Chapter 244 Former Friends of the Previous Dynasty

Qin Feng drew in a sharp breath of the mountain’s cold wind. When he looked at Su Hewan again, the fervor in his eyes could no longer be hidden, and even his voice carried an uncontrollable excitement.

“Our Xunlong Guard has always followed only the orders of the emperors of Great Yan. We are the emperor’s closest secret guards—no room for deception whatsoever.”

He paused, his tone sinking, layered with the weight of years: “Great Yan may be gone, but our mission has never faltered.”

“All these years, we’ve hidden in the shadows, never ceasing to search for Zhao Xie, determined to kill that treacherous villain and avenge the late emperor and empress.”

At this point, his voice trembled sharply. He stepped forward half a pace, urgency twisting his tone: “But there’s something even more important—we’ve been searching all this time for the princess who’s been scattered in exile!”

He fixed his gaze on Su Hewan, his eyes unwavering: “Zhao Xie is dead, but the new emperor is too young, the court is rife with scheming, and the southern border—indeed, the whole realm—will soon descend into chaos again!”

Then he cast a sidelong glance at Shen Jue and Lu Yan beside Su Hewan, full of disdain.

“These two by your side—one controls the court as the Dongchang Supervisor, the other serves the new emperor as a Jinyiwei Commander—they’re all lackeys of the current regime. You, Princess, have a historic enmity with them; you cannot stay with them!”

“Princess, please come with us. We’ll take you somewhere absolutely safe!”

The moment he spoke, the air around them seemed to freeze; even the wind felt frozen.

Lu Yan’s hand clenched the hilt of his blade, knuckles white, and his gaze was as sharp as the steel he held. Coldly, he cursed Qin Feng: “Audacious words. You’ll never take her away!”

Shen Jue, on the other hand, let out a soft, chilling laugh that sent shivers down the spine. He strolled forward slowly, standing in front of Su Hewan. Casually brushing his fingers against his chin, his lazy tone hid a deadly edge:

“Just you pack of orphaned dogs without a backer, and you dare to come snatch someone from me?”

“She’s mine as long as she lives, and even in death, it will be before me. She goes nowhere else.”

Qin Feng showed no fear at all. He straightened his back, meeting Shen Jue’s murderous gaze, then turned to Su Hewan.

“Princess, you must come with us.”

“There is an old acquaintance who has been waiting for you… for sixteen whole years.”

Su Hewan’s brows furrowed sharply, and her mind instantly erupted with questions.

Old acquaintance? Waiting sixteen years?

The original self was only sixteen or seventeen… so this person has been waiting since she was born?

Who on earth could it be?

Beside her, Yu Qing stomped her feet anxiously, shaking the hem of her dress. She could hardly contain her urge to rush forward and drag Qin Feng to get answers.

Oh my gosh, I’m dying of suspense! Is it the second male lead or the big boss?! Author, stop teasing and just tell us!

Shen Jue’s ears twitched; he had heard every doubt racing through Su Hewan’s mind.

“Who is this old acquaintance you speak of?”

Su Hewan gently pushed Shen Jue’s arm aside, leaning out from behind him. She fixed her gaze on Qin Feng and asked, word by word, her voice brimming with barely-contained tension.

The night wind swept across, carrying black dust from the ground, swirling over them.

Qin Feng looked at Su Hewan’s face, which bore a striking resemblance to the late empress, and slowly bent his body slightly, his voice filled with both reverence and emotion.

“When you meet him, you will naturally know.”

“The jade pendant around your neck… he personally placed it on you back then.”

Su Hewan instinctively lowered her head, her fingers brushing the mutton-fat jade inside her collar.

So this jade isn’t just a protective charm—it’s a death warrant.

Shen Jue could clearly read her thoughts. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a dark current surged within them.

He knew all too well that if this matter wasn’t clarified, Su Hewan definitely wouldn’t give up.

Without showing any emotion, he grabbed Su Hewan’s wrist—not with great force, but tightly enough—then looked at Qin Feng and said coldly, “Lead the way.”

“I want to see who dares to play tricks here, stealing people right under my nose,” Lu Yan snorted, reaching out to grab Yu Qing’s hand. His voice was deep and serious. “Come with me. I want to see what kind of person—or thing—this is.”

Normally, the two of them fought like sworn enemies, their stances completely opposed. Yet on the matter of protecting Su Hewan and making sure she didn’t go alone, they were unexpectedly united.

Qin Feng took a long, steady look at these two infamous figures of the court and said nothing more, instead raising his hand to give a subtle signal.

The rest of the Dragon-Seeking Guards immediately sprang into action and quickly took control of the dilapidated Valley of Medicinal Men, without making a single sound.

The battle had finally ceased. Qin Feng and his team appeared to be escorting them from the front, but in reality, it was half protection, half detention. Su Hewan and the others followed the group, entering deeper into the valley.

No one spoke along the way; the oppressive silence was almost unbearable. Not even the birds dared to call out, leaving only the crunch of broken twigs underfoot.

Yu Qing clung tightly to Lu Yan’s arm, her body tense, barely daring to breathe, her mind racing.

What is this supposed to be! We just escaped the Valley of Medicinal Men, and now we’re going into another wolf’s den? This is too much!

Wanwan is a former dynasty princess, Shen Jue is the current Eastern Depot’s supervisor… this is basically a modern Romeo and Juliet. It’s way too cruel!

Lu Yan, listening to the mental chatter, clenched his jaw tighter, his expression darker, yet he didn’t loosen his grip on Yu Qing’s hand.

The group traversed the uneven mountain path for nearly two hours. Night was nearly falling when a sudden roar of rushing water shattered the silence.

Looking up, a massive waterfall plunged from the sky, water gushing violently like the Milky Way tipping downwards. The mist blasted against their faces, obscuring all vision in a white haze.

Qin Feng approached the waterfall and, standing on a moss-covered boulder, rhythmically struck it three times with just the right force.

The waterfall, which had been roaring down, suddenly parted in the middle, revealing a narrow passage wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The mist clung to their faces, cool and refreshing.

“Princess, please,” Qin Feng bowed respectfully.

Su Hewan paused, looking at Qin Feng seriously. “Don’t call me ‘Princess.’ Just call me Miss Su.”

“Yes,” Qin Feng said, but his expression showed he hadn’t taken it to heart, still behaving with the respect of a servant toward his master.

Taking a deep breath, Su Hewan suppressed her nervousness and stepped into the water curtain. The mist dampened her hair slightly. Shen Jue stayed close, unwavering, firmly protecting her, wary of any slip or collision.

After passing through the dark, damp narrow tunnel, the scenery suddenly opened up.

It was a small, secluded village, houses arranged neatly—nothing like the wild mountains outside.

Who would have guessed that deep within the terrifying mountains of southern borders, there could be a place resembling a hidden paradise?

They say great concealment hides in the city, small concealment hides in the wild. This must be the true Shennong Valley. The outer valley occupied by Zhao Xie was just a decoy to draw attention, Yu Qing thought quietly.

Shen Jue cast a casual glance at the people working in the fields and a cold smirk appeared on his lips.

These people were steady on their feet, their hands covered in thick calluses. Even the way they swung their hoes was trained, martial in posture—not ordinary farmers at all.

Lu Yan, as commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, immediately saw through them. His gaze was sharp; he knew these people were all trained former dynasty officials and their descendants.

Qin Feng ignored their glances and the hidden ridicule, respectfully leading the way ahead.

They followed the village path until finally stopping at an elegant, quiet bamboo house halfway up the mountain.

“Your Highness, the old acquaintance you are waiting for is inside.”

Su Hewan’s heart inexplicably quickened. A mix of leftover emotions from the original owner stirred within her—nervousness, anticipation.

Just as she was about to step inside, Qin Feng suddenly extended his arm, blocking Shen Jue, Lu Yan, and Yu Qing with a resolute expression and a cold gaze.

“The princess may enter, but the three of you cannot.”

“This is a secret place of our Dragon-Seeking Guards. You, as current dynasty officials, may not step inside even a single foot.”