Chapter 79: Her Escape Looks Despicable

Faced with this almost blatant threat, Fangru did not show the fear or anger that was expected. Instead, a very faint and desolate smile appeared on her lips.

She even took a half-step forward, extending her slender, fair wrists with clearly defined bones, and offered them to Zhou Muchen. On those wrists, beneath the smooth skin, there seemed to be the marks left by some invisible shackles, marks that had penetrated deep into the bone marrow.

"Locked up?" Her tone was light and airy, with an almost numb mockery. "Has Your Highness forgotten? I have been completely locked up inside and out by the most noble emperor in the world, who knows best how to imprison people, with his power, his desires, and his magnificent golden cage. I am trapped in body and mind, and have lost all my dignity."

She raised her eyes, looking directly into Zhou Muchen's slightly constricted pupils. "Does Your Highness think that this cold chain in your hand can be more despairing than his omnipresent control? I believe that no matter what you do, you can't be worse than him."

The name "Zhou Ling" was like a forbidden curse, uttered from her pale lips, instantly shattering the facade of calm that Zhou Muchen had been trying so hard to maintain.

His face suddenly darkened, as if stung by a poisonous bee. He abruptly withdrew his hand from the chain, his tone becoming sharp and aggressive: "You always bring him up! You never forget him! Was it during those days in the palace when you were forced to submit to his favor that you actually... you actually developed feelings for him that you shouldn't have?! Was it?!"

Fangru believes that Zhou Muchen's claim that he "always mentions him" is a huge misunderstanding.

Throughout her journey, whenever she abruptly stopped at a strange sound in the forest or held her breath at the startled flight of night birds, it was all driven by a deep-seated fear. She would be extra vigilant in the darkness when keeping watch at night, and would subconsciously choose more secluded paths when passing forks in the road. All these cautious actions were solely for the purpose of escaping the man's control.

In her heart, the name Zhou Ling never represented any affection, but rather a cage that imprisoned her, a sharp blade that trampled on her dignity. Every tremor and every bewildered look in her eyes when she mentioned him was proof of unhealed trauma. Yet, these instinctive fear reactions, in Zhou Muchen's obsessive interpretation, all became evidence of his unforgettable obsession.

"Moved?" Fangru seemed to have heard the most absurd joke in the world. Her eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp, like a blade soaked in frost. "Moved by someone who forcibly possessed me, treated me like an object or plaything, and trampled all my dignity and will underfoot? Your Highness, your questioning at this moment is tantamount to insulting all the pain I have endured!"

Seeing her intense reaction and the clear hatred in her eyes, which seemed genuine, Zhou Muchen's tense expression eased slightly.

He casually slipped the chain back into his sleeve, as if the dangerous probing and threat from just now had never happened.

He took a deep breath, forcibly changed the subject, and his tone became gentle again, even with a hint of apology: "Never mind, it was my fault... I shouldn't have brought up those painful memories, and I shouldn't have pressured you like that. You just went through a life-or-death ordeal, and your emotions are still unsettled. I was too hasty."

He walked to the wooden table in the center of the room, spread out a rough map of the Northern Barbarian territory that he had prepared beforehand, pointed at it with his finger, and said seriously, "Let's discuss how to establish ourselves in the Northern Barbarians in the future. That's the most urgent thing."

Fangru also composed herself, walked to the table, and looked at the unfamiliar place names and the symbols of the vast grasslands on the map.

Zhou Muchen continued, “Now our identities are sensitive; we are both wanted criminals of the Xia Dynasty and are not tolerated in our homeland. If we want to live peacefully in the Northern Barbarians, or even… have a chance to live better in the future, we must find strong protection and obtain legal status.”

His finger pointed heavily to a spot on the map marked with the symbol of the royal court. "Three days later, we will secretly meet with Prince Arslen of the Northern Di here. He is one of the Northern Di Khan's most favored sons, young and promising, wielding real power, and quite interested in Central Plains culture. We must find a way to persuade him to allow us to stay in the Northern Di, and preferably obtain an official position based on our abilities, so that we can truly gain a foothold and plan for the long term."

Fangru frowned slightly and raised a practical question: "We are now like stray dogs. What makes us so special that a prince of the Northern Di would take notice of us and be willing to take risks for us?"

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Zhou Muchen's eyes, but when he looked at Fangru, his gaze was exceptionally sincere and earnest: "Your capital lies in your talent, Fangru. From a young age, you have read extensively, not only mastering agriculture and water conservancy, but also having dabbled in classics such as 'The Essential Techniques for the Common People' and 'The Complete Book of Agricultural Administration.' You have also consulted numerous books on animal husbandry and veterinary medicine with your father, gaining considerable insight into the raising of cattle, sheep, and horses, disease prevention, and even pasture improvement. The Northern Di are a nomadic people, and animal husbandry is their foundation. If you can apply your knowledge to help them increase cattle and sheep production, reduce livestock deaths due to disease, and improve the lives of herders, this will be a tangible achievement, enough to impress Prince Arslan." He painted a seemingly hopeful future, "When the Northern Di are strong and prosperous, no longer needing to plunder the Xia Kingdom's borders to survive the harsh, food-scarce winters, perhaps then the border between the two countries can truly usher in a long-lasting peace and tranquility. Isn't this precisely the scene you deep down hope to see?"

He skillfully linked her personal values ​​with a grand vision like "peace."

Fangru gazed at the vast grassland on the map and remained silent for a moment.

She knew that Zhou Muchen's words might not be entirely sincere, but right now, they desperately needed the protection of the Northern Di to survive.

Using her knowledge to gain a foothold in this unfamiliar land, and perhaps... she could actually contribute to reducing border conflicts, this seemed to be the only feasible path that didn't go against her conscience.

She let out a soft sigh, finally nodded, and whispered, "I understand. I know what to say when I meet the prince in three days."

However, she did not see the fleeting, burning flame of ambition in Zhou Muchen's eyes as she lowered her head in thought, a flame completely different from the "peace" she had longed for.

His plans were far more complex than simply settling down in the Northern Barbarian lands.

He needed the support of the Northern Di, and even more so, he needed to use Fangru as a deadly bait to lure Zhou Ling into a trap. Only by eliminating Zhou Ling could he, as a member of the late emperor's collateral line, unite all forces dissatisfied with Zhou Ling, return to the Xia Kingdom, and reclaim the throne that he believed rightfully belonged to him. And the first step in all this grand plan was to gain the trust and support of the Northern Di prince, Arsleng.

Night gradually enveloped Wangbei City, concealing everyone's thoughts in the boundless darkness.

Three days later, at dawn, while the morning star was still twinkling in the sky, the back door of the Wangbeicheng Inn slid open silently.

Two seemingly ordinary blue-canopied carriages, escorted by five capable guards, rolled over the still-dampened dew on the bluestone road and silently merged into the gradually awakening street, heading towards the city of Beidishao.

Inside the carriage, Fangru sat upright in a corner, twisting the sash between her fingers.

The curtains on the car windows were drawn tightly, leaving only a small gap through which a blurry glimpse of light and shadow from the outside world could be seen.

Every bump from the wheels felt like a blow to her heart.

Crossing the border and entering the Northern Barbarian lands... This thought, like a flickering candle in the darkness, brings a faint warmth, yet is constantly threatened by the danger of being extinguished by a fierce wind.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the restless bird in her chest.

Freedom, that distant and luxurious word, may really be just a step away.

About an hour later, the convoy stopped at a morning market near the border.

This place is already on the edge of the Xia Kingdom's territory. People are mixed together, with merchants, herdsmen, and porters dressed in various clothes coming and going. The air is filled with the smell of mutton and cattle, the aroma of baked flatbread, and the smell of dust.

"Rest here for a while and have some breakfast." Zhou Muchen's voice pulled Fangru back from her chaotic thoughts.

He got out of the car first, his sharp eyes scanning the noisy surroundings before gesturing for Fang to get out as well.

The two sat down at a roadside stall where there were fewer people.

On the rough wooden table were two bowls of steaming goat milk and several hard flatbreads.

Zhou Muchen's five men appeared to be scattered around casually, some crouching in corners, others leaning against hitching posts, but their eyes were like those of hawks, silently filtering every passing figure.

Zhou Muchen picked up a flatbread, broke off a small piece, but did not eat it immediately.

He leaned forward slightly, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear: "Chen Jian'an has sent word that everything is going smoothly. Prince Arslan's confidant, Hadan, will be waiting for us in Shaou City. General Yingji and General Dolu will also be there." He paused, observing Fangru's reaction, "Once they confirm the 'sincerity' I brought, the value of that iron-refining secret method, and their introduction of us to the prince, will be a natural progression."

Fangru sipped the goat's milk, but the warm liquid could not dispel the chill in her heart.

She noticed a fleeting glint of calculation in Zhou Muchen's eyes when he mentioned the "secret method of iron smelting," a calculation so different from his gentle tone. His influence in the Northern Di was far deeper than she had imagined. Was this "pledge of allegiance" truly just a simple exchange for a foothold?

"Do the Northern Barbarians truly lack such technology?" she couldn't help but ask softly, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Zhou Muchen seemed to have anticipated this question. He put down the flatbread, dipped his fingertip in the goat milk in the bowl, and casually drew a line on the rough tabletop before erasing it. "The Northern Barbarians have their own methods, but they are extremely costly and ineffective. Giving them these methods is merely icing on the cake, helping them avoid some detours, but it won't shake the foundation." He changed the subject, his gaze falling on Fangru's face, his tone becoming exceptionally earnest, even slightly seductive. "The real capital lies with you, Fangru. Your knowledge of agriculture, sericulture, and animal husbandry is the foundation that can truly take root here, benefit the people of the Northern Barbarians, and ultimately eliminate border troubles. When the Northern Barbarians' granaries are full and their cattle and sheep are fat, why will they need to plunder anymore? Isn't this the foundation of peace you desire?"

Peace… Fangru murmured these two words.

This was indeed the glimmer of light that remained deep within her heart.

Using my knowledge, I might actually be able to carve out a way to survive in this unfamiliar land, and even... indirectly realize some of my long-cherished wishes.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her pale cheeks, and finally nodded almost imperceptibly.

Just then, a strange flutter made her subconsciously raise her head.

Her gaze pierced through the rising steam and past the bustling crowd, and a dozen meters away, beside a stall selling leather goods, she spotted a figure.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The man was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, his posture as upright as a pine tree. Just by standing there casually, the surrounding noise seemed to be separated by an invisible force, forming a unique vacuum zone.

He wore no crown; his dark hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin. His face was so handsome it was almost piercing. His unfathomable eyes pierced through all obstacles, landing precisely on her face.

It's Zhou Ling!

"Clang!"

The wooden spoon slipped from Fangru's hand and fell, tapping against the edge of the ceramic bowl before landing on the table with a crisp sound.

She felt as if she had been struck by lightning; her blood seemed to freeze instantly, and her face turned ashen white.

Zhou Muchen immediately noticed her unusual behavior and followed her gaze.

When he saw the man's face clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he stood up abruptly, his movement so fast that he knocked over the wooden stool behind him with a thud.

"Go!" he hissed, grabbing Fangru's icy wrist and practically dragging her along as he strode back behind the stall to the dilapidated mud wall.

Their backs slammed heavily against the cold, hard wall, the rough gravel digging painfully into them, but neither of them felt it at the moment.

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, almost breaking my ribs.

Fangru leaned against the wall, panting heavily, but felt the air was so thin that she couldn't breathe it into her lungs.

"How...how could he be here?!"

Her voice trembled violently, "Quick, let's go! To Shaou City, right now!"

Fear, like cold vines, instantly tightened around her limbs and bones.

Zhou Muchen's face was ashen, and his chest heaved violently.

He forced himself to calm down and cautiously peeked out from behind the wall again to observe carefully.

A moment later, a look of extreme astonishment flashed in his eyes, which was then replaced by a more complex light, a mixture of murderous intent and greed.

“No…” His voice was hoarse, filled with disbelief, “He has… no guards with him. Not a single one.”

"Impossible!" Fangru almost screamed, then covered her mouth tightly. "His bodyguards must be hiding nearby! He would never come here alone!" She knew that man's caution and suspiciousness better than anyone else.

At that moment, a subordinate approached silently like a ghost, his voice low and filled with the same suspicion: "Master, we've checked repeatedly. Within a radius of fifty paces, we haven't seen any suspicious people following the guards. Indeed... it's just him alone."

A terrifying light flashed in Zhou Muchen's eyes. He abruptly withdrew his gaze, leaned against the wall, and his breathing became heavy.

“I understand…” A cold, twisted smile curled at the corner of his lips. “Li Zuo’s betrayal has left him truly alone. He no longer trusts anyone, even his secret guards have been dismissed… This is his arrogance, and also his path to his death!”

Fangru felt a chill run from her feet to the top of her head as she thought about the possible fate of Li Zuo, the guard commander who had once helped her.

But at this moment, she was more concerned with how to survive.

“Even so, he is in extreme danger! Our target is Shaou City, and Prince Arslan! We can’t let our efforts be in vain here! Please, let’s leave quickly, and don’t let him discover our tracks!” She spoke rapidly, her voice filled with desperate pleading.

However, Zhou Muchen's gaze was like a poisoned dagger, fixed on the direction where Zhou Ling might be.

The humiliation and ambition suppressed for many years seemed to find a perfect outlet at this moment.

He slowly shook his head, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth: "No... this is fate! God has sent him alone to me! This is the best chance to kill him; if I miss today, there will be no other opportunity!"

He whirled around, his burning, obsessive gaze fixed on Fangru's pale face, a hint of frantic questioning in his eyes. "Fangru, you're so afraid of me confronting him directly, doing everything you can to stop me... Even now, do you still have feelings for him...?"

"Zhou Muchen!" Fangru interrupted him sharply, trembling with fear and anger. "Wake up! Kill him, and then what? We'll immediately become the most wanted criminals in the entire Xia Kingdom. Will the Northern Di prince still dare to take us in? What about your grand ambitions?!"

Looking into his eyes, burning with hatred and desire, her heart sank. She abruptly shook off his hand. "If you insist on courting death, I won't accompany you! I'll go to Shaou City myself!"

After saying that, she resolutely turned around and was about to blend into the crowd in the opposite direction from the carriage. She would rather face the unknown of the Northern Di alone than be drawn into this doomed vortex at this moment.

Seeing Fangru resolutely turn around and plunge into the crowd, the last trace of hesitation in Zhou Muchen's eyes was completely swallowed up by his frenzy.

He couldn't tolerate her slipping out of his control, especially now that Zhou Ling had appeared like a ghost!

"Where do you want to go?" His voice was extremely low, yet it carried a cold, hard edge.

Before he finished speaking, he flipped his wrist, and the handcuffs, which had been hidden in his sleeve and gleamed with a cold metallic luster, emerged like a venomous snake from its hole. With a crisp and cold click, they firmly locked Fangru's slender left wrist.

Fangru was shocked and abruptly pulled her hand away: "Zhou Muchen! Are you crazy?! Let go of me!" She felt the hard metallic touch on her wrist and the pain of being gripped tightly.

Zhou Muchen ignored her struggles and rebukes. His sharp gaze swept over the thick wooden pole supporting the tarpaulin at the stall next to him, and he pulled Fangru over with force, almost violently.

Amid Fangru's scream, the ring at the other end of the handcuffs clattered sharply, precisely and cruelly slipping onto a rusty iron hook protruding from the top of the wooden pole, completely imprisoning her in place like a caged bird.

"Stay here!" he said coldly, with an almost manic obsession. "I'll take you away after I've dealt with him!"

After saying that, he resolutely turned away, no longer looking at Fangru's eyes, which were filled with fear, anger, and a trace of despair.

He made a sharp and decisive gesture as his eyes met those of his five men, who were scattered around him and already as taut as bowstrings: surround them, kill them, at all costs!

Upon receiving the order, the five guards' eyes instantly turned as hungry as wolves in the wilderness.

They discreetly slipped into the slightly crowded flow of people due to the early morning market, using the stalls and pedestrians as cover, like five shadows, silently yet swiftly approaching the dark figure that stood still a dozen meters away from the market.

The weapon at his waist was silently drawn half an inch from its sheath, its cold gleam drawing a dangerous arc in the rising sunlight.

Zhou Muchen took a deep breath, as if he wanted to inhale all his hatred and ambition into his lungs and transform them into the power of killing.

With a clang, he drew his sword from his waist, the tip pointing at Zhou Ling. His eyes burned with a fire and an excitement that seemed poised to overturn fate. He followed his men's steps forward. Today, he would personally sever the shackles of the past!

However, he only took two steps!

The moment his second foot touched the ground, something unexpected happened!

On the other side, Zhou Ling, who had been standing still, finally moved.

His movements were not grand and sweeping, but rather carried an extremely restrained elegance and precision.

As if it were just a slight adjustment of the shoulder blade muscles, a jet of dark light shot out from the uniquely shaped, smoothly lined black dagger in his hand!

The sound of the arrow piercing the air was compressed to the extreme, sharp yet short, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, so fast that it could not be captured by sight!

Zhou Muchen didn't even have time to react instinctively to block or dodge; he felt as if an invisible giant hammer had struck his chest!

That force was incredibly domineering, instantly seizing all his breath and strength.

He instinctively looked down, his pupils suddenly contracting to their maximum size as he stared in disbelief at the short iron arrow that was almost completely embedded in his left chest. The steel arrowhead was no longer visible, leaving only the black shaft and the slightly trembling fletching embedded in his flesh.

"Uh...cough..." He opened his mouth, but a strong, metallic taste rushed up, and blood uncontrollably spilled from the corner of his mouth. The powerful impact made him stagger backward, and the long sword in his hand clattered to the ground. Finally, he fell heavily backward into the cold dust with a "thud," stirring up a small cloud of dust.

Almost at the same moment Zhou Muchen was shot and fell to the ground!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Five sharp, almost continuous sounds erupted in succession, sending chills down one's spine!

Zhou Ling moved within a small area, his steps unpredictable, like a ghost darting about.

His movements with the black gun were fluid and graceful; every lift, aim, and fire seemed to be the result of the most precise calculations, with not a single unnecessary movement.

The five guards who were rushing towards him with all their might did not even get within five steps of him before they were like wheat stalks being harvested by an invisible scythe. They let out short groans or screams one after another, and a bloody hole appeared in their throats or chests. They all collapsed to the ground and died instantly!

From the moment Zhou Muchen drew his sword to the moment he was struck by an arrow and fell to the ground, and then to the moment the five elite guards were slaughtered in the blink of an eye, the whole process was breathtakingly fast, as if it were just a cruel and efficient performance, and Zhou Ling was the only protagonist.

The once bustling morning market seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, falling into a moment of deathly silence.

Immediately, extreme fear exploded like a plague!

"Ah! Murder!!"

"Run!!"

The crowd instantly collapsed, with cries, screams, shoving, and trampling sounds mingling together, like a boiling pot of porridge, completely losing its order.

Fangru was handcuffed to a wooden pole, her whole body was ice cold, and her blood seemed to have frozen.

She watched helplessly as Zhou Muchen collapsed just three steps away from her, saw the shocking arrow in his chest and the rapidly spreading crimson blood, watched him struggle in vain for a few moments, and finally his eyes glazed over as he lost all life.

A tremendous fear gripped her, but the instinct to survive was even stronger.

She desperately pulled at the shackles on her wrists, her voice hoarse and distorted with extreme fear as she looked towards Zhou Muchen: "The key! Zhou Muchen! Give me the key!!"

Perhaps it was her desperate cries that had an effect, or perhaps Zhou Muchen's remaining consciousness had not completely dissipated.

His unfocused gaze struggled, slowly turning towards Fangru's direction. His lips trembled violently, and more blood gushed out.

Fangru held her breath, her eyes fixed on his bloodstained fingers.

Finally, the finger hooked onto a small brass key tied to the belt.

With the last ounce of his strength, he ripped the key off the clasp and moved it less than an inch toward Fangru. Then, his arm fell limply to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

His eyes remained open, empty, but devoid of any spirit.

He died.

Fangru's heart clenched suddenly, almost stopping.

She bent down desperately, stretched out her arms, and reached her fingertips forward with all her might. Finally, her cold fingertips touched the copper key stained with warm blood!

She gripped it tightly, trembling, and after two attempts, she finally managed to insert the key accurately into the lock.

With a soft "click," she nearly collapsed the moment the handcuffs snapped open.

She didn't even have time to catch her breath before scrambling to Zhou Muchen's side.

My fingers trembled as I reached for his breath; there was only deathly silence.

Upon confirming his death, Fangru abruptly withdrew her hand, a profound sense of shock sending chills down her spine.

She instinctively looked up, her gaze urgent and fearful as she searched for the dark figure amidst the chaotic fleeing crowds on the street.

Gone! Zhou Ling is gone! Just as abruptly as he appeared, he vanished without a trace. It's as if his appearance was merely to deliver a precise and ruthless thunderous strike, reaping lives before calmly retreating, leaving behind this bloody chaos.

All that remained were the gradually cooling corpses of Zhou Muchen and his five subordinates, and the terrified screams that echoed in the distance, a sign that the safe zone was receding into the distance.

We can't stay here! The Xia Kingdom's soldiers could arrive at any moment, and the Northern Di's contact won't wait for a dead man!

Shaou City! General Yingji! General Dolu!

These words, like a final beacon, lit up Fangru's chaotic mind.

She suddenly remembered the thing in Zhou Muchen's arms, the "stepping stone" to the Northern Di sanctuary!

Suppressing the surging nausea and the deep-seated fear, she reached out again, her hand slipping into Zhou Muchen's still slightly warm embrace. Her fingertips touched a scroll tightly wrapped in oilcloth, slightly stiff. Without hesitation, she pulled it out, not even bothering to look at it, and immediately tucked it tightly into her bosom, hiding it close to her body.

That is the secret iron-smelting method that leads to survival!

She glanced one last time at Zhou Muchen's face on the ground, frozen with resentment and astonishment. Then, she abruptly stood up, not even bothering to brush the dust off her clothes, and plunged headlong into the chaotic crowd that was scattering like headless flies.

Fangru's slender figure, like a frightened bird, was instantly swallowed up by the surging crowd.

She used every corner and the shadow of every stall to try to erase her traces. Her hurried figure revealed a fragile yet resilient beauty that was deeply imprinted in Zhou Ling's eyes.

He did not act immediately.

The figure in black stood still, like a cheetah lurking in the shadows, its gaze piercing through the chaotic crowd and precisely locking onto the constantly shifting focal point.

He looked at her slightly disheveled hair from running, and at the fear and determination filling her eyes when she occasionally turned back.

Zhou Ling's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, not out of pity, but out of a condescending, playful detachment, as if he had complete control over his prey's every reaction.

The more she struggled and tried to escape, the more it fueled his powerful desire for control.

Until she deftly slipped to a makeshift stable, her gaze quickly sweeping over the horses, and she selected a brown mare that looked quite docile.

Her action of untying the reins was decisive and desperate, and although her posture of mounting the horse was not as elegant as a warrior's, it had a unique tenacity.

With a flick of her whip, she galloped northward without looking back.

Zhou Ling then began to move slowly and deliberately.

He made no sound, but simply tilted his head slightly, and a dark figure, like ink blending into the sunlight, silently led a jet-black horse with snow-white hooves out from the depths of the alley.

The horse was exceptionally fine, with a mane as smooth as satin. Upon seeing its master, it affectionately snorted.

Zhou Ling stroked his beloved horse's neck with an elegant and composed gesture, a stark contrast to Fang Ru's haste just moments before. He mounted the horse, his posture upright as a pine tree, and with a gentle flick of the reins, he followed at a leisurely pace.

He wasn't in a hurry to close the distance, but simply maintained a just-right field of vision.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse trees lining the road, casting dappled shadows on his dark robes. His handsome, unassuming face showed no urgency, only a deep, still calm.

He enjoyed the process, watching her desperately run for freedom, watching her believe she had broken free of her constraints, and this illusion was the cruel prelude to the game he had personally created.

The road gradually deviated from the official road, becoming rugged and sparsely populated.

A fork in the road ahead: one path was relatively flat and wide, while the other meandered into the deeper hilly area.

Fangru barely hesitated before pulling on the reins and rushing into the more secluded path.

At the entrance to the path, Zhou Ling gently reined in "Ta Xue." The horse lifted its front hooves slightly and came to a steady stop.

His deep gaze swept over the dense bushes on both sides and the winding road ahead, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The place was too quiet; the sound of hooves and the figure were hard to hide. If they continued to follow, given her intelligence and current vigilance, they would inevitably be exposed.

His long, slender fingers tapped lightly twice on the reins, as if giving some silent command.

The next instant, a figure slid out of the shadows by the roadside like a ghost, kneeling on one knee in front of the horse. The movement was as light and swift as a falling leaf, without making a sound.

The newcomer was dressed in tightly bound black clothes, with an ordinary face that would be easily lost in a crowd. However, his eyes were sharp and calm, like those of the most loyal hounds. He was none other than Gao Xuan, the leader of the secret guards.

"Your Majesty." Gao Xuan's voice was deep and steady, filled with absolute obedience.

Zhou Ling did not turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the corner where Fang Ru had disappeared, as if he could see through the trees and reach that figure struggling forward.

His voice was indifferent: "This road is too quiet. If I go any closer, I will inevitably alert the enemy."

He paused slightly, turned his head, and the afterglow of the setting sun gilded his perfect profile with a golden edge, also illuminating the cold, calculating glint in his eyes: "Send your best men to follow behind. Make sure she arrives 'safely' in Shaou City. I want to know exactly who she met and what she did. Remember, unless it's a matter of life and death, they must not show themselves or interfere."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Gao Xuan did not hesitate and moved slightly to blend into the environment.

"Wait a minute," Zhou Ling called out again, stopping him.

He slowly turned his head to face Gao Xuan, a thick, cold light flashing in his phoenix eyes, like a ghostly fire burning beneath ice. "There is another matter that I need you to handle immediately."

"Please give your instructions, Master." Gao Xuan bowed his head, his posture respectful.

Zhou Ling's fingertips gently brushed across "Treading Snow's" smooth mane. His tone was calm, yet carried a casual air of deciding another's fate: "Go and find a skilled disguise master. I want to see her with a different face."

A hint of surprise flashed across Gao Xuan's eyes, but years of training allowed him to immediately suppress all his emotions. He simply replied respectfully, "Yes! I wonder what appearance Master wishes to adopt? I will certainly find the best disguise master in the Northern Territory."

A meaningful smile curved Zhou Ling's lips, as if he were devising an extremely interesting script. He pondered for a moment, his insightful eyes narrowing slightly, before slowly uttering his request:

"Find a man who is around forty years old, overweight, and whose face has a sly, street-smart look, preferably with a somewhat sleazy appearance."

This request was truly unexpected for Gao Xuan, but his face remained calm as he simply said in a deep voice, "Understood! Do it immediately!" With a flicker, he vanished from the spot like a wisp of smoke, demonstrating astonishing efficiency in carrying out orders.

Less than half an hour later, in a nearby abandoned hunting lodge, a skilled disguiser, well over fifty years old, stood trembling before Zhou Ling, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

He received the most difficult and terrifying task of his career: to transform the handsome, ethereal man before him into an ugly and despicable scoundrel.

The disguise artist used all his knowledge to carefully alter Zhou Ling's facial features with a special ointment and clay.

He raised his cheekbones to make his face look wider and flatter, created loose eye bags and fine crow's feet, adjusted the shape of his nose to make it look slightly larger, and used dark powder to create uneven skin tone and a rough feel... He even put a special soft pad under Zhou Ling's thin waist and abdomen under his inner clothes to create the slightly protruding belly common in middle-aged people.

However, as the work progressed, the disguise artist's hands trembled more and more violently.

There was no other reason than that the man before him possessed an exceptionally superior bone structure; the heroic spirit between his brows and the innate noble aura he exuded were as unshakeable as a rock.

No matter how hard he tried to cover or distort it with materials, his straight nose, clear jawline, and especially his deep phoenix eyes, even if they were deliberately made smaller and his gaze slightly cloudy, still sent chills down one's spine with their sharp, all-seeing light when they occasionally turned.

Finally, the disguise artist took two steps back, looked at his "work," and knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Your... Your Excellency, spare my life! I... I have done everything I could to... to make you look as ugly as possible... But... Your Excellency is naturally beautiful, and I... I simply cannot completely conceal you... I can only... I can only do this much..."

Zhou Ling slowly got up and walked to the polished bronze mirror that had been prepared to the side.

A completely unfamiliar face was reflected in the mirror.

He was indeed a man around forty years old, with a sallow complexion, lines around his eyes and mouth etched by life's hardships, somewhat sagging facial muscles, and a slightly protruding belly. Coupled with his unremarkable gray clothes, he exuded an air of destitution and a touch of greasiness.

However, upon closer inspection, the original sword-shaped eyebrows can still be faintly seen in the modified eyebrows, and although the bridge of the nose has been made slightly clumsy, it still cannot hide its straight nature.

Especially those tightly pursed thin lips, even though they were deliberately drawn crooked, still had a unique, almost cold, line.

This appearance is by no means good-looking; it could even be categorized as "ugly," carrying a vulgar air of the common people. But to say it's "sleazy"... it just doesn't quite capture the essence.

He's more like a middle-aged man worn down by life, who may have once been somewhat remarkable, but now only has destitution and a trace of shrewd calculation left.

Zhou Ling quietly examined himself in the mirror, raised his well-defined hand, and gently touched the stiff and unfamiliar skin of his face. Then, a slow smile crept onto his lips. The smile was cold, not reaching his eyes, but instead giving his deliberately "worn" eyes an even more chilling calm and amusement.

"That's enough." He spoke, his voice deliberately adjusted, slightly hoarse and rough, as if he had been immersed in the streets for a long time. "This appearance... is quite good."

He turned away, no longer looking in the mirror. His gaze seemed to pierce through the simple wall, locking onto the direction of Shaou City. His tone was soft, yet each word was like an ice bead falling to the ground, carrying a chilling edge and a twisted, almost cruel expectation:

“Shen Fangru…” he muttered to himself, his disguised voice revealing a chilling calculation, “This time, I will let you experience firsthand what it feels like to be manipulated by the most despicable ‘fool’ in your eyes…”

The hunting lodge was deathly silent, except for his icy words echoing in the air. The disguise master and Gao Xuan, who were kneeling on the ground, both felt a chill run up their spines and straight to the top of their heads.

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Author's note: No update today, will update tomorrow.