Chapter 112: A Feigned Act

Just as Hua Rong hesitated, the two guards, realizing they were no match for Cuiliu, turned to Hua Rong and shouted, “Madam, you must leave this place of trouble immediately. We will hold her back and make sure you are not harmed!”

At this point, despite everything, these two still thought of themselves. In that instant, Hua Rong completely let down her guard, though her heart remained uneasy for Zhuifeng, who was still submerged in the pond.

“What about them? I don’t think they’re dead!”

Where this confidence came from was unclear; these two were hardly people to give up easily. To assume they perished so easily seemed far too reckless.

“On the brink of death, yet still struggling uselessly—it’s utterly laughable!”

With a chilling smile, Cuiliu quickened her pace, the knife poised to stab into the guard’s chest.

But at that moment, bubbles suddenly surfaced in the pond. Two dripping figures broke through the water’s surface, flinging their swords directly at Cuiliu.

“Clang!”

Fortunately, Cuiliu blocked in time; otherwise, the sword might have taken off her arm.

Startled, she stepped back a few paces, the trembling knife striking the ground. Staring at the two emerging from the water, terror flashed across Cuiliu’s face. “What’s going on? Weren’t you both supposed to have died together?”

“Heh, with such petty tricks, you still hope to reap the benefits? Don’t flatter yourself,” said Jun Yeli calmly as he landed steadily on the ground, as if nothing had happened. Zhuifeng stood beside him, the hostility between the two men having diminished, their gazes now fixed squarely on Cuiliu, united against a common enemy.

“Damn you! How dare you mock me!”

Cuiliu now fully understood the situation, her clenched teeth betraying a hint of helplessness. She bent to pick up the sword, but Zhuifeng stepped forward swiftly, pressing a dagger to her neck. “Try moving again, if you dare.”

Now utterly frozen, Cuiliu swallowed nervously, cold sweat pouring down her face, wetter than the water clinging to the men. “What do you want?”

“Nothing in particular—just want to know who ordered you to kidnap Hua Rong.” Jun Yeli’s steps closed in methodically, his presence almost sanctimonious, sending chills down the spine.

“It was all me alone. What do you want to do?”

At this juncture, with no room left to argue and the deadly poison still coursing within, death seemed the only path.

So, wisely, Cuiliu took all the blame upon herself.

Jun Yeli chuckled softly. “Do you take me for a fool? Surely it must be someone with power and influence.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, though pressing for answers, he already had a suspect in mind.

After all, it was Jun Yecheng who had originally entrusted him with the totem. Without that guidance, he would never have come to this place.

Everything clearly pointed to the same conclusion.

“I know nothing. I advise you to release me quickly, or you won’t leave this cursed place alive.”

“If you could leave, would you have stayed here so long?”

Jun Yeli saw through her hesitance at once. Under Cuiliu’s lead, he had not been idle.

“Though you claim to know the terrain, you had to mark your path every few steps to avoid getting lost. Is that what you call familiarity?”

Cornered, Cuiliu was rendered speechless. Her gaze flickered angrily toward Hua Rong. “It’s all your fault, you wretched woman! If not for you, I wouldn’t be repeating a year, nor trapped in this disgrace. I’ll kill you!”

With a roar, Cuiliu opened her mouth and shot out a hidden needle aimed mercilessly at Hua Rong.

The needle was slender and small, glinting with a ghastly silver light. Both men were momentarily unsettled but too late to intervene. They shouted urgently, “What are you waiting for? Dodge now!”

But Hua Rong stood frozen, her mind blank. Her eyes seemed to reflect the shape of the needle itself.

There was no doubt that a hidden needle meant deadly intent, the weapon surely concealing some sinister secret. If it pierced the body, survival would be near impossible.

Just as the tension peaked, a dagger suddenly flew across, colliding with the needle with a faint clink. The needle veered off course, and only the dagger clattered to the ground.

The unexpected turn left everyone stunned. Cuiliu froze, glaring with disbelief. “Master, why did you do that?”

In this eerie forest, aside from herself, only Jun Yecheng remained.

Frustrated and unable to contain her anger, Cuiliu was about to curse when her eyes suddenly widened as a sharp object pressed against her neck. Her body went limp, her eyes rolling back as she fainted instantly.

Everything happened so quickly, no one had time to react. Seeing Cuiliu collapse, no one paid her any mind; instead, the two men clustered protectively around Hua Rong.

“How are you? Are you hurt?”

“Why are you so anxious? She’s my wife!”

Jun Yeli pulled Hua Rong close with a possessiveness that left her speechless.

Though he meant no harm, Hua Rong, having lost all memory, felt awkward under his firm embrace.

Besides, the man was soaking wet, pressed so close was hardly comfortable.

“Can you let me go? At least give me some time to adjust. I really don’t remember you…”

Summoning her courage, Hua Rong wriggled free from his grasp. Jun Yeli felt an indescribable pang of sorrow but forced a faint smile and stepped back a couple of paces.

At that moment, the two guards who had survived rushed over, drawing their swords at Zhuifeng. “You little brat! How dare you hurt our master? Let us stab you quick!”

“Are you out of your minds? Our master told me to stab him—it’s not like there’s any courtesy involved!”

Zhuifeng shot them a cold glare. Besides, he hadn’t even struck hard earlier; he refused to take blame for everything.

“Enough, both of you! Stop this nonsense and check on the woman’s condition first!”

With that, Jun Yeli withdrew his attention and approached Cuiliu.