Chapter 280: 280: Mother!

Words : 1535 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Mother! Although Qin Shuang was born into a military family, since she got married, she has neglected martial arts training. Her current strength barely suffices for self-defense, so she could only help Zhan Lan by fending off one or two Death Guards. Zhan Lan held a dagger in her left hand and a sword in her right, fighting as she yelled towards Qin Shuang, “Be careful!” Hidden Guards and Yun He, who silently protected Zhan Lan from the shadows, all sprang into action from their hidden spots some tens of meters away. Suddenly, a masked Death Guard pressed a dagger against Zhan Xuerou’s neck, dragging her down from the carriage, and bellowed, “Don’t move, or I’ll kill her!” Qin Shuang, seeing Zhan Xuerou’s neck under the sharp blade, felt her legs go weak and nearly collapsed. “No, don’t kill my daughter!” Qin Shuang’s face turned ghostly pale as she looked toward the masked Death Guard. “Mother, save me! Save me!” Zhan Xuerou’s body trembled like a sieve, crying with tears and snot streaming down her face. Qin Shuang, in a state of utter panic, put down her sword and said, “If you want a hostage, take me. I am the wife of Zhan Beicang, let her go!” Zhan Lan’s expression changed dramatically when she saw Qin Shuang resolutely moving towards the Death Guard’s position. After swiftly killing another Death Guard, Zhan Lan immediately stopped Qin Shuang. In the blink of an eye, Qin Shuang was also held at swordpoint by a man who had leapt down from a tree, the sword at her throat was extremely sharp. All Hidden Guards and Yun He arrived, but the Death Guards, who had prepared in advance, had taken two hostages. Zhan Lan didn’t hesitate, not considering Zhan Xuerou’s safety, the dagger sprayed poison needles, hitting and killing the masked Death Guard behind Zhan Xuerou. The moment the masked Death Guard fell, his sword left a mark on Zhan Xuerou’s neck. Blood traced down Zhan Xuerou’s neck as she screamed and ran to Zhan Lan’s side. Zhan Lan knew that to prevent Qin Shuang from doing something foolish, they had to rescue Zhan Xuerou. One hostage left made it possible to negotiate terms. Zhan Lan glanced at the man behind Qin Shuang and was shocked for a moment; the masked man had a streak of white hair among his locks, and his eyes were as dark as those of a wild beast staring at Zhan Lan. Zhan Lan was greatly alarmed, retracting the Blood Drop dagger in her hand, knowing the same tactic wouldn’t work again. Moreover, the true identity of the masked Death Guard shocked her! “Lan, don’t worry about me, take Rou’er and leave!” Qin Shuang’s tears fell as she looked at the two children, her heart aching incomprehensibly. Whether it was trouble for Zhan Xuerou or Zhan Lan, it wasn’t the outcome she wanted to see. Yun He said behind Zhan Lan, “Madam, I can kill him quietly.” Zhan Lan held on to Yun He’s sword scabbard, “Don’t be impulsive!” Zhan Lan’s Hidden Guards, hearing her command, also dared not act rashly. Today’s events had unfolded too quickly; they were only a few tens of meters away, yet in the span of a dozen breaths, everything had transpired. If it were only Zhan Lan, she could have easily evaded, but now that the General’s Wife was held hostage, no one dared to act recklessly. Zhan Lan reiterated, “Do not kill that masked Death Guard! Those who disobey shall die!” Upon hearing Zhan Lan’s words, the masked Death Guard’s eyes bore into her. Zhan Lan spoke, attempting to pacify, “Whatever you want, I’ll agree. Name your demands!” The masked Death Guard sneered and said, “You come here, and we’ll exchange her!” Without the slightest hesitation, as soon as the Death Guard’s words fell, Zhan Lan uttered a single word, “Fine!” Qin Shuang was stunned; Zhan Lan was willing to exchange her life for hers! She had already attempted to intimidate these desperados with the authority of the General Mansion, but they were clearly not afraid, meaning they had come prepared, with the intent to kill them. Qin Shuang thought of Zhan Lan’s deceased father, and she said sternly, “Zhan Lan, do not come over!” Zhan Xuerou was petrified by the scene before her. The wound on her neck was not deep, but it was very painful. Crying, she said, “Mother, exchange with Lan, please. I can’t be without you!” “Shut up!” This was the first time Qin Shuang spoke so harshly to Zhan Xuerou. Zhan Xuerou was taken aback by the decisiveness in her mother’s eyes, she had never seen such a terrifying expression in them. Was her mother blaming her? Was she not thinking for her mother’s well-being? Zhan Lan went as a hostage, at least the other party has high-level martial arts skills; nothing would happen, but her own mother refused to allow the exchange of hostages to protect Zhan Lan. This made Zhan Xuerou extremely sad. The masked Death Guard looked at Zhan Lan and said, “Drop your weapons and come here!” “Master!” “Madam!” “Alright!” The people behind Zhan Lan were trying to stop her, but Zhan Lan did not stop her forward steps. The moment she dropped her dagger, she clenched a poisoned needle between her fingers. In the moment of life and death, Qin Shuang looked at Zhan Lan’s resolute eyes and was shocked, suddenly feeling her heart being ripped apart. She shouted out in despair, “Lan, take good care of Rou’er, run!” After speaking, Qin Shuang pushed the masked Death Guard away with all her might, willing to die with the enemy if that was what it took. The sword in the Death Guard’s hand swung towards Qin Shuang, Zhan Lan’s pupils trembled, she yelled with all her strength hoarsely, “Mother!” Her hand shot out the poisoned needle towards the masked Death Guard, and just as the sword was about to fall on Qin Shuang, Zhan Lan grabbed it with her hand firmly, blood flowing down along her hand. The next moment, the masked Death Guard grabbed Qin Shuang. After Zhan Lan pushed Qin Shuang away forcefully, the Death Guard choked her from behind. “Lan’er!” Qin Shuang was stunned by the scene of Zhan Lan blocking the sword with her hand, her hands bleeding, dyeing her own dress scarlet. Qin Shuang’s heart trembled violently, what did Zhan Lan just call her? Mother, Zhan Lan called her mother! The masked Death Guard choked Zhan Lan and retreated backwards, after getting to a safe distance, he pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and pressed it against Zhan Lan’s neck. Yun He and the Hidden Guards were almost going insane, if anything happened to the Madam, there would be no reason for them to live! Yun He held a Hidden Weapon in his hand, Zhan Lan looked at them and said, “Don’t hurt him!” The masked Death Guard was taken aback by Zhan Lan’s words, Zhan Lan whispered, “Li Sui, I know it’s you!” The hand of the Death Guard behind her trembled fiercely, he looked at Zhan Lan in disbelief. Zhan Lan continued, “You didn’t notice, I have a pendant on my waist, it’s the Blood Jade Ring that’s been passed down in your family, take it!” The masked Death Guard finally looked at Zhan Lan’s waist, snatched the pendant off her, glanced at it quickly, and then coldly said, “Who in the world are you?” No one in this world knew that the Blood Jade Ring belonged to his ancestors. Why could the woman in front of him clearly call out his name and reveal his secrets? His mission was to kidnap the woman in front of him, but now he hesitated. He needed to find out, why did she know these things? “Nobody move, or I’ll kill her!” The masked Death Guard reached the carriage, warning the Hidden Guards who had come close. Another Death Guard drove the carriage away with Zhan Lan and Li Sui. Yun He and the Hidden Guards immediately followed. Everything happened so quickly, Qin Shuang was stunned, until Zhan Xuerou shook her arm, “Mother, I’m scared!” Suddenly, Qin Shuang shook off Zhan Xuerou’s hand, her chest filled with turmoil, she cried out tragically in place, “Lan’er!” No matter how Zhan Xuerou tried to stop her, Qin Shuang wasn’t listening, she dismounted the saddle, picked up a sword from the ground, mounted the horse, and chased after the carriage that had taken Zhan Lan. The autumn wind was bleak, amidst the withered yellow leaves Qin Shuang raised her whip, her figure disappearing in front of Zhan Xuerou. Zhan Xuerou slumped to the ground as if her body had been hollowed out, sitting there. Had Zhan Lan gone crazy? Why call Qin Shuang mother? Had her own mother gone crazy? Why chase after them to her death! She sat on the ground, weeping bitterly, “Why! Why does mother want to leave me!”

Chapter 280: 280: Mother!

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