Night Raid, Who Is This Really Helping

Bang...

As if he had predicted the old Palace Master would strike, Lance Quinn and the old Palace Master almost simultaneously unleashed their palms, colliding midair. Facing the old Palace Master's fierce attack, Lance retreated half a step, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"Old Palace Master, your skills haven't faded with age." Lance Quinn raised his hand to wipe the blood from his mouth, but this only provoked the old Palace Master's panic: "Don't..."

The old Palace Master lunged forward, trying to stop Lance Quinn from using Emma Lu's portrait to wipe the blood, but missed the flash of cunning in Lance's eyes.

Bang... Before he could even touch Lance Quinn's sleeve, the old Palace Master was sent flying by Lance's palm, crashing into the wall and then falling to the ground.

"Pfft!" The old Palace Master spat out a mouthful of blood. He tried to get up, but found himself powerless. Propping himself up halfway, he glared at Lance Quinn: "Despicable. Vile."

Lance Quinn was unfazed by the old Palace Master's murderous glare. He dragged over a nearby chair and sat down, interrogating the old Palace Master as if he were a criminal: "Hear those footsteps outside? Your son's men are about to arrive. So? Still not planning to tell me where the map is hidden?"

"Give me the portrait." The old Palace Master commanded.

Unfortunately, he was no longer the Skyvault Palace Master he once was. Not even the people of Skyvault Palace would listen to him now, let alone Lance Quinn. Lance didn't even spare him a glance, saying, "I'll count to three. If you don't tell me where the map is, I'll tear this painting to shreds."

Lance Quinn placed his sword on the table, gripping the scroll with both hands. His actions made it clear to the old Palace Master that he wasn't joking.

The old Palace Master panicked, his eyes reddening as he shouted, "Don't tear my painting, don't tear it..."

"Tell me where the map is." Lance Quinn showed no sympathy. Seeing the old Palace Master remain silent, he began to count down: "Three..."

"Two..."

Lance Quinn tightened his grip slightly; the old Palace Master seemed to hear the sound of the scroll tearing and quickly cried out, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you! The map is inside the scroll axle, don't tear it, don't destroy it!"

It was a plea—a request from an old man: "Take the map, but leave me the painting."

"Inside the scroll axle?" Lance Quinn pulled out both wooden axles, and with a crisp snap, crushed them. Sure enough... a sheepskin map fell onto the table. Lance picked it up, carefully examined its material and markings, confirmed it matched the fragment he already possessed, and put it away.

"You've got the map, now give me the scroll." The old Palace Master gazed with heartache at the painting, now missing its axles.

What mattered to him wasn't the map, but that Lance Quinn had damaged the painting to retrieve it.

"Give it to you? Sorry, I think you've misunderstood. I said if you gave me the map, I'd give you the painting. But since I found the map myself, of course I won't give you the painting." With that, Lance Quinn grabbed his sword from the table and leapt out the window.

Hearing this, the old Palace Master lunged desperately: "Bastard! Bastard! You bastard, give me back the painting, give me back my Yimo!"

Unfortunately, even if he ignored his injuries and forced himself up, he couldn't catch up with Lance Quinn. As he tried to rush out in pursuit, the guards burst in and blocked his way: "Old Palace Master, by order of the Palace Master, you cannot leave."

"Cough, cough... Get out of the way." The old Palace Master tried to push past the guards, but in his current state, he was no match for them.

The guards were outwardly respectful but showed no real deference, forcing the old Palace Master to remain inside, leaving him to cry out in despair: "Give me back my Yimo..."

As Lance Quinn departed, Sean Xuan led his men to intercept Jeremy Xuan, Irene Lu, and Sienna. Sean's face was expressionless, but his words sent a chill through Jeremy.

"Jeremy, you actually conspired with Eastlyn, Southlyn, and Westlyn to seize Skyvault Palace from within. You've truly disappointed me. By the authority of the Palace Master, I strip you of the Xuan surname. You are not worthy of the name Xuan."

"I didn't, I didn't!" Jeremy Xuan protested, but Sean Xuan ignored him and ordered his men to seize him: "Because you're my half-brother, I'll spare your life. But to prevent you from betraying Skyvault Palace again, I'm abolishing your martial arts."

"No, I didn't! Sean Xuan, don't slander me! You're the one who conspired with outsiders to seize the palace—you're the real traitor to Skyvault Palace!" Jeremy Xuan struggled fiercely, but the guards restraining him were far from ordinary; he couldn't break free.

Irene Lu and Sienna kept trying to explain, but Sean Xuan had no intention of listening. He gave a direct order: "Gag him and sever his hand and foot tendons."

"No, no, Sean—Palace Master, I beg you, spare Jeremy! He didn't betray Skyvault Palace. We were rescued by a man in black with a silver mask; it had nothing to do with Jeremy. It was me—if you must kill, kill me instead!"

Somehow, Irene Lu broke free from the guards' grip, rushed to Sean Xuan, and clung to his leg, begging bitterly: "Palace Master, I beg you, for Aunt Emma's sake, spare Jeremy just this once. Don't cripple him."

A flash of mocking amusement crossed Sean Xuan's eyes. He bent down to pull Irene Lu to her feet, but when she refused, he used a hidden force to make her stand. His smile remained polite: "Aunt Ran, you're my father's wife, so technically my elder. There's no reason for an elder to kneel before a junior. If you have something to say, say it standing."

"Palace Master, Palace Master, I beg you..." Irene Lu knelt before Sean Xuan, trying to use filial piety to pressure him, but Sean refused to fall for it.

"Aunt Ran, begging me won't help. I'm just following palace law. If you want the rules changed, go beg my father to amend them. You know the Skyvault Palace code: traitors lose their limbs and are thrown off the cliff. I've already shown leniency."

Sean Xuan spoke with lofty righteousness. Seeing the executioners still hesitating, his face darkened: "Why are you still standing around? Carry out the sentence! Tonight is critical for Skyvault Palace's survival—I don't have time to waste here."

His words reminded everyone: Jeremy Xuan's disturbance tonight, drawing them all here, was likely a ploy to distract them and make it easier for the Three-Kingdom Coalition Army to act.

As if to confirm Sean Xuan's suspicion, a disciple rushed in to report: "Palace Master, Palace Master, a night raid—the enemy is attacking under cover of darkness..."

Hearing this, Sean Xuan flung Irene Lu aside: "Jeremy Xuan, do you have any last words?"

The evidence was overwhelming; there was no room for denial.

"Mmmph..." Jeremy Xuan's mouth was gagged, so he could only make low, animal-like sounds. Seeing this, the executioners no longer hesitated and raised their blades toward his limbs...