Sheng Lengshuang’s brows furrowed into a deep frown. Her hands clenched together. "This matter..."
"I agree to this matter!" Madam Sheng strode in quickly.
"Mother!" Sheng Lengshuang disagreed. "Mother, this matter is too dangerous. A single mistake could lead to disaster."
How could Madam Sheng not know this? "Silly girl, how can it be more dangerous than keeping Zhou Wenxing around? Mother understands your worries and concerns. Even if I disagree this time, I will agree next time or the time after."
"I want to deal with Zhou Wenxing as soon as possible."
Sheng Lengshuang was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Since Mother has made up her mind, I won't say anything more."
Madam Sheng smiled gently. "You, you worry too much about Mother. Mother is a grown woman, can't she take care of herself?"
Sheng Lengshuang shook her head helplessly. She sent someone to fetch General Sheng.
The family sat together to discuss.
General Sheng stroked his chin, his face stern. "Zhou Wenxing will definitely not come alone. Firstly, he will bring some people. Secondly, there will be people hidden in the shadows. Thirdly, we must guard against the Black Hand's schemes."
"The third point is the most important. Based on our multiple dealings with the Black Hand, they are using Zhou Wenxing to scheme for something. So this time, it's possible they are using Zhou Wenxing to tie us down."
Mo Lingxi extended a finger, her handsome face slightly grave. "There is another possibility: the Black Hand wants us to suffer mutual destruction, so they can be the hunters."
General Sheng: "We cannot rule out this possibility. We know too little about the Black Hand to judge what they are trying to do."
The four of them discussed in detail.
After the discussion, Sheng Lengshuang was still not entirely at ease. "Mother, you must stay by my side then. You cannot go anywhere."
Madam Sheng repeatedly promised to stay close to Sheng Lengshuang and not wander off. "I hope we can capture Zhou Wenxing this time."
Sheng Lengshuang and the other two also hoped to capture Zhou Wenxing, and even more so to follow the clues to investigate the Black Hand.
...
On the appointed day, a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of Dongdu.
The temple was in disrepair, barely able to shield from wind and rain. Weeds grew in abundance around it, some reaching waist-high, giving the impression that someone was hiding within.
Sheng Lengshuang and the other three stood on higher ground. Sheng Lengshuang held Madam Sheng's hand tightly.
"Zhou Wenxing!" Sheng Lengshuang called out loudly.
At this moment, rustling sounds could be heard.
Mo Lingxi and General Sheng shielded the women behind them, vigilant.
After a moment, Sheng Lengshuang and the others saw Zhou Wenxing emerge from the grass. He stared at Sheng Lengshuang and the others with a sinister gaze.
"Well, it hasn't been long since we last met, and you've become this wretched, Zhou Wenxing?" Sheng Lengshuang taunted.
Zhou Wenxing clenched his fists, his smile not reaching his eyes. "If you want to retrieve the late emperor's remains, then have the Qi clan obediently come with me."
Sheng Lengshuang looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Excuse me, we are not brainless fools like you, who believe anything they are told and abandon the foundation they've worked their entire lives for."
Zhou Wenxing truly hated Sheng Lengshuang. "If I had known, I should have strangled you back then. I shouldn't have been kind enough to let you live."
Sheng Lengshuang said dramatically, "Then I truly must thank you for your mercy. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to find my birth parents."
General Sheng and his wife joined in, also expressing their gratitude to Zhou Wenxing.
"Zhou Wenxing, I thank you for not killing my daughter. Although Lengshuang suffered a lot, she returned safely to our side."
"In this matter, I am grateful to you, Zhou Wenxing. If not for your leniency, Lengshuang would not have been able to return to our side."
Zhou Wenxing hadn't meant it that way. Hearing the words of Sheng Lengshuang's family, he spat out a mouthful of blood. "Qi clan, are you truly willing to be threatened by a bastard like Sheng Tianchun for your entire life?"
Madam Sheng's expression turned cold. "My husband is infinitely better than you... Oh, no, you are not worthy of being compared to my husband. Your very existence sullies my husband."
Her constant references to "my husband" made Zhou Wenxing's eyes turn bloodshot, wishing he could chop Sheng Tianchun into pieces, but he lacked the courage to do anything.
Suddenly, a 'swish' sound was heard.
Sheng Lengshuang personally saw blood splatter not far away, knowing that someone hidden in the shadows had been discovered by the secret guards. "Zhou Wenxing, will you obediently hand over the late emperor's remains, or will I use some special means to force you to hand them over?"
Zhou Wenxing also noticed that the people he brought were decreasing one by one. He showed no panic. " Do you know what the imperial palace and Dongdu are like right now?"
Sheng Lengshuang pointed to his head. "Zhou Wenxing, you were once a prime minister. How can you lack such basic intelligence? Do you think we would come without making proper arrangements?"
Zhou Wenxing smiled sinisterly. "What if you made arrangements? Some things are not useful just because you arrange them."
Sheng Lengshuang did not want to waste more words with him. "Zhou Wenxing, hand over the late emperor's remains, and I'll give you a quick end."
Zhou Wenxing would never hand over the late emperor's remains. He knew too well the value of the late emperor's remains. "Qi clan..."
As soon as he spoke, secret guards surrounded him.
He still showed no panic, spreading his arms. "If you have the ability to kill me, then you will never find the late emperor's remains in this lifetime."
"Why do we need to find the late emperor's remains?" Mo Lingxi suddenly asked.
Zhou Wenxing was stunned. He stared at her blankly, not understanding Mo Lingxi's meaning. Did the royal family no longer want the late emperor's remains? How was that possible!
With a wave of Mo Lingxi's hand, secret guards moved to apprehend Zhou Wenxing.
However—
With a 'boom,' the entire ground rapidly caved in, accompanied by violent shaking, as if a magnitude five or six earthquake had occurred.
Sheng Lengshuang swayed, unable to stand steadily. She watched as the mountain visibly lowered in the blink of an eye, cracks appearing in the ground. Her heart sank. What was the Black Hand trying to do?
Mo Lingxi embraced Sheng Lengshuang, protecting her while observing the surrounding situation.
General Sheng protected Madam Sheng, drawing his sword. "Let's be careful."
As they spoke, the four of them fell into a pit.
Before Sheng Lengshuang and the others could react, an iron cage suddenly descended from the sky, trapping them.
The secret guards immediately tried to rush forward to rescue Sheng Lengshuang and the others, but they were blocked by a large group of masked figures.
"Hahaha~~ You have finally fallen into my hands." Zhou Wenxing was extremely arrogant.
Sheng Lengshuang and the others remained very calm.
"And then?" Sheng Lengshuang asked indifferently.
Seeing their composure, Zhou Wenxing became furious. "Why aren't you anxious? Why aren't you worried? You should be anxious and worried!"