killer. Who would associate such a pure, immortal-like person with an assassin? Liu Liu's expression shifted between smiles and worry, from naive to smiling, inconsistently. Dai Mei spoke with concern.
"Master, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. What could be wrong? I only feel sorry for him because I owe him too much. His attempt to kill me is because that person looks so much like me. I can't be angry. I just never knew he loved me so deeply. Perhaps he knew that woman was just a substitute, yet he was willing to indulge in it. He hates me for breaking his dream, because he knew that if that person had truly been me, they would only be friends. But the substitute could sustain his dream."
As Liu Liu spoke, a hint of melancholy entered her eyes. She wondered when he would awaken and return to being the once carefree and elegant Nangong Yue, distant yet possessing a certain nonchalance.
"Master, don't overthink it. You should rest early."
Seeing her master's distress, Dai Mei also felt uneasy and quickly urged her master to rest. It was late, and if she didn't sleep, the night would pass, and tomorrow would bring its own concerns.
"Alright, you go down and sleep. I'll just lie down in the outer room for a bit," Liu Liu replied, gathering her melancholy.
This was not the time to dwell on such matters. The vast Wan Feng Tea House was like a dense fog; the further one ventured, the deeper it became, with no clarity on what lay ahead. Was all of this connected to the Emperor?
If so, the Emperor must be in grave danger. They needed to be cautious.
"Okay," Dai Mei nodded and looked at Hong Xiu on the side, signaling her to help their master to rest. Hong Xiu obeyed and helped Liu Liu to the outer room, staying by her side.
She couldn't believe there were assassins trying to kill their master. Those assassins were too audacious.
As dawn broke, Dai Mei received news that the employer who hired the assassination of the Emperor had sent an intermediary to Feng Yue City to meet with their楼主. They were to meet at "Ming Yue Lou."
Ming Yue Lou was built on a West Lake, with bridges connecting both ends. Red wooden railings lined the banks, making the lake water appear exceptionally clear. The aquatic plants at the bottom were visible, as were large pebbles resting on the lakebed, reflecting light when touched by the sun. A gentle breeze rippled the lake's surface, making it dance enchantingly.