Just as his palm was about to strike down, a face suddenly flashed through his mind. He quickly changed the direction of his palm, and it whooshed past Shuang'er's face, hitting the ground beside her head and creating a large crater.
"Sir, what are you hesitating for? She has seen your face," the black - clad man gritted his teeth and said.
"I know. I don't need your reminder," the other replied.
"Then why don't you kill her? What are you waiting for?"
The black - clad man shook his head. "No, I can't kill her."
He stood up and stuffed something into the other man's hand. "You take this back and hand it to the master. I have other things to attend to."
The man beside him narrowed his eyes and didn't take the item offered. Instead, he drew his sword. "If you can't bring yourself to do it, sir, I can help you."
The black - clad man picked up the sword beside Shuang'er and pointed it at the man. "Do you think you can be a match for me?"
The man sneered. "Are you going to kill me, sir?"
The black - clad man shook his head helplessly. "You take the item back and report. I will handle everything properly."
The man still didn't give up. He continued to persuade, "Sir, don't think I don't know. This maid belongs to the Princess Regent. If you don't kill her, she will tell the Princess Regent what you did today. Once the Princess Regent knows, the Regent will know too. Then your identity will be exposed. Do you understand?"
The black - clad man closed his eyes, his face contorted in pain.
The man went on, "Sir, you know how hard you've worked to hide your identity. And it took you so much effort to gain their trust. How can you be soft - hearted at this critical moment?"
The black - clad man threw the severed head on the ground, then bent down and picked up Shuang'er in his arms. "I have my own plans. If you don't want to go back and report, that's fine. Anyway, the master will know the task is completed tomorrow."
With that, he carried Shuang'er away.
In the Regent's Mansion, Mo Qinghuan, who had been waiting for Shuang'er to come back and report, didn't know how many times she had looked towards the door.
"Something's not right. Why has Shuang'er been gone for so long?" Dan'er was also pacing anxiously at the door.
Bai Ke, a patrolman, happened to pass by. Seeing Dan'er sweating with anxiety, he stepped forward and asked, "What's going on?"
Dan'er grabbed Bai Ke's arm and then looked at Mo Qinghuan. "Your Highness, it's no use just waiting like this. Let this maid go out with Bai Ke to have a look."
"Go quickly," Mo Qinghuan, filled with worry, agreed.
Bai Ke and Dan'er left the Regent's Mansion and walked along the usual path towards the General's Mansion.
"Don't worry. She'll be fine," Bai Ke comforted softly.
Dan'er nodded, but she still couldn't calm down.
"It's all my fault. I should have come with her just now."
She wiped away her tears and didn't miss any corner.
Seeing her crying anxiously, Bai Ke felt his heart tighten.
"She must be okay. Let's go to the General's Mansion and check. Maybe she's still inside."
The two walked quickly towards the General's Mansion. Dan'er was sharp - eyed and suddenly saw the bloodstains on the ground and Shuang'er's handkerchief.
"It's Shuang'er's handkerchief!" She rushed over and knelt on the ground.
Bai Ke quickly stepped forward to help her up. But the fresh bloodstains on the ground and Shuang'er's handkerchief made it impossible for him to say that everything was okay.
"Shuang'er, don't scare sister. Where are you?" She looked around, but her tears blurred her vision, and it was so dark everywhere that she couldn't see anything.
"Dan'er, maybe Shuang'er just accidentally dropped her handkerchief. Let's go to the General's Mansion first, okay?"
Dan'er nodded and was supported by Bai Ke as they walked towards the General's Mansion.
...
In the inn, Shuang'er was lying on the bed. The black - clad man, Lu Zixiu, was sitting at the table. There was a bowl of black medicine on the table.
The girl on the bed opened her eyes. She looked around and her gaze fell on the man sitting at the table.
"Mr. Lu."
Lu Zixiu looked at Shuang'er and showed his usual gentle smile, like the warm spring breeze. But Shuang'er was extremely scared. She curled up on the bed, not daring to make a sound.
"Shuang'er, don't be afraid. You know I won't hurt you."
Shuang'er let out a sigh of relief, but soon came to her senses.
"What do you want me to do?"
Lu Zixiu smiled. "Sure enough, you're worthy of being beside Qinghuan. You're so smart. No wonder she likes you."
Shuang'er then realized that the man in front of her didn't kill her because of the Princess.
"Sir, just tell me."
Lu Zixiu picked up the bowl on the table and came to the bedside.
"Shuang'er, as long as you promise not to tell anyone what you saw today, I'll let you go."
Shuang'er recalled what she had just seen, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Lu Zixiu sat on the edge of the bed and handed the medicine to Shuang'er.
Shuang'er thought Lu Zixiu was going to poison her. She trembled and didn't dare to reach out.
"Don't worry. Drinking this medicine will only make you unable to speak for a short time. It won't be life - threatening."
She looked at the medicine doubtfully. "Sir, are you telling the truth? As long as I don't say anything, you'll let me go?"
Lu Zixiu nodded with a smile.
"Shuang'er, one should be honest. I believe you, so don't deceive me."
Shuang'er nodded seriously. "Okay, I promise you, sir. But I have to remind you that if I go back mute, I won't be able to hide this matter."
Lu Zixiu put down the medicine. "Yes, you're right. Only when you go back safely can you explain things clearly."
Shuang'er got out of bed. "I know you must be worried that I won't keep my promise. So I'll give this to you. It's the only relic of my mother. Now are you relieved, sir?"
Lu Zixiu nodded and pushed the item back. "I believe you. Go. They must be looking for you."
Shuang'er walked quickly towards the door. When she reached the door, she suddenly turned back.
"Mr. Lu, I know you like the Princess, so you won't do anything to hurt her, right?"
Lu Zixiu pondered for a moment and then nodded.
"Okay, with your words, I'm relieved. Everyone has their own secrets they don't want others to know. I do too."
She gave Lu Zixiu a sweet smile and left the inn.
By this time, Dan'er had come out of the General's Mansion.
"Shuang'er is naughty, but she never runs around. So something must have happened to her!"
She was crying like a tearful mess, and the tears kept flowing.
"Sister... sister"
Dan'er quickly wiped away her tears and ran towards the source of the sound, but only saw two homeless children in the corner.
She collapsed on the ground, scaring the two children in the corner.
The elder sister hugged the younger sister in her arms and coaxed softly, "Don't be afraid, sister is here. Sister will protect you."
Bai Ke helped her up. "Let's go back to the Regent's Mansion first. Then I'll lead some people out to look for her. Don't worry. I will definitely find your sister."
She let Bai Ke support her as they walked towards the mansion.