Chapter 5: Escaping the Mouth of a Tibetan Mastiff

Chapter 5: Escaping the Mouth of a Tibetan Mastiff

In the main castle.

The European-style fireplace burned brightly, and the Baroque crystal chandelier shimmered like daylight.

Amidst the hazy shadows, Duke Holting sat in his wheelchair, draped in an elegant black fox fur coat over a pure black sweater. His knees were covered with a black blanket, while his pale, devilishly handsome face exuded an aura of cold arrogance and disdain for the world!

He stretched out his hand towards the fire in the fireplace, but couldn't dispel the chill and gloom that enveloped him.

In his long, cold fingers was the file on Yun Family's foolish daughter!

He had merely stepped out for a while, only to return to find his bride replaced by a fool.

"Huh, what a delightful surprise!"

The man sneered, lifting his fingertips slightly. The document in his hand fluttered into the fireplace, swiftly consumed by the flames, reflecting the towering rage in Duke Holting's eyes.

This was a precursor to a forcefully suppressed explosion.

The scene unfolded before the old butler's eyes as he just entered, immediately filling him with dread. After a moment of hesitation, he respectfully stepped forward and bowed his head.

"Eldest Young Master."

"Is everything in order?" Ho Tingcheng's voice was cold and sinister, the fury in his eyes slightly subsiding.

Lowering his head to report, the old butler said, "Yes, it's all arranged. As expected, Madam has knocked out the maid and escaped in the direction of the back mountain. However..."

Pausing for a moment, he thought of the young lady with her clear, unperturbed gaze, and the butler couldn't bear to continue, "Eldest Young Master, those Tibetan Mastiffs on the back mountain are fierce beasts that have fought in battles. If Madam encounters them, there will be nothing left of her!"

Ho Tingcheng's deep, narrow eyes remained calm without a trace of emotion. Raising his gaze, he spoke casually, "That's even better. It'll save me the trouble of returning her to the Yun family."

The old butler felt a chill run down his spine. Eldest Young Master clearly intended for his wife to become a meal for the Tibetan Mastiffs.

The bodyguards stood guard outside the back mountain, secretly observing any movements within.

"It's been over an hour, and still no one has come out. Madam probably can't escape now."

As soon as these words were spoken, the furious barking of the Tibetan Mastiffs echoed from within.

The bodyguards paled in fear, sensing that something terrible had occurred.

Yet, for the sake of their duty, they mustered up the courage to enter. The Tibetan Mastiff was nowhere to be seen; only a trail of blood and a blood-soaked dress littered the ground.

Eventually, one of the guards emerged, holding the stained garment in hand to report.

"Eldest Young Master, it seems Madam won't be coming out."

Huo Tingcheng glanced at the shredded, bloodied dress on the floor. A thin layer of ice formed in his eyes, and the air around him grew colder by the second.

"Dead or alive, get this filthy thing out of here!"

A substitute bride from the Yun family was of no concern to Huo Tingcheng; her life or death mattered little to him.

No woman who dared to approach him met with a favorable outcome.

Of course, except for the girl from the previous night.

She was the sole exception who had stirred his long-stilled heart back to life. Moreover, she possessed that jade pendant, which undoubtedly originated from that place!

Thus, he had to find her as soon as possible.

Just as the bodyguards picked up the bloodstained clothes and left, Feng Shuo returned.

"Feng Shuo kneels before you, Young Master," he said with a forced bravado, "I apologize! We've scoured every corner of the capital city and checked all the surveillance cameras, but we still can't locate that woman from last night..."

It was truly bizarre!

They had clearly traced the woman's whereabouts up until she alighted at the border of Country Hua and entered the capital city.

However, after entering the capital, there was no trace of her existence – it was as if she had vanished into thin air!

A chilling glint flashed across He Tingcheng's eyes, and he directed an icy stare at Feng Shuo.

Feng Shuo immediately trembled in fear, lowering his head and breaking out in cold sweat. "Young... Young Master, please give me more time. I will surely..."

"Useless trash!"

In an instant, a crimson fury swirled within He Tingcheng's narrow eyes, his demeanor becoming even more unpredictable and malevolent. An overwhelming aura of violence radiated from him.

It was evident that patience had worn thin, with emotions teetering on the edge of eruption!

"Not even able to find a woman, be gone!"

A teacup was flung with force, shattering into pieces.

At that moment, Hao Tingcheng suddenly placed both hands on the arms of the chair, his handsome brows knitted tightly together, a pained expression on his face!

The elderly butler at the entrance grew pale and quickly exclaimed, "Hurry and inform Young Master's primary physician! Now!"

Huo Tingcheng's hands, resting on the arms of the chair, were veined and livid, his narrow eyes glowing with a crimson hue. In his frenzied state, he knocked everything around him to the ground, leaving the room in disarray.

"Fetch a rope, bind me!" Huo Tingcheng gritted his teeth, striving to suppress the turmoil within him as he issued the order before his reason abandoned him.

The elderly butler hesitated, his heart aching, reluctant to lay a hand on it!

The young master's condition had significantly improved; it had been a long while since he experienced an episode.

Unexpectedly, the elder branch of the Huo family, apprehensive about the rumor that their eldest son, who was already 25, might not survive to see his 26th birthday, insisted on arranging a wedding to bring him good fortune.

Let the wedding proceed for good luck, but they sent an impostor bride instead!

Now, everything has crumbled because of this mysterious woman!

Could it be… that Young Master is truly…

The old butler felt a deep sorrow in his heart.

Feng Shuo, on the other hand, remained calm. Swiftly, he took out a rope and skillfully tied Huo Tingcheng to the bed!

Young Master had suffered from a brain tumor since childhood, causing his emotions to easily fluctuate. Once triggered, he would lose all rationality, and no one could stop him. The only solution was this method!

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

Huo Tingcheng's eyes were bloodshot, with a layer of gloom settling deeply between his brows.

He refused to let anyone witness his vulnerable state!

The old butler and Feng Shuo looked at Huo Tingcheng on the bed with hearts filled with concern yet unable to offer any assistance. They could only close the door and leave.

Thus, no one noticed the alluring and chilly pair of eyes watching the scene from the balcony outside the window with great interest.

This sickly fellow was indeed cunning, deliberately luring the Tibetan Mastiffs into the room.

If she were truly an imperial capital's pampered lady, she would have been reduced to bones by now.

But she was a female war goddess who had fought her way through battlefields. What could a few Tibetan Mastiffs do to her?

As the crowd left, only Huo Tingcheng remained in the vast room, raving mad on the bed.

Yun Mu curled her lips seductively. With a sensuous flick of her long hair, she leaped into the room with agile grace.

On the exquisite and luxurious bed, the man's shirt was slightly unbuttoned, revealing his delicate collarbone, alluring and captivating.

However, his bloodshot eyes were filled with gloom and agitation, somewhat spoiling the view.

Yun Mu clicked her tongue.

Despite his disoriented state, the man on the bed remained vigilant. He swiftly turned his head, "Who's there?"

In the next instant, a chilling glint appeared!

A dagger, shimmering with a cold sheen, was embedded straight into the bed, inches away from Huo Tingcheng's cheek, perfectly on target.

A seductive and mature voice, laced with icy allure, whispered, "Shh—don't make a sound!"

A fair and slender finger lightly tapped against the gleaming blade, causing it to emit a low vibration.

It was a clear warning!

"Make a peep, and I'll slice you!"

Dare to threaten him?

She was asking for it!

Huo Tingcheng's eyes darkened with malevolence, ready to lose control.

But at that moment, the young girl's hair cascaded down, bringing with it a familiar scent intertwined with the smell of blood.

The restlessness within Huo Tingcheng immediately calmed down.

Is it her?

The girl from last night?!

With his nostrils flaring and breath hot, Duke Huo Tingcheng lifted his gaze abruptly, filled with excitement.

Heaven above!

Huo Tingcheng's eyes flared crimson once more, veins bulging in his fists as he pounded them violently on the bed. He sucked in a sharp breath, gritted his teeth, and sternly barked, "Scram! Stay away from me!"