Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 301: First Update

Chapter 301: Chapter 301: First Update

Gui San and Gui Si circled around and saw a group of people standing inside the room, among them were Heir Zong and Ju Nanyi whom they recognized. Gui San pulled Gui Si aside, "What’s happening?"

Gui Si felt that the Young Master’s intention for them to kill had already been very clear. Dropping two Ghost Shadows among these people would likely result in most of them dead. Even if it didn’t kill Zong Yunqian, alongside their group, it would still cost Zong Yunqian dearly.

However, Gui San disagreed. Having followed Elder Can for a long time, even though he was straightforward, he wasn’t without some prudence. Halfway to death was not without progress. The Young Master was not a man who rashly resorted to violence; at a glance, it was highly probable that he didn’t intend for them to strike directly.

"Hold on, the Young Master doesn’t agree with us escalating the situation. Killing people in broad daylight is too conspicuous. Our deaths are trivial, but if the Young Master is exposed, that would be serious."

Gui Si dared not move. He still remembered the appearance of Gui San being kicked half to death by the Young Master, and he shivered.

"So, what do we do?" Gui Si ultimately listened to Gui San.

"For now, let’s stick to what we’re good at while Ju Nanyi is still here, how about that?" Gui San turned to ask Gui Si. He mainly thought that the Young Master’s mind was hard to fathom. If they made a wrong move, it could cost them dearly, so it seemed safest to stick to what they knew.

Gui Si nodded. The Young Master had given a signal, they couldn’t just do nothing.

The two made a quick decision, swiftly ducked down, and Gui Si quickly pulled a black snuff bottle from his sleeve, which was as small as a palm and dark as ink.

Zong Yunqian watched Zheng Nianru walk away, experiencing an indescribable feeling. He was reluctant to marry because all the women he had met from a young age were meek and compliant. Just like his mother, who had a free-spirited nature, had often been aggrieved in marriage, he was accustomed to seeing his mother’s suppressed unhappiness.

Yet, here was a woman who defied conventional views and was utterly uninvolved with meekness, living in a world of her own. Zong Yunqian was surprised, yet he felt that this sensation...

"Yunqian, let’s go back—" Eldest Madam Zong steadied her heart. There were too many people here; it was not a good place to talk.

"Lord Ju, Captain Wen, we’ll be taking our leave first," Zong Yunqian bowed to the two, and Ju Nanyi and the rest returned the gesture.

Second Madam Geng, somewhat bewildered, followed Eldest Madam Zong out.

Just then, a trail of black smoke suddenly rose from behind Zong Yunqian. In the moment Second Madam Geng turned her head, her eyes bulged like large brass bells, her body rigid in terror as she watched the black smoke slowly rise into the air.

The ladies from prominent families following behind Second Madam Geng, also trembled as if seeing a ghost, terrified by the ghostly shadow morphing into a huge, horrifying figure.

"Ah—" Someone screamed sharply. After emitting a brief and rapid frequency, the scream abruptly turned hoarse, as if choked, and then dispersed into the air, immediately filling it with the scent of fear.

Ju Nanyi quickly looked up, his body moving instantly towards Zong Yunqian’s direction, and Yu Yuan’s black net almost simultaneously covered Zong Yunqian’s head.

At the very moment Ju Nanyi moved, the scene descended into chaos; in the courtyard of Riverfood Restaurant, the waiters, the ladies from prominent families, and the servants were screaming, crying, and scrambling, pushing and shoving in extreme disorder.

The unluckiest were the guards from the Imperial Forest Guard who stood closest. Just as Zong Yunqian walked beside them, Captain Wen Ling immediately sensed something was amiss. A foul, nauseating stench enveloped him, invading his organs. Instinctively, Wen Ling’s hand chopped toward the Ghost Shadow with his knife.

When Zong Yunqian saw Ju Nanyi flying towards him, he was momentarily stunned and felt something was wrong with his surroundings. The next moment, he saw that the Ghost Shadow had already infected all the Imperial Forest Guards. Alarmed, he reached out to grab Captain Wen Ling, who, startled and unaware, felt an overwhelming force nearly tearing him apart.

The moment Zong Yunqian’s body touched the Ghost Shadow on Wen Ling, a bizarre scene unfolded. The Ghost Shadow suddenly darted towards Zong Yunqian’s back, drilling into his collar like black smoke, disappearing without a trace.

Under Yu Yuan’s black net, the scene suddenly quieted down. Those who could escape did so, leaving the rest staring dumbfounded at the eerie spectacle.

Zong Yunqian looked disturbed. In an instant, the Ghost Shadow had vanished, and even he could no longer sense its presence, yet it had clearly been there just a moment ago...

Wen Ling’s throat emitted a dry swallowing sound as he slowly came to his senses. The next moment, he stepped back, too rushed to pick up his dropped knife and hurriedly drew a sword from another guard’s scabbard, looking at Zong Yunqian in terror.

The people of the Imperial Forest Guard instantly drew their knives, all pointing at Zong Yunqian.

"Captain Wen, this is Heir Zong—" Ju Nanyi and Yu Yuan who had rushed over, were frozen in place. Wen Ling’s actions sparked a thought in their minds, which was soon suppressed by reason. They steadied themselves, looking at Zong Yunqian with complex expressions.

But the net had not moved, indicating that the Ghost Shadow had disappeared, disappeared somehow, and the present Zong Yunqian showed no reaction.

Ju Nanyi spoke up, finally snapping Wen Ling back to rationality. The next moment, he hastily withdrew his knife.

"Yunqian, Yunqian, are you okay?" Eldest Madam Zong flung herself at Zong Yunqian, pulling down the black net and frantically examining him inside and out. She had clearly seen the Ghost Shadow, the Ghost Shadow that had drilled into...

"Mother, I’m fine—" Zong Yunqian grasped Eldest Madam Zong’s arm, also full of doubts at this moment, but certain that the Ghost Shadow was no longer there. As for how it had disappeared, he had no idea.

Ju Nanyi glanced at the black net lying to the side. It had once trapped the Ghost Shadow, and although the Ghost Shadow had escaped, it couldn’t possibly have no reaction at all.

So, where had the Ghost Shadow gone?

"Lord Ju, please rest assured, I will definitely capture this Ghost Shadow," Zong Yunqian assured Lord Ju and then glanced at Wen Ling.

"Captain Wen, please escort my mother back home. Heir Zong and Lord Ju will pursue the Ghost Shadow without delay, and we’ll resume later—" Zong Yunqian said, his expression calm, but urgency filled his eyes.

"Captain Wen will surely escort the lady back home safely—" Wen Ling’s words were cut off as Zong Yunqian had already dashed out of the building, Ju Nanyi with his men quickly following suit.

After a long while, with calm restored, Riverfood Restaurant resumed its usual bustle, gradually forgetting the earlier commotion. Two figures slowly emerged from a street drain, blending into the bustling crowd.