Chapter 46: Secrets of the Humble Shack, Peril at Every Turn

I shoved open the rickety wooden door, and the decaying wood emitted a creaking sound, straight out of a horror movie.

A wave of musty air mixed with an unidentifiable stench rushed over me, almost making me keel over on the spot.

Inside, the cabin was dim and cluttered with debris everywhere, resembling a junkyard.

"Sister, this place... seems... not quite right..." He Yunsheng’s voice carried a hint of a tremor, his small hand tightly gripping my sleeve, making it look as though I were the younger brother.

I patted his hand to reassure him, "Don't be afraid, Sister will protect you!" Although my own heart was fluttering with fright, I couldn't lose face!

We moved our steps cautiously, terrified of stepping on something we shouldn't.

Suddenly, my sharp eyes caught sight of a stack of papers piled in the corner, densely covered with writing.

"Great! There's definitely some juicy gossip here!" I rubbed my hands together and lunged forward excitedly, completely forgetting my fear from a moment ago.

I picked up the topmost sheet and squinted to read it in the dim light.

This...

Could it be a ledger?

I quickly flipped through a few pages, growing more and more alarmed with each one.

What this ledger recorded were actually some secret transactions within the imperial palace!

Well, well, looks like we've stirred up a hornet's nest!

Just as I was engrossed in reading, a sudden "whoosh" pierced the air. A poisoned arrow shot out from nowhere, aiming straight for my face!

"Sister, look out!" At that critical juncture, He Yunsheng shoved me aside forcefully, throwing himself in front of me instead.

"Yunsheng!" I watched helplessly as the poisoned arrow embedded itself in his shoulder, blood instantly staining his clothes.

My heart felt as though it had been violently clenched by an invisible hand, aching to the point of suffocation.

"I'm fine... Sister... I... I'm alright..." He Yunsheng's face turned pale, his lips trembling as he endured the pain to comfort me.

Tears streamed down my face instantly. What a foolish boy!

Before I could recover my wits, with a loud crash, a group of men in black burst out from the shadows, every single one of them wielding sharp blades and radiating murderous intent!

"Protect Sister!" He Yunsheng forced his body to stand upright, blocking my path.

"Bring it on! Who's afraid of whom?" I wiped away my tears and drew the dagger hidden in my sleeve.

So we're brawling?

This lady will accompany you to the bitter end!

These men in black were well-trained, and every move was meant to kill. He Yunsheng and I soon found ourselves locked in a bitter struggle.

I dodged left and right, barely managing to cope, but since He Yunsheng was injured, he was clearly starting to struggle.

Right at that moment, my peripheral vision caught sight of gold, silver, and jewels scattered across the floor, and an idea suddenly...

Flashed through my mind...

"Yunsheng, hold on! I... I've thought of a way!" Catching sight of the scattered treasure on the ground from the corner of my eye, inspiration struck me!

"Yunsheng, cover me!" I yelled. Taking advantage of the distraction while the men in black were engaged with He Yunsheng, I hunched down and darted like a nimble mouse toward the pile of gold and silver.

I wasn't going there to admire these shiny little trinkets. I was going for...

Bricks!

That's right, brick-throwing, but with treasure!

I frantically hurled the gold, silver, and jewels directly at the men in black!

"Get out of the way! Ten thousand taels of gold are going to crush you to death!"

That tactic actually worked!

When had these assassins ever encountered such a ridiculous battle tactic?

They clutched their heads and scrambled out of the way, their formation descending into complete chaos.

Seizing the opportunity, I picked up some shattered porcelain from the floor to use as hidden projectiles. "Swish, swish, swish," I flung them out, striking several assassins precisely on their pressure points.

"What the heck! Who hit me?"

"My poor back! I've strained my waist!"

The men in black wailed in unison, and their combat effectiveness plummeted instantly.

He Yunsheng was dumbfounded by this development. What kind of move was this?

However, his reaction was quick. Seizing the opening, he took down multiple assassins with a single decisive strike.

"Sister, what... what are you doing?" He Yunsheng looked at me with a bewildered expression.

I brushed the dust off my hands and smiled triumphantly, "All's fair in love and war! Who says you can't pelt people with money in a fight?"

Just as it seemed we were about to subdue all the assassins, a sudden wave of intense crisis washed over me!

Oh no!

It's a trap!

I grabbed He Yunsheng and rolled on the ground, narrowly dodging a hidden arrow.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Several more hidden arrows shot out from the dark, their targets unmistakably clear: myself and He Yunsheng!

"Who's there? Stop skulking in the shadows and get your ass out here!" I roared furiously.

A commotion stirred in the darkness, and a shadowy figure slowly stepped out, holding a bow and arrow.

As the moonlight illuminated his face, my pupils constricted instantly...

Him!

"It's you! You actually dare to show your face again!" I said through gritted teeth.

He sneered, "Lu Wan'er, He Yunsheng, you ruined my plans. Today is the day you die!"

With that, he drew his bow and aimed again... Wait! The ring on his finger... isn't that...