Xiao Nanhui’s words sent a ripple of unease through the dungeon.
Pan Mei’er had not expected this half-dead woman to turn the blade on her. She laughed in sheer fury. "I wondered why you were so quiet just now; it turns out you were waiting for this. Do you think anyone will believe your mindless drivel? You are a lowly dog, a slave—you have nothing useful to say. If I am in the mood, I might let you waste a bit more of my time, but once I grow bored, you won't be able to utter another syllable."
Xiao Nanhui let out a cold laugh. "Chieftain Pan certainly has countless ways to silence me. I am but a lowly servant; I can only be at your mercy."
Her words were calculated to provoke. Pan Mei’er felt a surge of rage and moved to cut out the woman’s loathsome tongue, but she froze when she saw Governor Sun’s reaction.
She could not fall into the trap. If this woman died, she died, but Pan Mei’er would never be able to wash herself clean of the suspicion. She had invested too much effort into this old fox, Governor Sun; she couldn't let it all go to waste now.
With that thought, she forced herself into a semblance of composure and leaned toward the Governor.
"What harm is there in giving you a chance to speak? I should like to hear what lies you have to tell."
This was the moment Xiao Nanhui had been waiting for. She gathered her strength for a long beat before suddenly snapping her head up.
She didn't need much preparation; her eyes were already bloodshot from the pain, and her expression was one of a woman facing her mortal enemy.
"Sister! Even now, do you still refuse to acknowledge me?"
The words fell like a thunderclap.
Pan Mei’er’s fragile composure shattered instantly. Her crimson lips pulled back into a distorted, jagged snarl.
"Nonsense! Who is your sister?!"
Xiao Nanhui poured her remaining strength into a scream that drowned out the other woman’s voice. "You are my sister! I am your own flesh and blood! Back then, you killed our brother with your own hands just to take the stronghold for yourself—"
Pan Mei’er delivered a vicious slap to her face. "Shut up! Where did a dog like you come from, thinking you are worthy of mentioning my brother? I’ll flay the skin from your bones this day—"
Xiao Nanhui forced herself not to look at Pan Mei’er’s rage-contorted face. Instead, she locked her gaze onto Governor Sun’s eyes. "My Lord! If you do not believe me, look at my face!"
A crimson steel spike suddenly appeared between Pan Mei’er’s fingertips. She swung her hand, aiming to slash Xiao Nanhui’s face.
"Chieftain Pan."
Governor Sun’s voice rang out, slow and deliberate. Pan Mei’er ground her teeth so hard they nearly shattered, but she was forced to halt her murderous movement mid-air.
She was still on the Sun family’s territory, and for the time being, she could not afford to offend this old fox.
Governor Sun ignored the woman’s frantic expression. He took a few steps toward the woman on the torture chair, appearing as if he might reach out to brush the matted hair from her face, but ultimately he withdrew his hand.
Xiao Nanhui knew why. He found her face too filthy to touch; he hadn't even truly looked at her.
"There is a slight resemblance."
Pan Mei’er’s expression stiffened further, but Xiao Nanhui smiled.
What did it matter if he looked or not? She had already handed Governor Sun the knife to slaughter the chicken; it only remained to be seen how he would use it.
"Speak. Finish what you were saying."
Xiao Nanhui spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, trying to steady the frantic drumming of her heart.
She was not a natural liar. Usually, she would trip over her words or her face would give her away. But in this situation, she had to try, even if it meant her death. Everything was difficult the first time; she just needed to start.
She tried to recall the image of *that man*—his enigmatic smile, the way he spoke with neither joy nor sorrow while turning black into white. She licked the blood from her teeth and began to speak slowly.
"She killed our brother and staged a play of seeking vengeance for him, using the opportunity to eliminate her rivals and take the Chieftain’s seat. Now she intends to repeat the trick, setting her sights on you, My Lord. She has long been in league with the Southern Qiang. She plans to use the conflict between Bi Jiang and Tiancheng to kill you in the chaos, so she can swallow the territory around Sanmu Pass. My infiltration into the manor was to get close to you, to ensure this cruel woman’s scheme fails."
The steel spike in Pan Mei’er’s hand trembled; her eyes were filled with pure hatred. "Baseless accusations. Why should Governor Sun believe you?"
Governor Sun seemed to enjoy the spectacle. He nodded. "Chieftain Pan is right. Do you have any evidence?"
Evidence... they wanted evidence.
Xiao Nanhui racked her brain, but her mind remained a blank void.
Time ticked away, drop by drop. Cold sweat rolled down her skin. She could feel the impatience and murderous intent thickening in the air.
She needed inspiration—a spark of life in this dead end.
The next moment, Pan Mei’er’s shrill, mocking laughter rang out. "Governor Sun, I think we should forget it. This dead slave was searched before she was brought here. She doesn't even have a scrap of paper on her. What evidence could she possibly have?"
Xiao Nanhui blinked. Something flooded into her mind in an instant.
"I have evidence."
"Oh? Where is it?"
"I had a letter tube on my person earlier. The evidence is inside it."
"A letter tube?"
Xiao Nanhui’s lips moved slightly as she spoke slowly. "Yes. Less than three feet long, made of fine steel, incredibly precise."
The dungeon fell silent for a moment—so quiet that everyone’s breathing was audible.
To Xiao Nanhui, that brief moment felt like a long, grueling day.
Governor Sun finally raised his hand and gestured to the two guards at the door. "You two, go and see if there is such a thing."
The guards obeyed and left, returning a short while later carrying an object.
Xiao Nanhui fought to control her gaze, desperate not to let her longing betray her.
"Is this the letter tube you spoke of?"
She nodded. "It is extremely important, which is why I kept it on me at all times."
Governor Sun’s thick, short fingers fumbled over the metal cylinder. Finding no obvious mechanism to open it, he tossed it to Pan Mei’er.
Pan Mei’er huffed, gripping her steel spike and probing every seam and crevice of the object. She was skilled with hidden weapons and possessed great strength; the screeching sound of metal on metal echoed through the room, grating against Xiao Nanhui’s heart.
"There are mechanisms hidden on that tube. If it is opened incorrectly, they will trigger. Chieftain Pan had best be careful."
Pan Mei’er shot her a glance. "How do I know you aren't lying?"
"Chieftain Pan is welcome to try."
As they stood in a stalemate, the entire dungeon suddenly shuddered. Yellow dust sifted down from the ceiling. Immediately after, muffled shouts and clamor drifted in through the small window of the cell.
Governor Sun’s expression shifted. He signaled a guard to check outside, his gaze turning impatient as he looked back at Xiao Nanhui. "Can you open the tube?"
Xiao Nanhui nodded slightly.
Governor Sun looked at Pan Mei’er. "Unbind her hands."
Pan Mei’er was reluctant. "But—"
"Her legs are in that state. Even with her hands free, where could she possibly run?"
Pan Mei’er had no choice but to comply. A moment later, Xiao Nanhui rubbed her stiff arms, where the blood was finally beginning to flow again. She gestured for Pan Mei’er to hand over the object.
When her fingertips were barely three inches from the prize, Pan Mei’er suddenly stopped.
Her gaze fell upon the filthy woman’s hands.
They were beautiful hands—long and powerful. The only flaws were the slightly deformed joints and the faint calluses on the palms.
Such calluses were not formed by anything other than heavy weaponry. How could a mere dagger-user possess them?
Pan Mei’er snapped her eyes up. Their gazes met, and the hidden emotions could no longer be concealed.
At that exact moment, frantic shouting erupted from the entrance of the dungeon.
"My Lord! Disaster! It’s the Tiancheng army! They’re breaking in!"
In that split second of distraction, Xiao Nanhui struck. Her palm slammed into Pan Mei’er’s wrist. Caught off guard, the woman lost her grip, and the object flew into the air. A second later, it was back in Xiao Nanhui’s hand.
The familiar weight returned to her grip. She curled her lips into a smirk at the frantic woman before her.
A silver light flashed; the sound of whistling air erupted.
In the blink of an eye, the two guards closest to her were skewered by a spear, dying instantly.
Reversing the spear and gripping the shaft with both hands, she slammed Pingxian into the iron box at her feet.
A deafening crack echoed, accompanied by a surge of agony in her legs. The mechanism of the steel teeth shattered, breaking in two. Bracing herself against the long spear, the woman on the torture chair stood up—slowly, but with unwavering resolve. Blood dripped from her trouser legs, staining the floor; the mangled flesh of her legs was visible, yet she wore a smile like a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell.
She hadn't felt this exhilarated in a long time.
The mental fervor drowned out the physical pain. Her voice sounded raspy and trembling.
"My apologies. I don't actually have any evidence."
The shouts coming through the small window grew louder, mingled with the heart-wrenching clash of blades.
Sweat rolled down Governor Sun’s greasy face. He glanced at Pan Mei’er, then suddenly shoved her aside and bolted for the door.
Who could have imagined the situation would turn so completely in an instant?
Xiao Nanhui didn't know what was happening outside, but for her, it was a godsend.
With a flick of her wrist, Pingxian’s cold tip pointed directly at Pan Mei’er.
"It seems Governor Sun has urgent business to attend to. Does Chieftain Pan wish to stay and exchange a few moves?"
The expressions on Pan Mei’er’s face shifted rapidly before settling into her trademark sultry smile. She tapped the tip of Pingxian with a manicured nail and forced out a few laughs. "Sister, don't be so quick to fight and kill. If you keep this up, your elder sister will worry that you'll never find a husband."
Xiao Nanhui couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. To be able to joke and flirt in such a dire situation—the woman was certainly a talent.
The next moment, Pan Mei’er swayed her hips as she walked toward the cell door. "There was never any real enmity between us. Your little accusation earlier settles the score. If we meet again in the future—"
As she spoke, she suddenly lunged at Wu Xiaoliu, who was slumped by the door.
Xiao Nanhui was startled and instinctively moved to block her.
As the spear flew out, she realized it was a feint. Pan Mei’er threw three steel spikes in quick succession, all aimed below Xiao Nanhui’s waist.
It was a vicious move. Knowing Xiao Nanhui’s legs were injured and her lower body unstable, she had used a diversion. If the spikes hit, the result was obvious; even if she dodged, she would lose her balance and be at the woman's mercy.
With no way to evade, Xiao Nanhui was suddenly shoved aside by a great force. The three spikes hit a large wooden barrel with three dull thuds.
Wu Xiaoliu leaned against the barrel, panting heavily. Xiao Nanhui gave him a complex look but said nothing, retrieving Pingxian from where it had fallen.
Pan Mei’er, seeing her attack fail, fled toward the door. She had only taken a few steps when a long spear barred her path.
This time, Xiao Nanhui showed no mercy. Pingxian drove through the woman’s outer thigh and exited through her calf, pinning her ruthlessly to the floor.
Pan Mei’er let out a scream of agony, turning a hideous, distorted face toward Xiao Nanhui.
"You bitch... kill me if you have the guts. Otherwise, if we meet again, I will make you beg for death..."
Fate was a strange thing. The first time these two women, who looked so much alike, truly faced each other, it was a struggle to the death.
Xiao Nanhui retracted Pingxian, using it as a crutch to support her weight. She limped past Wu Xiaoliu, heading toward the light outside the dungeon without looking back.
***
