“Where are we?” Wen Ningwan asked.
You Ran replied in a hushed tone, “We’re almost at the city gate.”
Yuwen Shu glanced at You Ran, then at the carriage, and said with forced patience, “I hope everything goes as the Junior Minister expects, and the enemy really shows up.”
Wen Ningwan slumped in the carriage with a resigned expression, pulling out some chestnuts she had grabbed from the table before leaving. Leaning sideways, she began peeling the shells.
It wasn’t that she was particularly calm or confident it was simply that there was no turning back now. All she could do was leave it to fate, hoping that You Ran and Yuwen Shu could capture the enemy before they spotted her.
The carriage rocked and swayed as it passed through the city gate. Outside, the yellow leaves along the roadside were covered in a frost that had turned into a white mist. With every step the carriage took forward, the mist seemed to retreat.
The sun hung in the east, as if dazedly watching the carriage beneath the fog. The wheels creaked noisily, and the surroundings were eerily quiet even the sound of birds flying by seemed unusually sharp.
Had it been nearly an hour already? Wen Ningwan’s face fell. What if the enemy saw her and realized she wasn’t the Crown Prince? Would they flee? Then she’d be done for!
Whoosh!
An arrow shot into the carriage behind her, and Wen Ningwan froze in terror. Then, a volley of arrows whistled in from all directions.
Terrified, she dropped to the floor, clutching the bag of chestnuts tightly, her eyes squeezed shut, not daring to breathe.
Chaos erupted outside. No one had expected the enemy to dare an ambush so close to the city gate though the low-lying terrain made it a surprisingly good spot for a surprise attack.
Yuwen Shu was determined to flush out the mastermind behind the ambush and paid no attention to Wen Ningwan inside the carriage. Just as You Ran moved to intervene.
Seeing the arrows piercing the carriage, he immediately shifted to block them and commanded, “Protect His Highness!”
The guards quickly surrounded the carriage, which only reinforced the enemy’s belief that the Crown Prince of Yan was inside.
Suddenly, black-clad assassins leaped down from the nearby woods, charging straight for the carriage.
It was clear the enemy had come prepared. Yuwen Shu and You Ran immediately realized something was wrong. Their plan had been to lure the enemy out and capture them alive, they never expected the opposition to muster so many skilled assassins or to attack with arrows. Caught off guard, they suffered heavy losses.
You Ran glanced warily into the depths of the forest. “There are more in there!”
Yuwen Shu swiftly dispatched an assassin with a single stroke, then looked deeper into the woods, where a pair of cold, piercing eyes stared back at her.
“What meticulous planning!” Yuwen Shu gritted her teeth. Watching the black-clad figures swarming the carriage, she rushed forward.
Inside, Wen Ningwan trembled at the sounds of clashing blades and agonized cries from outside.
But then, Yuwen Shu suddenly stepped away from the carriage. You Ran stared at her in disbelief.
In an instant, several assassins swarmed the carriage and split it apart with a single sword stroke!
Wen Ningwan, still crouched and clutching her chestnuts, looked up in terror, her innocent eyes fixed on the assassin swinging his sword toward her.
You Ran leaped into action, grabbing Wen Ningwan and pulling her from the shattered carriage to safety.
Looking at the disheveled state of the Imperial Advisor and then at Wen Ningwan shivering, still holding the chestnuts, and staring blankly at the fallen bodies around them You Ran gave a bitter smile. “Junior Minister Wen, your plan has backfired, hasn’t it?”
Wen Ningwan’s eyes were filled with the sight of corpses bodies strewn in all directions, blood splattered everywhere, and the harrowing groans of the wounded.
The scent of blood filled her nostrils, acting like a stimulant that jolted Wen Ningwan awake. Clearly, these assassins were not the masterminds.
“Yuwen Shu! Protect me!” Wen Ningwan’s voice trembled as she shouted at the top of her lungs to catch the attention of Yuwen Shu, who was lost in the heat of battle.
Yuwen Shu turned around, and Wen Ningwan hinted pointedly, “I am your princess. Protecting me is your foremost duty!”
Yuwen Shu paused for a moment, then immediately rushed over. Wen Ningwan crossed her arms tightly, nervously clutching her bag of chestnuts and swallowing a small gulp of saliva. “Let’s escape first.”
You Ran and Yuwen Shu exchanged a glance, then shielded her as they fled toward the city gate.
Wen Ningwan quickly whispered a reminder, “Slow down! We’re not really escaping!”
The two hesitated for a moment before immediately slowing their pace. Wen Ningwan broke out in a cold sweat and, to make the act more convincing, pretended to trip and crouched down.
You Ran anxiously crouched beside her, while Yuwen Shu glanced at the two of them putting on a show and also hurriedly crouched down, pretending to examine Wen Ningwan’s foot but actually gripping it with retaliatory force.
Wen Ningwan yelped in pain, “Ouch, ouch, ouch…”
You Ran slapped Yuwen Shu’s hand away in displeasure. “What are you doing?!”
“If the enemy doesn’t show themselves, her suffering won’t be limited to just this!” Yuwen Shu retorted coldly, showing no mercy.
Wen Ningwan pulled her foot back, rubbing her ankle while shooting a resentful glare at You Ran. “Am I still the princess? How dare she lay hands on me?”
Yuwen Shu glanced at her face and immediately looked away. Her princess would never be this timid.
“Watch out!” Wen Ningwan screamed in terror.
Two black-clad assassins leaped out from the depths of the forest in an instant. You Ran and Yuwen Shu immediately stepped forward, and the four became entangled in a fierce struggle.
Wen Ningwan staggered to her feet but suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Turning around, she was met with a grotesque face covered in prisoner tattoos, with not a single patch of unmarked skin.
A cold, sharp blade pressed against her neck. Before Wen Ningwan could even cry out, she was snatched away.
“Kun Xiu?!” You Ran stared in disbelief at the figure who had abducted Wen Ningwan.
Yuwen Shu furrowed her brow in rage and immediately gave chase. Just as You Ran was about to follow, she was held back by the two assassins.
Kun Xiu was a legendary assassin. It was said that he had once assassinated the Emperor of Yan. Before the deed, he had spread word that he would take the emperor’s head right in the palace.
The heavily guarded palace laid an inescapable net for him, yet during a ceremonial event, in front of everyone and under the tight protection of the Yuwen family, he beheaded the Emperor of Yan with a single stroke and escaped unscathed.
From then on, his name spread throughout the land. And at that time, he was only eighteen years old. Now, ten years had passed, and during this decade, he had accomplished another great feat assassinating the mother of the Grand Tutor, the Marquis of Dingyuan.
In the end, he was captured by the Grand Tutor himself and thrown into the imperial prison, only to escape from the heavily guarded dungeon, slaughtering his way out and leaving the Grand Tutor with the message, “We shall meet again.”
He was a battle-hungry, bloodthirsty demon.
Wen Ningwan, seeing the tattoos from various nations’ prisons covering his face, guessed who he was. Her heart sank as she forced a bitter smile. “Brother, could you stop for a moment? I’m exhausted.”
Kun Xiu halted and looked at Wen Ningwan, drenched in sweat and panting heavily. He then noticed how she nervously clutched a bag of chestnuts against her chest and couldn’t help but frown.
This was indeed the Princess of Yan. But why did she seem different?
“Who are you?” His voice, damaged beyond repair, sounded like the roar of a wild beast. Wen Ningwan shuddered, her body temperature plummeting.
“I…”
Before she could speak, a massive long blade was pressed against her neck, leaving a thin trail of blood on her fair skin.
Wen Ningwan wore an innocent expression. She had already identified the real culprit, but capturing the killer wasn’t her responsibility especially when the perpetrator was a top-tier assassin like this.
“You really don’t need to kill me. The real emperor has already been slain by you. I merely used a gu worm technique to make you see me as His Highness, but in truth, I am not him!”
“Then who are you?” Muxiu glared coldly, feeling that the person before him seemed somewhat familiar, yet he couldn’t quite recall where he had seen her before.
“Wen Ningwan, Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple.” Wen Ningwan answered truthfully, offering an ingratiating smile.
“There’s no need for you to kill me. Haven’t you always wanted a fair and honorable duel with the Grand Astrologer? I can help you with that.”
“Oh?” Muxiu looked incredulous, studying the composed figure before him, who seemed rather confident.
“I deliberately leaked information to the Grand Astrologer’s people, claiming that you are the killer. I believe she will appear soon.” To save her own life, Wen Ningwan had intentionally instructed Miao Shiyi to mention Muxiu in front of You Ran, guiding her to investigate the wounds on His Highness’s body.
Given You Ran and You Qi’s abilities, they would soon deduce that Muxiu was the murderer.
Muxiu snorted coldly, his gaze shifting to the forest behind her. His eyes narrowed, and with a swift lift and swing of his blade, crows scattered in panic from the trees.
Soon after, a clear, cool laugh echoed from the distance: “What a mischievous girl, selling out the Grand Astrologer with just a few words.”
As the voice faded, a figure approached from afar. In an instant, an elegant woman in white stood before them, as if she had just emerged from the depths of the forest like a mountain spirit ethereal and vibrant, her presence as refreshing as a spring breeze.
Her clear eyes lingered on Wen Ningwan’s face for a moment before she casually remarked, “Sir, you’ve been deceived. Look.”
Muxiu turned back. An hour had passed, and Wen Ningwan’s face had reverted to its original form. She grinned at the two of them. “My apologies. One must fulfill their duties in their position, I had no choice.”
“The Grand Astrologer will be here soon. Will the two of you challenge her together, or take turns?” Wen Ningwan asked curiously, looking at them.
“Hahaha…” The woman in white laughed, her eyes curving like crescent moons. In her hand, she held a bone flute carved with a skull, a stark contrast to her graceful, fairy-like demeanor, yet strangely fitting.
“At such a young age, you’ve learned to betray others to save your own skin?” The woman in white tilted her head, smiling at Wen Ningwan, though there was no hint of reproach in her expression.
Muxiu shot Wen Ningwan a sidelong glance. “Do you think her arrival will save you?”
“Why wouldn’t it?” Wen Ningwan retorted provocatively. “Unless you’re afraid to face her.”
“Nonsense! Why would I fear her?” Muxiu flushed with anger. “If it weren’t for her tricks back then, I would never have been captured. I’ll wait right here for her to come and meet her doom! I’ll show you how your precious Grand Astrologer is defeated and slain by me!”
The woman in white paused, then lowered her head with a soft laugh. She hadn’t expected this seemingly fragile girl to possess such courage and insight, a simple provocation had already unsettled Muxiu.
“You seem to be from Miaojiang. Do you intend to interfere in today’s affairs?” Muxiu asked, his gaze fixed on the woman in white.
The woman in white shrugged, glanced back at the overwhelming pressure rapidly approaching from deep within the forest, and smiled with keen interest. “The world’s top assassin versus the world’s top State Preceptor this is a battle I absolutely must witness.”
No sooner had she spoken than the State Preceptor, clad in dark red casual attire, emerged slowly from the woods. The long sword in her hand was stained with traces of blood, and her immense aura seemed to cast a visible shadow over the sky behind her. Heavy dark clouds pressed down as if roaring with their master’s fury.
As she drew closer, the oppressive feeling intensified, carrying a thick scent of blood. Kunxiu’s blood began to boil, his face lighting up with the excitement of facing a worthy opponent as he tightened his grip on the long blade.
Wen Ningwan, as if seeing her savior, rushed excitedly toward the State Preceptor and threw herself into her arms, crashing into her embrace.
The State Preceptor was forced back half a step by the impact. She lowered her eyelids, her thick lashes fluttering slightly, and stared blankly at the person in her arms. For a fleeting moment, a look of relief crossed her usually indifferent face.
Wen Ningwan quickly let go, turned around, and pointed accusingly at Kunxiu. “He’s the one who captured me!”
Kunxiu: “…”
The woman in white observed the two with curiosity. The State Preceptor lifted Wen Ningwan by the back of her collar and set her aside.
The chestnuts in Wen Ningwan’s hand spilled from the paper bag, dampened and torn by her sweaty palm, scattering in a graceful arc around the State Preceptor’s feet.
Wen Ningwan: “…”
The woman in white couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle. Noticing Kunxiu’s gaze turning toward her, she quickly pressed her lips shut.