AUBTN -Chapter 195 Shennong Valley

He looked at Lu Yan, and a rare seriousness flashed in his eyes. “Commander Lu, I need the help of your Beizhen Fusi.”

This was the first time Shen Jue had asked Lu Yan for help in such an equal manner.

Lu Yan was slightly stunned, then said with a teasing tone, “Never thought there’d be a day when Chief Shen would come asking me for help!”

Shen Jue lowered his head and laughed helplessly, conceding, “Alright, alright—I’m asking you, okay?”

Lu Yan huffed arrogantly and turned his head. “I’m helping Miss Su, not you!”

The three of them could only shake their heads in exasperation, while Yu Qing kicked him lightly. “Look at you, all smug!”

Shen Jue stood up and walked to a large map of the capital and its surrounding areas, pointing to a marked location west of the city outskirts.

“Come take a look. Madam Lin’s estate is here. The terrain is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one road in and out—easy to defend, hard to attack. But…” His tone shifted as he circled a patch of dense forest behind the estate with his finger.

“There’s a little-known hunter’s path here that leads directly to the back mountain of the estate. I’ll personally lead a team of elite Eastern Depot agents to infiltrate from the rear. Lu Yan, you take the Jinyiwei and seal off all the main routes around the estate. Not even a fly is to escape.”

“Alright,” Lu Yan agreed without hesitation.

“What about me? What do I do?” Yu Qing asked anxiously.

Shen Jue looked at her. “You’ll accompany Wanwan.”

“In their eyes, you’re likely her personal maid. Going with her is the most reasonable choice and won’t arouse suspicion. Your task is to protect her—under any circumstances, she must not leave your sight.” Shen Jue’s gaze was sharp.

“I’ll give you a specially made signal flare. If anything goes wrong, release it immediately.”

Hearing this arrangement, Yu Qing finally relaxed a little.

As long as she could stay by Wanwan’s side, she felt at ease.

In the end, the four of them reached an agreement.

Su Hewan would feign compliance, while Shen Jue and Lu Yan secretly set up an inescapable net, preparing to uncover just who this so-called Madam Lin really was.

Two days later, a plain carriage slowly left the capital, heading toward the western outskirts.

Inside the carriage, Su Hewan and Yu Qing sat facing each other.

Su Hewan wore a simple, elegant dress, her expression calm and composed.

Meanwhile, Yu Qing tightly gripped the signal flare hidden in her sleeve, her palms slick with sweat.

“Relax a little. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’re heading to an execution ground!” Su Hewan teased, glancing at her friend.

“You don’t get it. Based on how things have gone before, we’re definitely going to get hurt again this time! I’m scared!” Yu Qing said with a pitiful expression.

Su Hewan chuckled and comforted her, “Don’t worry. Following that same pattern, we always come out of it safe in the end.”

Hearing this, Yu Qing instantly brightened. “That’s true!”

After nearly an hour of travel, the carriage finally stopped in front of an enormous estate.

At the entrance stood vermilion gates and white jade stone lions—grand and imposing, completely at odds with the supposedly low-profile identity of a Jiangnan merchant’s widow.

Yet the gates stood wide open, with no servants and no signs of life.

Su Hewan and Yu Qing exchanged a glance before stepping inside.

Inside the estate, every step revealed a new scene—pavilions, terraces, flowing streams, and arched bridges, all arranged with exquisite elegance.

And yet, despite its vast size, the estate was eerily silent—not a single person in sight.

An unsettling emptiness lingered everywhere.

The two of them wandered through it like a maze.

“Wanwan, what’s going on? Why is there no one here?” Yu Qing panted, bracing her hands on her knees.

“Be careful. It could be a trap,” Su Hewan said softly.

As she spoke, her gaze fell on a waterside pavilion ahead. Its door was slightly ajar, and a faint scent of sandalwood drifted out from within.

Instinctively, Yu Qing stepped in front of Su Hewan, lowering her voice. “Wanwan… do you think this Madam Lin might have set us up?”

Su Hewan gently patted her hand in reassurance, took a deep breath, and said, “Come on, let’s check over there.”

The two of them walked toward the waterside pavilion.

Su Hewan looked at the half-closed door, then pushed it open and stepped inside.

“Is anyone here?” Yu Qing called out, raising her voice as she looked around.

The room was empty.

“Stop asking. There’s no one here,” Su Hewan said.

“What’s going on?” Yu Qing began searching the room.

Su Hewan noticed a square pearwood table placed in the center.

On it lay a letter and an antique rosewood box.

Her heart sank as she stepped forward.

She picked up the letter first.

There was no sender’s name on the envelope—only the words: For Miss Su to open personally.

She opened it. The handwriting was exactly the same as on the previous invitation.

“Miss Su, upon reading this letter, I will already be elsewhere and unable to meet you in person. I ask for your forgiveness. Inviting you here was not meant to test or harm you—it was out of necessity. Some truths buried for twenty years cannot be spoken in the capital.”

“I know you carry countless questions in your heart. About your identity, about the annihilation of the Su family, about the origin of the jade pendant you wear… All of these answers will be revealed to you in one month.”

“One month from now, Shennong Valley will host its once-in-a-decade Medicine King Assembly. I will be waiting for you there. As long as you come, I will tell you every secret—and present you with a great gift… something you would never expect, yet rightfully belongs to you.”

“The token inside the box on the table shall serve as proof of this appointment. Remember, the road to Shennong Valley is fraught with danger—take utmost care. —Lin”

Su Hewan held the letter, her mind filled with doubts.

Shennong Valley? Medicine King Assembly?

Her gaze fell on the rosewood box.

Yu Qing leaned over. “What does it say?”

Su Hewan handed her the letter while opening the box herself.

Inside lay a jade pendant.

The moment she saw it clearly, her breath caught.

This dragon-pattern jade pendant was exactly the same size and shape as the phoenix-pattern jade pendant she wore!

Su Hewan removed the warm phoenix pendant from around her neck and carefully placed it together with the dragon pendant from the box.

They matched perfectly—forming a flawless circle.

Dragon and phoenix in harmony—they were a pair!

“They’re identical!” Yu Qing exclaimed.

Su Hewan stared at the pendants, deep in thought.

“It seems the original host’s identity is far from simple.”

And Shennong Valley… seemed to be the final key to unlocking all these mysteries.

“Wanwan, are… are you okay?” Yu Qing asked worriedly, seeing her pale face.

Su Hewan slowly shook her head and put away the letter.

“Let’s go back,” she said hoarsely.

That night, the study in Yu Garden remained lit the entire time.

Su Hewan placed the letter and the dragon jade pendant on the table. Shen Jue and Lu Yan’s expressions grew extremely grave.

Shen Jue picked up the dragon pendant, his fingers tracing its intricate carvings. His eyes were as dark and unfathomable as ink. He had already guessed the truth—but now that the evidence lay before him, the weight of it still pressed down on him, almost making it hard to breathe.