The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains and spilled onto the floor.
Mu Xi rose from her bed.
Her fingers gripped tightly around the small knife she had hidden under her pillow last night.
The cold handle pressed against her palm, giving her a faint sense of security.
She carefully concealed the knife within her sleeve, making sure it wouldn’t be discovered.
“Little Master, I’m ready too.” Little An walked over from the corner of the room, her eyes sharp and clear.
Her voice was calm, yet filled with determination.
Mu Xi nodded, studying Little An carefully.
Little An was a head and a half taller than her, her slender frame concealing well-trained strength.
That unwavering loyalty flashing in her eyes made Mu Xi’s throat tighten for a moment.
“Remember, no matter what happens, don’t act rashly.” Mu Xi leaned close to Little An’s ear, warning in a low voice.
Her fingers unconsciously brushed against Little An’s arm, feeling the tension in her muscles.
Little An nodded, her gaze sweeping over Mu Xi’s delicate face and silvery hair, her heart beating a little faster.
“I will protect you.” she promised, hiding her own knife at her waist.
The two left the room.
As they walked through the corridor, Mu Xi noticed the number of patrolling Guards had clearly diminished.
A strange silence lingered in the Manor, like the calm before a storm—unnerving and tense.
In the Garden, the sunlight was so bright it made their eyes ache.
Mu Xi led Little An straight to the flowerbed where she had last met He Yi and sat down.
The scent of flowers mixed with the earth, forming a peculiar blend, but Mu Xi was in no mood to appreciate it.
Her gaze constantly scanned the surroundings, searching for anything unusual.
“Little Master, why are we sitting here?” Little An stood beside her, asking quietly, her eyes ever alert to the area around them.
Mu Xi looked up at her, forcing a bitter smile.
“Let’s just say we’re here to enjoy the flowers.” she replied evasively, unwilling to reveal her true purpose.
Little An didn’t press further, simply standing loyally by her side.
The sunlight fell on them, stretching their shadows, entwining together.
Mu Xi noticed Little An’s hand resting at her waist, ready at any moment to draw her weapon.
Suddenly, an unusual sound came from the direction of the main gate, as if something had been knocked over, followed by the low curses of a Guard.
Little An’s body immediately tensed.
“Little Master, there’s movement.” she murmured, her brows tightly knit, “I’ll go check it out. Stay here and don’t move.”
Mu Xi opened her mouth to stop her, but Little An was already slipping away, her figure vanishing swiftly among the flowers.
Her heart clenched, knowing this might be He Yi’s plan, but she couldn’t be sure Little An wouldn’t face danger.
“Your little follower is quite loyal.” He Yi’s voice suddenly sounded from behind.
Mu Xi did not turn, merely nodded slightly.
“You lured her away on purpose?” Mu Xi asked, her fingers unconsciously stroking the knife hidden in her sleeve.
He Yi circled to her front and sat down lightly.
“Yes, we need to talk alone.” Her gaze swept over Mu Xi’s sleeve, lips curling, “Your knife-hiding skills still need work. It’s too obvious.”
Mu Xi’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t retort.
“Last night, someone attacked me and Little An.” She went straight to the point, keeping her voice low, “It was a female Assassin, skilled—almost killed us.”
He Yi’s expression grew grave.
Her slender fingers tapped her knee, as if deep in thought.
“We’re one person short in our team. Seems I guessed right—she’s from the Escort Team.” She paused, her eyes suddenly sharp.
“But that’s no longer important.”
Mu Xi’s heart tightened and she asked, “What do you mean?”
“Ye Lan is dead.” He Yi’s voice was chillingly calm, as if discussing the weather.
“After losing control of Wu City, she’d been on the run. Her body’s been found now. The people of Wu City hung her head on the city gate for all to see.”
Mu Xi snapped her head up, unable to believe her ears.
‘Ye Lan is dead?’
The woman who treated her like a pet, made her soak in medicinal baths every day, forced her to take Chun Medicine—dead?
A rush of complicated emotions surged within her: relief, unease, and doubt all tangled together.
“Are you sure?” Her voice trembled, not from grief, but the shock of such sudden news.
He Yi exhaled, a trace of satisfaction at the corner of her lips.
“Never thought the task would end this way—so easily.” She leaned in, lowering her voice even more.
“Now, I plan to burn this Manor to the ground and finish it all. I need your help.”
Mu Xi stared at He Yi’s face, her thoughts racing.
‘Ye Lan died just like that? She had never been someone who gave up easily. That arrogance, that overbearing control—how could such desires vanish so simply?’
“No.” Mu Xi refused decisively, meeting He Yi’s gaze.
“Now is the worst time for rash actions.”
He Yi’s face stiffened and she asked, “Why? Ye Lan is dead. It’s the perfect chance.”
Mu Xi shook her head, her silver hair swaying gently with the movement.
“I don’t believe Ye Lan is truly dead.” Her voice was soft, but resolute.
“Ye Lan isn’t someone who’d die so easily. For all we know, she’s already back in the Manor, watching us from the shadows.”
He Yi’s pupils contracted.
She was silent for a few seconds, seemingly reassessing the girl before her.
Mu Xi looked timid and fragile, but her insight was startling.
“You’re smarter than I thought.” He Yi finally said, a hint of admiration in her tone.
“Or perhaps, you know Ye Lan better than I do.”
Mu Xi didn’t answer, her gaze searching the distance for any sign of Little An.
She started to worry for Little An’s safety.
“All right, I’ll check things out again.” He Yi rose, brushing off her trousers.
“Next time we meet, I hope to bring you something more concrete.”
Just as she was turning to leave, Mu Xi almost instinctively reached out, her fingertips trembling slightly.
“Wait, I…” Her voice was so low it was nearly inaudible, but then she drew a breath and met He Yi’s eyes.
“I need your help with something.”
He Yi paused, her graceful figure turning back in the sunlight, one eyebrow raised, a faint, elusive smile on her lips.
“Well, this is rare. I thought you didn’t trust me enough.”
She elegantly sat down again, leaning closer to Mu Xi, so close she could catch that strange scent on the girl.
“Go on—what do you need?”
Mu Xi twisted her fingers together, her silver hair fluttering across her pale cheeks in the wind.
Her eyes swept the area, confirming no one was eavesdropping.
“I need the Tears of Oblivion.” Her voice was steady and cool, nothing like her usual timid self.
He Yi’s pupils shrank abruptly, but her smile remained flawless.
“Do you even know what you’re asking for?” She reached out and brushed a strand of Mu Xi’s hair away, her movement gentle but her gaze sharp as a blade.
“Even for me, that’s not easy to obtain.”
Mu Xi didn’t back down, instead moving a little closer, closing the distance between them to something dangerous.
“No matter if Ye Lan is dead or alive, I need a way to survive.” Her lips barely moved, “If you could get into a place with such tight security, you must have your means. I need this secret, lethal trump card… just in case.”
He Yi’s fingers tapped her knee, each tap echoing in Mu Xi’s heart.
This seemingly delicate girl in front of her was clearly far more complicated than she’d imagined.