NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 18:
Chapter 18: Mirror Flower, Water Moon—Shattered!
A clear plan was gradually forming in Zhao Wujian’s mind. He now knew exactly how to expose the real killer—Ling Qingxue.
“Thanks. Now for the second task.”
Having just betrayed her senior sister, Liu Ruyan was filled with guilt. Her furrowed brows, disheveled appearance, and vulnerable expression made her seem even more heart-wrenchingly alluring than before.
Hearing Zhao Wujian’s words, Liu Ruyan’s eyes were full of fear and pleading.
“I’ve already told you the weakness honestly. You can’t whip me again!”
“Relax, I’m a good man.”
Zhao Wujian tossed the whip aside. “Come—help me improve my cultivation.”
…
Three hours later.
In the Commander’s Residence of the Imperial Cavalry Camp—
“Zhao Wujian found the killer?”
Ling Qingxue had just received word from the Northern Guardian Prince’s residence. Her delicate, jade-like face first showed surprise, then a sneer.
Long Zhan also laughed. “It was people from the Prince’s residence who spread the news. It’s all over the city by now. Senior Sister, Zhao Wujian probably just found a scapegoat to protect himself…”
“This useless second-generation heir can only come up with such a weak move. But if he actually manages to fool everyone, it would make all my efforts pointless.” Ling Qingxue’s eyes turned sharp. “Tonight, I’ll slap him in the face properly!”
Since Zhao Wujian claimed to have caught the killer, then what if “Chiba Rizhao” appeared again tonight and killed someone?
What would Zhao Wujian say then?
By that time, the face of the entire Northern Guardian Prince’s household would be utterly disgraced.
Long Zhan, quick-witted, immediately understood her plan. “Then I’ll have to trouble you again tonight, Senior Sister.”
“You’d better train harder yourself. Don’t end up as useless as Zhao Wujian…” Ling Qingxue glared at him, tapped her toes, and in a flash transformed into Chiba Rizhao, vanishing into the night.
Long Zhan felt a bit awkward after being scolded, but he had always been the type to work harder the more he was criticized. He clenched his fists, thinking about Ling Qingxue’s ability to change her form at will.
“If I could sleep with Fourth Senior Sister, wouldn’t that mean I could enjoy a different woman every day?”
“Wouldn’t that be like sleeping with a bunch of women at once?”
“Start with Li Yunrui, then that princess… then Third Senior Sister, Second Senior Sister, First Senior Sister, and even Master!”
Long Zhan was filled with anticipation as he practiced swordplay beneath the moonlight.
…
Eastern District of the Great Xia Capital—Tianshui Lane.
Adjacent to Tianmu Lane where the Northern Guardian Prince’s residence was located, this area housed many high-ranking civil officials.
Ling Qingxue’s figure drifted in the night. Standing atop a wall, she surveyed all of Tianshui Lane, looking for a new target.
The last time she impersonated Chiba Rizhao, she had chosen Cao Xiaolan’s household because Cao Xiaolan was the princess’s trusted aide—and also because Tianshui Lane was close to Tianmu Lane, making it easier to frame Zhao Wujian.
This time was no different.
She picked a new scapegoat, stepped lightly from the wall, and boldly kicked open the front gate of the selected residence.
She wanted people to see her face—very clearly.
A servant refueling a lantern inside was startled.
“You… who are you?”
“Chiba Rizhao!”
Of course the servant had heard of this murderous demoness. She must have been released again by that useless heir!
“Chiba Rizhao is killing again! Chiba Rizhao is killing again!”
With his shouting, a crowd quickly rushed out of the residence.
“Chiba Rizhao! I am an official of the court!” the elder at the front shouted.
“Zhao Wujian sent me. I’m here to kill corrupt officials of Great Xia!” Ling Qingxue said coldly.
“Zhao Wujian! That man, heir to the Northern Guardian Prince, dares collude with you Hansang people?!”
“Good. So you understand.”
Ling Qingxue drew her sword and was just about to strike—
DONG!
A drumbeat, loud as thunder, suddenly rang out!
Ling Qingxue’s hand trembled. The sound was so abrupt it startled her.
DONG! DONG!
More drumbeats followed in quick succession, shaking the surroundings with tremors.
Her heart shook again. Mirror Flower, Water Moon rippled like a pond struck by a stone. The illusion faltered, and Chiba Rizhao’s image could no longer hold.
Ling Qingxue’s face began to distort strangely.
The drumbeats roared like thunder, alerting the guards, who rushed out in force.
Commoners nearby poured from their homes to see what was happening.
Under the moonlight, they saw a woman in white. Her face shimmered eerily in the flickering torchlight like overlapping shadows.
Then, her appearance returned to her true self—Ling Qingxue.
Mirror Flower, Water Moon… shattered!
The old official instantly shouted, “You’re not Chiba Rizhao! Who are you?!”
Recalling how she had deliberately framed Zhao Wujian just moments before, he bellowed, “You want to set him up?! Guards! Arrest her!”
Soldiers surged toward Ling Qingxue.
But to her, they were nothing.
Yet from all directions in the alleys, hidden soldiers in full armor emerged!
“Look! Her face changed!”
“What a pretty little lady—changed her face in a blink, how strange!”
“Didn’t my dad always say women change faces faster than flipping pages? Looks like he was right!”
The surrounding crowd and soldiers were shocked by her sudden transformation.
Ling Qingxue was furious. She realized she had fallen into a trap.
This was all a setup!
Who had orchestrated it?
She leapt to the rooftop, but arrows rained from every direction like a violent storm.
She snorted coldly, her movements agile and graceful, dodging the arrows as she fled farther and farther away.
Thinking she was finally safe, she landed lightly on another rooftop, panting with rage and exhaustion.
But in the next second—a blast of fierce wind struck her chest without warning.
BOOM!
The palm strike landed heavily, like a Vajra of the Buddhist sect—unyielding and fierce.
Ling Qingxue was thrown backward, crashing into rubble, blood streaking down her side. Through her furious eyes, she saw the attacker clearly.
The figure was tall, fully veiled, even the eyes hidden behind gauze—clearly determined not to be recognized.
“Despicable coward!”
She clenched her teeth, and saw torches flashing nearby—city patrol soldiers rushing over.
Knowing she couldn’t afford to get caught, Ling Qingxue stood up, endured the pain, and escaped with all her strength—once more vanishing into the night.
The soldiers arrived too late.
The masked attacker sighed helplessly.
[Didn’t expect a full-powered sneak attack still couldn’t kill this face-changing witch.]
[Still, at least I didn’t reveal my identity. There’s nothing she can do to find me.]
Not far from there, Ling Qingxue, still fleeing, suddenly heard these thoughts echo in her mind. She was stunned—but burned them into memory.
No matter who you are—I will make you pay!
…