bestfiction Chapter 377 Yuelai Inn
Chapter 377 Yuelai Inn
Today, Xiaoyao City was shrouded in a misty, tranquil light, bathed in a drizzle. On the cobblestone streets, puddles reflected the mottled eaves, raindrops sliding down the eaves like broken pearls onto the flagstones with a crisp sound. Xiaoyao City was perpetually arid, making this rain a welcome relief. Ouyang Lie sat reclining in a sandalwood chair in his study, holding an ancient book. The candlelight flickered on the desk, casting a long shadow of him on the wall. A faint scent of ink and incense filled the room, creating a serene and solemn atmosphere.
Just as he was immersed in the world of the book, a slight noise broke the silence. Ouyang Lie frowned slightly, his hand paused for a moment, and then resumed reading. He looked up, knowing which of his subordinates had come to deliver the message.
A black-clad guard slipped into the room like a ghost, his movements light and swift, making almost no sound. He knelt on one knee, cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a low, respectful voice, "Master, Princess Loulan over there has started eating. She and Ayiguli are getting along quite well. It seems that you no longer need to worry about her trying to kill herself."
Ouyang Lie slowly put down the book in his hand, shifting his gaze from the pages to the guard. His eyes were deep and sharp, as if they could see through people's hearts. After a moment of silence, he nodded slightly, his voice steady and powerful: "Tell Ayiguli that she only needs to ask what she wants to eat, and try to fulfill her every wish, but she cannot leave." His words carried an unquestionable authority, as if it were an inviolable command.
The guard replied, "Yes, Master." Before he finished speaking, he vanished like a gust of wind, disappearing into the night. Ouyang Lie stared in the direction the guard had gone, lost in thought. The arrival of Princess Loulan had confirmed his unruly nature; he shouldn't be drawn into this conflict now. If he rashly sought the throne now, given his status, even if he succeeded, he wouldn't be able to gain popular support. It was better to lie low. Now, his mother should no longer be a thorn in the side of the Empress and the others; he and his mother only needed to wait patiently for the new emperor to appear.
However, just as Ouyang Lie was pondering how to deal with the situation, an arrow pierced through the window like a meteor, embedding itself in the pillar of the study with a dull thud. Ouyang Lie was startled, his nerves instantly tensing. He quickly stood up, his eyes warily fixed on the arrow. Wrapped in the arrow was a note, which, in the candlelight, exuded a mysterious aura.
Ouyang Lie's heart pounded involuntarily, a chill creeping up from his feet to his heart. Although this courtyard nominally belonged to the City Lord of Xiaoyao City, it was practically under his control. It was heavily guarded, with secret guards patrolling everywhere. How could someone have managed to sneak in right under his nose and silently fire an arrow at him! What did this mean? He dared not think further, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead. If this person wanted him dead, wouldn't it be incredibly easy? Even if he considered himself quite skilled, he probably wouldn't have been able to dodge that arrow. This thought pierced his heart like a sharp blade.
Suppressing his shock and fear, he slowly walked to the pillar and reached out to remove the note from the arrow. The moment he unfolded it, the four powerful characters, "Rarely Confused," came into view. Ouyang Lie's pupils contracted sharply, and his hand holding the note trembled slightly. These simple four characters were like a key, unlocking a long-hidden secret within him. Someone had seen through him, seen through his schemes and calculations beneath his calm exterior, seen through the unknown ambitions and desires in his heart.
Countless thoughts flashed through Ouyang Lie's mind as he tried to guess the identity of this mysterious person. Was it an enemy? An ally? Or someone else entirely? He had been operating in Xiaoyao City for many years, making countless enemies and forging connections with many powerful forces, but who could approach him so easily and know so much about him?
He clutched the note tightly in his hand, pacing back and forth in the study, his thoughts a jumbled mess. The rain outside grew heavier, the wind howling and battering the windows, as if it too were uneasy about this sudden turn of events. Ouyang Lie stood by the window, gazing at the pitch-black night, his eyes filled with confusion and wariness.
He was extremely anxious and immediately called out to the hidden guards in the tree. A moment later, the guards descended from the tree like ghosts, knelt on one knee, and reported to Ouyang Lie, "Reporting to Master, I did not find anything suspicious just now." Ouyang Lie frowned, his unease growing. He stared at the guards and said sternly, "Look carefully again. Are there any muddy footprints around?" The guards dared not delay and quickly got up, thoroughly searching the surrounding area.
However, when he returned to report, Ouyang Lie's face had become even more grim. The guard bowed and said, "Master, I have checked carefully and found no muddy footprints." Ouyang Lie's heart pounded even faster, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. This bizarre scene filled him with unprecedented terror, as if an invisible force was watching him from the shadows.
On the other side of the space, Ye Qingchen and Gu Mochen quietly observed the terrified Ouyang Lie. Ouyang Lie's face was pale, and his body trembled slightly; he was clearly badly frightened by the arrow. Gu Mochen's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. He carefully opened a corner of the space and shot out another arrow. This arrow, like lightning, swiftly traversed the space, flying straight towards Ouyang Lie. The words "Yuelai Inn" were still engraved on the arrow.
After completing all this, Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly, and quietly left the space without making a sound. Meanwhile, Ouyang Lie's fear intensified. His eyes widened, staring intently at the suddenly appearing feathered arrow; the words on it made his heart pound. "Yuelai Inn? What does this mean? Does it mean I have to go there?" Ouyang Lie muttered to himself, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
He began to doubt the mysterious man's identity and motives, a chill creeping into his heart. This man's martial arts were so unfathomable; he could move freely through space like a ghost, and do so silently—it was truly terrifying. Ouyang Lie knew that with his own strength, he would be completely unable to detect the man's movements or location. Facing such a formidable enemy, he felt unprecedented pressure and fear.
He went back and glanced at the note. The other party was inviting him to meet at the Yuelai Inn. He had to go, he absolutely had to go, otherwise, the next arrow would probably be shot at him.