The Stone Forest was named as such because of its numerous peculiar rocks.
However, everyone called it the Devil's Stone Forest, which implied that it contained not only stones but also hidden dangers.
Master and servant, the two walked cautiously inside.
During their journey, they spotted the young maid Ying Xiu, whom Zhang Yu had previously driven in.
She hadn't ventured further but had found a crevice to hide in, clearly intending to slip away once they had left.
While clever, how could Su Xiaoqi allow Ying Xiu to escape after framing Du Yiyi and herself?
That would be far too lenient for her.
Zhang Yu’s thoughts were much like Su Xiaoqi’s. Of course, her concern wasn’t for Du Yiyi, but because Ying Xiu had deceived Su Xiaoqi and herself.
If not for Ying Xiu, her master wouldn’t have insisted on risking her life.
Initially, Zhang Yu had merely found the young maid annoying, but now she even wished to kill her.
Seeing Ying Xiu’s fearful, tear-streaked face, Zhang Yu felt particularly irritated.
She was the one who had done wrong, yet she was playing the victim for whom?
Without a second thought, Zhang Yu entered the crevice and struck Ying Xiu twice on the back of her neck.
Ying Xiu fainted without even a sound.
Zhang Yu, with deliberate malice, carried her and dumped her at a fork in the path.
This way, if Ying Xiu wanted to leave, it wouldn’t be so easy.
“Fine, let’s leave it at that.” Although Su Xiaoqi also disliked Ying Xiu’s actions, she saw no need to take her life.
Otherwise, what would be the difference between them and those who schemed in the shadows?
Zhang Yu nodded and followed Su Xiaoqi as they navigated through the forest.
The Stone Forest was vast, with many branching paths, some of which led to dead ends. The two wandered for a long time, not only failing to find the person they sought but also losing their way out.
“What do we do?” Sweat beaded on Zhang Yu’s forehead.
Before entering, she hadn’t taken this place seriously at all.
When she’d heard them refer to it as the so-called Devil’s Forest.
But she considered her sense of direction excellent and believed she could find her way through any difficult path.
However, after circling within, she realized things were not that simple.
She regretted not having forcefully prevented Su Xiaoqi from entering.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ve already left a letter for my husband, and you’ve fired a flare. I believe he will find us. For now, let’s mark the forks we’ve taken so we don’t repeat our steps.”
Su Xiaoqi was also feeling anxious, but she couldn't show it. Instead, she thought of a good way to escape the maze.
Zhang Yu was naturally impatient, and if Su Xiaoqi displayed her own worries, Zhang Yu would likely lose even more confidence.
“Alas, it’s getting dark. This Devil’s Forest has so far only caused people to lose their direction. If it gets dark, who knows what might happen,” Zhang Yu said, afraid she couldn't protect Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi smiled and reassured her, “Don’t worry, I can protect myself.” Her voice grew softer, and she gestured for Zhang Yu to be silent, mouthing that there was movement nearby.
Zhang Yu straightened her resolve and drew her soft sword from her waist.
Seeing this, Su Xiaoqi also retrieved a dagger from her space and held it in her hand.
The two followed the source of the sound down a side path.
At the end of the path, a person in black leaned against a rock wall, their head tilted, appearing to be on the verge of death.
Su Xiaoqi wanted to step forward for a closer look but was stopped by Zhang Yu, who whispered, “Don’t, Master. Your servant recognizes his attire.”
Su Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow, “Whose man is he?”
“From Yan Yu Ge.”
Su Xiaoqi looked at the person’s attire; it was all black, with nothing particularly special.
Of course, some subtle markings could be seen in the fine details.
It was likely that Zhang Yu had noticed these.
The person lying on the ground, waiting to die, was initially surprised to see someone appear, thinking it was their own people. However, upon seeing two unfamiliar women, they immediately became wary.
But the injury was too severe; one arm had been completely severed, and a large pool of blood had dyed the ground where they sat.
“Yan Yu Ge?” Su Xiaoqi repeated Zhang Yu’s words.
Zhang Yu nodded. Seeing Su Xiaoqi’s expression, she realized Su Xiaoqi might have misunderstood something.
“Uh, Master, this Yan Yu Ge is not the former Yan Yu Lou.”
Su Xiaoqi nodded, saying she knew.
The book had described Yan Yu Ge in great detail.
It was a martial arts organization that combined intelligence gathering and assassination.
It was as famous in the Great Liang Dynasty as the Cao Gang, Yan Gang, and Ma Gang.
Zhang Yu carefully examined the wounds on the person’s clothing and said in a low voice, “The wounds on his body were caused by a Five-Star Dart. Hmph, so the rumors are true; Yan Yu Ge has internal strife.”
Seeing Su Xiaoqi remain silent, Zhang Yu assumed she didn't understand and explained further.
The dying member of Yan Yu Ge was startled to hear two seemingly delicate women discuss these matters so knowledgeably, realizing they had encountered experts.
It made sense; how could anyone who could enter the Devil’s Stone Forest be ordinary?
He tested them, saying, “You, are you people sent by Xiao Lin?”
Xiao Lin?
Su Xiaoqi’s mind reeled with a booming sound.
She remembered this name had been specifically mentioned in the book.
He was a capable subordinate of Shen Yun.
Of course, that was his apparent identity.
In reality, he was the young master of Yan Yu Ge.
He was loyal to Shen Yun, and the author had mentioned the reason, something about Shen Yun saving Xiao Lin’s life in a certain year and month.
Could it be happening now?
With matters weighing on her mind, Su Xiaoqi no longer felt afraid.
She felt she had stumbled upon a critical plot point again.
She gestured for Zhang Yu to step forward and interrogate him, wanting to know the cause and effect of this incident.
Seeing Zhang Yu approach, the man in black still tried to use his uninjured left hand to draw his saber and attack her.
However, his guess was accurate; Zhang Yu was indeed no weak woman.
As she stepped forward, she easily kicked the saber out of his hand at an unusual angle.
Then, she brought her own sword to his throat.
The man in black was immediately terrified by this display.
This person’s skills were extraordinary; let alone his current injured state with a severed arm, even at his full strength, he wouldn't be her match.
He was quite straightforward. Leaning his head against the stone wall, he simply waited for death, no longer struggling.
“Quite sensible. Then, tell us, what happened in your Yan Yu Ge? You, an insignificant nobody, dare to address the young master by name.”
“Kill me,” the man in black said with disdain on his dark, thin face.
He might be defeated, but that didn't mean he would surrender.
“Dying is easy, but the feeling of wishing you were dead is something you likely wouldn’t want to experience,” Zhang Yu said, drawing her sword and slitting the man’s neck.
He cried out in pain, “Sss,” and just as he was about to curse, Su Xiaoqi popped a pill into his mouth.
He immediately cried out, “Itchy, so itchy…”
Just as Su Xiaoqi was about to speak, Zhang Yu held her back and said with a sinister smile:
“For now, you only feel itching. Soon, you will want to scratch, and you will watch yourself peel your flesh off piece by piece.
But the itching will never stop, and you will not die. It will feel as if you are being slowly sliced alive.”
Su Xiaoqi blinked, looking at the pill in her hand. Did her medicine have such an effect? She didn’t know.