allonlinenovel Chapter 259 Trading
Chapter 259 Trading
They arrived at a secluded valley, where the sky seemed to be slowly stained with ink, and the heavens gradually darkened. After exchanging glances, the group decided to set up camp there for a temporary rest. Dongfang Wan'er methodically directed the arrangements for the guards before finding a place to sit down, trying to soothe her fatigue. However, the peace was short-lived, as a commotion arose from nearby, suggesting an impending conflict.
Her delicate body trembled slightly, her heart clenched, and she instinctively gripped the gleaming sword in her hand. With light, graceful steps, she moved silently, like a phantom in the night, toward the source of the sound. Upon approaching, she saw a group of bandits menacingly surrounding a passing caravan, shouting vulgarities and demanding the merchants hand over their goods.
A cold glint flashed in Dongfang Wan'er's starry eyes. Without hesitation, she let out a sharp shout and led the Lu family disciples and a group of well-trained guards in a charge like tigers. The bandits, who were dreaming of getting rich, were caught off guard by this sudden and fierce attack. They were thrown into disarray, abandoning their armor and weapons and fleeing in panic.
The caravan leader, having narrowly escaped death, was naturally overwhelmed with gratitude and immediately ordered his men to bring out a large sum of money as a reward. However, Dongfang Wan'er simply smiled gently and declined, only earnestly instructing them to be extra careful on such perilous journeys in the future, and not to fall into the trap of villains again.
After several days of tireless travel, they finally arrived at a seemingly peaceful and tranquil small town. As Dongfang Wan'er stepped into the town, her keen intuition told her that beneath the town's calm surface, undercurrents were surging and many unknown secrets were hidden.
The inn in the city was bustling with people, noisy and chaotic. Dongfang Wan'er sat quietly in a corner, overhearing some rumors about the capital. It was said that the escape of the wanted criminal was not accidental, but rather a deliberate scheme to lure out certain hidden forces.
Dongfang Wan'er frowned slightly, lost in deep thought. She felt as if she were in a fog, yet she clearly sensed that she had fallen into a meticulously woven, vast, and complex web of conspiracy.
Just then, a figure approached silently like a ghost—a mysterious stranger. He said nothing, handed over a letter, and quickly disappeared. Dongfang Wan'er, filled with suspicion, unfolded the letter, and as her eyes scanned it, her expression instantly changed drastically.
It turns out that all this complexity is intricately linked to a long-forgotten case from many years ago. That case involves a complex web of interests among powerful figures in the court, like an invisible net that blankets everything.
Dongfang Wan'er knew in her heart that if she wanted to protect her family and uncover the truth behind the layers of mystery, she could only muster all her courage and use her extraordinary wisdom to find a glimmer of hope in this perilous predicament and break free from the predicament.
Dongfang Wan'er tilted her head slightly, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her chaotic emotions. Then, she carefully folded the letter containing the earth-shattering secret and neatly tucked it into her bosom. She knew that panicking would be useless at this moment; she had to force herself to calm down and find a glimmer of hope in this intricate predicament. So, she moved gracefully, deciding to first find her companions to discuss a solution together.
The group gathered around, and Dongfang Wan'er slowly recounted the whole story, each word like a heavy stone weighing on their hearts. As her words fell, a somber expression settled on their faces, as if shrouded in gloom. One of them, his brow furrowed, said worriedly, "We are currently outnumbered and outmatched. With just a few of us, it's an impossible task to contend with the forces behind them." Hearing this, Dongfang Wan'er instinctively clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. Her voice trembled slightly, yet carried an undeniable resolve: "Indeed, this path is fraught with peril, but we cannot sit idly by and wait to be slaughtered."
The group fell into deep thought. After a long and intense discussion, they finally decided to split into two groups. One group would be tasked with uncovering more hidden clues in the old case, meticulously unraveling the dusty history to find possible breakthroughs. The other group would remain in the seemingly calm but actually turbulent city, closely monitoring the every move of every suspicious person, leaving no stone unturned.
Without hesitation, Dongfang Wan'er volunteered to investigate the old case. She carefully disguised herself, dressed in plain clothes, her face slightly embellished, appearing like an ordinary woman, and quietly infiltrated the capital. Relying on her past connections, she went to great lengths and finally found a key witness in the old case. It was an old man, the years etched deep lines on his face, but his eyes held an indescribable sense of vicissitude and wariness. Dongfang Wan'er approached stealthily, and just as the old man was about to reveal the crucial information, suddenly, his face turned bluish-purple, his body trembled uncontrollably, and then he vomited a mouthful of black blood, dying from poisoning. Dongfang Wan'er was horrified by this sight. Before she could react, a group of men in black, dressed in night clothes and moving with agility, surged out of the shadows and surrounded her. The leader, his face veiled in black, revealing only a pair of cold eyes, looked at Dongfang Wan'er and let out a sneer: "Dongfang Wan'er, you're courting death. You shouldn't be meddling in such confidential matters." Dongfang Wan'er knew in her heart that she was now in a desperate situation, with a powerful enemy in front of her and no way to retreat. But her eyes remained as firm as a rock. She secretly thought that even if she had to fight with her last bit of strength, she would fight her way out and find a glimmer of hope and a turning point in this desperate situation.
Dongfang Wan'er's jade-like hands moved with lightning speed, swiftly drawing her sword from her waist. In a flash of cold light, she engaged the man in black in a breathtaking, life-or-death struggle. Her movements were light and agile, like a nimble swallow in flight; her swordplay was sharp and ruthless, each thrust accompanied by the sound of wind cutting through the air, making it difficult for the man in black to get close. An indomitable flame burned in her eyes as she stared intently at her enemy, her gaze seemingly capable of piercing through him.
However, the men in black surged forth relentlessly, numerous and each highly skilled and well-trained. They coordinated seamlessly, attacking and defending, gradually forming an encirclement. Although Dongfang Wan'er fought valiantly, she eventually succumbed to the relentless onslaught and her strength began to wane. Large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, dampening her hair, and her breathing became rapid. Taking advantage of a moment of distraction, several sharp blades ripped through her clothes, leaving several shocking wounds on her fair skin, from which blood seeped, staining her garments crimson.