“You can call me He Yi,” Wuhen’s voice suddenly softened a few degrees.
“Right now, besides you, no one else knows this name.”
Mu Xi blinked, still not fully recovered from the shock a moment ago.
‘He Yi? What was going on here?’
“Don’t move.”
He Yi suddenly stepped closer, her fingers lightly tracing the back of Mu Xi’s neck.
“When I pinned you against the wall just now, I already implanted a micro bomb under the skin at the nape of your neck. If you say anything reckless, it detonates immediately.”
“Huh?” Mu Xi instinctively touched her neck and asked, “Are you joking? I don’t feel a thing.”
He Yi sneered coldly, “High-tech, understand? A bomb smaller than a needle’s tip, but powerful enough to blow your head apart.”
“You really think I’d believe such nonsense?” Mu Xi rolled her eyes.
“That’s way too exaggerated. You think this is some sci-fi movie?”
He Yi didn’t argue further, only gave Mu Xi a meaningful look and said, “Believe it or not, your life’s in your own hands anyway.”
Mu Xi leaned against the wall, her mind racing to figure out what kind of background this “Wuhen” really had.
The sound of dripping water echoed clearly in the dungeon, along with distant groans from prisoners.
“I come from a mysterious family,” He Yi lowered her voice.
“Which family exactly, I can’t tell you yet. They sent me here to assassinate Ye Lan.”
“Wait,” Mu Xi interrupted, “What about the real Wuhen?”
“After Li Xin killed Wuhen, Ye Lan retrieved the body,” He Yi explained.
“Ye Lan thought Wuhen still had some use and wanted to absorb her into her personal guard. So she sent the body to the Immortality Laboratory, hoping to see if they could revive her.”
“And then?”
“Of course, they couldn’t bring her back,” He Yi scoffed.
“But that gave me an opportunity. I used the latest disguise tech to impersonate Wuhen, pretending to have been resurrected by Ye Lan. Because I was ‘just revived,’ my brain and body functions weren’t restored, so I had no combat ability. Ye Lan assigned me to work in the dungeon.”
Mu Xi swallowed hard, “So you’re… undercover?”
“The manor’s security is too tight; I haven’t found a chance to act yet.”
He Yi stared sharply at Mu Xi and said, “I need your help—to lure Ye Lan into the dungeon. I want to kill her here.”
“You’re crazy!” Mu Xi exclaimed.
“Even if you manage to kill Ye Lan, you won’t get out alive!”
“I never intended to leave,” He Yi’s voice was terrifyingly calm.
“I’ll die alongside Ye Lan and complete the mission.”
Mu Xi’s heart skipped a beat.
‘This woman was insane!’
If He Yi died together with Ye Lan, what would happen to her?
God only knew how whoever inherited Ye Lan’s power would treat her.
They might just cut her down and throw her into the crematorium.
“Your plan’s way too reckless,” Mu Xi testified.
“There are so many guards around Ye Lan. Are you sure you can pull it off?”
He Yi sneered, “You think I’m unprepared?”
She pulled a pistol from beneath her tattered clothes, “My marksmanship is top-tier in my family. This gun’s modified with armor-piercing rounds. Even if ten people stand in front of her, I can shoot through them and hit Ye Lan’s forehead with a single bullet.”
“And me? You want me to die for you?”
“You just need to lure her here and then find an excuse to leave.”
Mu Xi’s mind raced.
On the surface, she nodded. “I… I’ll think it over. But even if I don’t cooperate, I’ll never betray you.”
“You’d better not,” He Yi gently tapped Mu Xi’s cheek.
“Because your life is already in my hands.”
Mu Xi forced herself to smile despite the discomfort.
“Can I ask something? Why do you want to kill Ye Lan? Is it just because your family ordered you to?”
He Yi was silent for a moment, her gaze suddenly distant.
“Some hatred is more important than orders.”
Mu Xi looked into her bloodshot eyes and suddenly sensed there was a deeper, more complicated story behind this woman.
But right now, all she wanted was to get out of this place as soon as possible.
“I should go,” Mu Xi said quietly.
“Little An is still waiting for me in the Garden.”
He Yi nodded, “Remember, I’m always watching you.”
Breaking free from the dungeon’s cold air, Mu Xi took a deep breath as she stepped onto the stone stairs leading to the Garden.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, warming her body and dispelling the chill left by the dungeon.
She instinctively touched the back of her neck.
Her skin was smooth and normal, with no unusual sensation.
“Micro bomb? What a joke to fool a three-year-old.”
Mu Xi muttered softly, a trace of disdain curling her lips, though a thread of unease still crept through her.
Passing through the neatly trimmed bushes, Mu Xi spotted a small figure standing motionless beside the fountain at the Garden’s center, like a statue.
“Little An? You really have been waiting here all this time?” Mu Xi quickened her pace, frowning.
Little An’s eyes glimmered faintly when she saw Mu Xi, then returned to calm.
In the sunlight, Mu Xi noticed Little An’s fingers were a little red, whether from the cold or the long wait was unclear.
“Silly girl, I never said you had to stand while waiting.” Mu Xi sighed.
“Let’s go back to my room.”
Little An obediently followed behind as they passed through the manor’s grand hall.
The female Guards on both sides stared straight ahead, as if they didn’t even notice them.
Back in the room, Mu Xi sat on the chaise lounge by the window, watching the sun slowly set outside, her mind echoing with He Yi’s words: ‘Some hatred is more important than orders.’
“Little An, if someone asked you to kill, what would you do?” Mu Xi suddenly asked.
Little An remained silent, giving no response, as if she hadn’t heard.
Mu Xi said no more and quietly stared out at the scenery until night fell.
After dinner, Mu Xi sat on the edge of her bed flipping through a book on music theory when she suddenly heard footsteps outside.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
“Come in.” Mu Xi closed the book.
Six Maids entered one after another, carrying a huge steaming wooden tub filled with a liquid that smelled of herbs mixed with a hint of sweetness.
“Miss, the Medicine Bath is ready,” the lead Maid said respectfully.
A trace of disgust flashed across Mu Xi’s face but quickly faded, “Put it there.”
After the Maids left, Little An still stood nearby, her gaze vacant.
“Turn around,” Mu Xi ordered.
Little An obediently faced away but remained perfectly straight.
Mu Xi stepped into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and let warm water cascade over her body.
Droplets slid down her delicate face and past the bright red heart-shaped tattoo on her lower abdomen.
After bathing, Mu Xi wrapped herself in a towel and emerged, looking at the churning herbal liquid in the tub with a troubled expression.
“Damn Ye Lan…” she cursed softly before unwrapping the towel and stepping toward the tub, naked.
Mu Xi sank into the steaming herbal bath, the hot liquid instantly enveloping her body.
The warmth climbed from her toes to her chest, bringing an unusually comforting sensation.
The herbal aroma mixed with sweetness filled her nostrils.
Mu Xi inhaled deeply, involuntarily closing her eyes.
A few minutes later, a strange heat began to move inside her, slowly spreading from her abdomen to every limb and joint.
Mu Xi opened her eyes, her vision slightly blurred.
She bit her lip, struggling to suppress the strange sensation rising within.
Ye Lan’s specially concocted medicine not only kept her skin soft but also awakened desire.
Every time after soaking, her body felt more sensitive.
The surface of the liquid rippled gently with her breathing, reflecting her pale face and the eyes growing increasingly hazy.
Mu Xi fought to stay conscious, but the heat coursing through her grew ever stronger.