Chapter 147: Caught in a Conspiracy

Ning Xianyu cried out for help, but Xiahou Fang remained unmoved. A cultivator wouldn’t be harmed by a fall from such a height.

Suddenly, a figure dashed over in the blink of an eye and caught Ning Xianyu in his arms. Terrified, she dared not scream, but once she felt safe, she was deeply moved. “Thank you, thank you. I didn’t expect you to be… huh?”

She had just been about to say she didn’t expect Xiahou Fang to be a good person, only to realize that the one who caught her was the unfamiliar newcomer. According to the strange script of this place, this man was the lady’s former lover, who had admired her for a long time and had long intended to steal her away.

He was indeed playing his role with dedication. Ning Xianyu feared what he might do, and in her panic, she roughly pushed him away, inadvertently causing herself to fall to the ground. Ignoring the pain, she scrambled away and hid behind Xiahou Fang.

She didn’t know this newcomer, only that he had designs on her. Compared to him, Xiahou Fang seemed more reliable. After all, Xiahou Fang only wanted her skin after some time, but what the newcomer intended, she could only guess.

Xuanyuan Tunhan had saved her, yet received no thanks and was even pushed aside. He stared blankly at his arm, then glanced at the woman hiding behind Xiahou Fang. Her blatant look suggested that he was the villain, and Xiahou Fang was the more trustworthy one.

Xuanyuan Tunhan suddenly felt that Ning Xianyu wasn’t being kidnapped; she was conspiring with Xiahou Fang. This woman... very well then!

Xuanyuan Tunhan glared at the two, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Xiahou Fang paid no mind to the hostility and instead recognized that Xuanyuan Tunhan was also a cultivator. After pondering, he changed his expression and smiled warmly, cupping his hands. “Brother, you are a cultivator as well. Do you remember who you are?”

Xuanyuan Tunhan’s face turned cold. “What are your intentions?”

Xiahou Fang’s smile was gentle and affable. “My companion and I originally came to rescue the Emperor of Yulai Kingdom but found ourselves trapped here, unable to leave. And you, brother?”

Xuanyuan Tunhan sneered. “Companion?”

Already calling each other companions? Clearly, they had already teamed up.

“I... accidentally arrived here.” He glanced around and tried to find that stone. But having just arrived, he had no clue.

Xiahou Fang smiled. “Since it’s accidental, I suppose you know nothing about this place. Perhaps I can tell you a bit.”

He appeared kind-hearted, ready to explain to Xuanyuan Tunhan. Ning Xianyu eyed him sideways, thinking his kindness seemed more like a weasel wishing the chicken a happy new year. Last time in the Ling Shu secret realm, he had tricked her similarly. The fool opposite actually believed him.

“Is that so? Then please, do tell,” Xuanyuan Tunhan said.

Ning Xianyu stood nearby, watching the show, amused by Xiahou Fang’s manipulation of the fool opposite.

“In my opinion, this is some kind of secret realm where the inhabitants act out a script. Currently, the story is about our daughter falling in love with a poor scholar.”

“Brother, I believe to break this secret realm, we must play out the story according to the script.”

The fool nodded earnestly. “Thank you, brother.”

Xiahou Fang continued to spin his tale. “I am Xiahou Fang. May I ask your name, brother?”

“I am Ni Daye!” the fool replied.

Ni Daye?

“What a splendid name,” Xiahou Fang said.

Ning Xianyu’s heart stirred with a strange familiarity. Ni Daye sounded like a curse—“your great-uncle.” But it also closely resembled the name she had previously come up with, Ni Dajie. Could it be a coincidence?

She scrutinized Ni Daye, puzzled by the contradictory sense of strangeness and familiarity.

Before she could figure it out, Xiahou Fang spoke again.

“Brother, actually my wife and I wanted to see the full layout of this courtyard, since so far, we have only seen this one mansion.”

That was true—they had wandered around for a long time without finding any other estates.

Xuanyuan Tunhan said, “I searched outside for a long time and only found this mansion.”

Xiahou Fang added, “Since all directions are blocked, why not try to observe the whole place from above? What do you think, brother?”

Xuanyuan Tunhan nodded in agreement.

Xiahou Fang looked troubled. “As you can see, brother, I tried several times to climb up but failed. I had no choice but to let my wife take the risk, and she fell.”

“Could you please do us the favor of climbing up to check? Don’t worry; just look if you can. If not, we can think of another way.”

Xuanyuan Tunhan glanced at both of them and the roof, then agreed.

He attempted to jump up, but couldn’t reach. Finally, he climbed the tree instead, moving far more swiftly than Ning Xianyu.

Ning Xianyu watched Ni Daye being completely fooled and admired Xiahou Fang, giving him a thumbs-up. Impressive—he could trick someone like that, and they had just met!

Xiahou Fang whispered with a smile, “Remember, when deceiving, nine out of ten statements must be true; only the crucial half or whole sentence is false. That makes it more believable.”

If he couldn’t speak to people as they wished or to ghosts as they feared, how could he fool so many?

Ning Xianyu found this quite insightful. A master deceiver must be like this. But why was he so proud about it?

She raised her head, watching Ni Daye climb. He had reached the eaves by climbing the branches and grabbed hold of the edge.

He stood up and leapt onto the eaves, making Ning Xianyu and Xiahou Fang both excited.

But just as he jumped, it was as if something pressed down on him, and he suddenly fell back down.

No one caught him, but he didn’t fall hard; he landed steadily on his feet.

He looked upward. “No good, there’s a restriction above. I can’t see anything.”

Ning Xianyu recalled the earlier broken branch and realized it wasn’t an accident—this place’s restriction had caused it.

This restriction was formidable indeed.

Xiahou Fang was somewhat irritated, thanking Xuanyuan Tunhan for his effort while pondering how to find that stone and retrieve it.

“If this won’t work, how about we split up to search? I believe the crucial clue lies within this mansion.”

Xuanyuan Tunhan said coldly, “This place is strange. We should stay together to avoid anyone falling victim when alone.”

Xiahou Fang considered and agreed, truly sticking together with him. However, he clung tightly to Ning Xianyu, as if afraid she might run away.

Suddenly, Xuanyuan Tunhan strode over and inserted himself between the two.