Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 377: Hunter and Prey!

The black-clad figure wearing a white mask stared unblinkingly at Zhan Lan, then lightly chuckled and said, "Miss Zhan truly is a clever woman. Unfortunately, I still have to kill you."

Zhan Lan’s hands were bound behind her back. She gazed at her opponent, her voice calm yet unwavering, "Tell me, why do you want to kill me?"

The black-clad figure’s voice was soft, barely audible to the two of them. "You have obstructed the Regent King’s years of planning. You made him abandon his grand scheme of restoring the kingdom!"

Zhan Lan frowned. She had never known Mu Yan to have abandoned the restoration of Zhongzhou Kingdom.

Finally, she understood the reason behind her would-be assassin’s actions.

"Aside from that, do you have no personal feelings in wanting to kill me?" Zhan Lan continued to ask.

The black-clad figure smiled faintly, looking at Zhan Lan. "To be honest, a little. But it’s far from enough to warrant murder."

The ropes binding Zhan Lan’s hands were being gradually sliced apart by the blade hidden between her fingers. She nodded slightly, "If that’s truly your disposition, then I’m beginning to admire you!"

The black-clad figure gazed at Zhan Lan with intensity in their eyes and replied, "I admire Miss Zhan too. Sadly, you still have to die."

With a gesture to the people behind, the black-clad figure commanded in a grave tone, "Kill her now!"

In an instant, the black-clad figure drew a bow and notched an arrow.

As the fatal moment approached, two chains suddenly flew down from an ancient tree towering over the edge of the cliff, aiming toward Zhan Lan and the black-clad figure. ƒreewebɳovel.com

From the tree, a newcomer lashed one chain around the masked black-clad figure’s waist and hurled them down the cliff.

Zhan Lan, tethered by a rope around her waist, swiftly grabbed onto a chain attached to the black-clad figure.

Simultaneously, within the dense forest, over a hundred Hidden Guards emerged from all sides, completely encircling the group of black-clad assailants.

The incident unfolded within mere moments. The masked black-clad figure and Zhan Lan both came to dangle precariously on the cliff’s edge. Just as the Hidden Guards hauled Zhan Lan upward, the black-clad figure’s rope abruptly unraveled, sending them plummeting.

At the instant the black-clad figure began to fall, Zhan Lan swiftly reached out with her left hand and grabbed hold of theirs.

The black-clad figure looked at Zhan Lan in wide-eyed astonishment, exclaiming, "You... Why are you saving me!"

Exerting great effort, Zhan Lan held onto her, replying, "Qingcheng, if you die, Mu Yan will be indebted to you forever! I won’t allow that!"

It was only then that Qingcheng realized – the greatest Hunter often takes on the guise of prey. Today, it was Zhan Lan who had orchestrated the entire situation.

Straining under the effort of pulling her up, Zhan Lan caught sight of Mu Yan rushing to the cliffside and bellowing, "Lan’er!"

It was at that moment, when Qingcheng saw Mu Yan too, that she fully understood: the entire scheme had been set by the two of them – solely to draw her out.

Mu Yan, his face lined with worry, took hold of the rope front and center, hauling Zhan Lan up with every ounce of strength. Qingcheng, too, was pulled back to safety as a result.

As soon as Zhan Lan made it up, Mu Yan swept her into his arms, his taut nerves finally easing. He furrowed his brow and admonished, "Never do anything so reckless again!"

Qingcheng rose unsteadily from the ground, her arms pinned by the guards. She gazed at Mu Yan, who was tightly embracing Zhan Lan, her eyes rimmed with red.

Some people will never belong to her.

Qingcheng removed her mask and said, "Yan, you actually abandoned years of planning for her!"

Mu Yan released Zhan Lan and looked at Qingcheng. "I never expected it to be you!"

"Yan, weren’t you supposed to be in Jinyi City?" Qingcheng questioned.

Her subordinates had clearly seen Mu Yan there. How could he possibly return here in such a short time?

Zhan Lan looked at Qingcheng and said, "Don’t you know about Disguise Skills?"

She had reached out to the Silver-faced Fox, paid Silver, and enlisted help.

Mu Yan’s expression turned as cold as frost as he addressed Qingcheng, "The one who attacked me on my wedding night – they were your people, weren’t they?"

Qingcheng let out a cold laugh, seething, "Yes! My lord, my father died in battle years ago. His sole dying wish was for the kingdom’s restoration. I don’t believe I’m wrong. Zhan Lan has dulled your resolve and made you forget the grand dream. I have done no wrong!"

Mu Yan spoke in a measured yet firm tone, "Qingcheng, I had considered abandoning that plan. But recently, I changed my mind. The restoration plan has been known to Lan’er since the day she returned from the border. She not only didn’t oppose it but has done countless things in its support. You just didn’t know!"

Qingcheng froze in place, stunned. She hadn’t expected Mu Yan had entrusted their years of planning to Zhan Lan so early – even before her return to Ding’an City – back when the two of them were not yet married.

Mu Yan trusted her so deeply!

Qingcheng lowered her gaze and said, "My lord, kill me! Just now, I nearly killed the woman you love most!"

Mu Yan turned to look at Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan released his hand and stepped toward Qingcheng.

She spoke in a voice audible only to the two of them, saying, "Once, you took a blade for Mu Yan. Today, I saved you from the edge of a thousand-foot cliff. Between you and Mu Yan, there is no lingering debt. From this day forward, you shall no longer call him Yan, nor approach him without cause. I believe Miss Qingcheng is wise enough to know where my boundaries lie!"

Qingcheng’s expression remained composed. She understood Zhan Lan’s words.

She loved Mu Yan, but she also had her pride and dignity. Mu Yan’s heart and soul were entirely consumed by Zhan Lan, and she would not abase herself needlessly.

"You won’t kill me? I did just try to end your life!" Qingcheng asked.

Zhan Lan’s lips curled into a faint smile as she passed by her side, replying, "Why kill you, when our goals align?"

Qingcheng was stunned. Gradually, she began to understand why Mu Yan loved Zhan Lan!

Had it been anyone else, they would have undoubtedly perished today. Yet Zhan Lan chose to spare her!

Mu Yan’s gaze turned steely as he looked at Qingcheng and declared, "Take your people and leave. If there’s a next time, I will annihilate all of you. To me, restoring the kingdom is important, but Lan’er is more important!"

Qingcheng’s heart trembled. She nodded and said, "Yes, my lord!"

Zhan Lan and Mu Yan rode off together on the same horse, with Mu Yan holding her as he guided the reins. He asked, "Lan’er, initially, we’d planned only to expose and cast down the mastermind. Why did you change the plan?"

The two had meticulously devised multiple strategies, knowing many of their allies lay hidden in the hunting grounds.

The end of the hunting ground led to the cliffs, where they suspected evidence would be destroyed through murder, so Hidden Guards had long been stationed in ambush.

Deep down, Zhan Lan harbored personal motives. She couldn’t bear to have Mu Yan owe Qingcheng anything. From the moment Qingcheng had been calmly handling her abduction, Zhan Lan had taken notice of her.

She spent Silver to have the Silver-faced Fox impersonate Mu Yan leaving Ding’an City, deliberately providing Qingcheng with the chance to strike.

Zhan Lan murmured, "I didn’t want you to owe anyone anything."

Mu Yan’s heart shuddered. So Lan’er had done it all for him!

Mu Yan embraced her tightly from behind, his arms tightening further. Leaning close to her ear, he asked, "Lan’er, what did you say to Qingcheng?"