The housekeeper mentioned that Yunzhong City had a tradition of releasing sky lanterns for blessings in June. The city was bustling in the past few days, and Xiao Man's injuries had mostly healed. She decided to invite Chu Qingge out for a stroll.
However, Chu Qingge was nowhere to be found. Xiao Luo was also busy with military affairs and didn't return for dinner. So, Xiao Man set out with Dugu Luo.
Dugu Luo, carrying Xiao Man's large sword on her back, was about to follow Xiao Man out. Xiao Man's expression was somewhat peculiar. "A' Luo, no need to bring weapons. We're just going out for fun."
Dugu Luo smiled innocently. "It's okay, I can carry it."
Xiao Man felt like crying. It wasn't that she was afraid Dugu Luo couldn't carry it, but she was afraid that carrying such a large sword out would frighten the citizens. "Put down the sword and come out with me to wander the streets."
"Yes." Dugu Luo let go, and the great sword fell, piercing the floor and standing firmly in place.
The guard swallowed, averted his gaze, and pretended not to see. How could such a cute and well-behaved little girl be so formidable? She treated such a large sword as a toy. A single blow from it would be fatal.
As Xiao Man led Dugu Luo out, they encountered Nangong Yu and Si Ye on the road.
"Your Highness, Prince Qin."
"I heard there's a lantern festival in Yunzhong City. I'm curious and want to see it," Nangong Yu knew that beating around the bush was useless when talking to Xiao Man.
Xiao Man smiled and nodded. "That's perfect, I wanted to see it too. Shall we go together?"
"Alright."
Nangong Yu walked side by side with Xiao Man, heading towards the market in the twilight glow.
The housekeeper quickly arranged for people to protect them from the shadows. If anything happened to either of them, he would lose his head.
Nangong Yu was once again dressed in pure white, looking ethereal and unstained, as if he were an immortal, making him unapproachable. Xiao Man wore a jade-green silk skirt with cloud patterns, which perfectly accentuated her slender waist, making her appear like a swaying peony in the wind.
Yunzhong City was located on the border and was often harassed by enemies. The people yearned for a peaceful life and often released lanterns to pray. Over time, it became a tradition to release lanterns for blessings on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.
Xiao Man volunteered to buy four sky lanterns and distributed them to the group. Nangong Yu looked at the lantern in his hand, then saw Xiao Man pick up a brush. After a moment of thought, she quickly began to write. Nangong Yu was curious about what Xiao Man was writing. He leaned in slightly and saw the words: "The Buddha will not save me; I will become a demon by sacrificing myself."
Nangong Yu was startled. A flicker of pity crossed his eyes. He didn't know what Xiao Man had endured, but to utter such words as "become a demon by sacrificing myself" suggested an unimaginable past.
However, as the eldest daughter of the General who protected the country, Xiao Man was doted on by Xiao Zhen. Although she was often schemed against by concubines and sisters in the manor, the hatred was not that deep. What kind of past led her to choose to become a demon by sacrificing herself?
Dugu Luo held the sky lantern in her hand and tilted her head to look at Xiao Man. "A' Man, you write for me."
"Alright." Xiao Man took it. "What should I write?"
"Write the sentence you used to like the most," Dugu Luo said with a smile. "Flowers bloom on the other shore without shores; souls fall into the river of oblivion, yet remain in the river."
Xiao Man's hand paused slightly. A bitter smile flickered on her lips as she wrote down the sentence.
Si Ye didn't understand and mumbled, "Why do you always like these mysterious things?"
Nangong Yu gave him a look, and Si Ye quickly shut his mouth and went to release a lantern. Nangong Yu watched as Xiao Man lit the lantern and released it into the sky. Then, he wrote two lines of text on his own lantern and released it.
Xiao Man released her sky lantern, her eyes cold. She watched the lantern slowly ascend, her expression complex and unfathomable.
Murong Shengrui's relentless pursuit of Dugu Mingyu further strengthened her resolve to destroy Yunqi. As a woman, she had few opportunities to approach the center of power in Yusheng. The only solace was that the General's manor held military power, and her brother was guarding Yunzhong City.
A sound of breaking air came from behind. Xiao Man instinctively reached out to push Nangong Yu, who was standing beside her. Unexpectedly, Nangong Yu grabbed her waist and pulled her away from their original spot, dodging the hidden cold arrow.
The cold arrow struck a civilian, who let out a scream. Then, a series of arrows followed. The crowd panicked and scattered.
"Stay away from the crowd!" Xiao Man decided instantly.
Nangong Yu nodded and fled with Xiao Man to a distant location.
The assassins hidden in the darkness pursued them relentlessly. Si Ye and Dugu Luo tried to catch up, but they were jostled by the fleeing civilians and stumbled. By the time they managed to break free from the crowd, Nangong Yu and Xiao Man had vanished.
Nangong Yu glanced back. Dozens of figures were chasing them, occasionally shooting cold arrows. A deep anger surfaced in his eyes; he was extremely displeased by the appearance of these assassins.
"Be careful!" Xiao Man's dagger flew out, striking an incoming sword. The two landed on the ground, surrounded by assassins.
"Who are you to dare cause trouble in Yunzhong City!" Xiao Man reprimanded them sternly.
The person holding the sword was clad in a black robe, with deep, defined facial features and eyes filled with murderous intent. "We take money to resolve troubles."
"Pojun, it's Jiuyulou!" Nangong Yu instinctively shielded Xiao Man behind him. It seemed he should have completely eradicated Jiuyulou, not just removed their headquarters in the capital.
"Jiuyulou has too much audacity to oppose the imperial court."
"Jiuyulou only takes money to do business. Kill." Pojun charged forward with his sword.
Nangong Yu immediately engaged Pojun in battle, while Xiao Man was surrounded by other assassins.
Normally, Xiao Man wouldn't have paid much attention to so many assassins. However, she had just recovered from a serious injury and her internal energy was weak. She could only rely on her agility to dodge their attacks. But with so many assassins, she was gradually at a disadvantage as time went on.
At this moment, a figure burst into the encirclement and grabbed Xiao Man's arm. Xiao Man retaliated with a stab, aiming for the intruder's vital point. The person recoiled, dodging Xiao Man's attack, but still held onto her arm without letting go.
"You are not Dugu Luo," the intruder said. It was Yu Qianmo.
Xiao Man's head ached. To run into Yu Qianmo at this moment! How did this kid get to Yunzhong City?
Didn't Prince Qin say the thief who stole the military orders was killed? Could it be that they killed a substitute?
Yu Qianmo kicked away an attacking assassin and grabbed Xiao Man, asking, "Why do you know the 'Ephemeral Footwork'? Who taught you?"
"Help me kill these assassins, and I'll tell you," Xiao Man replied immediately.
"Alright." Yu Qianmo drew his sword and began to fight without a word. He was as easily fooled as ever.
However, when she saw several figures charging over, led by Dongfang Wei, Xiao Man immediately distanced herself from Yu Qianmo. Otherwise, she feared Dongfang Wei would mistake her for Yu Qianmo's accomplice and cut her down as well!