From cute to empress

Chapter 234: Imprisonment

The scroll slipped from my trembling hands and unfolded on the ground. The bizarre patterns and symbols seemed to come alive, twisting and dancing before my eyes, emitting an eerie aura. I instinctively stepped back, a chill running from my feet to my head.

"Mengmeng, what's wrong with you?" Zhen Youcai noticed that something was wrong with me, waved his sword to drive back several enemies, and asked anxiously.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. Pointing at the scroll on the ground, I said in a trembling voice, "This... contains a sorcery that can control people's minds!"

Zhen Youcai's expression suddenly turned serious upon hearing this. He walked over to me, picked up the scroll from the ground, and examined it carefully.

"Mind control..." Zhen Youcai frowned and muttered the words on the scroll, his expression becoming increasingly grim. "To think there really is such a perverse way!"

"I've seen the patterns and symbols on this scroll in an ancient book before," the previously silent Sect Leader Jianxin suddenly spoke up. "If I remember correctly, this should be a forbidden technique from ancient times called 'Soul-Capturing Technique.'"

"Soul-stealing technique?" I was shocked. The name sounded extremely evil.

"That's right." Master Jianxin stroked his beard and said in a deep voice, "This evil technique is extremely dangerous. Once successfully cultivated, one can manipulate the minds of others at will, making them their puppets. Back then, to prevent this evil technique from harming the world, the major sects joined forces to destroy the cultivation method. Unexpectedly..."

Having said that, Sect Leader Kenshin sighed and said nothing more.

"So, the content of this scroll is most likely the long-lost 'Soul-Captivating Technique'?!" My heart sank, and an ominous premonition came over me.

"It's very likely." Zhen Youcai nodded solemnly, "We must report this news back to the palace as soon as possible and have the court send someone to handle this matter."

I nodded, knowing that there was no time to lose, and immediately told everyone to prepare to evacuate.

We fought and retreated, finally breaking free from the encirclement. However, just as we were about to leave, I suddenly felt a fierce murderous aura coming from behind me...

"Be careful!" I turned around suddenly and saw a dark shadow coming towards us like a ghost. Zhen Youcai reacted very quickly, unsheathing his sword. A flash of cold light drove the shadow back.

"Who is it?!" Zhen Youcai shouted sternly.

However, he was answered by even more shadowy figures. They seemed to emerge from the ground, instantly surrounding us. Each of these men in black possessed exceptional martial arts skills, their attacks ruthless and brutal, clearly well prepared.

"Protect the scroll!" Master Jianxin shouted, charging into the enemy camp first. Others in the martial arts world also drew their swords, and a melee broke out.

Although I'm the empress, my martial arts skills are more than just fancy tricks, thanks to Zhen Youcai's guidance over the years. I drew the soft sword from my waist and joined the battle, standing back to back with Zhen Youcai, fending off the attacks of the men in black.

However, the black-clad men were numerous and coordinated well, so we gradually fell behind. Just then, I saw a black-clad man quietly sneak up behind Master Jianxin while he was fighting with others.

"Master, be careful!" I exclaimed, but it was too late.

The man in black hit Sect Leader Kenshin on the back with his palm. Sect Leader Kenshin groaned, spit out blood, staggered back a few steps, and almost fell down.

"Master!" I was shocked and wanted to go forward to help, but I was entangled by several men in black and couldn't get away.

In the chaos, I saw that the Blood Blade Sect Master and the Vulture Palace Master were also injured. The situation was extremely critical. To make matters worse, I felt someone quietly approaching the scroll in my hand!

My heart trembled, and I guarded the scroll even more vigilantly. However, the opponent's speed was astonishing, and before I could react, the scroll was snatched away.

"Catch him!" I roared and chased after the man in black who stole the scroll regardless of everything.

"Mengmeng! Stop chasing, it's dangerous!" Zhen Youcai shouted anxiously, but he was also entangled by several men in black and couldn't get away at all.

I was extremely anxious, but I could only watch helplessly as the man in black disappeared into the night with the scroll...

"Damn it!" I pounded the ground hard, feeling powerless.

"Mengmeng, calm down!" Zhen Youcai finally broke free from the entanglement and came to my side, looking at me worriedly, "The scroll has been taken away. It's useless for us to chase it."

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I knew Zhen Youcai was right. The most important thing now was to find out the identities of these men in black and their purpose in stealing the scroll.

"Master Xiaoyao, Master Tiexue, take your men and escort the Sect Leader and the others back to the palace to recuperate. Ensure their safety," Zhen Youcai ordered calmly. "Mengmeng and I will stay behind to track down the men in black."

Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue received the order and immediately organized people to escort the injured people from the martial arts world back to the palace.

"Let's go too." Zhen Youcai held my hand and said in a deep voice, "Since those men in black dared to rob the scroll from under the emperor's feet, they must have something to rely on. We must proceed with caution."

The night was dark and the wind was biting. Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side under the night sky, gazing into the distance, our hearts filled with uneasiness...

Inside the palace, the lights were bright, but they couldn't mask the anxiety and unease that permeated the air. I sat in the imperial study, my tea long gone cold, but I had no desire to replace it. Zhen Youcai paced back and forth, his brow furrowed, clearly worried about the lost manual and those mysterious men in black.

"Those men in black have peculiar martial arts skills. They don't seem like members of a martial arts sect. They look more like..." Zhen Youcai suddenly stopped and pondered, "More like... assassins."

"Death warriors?" I was shocked, and the fearless eyes of those men in black emerged in my mind. "If they are really death warriors, then who is behind them? What is their purpose in stealing the secret manual?"

A series of questions swirled in my mind, but I couldn't find any answers. I stood up irritably, walked to the window, and looked at the dark night sky, feeling powerless.

"Mengmeng, don't worry, we will definitely find out the truth and retrieve the secret book." Zhen Youcai walked to my side, held my hand, and comforted me softly.

I turned to look at him. His eyes were firm and gentle, bringing me a sense of comfort. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. "I believe you."

Time ticked by, and there was still no news from Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue. My heart sank, and a sense of foreboding came over me.

"Could it be... Could it be that they have already..." I didn't dare to say any more, but the fear in my heart grew stronger and stronger.

"No, they are all top masters in the world, nothing will happen to them easily." Zhen Youcai held me in his arms and patted my back gently. Although his tone was firm, I could feel the uneasiness in his heart.

At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and then the door of the imperial study was suddenly pushed open, and a guard ran in in a panic.

"Report——"

"How can you be so flustered!" Zhen Youcai shouted sternly.

The guard was startled and quickly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Young Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue request an audience. They say they have something important to report!"

I was delighted and quickly said, "Pass it!"

In a short while, Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue arrived in a hurry. Both of them were injured and looked pale, obviously having been through a fierce battle.

"How is it? Is there any news about the secret book?" I asked anxiously.

Young Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue looked at each other, and a solemn look appeared on their faces.

"We...we found some clues..." Young Master Xiaoyao said in a heavy voice, "But the situation...I'm afraid it's even more complicated than we imagined..."

My heart tightened, and a bad feeling crept in. "What's going on? Tell me!"

Young Master Xiaoyao took a deep breath and said slowly: "We...we found the whereabouts of the secret book, but..." He paused, looked at Zhen Youcai, and seemed a little embarrassed to speak.

"But what? Tell me quickly!" I urged anxiously.

"But... we need the Emperor and Empress... to come in person..."

"Do we need to go there in person?" I repeated Young Master Xiaoyao's words, my confusion growing. "What kind of place is it that requires so much trouble?"

Young Master Xiaoyao looked embarrassed, hesitant to speak. The Iron-Blooded Escort beside him bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this matter is of grave importance, and I will not reveal too much. We can only guarantee that the clues are absolutely reliable, but we need you two to be present in person to confirm the whereabouts of the secret book."

Zhen Youcai frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Is there any danger?"

"This..." Young Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue exchanged glances again, and finally Young Master Xiaoyao answered with a stiff upper lip, "I'm going to be honest, but the world is in turmoil right now, and there's danger everywhere. But don't worry, I'll protect you all even at the risk of my life!"

I knew they were hiding something, surely because they were afraid I'd worry. But how could I sit back and watch when it came to this secret manual of sorcery that controlled people's minds? I took a deep breath, and with a firm gaze, I said to Zhen Youcai, "Youcai, let's go check it out! I trust Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue."

Zhen Youcai saw that I had made up my mind and stopped trying to stop me. He just reminded me, "Be careful in everything you do."

That night, we disguised ourselves and secretly left the palace, led by Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue. Along the way, I wondered what place it was that required our personal journey. However, no matter how I tried to inquire, Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue remained silent, saying only that we would know the destination once we got there.

After several days of traveling, we finally arrived at a deserted valley. Gazing at the eerie scene before us, my uneasiness grew stronger.

"Master Xiaoyao, is this the reliable clue you mentioned?" I asked in a low voice, with a hint of dissatisfaction in my tone.

Young Master Xiaoyao said nothing, merely pointing to a ruin deep in the valley. I followed his direction and saw the faint outline of an ancient castle amidst the shattered walls. Though weathered, it still hinted at its former grandeur.

"That's it." Young Master Xiaoyao whispered, "The secret book is in that ancient castle."

My heart shuddered, and I looked up at the seemingly forgotten castle, a chill running through my heart. For some reason, I felt as if something terrifying was hidden there...