"Trying to leave? Do you think this is some kind of inn where you can come and go as you please?" The general sneered, flicking his spear and pointing it directly at the three of them.
A flash of anger crossed Xu Yuehuai's eyes. She gripped the dagger tightly, her eyes filled with determination.
“We don’t actually need to be enemies. It’s all just a matter of being forced by circumstances. Why don’t we each take a step back? That would be better for everyone,” Xu Yuehuai said in a deep voice, trying to communicate with the general.
"Forced by circumstances? Hmph, do you think I'd believe your nonsense?" The general swung his spear sharply, charging towards Xu Yuehuai and his two companions.
Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye immediately rushed forward, their daggers and soft swords weaving together in the darkness to create a breathtaking scene.
The sounds of clashing weapons echoed through the dungeon, and firelight flickered in the darkness, adding to the eeriness and terror of the battle.
"Bei Ye, watch out for his spear!"
Xu Yuehuai brandished the dagger while loudly reminding Bei Ye.
Bei Ye nodded, his eyes focused and sharp. His soft sword danced in the air like a nimble snake, sparking as it clashed with the general's spear.
The two worked together seamlessly, forcing the general to retreat continuously.
However, the general was, after all, a seasoned warrior. He quickly regained his footing and began to counterattack. His spear moved like a dragon emerging from the sea, its momentum overwhelming, forcing Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye into a corner.
"Hmph, it seems you're nothing special after all." The general sneered, and his spear came flying again.
Just then, Lu Li suddenly struggled to his feet, holding a hidden weapon in his hand.
"Master, I'm here to lend you a hand!" Lu Li shouted, throwing a hidden weapon at the general.
The hidden weapon sliced through the air with a sharp whistling sound.
The general's expression changed, and he quickly dodged to the side.
However, this dodge exposed his weakness!
Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack and finally defeated the general.
The three looked at each other and smiled, a weight lifted from their hearts; they had finally overcome this difficult situation.
Xu Yuehuai and the others helped Lu Li up again, quickly passed through the dungeon exit, and escaped.
As the night fell, their figures receded into the distance, leaving behind a silent dungeon and a scene of utter devastation.
They were extremely careful on their way out, and soon the three of them left the palace and arrived at an extremely remote mansion.
Xu Yuehuai took out silver needles from her bosom and began to treat Lu Li's wounds. The silver needles danced in her hands like nimble snakes swirling in the air.
Soon, the wounds on Lu Li's body disappeared, leaving only some faint traces.
Lu Li looked at Xu Yuehuai gratefully and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my life!"
“You’re my person, of course I have to save you.” Xu Yuehuai paused and continued, “Do you know what has happened to you recently? Why did you suddenly lose your mind just now?”
Lu Li pressed his temples in distress: "I can't remember anything. I only know that after I entered the palace, I was locked up here. When I came to my senses, this was the scene I just saw."
"Don't think about it now if you can't remember. Whoever hurt you, I will definitely find them!" Xu Yuehuai said gently.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" he said, then looked at Bei Ye and added, "Thank you for saving me too!"
“I was just helping my sister, you don’t need to be so polite,” Bei Ye said, then looked at Xu Yuehuai. “Sister, what do you want to do next?”
Xu Yuehuai thought for a moment and said, "Let's find a safe place to settle down first, and then we'll figure out a way to investigate this matter."
She asked Lu Li, "Do you know where it's relatively safe?"
Lu Li pondered for a moment before speaking, "I know a place that is sparsely populated and has complex terrain, making it difficult to be tracked. However, we need to change our attire, otherwise, once we are recognized, it will be difficult to escape."
Xu Yuehua agreed, "You're right, we definitely need to be more careful now. Bei Ye, go prepare some disguises, and Lu Li and I will pack some necessities."
Bei Ye responded and turned to leave. Xu Yuehuai and Lu Li then busied themselves, selecting some clothes and dry rations, preparing to depart at any time.
Soon, Bei Ye returned with some disguise medicine and tools. The three of them sat together and began to discuss how to disguise themselves.
Xu Yuehuai first tied her long hair up and wrapped it with a cloth to make herself look more androgynous. Next, she took out some ointment and applied it to her face, changing her skin tone and face shape. Finally, she changed into men's clothing, completely transforming herself as if she were a different person.
Seeing this, Lu Li was not to be outdone. He also applied ointment to change his appearance and put on a set of tattered clothes to make himself look even more destitute.
When it was Bei Ye's turn, he hesitated for a moment. But seeing how decisive Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye were, he no longer hesitated. He followed their instructions, applied the ointment, changed his clothes, and finally became an ordinary middle-aged man.
The three men glanced at the others and nodded in satisfaction. They knew that this way, even if someone saw them, it would be difficult for them to recognize their true identities.
They quickly left the mansion and headed down a secluded path.
The moonlight shone on the earth, illuminating their path. They were exceptionally cautious along the way, attracting no attention from others.
After walking for a long time, they arrived at a dense forest. The trees here were so thick that they blocked out the sun, and indeed, few people came here. They found a cave and decided to rest there.
Although the cave was simple, it was well-hidden. They lit torches to illuminate the interior. Xu Yuehuai began to plan the next steps.
“We’ve changed our appearance now, so we don’t need to worry about being recognized for the time being. However, we can’t let our guard down. We must find out what kind of conspiracy this is as soon as possible.” Xu Yuehuai’s eyes were serious.
Bei Ye immediately agreed, "Sister is right. We need to find a way to investigate the current situation in the palace and see who is pulling the strings behind the scenes."
Lu Li also said, "We have to find the person who harmed me and make him pay the price!"
After discussing it for most of the night, the three decided it would be better to split up and act separately.
Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye were responsible for investigating the situation in the palace, while Lu Li was responsible for recuperating in the cave. If anything happened to Xu Yuehuai and the others, Lu Li was to inform the others.
...
As night fell, Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye once again donned their familiar night-clothes and, like two phantoms, silently left the hidden cave.
The distant Eastern Sang Palace holds the secrets they must uncover on this journey.
On the moonlit path, the fallen leaves rustled softly underfoot. However, this tranquility did not last long, as Xu Yuehuai keenly sensed something amiss.
She stopped and scanned her surroundings with sharp eyes, and Bei Ye instantly went on alert.
“Someone is following us.” Xu Yuehuai’s fingers lightly traced the hilt of the sword at his waist, producing a slight metallic clinking sound.
"Okay, sister, I'll go catch him." After saying that, Bei Ye moved swiftly, rushing towards a corner in the darkness like a cheetah.
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