Chapter 142: What Are You Doing?

However, Xiu Yan was blocked head-on by Yuan Qianlü at that very moment.

"Young Master Xiu."

Yuan Qianlü barred his path with a drawn sword. Xiu Yan looked at him calmly.

"Is there something you need, Officer?"

"You ask if there's something I need? Don't take me for a fool. I advise you to stay out of the business concerning Si Xueyi from now on. This is well beyond your capability to meddle with."

Yuan Qianlü sneered as he stared at Xiu Yan.

"Even so, I see no reason to hold my tongue. What is this truly about regarding Si Xueyi? She is merely an ordinary woman."

"Whether she is ordinary or not is none of your concern."

Yuan Qianlü seemed completely indifferent to his words. If he didn't eliminate Xiu Yan beforehand, the latter would inevitably interfere when they finally made their move against Si Xueyi.

Therefore, dividing and conquering was a sound strategy.

"I will not allow you to harm her."

"I apologize, but I am merely following orders. Today I offer you two choices. First, you leave this place and wash your hands of Si Xueyi. I give you my word that her life will not be in danger. Second, you pay a small, painful price. Well? Which will it be?"

Yuan Qianlü glared at him, reluctant to resort to violence. Yet, if push came to shove, he would not hesitate to fight back.

And so, amidst the flashing of blades, Xiu Yan proved to be utterly defenseless and was brought down without exception. After all, Yuan Qianlü had brought over thirty men, not to mention his own formidable martial arts. Xiu Yan was clearly no match for him.

"Tie him up and throw him onto the carriage. Take him as far away as possible so he can no longer meddle in our affairs. Dumping him in Liang City would be quite ideal."

Liang City was a vast distance away, making any attempt at pursuit practically impossible. Yuan Qianlü instructed his men to bind him tighter still, ensuring there would be no chance of escape along the road.

With that taken care of, he could now deal with Si Xueyi directly. A cruel smile crept onto his lips at the thought.

Yuan Qianlü had truly changed from who he once was. In the past, he had been as calm as still water, simply obeying orders without a second thought.

Yet Si Xueyi had transformed him, gradually awakening the beast slumbering within his heart.

He arrived at the small town and secured a lodging at the very same inn.

Si Xueyi had not yet discovered his presence, though her instincts were exceptionally keen. Relying on her heightened sixth sense, she vaguely sensed someone closing in on her. Thus, she began to watch the inn closely for any signs of anomaly.

She found the people here rather strange, yet could not quite pinpoint why.

Her intuition warned her that she was being targeted, and that danger might already be at her doorstep.

What should she do? Rushing out blindly right now was out of the question. But how could she slip away? Si Xueyi found herself cornered.

There was no point in fighting a caged beast's desperate battle. Choosing to take things as they came, she went to sleep as usual, showing no outward sign of alarm. The next morning, she woke up, finished breakfast, and left the inn.

Yet that lingering sense of unease had not faded since the previous day, even though nothing untoward had happened yet.

Her heart remained in turmoil, her eyes darting nervously around her. Imperial guards were stationed everywhere, yet none approached her. This psychological torture wore heavily on her nerves. She grew increasingly certain that Yuan Qianlü had tracked her down. So why hadn't he made a move yet? Why?

She simply could not fathom why Yuan Qianlü was holding back.

She continued walking forward until dusk fell, finally spotting Yuan Qianlü waiting for her in a secluded area.

"Do you find tormenting me amusing? You found me out long ago, yet you only show yourself now?"

Si Xueyi glared at him. Yuan Qianlü sneered as he strode up to her, hoisted her over his shoulder without a word, and tossed her into the carriage before climbing in after her. A guard took the reins at the front.

"Let me go!"

Si Xueyi snapped impatiently. Unfazed, Yuan Qianlü pulled out a cord and bound her hands together tightly, pulling the knots so fierce that her skin instantly flushed red.

"Very well, I can let go now."

Yuan Qianlü released her and sat down opposite her. Si Xueyi stared at him. "How did you manage to find me?"

"Finding you is actually a very simple matter. The moment you parted ways with Xiu Yan, I had already located you."

"Then why didn't you make your move back then?"

"Make a move? Hmph, with a martial artist lingering by your side, why would I act rashly? Besides, watching you squirm was rather entertaining. You had no way of escaping anyway, so what reason did I have to rush?"

"Then why appear now?"

"Why? Because you've finally figured it out!"

"Phantom, it was clearly your own deliberate flaws that tipped me off. But I must be a fool to have walked right into this."

Si Xueyi glared at him.

"No one escapes my grasp. Do you have any idea how thrilled I was when you managed to slip away from me last time?"

"Ha? Thrilled? You looked like you were about to cry. Is this kind of machismo supposed to make sense? Bullying a woman, and not just any woman—I happen to be the elder sister of Si Nuosang, and the sister of your Princess consort. Is this how you treat a superior?"

Si Xueyi arched an eyebrow, fixing him with a sharp look.

"My apologies, but I'll repeat myself. I am merely following orders, so this responsibility does not fall on my shoulders. His Highness will bear the burden. Furthermore, His Highness has no intention of letting the two of you meet. Not in this lifetime."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Are you joking? Someone capable of keeping us sisters apart simply does not exist. However, wasting so many words on a minor pawn like you is already far too generous. From this moment on, I refuse to speak to you."

Si Xueyi's gaze was dripping with undisguised contempt, an attitude that deeply irritated Yuan Qianlü. He reached out and grabbed her bound wrists.

Because her hands were tied together, a single yank from Yuan Qianlü jerked both her arms straight up above her head.

"What do you think you're doing? Have you no manners? Let go!"

Si Xueyi fell back on her lawyer's demeanor to lecture him. Yet in Yuan Qianlü's eyes, her expression was still filled with defiance and disdain. Irritated, he grabbed another length of rope and tied her bound hands directly to the carriage roof, leaving her suspended in the air.

The position was intensely uncomfortable, especially since she was not physically agile.

"Manners? I am nothing more than a brute; what manners could I possibly have? If you dare provoke me again, I will teach you the true meaning of manners."

At that, Si Xueyi rolled her eyes in exasperation. She wasn't particularly afraid of him; she was simply exhausted.

The carriage rocked violently, failing to offer a single moment of smoothness, which made the ordeal truly agonizing. Yet she gritted her teeth, determined not to utter a single plea for mercy.

Yuan Qianlü simply moved outside, sitting up front to drive the carriage alongside the coachman—out of sight, out of mind.

Si Xueyi's constitution was merely average. After hours of enduring this bumpy journey, she felt as though her arms were about to tear out of their sockets. She couldn't lower her body without straining her wrists, yet standing upright caused her to be thrown violently about by the swaying carriage.