Luring the Tiger
At the top floor of Yun Xiang Tower, a woman sat elegantly by the window, her white veil gently flowing in the soft breeze. She gazed out over the lively streets below, where the bustling energy of Luo City's business district thrived. She wore a water blue skirt that draped smoothly, and her black hair was left loose, gently tied at the bottom.
"Your Highness," a woman dressed in black called out, handing her a letter.
Feng Yao unfolded the letter and read it. At the bottom of the letter, the name "Qiu Li" was written. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips beneath her veil. As she folded the letter, she glanced across the people in the street, her gaze unintentionally locking onto a familiar figure wearing a mask—Lang Huan. The pretty boy was accompanied by several people who seemed to be from the Duke's Mansion.
Feng Yao guessed Lang Huan would make a move today. Although she didn't know the plan, she could already sense that things would not end well. She hated how Lang Huan kept pushing the limits of her patience.
Sometimes, she wondered if it would be easier to just kill this brat. If the jade flower kidnapping case wasn't handled wisely, it could easily backfire.
Feng Yao closed her eyes briefly, her thoughts unreadable. Then, in a calm tone, she spoke to the woman in black. "Ruochen, go protect Lang Huan." She pointed toward the man wearing the mask.
"Yes, Your Highness."
---
Lang Huan stood between Wang Hu and Zhou Xun, who were both in disguise. She leaned in and whispered, "Can you two at least try not to look that affectionate?"
She was utterly speechless at these two pure gay men and their painfully bad acting.
"You're supposed to be playing father and daughter—stop making people think you're committing incest!"
"Oh…" They quickly pulled away from each other and laughed dryly.
Lang Huan turned her attention back to Zhou An, who was explaining the situation. "Young Master, Xitang Street is center of the finest fashion and accessory shops in all of Great Qi. You'll see countless wealthy women shopping here," he said. "That's why this place will be a prime target for kidnappers, I suppose."
As they walked along the bustling street, Lang Huan and the others quickly spotted a group of men with fierce expressions. Their behavior was suspicious, and some of them even wore Black Tortoise uniforms. They immediately followed, while the rest of the elite forces had already taken their positions along the street.
Inside, they casually took a seat at a nearby table, pretending to be ordinary customers. Lang Huan picked up a pair of chopsticks, lazily stirring the food in front of her, while Zhou Xun and Wang Hu enthusiastically continued their ridiculous act.
"Dear daughter, you must eat more. Look at you, so frail!" Wang Hu said in an exaggeratedly deep voice, shoving a large piece of meat into Zhou Xun's bowl.
Zhou Xun, playing along, dramatically wiped his imaginary tears. "Father, forgive your unfilial daughter. At my age, no man has proposed to me yet. Am I not beautiful enough?" Then, with a shamelessly coquettish look, he fluttered his lashes and tossed a flirtatious glance toward the group of burly men.
Lang Huan nearly choked on her tea. Zhou Xun looked more like a courtesan than a prominent lady. She sighed, rubbing her chest to calm herself down.
After a moment, Lang Huan tightened her grip on her teacup, noticing the burly men whispering among themselves. Their expressions turned lecherous after Zhou Xun's flirtation. Then, one of them suddenly stood up and left without saying a word.
The man who had left still hadn't returned, making Lang Huan uneasy. She exchanged a glance with Wang Hu, both sensing that something was off.
Just as the tension thickened, a woman's scream from outside suddenly startled them. 'Help... help!' she cried.
People outside began shouting as a crowd quickly gathered. The noise grew louder with panic and confusion.
Zhou Ming stood up at once. "I'll check it out."
"I'm coming with you," Zhou An said. The two of them hurried outside, leaving Lang Huan, Wang Hu, and Zhou Xun behind.
---
Feng Yao saw the chaos unfolding in the streets below. People were running in all directions, their frightened shouts shattering the night. The lanterns began to glow, casting light over the panicked crowd. She immediately stood up. Grabbing Qiu Yue's hand, she asked urgently, "Where is Lang Huan?"
"Your Highness, please remain calm. Ruochen will protect the Young Master," Qiu Yue reassured her.
Feng Yao withdrew her hand, her expression tense. She clenched the letter on the table, her fingers trembling. "All of you, go help Lang Huan. Now!"
But instead of obeying, Qiu Yue and the other guards dropped to one knee, lowering their heads. "We can't leave. Our duty is to protect Your Highness. Please punish us instead."
Feng Yao grabbed the teapot and teacups on the table, smashing them to the floor. A Li stepped forward, trying to calm her before things got worse.
---
The three remained seated, on high alert. Their instincts told them something was coming.
And then—it happened.
The group of men sitting at the next table suddenly attacked.
Without thinking, Lang Huan kicked the table over. Dishes crashed to the floor as she and the others sprang into action. In an instant, the quiet restaurant turned into chaos.
Lang Huan, Wang Hu, and Zhou Xun fought back, but they were no match for the burly men. Their opponents were strong and skilled in martial arts. Lang Huan blocked an attack while stepping back, her baton clashing against a sword. Wang Hu took down one enemy with a strong punch, but they were outnumbered.
In the chaos, Zhou Xun tried to dodge, but a heavy slap sent his head snapping to the side. His vision blurred before everything went dark. His body went limp as he collapsed unconscious. One of the men quickly lifted him over his shoulder and rushed outside.
"Zhou Xun!" Lang Huan shouted in panic.
Lang Huan and Wang Hu sprinted after them. Wang Hu used
She suddenly stopped, realizing it was a trap. The elite forces stationed at the corners of Xitang Street had likely been lured away. Zhou Ming and Zhou An were nowhere to be seen.
Just as desperation set in, a woman's voice called out to her. Lang Huan turned to see a rider on a black horse, reaching out a hand. She grabbed it and leaped onto the horse, settling behind the woman. "Quick, let's go after them!" she commanded.
They raced into Shang Yue Forest, a place known for its ghostly rumors. As soon as they arrived, the sounds of battle reached Lang Huan's ears. She saw Wang Hu, battered and bloodied, yet still fighting bravely despite his injuries.
The woman who had ridden with Lang Huan used her qinggong, soaring through the air and diving straight into the fight to assist Wang Hu.
Lang Huan threw her mask, leaped off the horse, and rushed toward them. She struck down an enemy with a fierce swing of her baton, but before she could catch her breath, more soldiers suddenly emerged from the darkness.
Wang Hu fought fiercely. His breathing became ragged, and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. As a powerful strike landed against his chest, he stumbled backward, coughing violently before collapsing to the ground. A pool of blood stained the dirt beneath him.
Wang Hu!" Lang Huan cried out. But before she could reach him, the enemy forces closed in.
Lang Huan didn't notice the danger behind her. A man raised his sword, ready to strike. But before the blade could reach her, the woman in black moved quickly, stepping in to take the hit. The sword pierced her back, and she let out a quiet groan.
"Young Lady!" Lang Huan's eyes widened in shock. Blood seeped through her clothes, but she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay upright.
However, the fight had drained her strength. Another enemy rushed at her, and this time, she couldn't move fast enough. A second attack struck her side, making her stumble and collapsed against Lang Huan.
Lang Huan's heart raced as panic set in. They were losing, and the situation was out of control. With no choice, she pulled the woman in black closer and began running deeper into the forest,
They ran as fast as they could, but the enemies were right behind them. Suddenly, they reached the edge of a high cliff. Below them was nothing but endless darkness.
Lang Huan's chest rose and fell heavily. Anger and frustration burned inside her, but at the same time, a sharp pain spread through her body. Then, she felt it—the cold energy surging through her veins, chilling her to the core. Her fingers trembled, not from fear, but from a power awakening within her.
The Black Tortoise soldiers moved closer, their mocking laughter fueling Lang Huan's anger.
Suddenly, the air turned cold. A chilling wind roared through the trees, making them shake wildly. Lang Huan let out a chilling howl, and from an unknown direction, wolves howled in a haunting chorus, as if responding to her, one after another. Their eerie cries sent shivers down the spine, making the hair stand on end.
The soldiers looked around, their courage faltering. They had never heard the howls of wolves in Shang Yue Forest before, and the ghost stories were just tales they spread to frighten the people.