Zhao Lan grew wary. Just as he was about to peek out the window, a gust of wind swept past, and a sword was already at his throat.
Who’s there?!
"You little rascal, you've made this old woman search high and low! Good thing I had the foresight to keep a tab on you..."
A hoarse, aged voice spoke. Zhao Lan focused his gaze and saw the masked figure pull away the black cloth from their face, revealing the visage of an old woman.
"You're... that... old woman from the valley?!"
"Don't act so chummy!"
The old woman's sword pressed an inch closer, her voice turning icy.
"The sooner I capture you and hand you over to that Heir of the Northern Marquis, the sooner he'll honor his promise and release Her Highness!"
"Granny, what are you talking about? I have no quarrel with you, and I swear I've never revealed a single thing about you."
Zhao Lan swallowed hard, hastily trying to placate her and beg for mercy.
"It's all because of you, you jinx!"
The old woman snapped.
"You led the Heir of the Northern Marquis to us, and he forcibly abducted Her Highness! Tell me, don't you deserve to die?"
"What? Fairy Sister... she was captured by Pei Su!"
Zhao Lan froze, a furious rage surging in his heart.
"That Pei Family Heir! I'll tear him limb from limb!"
"Heh heh heh!"
The old woman suddenly let out a cold laugh, as if she had just heard the world's funniest joke.
"You? Talent, strength, background—in what way wouldn't Pei Su crush you into dust? Such shameless boasting. You've been reading too many of those 'trash-to-treasure' stories, haven't you?"
With that, the old woman turned her sword, forcing Zhao Lan to his feet.
"Enough nonsense. Come with me to see the Heir of the Northern Marquis. How he chooses to deal with you is his business. I only hope he keeps his promise..."
At her last words, the old woman's icy voice softened slightly, and Zhao Lan thought he saw a glimmer of hope.
"Granny! Granny! Don't believe Pei Su's lies! He's a demon wearing the skin of a refined gentleman! He must have set his sights on Fairy Sister's beauty. Even if you hand me over, he'll never let her go..."
Seeing the old woman didn't immediately refute him, a rarity, Zhao Lan was overjoyed and continued:
"Granny, you have to help me! The entire Pei family is a nest of treacherous vipers! I now carry the world's greatest secret. I can't die here, or all the people under heaven will suffer!"
"A secret?"
The old woman frowned, pressing the sword against him again, causing cold sweat to bead on Zhao Lan's brow.
"What secret? Spit it out!"
"It's... it's..."
Zhao Lan gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "Granny, you might not believe this, but it's the truth! The Pei family conspired with the Empress to murder the current Emperor! The whole story about him being in seclusion on Kongtong Mountain is just a lie to deceive the world!" This chapter is updated first at novelping(.)com.
After Zhao Lan finished, he saw the old woman stare blankly for a moment.
He wasn't surprised. This secret was enough to shock the soul out of anyone, enough to ignite a towering rage in every righteous hero in the land.
In the next moment, however, Zhao Lan began to doubt his own ears.
A flicker of glee passed through the old woman's eyes, and her lips trembled.
"That dog of an Emperor is dead? Good riddance!"
Zhao Lan's eyes widened to their limit, his mouth agape, unable to form a word.
What?!
What was this old hag saying?!
Dog of an Emperor?
All under heaven is the Emperor's land. The Great Jin has stood for three hundred years, its rule deeply entrenched in the hearts of the people. Even the most treacherous plotter would never dare call the reigning Emperor a dog.
What kind of deep-seated hatred must this be?
Could it be that the people in the valley were actually a den of rebels?!
The old woman's gaze returned to Zhao Lan, and she let out another cold laugh.
"Surprised? This is just standard procedure for the Pei family. Over the countless years, if not ten, then at least eight emperors have fallen at their hands, both openly and in secret. And yet, they continue to be enfeoffed as marquises and appointed as chancellors, their power shaking the court. Has any Emperor ever dared to touch the Pei family?"
Zhao Lan's legs suddenly went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. Her words almost shattered his courage.
How could this be possible?
How could such an ancient and tyrannical family exist in this world! To murder Emperors... and not just one or two...
"You know of the previous dynasty, the Great Xia, don't you?"
Zhao Lan nodded unconsciously.
"Do you think the Xia Dynasty would have fallen so quickly without the Pei family pulling strings in the shadows? That the Li Clan of Luozhou could have conquered the Imperial Capital so swiftly, forcing the last Emperor, Jiang Gen, to take his own life in Jinluan Hall?"
The old woman let the blood drip from the tip of her sword as she spoke slowly.
"I don't know what kind of mission you think you're carrying, or what fantasy you have of being the chosen one, but I find it pathetic, laughable, and pitiful. You have no idea what you're up against."
Zhao Lan's expression was now completely vacant, and he didn't react to the old woman's words at all.
Not until the old woman suddenly turned her head, stared into the distant darkness, and muttered grimly—
"Pei Su..."
"Pei Su is here?!"
Zhao Lan cried out, his eyes fixed on the distance.
Faint footsteps emerged from the darkness, followed by several figures. A young gentleman, a black-robed elder, and two young women.
The old woman looked at Jiang Suining and asked urgently.
"Spirit Granny, I'm fine..."
As she spoke, Jiang Suining stole a glance at Pei Su, only to see his expression was as calm as ever, his eyes surveying the ruined temple.
"Heh! Your Excellency is certainly impatient, even faster than us..."
"It seems my efforts were redundant," the old woman said, withdrawing her sword and casting a cold glance at Zhao Lan. "In that case, I'll leave this man to you, Heir."
The old woman shoved Zhao Lan, who stumbled out of the ruined temple. He glared at Pei Su, his face burning with rage.
Pei Su's gaze, however, was fixed on the ancient blade on Zhao Lan's back.
"Xiao Commander stole the Divine Blade and spent twenty years hiding, only to leave it to a junior in the end..."
Pei Su sighed.
"What do you think he was hoping to achieve?"
"Pei Su! Stop putting on an act! Yes, I, Zhao Lan, have lost today! The old man behind you is an expert from the Heavenly Palace; there's no way I can escape..."
Zhao Lan's fists were clenched, his eyes filled with a mix of unwillingness and regret.
"But I want to know, do you dare to fight me? One-on-one! A duel to the death!"
At these words, Banxia, standing behind Pei Su, couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter. When Zhao Lan's reddened eyes shot toward her, Banxia waved her hand—
"Don't look at me. You should see if the Heir is interested."
Pei Su glanced at Zhao Lan and noticed his strength had indeed increased significantly, as if he had broken through some kind of shackle.
"Yuwen Jue, ranked fourth on the Imperial Capital's Hidden Dragon List, has challenged me eleven times in the last six months, and I haven't accepted once. Brother Zhao, you... very well. Since you wield the Dragon Sparrow, I suppose you're barely qualified."
Pei Su smiled faintly, as if accepting Zhao Lan's challenge was some supreme honor for Zhao Lan himself.
Zhao Lan was about to explode with rage, but he forced himself to calm down and said in a low voice:
"If I lose, I will pay with my life! But if I win..."
Banxia snorted again, then quickly covered her mouth.
Pei Su was the perfect gentleman. "Continue."
Zhao Lan took a deep breath, looked up at the night sky, a glint of tears in his eyes, then stared directly at Pei Su—
"If I win, I won't ask you, the Heir of the Northern Marquis, to pay with your life."
"Let you go?" Old Wu sneered, his voice hoarse.
But unexpectedly, Zhao Lan shook his head again.
"I know the world's greatest secret. How could you possibly let me go? To even suggest it would be the height of foolishness and naivety, wouldn't it?"
"Oh? Then what do you want?"
"If I win, you will honor your promise. Let that young woman go and never bother her again. As for me... I will take my own life right here."
Zhao Lan slowly raised his finger, pointing directly at Jiang Suining.