After Transmigrating, My Younger Brother Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 11

So, everyone in this village is… Zhu Zhenzhen hesitated before asking.

All are residents of Changding City, Boss He replied, his answer unsurprising.

And those soldiers?

The biggest mystery was the origin of the soldiers. Who could destroy an entire city without alerting the Son of Heaven? Even now, the Son of Heaven hadn’t sent anyone to investigate.

Boss He fell silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking.

After investigating for so long, I only know they’re from a powerful faction in the capital. I haven’t yet determined which faction specifically.

As a commoner, Boss He couldn’t be expected to unravel the complex web of power in the capital. It was only natural that he hadn’t identified the faction responsible.

Only such a powerful faction could treat human lives like mere weeds.

The city now has a new lord. Changding City has become a place of no return, a puppet controlled by those behind the scenes. Young lady, knowing all this, do you still want to go?

Boss He pleaded earnestly. Over the years, he had seen too many people mistakenly enter Changding City, but few ever escaped. Saving even one life was worth the effort.

If your only intention is to stop travelers heading to Changding City, what about the other roads? Boss He, surely you can’t block every single path?

The other roads lead elsewhere, but this one you’ve chosen is the only one that inevitably leads to that Ghost City.

Boss He chuckled bitterly. My abilities aren’t strong enough to achieve such a feat. But since you’ve chosen this path, I’ll tell you the truth.

Zhu Zhenzhen fell silent.

Boss He’s actions were born of good intentions. The mere mention of the Ghost City struck terror into people’s hearts. If she were an ordinary person, she would have heeded his warning and turned back.

But she couldn’t. Having decided to leave Bian City, there was no reason to return.

Moreover, Cheng Jiuxiao had told her that Li Jiadong’s trail ended in Changding City. If Cheng Jiuxiao’s information was accurate, Li Jiadong must have some connection to the city.

Recalling the night she infiltrated Li Manor, she found something odd. While the manor was lavishly constructed, the servants’ quarters consisted of only a few rooms. No matter how efficiently the space was utilized, it couldn’t possibly accommodate the number of people Li Jiadong had abducted from the city.

A theory began to form in Zhu Zhenzhen’s mind.

I’m determined to go to Changding City. Brother He, there’s no need to try and dissuade me any further.

Zhu Zhenzhen had intended to fabricate another lie, as she usually did, to persuade Boss He to release her. However, his genuine concern made it impossible for her to deceive him. She could only repeat her unwavering determination to go.

Boss He’s eyes suddenly widened, bulging like the eyes of a goldfish in a tank, its mouth puffing out bubbles. His voice grew agitated, and he shouted involuntarily, Stubborn fool!

With a violent shove, he slammed the bamboo door shut, the crisp click echoing as she was once again locked inside.

She had to find a way out. Boss He seemed determined to keep her confined here, and if he persisted, it would only waste her time.

I wonder if Song Heng is worried, she thought.

The windows were also locked. The ceiling rafters were sparse, covered only by tiles. The only way out seemed to be to dislodge the tiles with a heavy object.

Zhu Zhenzhen tilted her head, scanning the ceiling for a suitable weak spot. After identifying her target, she picked up the sturdiest wooden stool, carefully adjusting her angle and trajectory. Just as she was about to throw it, she heard movement on the roof.

The next moment, a hole appeared in the layered tiles above.

Zhu Zhenzhen glanced at the stool in her hand, confirming with a look that she hadn’t thrown it yet. Then who had made this hole?

The opening widened, now large enough for her to slip through.

Zhu Zhenzhen was still puzzling over the situation when a head suddenly poked through the hole. Backlit by the moonlight, the figure was indistinct, but her instincts immediately went on high alert.

It’s me, Lu Yin! he whispered, deliberately keeping his voice low to avoid alerting the two guards outside.

After a tense moment, Zhu Zhenzhen successfully climbed onto the roof. Under the cover of darkness, the three of them fled swiftly.

By midnight, the village was quiet and still, most of its inhabitants sound asleep. Only a few dutiful guards remained on patrol.

Just as they were about to move, a guard carrying a torch approached their hiding spot. The trio froze, darting behind a stack of hay.

They whispered urgently, but Zhu Zhenzhen quickly silenced them with a gesture. After receiving puzzled glances, she remained silent.

First, she cautiously peeked out. The patrolling guard was tall and burly—definitely not the chubby man from earlier. Reassured, she asked, How did you know I was in that hut? All the huts here look the same.

Every household shared the same basic structure, making it even harder to find someone.

Song Heng replied, Only your hut and one other were guarded. And locked.

Compared to the other one, your hut was more rudimentary, Lu Yin added. So we guessed you’d be here.

Zhu Zhenzhen was momentarily stunned. Someone had been guarding her hut all day, and she hadn’t noticed a thing.

The torchlight cast long shadows, and Zhu Zhenzhen didn’t notice her hair being lifted by the wind. A quick glance to the side would have revealed someone was hiding nearby.

Song Heng crouched beside Zhu Zhenzhen, and when he realized she hadn’t noticed, he gently smoothed her long, dark hair with his hand.

Such a nuisance.

This time, the figure completely blended into the shadow cast by the haystack.

The strange sensation on her head made Zhu Zhenzhen glance sideways.

Song Heng remembered the innocent expression he always wore when facing Song Zhen. He pointed at the shadow with a guileless look, then released her hair, letting it dance in the air again.

Zhu Zhenzhen paused, her gaze softening with admiration. I never knew Song Heng was so attentive! What a good younger brother! What a great teammate! She gathered her hair to one side.

Song Heng suddenly felt awkward.

The torchlight flickered past, and fortunately, the trio remained undetected. They continued to creep toward the gate.

There weren’t many guards patrolling—only three or four in total. Based on their earlier experience, a little patience and a few moments of maneuvering should be enough to slip past them.

They were now just a short distance from freedom. All they needed to do was wait for the patrolling guard ahead to move away, and they could escape.

Zhu Zhenzhen suddenly thought of a question. After carefully phrasing it, she asked, Did you notice the heights of the two guards watching me?

Lu Yin shook his head, admitting he hadn’t paid attention.

Song Heng, however, had been more observant. After hearing her question, he recalled the guards’ appearances.

One tall, one short… He started to say, but Zhu Zhenzhen finished his sentence.

One fat, one thin? Song Heng’s words struck her like a thunderbolt. Zhu Zhenzhen practically forced the words through gritted teeth.

She turned to look back, a strange unease washing over her. The guards who had been holding torches moments ago had vanished, leaving the village in complete darkness.

They had managed to reach this point by exploiting the guards’ predictable patrol routes, creating an opportunity to maneuver.

She stared into the darkness for a long time, unable to shake off her unease.

Noticing her strange behavior, Song Heng asked, What’s wrong, Sister? Is something wrong?

Given her exceptional hearing, it was impossible for her not to have heard the sounds of Song Heng and Lu Yin shifting roof tiles above. Moreover, the movements of three people together would inevitably create some noise.

Could it be that Boss He had tacitly approved of everything?

As the men at the village gate walked away, Lu Yin quickly said, We can talk about this later. Let’s get out of here first.

He moved to stand up, but Zhu Zhenzhen pressed him back down.

Her brow furrowed deeper. Something felt terribly wrong. The village was eerily silent, not a single sound breaking the stillness. In this unnerving quiet, anxiety began to fester in her heart, growing and spreading relentlessly.

It seemed they had only one path left, but no matter how she looked at it, it felt more like a trap.

Her greatest fear was that escaping the tiger’s den would only lead them into a wolf’s lair. Zhu Zhenzhen quickly recounted the events of the afternoon.

Upon hearing about these two figures, Song Heng’s expression shifted, taking on a solemnity Lu Yin had never seen before.

Song Heng had witnessed Zhu Zhenzhen’s abilities firsthand and knew her capabilities. For her to claim that such formidable individuals were present in the village was highly suspicious.

After a moment, memories flashed through his mind—a series of images that allowed him to grasp a crucial piece of information.

If he remembered correctly, the two men’s descriptions perfectly matched the characteristics of Prince Jin’s Shadow Guards!

The Capital City was already far from Bian City, and this place was even more remote. What was Prince Jin doing sending his Shadow Guard to such a desolate location?

Just thinking of Prince Jin ignited resentment in Song Heng’s heart, bringing back memories of his family’s deaths, his crushing defeat in his previous life, and the death of his dearest friend.

Every single tragedy was connected to Prince Jin. Having failed to avenge himself in his previous life, he vowed to tear that man limb from limb in this new life.

It’s getting late. Shall we move inside?

A man strolled leisurely into the courtyard from outside the zhai, appearing before the group. It was none other than the tall, lean man they had seen earlier that day.

As he drew closer, his features came into view, and Song Heng’s fists tightened involuntarily.

If this zhai truly existed to guide lost travelers away from Changding City, then this man’s behavior made no sense at all.

They had clearly known from the start that the group intended to escape the zhai, yet they said nothing—waiting until they slipped outside before surrounding them, like a cat toying with a mouse, indulging in cruel amusement.

Zhu Zhenzhen forced herself to remain calm. Boss He said today that if I gave up on leaving, he’d let me return to the city.

To hell with the consequences—running was their best option. But while she could manage alone, she now had two fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boys to protect, making it impossible to keep them all safe.

Zhao Lin glanced at her, his eyes filled with mockery, as if ridiculing her naivety.

Yes, Boss He said he’d let you go. But did I agree to that?

He smiled, deep lines etched beside his mouth, and spoke chillingly, Do you know how many times he told me today that you’d change your mind and obediently return to Bian City?

Zhu Zhenzhen froze, all strength draining from her body. Guilt threatened to overwhelm her.

I was wrong. Everything was wrong.

What a pity, Zhao Lin sighed dramatically, leaning against a haystack as if genuinely lamenting their fate.

As his words faded, figures emerged from the shadows—behind haystacks, beside the house, and from every corner. The villagers, who had appeared gentle and kind during the day, now bared their teeth like wolves, glaring fiercely at them.

You not only refused to explain why you went to Changding, but you also refused to turn back. Now you’re trying to escape with your accomplices. What choice do I have?

His affected demeanor was nauseating.

What have you done to Boss He? Zhu Zhenzhen demanded. She had once thought Boss He was too obsessed, beyond reason. Now she realized that it was precisely his obsession that drove him to save strangers passing through.

Zhu Zhenzhen couldn’t bear the thought of someone dying because of her.