Chapter 6: The Hall Master Requests Your Presence

Ji Kece's Boudoir

Upon seeing Ji Kece, the two men in black knelt on one knee, cupping their fists with extremely respectful tones, "Master, please instruct the Young Mistress to make a trip to the Thunderbolt Hall."

Thunderbolt Hall? Ji Kece narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at the two men in black. Thunderbolt Hall—she seemed to remember it was a secret stronghold of the Leader of the Heaven and Earth Guild.

Ji Kece revealed a shallow smile. "It is just that Kece is injured; I am afraid I cannot go. Will your Guild Leader not take offense?"

Assassins Shun and Jie exchanged a glance before speaking in unison, "Young Mistress, your subordinates will go in your stead. We beg for your forgiveness!"

"So, Kece has no choice but to go?" Upon hearing the words of the two men in black, Ji Kece knew that Yin Xi must insist on her presence at Thunderbolt Hall.

Assassins Shun and Jie lowered their heads, remaining silent. Silence was a tacit admission.

Kule and Pianfu wanted to stop them, but they were intercepted by Mansui. Mansui knew that the Young Mistress had always followed the Highness's wishes, and eloping had always been a last resort.

"Mansui, you stay here and keep watch. Kule, Pianfu, let's go together." Ji Kece gripped the armrest of her chair with one hand and stood up with some difficulty; Kule and Pianfu supported her.

Assassins Shun and Jie stood up and made a "please" gesture.

Once the door to the boudoir was closed, Kule prepared to squat down to carry Ji Kece on his back, but she stopped him. A curve appeared at the corner of Ji Kece's mouth. "Kule, do you think your Young Mistress is such a fragile person who cannot withstand a breeze?"

Hearing her words, Kule understood her meaning and shook his head with a light laugh.

"However, I would like to borrow the strength of your hands so that I may walk. Would you be willing?" Ji Kece pointed to Kule's right hand and Pianfu's left hand, then patted her own hands.

Kule and Pianfu extended their left and right hands respectively. Ji Kece grasped Kule's left wrist and Pianfu's right wrist, smiling softly. "Let's go!"

Assassins Shun and Jie both nodded. Looking at Kule and Pianfu, they said in unison, "Follow closely. Please."

With that, Assassins Shun and Jie vanished from before the eyes of Kule, Pianfu, and even Ji Kece.

"Young Mistress, follow closely. We are departing." As soon as Kule and Pianfu finished speaking, they used lightness skills to fly toward the direction of Thunderbolt Hall.

***

Thunderbolt Hall

A masked man lay lazily half-reclined on a chaise longue. He sipped tea from a cup, his lips slightly pursed, and opened his eyes slightly to look at the people brought by Assassins Shun and Jie.

Two black shadows, two guards, and one woman who was all too familiar.

Assassins Shun and Jie knelt respectfully in front of the chaise longue, cupping their fists on one knee. "Master, the Young Mistress has been brought."

Zhuanzhu and Zhongli, who were in the middle of pouring tea, stood up upon hearing this. They stood in the same row as Shun and Jie, lowered their heads, and cupped their fists. "Your subordinates take their leave."

As Shun and Jie exited, Zhuanzhu and Zhongli followed. Seeing Kule and Pianfu still standing there in a daze, they whispered a reminder that only the Master and the Young Mistress should remain here: "Aren't you leaving yet?"

Hearing Zhuanzhu and Zhongli's words, Kule and Pianfu understood immediately. They bowed toward Ji Kece and said, "Young Mistress, your subordinates take their leave."

Ji Kece used lightness skills to fly for a period of time, nodding with a slightly pale face. "Mhm!"

After waiting for them to close the door, Ji Kece sat down without any restraint, sitting straight on the floor while clutching the wound on her back.

The wounds from her father's whipping had not yet healed. Ji Kece could clearly feel the whip marks on her back bleeding. She looked up at the masked man with some difficulty.

The masked man walked slowly toward her. Ji Kece gritted her teeth, forcing a few words through the gaps. "You..."

Ji Kece had intended to ask, *What do you want?* But before she could finish, a warm sensation seemed to soothe her pain. Her eyes widened as she saw that man—a man she was familiar with to her very bones. The Leader of the Heaven and Earth Guild, Chu Heng, and also the Emperor of the Yidu Dynasty, Yin Xi.