Chapter Twenty: Perils Arise on the New Path, Yet Danger Is Ultimately Averted

I squinted and looked toward the flickering shadow not far away. "Yunsheng, look..." The shadow flashed past at incredible speed; if I hadn’t been sharp-eyed, I might have missed it entirely.

“It seems... someone is following us,” He Yunsheng also sensed something amiss, his youthful face instantly turning serious.

A pang of unease gripped me. Could it be that our secret had been exposed?

I, Lu Wan’er, prided myself on being meticulous and flawless in my actions, but in this palace, spies were everywhere.

We continued forward, pretending not to notice, though our pace quickened considerably.

The stealthy sounds behind us grew louder and more frequent—there was more than one shadow trailing us!

Goodness, were they coming in a group to capture me?

I cursed inwardly but kept my expression calm.

As we walked, the trees thickened and the path narrowed until, unknowingly, we had entered a secluded mountain valley.

No way forward, enemies closing in from behind—this was a trap, a perfect ambush!

I felt a chill run down my spine; it was like stepping into a live-action deathmatch.

“Sister, it looks like they’ve surrounded us...” He Yunsheng’s voice trembled. He, too, had sensed the danger.

I squeezed his hand, offering a reassuring look.

Surrounded or not, who am I?

I am Lu Wan’er, the one who carved a bloody path through the imperial harem!

Back when I was at the Laundry Bureau, I could even snatch soap with ease—let alone a few lowly henchmen!

At that moment, a tall figure dressed in black stepped forward from the crowd. His imposing stature and mask concealed his face, but the chilling aura he radiated sent shivers down one’s spine.

“You shouldn’t have left the palace,” his voice was low and hoarse, as if emerging from the depths of hell.

“You know too much.”

I sneered inwardly. Know too much?

Know about your corruption, bribery, and abuse of power?

Know about your collusion and deceit?

“Brother, you can eat messily, but don’t speak recklessly! We’re just ordinary folks; how much could we possibly know?” I feigned ignorance, trying to bluff my way out.

“Enough nonsense!” The man in black waved impatiently. “Seize them!”

He Yunsheng immediately stepped in front of me. Though small, his frame radiated strength.

“Don’t hurt my sister!” Though afraid, he bravely stood his ground.

I felt a surge of warmth. This little kid had a surprising sense of loyalty!

Just as a fierce battle seemed inevitable, a sudden idea sparked in my mind.

“Wait!” I shouted, drawing everyone’s attention.

“I know a secret...” I lowered my voice mysteriously. “A secret about a treasure...”

Sure enough, the words “treasure” caught the black-clad men’s interest instantly—their eyes gleamed like hungry wolves spotting prey.

I smirked inwardly; indeed, no one could resist the lure of wealth!

Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, I quietly activated my special ability—terrain scanning mode.

Heh, this valley seemed sealed off but actually hid secrets.

Sure enough, a narrow path concealed behind vines appeared in my “vision.”

I whispered to He Yunsheng, “Yunsheng, see those vines over there? There’s a path behind them. Let’s dash through!”

Though young, He Yunsheng’s reflexes were surprisingly sharp, and he nodded eagerly.

I took a deep breath and shouted, “Now, run!” Then I grabbed his hand and charged toward the passage.

The men in black were clearly caught off guard, hesitating before drawing their swords and giving chase.

The path was narrow and dark, just wide enough for two to walk side by side.

Their bulky frames hampered their movement—a natural disadvantage!

As we ran, I set “little surprises” behind us—carefully placed stones to trip them up.

“Ouch!” “My goodness!”

Behind us echoed a chorus of pained yells, making me laugh aloud.

He Yunsheng could barely hold back his laughter; his shoulders shook.

This little rascal had a good sense of humor after all!

But the men in black were no fools; they quickly changed tactics, no longer pursuing blindly but spreading out to encircle us.

This was getting tricky...

Then, suddenly, He Yunsheng exploded with energy!

His movements became astonishingly agile, like a nimble young leopard, dodging left and right, striking with fists and kicks, sending the black-clad men reeling!

I stared in disbelief.

Was this really the timid little brother I knew?

Could he be some martial arts master disguised as a fool?

In the end, the men in black saw the tide turning, dropped their weapons, and fled in disorder.

Whew... we had finally escaped.

We found a safe spot to rest. I looked at He Yunsheng and couldn’t help but ask, “Yunsheng, when did you become so strong?”

He scratched his head shyly and smiled, “I’ve been practicing all along, just... never had the chance to show it.”

Me: “...” Alright, I’ve been blind.

With the pursuers gone, we finally enjoyed genuine peace.

Each day we rose with the sun and rested at dusk, savoring freedom and happiness.

“Sister, look...” He Yunsheng suddenly said, pointing into the distance...