Hua Xuening finally found Lu Chengwen's hiding place.
She never expected that Lu Chengwen would be so bold as to stay in the same hotel all along.
Hua Xuening hooked her rope onto the rooftop and rappelled down.
She was a top-tier assassination expert!
This method was second nature to her, tried and tested.
With the sudden appearance of Huo Wendong, a wealthy southerner who had entered the scene, Lu Chengwen's significance and value had diminished drastically.
In fact, if Lu Chengwen were to die, the Lu family would collapse rapidly.
Her side could quickly devour the Leng family, stabilize the situation, and then immediately move against the Lu family.
Thus, Long Aotian had issued the order to assassinate Lu Chengwen.
Hua Xuening didn't actually agree with this course of action.
She had personally witnessed the Young Master and Lu Chengwen kowtowing to their master and swearing brotherhood.
No matter what, Lu Chengwen was still the Young Master's sworn brother. Did they really have to kill their own sworn brother?
But the Young Master said this was for the sake of the people of Xuecheng, for the entire Northern Kingdom, and even for all of China. Therefore, he had to endure the pain of sacrificing his brother. After his own death, he would apologize to his brother in the underworld.
The Young Master's boundless compassion moved Hua Xuening!
She knew that she understood nothing.
She realized that she comprehended nothing.
She was aware that she grasped nothing.
But none of this was a problem. The things she didn't know, didn't understand, and couldn't grasp—the Young Master understood them all.
Following the Young Master's orders was always the right choice!
The Young Master was truly a great hero who bore all the suffering himself for the sake of others!
Thus, she had steeled her resolve to kill Lu Chengwen!
She knew the room, she knew the location. As long as she infiltrated through the window, even eight Lu Chengwens wouldn't be a match for her!
She could kill him silently without a sound!
Hua Xuening secured the rope, rappelled down, and reached the window just as she saw Lu Chengwen chatting with Zhang Shen'er.
Zhang Shen'er? That police officer?
She was a good person—she couldn't kill her.
Hmph! Even with Officer Zhang present, I can still kill you.
Hua Xuening continued descending slightly, about to slip in through the window, when Lu Chengwen walked over and slammed the window shut.
Outside, Hua Xuening felt a searing pain in her fingers!
She let out a muffled cry as her grip loosened, and she plummeted down the glass exterior of the hotel.
Lu Chengwen walked to the wine cabinet. "Care for a drink, Officer Zhang?"
Zhang Shen'er frowned. "I don't drink. Let's get back to the case. I feel like you're still hiding something from me…"
They didn't notice—but Hua Xuening's skills were exceptional.
At the end of the rope, dangling mid-air, Hua Xuening looked at her bloodied fingers, her heart burning with hatred.
That bastard who stole my first kiss! He actually set a trap for me!
It hurts so much! My hand!
Hua Xuening took a deep breath, wrapped her fingers with gauze, and mustered her strength to climb back up.
Finally, she reached Lu Chengwen's floor again.
This time, I'll take your life!
Zhang Shen'er said irritably, "Why did you close the window?"
"For ambiance!"
"Open it!"
"Fine, I'll open it."
Hua Xuening was waiting nearby. As Lu Chengwen pushed the window open, a gust of wind caused it to swing outward violently—smacking directly into Hua Xuening's face.
Suppressing the instinct to scream, Hua Xuening fell once more.
Lu Chengwen returned to the living room and poured himself a drink. "Happy now?"
Zhang Shen'er asked, "Have you already sent people to rescue them? Or to kill them?"
"Haha!" Lu Chengwen chuckled. "Well, we'll find out soon enough. Sure you don't want a drink?"
Hua Xuening was furious!
Lu Chengwen was too cunning!
Her nose was bleeding. Wiping away the blood, she saw her bridge was red and swollen.
Clenching her teeth, she climbed back up.
I refuse to believe I can't kill Lu Chengwen!
She continued ascending.
I'll try a different window! That one's cursed!
Switching to another window, she was just about to slip inside when—
Lu Chengwen popped open a bottle of champagne by the window!
*Pop!*
The cork shot straight toward Hua Xuening's face.
Thinking it was a hidden weapon, Hua Xuening dodged swiftly. But her injured left hand lost its grip, sending her swinging outward—*thud!*
The building's exterior had a protruding decorative feature—some kind of mythical beast meant to ward off evil. Hua Xuening's swinging body collided directly with the beast's horn.
*Crack!*
"Ugh!"
Hua Xuening gritted her teeth against the agony, hearing the sound of her ribs breaking.
Dangling outside the building, the excruciating pain sent beads of sweat rolling down her forehead.
Her hands clung desperately to the rope, her heart burning with hatred.
Lu Chengwen! How treacherous!
Every movement sent stabbing pain through her ribs, piercing her internal organs. Summoning inhuman willpower, Hua Xuening climbed back up.
This time, no matter what, I'll charge in and chop him to pieces!
I'll kill him!
Hua Xuening mustered every last ounce of strength, drew her blade, and leaped into the room with a shout: "Lu Chengwen! You little—*Aah!*"
Lu Chengwen had casually placed an empty wine bottle on the carpet earlier, which had been knocked over by the fluttering curtains—unnoticed.
Hua Xuening, blinded by pain and rage, didn't watch her step. The moment she landed, her foot rolled over the bottle, sending her crashing to the ground. Her own blade slashed across her chest.
Her most severe injury was her ribs.
With broken ribs, her entire body was immobilized by pain. The fact that she had climbed back up at all was a testament to her sheer determination.
Now, this fall drove the fractured ribs deeper into her organs. A mouthful of blood sprayed out as she collapsed.
The overwhelming pain plunged her into darkness—she passed out.
Lu Chengwen was at the door, seeing Zhang Shen'er off. "Take care, Officer Zhang! See you soon!"
Turning back into the living room, he froze. "What the—? Is that a person?!"
Cautiously nudging her with his foot, he rolled her onto her back and widened his eyes. "Hua Xuening?!"
Lu Chengwen's scalp prickled with dread.
His location had been compromised!
But why was Hua Xuening lying severely injured in his living room?!
A few minutes later, Hua Xuening slowly opened her eyes. The moment she regained consciousness, excruciating pain flooded her senses.
Her body remained still, only her eyes darting around—still the same suite.
Damn it!
She'd been captured alive by Lu Chengwen!
The humiliation! The unbearable humiliation!
After years of fighting alongside the Young Master, she had been outmaneuvered by a mere novice martial artist like Lu Chengwen—and even taken prisoner!
How could she ever face the Young Master again?!
Wait… Her pressure points weren't sealed. Her limbs weren't bound.
What was going on?
Lifting her hand, she saw her wounds had been carefully bandaged—both her fingers and the gash on her abdomen.
Just then, she heard Lu Chengwen in the next room, talking on the phone: "Are you all idiots? Where am I supposed to go? Cut the crap! Huo Wendong isn't shit! If he wants to go all-in, I'll match him! Fight to the end! I won't let Leng Qingqiu wake up one day to find the Leng family swallowed whole! That's final!"
It was him! What was he doing?
Hua Xuening tried to sit up to complete her mission, but the moment she moved, agony lanced through her.
The phone rang again. Lu Chengwen answered irritably, "What now?! I know! Of course I know! So what if she's Long Aotian's subordinate? She collapsed in my living room—was I supposed to let her die?"
"No, she's a good person! Let me put it this way—she's probably the most pure-hearted, kind, and simple-minded girl I've ever met. Yes, exactly—she's an idiot. Was I not clear?"
"She's seriously injured right now. I don't know how she got hurt, but I guarantee there are people nearby. Don't let her condition fool you—she's a top-tier expert. Whoever hurt her like this is definitely no ordinary foe!"
"Sis, now's not the time to worry about whether she's Long Aotian's lackey! She's nothing like him! If Long Aotian dropped dead in front of me, I wouldn't bat an eye. But she's innocent! She's suffered enough—trust me on this."
"Let me make this clear—if she really came here to kill me, I'd already be dead. If she'd just jumped through the window and slashed at me, I'd be in the underworld by now."
"How could this be about lust? Yes, I'm a pervert! But this is life and death! Besides, she's utterly devoted to Long Aotian. Sooner or later, she'll end up as his bedwarmer. Even if you held a knife to her throat, she wouldn't spare me a second glance!"
"Oh, oh, okay, got it. Let me see if I can figure it out. Yeah, yeah, I understand."
Lu Chengwen hung up.
Hua Xuening quickly shut her eyes, pretending to still be unconscious—but her hand subtly gripped her dagger.
Lu Chengwen, this time when I strike, let's see how lucky you are!
Lu Chengwen walked over and sighed at the unconscious Hua Xuening.
"Kid, why did you have to follow someone like Long Aotian? Tsk."
He muttered, "I sent your photo to Xu Xuejiao. She confirmed your ribs are definitely broken, and from fighting afterward, they must've pierced your organs. If we don't reposition them soon, the consequences could be dire."
"Sorry, but to save your life, I have no choice but to…"
Without further ado, Lu Chengwen pulled out a medical kit, lifted the blanket, and began carefully cutting away Hua Xuening's clothes with small scissors.
As he worked, his mind raced:
*Poor kid. She's been played so badly. She should've been sharp and clever, but a strand of her consciousness was sealed, leaving her so naïve.*
*Long Aotian—pah! What a damn so-called 'protagonist'! And he calls himself the 'Child of Destiny'! Using such underhanded tricks to manipulate a girl!*
*All the dirty deeds are yours—brainwashing this kid, making her risk her life for you! Sealing her mind, leaving her dumb and obedient! And in the end, you'll trick her into giving you her body, claiming it's to 'unseal' her.*
*You even say you've shown her great kindness and demand she repay you with her life! Is there anyone more despicable than you?!*
*What a waste. A perfectly good girl, toyed with like a puppet, only to end up as your plaything—grateful for the abuse… Ugh.*
Suddenly, Hua Xuening's arm shot up—a dagger pressed against Lu Chengwen's throat.
Sweat dripped from her forehead, her eyes blazing with fury.
Lu Chengwen froze, realizing his life might end here.
*I'm done for. This is it.*
*A moment of softheartedness has cost me everything. Am I about to die?*
*Damn it, why did I have to play the hero? Everyone said she's Long Aotian's subordinate, that her mind's not right—she doesn't even realize I'm trying to save her!*
*This girl's single-minded. She'd slit my throat without blinking. She doesn't even understand what she's doing!*
*To die like this, at her hands—how tragic!*
Tears welled in Hua Xuening's eyes. "How did you know my consciousness was sealed?"
"I—"
The dagger pressed closer. "Talk! Or I'll kill you!"