A servant came to fetch Yun Zizhuo, who bid Ji Chun farewell and left. Ji Chun, meanwhile, made his way to the courtyard where Yun Mushang resided. From this point on, he would keep a close eye on the man. If Yun Mushang revealed Su Ran's whereabouts, all would be well. If not… Ji Chun would ensure the Yun family discovered the truth about Yun Mushang's relationship with the "Third Young Master's Wife."
Yun Mushang spent the entire day in his study, attending to various matters. Ji Chun watched his every move without faltering. As evening approached, a maid hurried into Yun Mushang's courtyard, her head bowed. She knocked on the door, and Yun Mushang soon opened it.
"Has the Third Young Master's wife made arrangements?" he asked.
The maid nodded. "Madam said she will wait for you tonight at Hai."
Yun Mushang acknowledged this with a nod, and the maid quickly departed. Ji Chun recognized her as one of Wenshi's personal maids. It was clear she had come to relay a message. Wenshi and Yun Mushang had met just the night before, and now they were planning another rendezvous. This was the opportunity Ji Chun had been waiting for. His eyes glinted coldly as he clenched his fists and slipped away silently.
As the sky darkened, Ji Chun returned to his quarters for a simple meal. He calculated that there were still two hours until the appointed time. After checking on Yun Mushang, he noticed the man had arranged for guards to keep an eye on the Yun brothers, presumably to ensure no one interrupted his plans for the night. Confident that Yun Mushang would soon leave to meet Wenshi, Ji Chun headed straight to Yun Zizhuo's residence.
Once the servant announced him, Ji Chun entered without delay. "Yun Mushang has an appointment with that woman tonight," he stated bluntly.
Yun Zizhuo's face darkened. "They dare to do this?!" he exclaimed, then looked at Ji Chun. "Are you certain?"
"Yes," Ji Chun replied, his voice low and his eyes sharp with barely concealed anger. "The Third Young Master has always believed his wife to be virtuous. I hope the Second Young Master can bring the First and Third Young Masters to witness Yun Mushang and Wenshi's true nature. This will clear Su Ran's name and expose the lies."
It was the first time Yun Zizhuo had seen such a cold, almost terrifying expression on Ji Chun's face. He lowered his head, deep in thought. Over the years, Yun Mushang had repeatedly interfered with his eldest brother's management of the manor, and Yun Ziang had tolerated it out of respect for their shared past. But if Yun Mushang was engaging in such disgraceful behavior behind their backs, it was unforgivable. As for Wenshi, if not for his third brother's infatuation with her, Yun Zizhuo would have expelled her from Liuyun Manor long ago. Now was the time to reveal the truth.
"Alright," Yun Zizhuo said, his expression hardening. He opened the door and called for a trusted servant, whispering a few instructions. The servant nodded and hurried off. Turning back to Ji Chun, Yun Zizhuo said, "I'll inform my eldest brother immediately."
Ji Chun nodded. "Yun Mushang has posted guards to watch you and your brother. Be discreet. I'll keep an eye on them in the meantime."
"Understood. My brothers and I will arrive by Hai. Thank you, Ji Chun," Yun Zizhuo said, his blood boiling. If Ji Chun's claims were true, he would make sure Yun Mushang and Wenshi paid dearly. How dare they tarnish his third brother's reputation? Yun Zizhuo was determined to see justice done.
After their discussion, the two parted ways. Ji Chun made his way to Wenshi's courtyard, hiding on the rooftop. His dark eyes scanned the servants and maids moving about below as he waited silently for Yun Mushang to arrive.
Eventually, the half-open courtyard door creaked, and Yun Mushang strode in, straightening his robes. Two maids hurried to greet him. "Second Master Yun, you've arrived."
"Yes. Has the Lord of the Manor or the Second Young Master come by?" Yun Mushang asked casually, waving his hand. The servants accompanying him handed a few silver ingots to the maids as a reward.
The maids, delighted by the silver, replied, "Second Master, since that incident, the Lord of the Manor and the Second Young Master haven't visited again."
"Good. You may leave," Yun Mushang said dismissively. He walked confidently toward Wenshi's room, acting as though he owned the place. Pushing the door open, he entered without hesitation. "I just saw you yesterday, and you couldn't wait to see me again tonight?" he said loudly, his tone shameless.
"Mu Shang, keep your voice down!" Wenshi chided, her tone a mix of annoyance and coquetry. She leaned into Yun Mushang's arms, her body soft and pliant.
"What's there to fear? I've arranged everything outside. Ziang and Zizhuo are being watched. There's no chance of interruption," Yun Mushang boasted, his hands already wandering.
Wenshi sighed, her voice tinged with concern. "I heard from the maid that you've been busy all day and haven't rested much. It pains me to hear that."
"Oh? Let me see how much you care," Yun Mushang said with a leer, his hands growing bolder as he guided her toward the bed.
Ji Chun, knowing what was about to happen, moved swiftly. He slipped around the courtyard wall and approached the gate. As the guards stationed there opened their mouths to shout, he pressed their pressure points, rendering them silent and immobile.
Moments later, several figures approached. Leading them were the three Yun brothers—Yun Ziang, Yun Zizhuo, and Yun Ziyu. Yun Ziang's face was dark with anger, Yun Ziyu's expression a mix of fury and disbelief, and Yun Zizhuo's demeanor calm but resolute. Behind them followed two guards. Yun Ziyu looked ready to charge forward, but Yun Zizhuo held him back. The truth was about to be revealed.
They saw that the courtyard was guarded not only by Wenshi's maids and servants but also by Yun Mushang's trusted men. The scene left little room for doubt, and the Yun brothers struggled to contain their anger. They needed to see the truth with their own eyes. Ji Chun stepped aside silently, allowing Yun Ziang to forcefully open the door. Yun Zizhuo, Yun Ziyu, and the two guards followed closely behind.
Without hesitation, Yun Ziang strode to the room's door and kicked it open. The door swung wide, revealing the scene inside. A woman's scream pierced the air as Wenshi scrambled to pull the quilt over herself. Yun Mushang, equally startled, jumped up from the bed, grabbing a piece of clothing to cover himself. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized the intruders—the three Yun brothers.
"You… what are you doing here?" Yun Mushang stammered, his voice trembling.
"I'll kill you!" Yun Ziyu roared, breaking free from Yun Zizhuo's grip. His eyes burned with rage as he lunged at Yun Mushang. Just as his fist was about to connect, Yun Mushang caught his wrist, and the two men glared at each other, locked in a tense standoff.
"No… no…" Wenshi whimpered, curling into a ball at the corner of the bed. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with Yun Ziyu. "Ziyu… he's your second uncle!"
Yun Mushang shoved Yun Ziyu aside and pulled Wenshi into his arms, his voice defiant as he addressed the room. "Ziang, Zizhuo, no matter what, I'm still your second uncle. I was the one who helped you three rise to the position of family head. Do you really want to turn against me today?"
"What right do you have to call yourself our uncle?!" Yun Ziyu shouted, his voice shaking with fury. "Nangong Wanmo, I've been devoted to you, and this is how you repay me? Aren't you afraid of divine punishment for your actions?!"
Yun Ziang stepped forward, grabbing Yun Ziyu to prevent him from doing anything rash. While he was furious at Yun Mushang, he couldn't allow his younger brother to kill their uncle over a woman. If word of this got out, Liuyun Manor would become the laughingstock of the martial world.
"Er Ge!" Yun Ziyu growled, his voice filled with disbelief and anger. He stared at Yun Ziang, unable to comprehend why he was being stopped.
Ji Chun, having long grown tired of the Yun family's drama, stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. "Where is Su Ran?" His words cut through the tension like a blade, freezing the room in an eerie silence.
"Su Gongzi was captured by him!" Yun Ziyu shouted, pointing accusingly at Yun Mushang. Unable to vent his rage on his uncle, he turned to Ji Chun, hoping the monk would exact justice.
Ji Chun's dark, piercing eyes locked onto Yun Mushang. The sheer intensity of his gaze made Yun Mushang shrink back, stammering under the pressure. "I… I don't know…"
In an instant, Ji Chun's hand shot out, gripping Yun Mushang's throat. The man's eyes widened in terror as Ji Chun's grip tightened. Ji Chun had never acted so violently before, but his anger, perhaps influenced by Su Ran's own ruthless tendencies, had taken over. If Yun Mushang didn't cooperate, Ji Chun might very well kill him.
"He… he's in a shabby house in the woods north of the city…" Yun Mushang choked out, his voice trembling. He knew better than to lie—Ji Chun's murderous intent was all too real.
"If you're lying, you'll die," Ji Chun said in a low, menacing voice. With that, he slammed Yun Mushang against the wall, leaving him slumped and bleeding from the mouth. Ji Chun then turned and vanished from the room, his figure disappearing into the night.
Ji Chun moved swiftly, using his lightness skills to race toward the northern woods. His hands trembled, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and desperation. He prayed silently that Su Ran was unharmed. When he finally reached the woods, the sight of the towering trees only deepened his unease. He forced himself to calm his breathing and began searching.
Soon, he spotted a dilapidated house hidden deep in the woods. His heart nearly stopped as he approached. He pushed the rickety door open with such force that it collapsed inward, revealing the scene inside.
What he saw made his blood run cold. Su Ran lay on the dirty floor, a pool of blood beneath him. His fair, beautiful face was marred by bruises, and dried blood stained the corner of his lips. He was dressed only in a thin white undershirt, now soaked with blood. His hands clutched his lower abdomen, and the blood on the ground seemed to flow from between his legs.