Mass graves are the dirtiest and most decaying places outside the capital; even a gust of wind can carry the stench of blood.
Yuwen Yao stopped nearby with Xie Lingqin.
Listening to the sea and listening to the wind followed closely behind, disappearing into the shadows.
The Crown Prince had already removed his sleeve. Xie Lingqin glanced at him, then lowered her brows slightly, turned her gaze, parted the dense thicket of thorns, and looked ahead.
Directly in front, Ming Lan and his ten brothers stood there. Although their expressions were cold and resolute, their complexions were not good. They were trapped by an array that outsiders could not see, but could be discerned from the postures of the eleven men.
Standing outside the formation was a woman, a girl in black who looked about twenty years old and had an arrogant expression.
With her willow-leaf eyebrows and phoenix eyes, her beauty was radiant and elegant. Her words exuded an air of nobility that seemed to emanate from her very bones. At this moment, she stared intently at Ming Lan, who was trapped in the formation and standing at the very front, clearly furious. The barbed whip in her hand moved silently in the wind.
"Minglan, I'll say it again, come back with me." After a short while, the girl spoke again, each word firm and resolute.
Ming Lan's face was cold. "I'll ask you one more time, what kind of formation did you set up in my villa?"
"Hmph, it's just a precaution. If anyone comes, they'll be so frightened by the flames that they'll seek their own death and won't come looking for us."
As the woman spoke, she flicked her long whip.
"Thud—" It hit the ground, scattering withered leaves and rotting debris.
Minglan's expression tightened, and she stepped forward. "You set up a fire array? Do you know that you'll kill other people?"
The woman was surprised by Minglan's strong reaction. Her face turned cold. "Why are you being so fierce? I went to great lengths to lure you here. I almost went mad with my cultivation. I even prepared an escape route for you. As long as you come with me, I guarantee no one will know your whereabouts. I will also burn that courtyard down later."
“You…” Ming Lan’s eyes darkened, and he immediately slammed his fist on the ground.
"Stop struggling. You were just caught in my illusion. Using too much internal energy now will only do you harm."
"Go back immediately and dispel that attack. Absolutely no one can be harmed," Minglan roared.
"What?" The woman's expression hardened as she glanced at Ming Lan, seemingly extremely puzzled. "Didn't you say that you once acted ruthlessly in the Pure King's Palace, taking lives? How come you've become so kind and benevolent after only a few days of washing your hands of this?"
"Xue Ningchang, I'll say it again, I have no relation to the Xue family and will never go with you. My life and my path are my own choices. Please don't meddle in my business, or else don't blame me for being impolite."
"You're being mean to me again." The woman was clearly angry and swung her whip at Ming Lan. However, she stopped halfway through, thinking of something, and said reluctantly, "You're a piece of cold wood, you can't twist it properly. Do you think I wanted to come looking for you? If it weren't for that person in the family who is so unambitious, and you being a direct descendant, who would care about you?"
"Heh, don't worry about me." Minglan said, then suddenly swung his sword with great force, spun around in place, and unleashed a sword aura like a rainbow.
The change came too quickly, catching Xue Ningchang off guard. She immediately retreated, clapping her hands together as if chanting words.
"She's using an illusion incantation."
Xie Lingqin was pondering a solution when she heard Yuwen Yao speak softly.
"Is her illusion magic powerful?" Xie Lingqin asked.
A smile flashed across Yuwen Yao's eyes, "Not as good as me, not even a tenth as good as me."
this……
All right.
Your Highness, now is not the time to boast about your abilities, although I know you are very capable.
“However, it’s enough to immobilize Minglan and the others,” Yuwen Yao added.
Xie Lingqin's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Ming Lan was clearly worried about her just now, because only she knew about that courtyard. However, he didn't know that she had already broken the formation.
Although she only heard a few words from the two, Xie Lingqin already understood the general idea.
“Actually…” Yuwen Yao’s deep voice fell on her ear again. Xie Lingqin turned her head to look at him and saw the profound meaning in his eyes.
“Actually, you could have waited until they were subdued by this woman before asking me for help. That way, you could have easily won their hearts.”
Yuwen Yao said.
Xie Lingqin pursed her lips. Yes, that was what she thought for a moment. Because she did need Ming Lan and his brothers. Although Ming Lan had said he would do things for her and had given her all sorts of advice, she knew that their hearts had not truly been won over by her.
Right now, it is indeed the best opportunity to win people's hearts.
but……
"Wait a moment."
Suddenly, Xie Lingqin spoke up and pushed aside the thorns to walk out.
Xie Lingqin was dressed as a man at this time, but she had already untied her hair, clearly revealing her female identity.
Ming Lan paused in his sword-wielding movement to break the formation, looking at Xie Lingqin with a mixture of surprise and joy in his eyes.
She's fine.
"Who are you?" Xue Ningchang spread her hands apart, looking at Xie Lingqin who was walking over with a wary and displeased expression.
“Young lady, look, you’ve been talking for so long, and Minglan still doesn’t want to go with you. Why are you being so aggressive?”
You don't understand.
“I don’t understand, but as Minglan’s friend, I should help him. But…” Xie Lingqin brushed her long hair that fell beside her ear and smiled, “I’m the kind of person who loves to reason. So, as long as you give me a solid reason, I won’t interfere.”
"What's the meaning?"
"How about we have a contest? If you win, I promise to let Minglan and his brothers go with you. But if I lose, then please leave the same way you came..." Xie Lingqin smiled gently, "Is that alright?"
"A contest?"
Xie Lingqin gently raised her eyebrows, her black hair flowing in the wind, making her eyebrows and eyes appear like distant, verdant mountains, shimmering and radiant.
Xue Ningchang looked at Xie Lingqin with a furrowed brow and her chin raised, without reacting.
Minglan didn't know what Xie Lingqin was planning to do. He looked at her, then at the ten brothers behind him, signaling them to calm down.
"Perhaps you dare not?"
Seeing that Xue Ningshang remained silent for a long time, Xie Lingqin spoke again.
"Hmph, why wouldn't I dare? Fine, Minglan, you look down on the Xue family, right? Today I'll show you what the Xue family is capable of." After saying this to Minglan, Xue Ningchang looked at Xie Louqin with confidence, "Tell me, what do you want to compete in?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingqin tapped her chin with her hand, "Let me choose?"
The woman smiled disdainfully, "I can see you have no internal strength at all. I'll let you decide."
"How about we arm wrestle?"
"Arm wrestling?"
---Aside---
The second update is here! Mwah! Qin'er is going to the palace tomorrow, so the excitement continues!
This book was first published by Xiaoxiang Academy; please do not reproduce it!
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