925

Chapter 925: The Gentle Trap

Editor: Henyee Translations

“What on earth is the owner of this theater thinking?” Lou Ze mused as he descended deeper into the building. He could hear voices discussing quietly, though they were quite distant; the volume was low but didn’t impede his eavesdropping.

“Grandfather, our theater has been overtaken by thieves. This theater is a legacy passed down to us, and I fear it might be ruined in our hands.”

“Right now, preserving our lives is what matters. A building can be rebuilt.”

“But why did these thieves target our theater? Everything here is invaluable. I’m worried they might damage something.”

“Grandfather, must we just sit and wait for death?”

“The thieves are not ordinary; we are no match for them. Any rash actions would simply lead us to our deaths without serving any purpose.”

…

Lou Ze stopped in his tracks.

Hearing their conversation, it was clear that they were the true owners of the theater, now hiding here because the place had been occupied by people from the Yun Organization.

Lou Ze turned back; he had gathered enough information and didn’t need to investigate further.

Suddenly, two figures in black blocked his path in the corridor. “Lou Ze, the master requests your presence.”

Lou Ze smiled faintly, “Let’s go then; I was just about to look for your master.”

Following the two men in black, Lou Ze entered a room decorated with red silk and shining candles, resembling a bridal chamber.

As he walked through, Lou Ze casually pulled at a piece of the red silk, and with a “rip,” all the silks swept towards him.

The opponent’s strategy was quite ingenious—using the softness of the silk to trap him, a form of attack without needing to lift a finger.

If he hadn’t changed his “shell,” he might have been captured…

Lou Ze stepped back, pressed against the wall, then ducked to the floor, avoiding the trap. He flicked a flame towards the red silk.

“Whoosh—!” The fire spread rapidly across all the red silk.

A scream erupted as a figure, entangled in silk, struggled frantically to escape but couldn’t, eventually being consumed by the flames.

The sound of many footsteps approached from outside…

Lou Ze slipped into a corner’s shadow, using the darkness to hide. Just as he concealed himself, the door was pushed open.

Several men in black entered, and the smell of charred flesh hit them, causing them to retch instinctively and hurry back out.

At that moment, Lou Ze silently appeared behind them and with a single palm strike, sent all of them to their deaths.

He dragged their bodies into the room, then made his escape.

Meanwhile, Tang Jinghong was led by a maid into a room, “General, the lady has been waiting for a long time, she’s in the inner room, please go in.”

Tang Jinghong stood still until the maid left and closed the door behind her; only then did he walk forward.

Just a few steps in, “Chu Qingzhi” emerged from behind a screen, looking at him with a face full of longing, “General…”

Tang Jinghong raised an eyebrow, noting how similar the two looked.

He played along, knowing they intended to kill him. His goal was to gather more information. “Qingzhi, I’ve been searching for you for so long. How come you never sent word that you were hiding in this theater?”

“I was afraid of implicating you. There are so many in the eastern border who wish to see us dead, one must be careful,” “Chu Qingzhi” said, stepping closer to Tang Jinghong.

“That makes sense,” Tang Jinghong replied, continuing the conversation.

“Jinghong, did you bring people with you? Can you take me away?” “Chu Qingzhi” asked tenderly.

Tang Jinghong furrowed his brows slightly, “Take you away?”

“Chu Qingzhi” looked pleadingly at him, “They claim to be rescuing me, but in reality, they’re holding me captive. I don’t want to be controlled by them. Jinghong, please take me with you.”

As she spoke, she raised her palm discreetly, then quickly lowered it, the words “SAVE ME” written in her palm.

Tang Jinghong was momentarily at a loss.

Was this person sent to kill him? What kind of trap was this?

Tang Jinghong told “Chu Qingzhi,” “You might be mistaken, but I will now take you out of here. If anyone dares to stop us, they will pay with their life.”

“Chu Qingzhi” expressed profound gratitude, “Jinghong, then let’s go.”

She ran to open the door, only to find the person she feared the most standing there. She stepped back, her eyes filled with panic.

Hong Feiyun drew her sword and placed it against “Chu Qingzhi’s” neck, her eyes filled with murderous intent. She had intended for “Chu Qingzhi” to assassinate Tang Jinghong, but now the impersonator had used the opportunity to seek help instead. “General Tang, now that your fiancée is in my hands, what do you plan to do?”

Tang Jinghong remained composed as he regarded the scene before him, his deep gaze inscrutable. He countered, “What do you intend to do?”

Hong Feiyun pressed the blade slightly harder, causing a trickle of blood to appear on the impostor’s delicate neck. “I want her life. Is that acceptable?”

Tang Jinghong, realizing that the leader of the Yun Organization’s assassins was a woman, coolly responded, “That’s fine, as long as you can take it.”

Hong Feiyun was visibly agitated, “Do you doubt I dare kill her?”

Tang Jinghong dismissed her with indifference, “If you wish to kill her, go ahead. Don’t mind me.”

Hong Feiyun then realized that “Chu Qingzhi” had already asked Tang Jinghong for help, and she felt like a fool for her oversight. “In that case…”

Just as she was about to enact her threat, a loud shout, “Attack!” echoed through the area, halting Hong Feiyun’s actions as she quickly looked downstairs.

Her brow furrowed instantly, puzzled by the sudden arrival of numerous soldiers—hadn’t Tang Jinghong come alone?

Of course, it must have been Lou Ze, the traitor!

Hong Feiyun barked out an order, “No matter the cost, capture Tang Jinghong!”

She turned back to look into the room, but both Tang Jinghong and “Chu Qingzhi” had vanished. Her face turned ashen, “Pursue them!”

Assassins spread out in all directions to encircle and trap Tang Jinghong.

However, Tang Jinghong and “Chu Qingzhi” hadn’t actually left the room—they had merely hidden behind the door, successfully deceiving the flustered Hong Feiyun.

Once the commotion outside died down, Tang Jinghong stepped out from behind the door, ready to find Lou Ze.

As he emerged, Lou Ze approached him, “Let’s go. Leave this place to them.”

With so many soldiers around, none of the people here could escape.

“Wait for me!” “Chu Qingzhi” followed closely, clinging to Tang Jinghong, fearing he might leave her behind.

Lou Ze glanced at “Chu Qingzhi,” feeling as though he was looking in a mirror—this girl genuinely looked just like him, not merely a painted imitation.

Seeing Lou Ze’s scrutinizing gaze, “Chu Qingzhi” quickly hid behind Tang Jinghong, intimidated by his penetrating stare, unable to meet his eyes directly.

Lou Ze was puzzled by the uncanny resemblance between the two.

“Stop right there!” A sword suddenly thrust towards them from the side.

Chapter 925: The Gentle Trap

Editor: Henyee Translations

“What on earth is the owner of this theater thinking?” Lou Ze mused as he descended deeper into the building. He could hear voices discussing quietly, though they were quite distant; the volume was low but didn’t impede his eavesdropping.

“Grandfather, our theater has been overtaken by thieves. This theater is a legacy passed down to us, and I fear it might be ruined in our hands.”

“Right now, preserving our lives is what matters. A building can be rebuilt.”

“But why did these thieves target our theater? Everything here is invaluable. I’m worried they might damage something.”

“Grandfather, must we just sit and wait for death?”

“The thieves are not ordinary; we are no match for them. Any rash actions would simply lead us to our deaths without serving any purpose.”

…

Lou Ze stopped in his tracks.

Hearing their conversation, it was clear that they were the true owners of the theater, now hiding here because the place had been occupied by people from the Yun Organization.

Lou Ze turned back; he had gathered enough information and didn’t need to investigate further.

Suddenly, two figures in black blocked his path in the corridor. “Lou Ze, the master requests your presence.”

Lou Ze smiled faintly, “Let’s go then; I was just about to look for your master.”

Following the two men in black, Lou Ze entered a room decorated with red silk and shining candles, resembling a bridal chamber.

As he walked through, Lou Ze casually pulled at a piece of the red silk, and with a “rip,” all the silks swept towards him.

The opponent’s strategy was quite ingenious—using the softness of the silk to trap him, a form of attack without needing to lift a finger.

If he hadn’t changed his “shell,” he might have been captured…

Lou Ze stepped back, pressed against the wall, then ducked to the floor, avoiding the trap. He flicked a flame towards the red silk.

“Whoosh—!” The fire spread rapidly across all the red silk.

A scream erupted as a figure, entangled in silk, struggled frantically to escape but couldn’t, eventually being consumed by the flames.

The sound of many footsteps approached from outside…

Lou Ze slipped into a corner’s shadow, using the darkness to hide. Just as he concealed himself, the door was pushed open.

Several men in black entered, and the smell of charred flesh hit them, causing them to retch instinctively and hurry back out.

At that moment, Lou Ze silently appeared behind them and with a single palm strike, sent all of them to their deaths.

He dragged their bodies into the room, then made his escape.

Meanwhile, Tang Jinghong was led by a maid into a room, “General, the lady has been waiting for a long time, she’s in the inner room, please go in.”

Tang Jinghong stood still until the maid left and closed the door behind her; only then did he walk forward.

Just a few steps in, “Chu Qingzhi” emerged from behind a screen, looking at him with a face full of longing, “General…”

Tang Jinghong raised an eyebrow, noting how similar the two looked.

He played along, knowing they intended to kill him. His goal was to gather more information. “Qingzhi, I’ve been searching for you for so long. How come you never sent word that you were hiding in this theater?”

“I was afraid of implicating you. There are so many in the eastern border who wish to see us dead, one must be careful,” “Chu Qingzhi” said, stepping closer to Tang Jinghong.

“That makes sense,” Tang Jinghong replied, continuing the conversation.

“Jinghong, did you bring people with you? Can you take me away?” “Chu Qingzhi” asked tenderly.

Tang Jinghong furrowed his brows slightly, “Take you away?”

“Chu Qingzhi” looked pleadingly at him, “They claim to be rescuing me, but in reality, they’re holding me captive. I don’t want to be controlled by them. Jinghong, please take me with you.”

As she spoke, she raised her palm discreetly, then quickly lowered it, the words “SAVE ME” written in her palm.

Tang Jinghong was momentarily at a loss.

Was this person sent to kill him? What kind of trap was this?

Tang Jinghong told “Chu Qingzhi,” “You might be mistaken, but I will now take you out of here. If anyone dares to stop us, they will pay with their life.”

“Chu Qingzhi” expressed profound gratitude, “Jinghong, then let’s go.”

She ran to open the door, only to find the person she feared the most standing there. She stepped back, her eyes filled with panic.

Hong Feiyun drew her sword and placed it against “Chu Qingzhi’s” neck, her eyes filled with murderous intent. She had intended for “Chu Qingzhi” to assassinate Tang Jinghong, but now the impersonator had used the opportunity to seek help instead. “General Tang, now that your fiancée is in my hands, what do you plan to do?”

Tang Jinghong remained composed as he regarded the scene before him, his deep gaze inscrutable. He countered, “What do you intend to do?”

Hong Feiyun pressed the blade slightly harder, causing a trickle of blood to appear on the impostor’s delicate neck. “I want her life. Is that acceptable?”

Tang Jinghong, realizing that the leader of the Yun Organization’s assassins was a woman, coolly responded, “That’s fine, as long as you can take it.”

Hong Feiyun was visibly agitated, “Do you doubt I dare kill her?”

Tang Jinghong dismissed her with indifference, “If you wish to kill her, go ahead. Don’t mind me.”

Hong Feiyun then realized that “Chu Qingzhi” had already asked Tang Jinghong for help, and she felt like a fool for her oversight. “In that case…”

Just as she was about to enact her threat, a loud shout, “Attack!” echoed through the area, halting Hong Feiyun’s actions as she quickly looked downstairs.

Her brow furrowed instantly, puzzled by the sudden arrival of numerous soldiers—hadn’t Tang Jinghong come alone?

Of course, it must have been Lou Ze, the traitor!

Hong Feiyun barked out an order, “No matter the cost, capture Tang Jinghong!”

She turned back to look into the room, but both Tang Jinghong and “Chu Qingzhi” had vanished. Her face turned ashen, “Pursue them!”

Assassins spread out in all directions to encircle and trap Tang Jinghong.

However, Tang Jinghong and “Chu Qingzhi” hadn’t actually left the room—they had merely hidden behind the door, successfully deceiving the flustered Hong Feiyun.

Once the commotion outside died down, Tang Jinghong stepped out from behind the door, ready to find Lou Ze.

As he emerged, Lou Ze approached him, “Let’s go. Leave this place to them.”

With so many soldiers around, none of the people here could escape.

“Wait for me!” “Chu Qingzhi” followed closely, clinging to Tang Jinghong, fearing he might leave her behind.

Lou Ze glanced at “Chu Qingzhi,” feeling as though he was looking in a mirror—this girl genuinely looked just like him, not merely a painted imitation.

Seeing Lou Ze’s scrutinizing gaze, “Chu Qingzhi” quickly hid behind Tang Jinghong, intimidated by his penetrating stare, unable to meet his eyes directly.

Lou Ze was puzzled by the uncanny resemblance between the two.

“Stop right there!” A sword suddenly thrust towards them from the side.