The Black Flag Guards, who were thoroughly enjoying their mockery, noticed Lu Zhao staring at them and raised their voices even louder, shouting, “What, are we wrong? Frail and weak, unable to carry anything on your shoulders or lift anything with your hands—utterly useless trash!”
Qiao Chi couldn’t take it anymore. Clenching his teeth, he said to Lu Zhao, “Your Highness, let me go!” If he didn’t beat the other side until they were picking their teeth off the ground today, he wouldn’t bear the surname Qiao.
Lu Zhao lowered her voice and quickly said, “There’s an ambush at One-Line-Sky…” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough for the dozen or so people gathered around her to hear.
The enraged group froze for a moment, then instinctively wanted to glance toward One-Line-Sky.
Lu Zhao immediately warned, “Don’t move!”
The dozen or so people forcibly restrained their wandering eyes, their expressions grave as they continued sitting around the campfire.
Apart from the incessant taunts of the Black Flag Guards, everything seemed normal. But after the incident with Xie Jinchi, they knew that if the Seventh Prince said there was an ambush, there definitely was one.
They just didn’t know who was coming or how many there were.
Just as they were cautiously listening for any movement around them, Lu Zhao, who had been ignoring the Black Flag Guards’ mockery, suddenly flushed with anger. She stood up furiously, glaring at them and rebuking, “How dare you! Say it again, who’s the trash?”
Qiao Chi and the others were startled but immediately rose to their feet, standing around her to bolster her presence.
The thirty-plus Black Flag Guards opposite lazily stood up as well, laughing at her even more recklessly.
“We’ll say it ten more times if we have to—you’re nothing but trash who needs everyone to accommodate and take care of you!”
“That’s right! If it weren’t for you, we’d have passed through One-Line-Sky long ago. Why would we be camping out in the wind and dew?”
“Commandant Qiao only went to trade for grain because he was afraid you’d starve to death. Why not just say it’s for their precious Seventh Prince…”
The Black Flag Guards burst into another round of raucous laughter.
The live stream audience collectively mourned.
【Pacifier Adventurer: They’re done for, thinking the streamer is trash!】
【February Red: They’re done for +1, the streamer is about to unleash!】
【Bajiaolian: They’re done for +2】
【IQ Offline: They’re done for +3】
【National Sweetheart: Let’s see how the streamer toys with them!】
Amid the endless ridicule, Lu Zhao’s slender body trembled with rage, her exposed hands clenched into tight fists. She raised her voice and declared, “Pack up, we’re moving on!”
“Your Highness!” Qiao Chi and the others were taken aback, looking at her with uncertainty and alarm. “It’s still snowing, and besides, my father and the others haven’t returned yet!”
Lu Zhao shouted again, “This prince said we’re moving on, didn’t you hear?” After saying this, she pointed at the group of Black Flag Guards and angrily commanded, “You lead the way!”
The Black Flag Guards picked at their ears as if they hadn’t heard her.
Lu Zhao, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointed at them provocatively and said, “What, this prince dares to continue the journey, but you don’t dare to lead the way? Or are the weaklings of Liangzhou all talk, barking nonsense and only capable of hiding at the back of the group like cowardly turtles?”
Weaklings! Cowardly turtles! The Black Flag Guards were the finest soldiers in Liangzhou!
The Black Flag Guards opposite instantly straightened their postures, their faces livid with fury.
At this moment, Qiao Chi and the Qiao family guards finally realized what Lu Zhao intended: the Seventh Prince was deliberately provoking the Black Flag Guards, aiming to lure them into scouting the path first and let them fight it out with the ambushers like dogs biting dogs.
This was what His Highness meant by “the Black Flag Guards have great uses.”
Once he grasped the situation, Qiao Chi grabbed Lu Zhao’s arm and urged, “Your Highness, stay calm. It’s dark and snowing heavily. The Black Flag Guards are mere mortals—it’s their fear of leading the way, not your reluctance to press on!”
The other Qiao family guards chimed in: “Indeed, Your Highness, your health is paramount. Why bother with those good-for-nothings from Liangzhou?”
“All they have is sharp tongues!”
“They’re only capable of barking like dogs!”
“…”
Though the Qiao family’s words seemed aimed at persuading their prince, their relentless insults—”good-for-nothings,” “weaklings,” “Liangzhou turtles hiding in their shells”—were utterly unbearable.
The Black Flag Guards across from them gritted their teeth in fury. Their leader slammed a heavy palm onto the saber at his waist, let out a cold laugh, and roared, “All Black Flag Guards, heed my order! Pack up and scout the path ahead!”
Over thirty Black Flag Guards responded in unison, their voices so forceful they seemed to vibrate the falling snow.
The Black Flag Guard leader then raised his chin toward Lu Zhao, his gaze icy and laced with scorn. “Seventh Prince, don’t just boast. I’ll see for myself who the real weakling is!”
Being ordered around along the journey had already grated on their nerves.
This time, they were determined to teach this useless prince a lesson—they wouldn’t stop until he collapsed from illness.
Lu Zhao, stubborn as a self-righteous young mule, stiffened his neck and yelled at Qiao Chi, “Hurry up and pack! We depart now!Qiao Chi, with a dark face, continued to persuade, “At least wait for Father to return.”
Lu Zhao coldly slapped his hand away. “Enough nonsense. When I say depart, we depart. Or do you and Qiao Bing also think I’m a useless burden?”
Qiao Chi fell silent, having no choice but to gather his subordinates and start packing.
He walked alone to the tree where the horses were tethered, opened his hand, and revealed a packet of powder.
Lu Zhao had slipped it to him earlier.
With a flick of his wrist, he scattered the powder over the Black Flag Guards’ horses, then calmly led away the Qiao family’s steeds as if nothing had happened.
A quarter of an hour later, everyone was ready to move out.
The over thirty Black Flag Guards wore light armor, carried treasured sabers at their waists, and sat tall on their powerful steeds, radiating sharp, vigorous energy. When they glanced back, their eyes held undisguised provocation. “Seventh Prince, keep up! Don’t fall behind.”
They followed with mocking laughter.
Lu Zhao, seated in the carriage, wore a calm expression, his words dripping with venom. “Don’t crawl too slowly, like turtles.”
The Black Flag Guard leader snorted, cracked his whip fiercely, and shot forward like an arrow piercing through the snow, charging straight toward One-Line-Sky.
The rest of the Black Flag Guards whipped their horses and followed closely.
They were eager to see how long this useless prince could keep up his bravado!
Watching their retreating figures, Lu Zhao curled his lips and instructed Qiao Chi, “Follow them, but keep a slower pace. Stay about fifty meters behind.”
Qiao Chi nodded and signaled to the others.
The dozen or so Qiao family guards maintained composed expressions, but inwardly, they were thrilled and excited. Their eyes vigilantly scanned the surroundings: Ha, these Black Flag Guards are finally being put to use.
They’re rushing headlong to their graves.
As dusk deepened and twilight enveloped the land, the drumming of hooves startled crows into flight.
The over thirty Black Flag Guards charged ahead fearlessly, reaching the entrance of One-Line-Sky in mere moments.
Flanking mountains slanted sharply, piercing straight into the clouds. Silence enveloped the surroundings, broken only by the soft rustle of snow falling from withered branches.
The leader of the Black Flag Guards sensed something amiss and reined in his horse to investigate. The others followed suit, asking what was wrong.
The Black Flag Guard leader pursed his lips: he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something felt off.
The silence was unsettling.
And that useless prince seemed off, too.
He turned his horse to look back. Thick snowflakes settled on the shoulders of his companions behind him, on their horses…
Meanwhile, the Qiao family’s procession was still fifty meters away.
The other Black Flag Guards remained oblivious, still laughing heartily, their eyes mocking, their words unrestrained. They shouted, “Seventh Highness, hurry up! Don’t tell us your legs have gone weak!”
Almost as soon as the words left their mouths, Qiao Chi, atop his horse, drew his bow and released the arrow.
The arrow shot through the air.
The Black Flag Guard leader roared, “Young Master Qiao, what are you doing?!”
But the arrow merely grazed the top of his head and flew past, embedding itself deep into the snowy mountain to his left.
It seemed he had no intention of harming them.
The Black Flag Guards stared in shock, still wondering what Lu Zhao and his group were up to, when a sudden barrage of arrows rained down from both sides of the towering mountains.
Horses neighed in panic.
The Black Flag Guard leader yelled, “It’s an ambush! Retreat!”
All the guards drew their blades to defend themselves while trying to urge their horses to fall back. Yet, the horses refused to obey, neither advancing nor retreating, only spinning in place.
The Black Flag Guard leader immediately ordered everyone to dismount and take cover at the base of the mountains on either side.
Arrows and accumulated snow pelted down relentlessly, leaving them trapped, forced to watch helplessly as the Qiao family’s convoy turned and fled.
The Black Flag Guard leader cursed in fury: Damn it, how could that useless prince be so treacherous!
He had clearly provoked them on purpose, using them as pawns to test the path ahead.
He must have sensed the ambush on the mountain long ago.
As soon as the arrow rain ceased, the thirty-some guards raised their blades and gave chase. But before they could even escape the One-Line-Sky pass, hordes of black-clad figures surged down from both sides of the mountains.
The Black Flag Guard leader hacked down an oncoming assailant and bellowed at Lu Zhao’s carriage, “You useless coward, how dare you scheme against me! Come back here!”
The thirty-some Black Flag Guards gritted their teeth in fury, their faces contorted with rage. Viewers in the livestream cheered in delight.
[Jianmengtianxia: Hahahaha, I told you they were done for! Messing with the streamer is like kicking a durian!]
[Shuaidebumingxian: Serves you right for running your mouths! Anyone who calls the streamer weak deserves to die!]
[Zuipaotianwang: Hahaha, the streamer is so sneaky, so wicked—I love it! Sending rockets!]
Amid the flood of triumphant comments, a few voices expressed concern.
[Sijibushache: With so many assassins, am I the only one worried that these thirty-some Black Flag Guards won’t hold them off and they’ll reach the streamer?]
[Hangenaizui: Look at the skill of these black-clad fighters—they’re no weaker than the Black Flag Guards.]
[Er Yue Hong: What’s there to fear? Even if the Black Flag Guards can’t hold them off, they’ll take out a good number. Whoever’s left will be like zombies hit by several rounds of peas—easy peasy.]
While the livestream buzzed with heated discussion, the situation inside One-Line-Sky grew increasingly dire.
The clashing of blades and screams of battle echoed through the mountain pass, and even the thick snowflakes in the sky seemed tainted with the scent of blood.
Qiao Chi urged his horse forward while glancing back, unable to resist shouting, “Seventh Highness, I fear the Black Flag Guards won’t be able to hold off so many. Where should we go now?”
Lu Zhao leaned out from the carriage, calmly analyzing: “The Black Flag Guards are skilled fighters. Even if they can’t hold off so many people, they can buy us some time. Let’s take the other fork in the road to rendezvous with your father and hide nearby. The black-clad assailants have suffered heavy losses and won’t dare pursue recklessly. With so many dead here, the Jingzhou Governor’s men are bound to investigate. By then, we can cross One-Line-Sky under their escort and be safe.”
Qiao Chi nodded, urging everyone toward the fork in the road.
The sky grew heavy, gradually darkening.
As the group reached the fork, they vaguely glimpsed a large, shadowy crowd ahead.
Unease spread among them, with one person asking: “Young master, are those the Commandant’s men ahead?”
Qiao Chi was uncertain, shaking his head: “I don’t know, but Father only brought two men… Seventh Prince…” He looked inquiringly toward the carriage.
Lu Zhao lifted the curtain and immediately refuted without even pulling up the system map: “Not Commandant Qiao! Rein in the horses—head for the main road!”
Almost as soon as they turned the horses around, another group emerged on the main road.
This new force numbered over fifty, blocking the thoroughfare completely. As they drew closer, only their dark brown waist sashes and uniform crescent blades were visible.
They were not allied with the earlier black-clad assailants.
Qiao Chi and the dozen Qiao family guards instantly paled.
“Quick, retreat! It’s the Linglong Pavilion!”
[Which Linglong Pavilion?] viewers in the livestream asked.
Lu Zhao: [The top assassin organization in the martial world.]
She narrowed her eyes. Weren’t they said to avoid imperial affairs? Why were they ambushing them here in coordination with the black-clad group?
As she pondered, the coachman had already turned the carriage around, but some black-clad pursuers had broken away from the skirmish and were closing in.
Gritting his teeth, Qiao Chi faced the Linglong Pavilion assassins on the main road and declared loudly: “We serve under Cavalry Commandant Qiao Bing of the Five-City Battalion in Zhongdu! Since when does Linglong Pavilion interfere in official matters? Are you opposing the imperial court by stopping us?”
A figure stepped forward from the assassins, coldly stating: “We don’t oppose the court. Leave the person in the carriage, and you may go!”
Qiao Chi frowned: “The Seventh Prince is in that carriage! Harming him means opposing the court!”
The man chuckled: “Unacknowledged by the imperial family, he isn’t the Seventh Prince yet—hardly a court official.” If they killed him now, another Seventh Prince would simply appear in Zhongdu.
Their target was just an unnamed commoner.
“I repeat: you may leave, but the person in the carriage stays!” As he finished, the assassins behind him drew their blades in unison.
Gleaming steel flashed coldly. Horses stirred restlessly as Qiao Chi and the guards tensed instantly.
A steady voice drifted from the carriage: “Qiao Chi, take the others and go find your father. Don’t worry about me!” Only with them gone could she act without restraint.
Qiao Chi’s eyes widened, then he shouted: “Impossible! I promised Father I’d protect His Highness at all costs!”
This was meant for her—and for the Linglong Pavilion assassins.
The stubborn youth whipped his horse fiercely, commanding the group: “Head left!”
The convoy surged leftward. The path was rugged, the mountain snow deep. After some distance, the carriage neared collapse.
With pursuers closing in, a hooked chain shot through the air, snagging the carriage’s edge. A sharp tug shattered it completely.
Almost the instant the carriage exploded, Qiao Chi reached out and flung Lu Zhao—who was still holding the funerary urn—behind him.
The cumbersome wagon was abandoned as the thirteen riders galloped along the narrow mountain path.
Almost there, almost there.
Ahead lay a sparse grove—once they reached it, they could hide.
Just as the group was about to dash into the woods, a curved blade whistled past Lu Zhao’s face, shearing off a lock of Qiao Chi’s hair before embedding itself deep into the trunk of a massive camphor tree ahead.
Snow clumps cascaded from the branches with a rustle, startling the horses into rearing.
Song Yue, leading the charge, was thrown from his saddle. He rolled, sprang to his feet, and drew his blade, shouting, “Young master, take His Highness and go! We’ll hold them off!”
Lu Zhao, clutching the funerary urn, began, “Well, actually…” There’s no need.
Before she could finish, the remaining dozen guards dismounted and drew their swords to block the pursuers.
Though his heart wavered with reluctance, Qiao Chi hesitated not a moment. Cracking his whip, he urged his horse onward.
Lu Zhao, caught off guard, nearly lost her grip on the urn as she jerked backward. Glancing back, she saw the Linglong Pavilion members had arrived. They seemed genuinely unwilling to provoke the imperial court—merely encircling the Qiao family guards without killing, incapacitating them before swiftly giving chase into the woods.
The snow fell heavier now, a biting cold enveloping the entire mountain wilderness. The drumming of hooves, the rustle of snow-laden branches, and the thud of footsteps filled the air—yet not a single human voice was heard.
The horse ran for what felt like an eternity until, exhausted, it abruptly collapsed to its knees.
Qiao Chi, caught off balance, tumbled into a thick layer of dried leaves with Lu Zhao in tow.
Small creatures hiding in the leaf litter scattered in fright, vanishing without a trace.
Qiao Chi scrambled upright, immediately checking on Lu Zhao. “Your Highness, are you unharmed?”
Lu Zhao shook her head, steadying the urn, her voice calm as ever. “I’m fine.”
She opened her system map. Dense clusters of red dots converged toward them—the nearest only three meters away.
The moment the map appeared, a curved blade laden with snow grazed past her neck.
Viewers in the live stream gasped in unison, their hearts clenched with suspense.
As Lu Zhao prepared to react, Qiao Chi’s strong arm wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her backward until his back slammed against a withered tree trunk.
Thud.
A heavy, dull impact echoed.
Lu Zhao: “…”
This fool is too earnest—that impact probably jolted his internal organs.
Before either could gather their thoughts, figures leaped out from all directions, blades drawn and aimed at them. The attackers deliberately avoided Qiao Chi, their strikes focused solely on her.
Their objective was clear: they wanted only her life.
Qiao Chi drew his short spear, sweeping it in a defensive arc.
Clang, clang, clang—blades clashed against silver steel, sparking blinding flashes. The nearest assassins were thrown backward by the force, creating a narrow opening.
Qiao Chi hauled Lu Zhao onto his back and charged through the gap, sprinting onward.
The wind howled in their ears, every shadow seeming to conceal new threats.
They had lost their bearings—where should they run?
Here, possession of the map proved its unparalleled advantage.
“Head left, three marks direction…” Lu Zhao, clinging to his back, directed coolly.
“Enemies at six o’clock—veer toward seven o’clock.”
“Fallen log ahead—duck. There’s a path at nine o’clock to the right, leading uphill…”
The forest was pitch dark, and Qiao Chi couldn’t see anything, but Lu Zhao became his eyes. They fought their way through the airtight pursuit, escaping all the way to the mountainside.
The mountain forest fell silent, finally free from any sound.
Exhausted, Qiao Chi leaned against a tree trunk, carrying Lu Zhao on his back as he gasped for breath. His breathing was rapid and hurried.
Lu Zhao unfolded the map and whispered, “There’s a crescent-shaped hidden cave down the slope to your lower left. Let’s hide inside for now.”
Qiao Chi nodded, carrying her toward the left. After groping his way to the cave, he steadied his hands and carefully set her down before collapsing to the ground.
The ground was littered with sharp stones. He let out a suppressed groan, and a faint scent of blood began to spread in the confined space.
“Are you injured?”
“I’m fine, Your Highness. There’s no need to worry.”
Lu Zhao couldn’t see with her naked eyes, but through the night vision function of the live stream, everything was crystal clear.
His chest and shoulder blade areas were torn and stained with blood, especially the shoulder blade where a deep, bone-exposing knife wound was clearly visible. The flesh around the wound was torn open, and blood continuously seeped out.
The live stream audience felt their hair stand on end.
[Jianmengtianxia: Damn, Qiao Xiaogege is really tough, staying silent even like this. I nearly died from pain yesterday when a small knife cut my middle finger!]
[Shuaidebumingxian: Ancient people are truly hardcore, no wonder they could scrape bones for treatment.]
[King of Trash Talk: When did Qiao Xiaogege get stabbed? I didn’t even notice! Streamer, quickly use your Shennong bloodline to save him.]
As everyone urged Lu Zhao to gather herbs, she directly pulled out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve.
The live stream fell into an eerie silence for a moment before everyone shut up.
Lu Zhao asked gently, “Are you waiting to bleed to death before you stop pretending to be tough?”
Qiao Chi remained silent. Lu Zhao grabbed his shoulder and pulled him over. With practiced hands, she parted his outer garment and poured the medicinal powder onto the wound.
The powder mixed with blood and instantly seeped into his flesh.
His fingers dug into the ground from the pain, but he didn’t make a sound.
Lu Zhao coaxed patiently, “If it hurts, just cry out. The pursuers aren’t nearby, no one will hear.”
Qiao Chi insisted, “It doesn’t hurt!”
Lu Zhao couldn’t be bothered to persuade him further and moved to his front to treat the wound on his chest. As soon as her hand touched the fabric, she felt something.
Her hand paused in surprise: It was actually a letter. Did Qiao Bing actually hide Consort Mei’s letter on Qiao Chi?
Truly, after searching far and wide, here it was effortlessly obtained.
With lightning speed, she shook out the fake letter from her sleeve and swapped it with the one in his embrace, then continued applying medicine as if nothing had happened. After finishing, she calmly went to check the funerary urn by her feet.
Fortunately, the edges weren’t chipped, and nothing had spilled.
Lu Zhao silently thought: Consort Mei, don’t blame me. Who told you to try to trick me at the last moment?
The cave was too dark, and Qiao Chi couldn’t see, completely unaware of her actions. After not hearing any movement for a while, he asked, “What is Your Highness doing?”
Lu Zhao: “Checking my mother’s funerary urn.”
Qiao Chi: “Your Highness is truly filial.”
Lu Zhao: “As children, filial piety is only natural. You’re very filial too.” You never talk back when Commandant Qiao scolds you.
The live stream audience was nearly dying of laughter, all cursing her for being shameless.
Lu Zhao, with her incredibly thick skin, remained completely unaffected.
Qiao Chi fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying, “Although Your Highness was exiled, you always had Consort Mei by your side. I can’t even remember what my own mother looked like—I was raised by my wet nurse.”
Lu Zhao paused while inspecting the funerary urn and asked him, “Was your mother implicated in the case of the Duke of Zhenguo’s estate?”
Qiao Chi looked surprised but replied, “Yes and no. After the Duke of Zhenguo’s estate fell from grace, my father was imprisoned because of it. My mother sold off our family assets to pull strings and seek connections, but she worked herself to death from exhaustion a year later.”
Lu Zhao frowned. “How did your father eventually get out of prison?”
Qiao Chi: “The Emperor suppressed the case of General Zhenguo’s mansion colluding with the enemy and committing treason, refusing to hold a trial. Since General Shen hasn’t even been convicted, my father—a minor former subordinate—was naturally released without charges. He spent two years in prison before getting out, and three years later was reinstated and transferred to the Five Cities Battalion. Though called a captain, it was just a sinecure, until His Majesty sent him to find you…” He broke off, feeling he had said too much. Combined with his earlier physical exertion, his throat was parched with thirst.
Lu Zhao noticed his discomfort and untied a waterskin from her waist, handing it to him. “Stop talking. Drink some water and rest for a while to conserve your strength.”
Qiao Chi didn’t hesitate, reaching out to take the waterskin and gulping down a mouthful.
Lu Zhao: “Once you’ve recovered your strength, if the pursuers haven’t caught up, you should go on ahead by yourself.”
Qiao Chi choked on the water, coughing lightly twice, the vibrations tugging painfully at the wound on his back. He said urgently, “What does Your Highness mean by that? I’ve already said I absolutely won’t abandon you.”
Lu Zhao was truly weary of his stubborn nature and said bluntly, “Although your martial arts aren’t weak, your techniques and accuracy are still lacking. Facing those assassins would be suicide. Even if you stay, you can’t protect me.”
Qiao Chi glared at her angrily. “Your Highness doesn’t even understand spear techniques, how can you say my accuracy is poor!”
He was deeply indignant, feeling belittled by Lu Zhao, and emphasized again, “My skills are among the best of the younger generation in Zhongdu, and my spear technique can take on ten men at once!”
Lu Zhao’s words didn’t deter him; instead, they stirred his competitive spirit.
She was about to say more when a dry twig snapped nearby.
Crack.
The sound was especially loud in the silent forest.
It came from above—the group had caught up.
Lu Zhao pulled up the system map; the surroundings were dotted densely with red markers.
Just then, the system chimed with a ding-dong, issuing a side quest. [Side Quest triggered: “Host must eliminate all Linglong Pavilion assassins within one shichen.” Completing the quest grants one treasure chest draw. Failure will result in penalties.]
Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow: What an unexpected delight—finally, a side quest.
This time, she was determined to test whether mental energy was related to the system’s penalties.
She asked the system, “Must the task be completed within one shichen? What if it takes longer, or if one assassin is missed—does that count as completion?”
System: [It does not. It must be completed within the specified time. Missing one assassin will reveal the host’s whereabouts, causing more trouble later and affecting the main quest progress.]
It seemed that if she wanted this quest to fail without causing future complications, she could only exceed the time limit.
She clicked to accept the quest, and immediately, the side quest floated to the top of the live stream.
When the viewers saw the bolded text, they erupted in excitement.
[IQ Offline: Hahaha, just when I was getting sleepy, here comes a pillow! Streamer, go for it! Three rockets—wipe them out instantly!]
[Jianmengtianxia: I’ve been wanting to see the streamer in action for ages! Make your moves cool, strike fast!]
[Bajiaolian: Let these arrogant assassins see what thunderous means!]
[IQ Offline: Streamer, hurry up!!!!]
These people really enjoyed watching the drama without worrying about the consequences.
Lu Zhao [What’s the rush? There’s still one shichen left.]
She had no intention of completing the quest at all.
She adjusted the live-stream camera and happened to see someone standing atop the cave above them, holding a torch and carefully searching the surroundings.
Though Qiao Chi couldn’t see, he heard the footsteps. Holding his breath, he gripped a spear with one hand while clutching Lu Zhao’s hand with the other, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
The footsteps searched the area for a moment before gradually fading away.
Qiao Chi let out a long sigh of relief and was about to lower his spear when a curved blade suddenly pierced through the hidden cave entrance. Just as he thought the blade would run through his chest, Lu Zhao yanked him down to the ground. His back slammed against the scattered rubble, the pain making him gasp sharply.
He gritted his teeth, not making a sound.
The curved blade stabbed into the stone cave several more times before a bright torch was suddenly thrust inside, followed by a head peering in.
Without hesitation, Qiao Chi thrust his spear through the intruder’s heart, then grabbed Lu Zhao and fled outside.
The scream alerted all the nearby searching assassins, who turned and converged toward the stone cave.
The killing intent was silent, clinging to them like maggots to bone.
Qiao Chi pulled Lu Zhao all the way up the mountain. The trees grew sparser, the air colder. A biting mountain wind mixed with goose-feather snowflakes whipped against their faces.
Qiao Chi kept running until there was no path left—only a cliff ahead.
The live-stream audience anxiously warned, 【Streamer, tell Qiao Xiaogege to stop! There’s a cliff ahead—if he keeps running, he’ll fall!】
Everyone was screaming. Just as the pair were three steps from the cliff’s edge, Lu Zhao tightened her grip and came to an abrupt halt.
Even Qiao Chi’s considerable momentum didn’t budge her an inch. He swayed at the cliff’s edge, feeling the howling mountain wind and the emptiness ahead, his face finally turning pale. “Is there a cliff ahead?”
Lu Zhao nodded. “Yes. Three more steps, and you would’ve fallen.”
Qiao Chi gasped for air, completely unaware that Lu Zhao’s breathing remained even and her voice was unnaturally calm.
As he tried to turn around, Linglong Pavilion’s assassins had already caught up. Holding torches, they fanned out, surrounding the two tightly.
One, two, three, four… just within the torchlight, there were at least forty to fifty people.
Each of them looked refined and formidable, starkly contrasting Lu Zhao’s delicate frailty and Qiao Chi’s disheveled state.
Two against a crowd—it seemed like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Qiao Chi shielded Lu Zhao behind him, silver spear held horizontally before him. The fierce Gale Wind whipped his clothes, like a stubborn declaration of war.
A purple-clad man stepped out from the assassins—the same one who had spoken to them earlier. He looked arrogantly at the pair and declared sternly, “My earlier offer stands. Young Master Qiao, leave now, and we won’t trouble you.” He pointed at Lu Zhao with an air of certain victory. “But she must stay!”
Qiao Chi gritted his teeth. “In your dreams!”
The purple-clad man’s gaze turned icy, but just as he was about to strike, Lu Zhao murmured softly, “Go down the mountain.”
Qiao Chi insisted, “I won’t leave. Your Highness must not die!”
Lu Zhao chuckled lightly. “Are you only keeping me alive so the Qiao family can regain power?”
Qiao Chi said solemnly, “Even without Your Highness, I would eventually become a great general and bring glory to the Qiao family!”
Though his father always believed the Seventh Prince was the family’s only hope…
“I promised my father I would protect you with my life. A true man keeps his word. At this moment, Your Highness must not die!”
Lu Zhao shook her head helplessly: Such a stubborn yet endearing temperament.
“Go down the mountain. I promise I won’t die.” If anyone were to die, it would be the group before them.
Qiao Chi clearly didn’t believe her words: Your Highness, frail and sickly, lacking the strength to truss a chicken—how could you possibly survive facing so many assassins?
He didn’t move, still standing like a small mountain in front of Lu Zhao.
The man in purple grew impatient with their bickering and waved his hand: “All of you, attack!”
At his command, all the assassins surged forward.
Qiao Chi took two steps forward, sweeping his long spear horizontally and sending several charging attackers flying. Soon, more assassins rushed up. Their blades seemed aimed at fatal spots but never landed decisively.
They slashed Qiao Chi’s shoulders, limbs, waist, and abdomen… It seemed they had assessed the two as isolated and vulnerable, like fish in a pond or birds in a cage, unable to escape this mountain.
They were wearing him down, toying with him.
Blooms of blood spread across his robes, and in mere moments, even the white snow beneath his feet was stained crimson.
The struggle of a trapped beast was truly despairing.
And Qiao Chi was like the fiercest lone wolf, refusing to yield even when he knew there was no chance of victory, his stubbornness somewhat irritating.
The live-stream audience watched with burning anxiety, fearing he might fall at any moment, and repeatedly urged Lu Zhao to act quickly.
The system also urged her, 【Host, time is running out. Hurry up and make your move!】
Lu Zhao lifted her gaze to the void, where a string of countdown numbers floated on the panel above her head.
There were still two quarters left.
That was still too much time.
She looked at Qiao Chi, surrounded by assassins, and quickly called out, “Sweep low with your spear!”
Qiao Chi was stunned: Was the Seventh Princess instructing him in spear techniques?
How could the Seventh Princess possibly know martial arts?
In that moment of hesitation, his reaction slowed, and a slash landed on his back.
Lu Zhao’s cold shout pierced through the mountain wind straight to his ears: “Focus your energy! Move your body with your feet, your arms with your body, your wrists with your arms—unite them as one. Borrow force to strike force. Don’t hesitate, advance another inch!”
Qiao Chi immediately steadied his mind. In the critical situation, as the enemy charged, he instinctively followed Lu Zhao’s instructions.
The silver spear swept horizontally, thrust straight, his legs exerted force, his long arms shot out, and he advanced forward decisively.
The assassin charging at him was impaled through the chest. With Lu Zhao’s guidance, he fought more smoothly and with growing vigor. The silver spear danced with fierce momentum, and the assassins before him were thrown into disarray, temporarily unable to overcome him.
The man in purple at the rear showed slight surprise, narrowing his eyes at Lu Zhao before shouting, “Since he refuses to show respect, hold nothing back! Kill them both!”
Upon hearing this, all the assassins cast aside restraint, their moves becoming swift and ruthless.
No matter how Lu Zhao instructed him, Qiao Chi was forced into retreat until he was kicked down at Lu Zhao’s feet. His entire body resembled a tattered kite, plummeting straight toward the cliff.
The biting mountain wind whipped at him painfully. Just as he thought he would fall into the bottomless abyss, a slender hand grabbed his wrist.
He looked up—the owner of the wrist was equally slender and frail.
But that frail person seemed to erupt with divine strength, yanking him back from the cliff’s edge and scolding, “Useless! Watch carefully, I’ll only show you once!”
With that, she snatched the spear from his hand and swept it forward with the force of uprooting mountains. In the flickering firelight, the spear’s tip gleamed coldly, aimed straight for the throat.
The three black-clad men charging forward widened their eyes and instantly fell dead.
Thud.
The three of them crashed directly into the snowbank, warm viscous blood gushing wildly from a crimson line across their necks.
Qiao Chi sat slumped at the cliff’s edge, clutching Consort Mei’s ashes, staring in horror at the scene. His gaze slowly shifted from the three corpses to Lu Zhao.
That figure had already charged forward—hooking, lifting, sweeping… the long spear moved like a spirit serpent crossing borders, leaving trails of blood mist wherever it passed.
Qiao Chi recalled learning spear techniques in his childhood, his father guiding his hands while saying: “The spear is king of all weapons. Any other weapon meeting the spear will surely fall. People merely haven’t witnessed the true spear—once they obtain the real spear, all other weapons seem like child’s play.”
He stared fixedly at Lu Zhao: So this is what those words meant?
But she appeared so frail…
In that brief moment of distraction, the clifftop had become littered with corpses. Of the forty or fifty Linglong Pavilion assassins, only one purple-clad, masked killer remained.
She turned back, her pale face and neck drenched in blood, yet her gaze remained utterly calm as she looked at him and asked with a smile: “Did you learn anything?”
Learn anything?
Qiao Chi’s mind was completely overwhelmed with awe. Remembering all their past interactions, his handsome face gradually flushed crimson, his throat seeming constricted by mountain spirits, momentarily unable to produce sound.
His expression was far too vivid, sending the live stream audience into frenzied table-pounding.
[Jianmengtianxia: Hahahaha, Qiao Xiaogege’s world has collapsed. Later when he recalls treating the streamer like some weakling, he’ll probably want to throw himself off this cliff.]
[Shuaidebumingxian: Hahahaha, Qiao Xiaogege will never have to worry about the streamer dying again!]
[King of Trash Talk: The streamer’s this powerful? Qiao Xiaogege probably thinks he’s dreaming.]
[Driver Never Brakes: Qiao Xiaogege, strike while the iron’s hot! The streamer actively taught you herself. Rush over right now and cling to her thighs, beg her to take you as her disciple!]
Gift effects flooded the screen one after another, completely obscuring Qiao Chi’s stunned face.
A voice so faint it seemed unbelievable, hoarse and bewildered, emerged in the live stream: “Y-Your Highness knows martial arts?”
Author’s Note: Note 1: From “Record of the Arm” by Wu Shu