From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The alley was eerily quiet.

Apart from their rapid breathing, almost no other sound could be heard.

The high walls on both sides blocked out the sun, with only a few thin rays of light barely squeezing in, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The air was thick with a stale, musty smell that was nauseating.

Yan Rugo unconsciously gripped Xu's arm tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white, her heart pounding like a drum echoing in her chest.

Without making a sound, Xu held her hand back. His palm was dry and warm, as if conveying a mysterious power.

He tried to appear calm, but his slightly furrowed brows and tightly pursed lips betrayed his inner tension.

The two stood back to back, warily looking around as if they were caught in an invisible giant net, ready to be swallowed up at any moment.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, breaking the tranquility of the alley.

Several dark figures descended from the sky and darted out from the corners on both sides of the alley, surrounding them like ghosts.

The men in black were all masked, revealing only pairs of cold eyes. The gleaming blades in their hands looked even more sinister in the dim light.

Yan Rugo gasped, a chill running down her spine.

She instinctively gripped the dagger in her hand, preparing for battle.

Is this familiar tactic about to unfold again, with another "my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens" scenario?

The male protagonist gently patted the back of her hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." His voice was steady and powerful, carrying a reassuring quality.

Yan Rugo gave him a look that said, "Are you sure?"

Although this guy seems reliable, he can't compete with the other side's superior numbers!

She understood the saying, "Two fists can't beat four hands, and even a hero can't withstand a crowd."

The man in black approached step by step, exuding murderous intent. Yan Rugo and the male protagonist Xu stood back to back, ready for battle.

"Heh, it seems there's no way to escape today." Yan Rugo sneered, her tone tinged with helplessness and self-mockery.

The male protagonist did not speak, but his eyes became even more determined.

He shielded Yan Rugo behind him, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at the men in black surrounding them, like a cheetah poised to pounce.

The leader of the men in black let out a sinister laugh: "If you surrender obediently, you'll suffer less physical pain."

"Dream on!" Yan Rugo retorted without backing down.

Just then, an old voice came from the depths of the alley: "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how dare you be so audacious!"

 A helping hand in dire straits, a counter-strategy to break the deadlock

The leader of the men in black let out a chilling laugh: "How dare you act so recklessly in broad daylight, under the clear sky!"

Yan Rugo and Xu the male lead were both taken aback, and then looked in the direction of the sound.

An old man dressed in a simple, ancient robe slowly emerged from the darkness. His face was weathered, and his eyes were deep, as if he had everything under control.

He held a strange jade flute in his hand, its body inlaid with several unknown gemstones that emitted a faint glow.

The old man did not immediately join the battle. Instead, he calmly stepped forward, raised his jade flute, and gently parted his lips, letting out a melodious flute tune like flowing spring water.

The musical notes intertwined in the air, forming an invisible barrier that seemed to isolate all the murderous intent.

The men in black were struck dumb, their movements abruptly halting, their eyes glazed over, and the blades in their hands fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Their eyes were glazed over, as if they had lost consciousness, and they slowly collapsed to the ground.

Yan Rugo and Xu, the male protagonist, watched this scene in astonishment, their hearts filled with shock.

Who exactly is this mysterious old man?

How was the crisis resolved so easily?

The old man smiled slightly and looked at Yan Rugo and Xu Nanzhu with gentle eyes: "Young men, why don't you come to my house for a chat? Perhaps there are some things you haven't yet seen through."

The male protagonist bowed and said, "Thank you for saving me, senior. I am deeply grateful."

Yan Rugo nodded in agreement, but her heart was filled with curiosity as she sized up the mysterious old man, thinking to herself: Is this old fellow here to make things difficult for me?

The old man chuckled, turned and walked into the depths of the alley, leaving behind a profound remark: "Some things are hidden beneath the surface; only with a calm mind can one see them clearly."

The male protagonist Xu and Yan Rugo exchanged a glance, a strange premonition rising in their hearts.

They followed the old man, step by step, into an even more unknown future.

Xu, the male protagonist, broke the silence first. He respectfully cupped his hands and bowed deeply to the old man, his tone sincere: "Thank you for saving me, senior. I am deeply grateful." His eyes were clear and without any falsehood, perfectly demonstrating the good upbringing of a young master from a noble family.

Yan Rugo also lowered her guard and looked at the old man in front of her with curiosity.

He wore a coarse cloth robe, yet it couldn't conceal his otherworldly and ethereal air.

Those deep eyes seemed to hold boundless wisdom, making them someone not to be underestimated.

She pursed her lips, thinking: Could this old man have come from some remote mountain forest?

Seeing the two men's different expressions, the old man's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. His eyes held a hint of satisfaction, as well as an elusive sense of mystery.

It was as if he had already seen through everything, but was unwilling to reveal it, giving people a sense of unfathomable depth.

"Grandpa, what brings you here?" Yan Rugo asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

She crossed her arms and tilted her head.

The old man stroked his beard, not answering directly, but slowly saying, "Life is like a game of chess, every move is full of hidden secrets. Your encounter today is not accidental, it is preordained." His tone was ambiguous, yet it revealed a disturbing message, as if a huge conspiracy was hidden behind it.

He gave Yan Rugo a deep look, his gaze meaningful: "Little girl, your experiences in the manor and your encounters in the market are not isolated; they are all connected."

Upon hearing this, the male protagonist frowned and fell into deep thought.

He had sensed something was amiss before he arrived, and now, after hearing the old man's words, he felt even more certain that things were not so simple.

He began to carefully recall everything that had happened that day, trying to find any clues.

After the old man finished speaking, his figure gradually blurred and eventually disappeared into the depths of the alley, as if he had never appeared at all.

Yan Rugo and Xu, the male protagonist, looked at each other in bewilderment. They had escaped the crisis, but were now plunged into even greater confusion.

A faint scent of jade flutes lingered in the air, reminding them that what had just happened was not an illusion.

They looked around warily and found that the alley was still quiet, with only a few birds chirping in the distance.

But beneath this calm, an unsettling and eerie atmosphere lurked, as if a pair of eyes were watching their every move.

"It seems things are far more complicated than we imagined," Yan Rugo said in a low voice. She looked around and felt an invisible pressure looming over them.

Xu nodded, his eyes filled with seriousness. He clenched his fists imperceptibly, becoming more vigilant.

They all knew they had to be even more careful from now on.

They continued walking towards the mansion, remaining wary of the surveillance around them.