Jiu E said, “I thought you were scared witless. Your reactions are pretty quick.”
She looked around. Although this enormous cavern was not as lavish as a palace, it had been renovated into something majestic and solemn.
The lamplight made the entire interior exceptionally bright. The guards around them were orderly, disciplined, and well-regulated, no worse than those in the imperial palace.
Only then did Jiang Yiyun realize that she had attached herself to someone with an extraordinary background. That person was Jiu E, her master.
Although she was thinking this, a voice suddenly interrupted her pleasant thoughts.
“Do not think that just because you have attached yourself to me, you have found yourself a backer.”
He seemed to know what she was thinking. His words were like a basin of cold water, leaving her speechless.
Jiang Yiyun had not actually intended to curry favor with someone powerful. She had merely gotten to know an important figure, which would make handling matters more convenient in the future.
As for her blood feud, she would naturally avenge it herself.
If the two of them joined forces, eliminating Gu Hanjue would presumably not be difficult. However, she did not want anyone else involved in her grudge, nor did she want others to help or interfere.
Unlike other women, she would not rely on her beauty to obtain a shortcut. At the very least, she still possessed some backbone.
“Master, you misunderstand. I only learned today that you are no ordinary person, so I was somewhat surprised. I had no other intentions.”
“It seems I was overthinking things. It is good that you think this way. However, there is one problem: you know too much. You now know all my secrets.”
He climbed the steps one by one and slowly asked, “Tell me, should I Silence You Permanently?”
Jiang Yiyun froze, and anger suddenly rose in her heart. He was clearly the one who had brought her here, so how had he somehow become the victim, making her responsible?
This scoundrel’s methods rather resembled someone’s. Before she could recall who, the other party said, “You are on the brink of death, yet you still have the leisure to think about other things.”
With two clangs from both sides, two shadow guards who had been hiding somewhere in the palace hall rushed toward her.
Their attacks were vicious and merciless, as though they had encountered a sworn enemy. They fought with all their strength, leaving her not the slightest chance of survival.
Jiang Yiyun clearly understood much more about Jiu E now, yet she found herself understanding this person less and less. What exactly was the purpose of this journey?
She did not ask about the rest, nor did she have time to. Before one move from the two opponents had ended, the next had already arrived.
The two worked together flawlessly, giving her not even a moment to catch her breath.
Jiang Yiyun was furious, enraged, and aggrieved. The elusive Jiu E was practically toying with her, while the two attackers struck with murderous intent, every move aimed at killing her.
She calmly defended herself. Although her opponents had come prepared and coordinated well, they still had flaws to exploit. No matter what, she could not let the person waiting to watch her make a fool of herself have his way.
“The two of them are among my most capable subordinates. I have yet to give them any guidance. If you cannot even defeat them, then you truly are useless.”
Jiang Yiyun understood that he was testing her, but the test had come too suddenly, leaving her struggling to cope and faintly displeased.
As the fight continued, the two became increasingly fierce in their killing moves. If this went on, her weakness in endurance would certainly cost her life here.
This test was far too harsh, but a master’s command could not be disobeyed.
The two sides had entered a stalemate. The two men could not kill her in a short time, but she could not win either.
However, she was not brainless. Although she could not take both men down in one move, she could still manage to eliminate one.
Amid the strenuous exchanges of attacks and counters, she had already thought of a solution.
She swept her longsword across, forcing the two men in front of her to retreat. This was nothing to them, and they would certainly counterattack in an instant, but it was already an excellent opening for her.
She swung the sword backward, sending it flying from her hand and thrusting straight toward Jiu E in the palace hall.
This action left not only the two men utterly stunned, but Jiu E as well.
In the blink of an eye, one man had leaped over to block the attack for Jiu E, while the other struck at her, nearly taking her life.
With a clang, her sword was knocked away. The one who blocked the sword was not one of the guards—it was Jiu E himself.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yiyun’s left arm had been pierced by a sword. The wound was not serious, but the blood flowing from it was particularly glaring.
She seized the other man by the throat with her right hand. This scene proved that she had won by a narrow margin.
“Stop.” At Jiu E’s command, the two men immediately sheathed their swords, bowed respectfully, and left with a flashing movement.
Jiu E also used a flashing movement to appear before her. “Are you mute? If you cannot defeat the enemy, can you not open your mouth and beg for mercy?” He was clearly somewhat angry, having never expected her to go this far.
She was obviously even angrier. “If I Begged for Mercy, would that not make master lose face?”
Although she claimed to put his reputation first, her tone was cold. Anyone could hear the reproach in her words.
“Besides, those two moved incredibly quickly. If I had opened my mouth, my throat would have been sealed by a sword before I could finish speaking!” She frowned as she covered the wound on her arm.
Jiu E paid no attention to her complaints. He hurried over and examined her, asking, “Let me see. How badly are you hurt?”
He had intended merely to test her, but had not expected to miscalculate. How could he have known she was so stubborn that she would remain silent and still win the match?
“There is no need to trouble yourself, master. It is only a minor injury. I will not die.” She did not appreciate his concern, taking a small step back to avoid his hand.
The two were essentially the same age. Calling him her master had already made her feel humiliated, and after being toyed with like this, she felt an indescribable bitterness and shame.
But what could she say? She was still the weaker party. Being taught by an expert was already an enormous favor.
She did not know that beneath the mask was a face showing slight anxiety. She merely said, “master, rest assured. Even if I die, I will never reveal what I saw today. I only hope that master will continue teaching me martial arts as before. This disciple will remember your kindness for the rest of my life.” The gentleness of her usual expression had vanished, leaving only calm indifference.
He continued maintaining his dignity, but his words now carried more concern. “I was too rash today. Let me examine your injury first.”
She avoided that hand once again, then hurriedly said, “It is nothing, merely superficial injuries. Master, do not worry.”
After all, men and women were different. To prevent him from treating the wound himself, she hurriedly changed her tone, sounding as though she were comforting him instead.
Thinking that she had suffered a loss today, Jiu E would certainly feel guilty afterward and treat her with wholehearted dedication. Her mood immediately improved.
“If master feels that you wronged your disciple today, then from now on, you must give your all and teach me properly.” She smiled faintly, making the inner chamber seem several shades brighter, outshining even the lamplight.
She was usually detached and composed, but before him, her childish temper was fully revealed, which he found quite pleasing.
No one could see the expression beneath the mask. She continued, “It is getting late. If I do not return soon, people may become suspicious. My situation is already difficult, and if someone catches me with another weakness, life will become even harder for me.”
“Oh? With your prominent status, how could your situation still be difficult?”
Although Jiang Yiyun was the empress, she was extremely unfavored, something everyone in the imperial harem knew. Since Jiu E spoke this way, it was clear that he did not understand her as well as she had imagined.
“What use is status? People with status can be found everywhere in the imperial palace. How many are truly safe? Other than the emperor, who can rest easy? No one else can remain entirely free from danger.”
“Is that so? It seems I failed to consider things properly. I did not realize that you…” He fell silent before finishing, and no one knew what he was thinking.
“Master, I must trouble you once more to take me away from here.” She interrupted his thoughts.
“All right.” Jiu E said no more, and there was no emotion in his voice.
After a while, she Opened her eyes and saw the familiar imperial palace—the place where the two of them often met.
Jiang Yiyun had kept her promise throughout the journey and had never Opened her eyes to investigate the route they took.
She did not know that his thoughts had wandered. She merely said softly, “master, do not forget to be on time next time. Do not hide away again.”
After saying this, she flew away, leaving only the silent man standing there for a long time.