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The first light of dawn had just spilled over the eaves of Guanyin Temple when Nangong Shuang had already been waiting inside the small Buddhist hall for quite some time. She tightened her brown cloak around her, her eyes occasionally darting toward the door, her expression tense and anxious. After narrowly escaping from Guo Residence the previous night, she had come to Guanyin Temple as agreed to meet Xiao Zhongyan, but he had yet to appear.
"Could something have happened to him?" Nangong Shuang murmured to herself, recalling the formidable assassin from last night, a chill running through her heart. That person wielded a sword with exceptional skill, clearly trained in a prestigious school. To cover her escape, Xiao Zhongyan had drawn the assassin away, and she could only wonder how he fared now.
Lost in thought, she suddenly heard faint footsteps approaching. Nangong Shuang immediately became alert, gripping a silver needle tightly between her fingers.
"It's me." A familiar voice came from outside the door. Xiao Zhongyan appeared in simple attire, his handsome face showing signs of fatigue, yet he still managed to bow gracefully and said, "I apologize for keeping you waiting."
"Are you alright?" Nangong Shuang hurried forward and noticed the scar on his left arm, concern flooding her features. Realizing her lapse in composure, she quickly stepped back.
Xiao Zhongyan smiled wryly and shook his head. "It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious. That assassin was indeed skilled—one of the elites from Shadow Pavilion. I had to expend quite a bit of effort to shake her off." He glanced around cautiously and lowered his voice. "I’m aware of what happened at Guo Residence. It seems Guo Yushi is indeed colluding with the Crown Prince's Mansion to target you."
Nangong Shuang's expression grew complex. "I thought Lord Guo was merely testing me; I never expected him to be one of the enemies of the Nangong Family." Remembering Guo Chunyi's genuine kindness towards her made her heart heavy. "Now that my identity has been exposed, it will be difficult for me to remain in the capital."
"Things may not be as dire as they seem," Xiao Zhongyan said after a moment of contemplation. "During last night's chaos, I took the opportunity to spread word that an assassin had infiltrated Guo Residence with the intent to assassinate Lord Guo. To save face, the Guo Family will likely suppress news of your escape and claim nothing happened."
"You mean I can still go back?" Nangong Shuang asked in surprise.
Xiao Zhongyan nodded. "Exactly. Lord Guo won't reveal your true identity; otherwise, it would implicate him in his schemes with the Crown Prince's Mansion. If you can pretend to know nothing for now, you might still navigate this situation."
Nangong Shuang fell into deep thought. Although returning to Guo Residence felt like walking into a den of tigers, she had yet to find the Heavenly Fragrance Life-Extending Technique, and the injustice against the Nangong Family remained unresolved. Leaving now would mean abandoning everything she had worked for.
"I understand," Nangong Shuang finally looked up, determination shining in her eyes. "I will go back and continue searching for clues. Guo Residence is both a dangerous place and the closest point to the truth."
"That's excellent," Xiao Zhongyan said with relief as he took out an exquisite sachet from his robe and handed it to her. "This is an antidote sachet; it can neutralize various poisons. Keep it on you at all times for safety."
Nangong Shuang accepted the sachet and accidentally brushed against Xiao Zhongyan's hand with her fingertips. Both were momentarily startled; she quickly withdrew her hand and thanked him softly.
"There’s one more thing I must tell you," Xiao Zhongyan said gravely. "In two days, there will be an autumn banquet at Crown Prince's Mansion, attended by all major families in the capital, including the Guo Family. I suspect that the Crown Prince may take action during this event, so we need to be extra cautious."
Nangong Shuang nodded in gratitude but then recalled something: "In my haste to escape last night, I only took half of the Plum Blossom Token with me; the other half is hidden in a compartment under the bed at Guo Residence. I wonder if it’s still safe?"
"Let’s hope it hasn’t been discovered," Xiao Zhongyan frowned. "If it has fallen into Lord Guo's hands, then even Mei Xin Pavilion at Nangong Ancestral Home could be in grave danger."
The two discussed some details further and agreed on how to contact each other discreetly before parting ways at Guanyin Temple. Nangong Shuang chose a secluded path as she quietly made her way back into the city; she needed to stop somewhere first before returning to Guo Residence.
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