The Prime Minister’s Darling

Xiao Hen expressionlessly said: "If you don't speak now, I'll cut off your ears, nose, and mouth, and feed them to you."

Shangguan Qing: Damn it!

Today my understanding has been refreshed by this stinky little brother!

In the end, Li Jiangping couldn't withstand the torture and confessed.

"Go east… three miles… there's a Cangjian Villa, the people from Jianlu should be… there…"

Cangjian Villa is a small sect near Zhaodu. Jianlu needed a hiding place upon arriving here, so they raided Cangjian Villa.

According to the plan, Li Jiangping and the swordsmen would first take Duke An on board, while the people from Jianlu stayed behind to ensure no experts could catch up to them.

But now, with things going this way, the plan has been disrupted, and it's unclear whether the people from Jianlu will choose to board the ship from another dock.

"How many people in total?" Xiao Hen asked.

Li Jiangping feebly replied, "The Master… four Masters… eight Protectors… and some disciples… I'm not sure how many…"

Xiao Hen paused for a moment and then asked, "How does their strength compare to Shitian's?"

Li Jiangping recalled, "Shitian… I've never seen…"

Xiao Hen pondered for a moment and changed the name: "Then, Dark Soul."

Li Jiangping said, "Dark Soul… is the master's direct disciple… strength… comparable to a Protector…"

Eight Protectors, eight Dark Souls.

Xiao Hen involuntarily clenched his fist, the situation did not look optimistic.

"What about the Master?" He asked again.

Li Jiangping said, "The Master's strength… is above… the Protectors…"

Shangguan Qing's expression also became serious, with so many experts, if Jiaojiao really breaks through, things don't look promising.

Xiao Hen sped up his questioning: "Why did you capture Duke An?"

Li Jiangping said, "For… for that… box…"

Xiao Hen asked, "What treasure does that box hold? Why does Jianlu want it?"

Li Jiangping's breathing was shallow: "I… I don't know… It's the Master's order…"

Shangguan Qing leaned closer to the stinky little brother and asked: "Is he telling the truth?"

"It should be true." Xiao Hen said with a focused look, "Mingyue Young Master is the Master's son, he knows nothing about the small first and kit matter, which shows this is indeed a secret, known by very few."

Shangguan Qing glanced at Li Jiangping: "Then what to do with him? Kill or—"

Xiao Hen said calmly: "Leave him to Chang Jing."

Shangguan Qing looked at Li Jiangping's severed, bloodied fingers, his own fingers felt like they hurt.

Though the scene was cruel, he was somewhat impressed by the stinky little brother's charisma, what to do?

...

The one who abducted Duke An was a master of unparalleled agility, combined with familiarity of the terrain, almost no one could catch up to him.

However, he was being pursued by the sky's overlord, Hai Dongqing; even if he grew a pair of wings, he couldn't fly faster than it.

He wanted to shoot down the constantly circling eagle above him, but the eagle flew too high, he had no bow and arrow, only relying on sword energy, he couldn't even touch a feather.

Though Cangjian Villa is a small sect, its geographical position is quite strategic, located in a picturesque landscape, the foot of the mountain serves as the gate, defended by disciples of the sect, now replaced by Jianlu's disciples.

To go further, one must climb over a hundred steps to reach the sect halfway up the mountain.

Gu Jiao chased all the way to the foot of the mountain, likely informed by that master, the two defending disciples were ready, drew their Treasure Swords, and watched Gu Jiao vigilantly.

"Who goes there!"

One of them asked.

Gu Jiao didn't waste words with them, and directly charged.

Further up were the steps, Black Wind King couldn't go further, Gu Jiao let it wait in the forest while she grasped the Red-Tasseled Spear and fought her way up to the Villa.

Though she seemed to kill easily, they weren't weak; in fact, each disciple's strength was equivalent to that of a Tianlang.

Her strength had improved significantly, how much exactly she couldn't say for certain as she hadn't yet faced a foe worthy of her full power.

"Audacious rogue! How dare you injure our Jianlu disciples!"

Just as Gu Jiao was about to step into the Villa, a man in gray, wearing a silver mask, rushed at her under the night sky, sword in hand.

This man's Aura was obviously stronger than those disciples from before.

A true expert.

His sword struck Gu Jiao's Red-Tasseled Spear, the clash of weapons sent sparks flying, accompanied by a clear clang, Gu Jiao felt a strong shock to her arm.

Gu Jiao was forced back several steps.

She focused her gaze on the newcomer.

Judging by the voice, it was a middle-aged man, yet his physique appeared agile and youthful, the solid musculature of his arms and chest almost bulging out of his clothes.