Chapter 6

The heir’s protectors had been injured.

A physician was brought in especially to see them.

After examining them, he prescribed medicine.

But scarcely had they drunk it

before they all grew drowsy.

By the time they truly woke, the man they were meant to protect had vanished.

I had taken the heir away.

The Second Young Lady brought a bucket of water.

I took it and threw the water over him.

Waking, he looked at the ropes binding him.

“Who are you?”

He stared hard at me.

I saluted him with clasped hands.

“Wenjian Manor’s Eldest Young Master pays respects to Your Lordship.”

He could not believe it.

“But you’re a woman!”

I reminded him,

“I never said the Eldest Young Master was a man.”

“You wanted a famous sword. Officials searched for one on your behalf, and eventually set their sights on Wenjian Manor.”

“One fire destroyed a hundred years of our family’s work. You got your precious sword. I lost everything.”

He sneered.

“An innocent man becomes guilty by possessing a treasure. If you can’t defend what you own, naturally you must let someone else keep it.”

Someone rushed in from the side and slapped him.

It was the Second Young Lady—or, to be precise,

my sword-testing maid.

We had grown up together and studied swordsmanship together.

During the fire, we had exchanged identities.

Everyone believed Wenjian Manor had a young master and a young lady.

They didn’t know the two were one person.

“My lady, what shall we do with him?”

Yuran asked.

My answer was certain.

“Kill him, of course.”

The heir remained unconcerned.

“I have experts protecting me. They’ll find me soon.”

“Uncle Lin sealed their meridians when they fought him yesterday. I also arranged for them to be drugged. The idea that they’ll come to save you is a fantasy.”

Only then did he panic.

“If you kill me, the court will hunt you down.”

I ran my hand over the walls around us.

“Do you know where you are?”

“The Martial Alliance’s flooded dungeon.”

“Their leader asked for the manual, and you refused him. Killing you for it would make perfect sense.”

When Wenjian Manor was attacked, the Martial Alliance had stood by and watched.

They had ignored my parents’ pleas for help.

Once the manor fell,

they brought their men in to plunder its treasures.

They had shown us no decency. I had no qualms about framing them.

I would lay the heir’s death at the Martial Alliance’s door.

Two birds with one stone.

I asked Yuran whether she had put the manual in place.

She nodded.

“Don’t worry. It’s beside their leader. I’ve already had people start spreading the word, too.”

Seeing death approach, the heir, who had lived half his life in wealth and privilege, broke down in tears.

I shook my head and drove the sword into him.

“If you’d stayed obediently in the capital, killing you would have taken some effort.”

“But you couldn’t restrain that restless heart. Trusting your protectors, you left the city on your own initiative. You did me an enormous favor.”

I pulled out the sword and touched its blade.

He clutched his wound and stared at me with venomous hatred.

“This truly is the finest of the famous swords. Its blooding ceremony took place the day the authorities attacked Wenjian Manor. I used it to kill many people.”

I aimed the sword at his chest.

“Now it’s your turn to be offered to the blade.”

The last breath left him.

Yuran spat lightly at the corpse.

“Rich and heartless. We did the people a service by ridding them of him.”

“Come. Let’s find somewhere to watch the show.”