On the Road, Helping to Hunt the Real Killer

Why do these moves feel so familiar?

Ethan and Lord Bean glanced at each other, but in this pitch-darkness and with the other side attacking so fiercely, they had no time to exchange a single word.

With no other choice, both focused on the fight. Outnumbered by the dark guards, Ethan and Lord Bean couldn't gain any advantage.

The fight raged in the shadows. Soon, the guards and the Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders appeared.

The Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders had already taken their positions, bows drawn and aimed at the figures on the roof. The guards, carrying torches, quickly surrounded the small courtyard.

With the torches raised, the entire courtyard was lit up as bright as day—even the rooftop was exposed. But when everyone saw what was happening, they were stunned.

'What’s going on?' Ethan and Lord Bean recognized familiar faces and stopped immediately. But a dark guard, unable to halt his attack in time, thrust his sword forward—then, seeing who it was, quickly deflected the blade and...

Thrown off balance, he fell straight down.

Ethan and Lord Bean had no time for sympathy—while the dark guards were stunned, each kicked one down. 'Impressive, using the moves I taught you against me.'

Lord Bean grumbled twice, showing his displeasure.

With no other option, the guard signaled a dark guard to go ahead and announce their arrival—otherwise, Lord Bean might charge straight into Miss Serena and Prince Nolan’s rooms.

Everyone knew Lord Bean was absolutely capable of such things.

The guard didn’t dare take Lord Bean into Serena’s room. After much persuasion—and with Ethan’s help—they finally calmed him down and got him to wait in the flower hall.

Prince Nolan and Serena arrived soon, so Lord Bean didn’t have to wait too long.

As soon as Lord Bean saw Serena, he couldn’t sit still—he rushed to her side, ignoring Prince Nolan’s cold expression, grabbed her hand, and said, 'Serena, look! Look! I helped you get Ethan back!'

He looked so smug, it made people’s hands itch to mess with him.

'Lord Bean, you’re amazing.' Serena gave a halfhearted smile, just to appease him.

'Of course I am! I think I’m awesome too. Wait—Serena, I told you not to call me Beanie. Call me Owen, or I’ll get mad!' Lord Bean is particular about his name.

Serena was exasperated, but seeing Lord Bean’s comical face, her mood improved.

'Ahem.' Prince Nolan coughed, clearly displeased.

Blocking him and Serena at the door—what was going on?

Lord Bean looked over, saw Prince Nolan, and immediately played cute: 'Ninth Royal Uncle, I’ve delivered your son to Serena for you. Don’t worry—the child’s alive.'

Bringing up the child, Prince Nolan’s face darkened even more. He didn’t bother staying at the door and asked, 'Who told you that was my son?'

Ethan suddenly felt a chill all over and calmly turned away—he couldn’t bear to watch Lord Bean’s miserable fate.

Lord Bean didn’t sense the danger at all and blurted out, 'Ethan said so.'

Thud—Ethan was so startled he fell off his chair. When had he ever said that?

'But he didn’t say it directly—most of it was my guess.'

Luckily, after Ethan’s shock, Lord Bean added another explanation.

Ethan wiped his cold sweat and patted his wildly beating heart.

This kind of thing must never happen again.

'You sure can guess. I’ll remember this favor.' Prince Nolan wasn’t Lord Bean—he knew how serious things were. He’d remember this and settle accounts with Owen later.

'What’s wrong? Did I say something I shouldn’t?' Lord Bean saw Prince Nolan ignore him and walked straight into the flower hall, looking at Serena in confusion.

Serena kindly comforted him: 'No, Owen, you did great.'

Serena fulfilled Owen’s wish by not calling him Beanie, making him so happy he instantly forgot Prince Nolan’s dark face.

The four sat down. Ethan briefly explained what happened in Westlyn, then asked Prince Nolan and Serena what had happened—why was the city sealed?

Serena recounted Master Wenyuan’s situation. Owen only half understood, but Ethan found it odd and asked, 'This isn’t like you, Prince Nolan. How could you let such a big mistake slip by?'

While it was necessary to make a show of escorting Master Wenyuan to Eastlyn, Prince Nolan was usually so cautious—how could he let someone be killed right under his nose as soon as they arrived?

'It had nothing to do with Prince Nolan. Master Wenyuan insisted on getting out of the carriage and wouldn’t let anyone fetch Prince Nolan.' Serena explained for Prince Nolan.

Serena knew Master Wenyuan’s temper—if he wanted something, no one could stop him.

'Master Wenyuan? Didn’t he know how dangerous his situation was? Was he trying to die?' Ethan was baffled. Years as a killer had taught him that the more powerful someone was, the more they feared death.

Master Wenyuan’s actions seemed suicidal to him.

Prince Nolan closed his eyes and said, 'Maybe he thought no one would dare touch him, given his status.'

Yes, no one would dare attack Master Wenyuan. Anyone who did would leave traces, and as soon as the culprit was found, their reputation would be ruined.

Master Wenyuan was just a scholar—he wasn’t close to any powerful figures, and his life didn’t affect the bigger picture. Normally, no one would risk killing him.

'The upright walk openly—Master Wenyuan probably never imagined someone would use such a method to assassinate him. He’d just arrived in Eastlyn, and students were greeting him. Refusing them would have sounded arrogant.' Serena didn’t think Master Wenyuan did anything wrong by getting out of the carriage.

Scholars care about reputation and ritual. So many students and scholars had come to see Master Wenyuan—if he hadn’t gotten out of the carriage, he’d have been condemned as arrogant and prideful.

It’s not easy being famous.

'It’s pointless to debate now. No matter why Master Wenyuan insisted on getting out of the carriage, it can’t change the fact that he’s dead. What matters now is finding the real killer. The Wren family is already on the way, and word of Master Wenyuan’s death can’t be kept secret.' Serena added when Prince Nolan and Ethan fell silent.

Ethan smiled faintly, glanced at Prince Nolan, and said, 'Maybe I can help with this.'