Chapter 117: Xue Minwen

Having a map certainly makes things easier. After effortlessly bypassing a few rooms, Yue Qi and Qin Luo were finally about to cross paths with the incoming guards.

"The puppy has already passed through. I told it to slow down, leave a trail for those chasing behind, and then jump over the wall. It should be able to escape easily now..." Hidden behind a building, the two heard the shouts drawing closer. Qin Luo spoke to Yue Qi.

"Er, that's certainly good..." Yue Qi replied, feeling a bit helpless. He thought to himself, "Is your pet an animal or a human?"

As the number of pursuers grew, Yue Qi released his mental perception. The guards indeed showed no intention of approaching them; instead, they were being led away by Qin Luo's pet. If these men knew they were being led in circles by a tiny beast, one wondered if they would be so distraught they might consider ending it all.

Once the clamor of the chase had faded, Yue Qi and Qin Luo emerged, feeling relieved. Qin Luo suddenly closed her eyes, seemingly sensing what the puppy was doing, and said, "I told the puppy to lead that group around for a while. Once we are far enough away, it will jump over the wall and leave. Those men will surely return the way they came, as there is no other exit here..."

Yue Qi nodded. He hadn't thought of that; a girl's mind was indeed more meticulous.

After studying the map for a long time, they found the dungeon located in the southwest corner of the mansion. The map was quite intuitive, showing only one path leading to it. Moreover, Qin Baihui had inexplicably drawn an "X" on that path, though the reason remained unclear.

"Could this mean there are many guards on this path? That we can't get through?" Qin Luo frowned as she glanced at the map. However, she hoped that the earlier diversion had drawn away most of the guards, allowing them to fight their way through.

The mansion was undoubtedly filled with the men of Han Zhi and Han Lü. Whether they knew Xue Minwen was being held inside or not, the Han brothers would never entrust the post to anyone but their most loyal subordinates. Otherwise, if someone were to sneak in and incite a rebellion, they would essentially be shooting themselves in the foot.

"We don't know for sure yet. Let's go see. If there are too many people, we'll have to find another way. It doesn't look like a long distance to the dungeon from here. It's not impossible for us to storm in before they react..." Yue Qi thought about it. Killing had become an art form; to ensure the dead didn't turn into zombies, one had to at least decapitate them.

The two exchanged a look, having developed a tacit understanding over this period. They knew exactly what the other was thinking. With a surge of the Wind-Riding Spell, Yue Qi and Qin Luo sped toward the dungeon.

They didn't encounter any more groups along the way, and the one or two they did cross paths with were easily fooled. Just as they neared the only path leading to the dungeon, Qin Luo suddenly stopped!

"What is it?" Yue Qi looked at her. Qin Luo kept her eyes tightly shut, likely sensing the situation with the puppy.

"The puppy's feedback is that it has been discovered. Once they realized it was just an animal, they lost interest in chasing it and are now heading back!" Qin Luo opened her eyes abruptly and said to Yue Qi.

"Then we must hurry. We should try to kill as few people as possible. If my guess is correct, some of the dungeon guards must have gone to chase the puppy. We need to get inside before they return!" Yue Qi urged.

Qin Luo nodded. As they spoke, they arrived at the path marked with the "X" by Qin Baihui. Unexpectedly, there wasn't a soul in sight!

"What's going on? It's not what we expected!" Yue Qi frowned. Given Qin Baihui's demeanor, he must have had a reason to mark it. Perhaps he had overthought it, and the "X" didn't necessarily mean the path was dangerous. Thinking this, Yue Qi signaled for Qin Luo to follow him in.

Suddenly, a few barks rang out, and four Tibetan Mastiffs charged out from the surroundings! These were no ordinary dogs—even wolves were often no match for them. It was a mystery why the Han brothers kept such beasts.

"Watch out!" Yue Qi was startled. The dogs had spotted them, and such loud barking would surely alert others. If the people inside reacted and used Xue Minwen as a hostage, the situation would become dire!

These dogs were different from humans. Yue Qi was confident he could easily kill four martial artists of the secular world, but these four dogs were harder to deal with—their movements were incredibly fast. There was an old saying in the pugilistic world that "speed is the only path to invincibility," and this held true in the world of cultivation as well.

Just as Yue Qi prepared to engage, Qin Luo grabbed his arm.

"Leave these four little things to me..." As she spoke, Qin Luo stepped in front of Yue Qi, as if she intended to handle the four mastiffs alone!

"Don't tell me you're interested in such ugly creatures?" These mastiffs were hardly beautiful; with their dark, bluish-black fur and mouths dripping with saliva, they were chilling to behold.

"You're the one interested in them! Your whole family is interested in them!" Qin Luo retorted, shooting him a look of disdain before whistling. Yue Qi clearly saw the giant python that had been with the puppy streak out!

The python's scales seemed even more lustrous. Yue Qi had a feeling there was a slight bulge between its eyes, though it was hard to tell if it was just an illusion.

"Just leave it to my Little Black!" Qin Luo said smugly. Suddenly, the four mastiffs halted their charge, watching the sudden appearance of the giant python with caution. They clearly sensed the threat of a natural predator.

"Hurry inside! It can handle them!" Seeing Yue Qi still staring at the scene, Qin Luo tugged his arm to remind him.

"Oh, right!" Yue Qi snapped out of it, and the two raced toward the dungeon. As expected, the four mastiffs had been ordered to block the entrance, but they hadn't anticipated the giant python intercepting them.

The battle between the five beasts began, but Yue Qi didn't care to watch. Qin Baihui hadn't specified which cell held Xue Minwen, so they would have to search for themselves.

When Yue Qi entered, there was only one guard left at the entrance. Upon seeing them, the guard’s already panicked expression turned into sheer terror, and he fumbled in a panic to lock the dungeon door!

"Splat!" A blast of sword energy sent the guard's head flying. In his final moments, his eyes were filled with shock, unable to believe Yue Qi could kill him from a hundred paces away.

"The door isn't locked; someone must have gone in!" Qin Luo said after a quick glance at the man. Yue Qi didn't have time to think; he refreshed the Wind-Riding Spell on his legs and pulled Qin Luo inside.

The stench in the dungeon was unbearable. Yue Qi swore he would never come back. He held his breath, trying to make himself more comfortable, and couldn't help but want to laugh at Qin Luo’s flushed face, though he quickly realized it wasn't the time for humor.

"Creak..." The sound of a door opening echoed, and Yue Qi heard it instantly!

"It's in the very back, let's go!" Yue Qi didn't wait for Qin Luo and rushed toward the rear. The cells along the way were empty, clearly indicating this area was reserved specifically for Xue Minwen, though it was unclear where the rest of his supporters were being held.

When Yue Qi arrived, he found a guard holding a blade to a middle-aged man's throat.

"Don't come any closer! One more step and he dies!" The man had clearly guessed Yue Qi's intentions, knowing he had come to rescue his former boss.

Yue Qi didn't answer. He scanned the surroundings and noticed that the nearby cells were filled with many people. Perhaps the Han brothers were too lazy to separate them, so many were locked up together.

"Tell me, if I let everyone in these cells out, what can they do to us even if more guards come?" Seeing Qin Luo arrive, Yue Qi spoke to the man threatening him.

"Heh, that's not for me to worry about. When our two bosses send their men, you'll be trapped like turtles in a jar. You won't be able to escape even if you want to..." The man was unmoved by Yue Qi's provocation, clearly a trusted subordinate of the Han brothers.

Yue Qi frowned. The man was impervious to both threats and persuasion, making it difficult to act. With the blade pressed against Xue Minwen's throat, his life was in immediate danger.

"Li Chuang, I was the one who brought you in. Why help the Han brothers now?" Suddenly, Xue Minwen spoke, sighing as if deeply disappointed in the man.

Xue Minwen was kept in a separate cell, showing the high level of importance the Han brothers placed on him.

"This, Boss..." The young man named Li Chuang gritted his teeth. "Boss, you know I don't care about wealth or glory. I just want to live a good life and take care of my mother. The Han brothers said they are cultivators and can give me the life I want..."

"Sigh, your filial piety is commendable, but you really shouldn't have trusted those two wolves..." Xue Minwen shook his head, then suddenly made a backhand move, disarming Li Chuang. He pulled a soft sword from his waist and slashed across Li Chuang's throat.

"You... you... you were poisoned with cartilage-softening powder, how could you..." Li Chuang collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sigh, they thought they had planted men around me, but they didn't know I had done the same to them?" Xue Minwen asked rhetorically, then looked at Yue Qi and Qin Luo.

"Many thanks to the young hero and heroine for your rescue. Xue Minwen thanks you..." Xue Minwen bowed to the two, clasping his hands in gratitude.