Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 28 Assassination of Zhou Xing
As soon as he finished speaking, a long sword attacked. Murong Huan lightly patted Ah Shu's shoulder with his right hand, pushed Ah Shu aside, and used only his left hand to fight back.

The man in black who rushed over with a knife felt a pain in his wrist and a crunching sound of broken bones before he could react to what was happening. The knife instantly fell into Murong Huan's hand.

"Ah Shu, keep running to the left. That's where the Zhengpingfang Imperial Academy is located. The Imperial Academy is a place for cultivating talents and the highest institution of learning in the Tang Dynasty. No one dares to trespass!"

Ah Shu was confused and worried when she saw Murong Huan surrounded by seven or eight men in black. But she quickly regained her composure after a moment of worry.

She knew that Murong Huan was no longer Ah Huan at this time, but regardless of whether it was Ah Huan or not, this body was hers. She could not just care about her own escape and ignore Ah Huan's life or death.

"Come on!"

At the moment she hesitated, Li Linghuan's eyes were already cast towards her with an extremely sharp gaze, containing an awe-inspiring aura that could not be refused.

This kind of momentum is so intimidating that one can't help but want to surrender!

A knife flashed towards Ah Shu, and Li Linghuan shouted, "You're looking for death!" The long knife in his hand turned into a white light that swept across the night sky and went straight through the chest of the man in black.

"What are you still standing there for? Go to Xingyun Pavilion and wait for me!"

At Li Linghuan's angry shout, Ah Shu was stunned for a moment, and finally nodded, and ran quickly to the end of the street on the left where there were noisy voices and flashing lights.

In the moonless and starless night, countless sparks and lightning flashed, and the sound of swords and knives clanged and hummed.

But in the eyes of these men in black, Li Linghuan was like a phantom, and they could never catch sight of her true location, until a long rainbow-like light almost hurt their eyes. After dodging, when they opened their eyes again, the mocking smile at the corner of Li Linghuan's lips was already before their eyes.

With a "ding" sound, several long swords fell to the ground, and several men in black fell down. Li Linghuan did not pause for a moment. After taking off the black clothes of one of them and putting them on himself, he quickly climbed up to the eaves of the street like a light swallow.

"What's going on? We haven't even made a move yet, why did these people fall down on their own?"

"This kid's skills are somewhat strange and incredible..."

"Oh no! Where did she go again? If I lose her, how am I going to explain this to the Grand Master?"

"Chase!"

……

Xiao Muchen, who received the news, stood up in surprise.

"You said she killed eight assassins in Zhou Xing's mansion by herself?"

"Yes, Grand Master, this kid is quite skilled and a natural assassin! But he's completely different now!"

"So where is she now?"

"She ran very fast, and we could hardly catch up. But judging from her direction, she should be a hundred miles east of Xiuwenfang!"

"Then she went to Zhou Xing's residence!" Xiao Muchen pondered for a moment and said hurriedly, "Quick, go help her!"

"Here!"

……

As early as night fell, Li Xiaolian had already put on exquisite makeup, with a touch of cinnabar between her eyebrows, and dressed in colorful feathered clothes, looking like a fairy concubine.

The blind old woman was combing her long hair like a waterfall, humming the little song she used to sing to put her to sleep when she was a child.

"In the past, my greatest wish was for Xiaolian to grow up and find a husband of her dreams. Then, I would prepare a generous dowry for her and let her marry in style. But now, my wish has changed. I just want Xiaolian to live a good and happy life!"

"Don't worry, mother. Xiao Lian will live well and will live in the hearts of each of you forever. Xiao Lian will accompany her sisters as they grow up. When she earns enough money, she will send them off to weddings in style. If they are happy, then Xiao Lian will be happy too!"

"But you also said that it's easy to find priceless treasures, but it's hard to find a true lover. How many men in this world can truly stay together until old age, or even have even a shred of true love for you?"

The old woman sighed, "No, Xiao Lian, those material possessions are either there or not. Not every woman in this world needs to marry a man of her dreams to be considered her true home."

"Yes, mother, whether you live a good life or not depends entirely on your own choices. Don't force things, don't show weakness, and don't compromise..." After inserting a ruby-studded gold hairpin into her bun, Li Xiaolian stood up, hugged the blind old woman, and touched her cheek. "Mother, wait for my good news! After this is done, we will truly find a place where few people know us and live in seclusion, like a paradise on earth."

The old woman nodded and stroked Li Xiaolian's hair again and again until the woman stood up and left, then she shed tears silently.

When Li Xiaolian left Shaohua Courtyard, the guards from Zhou Xing's residence stormed in aggressively. Just as they were about to arrest her, they heard her smile calmly and say, "Xiaolian knows the Minister wants to see me, so I'll accompany you to the Zhou residence. Please consider that I'm just a delicate woman and a frequent visitor to the Zhou residence, so please allow me some last bit of dignity!"

After carefully dressing up, a woman's face becomes more radiant, and her eyes become more charming and attractive.

The guards were reluctant to actually arrest her, so the leader said, "Alright, as long as Madam Xiao Lian doesn't play any more tricks and doesn't embarrass us, we won't do anything to her. Please!"

After sitting in the gorgeous sedan, Li Xiaolian kept stroking the jade bracelet in her hand and the gold hairpin in her hair until they stopped in front of Zhou's mansion.

Led by several guards, she came to Zhou Xing.

At this moment, Zhou Xing was in a bad mood, which was within her expectations.

"Xiao Lian greets Minister Zhou!"

As soon as she knelt and bowed, Zhou Xing angrily walked up to her, grabbed her hair, and pressed her against the wall, cursing, "You slut, you still dare to seduce me again? Tell me, did you betray me?"

"I don't know what Minister Zhou is talking about?" Li Xiaolian, who was in pain from being pulled, pleaded silently with tears.

But Zhou Xing has no mercy on women. The more pitiful these noble ladies who were once high and mighty are now, the more excited he is.

He exerted force on his hand again: "Don't know? I don't know how you are related to the Fifth Lady of the Wang family? And how she invited that young man from the Su family and Xiao Zhongcheng to come to Shaohuayuan to see you? Do you think I can't find out these things?"

"What's this about Huo Xiaolian's biography? You compiled your experiences into a storybook and deliberately spread it throughout the streets and alleys of Luoyang City, letting everyone know that you have a pitiful life, right?" "Bitch, you are so deliberate! Tell me, did you kill Jiulang, huh?"

"He had a blast at your place that night, and then encountered this incident when he returned. Those idiots at the Dali Temple didn't even suspect you? Tell me, was it you?"

Li Xiaolian was thrown to the ground suddenly, and as her head hit the ground, some blood immediately flowed out.

Even the servants in Zhou's house felt a little sorry and wanted to come over to help, but were forced back by Zhou Xing's fierce glare.

"Why? Seeing her so pitiful, you really want her, right?"

"Come here! Come here, I'll give you a chance!"

The servant was trembling with fear, but under Zhou Xing's crazy insults, he had to step forward and help Li Xiaolian up.

"Lord, how dare I?"

At this time, Li Xiaolian said something tearfully, and Zhou Xing's expression eased slightly. He slowly walked up to her and lifted her chin. "Wouldn't it be okay if you told me earlier? You had to let me beat you up. I'm not someone who doesn't care about women, but you really are heartbroken when you look like this."

After saying that, he actually opened his mouth and was about to bite Li Xiaolian's fair skin, but at this moment, he heard the voice of his guards: "Master, be careful!"

Zhou Xing suddenly pushed Li Xiaolian away and saw that she was holding a golden hairpin in her hand.

The golden hairpin was originally meant to stab him, but he slapped it away with his palm, so he luckily avoided it.

Li Xiaolian was surprised and smiled sadly, then smashed the bracelet in her hand to the ground. Suddenly, a spider crawled out of the bracelet quickly and climbed onto Zhou Xing's body!
Zhou Xing suddenly screamed in fear, and the guards immediately stepped forward, chasing the spider off his body until they knocked it to the ground and then stepped on it.

Seeing the crushed spider, Li Xiaolian was dazed for a moment, but at this time Zhou Xing's face was distorted and he was furious. He strode over and grabbed her long hair with one hand and threw her against the wall.

"Bitch, you dare to stab me, you don't want to live, right?"

Li Xiaolian was about to commit suicide with the golden hairpin, but was restrained by Zhou Xing and the hairpin fell to the ground.

"It's not that easy to die!"

"Tell me! Who sent you to assassinate me?"

Li Xiaolian remained silent. Zhou Xing smiled grimly and shouted:
"You won't tell me, huh? Come on! Punish me! Today I'll let this bitch experience the power of my newly invented urn torture!"

"Yes!"

Several servants retreated in panic, and soon, a huge urn was moved into the hall.

Just as the torches were about to be lit, a sudden cry of fire broke out from the mansion, and someone rushed in to report, "Master, this is bad! The warehouse is on fire!"

The warehouse? That's where all the money he got from bribes was stored!

"Then what are you still standing there for? Go put out the fire!"

"Here!"

After the figures dispersed, the Zhou residence became chaotic and filled with screams.

Zhou Xing was getting irritated and was about to run to the fire when he suddenly heard a voice calling out, "Minister Zhou, how are you?"

Zhou Xing felt as if a basin of ice water was poured over his head, and his whole body was cold. He suddenly raised his head to look in the direction of the sound, and saw a "young man" dressed in night clothes with only two eyes exposed, looking at him with a smile.

"It was you! You set the fire?"

"Hmm! Good guess!"

The "boy" clinging to the beam jumped and landed in front of Li Xiaolian. He helped her up and stuffed a bottle of medicine into her hand.

"Hurry up! You should know how to escape from here!" the boy whispered in her ear.

Li Xiaolian's eyes were filled with tears. Although she couldn't see the real face, she had already guessed who this "boy" was.

"I am but a lowly creature, not worthy of your rescue!"

"If you even look down on yourself, that's truly despicable. Dying here to kill such a person is truly not worth it!"

After Li Linghuan finished speaking, he gently pushed Li Xiaolian away. Zhou Xing's guards came to stop him, but Li Linghuan grabbed their bodies with a long silk ribbon in his hand and pulled them back, and then threw them into the jar in the hall.

The long silk ribbon rolled in her hands again, and wherever the strong wind passed, the doors around her closed.

"Boy, are you a hero saving a beautiful girl? You even brought her to my Zhou family mansion. You're quite courageous!"

"I am over-flattered!"

Seeing Li Xiaolian leave, but the young man had no intention of leaving, Zhou Xing said again:
"She's gone, why haven't you left yet? It seems that you're not only seeking a hero for beauty, but you're also here to assassinate me."

After saying that, Zhou Xing also pulled out a long knife from the wall on the side.

"You want to imitate Jing Ke's assassination of Qin Shi Huang? There's already one failure. Do you want to be the second failure?"

"Minister Zhou thinks too highly of himself. I am not Jing Ke, and you are not the King of Qin. Although the King of Qin was a tyrant, he did unify the world. Who do you think you are?"

(End of this chapter)