"Are these masked men trying to be funny? It's so late and they still want money. No wonder they're from the underworld, they're so unconventional," Jian Yang thought to herself.
Upon hearing this, Jian Hong took out a thick stack of silver notes from his pocket and gestured to the assassin to release the person: "Put down the sword."
For the sake of money, the masked man put down his sword and pulled Jian Yang forward. The assassins around them watched them warily, in case Jian Hong played any tricks.
As the person drew closer, he snatched the silver note and shoved Jian Yang forward abruptly.
Jian Hong caught her steadily, quickly untied the rope, and was about to help her mount the horse and leave.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the woods, and a group of masked people rushed out. Jian Hong quickly shielded Jian Yang behind him and glared fiercely at the assassins.
"You broke your promise!" Jian Hong roared.
The assassins exchanged bewildered glances. This wasn't one of theirs; who knew where she'd come from? Now that the woman had been exchanged and the money was in hand, what did it matter to them whether she lived or died?
So the most ruthless assassin organization in the martial arts world, without even taking the carriage, fled...
Jian Yang and Jian Hong were both taken aback. If they weren't all together, then whose people were these?
Before they could even think, the masked men attacked Jian Hong. Outnumbered and with Jian Hong also having to keep an eye on Jian Yang's safety, he was simply overwhelmed.
Jian Yang seized the opportunity and scattered the poison powder in her hand, incapacitating a group of people.
Seemingly not expecting Jian Yang to have this trick up her sleeve, the masked men were stunned for a moment, but only for a moment. They clearly saw that Jian Yang had very little poison powder left.
The masked men intensified their attack, forcing Jian Hong to retreat with nowhere left to go. In the chaos, he was separated from Jian Yang.
So, the unfortunate Jian Yang was arrested again shortly after being untied.
She wasn't worried about her safety. She had realized from the fight that these people didn't intend to hurt her; on the contrary, they were using excessive force against Jian Hong.
When her mouth was gagged, Jian Yang was still wondering who had a grudge against her and would interfere at this time. But holding the package that Jian Hong had handed her in the chaos, she had some guesses in her mind and secretly hid the package in her sleeve.
Just as Jian Hong was about to be overwhelmed, the masked men suddenly scattered and stopped attacking him.
He was puzzled and then startled. He hurriedly looked behind him, but Jian Yang was nowhere to be seen. He saw one of the masked men throw Jian Yang onto a horse, then mount his own horse and gallop away into the distance.
"Let her go!" Jian Hong shouted, but the man seemed not to hear him.
He hurriedly chased after them and followed them into the city.
The man wandered around the city, weaving through the alleys, and for a moment Jian Hong lost track of him.
"Damn it!" He punched himself in frustration, remembering the wound on Jian Yang's neck, and felt uneasy. He hurriedly rushed to a house in the city.
Jian Yang was laid across the horse's back and galloped wildly. The jolting made her almost vomit up her dinner from the night before. She didn't know how much time had passed, but after turning several corners, she stopped in front of a house overgrown with weeds.
Then, the masked man pulled Jian Yang off the horse. She was extremely dizzy and almost lost her balance.
Realizing her current situation, Jian Yang obediently followed behind and walked into the house. The house was cold, quiet, and somewhat eerie, and it looked like no one had lived there for a long time.
Jian Yang felt a chill run down her spine. Although she was a staunch materialist, everything that had happened today was too strange, especially these masked men who had abducted her to this eerie courtyard and she didn't know what they wanted to do with her.
At that moment, a gust of cold wind blew by, and Jian Yang couldn't help but shiver.
The masked man led her into a room, closed the door, and left. Jian Yang was puzzled when a familiar voice sounded behind her: "A Yang, how have you been?"
Jian Yang turned around and looked at the person. Sure enough, it was Zhou Jing'an, who was looking at her with a smug smile.
She just couldn't understand why they kept arresting and releasing her. Were they playing house? Or were they just trying to tie her up and torture her again because they realized she posed no threat to Zhou Jingzhi?
Jian Yang rolled her eyes at Zhou Jing'an.
"Look at me, I forgot to untie you." With that, Zhou Jing'an took the cotton cloth out of Jian Yang's mouth and untied the rope.
Jian Yang wiggled her chin, widened her eyes, and glared at Zhou Jing'an: "Are you sick?!"
Before Zhou Jing'an could answer, Jian Yang continued, "You tied me up like this just to swindle money from my brother? If you're so desperate for money, why don't you just rob someone! You're insane!"
No, his behavior is clearly robbery! Jian Yang really misses modern civilized society.
“What you said, A-Yang, has hurt my feelings. I am deeply in love with you,” Zhou Jing’an said, gazing at Jian Yang with deep affection.
Little did he know how disgusting his attitude was to Jian Yang.
"You big idiot!" Jian Yang couldn't help but curse. A devoted lover? This scoundrel doesn't think he's some kind of devoted male supporting character, does he? Jian Yang spat.
Zhou Jing'an shrugged and said nonchalantly, "If I had known Zhou Jingzhi wouldn't hand over the account books so easily, what use would it be to let you go back and exchange them for some silver? Do I look like someone who's short of money?"
"You seem like someone who's morally bankrupt and lacks common sense," Jian Yang thought to herself.
"I'm not willing to let you go back to Zhou Jingzhi's side so easily." A hint of jealousy appeared in Zhou Jing'an's eyes.
What merit or ability does Zhou Jingzhi possess? It was one thing before, but now that he has married a new empress, he still foolishly hopes that Jian Yang will return to his side? He will not allow such a thing to happen.
At this moment, Jian Hong arrived at the place where he had agreed to meet the emperor.
Seeing that only Jian Hong had returned, the emperor's eyes darkened; it seemed the plan had gone wrong.
"Your Majesty, when the Netherworld Pavilion handed A-Yang over to me, a group of masked men suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I was no match for them, and they took advantage of the chaos to kidnap A-Yang," Jian Hong said with a pained expression.
If he had known this would happen, he should have brought more men with him. He didn't care that the order said he would go to redeem the people alone. He was afraid that bringing men would anger the other side, but now he regrets it.
Upon hearing this, the emperor's eyes gradually turned cold: "Did you see where they went?"
"I followed them into the city, and they wandered around inside, but I lost them in the west of the city." Jian Hong said somewhat dejectedly, then asked, "Does Your Majesty know who else might kidnap A Yang at this time?"
Zhou Jingzhi sneered upon hearing this. Who else could it be but his good brother, who wanted to threaten A Yang's life to force him to hand over the account book, and also wanted to go back on his word and play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
"It is Prince Chen," the emperor said.
He then added, “General Jian, there is no need to worry. I had already anticipated that Zhou Jing’an would not let this go, and I have made arrangements. I just need your cooperation.”
Upon hearing this, Jian Hong felt more at ease, and the emperor revealed his plan to him in detail.
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