Chapter 22 - Setting Up a Scapegoat (1/2)

Chapter 22 — Setting Up a Scapegoat

Yun Wu reined in her expression and unceremoniously but swiftly tucked the block of jade and the map fragment into her bosom before finally sparing him a glance, “Nothing. Where to?”

Her smooth maneuvers made him laugh helplessly, and then he prompted her to follow him. As she trailed after him, she eventually came to realize how he was able to enter the Forbidden Grounds.

In a dark corner near the threshold, she saw a man-sized hole with an appearance akin to a cave entrance. It was likely Long Qingxie’s handiwork. Only, contrary to her expectations, the tunnel actually extended all the way to the back mountain, below the cliffside she had once fallen from.

The distance between the Forbidden Grounds and the end of the tunnel could be easily inferred from the fact that they were able to continue walking for over half an hour without stopping.

This man, just how long did he spend digging this tunnel?

His actions… she couldn’t say she felt nothing, but she couldn’t afford to feel anything beyond that either.

…..

Night-time, three days later.

On the east side of Yun Manor, within the Master Chamber, Liu Qingyue was taking off her clothes, preparing for bed.

Suddenly!

Whooosh… A silent breeze whirred in from the window, extinguishing all the lamps and lights in the room, sinking it into abrupt darkness.

Liu Qingyue’s brows creased, and she scoured the room with her dark gaze, then she shifted, and a long sword appeared in her hand. Utmost caution and wariness could be seen on her face.

For her to react with such keen vigilance at figuratively the mere rustle of leaves in the wind showed that she was an unusually guarded person.

“Who is it?” She looked into the darkness, set on finding whoever was making trouble—if there was even such a person. However, the room was dead silent. Still, she had a bad premonition that danger was approaching.

Just then, a figure leisurely walked out from the darkness.

“Who are you? You have the audacity to intrude this madam’s room—how bold!” Although Liu Qingyue spoke in a cold voice, every bit the authoritative attitude of a Yun Manor Madam, she was slowly inching towards the doorway.

Whoosh! A silver needle flew out and stabbed into the wood of the doorway, immediately stopping Liu Qingyue in her tracks. A gentle voice —analogous to a ghost’s— brushed by her ears, laughing. “Great Aunt, where do you think you’re going? We haven’t seen each other in so long, do you dislike me that much?”

Liu Qingyue froze, and surprise flickered in her eyes. Her voice trembled slightly, “You… it’s you? How are you still alive?”

The poisonous dart she had thrown out for good measure before leaving would’ve been enough to kill Yun Wu; to say nothing of the man-eating vines that were also there. Yet now… what happened?

Cold light shone in Yun Wu’s eyes as she strolled out from the cover of darkness and curved her lips, “That just goes to say… I wasn’t meant to die that day, so tonight, you will take my place.”

At her words, Liu Qingyue’s body trembled, but immediately after, her eyes flashed with murderous light, and killing intent swathed her heart.

“Hmph, you think a little good-for-nothing like yourself is qualified to speak such words? You’d better be sensible and hand that small wooden box back to me, then seeing we belong to the same family, I’ll spare you. Or else…” her voice trailed off with a laugh, having made obvious her threat.

If it were before, in a head-on confrontation, Yun Wu indeed wouldn’t have been strong enough to face Liu Qingyue. But today, aside from her expertise in killing, she had also reached the early stage of Rank Five. If she wanted to kill a third rank Practitioner like Liu Qingyue, it would be as easy as turning her hand.

Alas, Liu Qingyue still believed Yun Wu was a good-for-nothing. Yun Wu gave a sardonic smile, looked at Liu Qingyue as though she was looking at a retard, and said disdainfully, “Family? So you’re actually thick-skinned enough to use that word? Well, aren’t you just laughable? You’re nothing more than someone else’s dog; a dog who takes herself too seriously. If I don’t return the wooden box to you, then I’m afraid I wouldn’t be the only one wanting your life—that master of yours would want to take your lousy life too, am I right? Someone with a life as cheap as yours… you really think you’re worthy of calling yourself my kin?”

Yun Wu’s sharp, knife-like words caused Liu Qingyue to bristle with anger. “Shut your mouth. A good-for-nothing slut like you is unqualified to talk about my master. Let me tell you, my master…” Then, she blanched and glared at Yun Wu.

“You, you little slut, you tricked me.” Liu Qingyue wasn’t too dumb. When infuriated, she was able to immediately react and stop herself from revealing any more. Yun Wu’s eyes darkened, and she gave Liu Qingyue a sideways glance.

“Oh? Looks like the one who entrusted you with the task of poisoning me was indeed your master.”

“Hmph, you don’t need to know about that, but since you’ve unexpectedly figured out what you weren’t supposed to know, you won’t be alive for much longer.”

Frigid killing intent surged within her eyes as she lifted her hand, enveloped it in yellow battle spirit1, and in a flash, sent a long sword towards Yun Wu’s heart.

Yun Wu’s eyes flared, and she curled her hand into a fist. Her body emitted dazzling magenta light as she met Liu Qingyue’s attack with her own.

Bang! The long sword broke, subsequently causing Liu Qingyue’s eyes to quickly widen and fill with astonishment and dismay. Unfortunately, before she could speak, Yun Wu’s dark silhouette had already reached her side, striking a chill to Liu Qingyue’s heart.

“Speak, who is your master?” Yun Wu held the broken end of the sword between two fingers as she pressed it firmly against Liu Qingyue’s smooth throat.

At this moment, Liu Qingyue was completely frightened.

Magenta-colored battle spirit?