Xuan Yuanjue picked up the teacup with a smile and drained it in one gulp. At this moment, his eyes were full of love, looking as if Shen Li were already his wife.
"Actually, I learned before that your parents were sent to the Western Yue Kingdom on the emperor's order. It's a very arduous task. None of the people sent there before ever came back alive. I suspect that the emperor has long been wary of your parents and wants to use this Western Yue Kingdom matter to get rid of them."
Shen Li took a step back in disbelief. Her parents were so loyal and always thought for the emperor. How could the emperor treat them like this? But then she thought of the tragic end of the Hua Mansion and suddenly understood.
She clenched her fists tightly. "If anything happens to my parents, the emperor won't be able to get away with it!"
Xuan Yuanjue continued to play with the teacup with a smile. He patted Shen Li's hand reassuringly. "Your parents should still be alive. I'm just curious how you got the guts to say such rebellious words."
All of a sudden, Shen Li was filled with heroic pride. She slapped the table and stood up straight. "I'm going to protect the people I love all my life. I don't care if it's the emperor or anyone else. If they hurt the people I love, I'll never let them get away with it."
Seeing Shen Li being so strong, Xuan Yuanjue suddenly felt extremely sorry for her. He deeply blamed himself for not meeting Shen Li a few years earlier so that he could protect her well.
He hugged Shen Li tightly in his arms. "Don't worry. It's okay. You still have me in this matter. I'll help you solve it. Did you just receive a secret letter saying that your parents were locked up in the dungeon of Panther Tiger Stronghold?"
Shen Li nodded. Logically, this secret letter was passed on to her by the Hua Mansion, so few people should know this news. She squinted at Xuan Yuanjue. "Have you been keeping an eye on this matter for a long time?"
Seeing the defensiveness in Shen Li's eyes, he quickly explained, "You know that no big family can be prosperous forever. And our family is especially afraid that the emperor has some plot against us. So we naturally pay close attention to such things. Don't think too much."
Shen Li thought about it and seemed to find nothing wrong with what Xuan Yuanjue said. So she changed to a gentle tone. "Then go on. I'll just listen."
Xuan Yuanjue took out a map and laid it on the tea table. He pointed it out to Shen Li carefully bit by bit. "This is the map of Panther Tiger Stronghold. I sent people to scout every part of it before. But the dungeon is very strictly guarded and they couldn't get in. It seems that there are really some important people locked up inside."
The dungeon was located at the deepest part of the stronghold's belly, marked with a big red circle in cinnabar. It must be heavily guarded. Shen Li nodded. "It seems that the news is about 70% true."
Suddenly, there was a noise. Xuan Yuanjue quickly put away the map. Shen Li opened the door and saw Xin Yue running towards her.
"Miss, hurry up! The people from Panther Tiger Stronghold have come with a large group! They outnumber us and we may not be able to fight them. Let's go quickly!"
Xuan Yuanjue pulled Shen Li. "Let's go first."
But Shen Li hesitated. She had no feud with Panther Tiger Stronghold. Logically, those people from the stronghold should go after the group of black - clothed men from last time. Why did they suddenly come for her?
She stood firmly on the spot. "Leave some gunpowder for me. You withdraw first."
She pushed Xuan Yuanjue and Xin Yue. Xin Yue clearly stood firmly on the spot. Xuan Yuanjue took out the gunpowder he had asked someone to prepare and handed it to Shen Li. "Take care of yourself. Call me if there's anything. I'll always be there!"
Xin Yue looked at Shen Li reluctantly. Shen Li impatiently pushed her hard. Xin Yue had no choice but to follow Xuan Yuanjue away.
Soon, the people from Panther Tiger Stronghold came to the courtyard. The chief was like a giant, not only tall but also with muscles as solid as rocks.
Without saying a word, he wanted to slash at Shen Li with his sword. But before his sword came down, he stopped immediately. Shen Li was holding gunpowder in her hand, and he didn't dare to get close at all.
"This gunpowder was specially made by me and my subordinates. It will explode, and then everyone in the courtyard will be gone. Coincidentally, I had my people escape before you came. So, are you sure you want to come closer?"
The chief frowned as he watched all this. He originally thought it would be easy for him to kill Shen Li with his strength, especially with the help of the people sent by He Liancheng.
For a moment, the atmosphere became a bit tense.
But Shen Li continued calmly. "It was those black - clothed men who killed your two younger brothers. Why don't you go after them but come here for me? Don't you think you've got the wrong person?"
A short man suddenly appeared beside the chief. He leaned close to the chief and said, "Chief, don't worry about her. We'll prepare more water. If there's a fire, we'll put it out. Stay away from her. I don't believe she can just keep on stalemating with us alone. We'll just starve her to death."
The chief was very annoyed. He pushed the man away. As if not wanting to talk to him, he put down his giant sword and slowly approached Shen Li. "How do you know that my second younger brother is also dead? Whether it's the black - clothed men or you, I can't let you go for now."
Shen Li thought of the conversation she heard between Zhang Er and Li San before. It seemed that He Liancheng was determined to kill her. Was the matter of her parents also related to He Liancheng?
Seeing the chief staring at her all the time, she stared back without showing any weakness. "Those black - clothed men came for your second younger brother. They looked like they wouldn't stop until they achieved their goal. They couldn't have let him go. If you kill me now, you'll lose a helper to deal with the black - clothed men."
Shen Li wanted to negotiate with the chief. It would be best if this matter could be resolved without bloodshed. After all, she still needed to save her parents.
Suddenly, the short man beside the chief somehow had a hidden weapon in his hand and threw it at Shen Li, aiming straight at her heart. As Shen Li dodged, she accidentally dropped the gunpowder. Just when the gunpowder was about to touch the open fire and explode, a black shadow suddenly flashed by and caught the gunpowder.
Xuan Yuanjue's hand was a bit blistered from the fire. He looked coldly at the short man with a face full of anger, looking like a Shura from hell who would drag that man to hell the next second.
The chief was very dissatisfied. He turned back to the short man and said, "You were just sent by He Liancheng to help. Don't interfere when I haven't given you an order. Now you have to listen to me. Do you understand?"
If the gunpowder had really touched the open fire just now, the chief himself might have lost his life. So he was also a bit scared. He couldn't help but resent the short man.
That man obviously didn't care about his own life for the mission. He still wanted to sneak attack Shen Li. The chief drew his sword and cut off a corner of his clothes. "Hui Luo, if you act on your own like this again, next time I won't just cut off the corner of your clothes!"