Chapter 271: Wolves in Front, Tigers Behind (Part II)

Chapter 271: Wolves in Front, Tigers Behind (Part II)

Yao Yeting's appearance and subsequent departure went unnoticed by everyone, even Yun Ji's Cloud Guard was unaware.

This was because the Cloud Guard protecting Su Rao from the shadows, including Yun Feng who had left, were all on the other side of the maple forest at that moment.

On that side, the ground was littered with corpses and severed limbs. These dead men were actually sent by Empress Rong to secretly capture Su Rao, but they were encountered by Han Mochen.

The message carried by the messenger hawk to Han Mochen was about how the people from Danliang were tracking and attempting to capture Su Rao again. This was why Han Mochen left without warning, but he hadn't yet arrived when he stumbled upon these people halfway.

Perhaps more accurately, these people were not only after Su Rao but also seeking to eliminate Xiao Mubai.

Xian Yi Chisha and Xiao Mubai had been secretly interacting for some time. Given Empress Rong's character, once she learned of this, how could she possibly allow Xian Yi Chisha to truly find the formula for the elixir from Danliang? Naturally, eliminating Xiao Mubai would be the simplest and most convenient solution.

Therefore, when Ronggu informed Empress Rong early on, the Empress instructed Ronggu to track Xian Yi Chisha, find Xiao Mubai, and eliminate this potential threat.

Worried that her people might be detected by Xian Yi Chisha, she also had Ronggu inform the Danliang envoy to bring a team of secret guards to assist her people.

She also revealed to the Danliang envoy that Xiao Mubai was the mysterious person who had been opposing the Empress for years, believing that the envoy would wholeheartedly assist her people.

However, the Danliang envoy, having been threatened by Empress Rong before, did not believe what Ronggu said.

For so many years, their Lady had failed to uncover the identity of this mysterious person. How could Empress Rong have easily found out, especially since the Xiao family had always served the Lady?

The Danliang envoy did not believe it, thinking it was a deliberate ploy by Empress Rong to use Danliang to achieve her goals.

Thus, after Su Rao and Yiyin left the Capital Region, the Danliang envoy directly broke away from Empress Rong's people, attempting to capture Su Rao first and take her away, then blame her disappearance on Empress Rong.

This is why those who came to capture Su Rao were only from Danliang, not from Empress Rong.

When Han Mochen and Empress Rong's people encountered each other, and these people saw Xiao Mubai beside Han Mochen, they immediately drew their weapons, surrounding Han Mochen and Xiao Mubai, leading to the current bloody scene.

Beneath Han Mochen's feet lay numerous corpses, including several wild beasts, their blood staining his boots. There was no chance for Xiao Mubai or Yun Ling to intervene.

Having killed everyone, Han Mochen was enveloped in a murderous aura, the killing intent around him almost uncontrollable. However, he remembered that Su Rao was in danger, so he didn't completely lose his mind.

Just as he was about to leave, he encountered more wild beasts drawn by the scent of blood, which further ignited his uncontrollable killing intent. He slaughtered the beasts and even attacked Xiao Mubai and Yun Ling, his eyes completely clouded by bloodlust.

Even when Yun Ling and Xiao Mubai mentioned Su Rao, it was no use.

Xiao Mubai and Yun Ling were no match for Han Mochen. In just a moment, both were severely injured.

Fortunately, Yun Feng, Shiba, and the other Cloud Guards arrived in time.

A single call of "Rao Rao" from Yun Feng stopped Han Mochen from almost killing Xiao Mubai and Yun Ling.

Yun Ji appeared, unconscious.

Han Mochen then disappeared.

"Rao Rao..."

Looking at the unconscious Yun Ji in Yun Feng's arms, Xiao Mubai clutched his chest and coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"What is the difference between Su Rao and Rao Rao that can make the Master revert to the Lord, so perplexing."

"Perhaps, Rao Rao is the medicine for the Lord's heart!"

Yun Ling also coughed, his icy gaze only showing emotion when it fell upon Yun Ji.

Yun Feng also looked at the unconscious Yun Ji and said:

"Yun Ling is right. Before the Lord knew that Miss Su was the one he was searching for, his appearances were always unpredictable. Now, because of Miss Su, the Lord's appearances have become more regular..."

"Cough... Cough..."

Two coughs, and Yun Ji woke up.

"Lord..."

Yun Feng and the others immediately called out anxiously.

"He has killed again."

These words made Yun Ji's vision blur, the severed limbs disappearing from sight due to the blurriness, but the nauseating smell of blood remained strong in his nostrils.

Lifting his hand, he removed the silver-black mask that concealed his identity as Yun Ji, his handsome face revealing incomprehensible thoughts. Faced with the other side of himself, Yun Ji's heart could not remain calm.

"Lord..."

Yun Feng and Yun Ling helped Yun Ji up, both lips pressed tightly together.

Yun Da and the other Cloud Guards also remained silent.

The only one who spoke was Xiao Mubai.

"The Master's world has always been this bloody. If those people hadn't died, the Master would never have been able to move on. Even Ronghua County Lady couldn't pull the Master out of it. The Lord knows, you are one and the same. The Master is merely the Lord's inner demon..."

"Mubai, too much talk..."

Yun Feng suddenly rebuked.

It should have been Yun Ling who rebuked, but this time it was Yun Feng, while Yun Ling only furrowed his brows.

Xiao Mubai laughed unexpectedly, took out the fan from his waist, opened it, and began to wave it.

Glancing at Yun Ji, he then looked at Yun Feng.

"Brother, you follow the Lord, while I follow the Master. Since the Master appeared, and since I accompanied the Master step by step in Freedom Pavilion..."

Everything our Master has endured—bearing the internal strength of the former Freedom Pavilion leader for sixty years as a child, teetering on the brink of life and death countless times—his sole belief that kept him alive was revenge, nothing but revenge.

So what you cannot say to our Master, I can. What you cannot understand about our Master, I can understand, and Yun Ling understands too. I believe our Master understands even more."

"Yes! Even more."

Yun Ji raised his hand slightly, signaling that Yun Feng need not blame Xiao Mubai for speaking out of turn. The turmoil in his heart had been calmed by Xiao Mubai's words, and he accepted the fact that his hands were once again stained with blood with equanimity.

They were one and the same.

All the experiences from childhood to adulthood were his alone, and now, living under the sun, it was all because another version of him had borne all the pain and deep-seated hatred for him.

Otherwise, there would be no Yun Ji today, only the cold and desolate Han Mochen, who lived in darkness, unable to see a single ray of light.

"Wasn't he meeting Prince Yi? How did he end up killing someone?"

In his mind, there was no memory of anything Han Mochen had done, including this latest act of violence. He had no recollection of it; everything he knew came from his subordinates, as it always had been over the years.

When Yun Ji asked why, Yun Ling finally spoke, informing him that Su Rao was about to be captured again and recounting every word exchanged between Han Mochen and Xian Yi Chishao.

"Master, Miss Su..."

Yun Feng also inquired, his anger at Xiao Mubai dissipating.

"Has Xian Yi Chishao returned?"

Yun Ji asked this without mentioning Su Rao, leaving Yun Feng and Yun Ling puzzled, but Xiao Mubai responded:

"Report to Master, Prince Yi has returned."

"Good that he has returned."

At these words, a smile appeared on Yun Ji's face.