Chapter 606: The Final Blow
Chapter 606: The Final Blow
These torture instruments were all borrowed from the Imperial Ministry of Justice. Even seasoned soldiers would feel their legs turn to jelly at the sight of them, let alone a pretty boy.
However, to Hu Lie's surprise, Luo Shan was not only unafraid but also gave him a mocking look. "General, are you sure you want to torture me?"
Hu Lie raised the iron hook in his hand and walked up to Luo Shan. "It’s better to change your mind now."
Luo Shan smiled, lounging back in his chair, mimicking Lu Yuan’s arrogant and domineering demeanor. "General, every torture you inflict on me will be doubled and returned to Lu Qi!"
Hu Lie's expression faltered. "Is the Prince of the Commandery really in the hands of the Eldest Princess?"
Luo Shan laughed. "General, shouldn’t you have guessed by now?"
Suddenly, Hu Lie grabbed Luo Shan's collar and yanked him out of the chair, pressing the iron hook against his neck. "If you dare to harm a single hair on the Prince of the Commandery, I will cut the flesh off you and your sister and feed it to the dogs!"
Luo San was taken aback.
Just as Hu Lie thought his words had frightened him, Luo San chuckled. "So it’s feeding the dogs... I thought it would be scarier... Do you know what Lu Yuan would say?"
His smile turned cold, exuding a dangerous and carefree charm. "He would say, cut my flesh into pieces, cook it, and force me to eat it myself."
Hu Lie's eyes flickered.
Luo Shan felt the force of the iron hook loosen under Hu Lie's shock.
He pulled his collar back and idly brushed it off. "General, you might as well save your threats. No one who has been threatened by Lu Yuan will fear any other threats."
"Oh, right, Lu Yuan is actually Lu Linyuan."
He added helpfully.
How could Hu Lie not know that Lu Yuan was Lu Linyuan?
He had investigated Lu Yuan's background.
But there was a difference between hearing rumors and hearing it from the person himself.
In a daze, he caught something, narrowing his eyes. "Was it Lu Yuan who sent someone to approach the Eldest Princess?"
If that were true, it would explain why the Eldest Princess would rush to the Imperial Ministry of Justice to defend Lu Zhaoyan as soon as she returned to the capital.
"General, you are indeed perceptive."
Luo Shan admitted frankly.
Hu Lie looked at Luo Shan with suspicion. "Aren't you afraid I’ll tell the Eldest Princess?"
Luo San sat back in his chair, crossing his legs. "General, you are now the Eldest Princess's mortal enemy. She wouldn’t believe you even if you told her!"
Go ahead and tell her, let that girl have a chance to deal with you!
Hu Lie wasn’t that rash.
He calmed down, sitting back in his own chair, and coldly examined Luo Shan.
Luo Shan sighed inwardly. His attempt to stir up trouble had failed. This Hu Lie was indeed a capable general.
Hu Lie said, "You wouldn’t reveal your master to me for no reason. Speak, what do you really want?"
Luo Shan patted his clothes. "I... want... to be... ennobled as a prince!"
Hu Lie’s brow furrowed, and he rebuked without hesitation. "Nonsense! Where has a courtesan ever been ennobled as a prince?"
Luo Shan laughed. "Why is the General so agitated? It’s just a princely title. I don’t need real power, just a fief to live out my days with my little sister."
Hu Lie said angrily, "Your ambition is truly great!"
But because of this, Hu Lie believed Luo Shan's words a little more.
After all, such an outrageous demand would never be granted by the Eldest Princess, the Crown Prince, or Lu Yuan.
Luo Shan smiled. "Without great ambition, I wouldn’t have come this far."
Hu Lie snorted in disdain.
He came from a noble family and found Luo Shan’s despicable actions utterly contemptible.
But he couldn’t risk any harm coming to Lu Qi.
He weighed his chances of rescuing Lu Qi.
Luo Shan gave him a meaningful look. "Don’t waste your time guessing. You won’t find Lu Qi."
Hu Lie’s cold, fierce gaze fell on Luo Shan’s pretty face, and a flash of murderous intent crossed his mind.
He would agree for now.
If worst came to worst, he could always kill this pretty boy after rescuing Lu Qi!
Luo Shan said, "Words are not enough. We need a written agreement."
Hu Lie called for paper and pen and, together with Luo Shan, wrote a pact to secure the alliance.
Then he subtly gestured to the dark guard outside the door.
The guard understood.
Once they rescued Lu Qi, they would immediately eliminate any witnesses and destroy the evidence.
Hu Lie asked, with a nonchalant tone, "Now, can you hand over the Prince of the Commandery to this general?"
Luo Shan smiled. "I don't have the skills to sneak a person out from under the Eldest Princess's nose. I can tell you where he is, but you'll have to do the sneaking yourselves."
What was a straightforward task had somehow become a covert operation in this pretty boy's mouth!
Hu Lie was so angry he wanted to slap him silly, so hard his mother wouldn't recognize him!
"Where is the Prince of the Commandery?"
Hu Lie asked, suppressing his anger.
Luo Shan picked up the pen and wrote two characters on the paper.
---
It was a dark and stormy night.
Chen Long, carrying a sack on his shoulder, moved swiftly through the night, as if walking on flat ground despite the complex roof structures.
The person he carried, Lu Qi, wasn't so fortunate.
His stomach churned violently.
The moment he emerged from the sack, he vomited up the contents of his stomach.
They had entered the imperial city by mixing into the Eldest Princess's convoy.
No one dared to search the Eldest Princess, so they easily slipped past undetected.
Chen Long hadn't disabled Lu Qi's pressure points or drugged him.
He used pure brute force.
Resist, and he would beat you.
Lu Qi felt he had encountered a complete psychopath. Despite being severely injured in the Dragon-Trap Formation and traveling non-stop, Chen Long had somehow recovered!
"Ugh—"
Lu Qi clutched his wrist and vomited again.
Chen Long looked at him with disdain. "You're so useless."
Lu Qi gritted his teeth. "Try carrying yourself for a bit!"
Chen Long glanced at him as if he were an idiot.
Lu Qi realized he had been foolish. Who would have thought he would find himself in such a helpless situation?
Chen Long was just too strong...
Chen Long, carrying a heavy sword, stood under the sky, resembling a solitary swordsman who had been alone for millennia.
Lu Qi looked around. "Where are we?"
Chen Long replied, "The Abandoned Palace."
Lu Qi was startled. "Why did you bring me to the Abandoned Palace?"
Chen Long ignored him.
Lu Qi didn't try to escape, didn't shout, and didn't do anything reckless.
Chen Long glanced at him. "You've finally learned your lesson."
Lu Qi smiled bitterly. "Would you be well-behaved if you had three broken ribs?"
Chen Long showed no remorse in his eyes.
After what seemed like an eternity, Hu Lie finally arrived with the dark guards.
"Qi'er!"
Lu Qi jolted awake, his eyes widening. "Uncle Grandfather!"
Chen Long pressed his shoulder, staring expressionlessly at the fiercely determined Hu Lie.
Hu Lie rushed over. "Release the Prince of the Commandery! Or this general will make sure you have no place to bury your remains!"
Multiple dark guards leaped onto the roof, surrounding Chen Long.
Moreover, archers were in position.
No matter how skilled, no one could escape this trap.
"Are you Hu Lie?"
Chen Long asked.
"Who are you?"
Hu Lie countered.
Chen Long snorted. "It took you so long to get here. You're really useless."
Hu Lie was shocked.
What kind of nonsensical remark was that?
In the next instant, he saw Chen Long grab Lu Qi and jump into the dry well.
Hu Lie's face turned pale. "Qi'er—"
He lunged toward Lu Qi, but it was too late.
The two fell into the well, triggering a mechanism that led them into a secret passage, one-way and impossible to exit, renovated by the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion.
In the darkness, Meng Qianqian watched intently as Hu Lie, furious and desperate, called out for Lu Qi from the well's mouth.
Hu Lie, now, your dynasty's heir is gone.
If you want to save Lu Qi, you'll have to find the exit.
Duang! Another update has dropped. Let me check if I've received two more tickets.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
