C352 To Invite the Lord into the Trap

A short while ago.

The mansion was deserted, with the staff long dismissed and no one keeping watch. The garden, once vibrant with plants and flowers, had withered from neglect, leaving a faint, unpleasant odor in the air.

As Qingyao stepped into the hall, she wrinkled her nose at the smell, tempted to turn back. Suddenly, someone darted in front of her, blocking her path. In the dim light