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墨書 Inktalez
As the moon approached its full phase, the East Suburb Stargazing Platform stood quietly. Liu Ying lingered in the shadows, gazing at a familiar figure in the distance. Xu Yuan was behaving unusually tonight; instead of fanning himself with his tattered fan, he stood straight beneath the Observatory, staring up at the starry sky. In the moonlight, his slender silhouette appeared tall and upright, devoid of any hint of madness.
"Miss, should we get a little closer?" A Fu whispered.
Liu Ying shook her head. Throughout their journey here, she had noticed that although Xu Yuan acted nonchalant, his steps were steady and confident—indicative of someone well-versed in martial arts. Such a person would undoubtedly have a strong sense of caution.
Sure enough, Xu Yuan suddenly turned his head and glanced in her direction. Liu Ying held her breath as he chuckled softly and then walked deeper into the Observatory.
"Let’s follow him," Liu Ying said quietly. The two crept after him but soon lost sight of Xu Yuan at a fork in the path.
"Strange, where did he go?" A Fu looked around anxiously.
"Be quiet." Liu Ying suddenly sensed something and quickly pulled A Fu aside. Almost simultaneously, a Dark Arrow whizzed through the air, striking the spot where she had just stood.
"It's an ambush!" A Fu exclaimed in shock.
From the darkness emerged several masked figures wielding weapons, charging directly at Liu Ying. Although she had some self-defense training, facing these evidently deadly assassins left her feeling overwhelmed.
Just as a short dagger swung toward her, a figure suddenly descended from above. With a flick of his paper fan, he deflected the dagger away.
"Mr. Xu!" A Fu shouted in surprise.
It was indeed Xu Yuan. However, he no longer bore any semblance of madness; his movements were sharp and decisive, showcasing a profound foundation in martial arts. The worn-out paper fan in his hand transformed into a formidable weapon as he swiftly subdued two of the masked attackers.
"Impressive skills," sneered the leader of the masked men. "You truly live up to being from the Xu Family..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Xu Yuan flicked his fan again, sending a gust of wind that silenced him as he clutched his throat and fell to the ground. The remaining masked figures quickly retreated and vanished into the night.
"You knew I would come?" Liu Ying asked Xu Yuan.
"I knew Master Liu would definitely come," Xu Yuan replied as he closed his fan, his tone returning to its usual eccentricity. "Because the stars tell me you are searching for an answer just like I am."
In the moonlight, a scar was faintly visible on his neck—similar to the time he mentioned regarding that night of the Great Fire.
"Who exactly are you?" Liu Ying stared intently into his eyes.
"Me?" Xu Yuan grinned widely. "Just a madman. But..." He suddenly became serious. "If Master Liu wants to know the answer, meet me at The Purple Forbidden Enclosure on Qixi night."
With that, he leaped gracefully into the air and disappeared into the night. Only his words "The Purple Forbidden Enclosure" echoed in the wind.
Liu Ying looked down at the Dark Arrow on the ground. The fletching bore a faint emblem—the insignia of Anyuan Marquis Manor, which had once guarded the Northern Frontier. And Anyuan Marquis was one of the key figures entangled in the Xu Family Case.
"Miss, those people..." A Fu said nervously.
"Don't make a fuss about it," Liu Ying interrupted him. "Not a word about tonight to anyone."
On the way back, Liu Ying's mind was filled with the scenes from earlier. Xu Yuan's skills, the origins of those assassins, the emblem of the Anyuan Marquis... all the clues seemed to point to the major case from twenty years ago.
And what he mentioned about Qixi and The Purple Forbidden Enclosure—could it be related to the marriage calculations she was about to preside over?
As night deepened, a star flickered in the sky, which was Tai Bai. Liu Ying recalled the words on the note: "Tai Bai signifies nobility, Zi Wei signifies power." The certainty in his heart grew stronger; a significant upheaval was about to unfold.
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