"Brother Lu, judging from your expression, have you found anything unusual?" Li Shunxi asked again, unable to hide his concern.
The group had searched the area thoroughly, but no one was found. Eventually, they regrouped beneath the dead tree in the center of the courtyard.
Lu Sheng didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he scanned the dark courtyard. Aside from their small circle of people, the surrounding rooms were pitch black, silent, and empty.
"Is everyone here? Where’s that girl, Gong Rumeng?" he asked suddenly.
Everyone paused. Only then did they realize Gong Rumeng was missing. Gong Ruqing’s expression froze.
"Wasn't my sister just behind me?" she said, stunned. "I could feel her following me... I even talked to her just now."
Lu Sheng turned his gaze toward her. "Are you sure?"
All eyes fell on Gong Ruqing.
Behind her stood a woman in a white dress. Her face was obscured by Gong Ruqing’s long hair, so no one had paid attention. They had assumed she was Gong Rumeng.
The woman remained still, silent, her arms limp at her sides.
"But... behind me, that’s clearly..." Gong Ruqing’s voice trembled. She noticed the others staring past her, and a creeping terror set in.
If that wasn’t her sister behind her—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VuZbkXxTT
Then who had been following her all this time?
A cold shiver raced down her spine. Her hair bristled, and goosebumps prickled her skin.
Trembling, she began to turn around.
"Don't turn your head!!" Li Shunxi shouted. He lunged forward, grabbing Gong Ruqing’s shoulders and yanking her toward him.
Thud!
They crashed into each other with force.
At the same time, a glimmer of silver flashed from Li Shunxi’s hand—a small dart. It whistled through the air and struck the woman in the white dress.
At that moment, everyone’s vision blurred—the woman in the white dress vanished without a trace.
The silver light fell to the ground, spun several times, and came to a stop—revealing itself to be a palm-sized silver spinning top.
Li Shunxi was pinned beneath Gong Ruqing. Their posture was more than a little awkward—Gong Ruqing, still terrified, clung to him tightly like an octopus, refusing to let go.
"Miss Qingqing, it’s alright now… It’s alright. Can you let go of me first?" Li Shunxi said, half-laughing, half-helpless.
The others finally snapped out of their daze. Two guards quickly stepped forward to separate them and helped the pair to their feet.
Lu Sheng frowned slightly. Beside him, Duan Meng’an looked utterly shaken. Cold sweat drenched his back, and he was still trembling.
"Boss… Boss… Let’s get out of this manor first…" he stammered.
Lu Sheng shot him a glare but didn’t respond. No one had seen the face of the mysterious woman, nor had they witnessed how she disappeared. But it seemed whatever Li Shunxi had used had worked.
"That was a Nian Po," Li Shunxi said, standing up and dusting himself off. "Don’t wander off… Nian Po are incredibly dangerous, and not something easily explained. From now on, stay within ten meters of me."
He turned and pointed at the withered tree in the courtyard. "If I’m right, the key to this manor lies in these dead trees."
Lu Sheng’s gaze followed his gesture. "What are you thinking, Brother Li?"
"If we want to find the people who disappeared before," Li Shunxi said calmly, "we might need to destroy every dead tree in this manor."
"The trees?" Lu Sheng's expression remained unchanged.
"I suspect these trees are tied to the formation that governs this manor," Li Shunxi explained. "We’ll need to destroy them. But also, in the middle bedroom earlier, there was a golden object—I believe that is the true core of the formation."
Before he could continue, Lu Sheng interjected. "We could also try heading toward the manor’s exit."
Li Shunxi paused and turned to him with a serious expression. "It seems Brother Lu and I have differing opinions. But at this point, leaving the manor won’t help us."
"Let’s try it anyway," Lu Sheng said flatly.
Li Shunxi stared at him for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. Since Brother Lu suggests it, let’s at least send those who can’t fight ahead and ensure their safety."
"But my sister!" Gong Ruqing cried out, her face going pale.
"We’ll come back for her," Li Shunxi said gently, smiling as he comforted her. He took the opportunity to pull her lightly into his arms.
Gong Ruqing’s face flushed red. Though she was startled, she didn’t resist—Li Shunxi was the only one she could rely on right now. Besides, with his background and wealth, far beyond her own, it was only natural for her heart to stir.
Held gently in his embrace, she gave only a slight struggle before going still.
"Don’t worry. With Brother Lu and me here, your sister will be fine," Li Shunxi assured her with a confident smile.
"Yes…" Gong Ruqing murmured, furrowing her brow slightly as she gave a small nod.
The surrounding guards finally breathed a sigh of relief. This manor was too strange—had they not been afraid to go alone, they might’ve abandoned the young lady and escaped on their own. Now that leaving was an option, they couldn’t have been more eager.
Duan Meng’an was also visibly relieved, exhaling deeply.
With everyone in agreement, the group began making their way toward the manor’s exit.
But halfway there, something felt… wrong.
The manor gate wasn’t far—clearly visible in the distance—yet after walking hundreds of steps, they were still more than ten meters away.
Li Shunxi narrowed his eyes and glanced at Lu Sheng. His expression said it all: See? I told you so.
"Young Master..." Duan Meng’an clung to Lu Sheng’s side, his whole body trembling. "Are we... are we being haunted?"
Lu Sheng's face darkened. He remained silent.
"As expected, something’s wrong," Li Shunxi said coldly from the side. "There’s likely something hidden in the cellar. I plan to check it out. Brother Lu, are you coming with me? That place might be the true core of this manor."
Lu Sheng shook his head. "I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay here."
Li Shunxi was momentarily stunned. "Brother Lu, are you serious?"
"Absolutely," Lu Sheng replied flatly.
Li Shunxi studied him for a moment, then gave a faint smile. "Very well. Everyone, decide who you want to follow. I’ll head to the cellar. Brother Lu will remain here."
Gong Ruqing and the two guards exchanged glances.
Li Shunxi stood tall, his appearance refined and dignified, exuding a natural grace. Lu Sheng, on the other hand, stood silent and brooding, his aura cold and withdrawn.
"I’ll go with Master Li," Gong Ruqing said decisively.
"We’ll follow Master Li too!" the two guards echoed quickly.
After all, Li Shunxi had proven his capability earlier, displaying real methods and confidence. Lu Sheng, by contrast, had remained silent most of the time, his intentions unclear.
Even Duan Meng’an hesitated, wavering slightly. He glanced at Lu Sheng ahead, but fear held him in place—he didn’t dare to move.
Now, four people stood with Li Shunxi, while only two remained by Lu Sheng’s side.
Though both groups looked like noble sons, the numbers spoke for themselves.
"In that case, I wish Brother Lu a peaceful time staying behind," Li Shunxi said, his tone layered with subtle mockery. Then he turned and led the others toward the backyard.
Gong Ruqing and the rest cast faintly scornful glances back. To them, this Mr. Lu was clearly just a coward, unwilling to take risks. Compared to Li Shunxi’s initiative and bravery, he fell far short.
Lu Sheng simply watched them leave—saying nothing, his eyes calm and unreadable.
…………
Li Shunxi walked along the side of the house, his refined phoenix eyes deep in thought. He couldn’t understand why Lu Sheng had suddenly chosen to remain at the gate.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Yyul16fsx
It made no sense—staying there served no purpose and only wasted time.
"I really don’t understand what Brother Lu is thinking. He actually—"
Before he could finish, a chill suddenly crept up his spine. He stopped in his tracks and turned around abruptly.
Behind him was pitch-black and deathly silent. The figures of Gong Ruqing and the others—who had been walking right beside him—had completely vanished.
"Miss Qingqing?" Li Shunxi's expression tensed as he called out loudly.
His voice echoed through the manor’s still night air, but there was no response.
"An illusion trick?" he muttered.
Without hesitation, he produced a yellow talisman and flicked it forward. With precise timing, he snapped his index finger through the paper.
In an instant, his vision brightened. The silhouettes of Gong Ruqing and the others reappeared around him—but something was wrong.
They stood rigidly in place, unmoving. Only their eyes rolled around aimlessly, pupils wide and unfocused. It was clear—they were still trapped within the illusion.
One by one, Li Shunxi pulled out more talismans and waved them in front of each person to break the spell.
"Miss Qingqing, are you alright?" he asked urgently, steadying her as she staggered slightly.
"No... I’m fine..." Gong Ruqing whispered, her face pale as a sheet. She looked terrified.
But as Li Shunxi helped her up, a strange doubt stirred in his heart. If someone had used a trick like this right under his nose, he should have noticed it. Yet even he had been caught completely unaware.
"Sir, if it weren’t for you just now..." Gong Ruqing's voice trembled. She clung tightly to him, tears brimming in her eyes, her soft figure pressing fully against his chest.
The delicate sensation made Li Shunxi's mind go blank for a moment. His hand began to move instinctively, reaching toward her waist—
Chi!
Suddenly, his expression changed. He shoved Gong Ruqing away with all his strength.
A flash of silver glinted between them—a dagger had narrowly missed his heart, slashing across his chest instead. Blood welled up from the wound, but it wasn’t fatal.
"Miss Qingqing, you—!" he cried in shock.
But she didn’t respond. Instead, Gong Ruqing turned and plunged the dagger into the gut of a nearby guard. The man gasped, collapsing in agony.
"What’s happening to me?! Mr. Li, help me!" she screamed in panic.
It was as if she were no longer in control of her body. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she brandished the dagger wildly, pushing away the injured guard and charging straight at Li Shunxi again.
He ducked and dodged, trying to avoid her strikes. But Gong Ruqing moved with terrifying speed—faster and stronger than before. Within a few exchanges, he was struggling to keep up.
With a grim expression, he reached into his waist pouch and pulled out a dark golden awl, etched with intricate runes and patterns.
He hesitated.
Gong Ruqing’s eyes shimmered with sorrow, her expression still full of helplessness. He clenched his jaw. This wasn’t her fault—she was possessed. To strike her down now would be no different from killing an innocent woman with his own hands.
That brief moment of hesitation cost him dearly.
Another stab landed.
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