IDWBE -Chapter 174 Luring the Snake Out

“Is that all you’ve got? Have you forgotten? You were already a defeated subordinate,”

The woman looked at Hong Ying with an expressionless face and said coldly, “Last time I didn’t kill you and let you escape. This time, you won’t have that chance.”

Hong Ying snorted coldly. “Last time was last time. This time is this time. Senior Sister, you shouldn’t be careless.”

“Last time?”

Lin Yi felt a faint understanding, frowning. “You’re from the Jizhao Nunnery?”

“You’re not too stupid,” the woman said with a faint smile. “I haven’t descended the mountain in thirty years. I never imagined that my first time coming down would be here. I only hope all living beings are safe and warm. Coming down the mountain is worth the effort.”

“You Jizhao Nunnery really are something,”

Lin Yi ground his teeth. “Colluding with foreigners! Your intentions are despicable, your crimes inescapable! And you call this saving the people of the world?”

To think you’d come with the Ayu people to assassinate me! You’ve got no shame!

“Prince He must be mistaken. I just happened to encounter the Ayu people,” the woman smiled. “Although I pride myself on my martial skills, I cannot just enter the camp at will. Today, the Ayu people gave me an opportunity. If anyone’s to blame, it’s your own bad luck, Prince He. Today, I am here to take your life.”

“Fine,”

Lin Yi sighed. “Senior Sister, if you want to kill me, at least let me understand why. Who sent you to kill me? Prince Yong? I haven’t offended him, have I? Why force this so bitterly?”

Other than Prince Yong, Lin Yi could think of no one.

“Jizhao Nunnery has never taken orders from anyone,” the woman said proudly. “Besides, Prince Yong is benevolent—how could he turn against Prince He?”

“Then why are you targeting me?”

Lin Yi was truly angry. “Are you really this bold? I’m a vassal prince. Killing me is treason! Is Jizhao Nunnery really in such a hurry?”

“Prince Yong wouldn’t kill you, but Jizhao Nunnery must consider him. Fewer obstacles for Prince Yong are better,” the woman changed her tone. “Speaking of courage, it is you, Prince He, who is bolder. Colluding with the Administration Office, imposing taxes at will—what you’ve done in Sanhe is no different from treason.”

Lin Yi bristled at her words. “If we’re talking threat, isn’t the Crown Prince more dangerous? Why trouble me instead of dealing with the obvious? How did I accidentally become Prince Yong’s rival?”

Something about this plot development seemed off.

The woman said meaningfully, “The Crown Prince wouldn’t go in person.”

“Hmm?”

Lin Yi instantly understood.

The Crown Prince has no military power, no soldiers. With the old emperor seriously ill, there’s no leverage—it’s just a paper tiger.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi has his fief, troops, supplies, and an uncle commanding significant forces.

Although that uncle is closer to Prince Yong, he’s still a variable.

“What about the Seventh Prince, Prince Nanling?”

Lin Yi grew curious. He also went to his fief, with his grandfather Mei Jingzhi backing him.

Mei Jingzhi was far more reliable than his own uncle and a loyal supporter of the Seventh Prince.

“Hmph,” the woman sneered. “Prince Nanling doesn’t have your skill in winning hearts. Even my respected senior sister has a close bond with you and is helping you wholeheartedly. Moreover, the people of Baiyun City all praise you highly.”

After speaking, she turned her head to look at Consort Wen, slowly walking into the tent.

Consort Wen smiled. “I never expected to meet my junior sister here—how delightful.”

“Junior sister?”

Although Lin Yi had anticipated it, hearing “senior sister, junior sister” from their mouths still shocked him.

These women… how were they raised? Each looked like a young maiden, delicate as a flower, smooth and radiant!

“Indeed, she is Jingkuan, head of Jizhao Nunnery, my good junior sister,”

Consort Wen continued. “She’s one of the few Grandmasters of our great Liang Kingdom.”

“My apologies, my apologies!”

Lin Yi suddenly felt a bit flustered.

Last time, Ye Qiu and Hong Ying were injured by this woman; Hong Ying nearly lost half his life.

Lin Yi cupped his hands. “Senior sister, junior sister, we’re all family. Why fight? How about turning swords into peace?”

“What do you think?”

Jingkuan suddenly swung her palm toward Lin Yi.

Without any warning, Hong Ying stepped in to block and swung a palm as well.

“Oh? I didn’t expect you eunuch to progress so quickly; I miscalculated,”

Jingkuan said as her right palm clashed with Consort Wen’s, and her left forced back Hong Ying. “Today, I won’t let you live either!”

Surrounded by the two, Lin Yi remained calm.

“No warning, just attack? No ethics!”

Lin Yi watched in horror as tables and chairs shattered, collapsing onto Xiao Xizi who was supporting him.

Every time Jingkuan advanced toward Lin Yi, Hong Ying was always in the way.

The three fought fiercely, moving so fast Lin Yi only saw afterimages.

Soon, they crashed through the tent and continued their fight outside.

“Prince, are you alright?”

Xiao Xizi hurried to reassure him. “Don’t worry. With Consort Wen and the commander together, this woman won’t make it out alive.”

“I’m fine. Focus on yourself,”

Lin Yi said, noticing Xiao Xizi’s wrist soaked in blood. “Go quickly, wrap it with a gourd. If you keep bleeding like this, next year today will be your memorial. If you die, I won’t even have time to burn paper for you.”

“Prince, don’t worry,” Xiao Xizi tore a strip of cloth from his robe and wrapped his wrist, smiling. “See? It’s fine. I practice martial arts; this is nothing.”

Lin Yi’s mood sank.

Since practicing the Exorcising Sword Technique, his skills had leapt ahead.

But today… just one move, and he was defeated!

This is the power of a Grandmaster!

No wonder his master always held back when sparring. If he went all out, he wouldn’t have a chance to defend!

“Still better not to be careless,” Lin Yi sighed, staring at the tent riddled with holes. “Damn it, coming here to cause trouble for me for no reason.”

He stepped outside. The dozen or so guards on duty were all lying on the ground. He rushed over to check their breathing, then collapsed to the ground in despair.

“Prince, condole them,” Xiao Xizi said. “It’s their fortune to have been able to serve you faithfully.”

“Jizhao Nunnery!”

Lin Yi trembled with rage. “This is a grudge that cannot be forgiven.”

“Prince,” Shen Chu helped the bloodied Ma Gui over. “Except for the two Earth Venerables who escaped, the rest have all been executed.”

The camp and the mountains were lit with torches, echoing with cheers and the cries of livestock.

Lin Yi said, “Treat the injured immediately. Cremate the rest, and bring back the ashes for proper burial.”

After Shen Chu and the others withdrew, he sat at the camp entrance, staring at the starry sky, ignoring He Jixiang standing before him.

“Prince,” Xiao Xizi set the table again and poured tea.

“Whose idea was this?”

Lin Yi suddenly asked.

He Jixiang knelt. “I know my crime, Prince. Please punish me!”

“Luring the snake out,” Lin Yi finally understood. “Using me as bait is fine, but you shouldn’t gamble with their lives. They left their homes to follow me to Sanhe. I already owe them. Now they’ve died—how do I explain to their families?”

With normal security—three layers inside and out, hidden and visible sentries—even Jingkuan’s immense skill wouldn’t allow her to enter the tent so openly.

There was only one possibility: he was the bait.

And the dozen guards didn’t need to die at all!

“Prince, those who achieve greatness do not worry about trivial matters!”

He Jixiang shouted. “Life and death are in fate, wealth in heaven. Prince, you need not grieve so much.”

“Ah, you’ve worked hard. You may step down,”

Lin Yi couldn’t blame He Jixiang. He had acted for Lin Yi’s sake.

Ultimately, the real culprit was himself.

Everyone suffered for him.