Qin Qiancheng tidied his clothes and walked to the rack, picking up his sword. This sword was a treasured weapon bestowed upon him by Ji Jinmo for his merits in battle.
Clutching the sword, Qin Qiancheng pushed open the door and went to the stables to fetch his mount. He mounted the horse and galloped out of the mansion. The hooves of the fine horse struck the ground with a rapid, clattering rhythm, causing the surrounding populace to quickly make way, lest they be caught beneath the thundering hooves.
"Whoa!"
Qin Qiancheng tightened the reins, and the fine horse reared, letting out a neigh.
The guards at the mansion, upon seeing Qin Qiancheng riding towards them, had intended to greet him. However, upon seeing the sword in his hand and the murderous aura surrounding him, they warily tightened their grip on their long sabers.
Qin Qiancheng dismounted and charged into the mansion.
"General Qin, you..."
The mansion guards attempted to block him. Qin Qiancheng's wrist flicked, and he held his sword horizontally. The blade struck the guard with immense force, sending him flying backward to crash against the porch.
Seeing Qin Qiancheng dare to use force within the mansion, nearby guards rushed forward.
Qin Qiancheng adopted the Seven Stars Formation, his sword still sheathed. He chopped down, pushed sideways, and thrust upwards, like a hungry wolf entering a flock of sheep. The mansion guards were not weak, but against Qin Qiancheng, who had risen through the ranks to become a commander through military achievements, they were still outmatched.
Qin Qiancheng surged into the front courtyard's corridor, where he encountered the guard Jia Huan.
Jia Huan, leading thirteen men, blocked Qin Qiancheng's path. He drew his saber, its tip pointed at Qin Qiancheng, and demanded, "General Qin, you are the Prince's confidant, yet you trespass into the mansion with a sword. Do you know what you are doing? If you are willing to lay down your weapon and go to the study to beg for forgiveness, the Prince might grant you a way to live. Otherwise..."
"Beg for forgiveness?"
Qin Qiancheng savored the words "beg for forgiveness," a sarcastic cold laugh playing on his lips.
He met Jia Huan's gaze and drew his sword from its scabbard. "I have served under the Prince for many years, always loyal and never negligent. Yet now, I cannot even protect my own daughter's life. Guard Jia, I came here today with no intention of returning alive. I only seek an answer: in the Prince's eyes, are those of us who loyally follow him as humble as ants?"
"Does no matter how we serve, it is no match for a single word from the Princess's lips?"
Jia Huan blinked, realizing Qin Qiancheng wasn't simply going mad. What had the Princess done to push Qin Qiancheng to such a state?
Wait, when he mentioned his daughter's life, could he be referring not to Qin Yurou, but Qin Yushan?
Had the Princess killed Qin Yushan?
When did this happen?
Why was the Princess targeting this family? This was pushing someone too far!
Jia Huan remained silent for a moment, still pointing his saber at Qin Qiancheng, his voice deepening slightly, "General Qin, no matter what, please lay down your weapon."
Qin Qiancheng did not reply. He suddenly lunged at Jia Huan, swinging his long sword. The blade grazed Jia Huan's saber, and the sword tip flicked upwards, like a venomous snake striking with bared fangs, aiming for Jia Huan's wrist.
If this strike had connected, Jia Huan's wrist would have been ruined.
Jia Huan's hand trembled, and his saber slipped. He caught the falling saber with his left hand and brought it up, cleaving the sword. The sword tip grazed Jia Huan's wrist and was deflected upwards into the air.
Qin Qiancheng twisted his wrist, brought the sword horizontally, and pressed down. The sword tip changed direction and stabbed at the man to Jia Huan's right.
The saber had strength, the sword had finesse.
Qin Qiancheng was a skilled swordsman. With a sword in hand, combined with the footwork of the Seven Stars Formation, Jia Huan was unable to subdue him.
Xuan Yi, perched on a tree branch, watched Qin Qiancheng hold his own against the thirteen attackers and cast a disdainful glance at Jia Huan.
He leaped from the tree, his sword flashing with a sharp, cold light, aiming directly at Qin Qiancheng's brow.
A fierce sword energy came from the upper right, and a sense of immense danger instantly engulfed Qin Qiancheng. The warning bells in his mind clamored madly. Qin Qiancheng parried Jia Huan's saber and retreated rapidly, pushing off the ground with his toes.
However, despite his speed, he couldn't move faster than Xuan Yi's sword.
He raised his long sword, attempting to block the fierce strike.
With a "crack," the sword snapped in the middle. Xuan Yi's sword shattered Qin Qiancheng's sword, and the tip landed at Qin Qiancheng's neck.
Qin Qiancheng felt a chill run through his body, as if the sword tip at his neck was radiating boundless cold.
"Bind him!"
Xuan Yi waved his hand, signaling Jia Huan to tie him up and escort him to the study.
Jia Huan felt his cheeks burn. He used all his might to bind Qin Qiancheng, tying the ropes unusually tightly.
In the study, Nan Shiying lowered the window, looking rather bored.
"Your acting is too poor!"
Xuan Yi was indeed skilled, but given Qin Qiancheng's displayed martial prowess, he shouldn't have been defeated so easily.
Ji Jinmo's lips curved into a beautiful arc. He wanted to ruffle her hair, but they were too far apart. His palm itched, so he rubbed his prayer beads and said, "You should also consider his position. If he had truly stormed in with his sword, he would have met a dead end!"
Nan Shiying was noncommittal. She simply felt the play had ended too soon.
She hummed, picked up a grape, and popped it into her mouth. She reclined lazily on the soft couch, as if her bones had melted.
When Jia Huan escorted Qin Qiancheng into the study, Nan Shiying still hadn't straightened up, maintaining her languid and casual demeanor.
The moment Qin Qiancheng saw Nan Shiying, a fierce killing intent surged through him.
"Presumptuous!"
Ji Jinmo placed his prayer beads on the table. The beads touched the table, making a crisp sound. The sound wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's heart like a thunderclap in their ears. They all felt a chill, their breathing momentarily stopping for a few seconds. The oppressive aura that washed over them was like an insurmountable mountain, weighing down on their hearts, making it difficult to breathe.
Qin Qiancheng, facing this oppressive aura head-on, felt it even more deeply. His straight back bent, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead and temples.
"Qin Qiancheng!"
Ji Jinmo leaned back in his chair, one hand on his prayer beads, the other arm propped on the armrest, his hand hanging naturally. He slightly raised his head, his phoenix eyes, like a cold, stagnant well, falling on Qin Qiancheng. He slowly, deliberately uttered his name.
Those three words alone caused Qin Qiancheng's back to bend further.
"Your... subject is here!"
Even though Qin Qiancheng had prepared himself mentally before coming, when he finally faced Ji Jinmo, his heart was still filled with an unshakeable fear.
"Look up!" Ji Jinmo commanded coldly.
Qin Qiancheng slowly raised his head, but still dared not meet Ji Jinmo's gaze.