Chapter 128: Linglong Falls Unconscious, Qin Daofei Counterattacks

"Yes, although Xiaoyao Manor was not severely affected these past few days, it still suffered quite a bit of turbulence. Tang Li is not in the manor, and Fei is not here either. I have to split my attention between Cheng Jie's side and this side. Wuying cannot step away at all, while Jifeng has to disguise himself as you to go out and let them know you are still alive, and then rush back to take care of Yixiao..."

Mentioning Yixiao, Qin Daofei realized he did not see her and hurriedly asked, "Where is Yixiao?"

"She is sleeping in the room. This is a letter Linglong wrote for you! She wrote one for Cheng Jie as well..." Ye Lishang handed the letter to Qin Daofei.

Qin Daofei reached out and took the letter, saying expressionlessly and faintly, "I know. You should rest for a while too!"

"Since Yixiao couldn't go out these past few days, she cried and fussed, and didn't sleep well. I'll go keep her company... Why don't you read the letter Linglong wrote for you?" Ye Lishang said.

Qin Daofei did not reply, only looking faintly at the envelope.

After Ye Lishang left, Qin Daofei took out the letter. Unfolding it, he saw Linglong's crooked handwriting, just like her unrestrained and free-spirited life!

"Didn't expect this, did you? In the end, I still turned out this foolish. But for some reason, I simply couldn't bear the thought of you no longer existing while I remained alive alone. I want you to live. If you live, you will bear endless guilt. With your guilt and your longing, every wrong you ever did to me in the past can be fully avenged. So Qin Daofei, if I die, you must live. You must live until the day I feel you have suffered enough punishment. When that time comes, I will come to fetch you! But before I come to fetch you, you are not allowed to die, do you hear me? Also, you must not make things difficult for Ye Lishang and Jifeng; saving you was my decision. If you lay a hand on them, then in this lifetime and the next, I will never come to seek you, leaving you to wander alone for all eternity! You must live, and use your continued existence to properly repay everything you owe me. The better you live, the happier I will be. And Yixiao... hand her over to the Second Prince; you are not suited to raise a child!"

That was all. Just like that!

With reddened eyes, Qin Daofei dropped the letter paper to the floor, then turned and grasped Linglong's hand. "Feng Linglong, I will not kill them. I will also follow your wishes to arrange everything properly, and I will entrust Yixiao to Cheng Jie. But I will not survive alone. If you dare to die, I dare to pursue you across the netherworld and the nine springs!"

As he finished speaking, tears streamed down Qin Daofei's face.

Unable to bear the sight, Wuying turned his head away.

When Jifeng returned and saw that Qin Daofei had already woken up and sat up, he happily tore off the mask from his face, knelt before Qin Daofei, and said, "Manor Lord, having the Eldest Madam use her body to test the poison was my idea alone. Please spare the Ghost Doctor and Wuying; this subordinate is willing to die to atone for this sin!"

"The lot of you... all helping Feng Linglong commit bad deeds. You had better pray she wakes up!" Everyone was actively and earnestly taking responsibility for the matter. Qin Daofei knew they were genuinely loyal to him, but if Linglong died, he truly had no desire to live on alone!

"Manor Lord... given the circumstances back then, we had no other choice!" As Jifeng spoke, his own eyes grew red.

Qin Daofei closed his eyes for a moment and said faintly, "What is the situation outside right now?"

"Everything is proceeding according to the Manor Lord's deployment. However, we have prepared for the worst by liquidating the majority of our funds, converting them into silver notes, and transferring all of it to a secure location. We are simply waiting for the situation to fully erupt, and then we will hand that person an empty shell of Xiaoyao Manor!" Jifeng said.

Qin Daofei gave a bitter smile. "What he cares about is probably destroying Xiaoyao Manor itself!"

"Then now..." Jifeng did not know how to determine the next step.

Qin Daofei said, "I will handle it. You stay here to take care of Yixiao, and keep a lookout in case Tan Xiyin returns."

"Understood. Manor Lord, you may rest assured and handle matters outside; leave the affairs at home to me!" Jifeng said.

Qin Daofei glanced at the inner room and said faintly, "News from the Cangmo Kingdom should be reaching the capital soon as well. I will send someone to invite Old Ye back, and you should return to take care of the Second Prince. His side is just as important as mine."

"Understood!" Ye Lishang replied in a low voice from inside the room.

Not long after Qin Daofei left, Tang Li hurried back. Jifeng asked him, "Did you find Hua'er?"

"No. Based on the situation in Yuanyang last time, it's certain Hua'er was abducted, but as for whose hands she ultimately fell into, it's hard to say..." Tang Li did not dare to imagine whether Hua'er was still... after all this time.

Jifeng comforted him, saying, "Hua'er was originally an insignificant person. Since that person could kidnap her, they must be keeping her for some use. I estimate that in a few more days, when the situation at Xiaoyao Manor reaches its climax, there will be news of Hua'er."

"Let's hope so!" Tang Li said faintly, "I'm going to find the Manor Lord!"

"Alright, I'll take care of Yixiao here. You've worked hard!" Jifeng patted Tang Li's shoulder in comfort.

Just as Tang Li left through the front door, Fei entered through the back.

Brushing the wind and snow from her shoulders, she called out faintly, "Linglong, come out!"

"She can't answer you right now!" Jifeng walked over, took Fei's hand, and led her past the screen to look at Linglong.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Fei asked faintly, "What happened?"

"That day, the Manor Lord allowed Steward Zhang to steal the ledger, but we had marked the ledger beforehand so we could trace its whereabouts. Wuying followed them at the time, and the trail of the ledger stopped in front of a dilapidated house. Fearing to alert the enemy, Wuying didn't dare to pursue further inside, but it still alerted that mysterious person. He used an assassin to wound the Manor Lord and poisoned the blade. The Manor Lord was poisoned and rescued by a middle-aged man. When that man went to look for the antidote, he found the assassin dead and the antidote poured away. The only thing that could save the Manor Lord was the Busheng poison residing within the Eldest Madam's body. Thus, the Eldest Madam saved the Manor Lord, but she herself has yet to wake up."

Hearing Jifeng's explanation, Fei gritted her teeth and said with lingering resentment, "She is always like this. Back then, all of you suspected she would harm Qin Daofei, but only I knew that she would never turn against him. Even when she returned and failed to realize the depth of Qin Daofei's feelings for her, she still wouldn't have struck, because he was the man she had loved with her very life; she would never let go!"

"Indeed. In the past, we all assumed the Eldest Madam had an ulterior motive, but now I realize her heart is filled with love, and the only reason she returned was because she could not withstand the longing!" Jifeng felt deeply remorseful. When he first met Linglong, he had not liked her at all.

Fei murmured, "What about Tan Xiyin? Since Linglong has reached this state, keeping Tan Xiyin is pointless. Kill her!"

"Tan Xiyin has already left Xiaoyao Manor and is currently staying at an inn. I suspect she still has backup plans in motion. The Manor Lord's directive is to leave her be for now, as he has not yet confirmed the identity of the mysterious person." Jifeng held Fei's hand, and only when her hand warmed up did he ask, "How are matters at the Netherworld Hall progressing?"

Looking away with some discomfort, Fei said, "Just some minor trivialities. I merely went back to give instructions to my subordinates. What is Linglong's condition now?"

"The bleeding won't stop. Wuying has been holding her hand for three days and dares not let go; the moment he lets go, her wounds start bleeding again!" Jifeng pointed to his own palm as he explained to Fei.

Fei walked up to the couch, gently stroked Linglong's hair, and asked, "Where is Qin Daofei?"

"The Manor Lord just woke up and went out to handle external affairs. Xiaoyao Manor is in complete chaos right now!" Although everything was proceeding according to their plan, Jifeng was well aware of the mysterious person's capabilities; no one knew if there would be a sudden twist that could disrupt their plans.

Fei cast a faint sideways glance at Wuying and said, "Quickly let go, I'll take over!"

"No, we dare not move her at all right now!" Jifeng stopped Fei.

Fei stated, "Xiaoyao Manor needs manpower right now, and all of you have your own tasks to attend to. It's inconvenient for me to interfere in the manor's internal affairs, so taking care of Linglong is most appropriate for me. Don't worry, my movements are extremely fast, and I can use my pure internal energy to help Linglong circulate her qi and blood. I'll count to three; you let go, and I'll step in!"

"One, two, three!"

The instant Wuying released his grip, Fei precisely pressed her hand onto Linglong's arm without the slightest pause or hesitation.

"So fast!" Both Wuying and Jifeng could not help exclaiming in admiration.

"All of you go busy yourselves with your tasks. Since Ye Lishang is in the house, let him keep Yixiao company!" Fei could already sense that Ye Lishang was indoors.

Jifeng shook his head and said, "I must stay to take care of Yixiao, because the Ghost Doctor has to return to look after the Second Prince, and news from the Cangmo Kingdom is probably about to arrive... There's news from the palace!"

In that split second, Wuying flashed out of the room.

Fei and Jifeng faced each other. Jifeng cupped Fei's forehead, planted a deep kiss on it, and said, "Before the Manor Lord woke up, the Ghost Doctor and I were prepared to be killed by him. But he didn't do it. And... and the Eldest Madam, before she transferred the poison away from the Manor Lord, she had already written a letter forbidding him from making trouble for us!"

Jifeng's voice choked slightly. Linglong's goodness did not lie in her usual witty banter and playful antics, nor in her practiced smiles when extorting money from others, but rather in her profound wisdom during times of crisis and her steadfast, sincere heart.

"Indeed. She is the most exasperating person I have ever met, yet the one I could least bear to see suffer!" Fei was deeply moved as well.

Therefore...

Gathering her courage, Jifeng said, "Though I know this isn't the best time, I've realized a principle from our Manor Lord and Eldest Madam: if you love someone, seize the moment. While we still have the ability to love, let us love fiercely!"

"Are you proposing to me?" Fei asked coldly.

Not quite daring to meet Fei's eyes, Jifeng closed them, nodded solemnly, and said, "Though I don't have much wealth, the sincerity of my affection is second to no great romance. I will hand all the money I earn over to you, I will love you, and if you dislike raising children, I can raise them. Everything you dislike, I will handle!"

Heh!

Fei was fond of that last line from Jifeng: *Everything you dislike, I will handle!*

"I have plenty of money of my own, so I don't need you to be richer than me. But since you said you would shoulder everything I dislike doing... very well, I suppose I'll reluctantly take you in!" Fei said with a smile.

At that moment, Ye Lishang walked to the doorway holding a freshly awakened Feng Yixiao. Emotionally, he said, "Though I really don't wish to disturb the two of you, I am simply too moved. What should I do?"

"What should you do? Perhaps you could put on women's clothing, go seduce the Second Prince, and then... be a bit more vigorous during your wedding night!" Fei had not forgotten Linglong's persistent obsession with sending Ye Lishang to the Second Prince's bed.

Hmph!

Fuming with indignation, Ye Lishang shoved Feng Yixiao into Jifeng's arms and haughtily declared, "Does this divine doctor look like such a casual person? I'm leaving!"

"Don't leave just yet, Ghost Doctor. The signal just now was the palace's specific emergency signal. Let's wait and see what Wuying has to report!" Jifeng called out to stop Ye Lishang.

Pushing the door open from outside, Wuying walked in and reported, "News from the palace states that the King of Cangmo is demanding that the Emperor have the Manor Lord killed and pay an indemnity of one million liang of gold, or else he will make public the fact that the Emperor used the ceding of Suiye City as a condition to have Qin Daofei murdered. By then, once Xiaoyao Manor retaliates against the Emperor, Cangmo can sit back and reap the spoils."

Hmph!

Ye Lishang sneered, "The Emperor has spent his entire life trying to outsmart others only to end up worse off. Now I'd like to see how he cleans up this mess!"

"I estimate that people from the palace are already rushing toward the Second Prince's residence. The Emperor's only remaining lifeline is to order the Second Prince to crush Cangmo!" Jifeng finished speaking, patted Ye Lishang's shoulder, and flashed a mischievous smile.

Slapping his thigh in anger, Ye Lishang cursed under his breath as he strode away.

"You bunch of heartless bastards, I swear I'll feed each of you three catties of aphrodisiacs!"

Jifeng covered Feng Yixiao's ears to prevent her from hearing Ye Lishang's vulgarities.

Having never been behind the screen before, Feng Yixiao's longing for Linglong over the past few days made her rush eagerly into Linglong's embrace: "Longlong, hug!"

"Longlong can't hug you right now, darling. Come with Uncle Jifeng to play outside!" For the first time, Fei spoke to Feng Yixiao in such a gentle and amiable tone.

At the mention of this, Jifeng suddenly recalled what Linglong had quietly instructed him earlier: "The Eldest Madam told me before that if she... if she couldn't wake up, I was to send Yixiao to the Second Prince's residence. But if the Second Prince hasn't given up contesting for the imperial throne and hasn't left far away with the Ghost Doctor, I am to sneak Yixiao out, keep her far away from the martial arts world, far away from the imperial court, far away from the capital, and let her live a carefree life untouched by the world!"

"Get out!" Fei hated hearing any talk of Linglong not waking up. In her mind, Linglong would definitely recover.

Not daring to provoke her, Jifeng scooped up Feng Yixiao and headed outside.

After everyone had left, Fei softly whispered to Linglong, "Linglong, you guessed right; there is indeed something wrong with him. Wake up quickly. If there is still anyone in this world capable of stopping him from doing something insane, it is only you."

However, Linglong remained as still as someone deep in sleep, unable to hear a thing.

Taking a moment away from his duties, Qin Daofei returned to check on Linglong. Seeing that Fei had taken over Wuying's post, he sat down and asked faintly, "How did the trip to Suiye City go?"

"I knew nothing could be hidden from you, but Qin Daofei, you truly are... Do you have any idea? Linglong has exhausted everything she had for your sake!" There was a hint of grievance in Fei's tone; she felt that Linglong should be the absolute priority right now.

Qin Daofei knew that Fei was dissatisfied with him for not staying constantly by Linglong's side, but he had no intention of explaining.

His love for Linglong needed no validation from others.

"I suspect that the person in Suiye City... must be a fake!" Seeing that Fei hadn't spelled it out, Qin Daofei stated it coldly.

Fei nodded faintly. "Indeed, Hu Hanzhi is indeed a fake. When I supported that person into the room that day, I discovered his internal energy was far inferior to Jifeng's, and when he spoke, he would subconsciously look to his guards for cues. I estimate they never expected anyone to go and investigate Hu Hanzhi, so... if you wish to deal with Hu Hanzhi, you may make your move."

"What exactly... is your relationship with Hu Hanzhi?" Qin Daofei asked.

Fei replied, "He saved both my life and Linglong's in the past. Everything I did previously was to repay that kindness. But later, sensing something amiss with him, I completely withdrew. My only desire is to protect Linglong; the conflict between you two is something I will neither participate in nor obstruct."

"Thank you for your honesty!" Qin Daofei grasped Linglong's other hand and said, "Her constant hesitation was simply because she didn't want you and me to fight to the death. But now, it has reached a point where it's a battle to the death; there is no turning back."

Fei remained silent.

After stepping out of Linglong Pavilion, Qin Daofei headed straight to the Pine and Cypress Residence.

When Madame Qin saw him approach, she mistook him for Jifeng and asked coldly, "Can Xiaoyao Manor still be saved?"

Qin Daofei did not answer.

"If it can't be saved, then so be it. If there truly is no saving it, then hurry and take Daofei away and flee! As long as my son remains alive, that matters more than anything else! Do you hear me?" Madame Qin said with a chilling tone.

Qin Daofei dropped to his knees beside Madame Qin. Gently taking her hand, he said softly, "Mother, thank you for not standing on the opposing side this time."

"Son... My son... You've woken up!" Suddenly breaking down, Madame Qin dropped her prayer beads, cradled Qin Daofei's face, and wept like a child.

Nodding, Qin Daofei said, "Linglong used her life to trade for mine. Now I am alive, but her fate hangs in the balance. Mother... regardless of whether I can preserve Xiaoyao Manor, I hope you can treat Linglong better in the future. No, you don't even have to treat her well, but please, I beg you, do not make things difficult for her ever again!"

"Rest assured, your mother has seen through it all. If she wakes up... take her away. If Xiaoyao Manor is gone, let it be gone. Your well-being is what matters most!" Perhaps she truly had let go of her prejudices.

Looking at Madame Qin, Qin Daofei suddenly reached out and embraced her. "Mother, I will do my utmost to restore Xiaoyao Manor. If it truly cannot be saved, I will take you all away. Once Linglong recovers, we will surround you with children and grandchildren, and live out our days in peace and longevity."

"I am old now, and these fleeting vanities mean nothing to me anymore. As long as you are safe and well, even if your mother were to die, it would be worth it!" Madame Qin hugged Qin Daofei back.

The rift between mother and son seemed to have finally vanished.

Leaving the Pine and Cypress Residence, Qin Daofei went directly to the Second Prince's manor.

At that moment, under Ye Lishang's "treatment," the Second Prince had once again been reduced to a bedridden invalid on the brink of death. Imperial physicians and palace eunuchs kept watch, with over a dozen imperial physicians taking turns to check the Second Prince's pulse, yet every single one of them arrived at the exact same conclusion.

"Imperial physicians, can this illness of mine truly be cured?" the Second Prince asked weakly.

Bowing deeply, an imperial physician replied, "Your Highness, although your condition is showing signs of improvement, your meridians remain blocked. You still must not make any rash movements!"

"Am I crippled for life, unable to ever recover?" the Second Prince asked gloomily.

Ye Lishang snorted coldly, "Do you take this divine doctor for a quack? It's just that your injuries require time to heal. Given your current state, in another month or so, you'll be well enough!"

The chief eunuch glanced at the imperial physician, who shook his head slightly.

"Since that is the case, Your Highness should rest and recuperate in peace! This slave takes his leave!" The eunuch declared before leading his entourage away.

Once outside, the eunuch asked sternly, "Is the Second Prince's illness truly that severe?"

"Naturally. Were it not for the Ghost Doctor's peerless medical skills, the Second Prince would likely have ended up either a madman or a cripple by now. Ordering the Second Prince to lead a campaign against Cangmo is surely out of the question," the imperial physician said.

The eunuch sighed softly. "Let's go, return to the palace to report!"

After the crowd departed, Qin Daofei emerged from the shadows. Watching the grand procession leave, he said coldly, "I'd like to see whether your imperial throne matters more to you, or destroying my Xiaoyao Manor..."

Inside the Second Prince's bedchamber.

Ye Lishang extracted a hair-thin silver needle hidden within the Second Prince's hair, causing the Second Prince to instantly collapse limply onto the mattress.

"What's the situation? Has news from the Cangmo Kingdom arrived?" Though weak and uncomfortable, the Second Prince remained focused on matters of the imperial court.

Ye Lishang produced a handkerchief to wipe away the other man's sweat. "Everything is just as Qin speculated beforehand. Cangmo is threatening your imperial father: either he kills Qin Daofei and pays them one million liang of gold, or they will make public the deal between the Emperor and Xiang to betray Suiye City in order to settle a personal vendetta!"

Hmph!

The Second Prince sneered, "He wants to dispatch me to pacify Cangmo so he can banish me from the imperial court once and for all!"

"What now?" Ye Lishang asked.

Stepping out from the shadows, Qin Daofei said faintly, "Soon, your esteemed Emperor Father will fall ill, consumed by mental exhaustion beyond the cure of any medicine."

"Why?" Ye Lishang asked with innocent curiosity.

The Second Prince smiled bitterly, "You're the one who went to poison my father, and you're still asking why?"

"Splendid, simply splendid! Time for some poisoning!" Ye Lishang muttered, eager to try it out.

Reaching out, the Second Prince shoved Ye Lishang's head down against his own chest and growled, "That is my father! Despicable as he is, can you exercise a shred of restraint? Are you so eager to get me killed with that enthusiasm of yours?"

"I might as well kill you instead. Your father should have died long ago. His favoritism toward Xiang has plunged the capital into misery, yet he acts as though he's some kind of benevolent ruler!" Ye Lishang had long since grown disgusted by the Emperor's actions.

Sighing deeply, the Second Prince said, "When you administer the poison, exercise a little control... He is my father, after all!" *And your father-in-law!*

Naturally, at a time like this, he knew better than to offend a petty villain like Ye Lishang.

Qin Daofei instructed, "Proceed as usual on your end. My people will make their entrance when the time is right. I may not be able to assist you directly."

"I will do my best within this timeframe to force my father to abdicate!" the Second Prince stated.

Without another word, Qin Daofei turned and walked away.

The Second Prince commanded in a low voice, "Come out. Send word to the palace: activate all our operatives, the plan begins!"

"How many people do you have hidden in the palace, and are they reliable?" Ye Lishang asked with a hint of worry.

The Second Prince replied, "They are all veterans who followed my maternal uncle back then. When my uncle was framed and murdered, they suffered injustice too, forced to abandon even their own true names. To secure a righteous and upright future for their descendants, they even sacrificed their manhood. Such men are naturally reliable!"

"So... we are officially stepping into the brutal games of the imperial court now, aren't we?" Ye Lishang suddenly grabbed the Second Prince's hand.

Feeling the icy chill of Ye Lishang's fingers, the Second Prince looked deeply into his eyes and said, "Rest assured, I will give you an accounting for all of this!"

"Dammit, I'm not some fragile maiden who needs your explanations! I don't want your explanations!" A cold gleam flashed in Ye Lishang's eyes, though his heart was in a panic. Explanations could be dispensed with, but if things simply faded into nothingness like this, Ye Lishang doubted he could survive the agonizingly long days of longing ahead.

What he could not escape was his own heart, and what he could escape was likewise his own heart.

Thereafter, the two men occupied opposite sides of the room, neither uttering another word.

Xiaoyao Manor.
Linglong Pavilion.

Returning to Linglong Pavilion, Qin Daofei was met with the sight of Feng Yixiao crying and throwing a tantrum as she demanded Linglong: "Longlong, hug!"

"Daddy will hug you!" Naturally, Qin Daofei took the child from Jifeng's arms, held her close, and gently soothed her.

Under normal circumstances, as long as Qin Daofei held her, Feng Yixiao would stop fussing. But today, she finally seemed to sense that the Longlong she hadn't seen for days was lying there completely motionless, offering no embraces when she needed them most. Thus, she insisted on going to Feng Linglong.

An unreasoning ache gripped Qin Daofei's heart.

"Daddy will let you touch Mommy, but you mustn't touch her hands, alright?" Qin Daofei bargained with the child.

After pondering for a long while, Feng Yixiao nodded. "Alright!"

Accordingly, Qin Daofei carried Feng Yixiao over, letting her lie against Linglong's chest. Buried in Linglong's embrace, Feng Yixiao wailed, "Longlong, hug..."

Her heart-rending, continuous cries twisted everyone's hearts into knots. Even Fei, a hardened assassin trained to be cold and ruthless, could not hold back her tears.

"Manor Lord... Manor Lord... The Eldest Madam has consciousness! She has consciousness!" Pointing to the corner of Linglong's eye, Jifeng called out. Lifting his gaze, Qin Daofei indeed saw crystal-clear teardrops slipping from the corners of Linglong's eyes.

With overwhelming excitement, Qin Daofei grasped Linglong's hand, speaking with eager yet utmost caution, "Linglong, Feng Linglong, you can hear me, can't you? If you can hear me, move your finger!"

...

Holding their breath, everyone stared intently at the fingers Linglong had placed within Qin Daofei's palm...

They moved!

Linglong's finger truly twitched. Though the movement was minuscule, it undoubtedly moved.

"Did you all see that?" Qin Daofei looked up and asked.

Fei and Jifeng nodded in unison. "It moved! Her finger moved, which means she is truly recovering!"

"Thank the heavens! You must wake up. Otherwise, I will pursue you across the netherworld and the nine springs. I will only be with you, come life or death!" Right in front of Jifeng and Fei, Qin Daofei pressed his lips to Linglong's.

Tears continued to stream incessantly from the corners of Linglong's eyes, yet she still could not wake up!

Gently wiping away Linglong's tears, Qin Daofei coaxed, "Wake up quickly. Once you wake up, I'll take you to the Southern Seas to eat prawns, to the northern lands to watch the snow, and to every single place you wish to go. I will accompany you, anywhere you desire!"

Had this been ordinary times, hearing such words would have caused Linglong to jump for joy, but today she remained entirely unresponsive.

The next day.

A gatekeeper hurried into Linglong Pavilion and reported from downstairs, "Reporting to the Manor Lord, Hu Hanzhi... says he wishes to see the Eldest Madam!"

...

Qin Daofei looked at Fei; Fei looked back at Qin Daofei.

Unaware of the undercurrents between them, Jifeng drew his sword and declared, "I'll go chop off his head!"

"Absurd!" Fei and Qin Daofei snapped in unison.

Staring at them, Jifeng protested, "It's already this obvious, why can't we kill him?"

"First, you are no match for him. Second, without evidence, anything you say is useless. Let me go meet him!" Standing up, Qin Daofei smoothed his robes before casting a final glance at Linglong: "Rest assured, I won't make things difficult for you."

Though anxious in her heart, Fei was rooted beside Linglong with no opportunity to step outside.

"Keep a close watch on her, make sure nothing goes wrong!" Fearing that any mishap befalling either Qin Daofei or Hu Hanzhi would deal a devastating blow to Linglong, Fei cautioned him.

Jifeng quickly followed him out.

As Qin Daofei stepped outside, snowflakes began to drift down amidst a howling wind. Dressed in white robes and holding Linglong's red oiled-paper umbrella, Qin Daofei walked calmly and steadily out from the backyard.

Dressed in black, Hu Hanzhi coughed violently as a servant behind him held a white oiled-paper umbrella, quietly patting his back to help him catch his breath.

Reaching the entrance, Qin Daofei looked down from above at Hu Hanzhi and said, "Young Master Hu, trust you have been well since we last met?"

"Cough, cough!" Hu Hanzhi coughed a few more times, his gaze landing on the dice dangling from Qin Daofei's waist.

Following his gaze down to his own waist, Qin Daofei picked up the dice, stroked them gently, and said, "Linglong's longing!"

"You needn't flaunt it to me... I want to see Linglong!" Suppressing his cough long enough to finish the sentence, Hu Hanzhi immediately resumed coughing as if trying to hack up his lungs.

Qin Daofei said faintly, "You cannot see Linglong for the time being."

"Why? Does she no longer even possess the right to see others?" Straightening his posture, Hu Hanzhi asked coldly.

A flash of sorrow crossed Qin Daofei's eyes as he replied indifferently, "Someone wanted my life, but Linglong saved me. She is currently unconscious..."

"You're courting death!" Whether it was a particular phrase of Qin Daofei's that provoked him, Hu Hanzhi suddenly collapsed his umbrella, using it like a weapon to launch an attack.

Slightly shifting his body to evade Hu Hanzhi's strike, Qin Daofei also put away his umbrella—unwilling to use Linglong's umbrella to fight Hu Hanzhi. Leaping forward, he snatched the sword from the scabbard of one of Hu Hanzhi's guards and said coldly, "Hu Hanzhi, she is my wife. Don't tell me you had no idea about me being poisoned!"

"What are you implying?" Hu Hanzhi demanded while continuing his onslaught.

Qin Daofei's voice turned icy. "Someone poisoned me, then killed the assassin and poured away the antidote. That person knew Linglong possessed the Busheng poison and was certain she would save me at the critical moment. Therefore, if Linglong cannot be saved, that person is the murderer!"

"Qin Daofei, you actually let Linglong take the poison for you? Weren't you the one who claimed to love her? Is this the extent of your love?" Thrusting aside Qin Daofei's defense, Hu Hanzhi launched a fierce counterattack.

Qin Daofei retorted coldly, "At the time, I was at death's door and had no idea Linglong was saving me. As for you, why bother masking it? From start to finish, you orchestrated all of this, didn't you, Hu Hanzhi? Years ago, poison was planted within Linglong's body, spreading and weakening her. Then, three years ago, you targeted the child in her womb. After saving her at the Jingzhao Prefecture, you trained her to be an assassin, hoping to use her to kill me. When Linglong refused to strike, you triggered the poison within her. When I desperately needed the thousand-year ginseng, you brought it right to my doorstep in exchange for having me search for your biological father. As for who your true father is, you undoubtedly know better than anyone. Setting traps for me was merely a means to destroy Xiaoyao Manor, wasn't it?"

"Brother Qin must have poison seeped into his brain, surely? Although I introduced Linglong to Crescent Moon Manor and trained her to survive independently, she was nowhere near the caliber of an assassin. As for the poisoning you speak of, I know nothing about it. If there is still one person in this world who truly loves Linglong... it can only be me!" Pulling a concealed sword from the handle of his umbrella, Hu Hanzhi thrust it straight toward Qin Daofei.

Clang!

A piece of scrap silver struck the hilt of Hu Hanzhi's sword. A cold glint flashed in Hu Hanzhi's eyes as he abruptly withdrew his attack. Gazing coldly at Qin Daofei, he said, "I will give you three more months to investigate the matter of my father. If you fail to uncover the truth and Linglong does not recover, then prepare to become a beggar, Qin Daofei!"

"I don't need three months from you, because I no longer want this Xiaoyao Manor. If you want it, take it!" Qin Daofei declared with a reckless, desperate air.

A sudden laugh escaped Hu Hanzhi. "Hahaha, Qin Daofei, you coward. Three months from now, I will come for you. You had better pray Linglong is unharmed!"

With that, Hu Hanzhi leaped into the air and departed.

Disdainfully tossing the guard's sword to the ground, Qin Daofei commanded, "Shut the gates!"

"Manor Lord, you and Hu Hanzhi... I didn't understand a single thing from that exchange!" Jifeng felt entirely bewildered by the entire scene.

Qin Daofei sneered, "He's getting anxious!"

Huh?

Jifeng remained completely lost.

Halting in his steps, Qin Daofei said, "He probably never expected that Linglong would trade her own life for mine... Perhaps Linglong is the only variable he failed to calculate!"

"So... Manor Lord, you're certain Hu Hanzhi is the one behind the mischief?" Jifeng asked.

Qin Daofei replied faintly, "I cannot be one hundred percent certain, but judging from the current situation, Hu Hanzhi's appearance is by no means a coincidence!"

"I... still don't understand!" Jifeng failed to see why Qin Daofei was so convinced the culprit was Hu Hanzhi.

Lifting his gaze to the swirling snow in the sky, Qin Daofei said, "Fei went to Suiye City."

"Didn't she say she was going to the Netherworld Hall?" Jifeng demanded angrily.

Patting Jifeng's shoulder, Qin Daofei said, "You cannot blame her; she went at Linglong's behest to probe Hu Hanzhi's reality!"

"And?" Jifeng's expression softened slightly.

Qin Daofei stated, "The Hu Hanzhi in Suiye City is a fake!"

"So... wait, no! Old Ye also said Hu Hanzhi was severely injured back then, and his medical judgment wouldn't be wrong. After all, we all saw Hu Hanzhi looking practically on the verge of death!" Jifeng found it too incredible to believe.

A chilling edge crept into Qin Daofei's voice. "It seems this wealthiest merchant of the northern frontier possesses far more tricks up his sleeve than we ever knew!"

"What should we do now?" Jifeng asked.

Qin Daofei said coldly, "Now... investigate the Netherworld Hall. If possible, uproot it entirely. Then investigate Crescent Moon Manor in the frontier, unearth Hu Meiniang's background, and dig up every single detail. I must let Linglong see what kind of person Hu Hanzhi truly is!"

Tsk tsk tsk!

Silently, Jifeng muttered to himself: *Is the Manor Lord jealous?*

Upon returning to Linglong Pavilion, Qin Daofei was immediately bombarded by Fei: "How was it? What happened?"

"Nothing much. He seemed unaware that Linglong used the Busheng poison to cure me... Tell me, did he even know Linglong harbored the Busheng poison in her body?" Qin Daofei asked.

Shaking her head, Fei replied, "He shouldn't have known. Even I had no idea how Linglong contracted the Busheng poison; she always kept it a closely guarded secret. It wasn't until you killed Naxier that she finally told me. When I asked her back then if Hu Hanzhi knew about the poison inside her, she said he didn't. To this day, only she knew about it. Whenever I pressed her on who gave it to her, she refused to speak."

"That explains it then. Initially, I thought he came to test whether Linglong was dead or alive. But upon hearing that she used the Busheng poison to save me, he flew into a rage... This Hu Hanzhi is truly a riddle!" Qin Daofei remarked.

Pondering for a moment, Fei asked quietly, "Do you think he could be that mysterious person?"

"To be honest, while I suspect he is, no one can say for sure right now. I am also extremely curious about his mother... By the way, let me discuss something with you: if I were to wipe out your Netherworld Hall, how would you react?" Qin Daofei had originally intended for Jifeng to ask, but realizing Jifeng held little sway over Fei, he spoke up himself rather than putting Jifeng in a difficult position.

Looking up at Qin Daofei, Fei asked, "Do you suspect he might be the hidden mastermind behind the Netherworld Hall?"

"If we can prove that he is, or prove that his mother belongs to the mysterious lineage Old Ye mentioned, then Hu Hanzhi cannot escape suspicion as the mastermind behind all of this," Qin Daofei analyzed.

Waving her hand dismissively, Fei retorted, "That's impossible. The Netherworld Hall was established over twenty years ago. I was sent there at age five—how old was Hu Hanzhi back then? How could he possibly have the capacity to build such a premier underworld martial arts faction?"

"It's just a gut feeling... Anyway, you still haven't answered my question: what would you do if I eradicated the Netherworld Hall?" Qin Daofei pressed on.

With a cold chuckle, Fei replied, "The Netherworld Hall is nothing like it used to be; there's nothing left worth sentimental attachment. If you want to wipe it out, just give me a heads-up—all the members under my direct command can help you destroy it!"

Uh...

Qin Daofei had expected Fei to draw her sword in defense, never imagining she would instead stand on his side.