Chapter 1409: Ensnared

“Should we kill him?”

Ye Qing consulted Feng Qingyou. Idiots at this level benefited no one, not even himself. He might as well be dead.

Of course, if they were going to kill Yu Hongfeng, then they would of course kill Jewel Tree Prince as well. It would be a virtuous deed if nothing else.

“We are outsiders. There is no need to draw undue trouble to ourselves. Let’s leave this to Yu Hongluan to handle.”

Feng Qingyou smiled. “Besides, I would like to meet with Fairy Hongluan.”

“True. This is Yu Hongluan’s family matter. It would be rude to exceed our place.”

Ye Qing nodded in agreement and glanced at the abominable group of human and Strangers one last time. “Let’s go. The show can’t start without the protagonist.”

“Mm.”

Feng Qingyou nodded, and they both slowly vanished like bubbles.

A gentle breeze blew, and laurel flowers fell from the branches and filled the garden with a floral scent. From the beginning until the end, no one—not the outer guards outside the residence, nor the inner guards hiding in their corners—noticed anything wrong, much less their presence.

Jewel Three Prince was the only one who seemingly sensed something and looked outside, eyes slightly narrowed.

“What are you looking at, Jewel Tree Prince?” Yu Hongfeng noticed his movement and asked.

“Did you feel someone watching us just now?” Jewel Tree Prince asked a little suspiciously.

“Hahaha...” Yu Hongfeng guffawed when he heard this. “It’s just your imagination. Everyone here belongs to me. Not a single fly could have made it in even if it tried, so relax.”

“That’s true.”

Jewel Tree Prince nodded even as he jeered at the dreaming Yu Hongfeng internally. The cliff was right in front of his toes, and still the man did not notice a thing. The guy was so stupid it was cute.

Yu Hongfeng was right about one thing though. Everyone here belonged to

him

. Without his permission, not even a mosquito could make its way in.

Him here did not refer to Yu Hongfeng, of course. That’s right. He had controlled everyone in Emerald Garden and made them into his. Yu Hongfeng was just too stupid to know it.

From the moment he set foot inside Emerald Garden, he had ordered the men to guard every nook and cranny of the place. He even used his secret art to transform all the plants in Emerald Garden into his spies. Without exaggeration, if a blade of grass so much as rustled the wrong way, he would notice it instantly.

Therefore, there was no chance he wouldn’t know if someone really was spying on them.

And so Jewel Tree Prince allowed his worries to evaporate into nothing, raised his wine cup in toast, and smiled. “A toast to you, Master Feng!”

“Hahaha... Cheers!”

......

“Where is Yu Hongfeng?”

Yu Hongluan asked urgently as soon as she stepped into the Emerald Garden.

Although Yu Hongluan was over forty right now, she looked to be twenty five or six at most. Her profile wasn’t soft and gentle like many women, however. Instead, it was angular, well-defined, and imposing like a man. The red shirt she was wearing only added to her soldierly appearance and made her look incredible.

“Patience, island lord. Please have some tea while I invite Master Feng to come over.”

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The steward of Emerald Garden invited Yu Hongluan to take a seat and ordered a servant girl to pour a cup of tea for her. Then, he went into the back hall to summon Yu Hongfeng.

Yu Hongfeng was slow. He did not show up until the teacup on the table was completely empty. When he saw it, he broke into a smile and greeted Yu Hongluan, “You came, sister.”

“Let’s cut the chitter-chatter, Yu Hongfeng. Tell me how our dad went missing now!” Yu Hongluan immediately rose to her feet.

Yu Hongfeng was a man, so he was naturally tall. However, Yu Hongluan turned out to be half a head taller than him at full height. Combined with her formidable presence and the fact that Yu Hongfeng had an ulterior motive, and he could not help but panic and blanche a little. He couldn’t even speak straight as he stammered, “I... you... er...”

“What? Speak properly.”

Yu Hongluan’s sharp eyes were extremely oppressive. “Are you lying to me, Yu Hongfeng? Or are you hiding something?”

“No! It’s... not a lie...” Yu Hongfeng hurriedly denied it, but he looked unconfident and suspicious no matter how you looked at him.

Yu Hongluan humphed. “Then tell me the truth about our father’s disappearance then!”

“Allow me to do the honors, Fairy Hongluan.”

It was at this moment a man stepped out of the back hall.

It was as if he gained a backbone as soon as he saw the man. Yu Hongfeng immediately moved behind his back and stared at Yu Hongluan, growling, “You won’t be able to show off for much longer, Yu Hongluan.”

“Who are you?” Yu Hongluan paid no attention to Yu Hongluan’s taunts. Her focus was solely on the newcomer.

“Who I am isn’t important. What’s important is the fact that I know the truth of your father’s disappearance,” the newcomer deflected Yu Hongluan’s question and said indifferently.

Yu Hongluan narrowed her eyes slightly and said in an icy voice, “Speak.”

“Over thirty years ago, someone secretly took control of your father’s friend and made them invite your father to a feast. Your father suspected nothing and left to attend the feast. During the feast, he was tricked and made to drink a poisoned wine that robbed him of all of his cultivation.”

The man continued indifferently, “Originally, the mastermind wasn’t planning to kill your father. He simply wanted to use him to secretly take control of Floating Island.”

“Alas, your father does not know what’s good for him. He would rather die than submit. So, the mastermind had no choice but to kill him.”

“Don’t worry, your father passed away peacefully and without much pain. He just screamed for three days and nights, that’s all.”

Yu Hongluan clenched her fists tightly when she heard this, bloodshot eyes brimming with murderous intent.

The man paused for a second seemingly to enjoy Yu Hongluan’s expression before continuing, “To be honest, it did not matter if your father died or not. Controlling your father in secret would be the best case scenario, but the alternative is just fine.”

“As long as your father goes missing, Floating Island would lose its leader and plunge into chaos. Sprinkle in a bit of guidance and the entire Profound Alliance will enter an endless civil war. That is not a bad outcome either.”

“Alas, man plans, and the heavens laugh!”

The man sighed with a hint of disappointment and helplessness.

“Indeed. Who would have thought that Yu Qiushui would have a great daughter? Who would have thought that she would save Floating Island before it collapses and even resolve its civil war in a short time, effectively foiling the mastermind’s conspiracy at the last step?”

Yu Hongluan took over the conversation. “Am I right, Jewel Tree Prince?”

“Oh? You recognized me?” The man sounded a little surprised. He removed his hood to reveal his handsome, feminine face.

Yu Hongluan’s eyes glittered with bloodthirst. “I don’t only know that you are the Jewel Tree Prince. I even know that your father is the one who set up my father.”

“You are intelligent, Fairy Hongluan.” Jewel Tree Prince smiled. “You are half-wrong, however.”

Yu Hongluan looked puzzled. “What did I get wrong?”

“It is true that the one who captured and killed your father is my father.”

Jewel Tree Prince smiled. “However, I am the one who came up with the whole plan.”

“So? What do you think of it, Fairy Hongluan?”

“Good. Very good.”

An inferno blazed in Yu Hongluan’s eyes. “Thirteen years ago, I killed your father. Today, his son has delivered himself to me. Today is the day I end you and take revenge for my father once and for all!”

“Hahaha... well said.” Jewel Tree Prince started laughing. “Alas, I must disappoint you. You cannot kill me, Fairy Hongluan!”