"Everyone should go back to their residences and see for themselves," Hu Ji said, his head bowed low.

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiye, Ji Fengyao, Wuying, and Wuhen felt their hearts sink to the bottom.

It was also in the secret room of the Ink Studio.

Wu Zhong lay on that cold couch.

He had countless bruises and contusions all over his body, almost completely covered in wounds.

Especially on the top of his head, several deep, dark finger marks were clearly visible. His skull was ruptured, and his brain was no longer intact.

“Someone wanted to search his soul, so he…self-destructed…” Ji Fengyao’s voice trembled as she said this.

Wu Zhong was the most meticulous and astute of the four secret guards, and also the one with the highest cultivation level, which is why Shang Xiye put him in charge of the intelligence organization. As a result, he was the one who knew the most of Shang Xiye's secrets.

Clearly, in order to protect Shang Xiye and the secrets of the Ninth Prince's Mansion, he was prepared to die from the moment he was captured!

Therefore, he was able to use his unparalleled wisdom and meticulous observation skills to seize the only opportunity in the hands of an enemy many times stronger than himself and decisively self-destruct!

What loyalty and determination this is!

"Wu Zhong, my good brother!"

"Didn't I tell you that if you find anything unusual, don't chase after them alone, but come back and report first? You're usually the most quick-witted, how come you made a foolish mistake this time!"

Wuying and Wuhen stood blankly beside the long couch, both with red eyes.

Shang Xiye's eyes were also red-rimmed. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before opening them again to ask Hu Ji, "How did he get back?"

“A masked man in black carried him back and dumped him at the entrance of the Ink Studio. We fought with that man, but his martial arts were extremely high, and we were no match for him at all. He seemed to have no intention of hurting anyone or getting entangled, and quickly escaped.” As Hu Ji spoke, he took something out of his pocket and presented it, saying, “However, I took something from him.”

If it were any other time...

Ji Fengyao was determined to praise Hu Ji's "master thief" skills, as he was able to steal things from someone whose martial arts were far superior to his own without being discovered.

But at this moment, everyone was immersed in the grief of Wu Zhong's departure, and everyone's attention was focused on how to find the real culprit so as to avenge Wu Zhong.

Shang Xiye took the item and examined it.

Wuying and Wuhen immediately recognized the item: "A palace exit pass?"

“He didn’t have a palace number engraved on him, so he must be the lowest-ranking eunuch in the palace.” Shang Xiye gripped the iron waist token tightly, so tightly that the thick token was slightly deformed. “Wuhen, you take over Wuzhong’s people for now and investigate immediately! Even if you have to turn the palace upside down, you must find this person!”

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will investigate the ancestors of all the servants and eunuchs in the palace for three generations and find that person to avenge Wu Zhong. I will never let Wu Zhong die in vain," Wuhen said through gritted teeth, his eyes red with tears.

Shang Xiye nodded gently, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long while.

He then asked Ji Fengyao to leave for the time being, and personally washed the blood off Wu Zhong's body. He then took a set of his own robes and changed Wu Zhong into them. He held Wu Zhong's numb hand tightly and said in a heart-wrenching voice, "You, Wu Ying, Wu Hen, and Wu Shang have been with me since I was seven years old."

Over the years, I have never lacked life-or-death crises.

I knew this day would come sooner or later; sooner or later, we would all be separated by life and death in this power struggle.

But I truly never expected that you would be the first to leave. Your wisdom far surpasses mine. I truly never imagined... Brother Wuze, you would go before us.