Published: August 27, 2025
Chapter 306: Crisis
“It’s rare that the fifth younger sister alerted the other party, so they escaped early. Or is there some kind of trap?” the middle-aged woman said with a worried expression.
“No. If the other side had truly set a trap, they would have struck the moment we entered. At that time, we were completely unprepared,” Han Li shook his head in denial.
The others breathed a sigh of relief at Han Li’s words but still instinctively glanced around for a while. Sure enough, nothing unusual happened.
“Senior, what should we do next? Should we retreat for now and strike another day?” the second brother hesitated to ask.
“First, let’s go after Chief Steward Wang! If he’s not there, then we cancel the operation today and withdraw immediately,” Han Li said coldly.
Upon hearing this, the four friends from Mengshan exchanged glances and silently nodded in agreement.
Han Li released several spell formations to dissolve the barrier, then led the way stealthily toward the other side of the Prince’s Mansion. The others closely followed without leaving his side.
Though Chief Steward Wang’s residence wasn’t a tower like the young prince’s, it was still a small courtyard occupied by one person.
When Han Li and the others arrived nearby, one of the rooms was faintly lit, as if its occupant hadn’t gone to sleep yet.
Han Li raised an eyebrow. It seemed this time they wouldn’t come up empty.
Thinking this, Han Li made a gesture to the others to stay hidden and alert. Immediately, he activated the newly learned nameless qi-concealing spell formation. The spiritual energy around his body dissipated without a trace, making him appear like an ordinary mortal.
Then Han Li’s figure flickered several times, suddenly appearing beside the wall of the lit room. He pressed his ear tightly against it.
Because Chief Steward Wang had given Han Li a very strange feeling the last time, Han Li did not recklessly release his spiritual awareness to eavesdrop inside, fearing detection.
But Han Li only listened for a moment before his expression changed drastically. He quickly flew backward and concealed himself behind a giant flowering tree.
This scene surprised the four friends from Mengshan who were watching nearby, but soon Han Li’s voice rang in their ears:
“Be careful. That young prince is also inside. Everyone act according to the situation!”
Those words made their hearts tighten. They all instinctively held their breath and carefully watched the door, not daring to make a sound.
With a creak, the door opened.
Out stepped a young man in a light green brocade robe — the young prince of Prince Xin’s Mansion.
He glanced back and whispered a few words to someone inside before stepping into the courtyard. The door closed automatically behind him.
The light in the paper window flickered a few times before going out completely. It seemed the person inside was going to rest.
Han Li watched the young prince’s every move expressionlessly.
What puzzled him was that he still couldn’t sense any magical power on the young prince’s body. However, the faint sense of danger that came off him was definitely there, likely indicating he was a disciple of the Black Death Cult.
Perhaps because he was still in his own mansion, the young prince didn’t hurry back but stretched lazily like an ordinary person, glanced at the bright moon overhead, and suddenly sighed.
Then he began pacing back and forth in the small courtyard, his face full of worry as if troubled by some difficult problem.
It seemed he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, which left the four friends from Mengshan feeling helpless.
It was obviously not the time to strike now. Since Chief Steward Wang was in the neighboring room, any scuffle would surely awaken him, causing serious trouble.
The best plan was to wait for the young prince to return to his residence and then deal with each target separately.
Fortunately, as immortal cultivators, they all had the patience for this. Each stayed well hidden without revealing any flaws.