FBC – Chapter 253 He is Mu Junyan!

Guanshan Tower was located between the front courtyard and Wenhan Pavilion.

Recently, the gates of Guanshan Tower had been tightly shut, guarded around the clock.

Today, with the sudden outbreak of fire, the guards had been reassigned to protect Wenhan Pavilion and Xiangrui Hall, as well as Jianyun Hall, where Gu Hua’s two younger brothers lived.

Chu Huai, who had just entered the mansion today, was also stationed at Jianyun Hall.

As a result, no one was guarding Guanshan Tower.

This was precisely why Mu Junyan had come to inspect it.

If someone wanted to harm the Mu family, besides setting fires or uncovering the truth about his survival, his study would likely be the place they most wanted to reach.

As soon as Mu Junyan entered the courtyard, he noticed the tightly closed gate and open windows.

Pushing the door open, he immediately smelled the presence of strangers.

Just as he thought!

He moved quietly inside.

Inside the study, a shadow was rifling through the desk. Suddenly, it sensed someone behind and spun around, leaping out of the open window.

Mu Junyan simultaneously raised his hand, firing a hidden arrow from his sleeve, hitting the intruder squarely in the thigh.

Immediately after, five or six masked men rushed in from outside, surrounding Mu Junyan from all directions.

Another person dragged the wounded accomplice away.

Mu Junyan’s eyes darkened.

As expected, they were here for the study!

He fought five attackers alone, and the combat was nearly evenly matched.

Mu Junyan was secretly shocked—these were all experts. Could the Jiang family have secretly raised their own assassins?

But at this moment, he couldn’t leave to alert others.

The attackers seemed anxious, striking viciously, every move reckless and deadly.

Suddenly, one of them gasped in a low voice: “He’s Mu Junyan! He’s not dead! Kill him!”

Mu Junyan knew that prolonging the fight would be disadvantageous. Besides the study, there might be assassins elsewhere. He worried for his mother and Gu Hua.

He had to finish this quickly!

With a sudden roar, he ignored the attacks from other directions and launched an assault directly at the assassin by the door.

The same man shouted sharply: “Don’t let him escape!”

Unexpectedly, Mu Junyan’s sword tip twisted, and in the blink of an eye, he was right in front of the man.

The man froze in shock, stumbling back and leaving an opening.

Mu Junyan bellowed and struck with the force of a descending beast.

Before the man could shout, the sword was at his throat.

Mu Junyan swung his sword in a wide arc, the terrifying killing aura honed on the battlefield cutting through enemies like a storm.

Two screams later, two more fell.

He fired three more hidden arrows, then used their evasive movements to turn and dash for the courtyard gate.

Suddenly, three figures sprinted toward him, stopping dead in their tracks.

Mu Junyan recognized them—Gu Ruiwen, Gu Jinwen, and Chu Huai.

Their residence, Jianyun Hall, was right next to Guanshan Tower on the left.

Gu Ruiwen reacted first, jumping and screaming: “Intruders! Someone, help! Thieves have broken in!”

Gu Jinwen, nervously clutching his brother’s sleeve, shouted in a trembling, piercing voice: “Thieves! Masked thieves!”

Chu Huai didn’t hesitate—he drew a dagger and charged at Mu Junyan.

Mu Junyan: “…”

He barely had time to think before kicking him away, worried that the assassins would target the three of them. He shouted sternly: “Go back, or I’ll kill you!”

Then he turned and ran toward the main gate.

Gu Ruiwen and Gu Jinwen screamed, wanting to help Chu Huai, when suddenly several masked figures rushed out from inside. All were terrifying, masked, and furious, frightening the two brothers into collapsing to the ground.

Chu Huai ignored the pain in his stomach, grabbing the two and dragging them back.

Fortunately, the three masked men did not attack them but pursued the first intruder.

The three huddled together, trembling, while Chu Huai tried to calm himself.

“We must find a way to send a message. The mansion needs to know this isn’t just a fire—assassins have infiltrated.”

The Gu brothers were so scared they were chattering their teeth.

“Assass-assassins? Just now… those were assassins?”

Chu Huai: “Why else would they wear masks?”

Gu Jinwen’s legs went weak: “B-But they seem really strong.”

Chu Huai’s chubby face tightened: “They want to kill Madam!”

“Ah! Kill my sister? That can’t happen!”

Gu Ruiwen scrambled to his feet: “I’ll go send a message.”

Gu Jinwen also struggled to get up: “I-I’ll go too…”

But he collapsed as his legs gave way.

Chu Huai grabbed him: “We’ll split into three. Tell anyone from the Mu mansion you see to protect Madam immediately.”

Gu Ruiwen, familiar with the mansion and worried about Gu Jinwen’s fear, said: “I’ll find Steward Zhou; Jinwen, you go to Mother.”

Chu Huai: “Then I’ll head to the gate to find someone.”

With that, Gu Ruiwen and Chu Huai split up and ran.

Gu Jinwen stood frozen for a moment, mouth opening to cry, then embarrassed, quickly covered it, stumbling toward Xiangrui Hall.

Mu Junyan dashed to the rear training ground. He suddenly stopped, eyes like a hunting leopard fixating on the approaching figures.

Ha, more people joined!

“You’re from the Jiang family.”

The attackers froze but said nothing, tightening their circle around him with weapons ready.

Mu Junyan smiled, his sword striking him into the air.

Simultaneously, a dozen shadows leaped from all sides toward them.

The masked assassins seemed unprepared for the ambush, showing signs of panic.

“Kill him!”

The leader shouted, charging at Mu Junyan with a sword.

…

Chu Huai didn’t know the layout of the Duke Yong’s mansion well, but he remembered the direction of the main courtyard.

The fire soldiers were stationed for firefighting; he could alert them to inform the Kaifeng Prefecture and city guards.

He quickly reached the main courtyard and saw someone in a commander’s uniform standing there, scanning the area.

A black-clad man stood beside him, expressionless.

Chu Huai rushed over, panting: “Sir! Sir! There are assassins!”

The man immediately turned, grabbing Chu Huai’s arm: “Assassins? Where?”

Chu Huai pointed toward Guanshan Tower, gasping: “Over there! Several of them, all very skilled. Sir, quickly notify Kaifeng Prefecture and the palace guards! Madam and the matriarch are in danger!”

The commander looked troubled: “We can’t open the gates now; the wind could spread the fire to other parts of the mansion. That would be a disaster.”

Chu Huai froze, quickly glancing at the commander, noticing the sinister look in his eyes.

This man was suspicious.

He feigned innocence: “Oh, yes, sir, you’re right.”

He slowly withdrew his arm, eyes darting around. The main courtyard was empty of Mu family members—they had likely gone to the west wing to fight the fire.

The commander, however, grabbed his arm tighter, smiling menacingly: “Which young master are you of the Duke Yong’s mansion?”

Fearing he might be Jiang family, Chu Huai naturally didn’t reveal his identity.

“I’m just a servant, responsible for cleaning the outer courtyard.”

The commander stared at his chubby face and pale fingers.

A cleaning boy?

He smiled faintly, unnerving Chu Huai.

But his grip only tightened.

Looking down at Chu Huai, half his height, the commander sneered: “You’re Chu Huai, right? How did you get into the Duke Yong’s mansion? Do you know the Jiang heir is looking for you?”

Chu Huai turned pale with fear.

The commander shoved him aside.

The tall black-clad man grabbed Chu Huai by the collar and began dragging him out.

Chu Huai struggled and screamed: “No! I don’t want to go! Let me go!”

The man’s strong arm clamped around his neck, silencing him instantly, then carried him out.