Chapter 383 137: The Fate of a Tool, Everything Prepared, So Many Coincidences?

"Tell me everything you know, and I will consider sparing Miss Xie's life."

"Don't even think about trying to deceive me. I know what you've been up to better than anyone," the cold voice said indifferently.

"You…"

Xiao Teng froze, his face a whirlwind of indecision.

He had actually suspected this was the case the moment he realized the person was from the Blood Immortal Sect...

After all, besides that, he couldn't think of anything else he possessed that would be worth their plotting—worth them tracking him down and using Xie Jianjia to threaten him.

'But this matter concerns His Majesty Emperor Xia's plan. It's a secret of the highest order. How can I just leak it? If anything goes wrong, won't Prince Zhenbei's Mansion be doomed beyond redemption?'

Xiao Teng was in utter turmoil. A conflicted look filled his eyes, but when his gaze fell upon Xie Jianjia's face—pale from blood loss, her eyes losing focus—he trembled. Waves of heartache, guilt, and self-reproach crashed over him.

'If it weren't for me, she never would have been caught up in this.'

'She was waiting for me, full of joy, and instead, she nearly lost her life...'

"My patience is wearing thin, Young Master Xiao. You had better think carefully. If you dare to deceive or hide anything from me..."

"...you can imagine the consequences."

Xiao Teng stared into those cold, indifferent eyes, clenching his jaw. He was filled with a furious, humiliating, and bitter indignation.

"You… Just give me a moment to think…" he said through gritted teeth.

Just a few days ago, during a banquet at Prince Zhenbei's Mansion, his father, Xiao He, had specifically discussed this matter with him and his two brothers.

Prince Zhenbei's Mansion was held in high esteem by His Majesty Emperor Xia. For this reason, his eldest brother, Xiao Ye, and his second brother, Xiao Wang, had been specially reassigned from the border to guard Changsheng Hall, one of the Imperial Palace's Four Forbidden Halls.

And enshrined within Changsheng Hall was Great Xia's National Treasure, the Dragon-Suppressing Seal.

His father, Xiao He, had warned them repeatedly that this matter was of the utmost importance. The other three Forbidden Halls were merely decoys, meant to mislead and attract the remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect.

"It seems Young Master Xiao is testing my patience…" The cold voice was unhurried, but to Xiao Teng, each word sounded like a death knell.

He looked at Xie Jianjia, whose face had taken on a purplish hue from the pain and suffocation. Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he bit out through clenched teeth,

"Let go of Jian Jia."

"I… I'll tell you…"

Xiao Teng simply couldn't bear to watch Xie Jianjia die before his very eyes because of him, even if it meant bringing unimaginable disaster upon Prince Zhenbei's Mansion.

But right now, he couldn't worry about that.

"Very good. I do like a sensible man like you, Young Master Xiao."

The cold voice seemed to finally hold a hint of a smile. The figure nodded, then released Xie Jianjia.

"Brother Teng, don't worry about me! You can't help a villain do his evil deeds…"

As she collapsed to the ground, she gasped for air, her voice full of guilt and self-blame.

"I'm the one who dragged you into this."

Xiao Teng sighed inwardly, a sense of helplessness washing over him. Forcing down his heavy heart, he laid out every detail he knew of Emperor Xia's plan, not daring to conceal a single thing.

'In front of a master like this, any attempt at deception would be useless.'

'I need to think of a way out,' he thought. 'Once Emperor Xia's plan is exposed, the Blood Immortal Sect will definitely change their strategy. If I tell my father, Prince Zhenbei, right now, will there still be time?'

'Is two days enough time to move the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal to a new location?'

'And how would I even explain this? Once Emperor Xia finds out, how will he see Prince Zhenbei's Mansion? After all, what I've done is no different from betraying the Emperor and colluding with the Blood Immortal Sect.'

"You are indeed cooperative, Young Master Xiao."

"In that case, I shall take my leave."

After Xiao Teng had revealed everything, the cold voice seemed to let out a soft chuckle before its owner was enveloped in a thick, blood-red mist.

The next moment, with a soft POP, the figure vanished without a trace, leaving nothing behind.

It was as if everything that had just happened had been nothing more than an ephemeral dream.

Xiao Teng's expression was grim, his heart heavy as lead. His opponent's origins were a mystery, and their methods were simply inconceivable.

Even if he had wanted to stop the figure, it would have been impossible. Besides, if he caused a commotion and attracted the Imperial Capital's Patrol Guards, Xie Jianjia would be in trouble as well.

She was, after all, a convicted criminal who had been exiled to the Canglan Sword Sect. How could she appear openly in the Imperial Capital?

"I'm so sorry, Brother Teng. It's all my fault that mysterious person was able to threaten you."

Some color had returned to Xie Jianjia's face by now. Seeing Xiao Teng's dark, solemn expression, she spoke with deep self-reproach.

"It's not your fault. I was too careless. I was being followed and didn't even realize it."

"What happened tonight wasn't a coincidence. That mysterious person must have been watching me for a long time. Otherwise, they wouldn't have known I was coming to see you tonight, which gave them the perfect opportunity to capture you and use you as leverage against me."

"If I had been alone, their threats would have meant nothing. I planned for everything, but I never saw this coming…"

Xiao Teng's fists clenched, his gaze turning ice-cold, but inwardly he was filled with regret.

At the same time, he rapidly replayed events in his mind, trying to pinpoint where things had gone wrong and when he had first been targeted.

He had only just arrived at the Garden of Osmanthus when the mysterious figure from the Blood Immortal Sect showed up moments later. How could it be such a coincidence?

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him as he made a connection.

'No… that can't be possible…'