Xiong Shaoqing had no time to think—her longsword trembled and thrust straight toward the enemy leader’s throat.
The leader reacted swiftly, raising his blade to parry. Clang! The sharp clash of metal sent sparks flying across the night sky, the harsh sound slicing through the silence and echoing endlessly.
Xiong Shaoqing had only one thought in mind: I must protect Senior Sister’s safety at all costs!
Seeing Liu Hanyue escape danger, the other shadow guards immediately joined the fray. Xiong Shaoqing’s sword strikes were fierce and relentless, each swing tearing through the air, forcing the enemy leader to stagger back again and again.
With her joining the battle, the tide shifted instantly, gradually turning in their favor.
As the fight raged on, Xiong Shaoqing caught a flicker of movement in the corner of her eye—her heart tightened. It was the traitor who had revealed flaws earlier. Now, his face twisted, eyes vicious. Clearly, seeing the situation deteriorate, he abandoned all pretense of loyalty.
From his sleeve, he secretly drew a poisoned dart and hurled it straight at Liu Hanyue.
Because of her bloodline gift, Xiong Shaoqing was extremely sensitive to changes in surrounding energy. Instantly, she sensed the traitor’s move.
At the critical moment, she wasted no time. With a feint of her sword and a sudden turn, she broke away from the leader and flung herself between the dart and Liu Hanyue.
That moment, time seemed to slow. Xiong Shaoqing thought of nothing else—Senior Sister must not be harmed!
Pfft! The dart sank deep into her chest.
Xiong Shaoqing grunted, her body collapsing heavily to the ground. Agonizing pain surged from her chest, stealing her breath, her vision blurring.
“Fuqiu, attack!” For the first time, Liu Hanyue’s calm composure cracked with panic.
Xiong Shaoqing forced her eyes open, just in time to see Fuqiu flash from the shadows like lightning. Her movements swift as a hunting tiger, Fuqiu subdued the enemy leader in just a few strikes.
The traitorous shadow guard, too, was swiftly restrained by loyal guards, unable to move.
The rest of the black-clad attackers were almost completely annihilated in the ambush—casualties were severe.
Lying on the ground, hearing the fading sounds of battle, Xiong Shaoqing exhaled in relief. At least her Senior Sister was safe…
Her consciousness dimmed, the world before her eyes fading into darkness.
Liu Hanyue inhaled sharply, her face steely as she addressed the nearby guards: “Take the black-clad leader and the traitorous shadow guard back to the camp. Guard them tightly—do not give them the slightest chance to escape.”
The guards obeyed swiftly, dragging the captives away.
Turning back, Liu Hanyue saw Xiong Shaoqing’s blood-soaked chest and pale face. Her heart ached—Xiong Shaoqing had been wounded to protect her. Guilt and pain welled inside her.
“Fuqiu,” she said softly but firmly to her trusted chief guard, “carry Xiong Shaoqing back. Make sure you keep her steady.”
Though Liu Hanyue longed to carry her herself, her own frailty made it impossible. She dared not risk worsening Xiong Shaoqing’s injuries by accident.
“Yes, Princess.” Fuqiu answered and gently lifted Xiong Shaoqing onto her back, vanishing into the night with a graceful leap.
Replaying the evening’s events, Liu Hanyue’s brow furrowed. The wine at the banquet had been drugged with muscle-weakening powder. She had noticed its odd scent at once, but pretended nothing was amiss, quietly swallowing an antidote she always carried. As a disciple of the famed physician Su Xianfeng, she was never without remedies. Thus she remained unharmed. The female soldiers of the Xuanbing Camp, however, had all been rendered powerless.
Xiong Shaoqing, who had avoided drinking due to her allergy to alcohol, had escaped the drug but instead been poisoned with the rare “Ice and Fire Dual Venom.”
This poison was almost unheard of. If not for her unique bloodline, granting her a body stronger than most, she would already be dead. Yet even so, she fell into deep unconsciousness.
When the dart struck, Liu Hanyue had immediately checked her pulse, recognizing the poison at once. Thankfully, she carried with her a single antidote pill—an invaluable gift from her master, said to neutralize all toxins. Her master had warned her never to use it unless at the brink of death. Anticipating danger on this mission, she had brought it with her.
Now, with the situation dire, it was time to use it.
Inside the tent, Liu Hanyue retrieved the pill from her medicine chest. Approaching the unconscious Xiong Shaoqing, she saw her pale face, trembling body, and tightly sealed lips.
Her heart clenched painfully. There was no time to hesitate.
She placed the pill in her own mouth, steadied her breath, and brushed back Xiong Shaoqing’s disheveled hair. Her eyes softened.
Leaning down, she pressed her lips gently to Xiong Shaoqing’s, using her tongue to push the pill into her mouth.
Her movements were tender yet determined, careful not to hurt her. At the touch of the pill, Xiong Shaoqing stirred faintly, but still did not awaken. Liu Hanyue gently pressed her jaw, helping her swallow.
The pill went down smoothly. Relief washed over Liu Hanyue.
A flush rose to her cheeks. Her first kiss—gone like this. But as she looked at Xiong Shaoqing, who had risked everything for her, embarrassment gave way to resolve.
“What does a first kiss matter, compared to her life?” she thought.
Still trembling violently, Xiong Shaoqing’s lips had turned bluish, her fists clenched in silent agony.
Unable to bear it, Liu Hanyue slipped into the bed, wrapping her arms around Xiong Shaoqing from behind, pressing her own warmth into the girl’s frozen body.
Gradually, Xiong Shaoqing’s trembling eased, her breathing steadied, her body warmed.
“Don’t be afraid, Junior Sister. I’m here. You’ll be fine,” Liu Hanyue whispered softly.
Half an hour later, she checked Xiong Shaoqing’s pulse again. The poison was slowly dispersing—the antidote was working.
But soon, Xiong Shaoqing grew feverish, twisting restlessly in the sheets.
“Qinglian, fetch water,” Liu Hanyue ordered.
Moments later, a basin was brought. She soaked a cloth, wrung it out, and laid it on Xiong Shaoqing’s burning forehead again and again, until the fever subsided.
“Stay with her. Inform me the moment she wakes,” Liu Hanyue instructed.
“Yes, Princess.” Qinglian bowed firmly.
Liu Hanyue left the room, entering the adjoining chamber where the captives awaited interrogation.
The camp was silent outside, but inside, a suffocating chill filled the air.
The black-clad leader and the traitorous shadow guard, Zeng Yi, were bound on either side, their eyes defiant, sneers masking their fear.
Without a word, Liu Hanyue opened her acupuncture kit. A row of golden needles gleamed under the lamplight. She plucked one and flicked it, the crisp note slicing through the stillness.
“You may choose silence,” her voice was cold, sharp as ice. “But I have countless ways to change your mind.”
With swift precision, she drove three needles into the leader’s acupoints. Within moments, he was drenched in sweat, face twisted in unbearable pain.
Finally, he broke, screaming, “Stop! Kill me if you dare! End it quick!”
Liu Hanyue’s icy smile froze him further. “This is but a fraction of the pain. Multiply it by a hundred, and you will beg for death, yet find no release.”
Terrified, his bravado crumbled. Trembling, he confessed: they were agents of Prince Zhuoguang, sent to capture Princess Liu Hanyue alive, to ransom her for gold and supplies.
“It was him!” The leader spat, glaring at Zeng Yi. “He contacted us, leaked the information!”
Liu Hanyue’s gaze turned to Zeng Yi, who stared back with silent defiance. She plunged three needles into his acupoints, but he endured, jaw clenched, sweat pouring. Unlike the leader, he was iron-willed.
Coldly, she reminded him of his family—his parents, wife, and young son. But he gave no response, his eyes unyielding. Something about his resistance was unusual.
Just then, Fuqiu arrived with a sealed letter. Liu Hanyue read it, a faint smile touching her lips. Handing it to Zeng Yi, she said, “Read this. Will you still resist?”
His face drained of color. Despair consumed him. “Kill me. I have nothing more to say.”
Studying him, Liu Hanyue spoke softly yet sharply: “Five years as a shadow guard, and I never imagined… no love for parents, wife, or even your son. You despise them all.
“The only light in your heart… is her. But she only ever used you. To her, you’re nothing.”
Zeng Yi sneered. “Spare me your pity. I care for none of them. But don’t expect me to betray her. That will never happen.”
Liu Hanyue smiled faintly, her tone chilling: “Naïve. Did you truly think your word could topple someone of her rank? Absurd.”
Zeng Yi froze, confused.
She leaned closer, her presence overwhelming.
“Just tell me—who inside this camp is her accomplice. Do that, and I will grant you a swift death.”