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墨書 Inktalez
The sound of a string snapping echoed in the air as Xie Cheng'an's sword pressed against my throat. His blood-red eyes, visible beneath his mask, glinted like those of a cornered beast. "Where is Chang Xiang Si? What you’re playing is a death song!"
I rubbed my fingertips and sneered coldly, "If your mother were still alive to hear you, she’d probably die of anger."
The blade pressed down harder, and a drop of blood rolled off. He shoved me toward the bronze mirror. "Look closely! These brows, these lips… even the music sounds the same!"
He gripped my mouth tightly. "Smile! Smile like her!"
I rolled my eyes. Was your mother the reincarnation of Mona Lisa?
The back of my head hit the mirror frame. " Pavilion Master Xie, if your mother knew about this, seeing you go mad over a substitute, she'd probably rise from her grave!"
His pupils constricted sharply as the hilt of his sword slammed against my ear, shards of glass flying everywhere. "Shut up!"
"Master! The Xiao Family Army has arrived at the mountain gate!"
He loosened his grip on my hand, and I rolled to the edge of the writing desk, grabbing a letter. The wax seal with entwined serpents matched the jade pendant at his waist. A bastard from the Xiao Family? No wonder he hated Xiao Jingyan so much!
"Seeking death!" The wind from his sword swept toward me as I tore open the letter—"Son of the the Xie Family, never to return to the clan."
The tip of his sword halted at my throat, his voice hoarse. "You saw it."
I chewed on the torn paper, its sweet metallic taste mixing with ink. "Am I not allowed to gnaw on paper when I'm starving?"
He chuckled softly, lifting my lips with the sword's tip. "Su Wan, you’re more interesting than Xiao Jingyan."
I swallowed the paper scraps and pressed a poisoned needle against his side. "Shall we collaborate? For instance… to kill your cheap brother together?"
The sound of horns blared as he lifted me onto the roof beam. Xiao Jingyan was clad in silver armor on a white horse, bow and crossbow aimed at the loft.
"Hand her over, or prepare for burial."
Xie Cheng'an pushed me toward the window. "Brother has good taste; this woman has even planned for her grave while pretending to be dead."
I snapped a wooden splinter and screamed, "Husband, save me! This madman wants to peel off my face for a mask!"
Xiao Jingyan cracked his knuckles. "Su Wan, you didn’t think of calling for your husband when you were fleeing."
I still believed he wasn’t that cruel.
"Couples don't hold grudges overnight," I pretended to cry, "fighting at the head of the bed and making up at the foot—"
Xie Cheng'an bit my earlobe and said, "If you keep acting, I'll expose your little secret about selling Private Salt." I froze instantly.
"Release the arrows!"
He pulled me down into a secret passage, and a crossbow bolt pierced his left shoulder. "He really dared to shoot you..."
The stone door closed behind us, and an arrow stuck in the hem of my skirt. The arrow's tail was tied with half a jade pendant, engraved with the character "Yan"—the other half that I smashed was still in the Xiao Family ancestral hall.
Xiao Jingyan, I underestimated your ruthlessness.
I was dragged by Xie Cheng'an through the winding passage. Blood continued to flow from his shoulder wound, staining half of my sleeve red.
Xie Cheng'an let out a muffled groan, stumbling slightly, but a cold smile crept onto his lips. "Su Wan, do you really think Xiao Jingyan will let you go?"
"What he does or doesn't do is none of your business," I retorted, shaking off his hand and pulling out some medicinal powder from my sleeve. "Treat your wound; don't die on me yet. I still need you to help me get revenge."
Xie Cheng'an took the powder but didn't apply it immediately. Instead, he brought it to his nose and sniffed. "You carry this kind of stuff with you?"
"Of course! I'm the daughter of an apothecary; it's a family secret recipe for treating all sorts of ailments. So, what do you say? Want a bottle?"
He didn't respond but applied the powder, and his complexion did indeed improve somewhat.
Leaning against the cold stone wall, he looked at me with a complicated expression. "Su Wan, who exactly are you?"
"What does it matter? As long as I can help you kill Xiao Jingyan," I replied, not wanting to waste time on idle chatter; I just wanted to get out of this cursed place as soon as possible.
"Xiao Jingyan... ha," Xie Cheng'an sneered, a flicker of hatred flashing in his eyes.
"He's just like you—a hypocrite!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
The passage was silent except for the sound of water dripping onto the ground, each drop striking my nerves like a hammer.
After what felt like an eternity, a glimmer of light appeared at the end of the passage.
Xie Cheng'an pushed open the stone door, and blinding sunlight flooded in. I squinted my eyes to see clearly what lay before me.
It was a desolate courtyard, overgrown with weeds and in a state of disrepair.
"Where is this?" I asked.
"This is the secret base of Thousand Faces Pavilion," Xie Cheng'an replied, "It's safe."
"Safe?" I scoffed, "Are you sure Xiao Jingyan can't find this place?"
Xie Cheng'an didn't answer; he simply looked at me, his gaze deep. "Su Wan, how about we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal?"
"You help me reclaim everything that belongs to me, and I'll help you kill Xiao Jingyan."
I looked at him, a cold laugh rising in my heart; it was indeed an enticing proposal.
"Deal."
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