116: Chapter 116 Falling into the Trap

Those coquettish whispers passed through the relatively thin walls and fell clearly into Chen Fan's ears.

He stood by the window, the night wind fluttering the corners of his clothes. Beneath the mask, a helpless smile appeared on his face.

He pushed open the wooden door leading to the next room.

A soft creak sounded particularly clear in the silent night.

The candlelight inside the room flickered, reflecting a suddenly blushing face and an exquisite, curvaceous figure wrapped beneath thin gauze.

...

Midnight.

Chen Fan walked out of the room next door, still carrying a faint fragrance—a blend of different body scents.

He returned to his own room, and this time, he did not lock the connecting door.

After continuous passionate exertion, even with his physique, he felt a slight touch of fatigue.

He lay on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Fan's ears suddenly twitched in his sleep.

An extremely faint sound of something cutting through the air, almost blending with the wind, came from the outskirts of the manor.

He snapped his eyes open. There was no trace of post-sleep confusion in his eyes, only cold alertness.

Someone had broken into the villa.

Moreover, it wasn't just one person.

He sat up silently without lighting a lamp. By the cold moonlight pouring in from the window, he walked to the window and cautiously pushed open a crack.

The courtyard was silent, with only the chirping of insects.

But Chen Fan's senses captured several fast-moving dark shadows.

Those shadows moved with great agility, landing soundlessly and coordinating perfectly; they were clearly well-trained Death-sworn guards. Their target was clear, moving to surround the depths of the manor—the very small building they were in.

Chen Fan's heart sank instantly.

Were they coming for him?

It didn't seem like it.

Although the Jade-Faced Asura's reputation was great, his enemies were mostly in the Jianghu, and it wouldn't warrant an assassination by Death-sworn guards of this scale.

Then, they were coming for the people of the Shangguan Family.

He subconsciously glanced next door. The two sisters were sleeping soundly, their steady breathing clearly audible.

This is a bit troublesome.

Stay out of it? By the time these people fought their way in and he had to distinguish friend from foe, it would likely be too late.

After a brief thought, he put on his outer robe, donned his mask, and pushed the door open.

He didn't take the stairs but instead flipped over the second-floor corridor, landing silently in the first-floor courtyard, his movements as light as a falling leaf.

Just as he was about to find Shangguan Yun to warn him of the incoming attack, he unexpectedly discovered that a flicker of candlelight was still burning in a room on the first floor.

It was Shangguan Wan's room.

It was so late; was she still awake?

A trace of doubt rose in Chen Fan's heart. He restrained his entire aura and, like a civet cat, quietly approached the window.

A silhouette of a lady sitting upright was reflected on the window paper.

She seemed to be sipping tea, her movements calm and composed, without the slightest hint of tension.

Chen Fan's heart stirred. He chose not to eavesdrop and instead walked directly to the main door, lightly knocking on it.

"Come in."

Shangguan Wan's cold and calm voice came from inside.

Chen Fan pushed the door and entered.

The room was brightly lit by candlelight. Shangguan Wan indeed hadn't slept; she had changed out of her formal banquet attire and was wearing a tight-fitting Martial Artist's outfit suitable for action. She sat by the table, slowly wiping a gleaming Soft Sword.

She wasn't surprised at all to see Chen Fan enter.

"Did Brother Luo notice as well?" She sheathed the Soft Sword and looked up. Her clear eyes shone startlingly bright under the candlelight.

"There are quite a few people outside," Chen Fan said flatly.

"I know." Shangguan Wan's response was terrifyingly calm.

She stood up, poured a cup of hot tea for Chen Fan, and pushed it toward him.

"They are coming for me."

Chen Fan didn't touch the tea.

He just watched her quietly.

Shangguan Wan felt a bit uneasy under his gaze and took the initiative to explain, "Does Brother Luo know of the Jiang Faction?"

Chen Fan didn't speak.

Shangguan Wan continued on her own, "My Shangguan Family is the leader of the Jiang Faction. Although Grandfather has retired to his hometown, his influence in the court remains a thorn in the side of certain people. Those who have come tonight were sent by our rivals in the imperial court to eliminate me and my brother."

Her narration sounded as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

But at this moment, Chen Fan's mind turned to something else...

The invitation for a spring outing, the archery competition, the grand hospitality, being arranged in this deepest and most secluded small building...

Scene after scene flashed through his mind, finally connecting into a cold fact.

Had he been played?

These two siblings had known all along that there would be an assassination tonight.

Inviting him here wasn't out of admiration for the top ranker of the hero ranking list at all; they had hired a top-tier fighter and bodyguard.

Even that archery competition had become a calculated test of his strength.

Chen Fan remained silent.

He thought that by not accepting anyone's recruitment, he could stay out of trouble, but he had still fallen into the opponent's carefully laid chess game.

The temperature in the air seemed to drop by a few degrees.

Shangguan Wan was exceptionally clever and instantly sensed the detachment and coldness emanating from Chen Fan.

A trace of emotion finally appeared on her always calm face.

A hint of guilt, a hint of panic.

"Brother Luo, you misunderstand," she spoke hastily, her voice no longer cold. "The invitation for the spring outing was real, and my admiration for your strength was also real. It's just... I only received the news that these people would take action this evening."

She took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to Chen Fan.

"Using their plot against them to lure the snake out of its hole was my spontaneous decision. My wish to ask for Brother Luo's help is also genuine. In this matter, I have used Brother Luo. I, Shangguan Wan, apologize to you."

She lowered her posture significantly, and her words were extremely sincere.

Chen Fan didn't speak; the mask cut off all his emotions.

But his exposed eyes remained as calm as an ancient well, so deep that no thoughts could be discerned.

Amidst this suffocating silence...

Outside the small building, a shrill scream suddenly pierced the tranquility of the night sky!

Following that was the dense, crisp sound of clashing weapons and angry roars.

"There are assassins! Protect the Young Master!"

It was the voice of a guard!