It happened so suddenly. In the blink of an eye, no one had time to react.
The nearby servants froze in terror, instantly losing their voices.
Bai Ci, who had been feigning weakness, no longer cared about maintaining her persona.
Acting was one thing, but facing mortal danger was another entirely.
Exerting all her strength in an instant, she lunged forward. At the same time, she yanked her arm back, pulling the unsuspecting Jinghong along with her. Together, they narrowly escaped the path of the falling boulder.
The thousand-pound Taihu stone crashed heavily onto the spot where they had been standing just moments ago. It slammed into the solid wall, sending stone fragments flying and dust billowing into the air, leaving deep, jagged cracks in the wall.
If she had been even a fraction of a second slower, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
As the dust swirled, everyone stood in stunned silence, their hearts pounding.
Suddenly, the young apprentice blurted out a panicked cry, “Master!”
Bai Ci steadied herself and barely managed to scramble back to her feet. Hearing the cry, she whipped her head around.
Through the thick haze of dust, a familiar figure lay pinned beneath the fallen Taihu stone.
The doctor, who should have been several paces behind them, was now sprawled right where they had just been standing. The massive boulder had crushed his upper body, killing him instantly in a gruesome display of blood and gore.
With such horrific injuries, there was absolutely no chance of survival.
The young apprentice, who had secretly pulled off the dirty trick, kept his triumph hidden. He simply wailed for his master, his grief sounding incredibly raw and genuine.
Bai Ci stared at the sudden, gruesome scene, temporarily lost for words.
[What is Love], you win.
Was it because the roof tile last time didn't kill anyone because it was too small?
No matter. This time, he brought something much bigger and heavier.
Having been quiet for so long, [What is Love] had suddenly struck again. Bai Ci keenly sensed that this was far from a mere coincidence.
“You’re awake, aren't you?” Bai Ci whispered under her breath while the people around them were in utter chaos.
As expected, her probing words received no response.
“In that case, I’ll just assume you agree with everything I’m doing.”
The chaos did not last long before a flurry of hurried footsteps approached from the distance.
Madame Xu, dressed in an elegant brocade gown with her hair slightly disheveled, rushed over with a group of head maids.
She had been dealing with the aftermath in the front hall, her heart consumed with anxiety over the failed secret art ritual. Upon hearing that someone had been killed in the garden, her heart clenched, and she rushed over immediately.
Madame Xu's gaze swept through the chaotic crowd, landing first on Bai Ci standing not far away.
Bai Ci looked thoroughly shaken by the scene. Having just endured the previous ordeal, she appeared completely drained of energy.
At a time like this, nothing must happen to her!
The terror in her heart instantly eclipsed any concern for the dead doctor. Madame Xu stepped forward quickly, her voice filled with worry and anxiety. “Were you frightened? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Bai Ci lowered her eyes right on cue, her lips slightly pursed as she put on a shaken expression, gently shaking her head. “I-I'm fine... Mother, please don't worry about me...”
“It's good that you're fine, it's good that you're fine.” Madame Xu quickly placed a hand on her back, gently rubbing it to soothe her.
Turning to Jinghong, who stood beside Bai Ci looking equally terrified, Madame Xu's tone carried far less patience. “Quick, support the Young Madam and take her back to her courtyard to rest. Keep a close watch on her, and do not let her out to be frightened again.”
“Yes, Madame.” Jinghong composed herself, regaining most of her usual composure.
If the Young Madam hadn't dragged her along as she lunged forward just now, what would have happened to her?
She didn't dare to think about it, but someone had already demonstrated the gruesome outcome right before her eyes.
Jinghong quickly stepped forward to support Bai Ci's arm firmly. Carefully shielding her, she slowly guided her away from the ruined garden and back to their courtyard.
Behind them, Madame Xu stood in place. Having overcome her initial panic, she now appeared calm and collected—a testament to her poise as the matriarch of the household.
She methodically ordered the servants to handle the aftermath, clean up the scene, and seal off any rumors, forcefully suppressing any news of this sudden death.
Over the next few days, the Xu estate seemingly returned to its usual tranquility.
Madame Xu grew busier by the day. She went out frequently or held closed-door meetings in her study, coordinating with various influential figures and elites.
Her expression grew increasingly weary and anxious, and she looked significantly haggard, clearly preparing in advance for some monumental event.
As the primary target of protection, Bai Ci was strictly forbidden from leaving. Even the number of guards stationed outside her courtyard had blatantly doubled.
Just how terrified is this woman of something happening to me?
Under the guise of protection, she was actually being kept under house arrest.
Consequently, Bai Ci had no choice but to keep a low profile lately. She remained in her courtyard day after day to recuperate, spending her daytime learning to read and write with Jinghong, maintaining her persona as the obedient and quiet Young Madam.
One afternoon, the warm sun shone brightly as a gentle breeze drifted through the corridors, leaving the courtyard peaceful and quiet.
Jinghong sat with Bai Ci by the window as she practiced her calligraphy. As she watched, she suddenly brought up a recent grand event, hoping to amuse the housebound Young Madam.
“Young Madam, in just a few days, it will be the fifteenth of the lunar month, the night of the full moon.”
“Mhm...” Bai Ci murmured in response, finishing a long stroke of a character before pausing to ask curiously, “The fifteenth of the sixth lunar month? Is there something special about that day?”
“No, not that. It's a grand assembly,” Jinghong said, waving her hands.
“I heard that the Governor recently took the lead in organizing a grand Water and Land Dharma Assembly at West Mountain outside the city. All the major prominent families and official residences in the city have donated money to support it.”
“It is said to be of an unprecedented scale, the likes of which haven't been seen in years. It will definitely be incredibly lively.”
A Dharma assembly?
“What kind of Dharma assembly is it?” Bai Ci probed, though she already had a suspicion. It was bound to be connected to the cult.
She had been through several instances and read about many on the forum. Before entering Anomalous Infection, she had even guided players through countless instances of various sizes.
With her relatively rich experience, she knew that such distinct temporal milestones were highly prone to incidents. They often served as the location for the final showdown.
“It's likely meant for praying for blessings and warding off disasters, considering how massive the scale is,” Jinghong replied with a smile, before sighing with emotion.
“It is only thanks to the Governor taking the lead that the entire city's factions could be mobilized. A grand event like this is truly a rare sight in normal times.”
Bai Ci nodded slightly, playing along with a naive and curious expression.
No wonder Madame Xu had been so busy lately; she must be preparing for this assembly.
It made sense. The doctor sent by the cult had met an accidental, gruesome death right inside the Xu estate, and the eldest young master, whom they had barely managed to preserve using the secret art, had stabbed himself and was now hovering between life and death.
If Madame Xu didn't do something to win back the cult's favor and secure their continued assistance, she would end up with absolutely nothing.
Not only would her initial sunk costs be completely wasted, but she would also lose her son.
Rate on N.U.
