Hidden Shadow – CH 094

Chapter Ninety-Four: Slaughter (1)

“Take him away!” Mei Zhengyan said solemnly. “This is an order.”

The Mei family was in this predicament and needed a visionary and wise person to guide them. Mei Zhengyan knew that his actions were too conservative; if things continued this way, the Mei family would be destroyed sooner or later.

Mei Zhengjing was just temporarily stuck in a rut, unable to accept his Lord’s incompetence. Once he understood, he would be more suitable to be the head of the Mei family. At this moment, Mei Zhengyan decided to trust Elder Zhi’s judgment.

“Alright!” The elder accepted the order and turned to go towards the women.

Elder Zhao helped Mei Zhengjing expel the effects of the medicine. He could not run around. By the time his inner strength recovered, Ling-Xi had already taken the opportunity to help the First Old Madam escape from the banquet hall.

Mei Zhengjing drew his sword to give chase, but Elder Zhao grabbed him. “Do not chase! Let’s go quickly!”

Another elder arrived as well. The two ninth-level experts held Mei Zhengjing tightly, dragging him towards the entrance of the secret passage.

“You should protect the patriarch; why are you pulling me away?” Mei Zhengjing roared.

“The patriarch has chosen to protect you,” the elder said solemnly.

Mei Zhengjing hesitated, already being pulled to the entrance of the secret passage. He turned back. “Third Brother, let me stay!”

Mei Zhengyan smiled. “If anything happens to me, you must uphold the Mei family’s honor. You cannot be willful anymore.”

“Third Brother!” For the first time, Mei Zhengjing felt a sense of panic.

His elder brother had bravely faced death, but he could not face it calmly!

He used to be able to act on his own whims because someone had shouldered the burden for him. Now, a heavy burden had suddenly been placed on his shoulders without warning. Only he could truly understand the feeling.

An Jiu came out from the side hall and followed him into the secret passage.

“An Jiu, will my sister be in danger here?” Mei Jiu asked.

Arrows rained down from behind like locusts, a dense barrage striking doors, windows, and the ground with a series of thuds, like a downpour hitting an oilcloth umbrella. In this situation, An Jiu could not bring anyone with her; even if Mei Ruyan was in danger there, she was powerless to help.

An Jiu believed that hiding Mei Ruyan was already more than enough.

The secret passage was closed, and the interior was pitch black. All her mental energy was focused on hearing. After walking a short distance, An Jiu heard the sound of weapons clashing outside.

Everyone remained silent, hurrying forward.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, as the air grew increasingly thin, a sliver of light appeared in the distance.

Warm, orange light shone through the crack in the secret passage door. Those in front quickened their pace.

The moment the elder at the front opened the door, an arrow wreathed in blue light shot towards them.

The passage was narrow, and the elder had no choice but to parry the arrow head-on with his sword. The arrowhead, after striking the sword and creating a dazzling spark, did not even change direction, piercing straight through his heart and embedding itself in the body of the person behind him.

The person standing behind the elder was Mei Tingchun. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the arrow’s shaft in his chest until blood gushed out. Only then did he scream in terror.

His terrified scream before death echoed throughout the passage.

Death came so suddenly.

His voice ceased abruptly as he fell. Mei Rujian, following closely behind, was deathly pale, his lips trembling uncontrollably. His legs, as if possessed, slowly retreated.

After taking only two steps, a warm hand pressed against his back.

Mei Zhengjing said in a deep voice, “We can only fight our way out now. We cannot retreat.”

Their location had already been exposed. Retreating meant either falling into the inescapable trap in the banquet hall or being buried alive in the secret passage.

Mei Zhengjing had regained his composure. He drew his longsword and stood in front of Mei Rujian, but was stopped by an elder. “You cannot be hurt! Let me handle this!”

Mei Zhengjing slammed the door to the secret passage shut. “Wait a moment.”

Everyone understood his meaning. Mei Zhengyan would definitely try his best to inform the Grand Madam. For the Mei family now, the Grand Madam was like their only hope; her life was a miracle, and everyone hoped she could bring another miracle to the Mei family.

“It’s them!” Mei Tingzhu whispered. “These are the people who attacked us in the ancient temple!”

After a moment, a deep voice came from outside. “Where is Fourteenth Young Lady?”

The people in the secret passage looked at each other and finally spotted An Jiu standing at the back.

The man continued, “Come out and I will spare your life!”

An Jiu recognized the man as the “madman” who had kidnapped her that day. Naturally, she would not believe a madman’s promise.

The madman, receiving no response, suddenly became agitated and roared, “Come out! Come out and challenge me to an archery contest!”

“Who is it?” Mei Zhengjing asked in a low voice.

An Jiu knew she was being asked, so she replied, “A martial arts fanatic, a master of the Transcendent Realm. They call him a madman.”

“Come out, Fourteenth Young Lady! I heard you! Come out and challenge me to an archery contest! I can shoot a ‘Startling the String’ now, hahaha!” His tone turned into that of a boastful child at the end.

During the stalemate, the men piled two blankets of damp firewood at the doorway. Once lit, thick smoke billowed in through the cracks, quickly extinguishing all light.

The narrow passageway was soon filled with smoke, and after a while, people began to cough and choke.

Mei Zhengjing’s expression was grave; they would suffocate if this continued.

At this moment, inside the banquet hall, twelve black-clad men surrounded Mei Zhengyan and another elder. Both were disheveled and breathing heavily.

Faced with these twelve experts, the two were terrified, for they were all at the ninth level! With such a disparity in strength, no matter how they resisted, they likely would not escape. Mei Zhengyan was filled with despair.

Mei Zhengyan, thinking of the entire Mei family he needed to protect and his two daughters inside the secret passage, was instantly dispelled from despair—he would stall for as long as possible!

Just as he finished thinking this, the twelve black-clad figures launched their attack.

Mei Zhengyan was a ninth-level expert, but now surrounded by six others of the same level, he was immediately at a disadvantage, suffering severe wounds to his chest and abdomen, blood gushing out.

In the short time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Mei Zhengyan was already exhausted, his movements slightly sluggish. Two black-clad men seized the opportunity, their swords piercing his ribs.

“Zhengyan!” The elder’s mind went blank; he had been easily exploited, five or six swords piercing his body.

Mei Zhengyan roared, unleashing all his inner strength in a frenzied counterattack. He no longer cared about techniques; his wild, chaotic slashing and thrusting swept across the area like a storm, actually forcing the six men to stay away.

He fought alone, his blood spurting from his body, mingling with the snow-like flashes of sword light, creating a ghastly color.

At the other end of the secret passage, someone was already giving way.

“Sixth Uncle, Grandmother is dying,” Mei Tingyuan said.

Mei Zhengjing supported the Second Old Madam, channeling some of his inner strength into her to protect her heart.

“My son, Mother is dying; do not waste your energy,” the Second Old Madam said weakly. She was not a clever woman and had never been of any help to the Mei family, but she genuinely loved her descendants.