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Mo Yan's composure faltered, and he recoiled three steps, his eyes flinching in distress. The revelation that Yun Luo had been concealing his true identity from him, despite their shared experiences, was nothing short of astounding.

The most perturbing aspect was the ease with which Jing Yi had maintained his deception, leaving Mo Yan to ponder the circumstances surrounding the stabbing incident. Had she taken her own life? Moreover, the unexpected return of the elders only added to the enigma.

"Yan'Er," Mo Qin called out, but Mo Yan's response was immediate and vehement. "Don't address me that!" His eyes, clouded by shock and desperation, betrayed a deep-seated turmoil. It was evident that Yun Luo had not divulged any information to him. The girl accompanying him on that fateful day must have been the one to reveal the truth.

"Each day, I have grappled with the guilt of being powerless to prevent my mother's demise, forced to witness her tragic end without being able to intervene," Mo Yan declared, his voice laced with anguish. A hint of a chuckle escaped his lips as his resolve began to reassert itself. Whatever his father's transgressions, they must have been egregious enough to warrant the relentless pursuit by assassins since childhood. No wonder Yun Luo had uttered those enigmatic words on that day. But why had he chosen to remain silent about this?

"Was the throne's allure so great that it superseded the value of my life and my mother's?" Mo Yan demanded, his voice trembling with indignation. "Tell me!" However, this was not the opportune moment for revelations. If he had uncovered the truth, it was likely that Duke Wei was also aware of it. Jing Yi's masterful concealment of his identity was matched only by the princess's uncanny ability to trace his movements.

"What did that princess reveal to you?" Mo Yan inquired, his eyes closed momentarily as his fists clenched in frustration. "Even your trail was exposed by a seemingly naive princess from your painting! No wonder my mother and I were compromised so soon."

As Mo Qin's composure crumbled, he recoiled, his eyes brimming with tears. His paintings, once a meticulous ruse, had been discovered by Mo Yan. The realization dawned on him that Duke Wei's agents would soon close in. Summoning his last vestiges of composure, Mo Qin advanced towards Mo Yan, his trembling hands grasping his shoulder with a mix of desperation and urgency. "You must leave immediately!"

Mo Yan, however, remained resolute, his thirst for answers unquenched. He shook his head, sword still in hand, his voice firm. "You'll escape again if I leave. I demand the truth!" His words had barely faded when an arrow shot forth from the window, striking Mo Qin with deadly precision.

Mo Yan's eyes widened in horror as Mo Qin stumbled back, his life force ebbing away. With a superhuman effort, Mo Qin grasped Mo Yan, positioning him in front of him like a shield. He turned to face the assailants, his body a canvas of blood and arrows. Another projectile pierced his chest, and he stood firm, a testament to his unwavering dedication.

As the assassins vanished into the night, their screams echoing through the air, Mo Yan remained frozen, his eyes fixed on his father's battered form. A solitary tear traversed his cheek as he beheld Mo Qin's ultimate sacrifice. The dragon tattoo on the assassin's wrist revealed the truth, and the puzzle pieces fell into place.

Mo Qin's strength waned, his body succumbing to the onslaught of arrows. As he collapsed onto Mo Yan, his voice whispered a final plea. "Don't move." Mo Yan's countenance contorted in anguish, tears streaming down his face like a torrent. With a careful effort, he lifted his trembling hands, cradling his father's broken form in his arms.

Mo Yan's hands trembled as he compressed the wound, desperate to stem the flow of life force ebbing away. Mo Qin, his eyes sunken, his skin pale, raised his hand with a Herculean effort, pushing a torn fragment of his hanfu into Mo Yan's palm. "Keep... this... safe," he gasped, his voice barely audible, as blood trickled from his mouth.

Mo Yan's countenance contorted in anguish, his eyes brimming with tears. "No, no! Don't say such things!" Mo Qin's words hung in the air like a death sentence, each one a stab to Mo Yan's heart.

Blood spurted from Mo Qin's mouth again, staining his hanfu crimson, as he struggled to continue. "I was blinded by ambition... eager to claim the throne... to protect you and your mother." Mo Yan's face twisted in despair, his hands shaking as he clutched the fragment of hanfu.

Mo Qin's strength waned, his body wracked by spasms, as he revealed the truth. "I made a pact with Duke Wei... he promised to aid me... but at a terrible cost. The Blood Venom... the bombs... I created them, Mo Yan... and now they haunt me." Mo Yan's eyes went red, his vision blurring as tears streamed down his face.

"The first Blood Venom poison... I made on impulse... more cruel... but the latter ones... have hope." Mo Qin's voice trailed off, his eyes pleading with Mo Yan to understand. "I succeeded... but Duke Wei betrayed me... used it to kill... your mother fled with you... I kept my distance... hiding... saving citizens... atoning for my sins."

Mo Yan's despair deepened, his hands trembling. "You mustn't die! You hear me?! Your poison needs a cure!" Mo Qin's eyes locked onto his, filled with regret, as he pushed another scroll into Mo Yan's palm. "My research... the antidote... find a capable physician..."His voice faded, his body still, as Mo Yan's screams echoed through the cottage.

Mo Qin's strength waned, his body wracked by spasms, as he pulled out another scroll with trembling hands. Blood spurted from his mouth again, staining his hanfu crimson. "These are all my research on the poison... remember, give it to a capable physician..." His voice trailed off, his eyes pleading with Mo Yan to understand.

Mo Yan's face contorted in despair, his hands shaking as he clutched the scroll. "Mo Qin, no! Don't leave me!" But Mo Qin's eyes had already glazed over, his body still, his hands falling limp.

Mo Yan sat still, his mind reeling with the weight of his father's confession. He shook Mo Qin's lifeless body, his eyes red from tears. "Mo Qin! Mo Qin!" But there was only silence.

As the reality set in, Mo Yan's despair deepened. He was the cause of the Blood Venom? The bombs? The screams that echoed through the cottage were his own, a primal wail of anguish and guilt. He rocked back and forth, cradling his father's lifeless body, the scrolls slipping from his grasp. "Dad–" He sobbed uncontrollably, his body shaking with sobs.

The stillness was a stark contrast to the turmoil that ravaged Mo Yan's heart. His father was gone, leaving him with the burdens of his past, the weight of his secrets, and the guilt of his mistakes. Mo Yan's screams lingered in the air, a haunting echo of his anguish, as he mourned the loss of his father and the truth that had destroyed him.

Su Ruo navigated through the throng of slaves, their faces smeared with dust from mining and hands bearing concoctions of various herbs. Her eyes scanned the area for her companions while Xiao Fan remained still in his room, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Su Ruo stood in the center of the cave, turning around cautiously. Guards patrolled their posts, their vigilance unwavering.

As she observed the guards, Su Ruo's determination grew. She had to escape, no matter the cost. The fate of their fellow disciples and the truth about her brother's death drove her forward. With a deep breath, she clenched her fists, ready to face the challenges ahead.

Just as she prepared to make her move, a sword pressed against her throat. A guard yelled, "Don't move!" alerting the others. Su Ruo swiftly knocked him out with her fists and sprinted to the other side of the wall. The guards converged, threatening her every step.

As she steeled herself for a fight, Ruyu emerged, coughing, carrying concoction boxes to the storage room. He locked eyes with Su Ruo before disappearing from view. The guards drew their swords, pointing them at her. Weak miners, coughing and frail, huddled by the wall.

Suddenly, a voice commanded, "Step back!" Su Ruo turned, her eyes widening in surprise and anger. The guards retreated hastily, their heads bowed. One of them accused, "She was sneaking around! She could be a spy!"

Xiao Fan stepped forward, his sword beside him, his voice firm. "She's not a spy. She healed my arm wound from three years ago's fight." The murmurs from the guards and slaves grew louder, their eyes fixed on Su Ruo. Xiao Fan's words carried weight, and the guards reluctantly nodded, taking a step back. His arm, once a testament to his weakness, was now a symbol of Su Ruo's skill.

Xiao Fan approached Su Ruo, his face stern, his eyes piercing. "Get to work!" he commanded. Su Ruo lowered her head, her hands moving swiftly as she tended to the sickly slaves. Her mediocre skills were masked by the simplicity of their wounds. The queue lengthened, and Ruyu and Xiao Zhan joined the line, their eyes locked on Su Ruo.

As she treated them, she slipped pieces of letters into their palms, her nods subtle. The two men stepped out, coughing, their eyes scanning the area. Xiao Fan watched, his silence a testament to his growing unease. Once they escaped, would they become enemies? Why did he care so much about her suddenly? What secrets lay hidden behind her enigmatic smile?

Xiao Fan's hand trembled, his body tense. He turned abruptly, rushing to his chambers, his mind racing with questions. The sharp movements in his body were a warning, a signal that his emotions were spiraling out of control. He needed to compose himself, to understand the turmoil that Su Ruo had unleashed within him.

As he disappeared into his chambers, Su Ruo's eyes followed him, her gaze lingering on the door. Her plan was unfolding, but at what cost? The lines between loyalty and deception blurred, and she wondered if she would ever find redemption. The weight of her secrets threatened to consume her, and she knew that her time was running out.

Su Ruo exhaled a sigh of relief after bandaging the last slave, her hands moving with a newfound sense of purpose. "Thank you," the last female slave said, her smile genuine. She smiled back as she turned to face Pei Yuan. His eyes, clouded with fear, locked onto hers, and she sensed a flicker of unease.

Just then, she barked, "You there!" Su Ruo's hands fell beside her, her heart skipping a beat though. "Get me some ginseng," she requested, her voice firm, as the guard reluctantly complied.

As she scanned the area, her gaze swept across the familiar faces, but one person was noticeably absent - Xiao Fan. "Xiao Fan," she murmured, a thread of concern weaving its way into her voice. She spotted him walking away quickly, his back to her, and her instincts urged her to follow.

She tried to brush off the feeling, but her feet seemed to move of their own accord, carrying her towards him with a sense of urgency. When she reached the room, she found him sitting by the window, his gaze lost in the distance. "You're not backing out of the plan, are you?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.

Xiao Fan's head slowly shook, his hands forcing themselves to stillness in his lap. But Su Ruo noticed the tremble, the struggle to maintain control. "I hope you don't have any schemes hidden–" she began, her words trailing off as she searched his face for answers.

Xiao Fan's eyes remained fixed on the horizon, his gaze unwavering, but his body betrayed him. A subtle tremor coursed through his veins, like the gentle hum of a harp string. His qi, once a harmonious flow, now churned with an unknown entity, their energies clashing like opposing storm fronts.

He clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists, as he struggled to conceal the turmoil within. The air around him seemed to vibrate with tension, like the moment before a lightning strike. But he refused to yield, his willpower a dam against the turbulent qi.

Su Ruo stood in the doorway, her eyes narrowed as she studied him. At first, she saw nothing out of the ordinary, just Xiao Fan's usual stoic demeanor. But then, she sensed it - a faint discordance in his energy, like a single off-key note in an otherwise perfect melody.

Her gaze intensified, her focus piercing as she tried to pinpoint the source of the disturbance. And then, she saw it - a flicker of darkness, like a shadow dancing in the corner of her eye. It was a qi she didn't recognize, one that seemed to be warring with Xiao Fan's own energy.

Without making a sound, she stepped closer, her eyes never leaving his back. Xiao Fan's shoulders stiffened, his senses on high alert, but he didn't turn around.

Xiao Fan's head fell closer to his neck, his trembling hands giving away the turmoil within. Blood spurted from his mouth, and Su Ruo rushed over quickly, holding him in her arms. "Xiao Fan!" she exclaimed, concern etched on her face.

He attempted to sit up, but his body wasn't in his control anymore. His qi clashed with an unknown force, leaving him weak and vulnerable. Su Ruo checked his pulse, her eyes shooting up in alarm. "This isn't the first time, is it? Why didn't you say anything?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Xiao Fan lowered his head, his body weak from the clashing qi. "Xiao Fan!" Su Ruo called out again, her eyes searching his face. He looked up, his concerned eyes locking onto hers, hoping for something better.

"You can't die! Not until I settle my old and new scores with you!" she said, determination in her voice. Xiao Fan's eyes fell again, his trembling hands moving up to her face. A tear dropped down her cheeks, and she wiped it away, surprised by her own emotions.

Why was she crying for him? She pulled him up, her hands on his back, transferring her qi to him. But he spat blood again, and a pill fell from his hands. Su Ruo picked it up, reading the inscription before pushing it into his mouth. However, Xiao Fan threw it up, clearly unwilling to take the medicine.

The pill fell to the ground, and Su Ruo picked it up again, examining it closely. What was this medicine, and why was he so reluctant to take it? Xiao Fan tossed the pill away, his breathing heavy, the clashing qi taking a toll on him.

Would they be able to escape with him in this state? Su Ruo's eyes searched his, an unknown feeling running through her body. With a light smile, Xiao Fan forced himself to talk. "No matter what happens tonight, you must leave with them."

Su Ruo shook her head, questions running through her mind. What medicine was that, and why was she reluctant to leave him behind? Was it only because of the unsettled score? "Su Ruo–" Xiao Fan began, his voice weak.

"I'll not leave without you. We leave together! You hear me!" she said, determination in her voice. Xiao Fan's teary eyes looked into hers as he lay against the wall. He raised his hand slowly, wiping away her tears.

Unable to control himself, he launched forward, pressing his lips to hers. Su Ruo raised her hands to push him away, her eyes wide with surprise. But he grabbed her hand and drew it down, kissing her passionately. Although reluctant at first, she soon found herself drawn into the kiss, their bodies closing the distance between them.

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