“You…” Seeing the man’s expression change visibly at her words, yet stubbornly refusing to leave, he instead lunged fiercely at the assailants.
Wanqing wanted to tell him he was meddling in her affairs and even felt the urge to help him. But at this moment, she couldn’t move a muscle. Even if she had the antidote on her, she couldn’t give it to him. This sense of helplessness and despair left her speechless, only able to watch him with silent frustration.
Sure enough, Leng Mingye’s sudden burst of ferocity caught the lead black-clad figure off guard.
“You’ve got some skill, but let’s see how long you can last…”
The black-clad figure was forced back several steps by his kicks. Though Leng Mingye’s movements were clearly not as sharp as before, his expression grew even colder. With a sneer, the black-clad figure retreated and ordered his subordinates to continue attacking.
“Ah—”
As the man spoke, the two black-clad figures holding Wanqing dragged her toward the inner room. Seeing their ruthlessness, Leng Mingye gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he roared in fury and charged at the surrounding enemies once more.
With a pale face, he staggered upon landing, but the black-clad figures around him were sent flying with cries of pain and groans.
“Quick, take her inside. Once our goal is achieved, my purpose will be fulfilled.”
The lead black-clad figure hadn’t expected Leng Mingye to be so formidable. Watching his subordinates crash to the ground, unable to rise, his expression darkened. He coldly ordered the two holding Wanqing to proceed while stepping forward himself.
“I told you, if you want to take her, you’ll have to step over my corpse first.”
Though every breath was agony due to the poison coursing through his veins, Leng Mingye thought of the audacity of this man—and more importantly, the eerie, demonic aura surrounding him. His face turned even colder as he lunged at the black-clad figure again. The two instantly clashed.
“It’s you? You’re not dead?”
When Leng Mingye tore off the black-clad figure’s mask, he was stunned by the face beneath.
“Indeed, it’s me. Surprised? Did you really think I’d die so easily? Once my men absorb that girl’s inner energy, I’ll have nothing left to fear.”
Though unmasked, the black-clad figure—Yemei—stood firm, his breathing ragged but his smirk unwavering. He struck again at Leng Mingye.
This man was none other than Yemei, who had supposedly been killed by Wanqing’s father, the Emperor. Yet here he stood, alive and well.
“No wonder…”
Realizing the truth, Leng Mingye recalled how the Emperor had struck down a man they believed to be Yemei. With his skills, it would’ve been easy for him to find a decoy and disguise himself.
Leng Mingye muttered in understanding before frowning and charging forward.
“Too bad you realized too late.”
Yemei sneered and met his attack.
Their palms collided. Though Leng Mingye had braced for poison, the impact still sent him stumbling back, blood spurting from his lips.
“Let’s see how long you can hold out. Prepare to die.”
Seeing his strike land true, Yemei smirked and flicked his wrist, revealing a flexible sword. The blade snaked toward Leng Mingye like a living thing.
“Ugh—”
Though Leng Mingye was far more skilled, the poison and injuries weakened him. The sword slashed his shoulder and arm, forcing him to retreat. Just as he steadied himself, the blade was at his throat again.
“You—”
With no time to dodge, Leng Mingye instinctively grabbed the sword aimed at his neck, wrapping it around his arm. Blood gushed as he struggled against Yemei.
“Hmph.”
Unfazed by his reckless defiance, Yemei twisted his wrist, channeling a surge of energy through the blade toward Leng Mingye’s throat.
“Master, don’t hurt him!”
At that moment, two figures—one black, one white—arrived with a sharp gust of wind. A sword, alive with energy, struck Yemei’s blade, snapping it cleanly.
Yemei staggered back, his weapon broken near the hilt. Leng Mingye dropped his own sword, his arm bleeding profusely as the two newcomers stood by his side.
“Master…”
Bai Yu rushed forward, swiftly applying pressure to Leng Mingye’s wounds to stem the bleeding. Exchanging a glance with Qingfeng, the two then turned their attention to Yemei.
“Be careful—he uses poison. Wanqing—”
Relieved by his subordinates’ arrival, Leng Mingye gasped weakly, his upper body drenched in blood. He warned them before staggering toward the house, clutching his injured shoulder.
Inside, he found the two black-clad figures dead on the floor, alongside the Prince of Bo. But Wanqing was nowhere in sight. A thin trail of blood led toward the window.
“Wanqing—”
Outside, droplets of blood and a hairpin—the white jade one she’d worn at the palace banquet—marked the grass. Leng Mingye recognized it; it was one of the pieces they’d acquired together when they first met, during their scheme against Sun Fengyu.
His gaze followed the blood to the lake’s edge, where the water rippled faintly. The thought of her falling in sent a spike of terror through him. Without hesitation, he leaped through the window and dove into the lake.
“Wanqing—”
Underwater, his eyes strained through the murk until he saw her—lifeless, drifting downward. Panicked, he swam to her, grabbing her limp form.
Her face was pale, tinged with an unnatural flush, her lips blue, her once-defiant expression now frozen in stillness.
“Wanqing, don’t scare me like this. Wake up, please—”
Tears blurred his vision as he carried her ashore. Desperate, he pressed on her chest, begging her to breathe, to open her eyes—to come back to him.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage