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At this time, the night market was bustling, and the street was crowded with carriages and pedestrians. As a result, Nangong Li's carriage moved slowly, making it easier for Gu Jiao to follow.

Nangong Li had lost an arm and was quite injured. Rumor had it that he was on the brink of death, but he seemed to be perfectly fine. So how did the rumors of his impending death start, and what was their purpose?

Gu Jiao speculated that since Nangong Li had failed in his mission to assassinate Xiao Heng, he was pretending to be gravely injured to lessen his culpability.

Who assigned him this task? Was it the head of the Nangong Family or someone else?

In any case, Nangong Li was far from innocent.

Nangong Li's carriage traveled along the main street for a while before turning right into a small alley.

After passing through the alley, they reached another relatively quiet street.

This street was lined with antique shops and calligraphy stores, lacking the liveliness of the main street with its brothels and lanterns.

However, the reduced number of people increased the risk of Gu Jiao being exposed, so she had to tread more lightly.

Nangong Li's carriage stopped in front of an antique shop.

The coachman placed a footstool down and helped Nangong Li out of the carriage.

Gu Jiao hid behind a pillar diagonally across from them.

Earlier, when she observed from the second floor, she couldn't see clearly because of the distance. Now, being closer and with the lantern's light fully illuminating Nangong Li's face, Gu Jiao noticed that his condition was indeed serious.

His complexion was very pale, and his steps were not as steady as when she had seen him in the State of Zhao.

It seemed that Chang Jing's sword strike had not only severed his arm but also damaged his vital energy. It was almost impossible for him to recover completely.

After Nangong Li entered the shop, Gu Jiao moved closer to it. She hesitated between going in directly or secretly climbing onto the roof. She had seen Nangong Li before, both in person and in portraits, but she wasn't sure if Nangong Li had seen her or if he had investigated her while investigating Xiao Liulang.

If he hadn't, then there would be no harm in her entering openly.

But if he had——

Gu Jiao looked down at her clothes. She had left in a hurry and hadn't changed, still wearing the uniform of Tianqiong Academy.

"Never mind, I'll climb the wall."

Gu Jiao entered the alley and climbed up to the roof by scaling the wall.

The night concealed her figure perfectly. She followed the sound of Nangong Li's voice and gently lifted a roof tile.

Nangong Li sat in the main seat, and opposite him stood a man in his fifties, dressed like a merchant, who appeared to be the shopkeeper.

Gu Jiao, now fluent in the State of Yan's language, had no trouble understanding their conversation.

She heard Nangong Li ask, "How are things over there?"

The shopkeeper sighed, "His Highness is very angry, asking why such a small matter couldn't be handled properly."

Nangong Li retorted, "This is no small matter! I've lost an arm!"

The shopkeeper quickly added, "General, you have done great service, and His Highness did say you should take good care of your injuries."

"Humph, if my injuries weren't this severe, His Highness would have punished me, wouldn't he?"

"His Highness was just upset. How could he not understand your loyalty to him, General?"

Gu Jiao had almost pieced together the situation. The "small matter" Nangong Li mentioned was likely the assassination attempt on Xiao Heng, but it seemed that this wasn't just the idea of the Nangong Family; there was also this “His Highness” involved.

The title "His Highness" could only refer to someone from the Great Yan's imperial family.

Why would the Great Yan's imperial family want Xiao Heng dead?

Could Xiao Heng have some connection with the Great Yan's imperial family?

Nangong Li impatiently said, "Alright, enough about that. How's the matter I asked you to investigate coming along?"

It seemed that the shopkeeper had three identities: first, the shopkeeper of the store; second, an informant for that “His Highness”; and third, a confidant of Nangong Li.

The shopkeeper said, "A few years ago, the young master of the Hidden Night Sect left home in a huff after a dispute with the old master and has been missing ever since. The elders of the Hidden Night Sect who went to the State of Zhao were likely looking for him. Unexpectedly, they didn’t find the young master but ended up saving General instead."

Nangong Li frowned and said, "At that time, I was unconscious and couldn't tell them that the one who injured me was the young master of the Hidden Night Sect. By the time I woke up in the Nangong Family, they had already left."

Wait, wasn't it Chang Jing who injured him?

How did it become the young master of the Hidden Night Sect?

And what was the Hidden Night Sect?

Gu Jiao was completely confused.

The shopkeeper hesitated before asking, "So... does General want to inform the Hidden Night Sect about their young master's whereabouts?"

Nangong Li scoffed coldly, "What good would that do? Would they kill their young master to avenge me? Their young master injured me, but their protector also saved me. Given how the old master dotes on his son, he would likely say the merits cancel out the faults, and he wouldn't sacrifice his own flesh and blood for justice."

The shopkeeper let out a sigh, "The old master cherishes his son dearly since he had him in his old age. Naturally, he would be unwilling to punish him."

Nangong Li coldly replied, "But I can't swallow this anger!"

The shopkeeper's expression changed slightly, "Does General plan to——"

Nangong Li cut him off, "I have my own arrangements for this matter. Keep an eye on His Highness for me. Though I'm injured, I still hold military power, which is valuable to His Highness."

The shopkeeper smiled, "The Nangong Family is now the most powerful in military matters. His Highness can’t appreciate you enough. Once you recover, you can send someone to kill that young master."

"I understand." Nangong Li replied calmly. He stood up but accidentally pulled at the wound on his severed arm, causing him to gasp in pain. Instinctively, he raised his left hand to support it, but accidentally knocked over a painting from a display shelf.

The painting unfurled with a snap on the ground.

Gu Jiao looked closely.

It was a portrait of Xiao Heng.

To be precise, it was a portrait of the first beauty of Canglan Women’s Academy.

The beauty in the portrait was dressed in plain yet elegant clothes, wearing a semi-transparent veil, exuding an incomparable charm.

Nangong Li had kidnapped Xiao Heng before and recognized his face——

Gu Jiao's brows furrowed slightly, and she tightened her grip on the silver needle in her hand.

The shopkeeper bent down to pick up the painting and rolled it up, awkwardly saying, "This is a portrait from the Six States Beauty List, the new beauty of Canglan Women’s Academy." Nangong Li was uninterested and walked out without looking back.

Gu Jiao put away the silver needle.

From their conversation just now, Gu Jiao confirmed two things: first, someone from the Great Yan’s imperial family wanted Xiao Heng dead; second, Chang Jing was actually the young master of the Hidden Night Sect.

Did Marquis Xuanping know he had taken the beloved son of the Hidden Night Sect's old master?

Once the old master of the Hidden Night Sect finds out, he might come over with a knife.

After Nangong Li left, Gu Jiao carefully put back the roof tile and then jumped down.

Originally, there was only one coachman with martial arts skills beside Nangong Li, so it wasn't too difficult for Gu Jiao to follow. However, just as they exited the pawnshop, a group of people and horses suddenly appeared——all there to pick up Nangong Li.

Gu Jiao hesitated for a moment and decided to call it a day.

Now that she knew this pawnshop was Nangong Li's base, as long as she kept an eye on it, there would surely be another chance to encounter Nangong Li in the future.

But plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Xiao Heng and Little Jing Kong unexpectedly appeared nearby.

Raz P.'s Thoughts

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Description:

In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.

When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.

The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.

From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.

***

Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.

After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"

Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"

Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”

Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

He hasn't finished his lines yet though…