The night was dark and windy, with silence enveloping the late hours.
Clad in night attire, Shen Yue darted through the grass like a nimble cat, occasionally glancing sideways. She knew the shadow guards’ hiding spots all too well. With a flick of her wrist, small stones shot out silently, striking the pressure points for inducing unconsciousness of several guards stationed on the roof, behind the grass, beside the water vat, and among the treetops.
The shadow guards of the prince’s residence were top-tier experts, but Shen Yue was a fusion of an ancient female assassin and a modern mercenary. Compared to her, they fell short by more than a little. At this thought, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved upward.
Arriving in front of the study, she slowly raised her hand and adjusted her face veil, revealing only her frosty, piercing eyes. Then, with agile movements, she slipped inside in a flash.
The study was utterly silent, presumably empty. Shen Yue took a deep breath and began searching every nook and cranny—the desk, the drawers, the antique shelves—but found no sign of any bundle. Had Changfeng already taken it?
Never mind, she could always sneak into Changfeng’s room later. With this thought, she turned to leave.
Just then, the study door suddenly swung open, and a cold voice demanded, “Who’s there?”
A tall, elegant figure in dark robes stood at the doorway. From his silhouette and the faint ambergris scent, it was unmistakably Xiao Yuheng. His tone was low, and after speaking, he quietly closed the door, as if unwilling to alert the distant shadow guards.
Despite this, Shen Yue decided to strike first. Moving like lightning, she launched a grab attack, aiming for his throat in the blink of an eye. To her surprise, the man was even faster, sidestepping to the left with ease and evading her assault.
Not bad, kid!
Xiao Yuheng’s movements successfully ignited Shen Yue’s competitive spirit. She swung her fists fiercely, each punch whistling through the air, growing more relentless with every blow. Yet, each time, he dodged at the very last moment before her strikes could land.
Not only that, but as she retracted her fist, she suddenly sensed a sharp palm strike rapidly closing in. Alarmed, she swiftly pivoted to avoid the attack while simultaneously raising her right leg high and delivering a powerful kick toward him.
Xiao Yuheng, clearly prepared, lifted his leg almost simultaneously to counter her move.
“Thud—”
Leg bone collided with leg bone, and both let out a sharp hiss, forced backward by the impact. In the dim light, Shen Yue noticed the man’s inner robe had loosened during the scuffle, revealing a glimpse of his pale chest. Paired with his disheveled satin-like hair, the sight was irresistibly alluring!
At an inopportune moment, she gulped audibly, producing a “gulp” sound. Shaking her head quickly, she struck a palm toward his chest.
Unexpectedly, the man didn’t evade this time. The firm contact between her palm and his skin caused Shen Yue to lose focus for a split second. The next moment, he seized both her wrists, twisting them together, and pressed his warm body against hers.
Damn!
Men really did slow down her combat speed!
“Speak! What is your purpose here?” Xiao Yuheng demanded in a low voice, leaning close.
His cool breath wafted over her, brushing against her nose and cheeks, momentarily disorienting her. But it lasted only a second before she regained her senses. Abruptly bending one knee, she drove it fiercely toward his vulnerable spot.
The attack was so violent and ruthless, it seemed she was determined to ensure he would never be a man again in this lifetime.
Xiao Yuheng discerned her intention and immediately recoiled in alarm, simultaneously striking out with his right palm like a dragon emerging from the sea, aiming squarely at her left shoulder.
Two muffled grunts echoed simultaneously. Shen Yue’s shoulder erupted in sharp pain, while the man’s thigh suffered a violent impact that made the corner of his mouth twitch uncontrollably.
Their figures swayed as they each retreated several steps. When their gazes met again, both were filled with cold intensity.
Shen Yue gritted her teeth and launched a spinning kick.
The man raised an eyebrow, taking the blow on his back before swiftly pivoting behind her, locking her body tightly with one arm.
In that instant, Shen Yue froze.
Despite the layers of chest binding cloth, she could distinctly feel the grasp of his large hand.
“…Damn you!”
Overwhelmed by shame and fury, Shen Yue couldn’t restrain herself from cursing aloud.
She abruptly bent her knees and kicked the desk with force, using the rebound to slam backward.
A loud crash resounded.
The antique shelf shattered into pieces, vases and ornaments scattering across the floor in fragments. The two tumbled down together.
A sharp pain shot through Xiao Yuheng’s back, and he quickly shoved the person in his arms away.
At the same time, hurried and dense footsteps approached from a distance.
“It’s the prince’s study—go check it out!”
In moments, several shadow guards entered the study with torches. Their eyes scanned the room, but aside from the prince slumped on the floor, there was no sign of anyone else.
Changfeng, as the captain of the guards, wasn’t on duty at the time. Arriving belatedly, he paled at the sight of his master’s disheveled state and hurriedly helped him up.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
Xiao Yuheng, supporting his lower back, shot him a glare. “What do you think?”
Changfeng fell silent, not daring to utter another word, and quietly assisted him back to his bedchamber.
By then, Zhao Si had also been freed from his acupressure lock and entered the room. The two knelt simultaneously with a thud.
“We failed to protect you, Your Highness. We beg for punishment!”
Xiao Yuheng lifted his eyelids slightly. “Today, I’ve learned how utterly useless the shadow guards in this residence are.”
Zhao Si knelt trembling, sweat pouring down his back.
“Y-Your Highness, I acknowledge my fault! However, the shadow guards patrolling the manor detected no suspicious traces. I suspect the intruder is still within the premises. Grant me some time, and I will surely apprehend them!”
“With your capabilities?” Xiao Yuheng’s expression remained unreadable, devoid of emotion.
“Whoever could immobilize you with a touch and slip in undetected could just as easily leave without a trace. You won’t catch them. Dismissed for now. Report to Changfeng tomorrow for twenty lashes. If this happens again, the entire Four Divisions will be expelled from the manor.”
Zhao Si exhaled in relief—twenty lashes were lenient.
He acknowledged with a “Yes,” then bowed and retreated from the room.
“Changfeng, you may rise as well.”
“Yes.” Changfeng stood up sheepishly, retrieved ointment from a drawer by the table, and moved to approach Xiao Yuheng.
Noticing this, Xiao Yuheng frowned and shifted back. “I’ll manage it myself.”
“Oh.” Changfeng then remembered his master’s aversion to close contact and handed over the ointment.
“Your Highness, who do you think this assassin is? To possess such lightness skill—so many shadow guards inside and outside the manor, yet none detected their entry.”
Xiao Yuheng’s fingers, scooping the ointment, paused. “Is it possible they were already part of the manor’s household?”
“You mean there’s a traitor in the residence? I’m familiar with the shadow guards’ skills—they couldn’t possibly have harmed you.”
“What if he was deliberately concealing his true ability? That man’s techniques were exceptionally cunning, completely unlike the shadow guards’ style, and his voice…”
Xiao Yuheng seemed to recall something. Setting down the medicine bottle, he changed his clothes and left the room.