Chapter 692 - 691: A Formidable Lineup
Xia Wenjin found herself trapped in a net, but she didn’t panic. With the short dagger in hand, she slashed towards the net. As long as she could cut an opening, she’d be able to escape.
However, as her dagger cut at the net, it didn’t budge an inch.
Although her dagger wasn’t a divine weapon, it was extremely sharp. Clearly, the material of this net was very special. Just as she was about to exert more force, a mist suddenly rose before her eyes.
The people outside weren’t just standing by holding a large net, waiting to catch her. Once Xia Wenjin was in the net, they scattered a huge amount of sedatives.
An airtight, interlocking trap!
When the mist dispersed, Xia Wenjin felt a chill in her heart.
This trap set against her was truly seamless and intricately linked.
Xia Wenjin wasn’t an immortal; she couldn’t foresee everything. No matter how cautious she was, there’s an old saying: you can be a thief for a thousand days, but how can you defend against a thief for a thousand days? The moment she sensed unfamiliar vibes in the room, she had already sent Hong Xing and Hong Tao away to prevent any innocent casualties.
They lived far from her room, plus the two of them didn’t know martial arts and wouldn’t be alarmed.
There were a few brothers from Haotian Village in the outer courtyard, but the outer and inner courtyards were worlds apart, even further than where Hong Mei and the others stayed. The commotion here couldn’t be heard there.
Unless Xia Wenjin could send out a signal to alert them.
But clearly, the opponents were prepared for this possibility. They wouldn’t give Xia Wenjin a chance to signal, and besides, she had nothing in her hand to summon them with.
When Xia Wenjin felt something was off upon opening the door, she hesitated about entering the room. But she also knew that the moment she pushed open the door, she had to face it.
Because there were several hidden presences in the courtyard.
The skills of those who could infiltrate the inner courtyard and her room silently wouldn’t be weak, and there were no other experts in the Xia Mansion.
If she faced them alone, she could adapt spontaneously. If she left, they would know she had detected them and would certainly take more ruthless measures, acting directly in the courtyard. At that time, who in the entire Xia Mansion could escape unscathed?
Throughout the process, Xia Wenjin had already employed numerous strategies.
Just like the three people in the room hadn’t anticipated Xia Wenjin’s excellent skills, Xia Wenjin hadn’t thought Huangfu Yuxuan would go to such lengths this time.
That masked man on the back right, even with only his eyes and forehead showing, she could recognize—that was the top hidden guard, Pu Yangji, beside Huangfu Yuxuan.
This person was unpredictable. In a past life, she had tested him; he was at least at the first-class high tier.
Not only was Pu Yangji deployed, but more than one first-class expert, and even sedatives were used. No matter if Xia Wenjin entered the room or not, the outcome wouldn’t have been different, as those ambushed in the courtyard weren’t weak either.
This was indeed a foolproof setup.
The sedative powder spread like a vast cloud. Xia Wenjin quickly held her breath. With another forceful swipe infused with inner strength, the net finally moved, a single strand was broken, and hope surged in her heart as she cut again forcefully.
Finally, there was a hole in the net. Xia Wenjin rolled and escaped from under the net.
But she barely escaped the net’s enclosure; the people holding the net felt a lightness in their hands, and their companions quickly reacted. Four or five figures swiftly took positions in various spots, blocking Xia Wenjin from any means of escape.
Another first-class expert!
Even if they were only at the first-class initial tier, the lineup was already frightening.
Was Huangfu Yuxuan determined to have her?
Xia Wenjin gritted her teeth. Deploying so many experts must be half of Huangfu Yuxuan’s power. A sense of foreboding crept into her heart. Had Huangfu Yuxuan discovered something wrong, after persistently trying to force her into marriage?
He knew father’s intentions had changed, so did he act desperately, wanting to employ more forceful measures?
Now with her father and brother not in the Capital City, if he intended to do something, by the time they returned, it would be too late. Was this Huangfu Yuxuan’s plan?
Anxiety crept into her previously calm heart. Over such a long time, she had progressed step by step, probing Huangfu Yuxuan’s limits. She thought since Huangfu Yuxuan had gradually won over Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin, he should then focus on winning over her father and other uncles.
If her father agreed to cooperate with him, whether to marry her shouldn’t matter since he could marry another prominent minister’s daughter as his wife, gaining more leverage.
But evidently, she had overlooked something?
Surrendering was impossible. Until the last moment, she wouldn’t give up. Charge!
Pu Yangji also leaped out of the window to join the battle.
After being blocked back, Xia Wenjin felt a wave of dizziness in her head.
From escaping the net to charging towards a certain position, failing in one strike, and switching to another direction, in such a short time, she tried three directions and exchanged numerous blows with the opponent.
Holding one’s breath is only viable for a limited time. The mist still lingered in the air. These people had clearly taken antidotes long beforehand, but Xia Wenjin hadn’t.
Despite being cautious, she had inhaled a bit.
A wave of dizziness hit her, Xia Wenjin bit her lip to stay awake. Since she couldn’t rush out and the sedative was taking effect, a desperate struggle was meaningless.
Xia Wenjin stopped her attack, gazing directly at Pu Yangji, and said in a low voice, "You can capture me, but don’t harm anyone in the mansion; otherwise, I won’t let you go!"
Pu Yangji unexpectedly replied, "We’re only here to invite you!"
Invite?
Using such means, they called it inviting?
However, Xia Wenjin knew she had to take it step by step now. The effect of the sedative was kicking in, and she collapsed to the ground, her mind becoming less clear, ready to lose consciousness at any moment.
Xia Wenjin closed her eyes, but her right hand in her sleeve tightly clenched, digging her fingernails into her flesh, forcing herself to maintain a sliver of clarity.
Pu Yangji’s gaze fell, with a touch of complexity, on the face of the girl in the net. As expected of a woman from Jianghu, indeed the daughter of the Haotian Village Chief, she was well-educated and talented in martial arts!
Moreover, even in the moment before fainting, he hadn’t seen any panic in the girl’s eyes.
From the moment she discovered the abnormality upon entering, swiftly acted, controlled the situation, and then seized the opportunity to jump through the window, throughout the entire process, this girl remained exceptionally calm.
She never gave up the chance until the sedative took effect, and she lost the strength.
Thankfully, the master had instructed not to fail, so he took it seriously, using a butcher’s knife to kill a sparrow. Originally thinking it was unnecessary, now he felt nothing but relief.
If it hadn’t been for his caution, they really might have failed tonight.
He gave a low command, "Take her away carefully, don’t let her get hurt."
The two people who had held the net responded, carrying Xia Wenjin as they leapt onto the roof ridge.
However, just as the person was about to leave, a voice shouted, "Stop, what are you going to do?"