Yun Xiao swept her gaze around her current location, and after considering the orientation of the blueprints, she realized there might be a mechanism nearby.
It seemed Murong Yingxue truly harbored malicious intent, and Yun Xiao's eyes deepened.
This woman had repeatedly troubled them, and it was clear she needed to be taught a lesson. A cold smile curled her lips as she fixed her gaze on Murong Yingxue, who was walking towards her.
Murong Yingxue's delicate face was contorted with anger, her eyes wide, and her breathing heavy. Seeing Yun Xiao and Wan Wan appearing so calm and leisurely only fueled her rage.
"You shameless woman, how dare you still linger here? Get out!"
Murong Yingxue shouted with a stern face. She was determined to provoke this woman today. Yun Xiao's usual composed demeanor made her feel like a shrew, and she was filled with resentment.
This time, without even thinking, Yun Xiao raised her hand and slapped the woman in front of her.
With a loud crack, sunlight filtered through the lush branches, casting dappled light onto Murong Yingxue's face. Yun Xiao's perfectly aimed slap landed squarely on her right cheek, making it swell symmetrically with the left, both sides now bruised.
Murong Yingxue was stunned that this woman dared to strike her within Yunshui Villa. She was completely taken aback, and the young maid behind her was equally stunned.
The eldest young lady had always been arrogant and overbearing. Although the Villa Master did not pay her much attention, he would at least never hit her.
She had heard that her young lady had been slapped last night because of this woman, and today she was slapped again. How could she endure this? The young maid cautiously called out, "Miss?"
This single utterance brought Murong Yingxue back from her stupor. She covered her stinging face, her eyes wide as saucers.
Last night, she had accepted being hit by Brother Murong because she didn't want to offend him or anger him, thereby forfeiting his attention.
To be hit by this lowly woman today was something she could not accept. Murong Yingxue's vision darkened, and she lunged at Yun Xiao like a madwoman.
She was skilled in martial arts, and her charge was fierce, carrying a powerful momentum. It seemed Yun Xiao was about to be sent flying.
The maids behind Murong Yingxue felt a flicker of joy, hoping their mistress would teach this woman, who was not particularly attractive, a lesson. After all, why should she monopolize their Villa Master? Several pairs of eyes focused intently on Yun Xiao.
Despite standing still, as the eldest young lady was about to collide with her, Yun Xiao suddenly drifted away like a ghost, pulling the maid behind her and evading the attack simultaneously.
Murong Yingxue, however, crashed directly into the two maids behind them, sending them flying five or six meters away. She herself plummeted downwards, landing heavily on top of the maids.
The two maids beneath her let out pig-like screams, followed by groans of agony.
"Miss, my hand is broken."
"My leg!"
Yun Xiao remained completely unharmed by the collision, while the eldest young lady of the Murong family ended up face-down in the dirt.
If not for the soft padding beneath her, she would have surely lost her looks and suffered even more. In addition to the injuries on her cheeks, she had nearly lost her front teeth.
Pitiably, the two young maids, caught in the aftermath, suffered broken bones, one in the hand and the other in the leg, rendering them nearly useless.
Murong Yingxue struggled to get up. This time, she didn't even speak. She reached behind her and drew out a shining, flexible sword. Yun Xiao pushed Wan Wan aside and said calmly, "Wan Wan, step aside."
"Mistress."
"It's alright. I'll teach this woman, whose intentions are unclear, a lesson. Why can't she be awakened?"
Yun Xiao's small face appeared serious for once, though she was intentionally provoking Murong Yingxue.
Indeed, upon hearing her words, Murong Yingxue's face turned green with rage. She brandished the short sword fiercely, a flurry of flashing steel, and lunged at Yun Xiao, spewing curses.
"You wretched woman, you conceited woman! You'll never marry Brother Murong! I won't allow it! Don't even dream about it."
"Does your saying it make any difference?"
Yun Xiao sneered. She made no move to attack. Instead, as Murong Yingxue's short sword lunged towards her, Yun Xiao shifted her body, and the sharp blade grazed past her cheek.
The sword's momentum stirred her hair, making it flutter. She took two steps back, her arms still crossed, and stared intently at Murong Yingxue.
Murong Yingxue was surprised by this woman's skill. In her anger and desperation, she intended to force Yun Xiao towards the mechanism.
Yun Xiao remained unfazed, observing her fierce moves as she retreated step by step, seemingly only knowing how to dodge and lacking any ability to counterattack.
Murong Yingxue rejoiced, the pain in her face and body no longer seeming important. She followed Yun Xiao closely, like a shadow.
Seeing that she had stepped into the mechanism, Murong Yingxue was overjoyed. She raised her short sword not to stab Yun Xiao, but instead to strike a green pine tree behind her. The leaves rustled, and a faint crashing sound was heard.
The ground beneath Yun Xiao quickly parted. In an instant, Yun Xiao moved with lightning speed, leaping behind Murong Yingxue and kicking her into the opening.
The parted mechanism revealed a circular, deep pit. Countless bamboo spikes suddenly emerged from the pit, all pointing directly at Murong Yingxue's face. She was terrified, her complexion changing drastically.
If she fell in, her face would be completely ruined. Moreover, it would be almost impossible to use her qinggong to ascend.
When her father had set up this mechanism, it was precisely to prevent enemies from escaping. He could never have imagined that it would one day harm his own daughter.
Murong Yingxue suddenly altered her downward trajectory, twisting her body to protect her face. Her backside, however, was firmly impaled by twenty to thirty bamboo spikes.
Ah! Ah!
A chilling scream erupted, piercing the air and soaring towards the heavens from Yunshui Villa.
Instantly, the guards protecting the villa were alerted. Figures darted along the corridors and paths, converging from all directions.
Above the opening, Murong Yingxue's young maid clung to the edge, calling out in panic, "Miss, Miss?"
Murong Yingxue had already fainted and showed no response.
The butler of Yunshui Villa and Ximen Yao, one of the Four Great Guardians, along with a group of guards, rushed over and surrounded the opening. Upon seeing the situation, they immediately understood and ordered the young maid to move aside.
Ximen Yao swiftly tore a strip from his robe, flicked his wrist, and the cloth rope dropped into the pit like a flexible sword. Like a snake, it coiled around Murong Yingxue's waist. With a strong pull, he lifted her out.
At this point, Murong Yingxue appeared deathly pale, covered in cold sweat. Her cheeks were terribly swollen, her lips had lost all color, and her backside was bleeding profusely, staining her robes.
Ximen Yao clasped Murong Yingxue and hurried towards her courtyard, issuing a calm command, "Quickly, summon the doctor."
The villa had its own physician. The butler responded and dashed away.
As Ximen Yao turned at the decorated gate, he couldn't help but glance back at Yun Xiao, who stood in her original spot. His gaze was complex and profound.
The two maids injured by Murong Yingxue were also taken away for treatment.