The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 40: The Second Brother is Abducted

Chapter 40: The Second Brother is Abducted

On the day of Chu Ye’s wedding, the guests arrived in great numbers.

Nanli had already set up an array in the mansion and secretly posted numerous talismans to prevent any unexpected incidents.

Fortunately, everything proceeded smoothly from the welcoming of the bride to the ceremonial hall.

By the time they reached the playful teasing in the bridal chamber, Chu Nanying was particularly delighted. After returning to her courtyard and freshening up, she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

Nanli was also feeling a bit weary, but at that moment, Yuanbao hurriedly rushed in, saying, "Miss, Lord Xie has urgent matters to discuss with you."

She went out, and under the moonlight, she could clearly see the deep anxiety on Xie Beihan’s face.

"Little sister, your second brother has gone missing," Xie Beihan explained hurriedly as soon as he saw her.

"Missing? What happened?" Nanli’s heart trembled.

"He said he was going to fetch some fine wine, but he hasn’t returned for a long time. I sent servants to search for him, but they couldn’t find him anywhere," Xie Beihan said. "Today, with your eldest brother’s wedding and so many guests, I didn’t dare to make a fuss and search for him openly."

Nanli couldn’t help but worry that Chu Shuo might have fallen into the lake if he had drunk too much.

Xie Beihan had hurriedly come, knowing that Nanli could locate people by their aura. Before coming, he even took a jade pendant from Chu Shuo’s room.

Nanli tested it with a paper crane and found that the paper crane just spun in place. "Little sister, are there times when your abilities fail?" Xie Beihan blinked.

"It’s not that I fail, but someone has concealed my second brother’s aura with talismans. This paper crane doesn’t know where to go," Nanli snapped her fingers, and the paper crane flew back into her hand. Her eyes narrowed slightly, indicating that the person hiding in the shadows couldn’t resist taking action any longer.

It was getting late, and most of the guests had already left.

Suddenly, a sound of breaking wind echoed through the air.

Nanli furrowed her brows and immediately pulled Xie Beihan to the side.

A hidden weapon landed on the wall, startling Xie Beihan and Yuanbao.

Nanli wanted to chase after the figure, but that person’s lightness skill was exceptional, quickly blending into the darkness of the night, making it impossible to catch up.

"Little sister, there’s a note on the hidden weapon," Xie Beihan shouted. He carefully took the note down.

Nanli took a look and saw the words written on it: "Bring the Remnant Soul. Tonight, during 9 to 11PM, come alone to the east of the city to exchange for Chu Shuo."

Her heart sank.

It was indeed related to the Remnant Soul.

She had waited for so long, thinking that the Remnant Soul was useless, but who would have known that the person behind the scenes had patiently waited until this joyous day to make a move.

Xie Beihan couldn’t understand and asked, "What Remnant Soul?"

"Someone tampered with the jade pendant that my second brother had previously activated. Inside, there are three strands of Remnant Soul," Nanli explained. "I have to go."

"You want to go alone? No, you don’t know who the other party is or how many people there are. It’s too dangerous," Xie Beihan tried to stop her.

"I must go. My second brother is waiting for me," Nanli’s expression was resolute.

With only two quarters of an hour left until the appointed time, she couldn’t afford any delays.

Xie Beihan said, "Then let’s split up. I’ll go find my father and Uncle Chu to support you."

Nanli nodded, but in her mind, she flashed back to the face of Ye Siheng.

If he were here, she would undoubtedly seek his help without hesitation. However, he hadn’t attended the banquet tonight.

Nanli took off her elaborate outer garment and directly climbed over the wall. During the journey to the east of the city, she tied up her wide sleeves with a ribbon to avoid hindering her movements.

But as soon as she entered the eastern part of the city, she noticed that the aura was completely different.

A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

This person’s Dao techniques were indeed impressive, being able to create a separate space using talismans.

Even if her father and the Marquis of Zhenbei brought their troops here, they wouldn’t be able to find her.

However, the separate space created by this person was just a passage.

Nanli passed through it and found herself in front of a dilapidated temple.

As soon as she fully emerged, the passage closed and disappeared.

Under the moonlight, stars are scarce, casting dancing shadows to the ground through the interlaced twigs.

A gentle breeze whispers through the outskirts.

Nanli stepped into the dilapidated temple, where candles were scattered, the flickering flames illuminating the broken Buddha statue, before which laying a motionless figure.

It was none other than Chu Ye, dressed in new garments. His breath steady, indicating his unconscious state.

Nanli breathed a sigh of relief, refraining from rushing to his side.

"Why does Miss Chu not approach? Your second brother is right before your eyes," a raspy voice came from the right, belonging to a man in his fifties or sixties.

He wore a black robe with a hood, concealing most of his face.

Nanli raised an eyebrow, "You have placed fire talismans around the Buddha statue. Once I approach, they will be triggered."

The man in the black robe chuckled, "No wonder Li Zhengming’s two junior brothers were defeated by you. Miss Chu is truly formidable, I have heard much about you."

Nanli had no interest in idle chatter.

With delicate grace, she held a soul-locking pouch containing remnants of a spirit, stating, "One hand exchanges people, the other exchanges souls."

"Miss Chu, please be patient," the man in the black robe spoke slowly. "I have invited you here today to request your assistance."

Nanli’s refined features showed no emotion as she replied, "Speak."

"Surely you are aware that these are fragments of a soul. I wonder if the enigmatic Miss Chu can gather them together?" the man inquired.

Nanli jingled the soul-locking pouch, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"If you, sir, cannot gather the souls, why do you think I can? Especially when you have resorted to using my second brother’s soul to nurture them. Such an act defies the natural order. Why do you believe I possess such ability?"

The shattered state of these remnants meant she could mend them, but for those who had already passed away, she believed they should be allowed to reincarnate rather than forcibly summoned back to the mortal realm.

Such actions were against the laws of nature.

The man in the black robe stepped forward, his gaze suddenly sharp. "Because Miss Chu, you must be capable. Otherwise, neither you nor Chu Shuo will leave here alive tonight."

Nanli seemed unperturbed, her smile deepening. "Even if my second brother were to lose a single strand of hair, I would immediately crush these remnants within."

Her hand brimmed with power, her chin lifted slightly, her tone enigmatic, proving she was not bluffing.

The man in the black robe remained unfazed. "Even if you were to crush them, I still have a way to retrieve these fragments," he said, raising his hand.

Archers emerged from outside the dilapidated temple, aiming their arrows at Nanli and Chu Shuo.

"But if you do not comply, both of you will be riddled with arrows. Miss Chu, think more about it," the man continued.

Nanli’s face turned icy as she saw the gleaming arrowheads pointed at her. This man had indeed come prepared. She was in a disadvantageous position, within the temple while Chu ashuo remained unconscious.

Seeing Nanli’s hesitation, the man in the black robe sneered, "I will count to three, hoping you can make the right decision."

Nanli’s expression remained unchanged.

"One!"

"Two!"

Before the third count, Nanli spoke, "Very well."

The man in the black robe smiled triumphantly, raising his hand to signal the archers to retreat.

Nanli took out a talisman, clearing the ground before retrieving her Tianxing Brush. Dipping it in cinnabar, she slowly drew a massive summoning symbol on the ground.

The man in the black robe was astonished, approaching to get a closer look, unable to hide his excitement.

"You... you truly possess remarkable skills. This summoning symbol has been lost for ages, yet you can still recreate it."

"Creating is not so much difficult; the true test lies in whether it will work," Nanli replied, her gaze sharp.

Without formidable power, the talisman can’t be operated.

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