Her three subordinates behind her, if not for knowing she was their mistress, would have mistaken her for an utter spendthrift.
Expecting some trouble, they descended the mountain smoothly. Mu Qingyao frowned, her eyes holding a cold glint. Had her estimations been wrong? But Master Liao Kong’s expression had already revealed his actions, indicating a hidden agenda.
At the foot of the mountain, where human traffic was sparse, some were ascending while others were departing.
Only their carriage was conspicuously parked there. Mu Qingyao turned back to gaze at the mountainside. Although those people hadn't made a move, she had already sensed something amiss. This Yue Jue Temple was truly unusual. Even the vendors at the entrance were suspicious. Where else in this vicinity, with its lack of inhabitants, would vendors choose to set up shop specifically at Yue Jue Temple?
It hadn't seemed odd before, but now, everything struck her as peculiar. She suspected those individuals were merely a part of the whole, with others likely hidden within the temple, resting.
Yet, she had visited this temple before. Having explored it thoroughly, there wasn't much space to conceal so many people. Where had they hidden themselves?
As Mu Qingyao was lost in thought, her body suddenly tensed, her gaze turning icy.
They had indeed come. Killing intent permeated the dense forest, a potent aura of bloodlust. Mo Chou and Mo You, along with the guard, cautiously surrounded Mu Qingyao, their eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
“Mistress, be careful.”
“This consort will be fine,” Mu Qingyao stated with composure and restraint. She closed her fan, her pupils sharp and cold. Her gaze swept across the area, her delicate face revealing furrowed brows and black eyes flashing with turbulent waves.
The sky turned overcast as dark clouds obscured the sun, its brilliance suddenly dimming. From the oppressive sky, over a dozen figures clad in black descended, surrounding them.
Mu Qingyao stared at these black-clad figures with a chilling and murderous intensity. Their attire was identical to the assassins who had attacked her that night. Were they the same?
As soon as the black-clad figures appeared, they remained silent. Their leader waved a hand, and the rest advanced to surround them. Mu Qingyao coldly commanded, “Attack. Fight them to the death.”
Her words were sharp and filled with chilling resolve. At this juncture, if they didn’t fight with all their might, they would likely fall to the swords. How could she allow her hard-won subordinates to be slaughtered?
As her words fell, Mo You and Mo Chou swiftly darted forward to engage the enemy, instructing the guard to protect their mistress.
Mu Qingyao surveyed the scene. There were over a dozen black-clad assailants, all exceptionally skilled. Although Mo You and Mo Chou were formidable in martial arts, they were somewhat outnumbered. Mu Qingyao’s lips curled into a cold smile as she commanded the guard beside her, “Go assist them.”
“Mistress?” The guard hesitated, daring not to move. If the consort were to be harmed, he could not bear the responsibility. The lives of those two subordinates paled in comparison to the mistress’s, hence his hesitation.
Seeing his expression, Mu Qingyao’s entire being exuded killing intent, and she was about to step out to meet the enemy when the branches and leaves in the forest rustled. A dozen exquisitely beautiful women, clad in vibrant silks, descended from mid-air. Leading them was Bing Xiao. Bing Xiao cupped her fists and said, “My apologies for startling the Mistress.”
Upon seeing Bing Xiao appear, Mu Qingyao immediately felt a sense of relief. These hidden guards possessed formidable martial arts skills, and it was highly unlikely they would meet any harm.
At the foot of the mountain, the battle raged fiercely, obscuring the sun and moon. The pilgrims descending the mountain dared not proceed. With swords flashing and the air thick with murderous intent and the pungent smell of blood, no one dared to intervene.
Mu Qingyao remained an observer, arms crossed, calmly watching everything unfold. Soon, she noticed a peculiar anomaly.
These black-clad figures were different from the previous ones. They seemed to be holding back, not striking with the same lethal force as before. It was more as if they intended to capture them alive rather than kill them outright.
This discovery filled her with doubt. Were these people not the same assassins? Then who had sent them? Could it be that two groups were after her? Oh, heavens, what kind of predicament had she stumbled into?
Mu Qingyao looked to the sky, questioning its silence. She had initially only intended to investigate the whereabouts of those assassins, but now another group had emerged. Why did these people want to capture her? Could they be from other nations among the six kingdoms? They didn't want to kill her; they only wanted her alive.
However, after Bing Xiao and her group appeared, the situation immediately intensified. The black-clad figures began to falter, and soon, some were injured. Mu Qingyao estimated that if things continued like this, the battle would end soon.
But who would have thought that another group of black-clad figures would emerge from the dense forest? There were about a dozen of them. These individuals were entirely different from the first group. Upon their appearance, they brought with them the intense impact of an approaching storm. A murderous, predatory aura enveloped half the sky. Their leader waved a hand, and cold, emotionless words were uttered: “Kill.”
A world-destroying slaughter commenced. Bing Xiao and her group began to retreat, with the latter black-clad figures attacking with lethal intent, aiming to kill. Mo Chou and the others dared not be careless, engaging them with all their might. Mu Qingyao, unable to remain an observer, stepped forward to join the fray, eliciting shouts of “Mistress!” from several individuals.
The sky changed, clouds broke apart, and Mu Qingyao found herself surrounded by several black-clad figures, captured in an instant. To prevent further futile casualties, she commanded in a deep voice, “Retreat quickly.”
As her words fell, a black-clad figure struck her acupoint, rendering her unconscious, and swiftly carried her away.
Mo Chou and Mo You were greatly alarmed. They quickly retreated, resolving to immediately return to the palace and report to the Emperor that the Mistress had been abducted. The Emperor would likely fly into a rage, and they needed to find her quickly. Fortunately, the Mistress had foresight and had instructed Mao Xue Qiu to lead them in the search.
“Go.”
The group mounted their horses and vanished in the blink of an eye. The assassins did not pursue them; their target was the one who had been abducted. They exchanged glances: “Withdraw.”
…
Mu Qingyao awoke to find that dusk was approaching. She raised herself and rubbed her head, the preceding events flooding back into her mind.
She had been abducted at the foot of Yue Jue Temple. Where was this place? She looked around, taking in her surroundings. She was in an exquisite side room, filled with the faint scent of incense. She lay on a large bed, with no signs of mistreatment.
What was going on?
Mu Qingyao blinked in confusion and sat up. As she did, she realized her body felt unusually weak. After a moment’s thought, she discovered her internal energy was completely gone. She was now just an ordinary person. A great shock seized her, and her expression turned grim.
Someone had given her a pill to neutralize her internal energy. That was why they felt confident leaving her here. Without her internal energy, she was like any other person, and escaping would likely prove difficult.
But why had they captured her?
Mu Qingyao gazed coldly out the window. Through the partially open casement, she saw a detached courtyard. A pine tree was planted in the yard, and a few chickens roamed about, occasionally clucking joyfully.