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墨書 Inktalez
As the sun set, all the contestants had finished their performances in the Talent Show.
After a round of calculations and discussions among the judges, the results of this Talent Show were finally announced.
The first place went to Le Yao Yao, the second place to Nangong Junxi, and the third place was awarded to one of the ten young girls.
Le Yao Yao was overwhelmed with excitement at having secured first place. Although she knew she was among the best of the contestants, there was still the presence of Nangong Junxi.
His flute playing was incredibly enchanting, captivating everyone who listened.
Thus, her biggest competitor was Nangong Junxi, and she never expected to emerge as the winner in the end.
This outcome left Le Yao Yao astonished. Her heart raced with joy, and she felt as if she could almost fly.
Embracing Little Muzi, they both laughed and jumped in place.
“Wow, Little Muzi! I got first place! I'm so happy…”
“Ha ha, Xiaoyaozi, congratulations! But you danced so well just now; how come I never knew you could dance before?!”
Little Muzi could hardly believe that Le Yao Yao had taken first place. He was also puzzled about how someone from such a poor family could know how to dance.
Seeing Little Muzi's bewildered expression, Le Yao Yao understood his doubts. With a slightly smug smile, she replied, “You don’t know many things about me! Little Muzi, don’t you know? Xiaoyaozi is quite clever!”
“Ha ha…” Hearing Le Yao Yao boast with such pride made Little Muzi chuckle.
Soon, it was time to go on stage to receive the prize.
As Le Yao Yao held the brocade box containing one hundred taels of silver in her hands, she couldn't help but start grinning like an idiot.
Oh my!
This is one hundred taels!
Real silver, one hundred taels!
In the future, even if she left the royal residence in three years, she wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore!
The more she thought about it, the more excited and thrilled Le Yao Yao became.
The smile on her lips deepened and never faded.
In contrast to the silly grin on Le Yao Yao's face, Nangong Junxi, standing beside her, didn’t even bother to glance at the fifty taels of silver in his hand.
After all, fifty taels meant nothing to him.
Once he collected his share of silver, Nangong Junxi immediately turned to leave the stage.
At that moment, Le Yao Yao, who had been grinning foolishly, slowly came to her senses. When she saw Nangong Junxi turning away without a backward glance, she suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly rushed in front of him, extending her hands.
“Seventh Prince, heh heh, you didn’t forget the promise you made, did you!?”
Le Yao Yao raised her beautifully arched dark eyebrows and said to Nangong Junxi with a smug expression.
After all, they had agreed that whoever won could ask the loser for a favor.
She couldn’t stand how arrogant and condescending this Seventh Prince was, so now that she had finally secured first place, how could she let him off so easily!?
Just as Le Yao Yao was contemplating how to punish this Seventh Prince, she suddenly noticed that something seemed off about Nangong Junxi.
Moreover, this strange feeling he had seemed to have started the moment she stepped off the stage after her performance.
With a somewhat gloomy expression, his narrow Peach Blossom Eyes gazed at her in a peculiar way.
But what exactly was strange about it? For a moment, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Could it be that the Seventh Prince was unhappy because he knew he had lost!?
Hmph! She knew this man was petty, but even so, he had promised her something, and she wouldn't let him back out!
As Le Yao Yao pondered this in her heart, Nangong Junxi, standing in front of her, lowered his head and fixed his gaze on her delicate face. After a moment of silence, he finally asked,
"What do you want me to do? Speak!"
"Uh..."
Hearing Nangong Junxi's words surprised Le Yao Yao, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
He was so easy to talk to!?
She had thought he would try to back out!
Well, as long as he didn't back out. With that in mind, Le Yao Yao buried herself in thought.
However, after thinking for a long time, she still couldn't figure out what to ask the Seventh Prince to do.
After all, the bet they made was just to humble his arrogance. Now that she had won, she found herself at a loss for what to ask him to do.
After a moment of silence, Le Yao Yao finally said,
"I can't think of anything right now. If I come up with something later, I'll let you know!"
"Alright."
After listening to Le Yao Yao's words, Nangong Junxi simply uttered a single word with a cryptic meaning, then bypassed her and strode away.
Watching Nangong Junxi, who seemed somewhat different from usual, Le Yao Yao couldn't help but furrow her beautifully shaped dark eyebrows in confusion.
"What's wrong with this man today!?"
Puzzled, her gaze swept over him, and when she noticed the bloodstains on the back of his hand, her heart skipped a beat, and she gasped.
"His hand!"
How did he get hurt!?
Moreover, he was bleeding so much—didn't he feel any pain!?
What on earth happened to him!?
Looking at the injury, it seemed like he had punched something in frustration.
Could it be that upon realizing he was about to lose, he couldn't accept it and secretly went to vent his anger by hitting something!?
With this thought, Le Yao Yao suddenly understood. She murmured to herself.
"So that's why he's acting so strangely today—he's upset about losing to me! Hmph, how can this man be so poor at accepting defeat!?"
After grumbling to herself about Nangong Junxi, she decided not to dwell on him any longer; after all, she still had things to do!
...
After the competition ended, Le Yao Yao and the other participants were taken to a designated courtyard to rest.
However, Le Yao Yao knew that their presence in the courtyard was merely a cover.
Soon enough, someone would secretly replace them.
Le Yao Yao calmly followed the group to the other courtyard. Soon enough, as scheduled, someone from Duke Rui's Residence arrived to arrange for them to leave through a secret passage.
Although the young girls were unclear about what was happening, since it was Prince Rui's order, they had no choice but to comply.
The young eunuchs from Duke Rui's Residence were already informed, so they entered the passage with calm expressions.
However, since the passage could only accommodate one person at a time and there were more than forty of them, time was tight. The guards from Duke Rui's Residence urged everyone to move quickly.
Le Yao Yao was no exception. She squeezed in among the crowd, feeling cramped. For now, she could only endure; after all, getting out was the priority.
But when she finally emerged from the passage with the group, she felt as if something was missing from her arms.
She reached down to check and immediately felt a surge of panic.
"Oh no! Where's my money?!"
Le Yao Yao exclaimed. She had clearly placed her money in her bosom before entering the passage, and it had been there just moments ago!
How could it have vanished so quickly after passing through the tunnel?
Could it be that someone had taken advantage of the chaos and stolen her silver while everyone was crowded in the passage?
Le Yao Yao quickly dismissed this thought.
First of all, if someone had stolen her money, they would likely still have it on them. Once searched, it would be easy to identify the thief.
The people here weren't fools; they wouldn't act so recklessly.
If it wasn't stolen, then perhaps she had dropped it while going through the passage!?
Yes, that seemed very likely!
Thinking of this possibility made Le Yao Yao feel anxious.
After all, one hundred taels of silver!
Even if she worked in this royal residence for half her life, she would never earn that much!
Thinking of this made Le Yao Yao's heart ache!
No way!
She had finally come across one hundred taels of silver; she absolutely could not let it slip away like this!
With that thought in mind, Le Yao Yao took advantage of the fact that the guards at Duke Rui's Residence were not looking her way. She crouched down and stealthily slipped back into the underground passage.
Compared to the earlier crowd, the tunnel was now quite spacious and very quiet.
Although there was no one here, a torch was stuck in a small distance within the tunnel, illuminating the passage clearly.
Once Le Yao Yao entered the tunnel, her gaze fell to the ground as she carefully searched for her silver, hoping it hadn’t fallen.
Since she had been using a darker-colored pouch to carry her money, it was still somewhat difficult to find even with the torchlight.
Le Yao Yao didn’t blink, afraid she might miss something.
However, after searching for so long without seeing her pouch, anxiety and urgency filled her heart. Just when she thought she would never find it again, a plump pouch came into her view.
Le Yao Yao's eyes lit up instantly!
Wasn't that the wallet she had been searching for?
Oh my! This is amazing; she finally found it! She would need this money for the rest of her life!
Filled with joy, Le Yao Yao dashed over, picked up the pouch from the ground, and held it tightly in her hands.
Her face radiated with the delight of having regained what she thought was lost.
However, just as Le Yao Yao was feeling excited and overjoyed, a sudden sound of clashing cold weapons reached her ears, accompanied by the sickening sound of sharp blades piercing flesh. Confused, Le Yao Yao raised her gaze toward the source of the noise…
When she saw the situation before her, she froze in shock, as if struck by a thunderbolt.
********************************************************
In the pitch-black night, the lights began to glow, illuminating the surroundings of the villa with a faint clarity.
The moonlight was cold and pale, gently casting its glow over the earth, adding an indescribable charm and mystery to the night.
Yet, on such a chilly evening, countless figures dressed in black appeared, moving silently like specters as they leaped into the villa. They headed straight for one of the rooms.
Le Yao Yao knew that this room was meant for her and the other contestants to rest.
But it was merely a facade, designed to lure these cult members into a trap.
Unexpectedly, her initial plan had indeed attracted these cultists.
As Le Yao Yao pondered this, a sudden loud bang shattered the silence of the villa. Just as the black-clad figures attempted to leap into the room, agile silhouettes had already burst through the windows from inside, engaging in fierce combat with them.
Realizing they had been deceived upon seeing the skilled guards, the cultists attempted to flee.
However, those guards would not allow them to escape.
After all, they had been waiting for this moment to capture all these self-entrapment cult members!
Thus, what had been a quiet night erupted into chaos and intensity.
Le Yao Yao remained hidden in the dark passageway, her face filled with shock as she watched everything unfold.
She observed as the specter-like figures clashed with the agile guards in a fierce struggle.
The crisp sounds of weapons clashing echoed even more clearly in the cold night.
The sound of cold weapons piercing flesh sent chills down the spine.
Le Yao Yao felt her heart race with fear.
Although it wasn't her first time witnessing murder, seeing such a bloody scene again made her tremble with terror.
In the midst of the chaotic and brutal fight, she caught sight of two familiar figures—
It was the Living Yama and Nangong Junxi!
The Living Yama moved like a sword, his martial arts unfathomable. In his long hand, he wielded a sharp dagger that glinted like stars as he swung it, exuding an overwhelming force that shattered the air.
Wherever he went, blood splattered, and cries of agony filled the air.
One could only imagine how high his martial prowess was; no one could rival him...
In contrast to the Living Yama's ruthless strikes, Nangong Junxi's skills were equally impressive.
After all, they came from the same school, and his attacks were swift, precise, and deadly!
With an elegance as graceful as a startled swan, his figure darted through the fray. The long sword in his hand danced effortlessly, weaving a web of blades that struck down enemies with precision...
This was Le Yao Yao's first time witnessing Nangong Junxi kill, and his technique was surprisingly proficient...
With these two hellish figures emerging from the depths of hell, even though the cultists outnumbered them significantly, it didn't take long for the Living Yama and his companions to wipe out more than half of them.
Perhaps this time the cult had underestimated their opponents.
They likely had no idea that this Talent Show was merely a facade, which is why not many had come.
With both the Living Yama and Nangong Junxi present, eliminating these cultists was just a matter of time.
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao decided to retreat back to the underground passage, hoping to slip away unnoticed amidst the chaos of battle.
After all, she currently had no martial arts skills. If those cult members discovered her, it would surely mean her death.
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao felt a chill run down her spine. She immediately turned around, intending to sneak away quietly.
However, unfortunately for her, fate was not on her side; she was a step too late.
Just as Le Yao Yao turned around, before she could even take a step towards the underground passage, she felt a tight grip on the back of her collar. In an instant, she was lifted off the ground.
The sudden action startled Le Yao Yao so much that she gasped in shock!
Heavens!
She was flying!?
No! It wasn't her flying; she was being lifted by someone!
With her beautiful eyes wide with fear, Le Yao Yao turned to see a tall figure in black holding her collar as if he were an eagle snatching up a chick. She nearly fainted from fright.
Because she realized a very serious problem!
Her captors from the cult had taken her away!
Oh my! Who would come to save her? She did not want to die!
Thinking of this made Le Yao Yao tremble with fear, nearly losing her wits.
She wanted to scream for help, but it felt like there was cotton stuffed in her throat. In the end, only a faint sound escaped her lips, barely louder than a whisper.
Fortunately, even though she couldn't call out loudly, someone noticed her predicament and rushed towards her.
When Le Yao Yao saw that agile figure approaching, a sense of relief and security washed over her. Finally unable to hold back any longer, she opened her mouth and shouted—
"Prince, come save me!"
Yes!
The man rushing towards her was none other than the Living Yama!
Upon seeing her being abducted, the Living Yama immediately chased after her.
Looking at the grim expression on his face, even though he hadn’t said a word, his anxious and swift actions made Le Yao Yao feel a sense of reassurance and joy inside.
At least, at this moment, someone was coming to save her!
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao felt a flicker of emotion in her heart. However, more than that, she felt fear.
Of course! She was being kidnapped; how could she not be afraid!?
Moreover, at this moment, she had no idea what the man in black intended to do with her.
All she knew was that she felt like a powerless little chick being carried by a powerful eagle, flying towards the back mountain.
This man in black must possess great martial skills because Le Yao Yao could feel the scenery around her rapidly retreating.
It was clearly summer, yet tonight felt so cold.
The wind that blew past her felt like sharp knives constantly cutting against her tender skin, causing Le Yao Yao to wince in pain.
The unease in her heart made her feel increasingly lost.
After all, she had no idea what this man in black wanted to do.
She noticed that he was just carrying her and heading towards the back mountain.
If he intended to use her to threaten the Living Yama, it didn’t seem like that was the case.
After all, who in this world didn’t know that the Living Yama was ruthless and heartless? There was nothing that could be used to threaten him.
However, if this man in black was not trying to use her to threaten the living Yama, then what was his purpose in capturing her!?
After all, if he wanted to escape, he would surely be better off alone than dragging her along.
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao felt a mix of fear and confusion. With tears of terror welling up in her deep black eyes, she turned to look at the man in black beside her.
At that moment, the man’s expression was serious; perhaps he knew that the living Yama was closely following him.
Yet, he did not turn back, nor did he show any intention of letting her go.
Le Yao Yao gazed at the direction where the man in black was fleeing, realizing that ahead lay a cliff with no way out. She thought to herself.
Could it be that this man in black knew he could not escape today and had taken her along as a sacrifice!?
As these thoughts crossed her mind, Le Yao Yao truly began to cry. She sobbed while pleading.
"Woohoo, big brother, I don’t want to die yet! Please let me go..."
Hearing Le Yao Yao's pitiful cries, the man in black finally turned to look at her.
Upon seeing Le Yao Yao's face, it seemed as if he was struck by something.
His previously fierce eyes widened in shock, and then he spoke.
"Madam..."
The man in black only managed to utter one word. Before he could say anything more, he let out a muffled groan as if something had hit him.
Le Yao Yao watched this action with even more confusion swelling within her.
Madam!?
What exactly did this man in black want to call her just now!?
The expression of shock on the man in black was so intense that it seemed as if he recognized her from before.
Could it be that this man in black had known her in the past?
As this thought crossed her mind, Le Yao Yao's heart sank, and her eyes widened in disbelief, momentarily forgetting her fear.
She recalled that since she had crossed over to this dynasty, she had no memory of her identity in this body. Moreover, it seemed that the original owner of this body had no relatives looking for her.
Thus, she had been unable to uncover the true identity of this body.
Previously, she hadn’t thought much about not knowing the past of this body. However, seeing the man in black’s clearly shocked expression made it seem as though he had known her before.
Before the man in black could finish his words, a dagger was thrust into his shoulder by the Living Yama.
It was evident that this dagger had been propelled with internal energy.
From Le Yao Yao's perspective, the dagger had completely sunk into the man’s shoulder.
In an instant, blood splattered everywhere, and Le Yao Yao felt a warm sensation on her face.
All her doubts were immediately cast aside.
She finally remembered that she was still being held captive!
Fear gripped Le Yao Yao once more as her beautiful eyes scanned for the Living Yama, who was closely following behind her.
She noticed that the Living Yama was exceptionally skilled in lightness techniques, and gradually, they were closing the distance between them.
Seeing this, Le Yao Yao pushed aside any previous fears she had about the Living Yama.
At that moment, for some reason, upon seeing him, she felt an overwhelming sense of security.
It was as if with the Living Yama around, even if the sky were to fall, he would be there to shield her.
"Prince, help me, please save me..."
Le Yao Yao shouted in terror, for the direction the man in black was fleeing led to a dead end.
Just ten meters away was the Cliff!
The mountain winds howled fiercely, stinging her cheeks painfully. As she watched the Cliff draw closer inch by inch, Le Yao Yao felt her heart race with panic.
After all, she was still young and full of life; she did not want to die!
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