In a corner of the abandoned temple, a woman dressed in fine and luxurious clothing stood surrounded by several guards.
At the sound of Shen Ying’s words, everyone turned their attention toward her all at once.
The woman frowned slightly, and before she could speak, she was overcome by a fit of violent coughing.
“Owwoo…”
The howling of wolves rang out once again.
Holding the young prince in her arms, Shen Ying moved slowly closer. As she drew near, her frown deepened. “Miss…”
She was about to step forward further when two men drew their swords and blocked her path.
“Our young lady is of noble birth and high standing. You would do well to show respect and keep your distance, or you will pay with your lives.”
Sparks crackled and burned in the air, and the cold glint of the blades was a terrifying sight to behold.
Wei Jinhu rushed forward immediately, stepping in front of Shen Ying to shield her, and shouted angrily, “What do you think you are doing? Your mistress is carrying a powder that draws wolves to her. Do you intend to get everyone here killed?”
Shen Ying looked past the crowd toward the woman who was being protected by her people, her expression serious. “Miss, I have no wish to offend or insult you. It is simply that I have encountered a similar scent and substance before. If you do not believe me, you may open your pouch and check for yourself. Is there not a herb known as wumingzi inside?”
This was a common substance used to lure wild animals.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the woman slowly stepped out from behind her guards and spoke in a tone of apology. “I know nothing about medicinal herbs or powders. This is merely an ordinary scented pouch. If you do not trust my words, you are welcome to open it and see for yourself.”
At a single glance from Shen Ying, Wei Jinhu stepped forward and took the pouch from her hand.
As soon as he opened it and examined the contents, Shen Ying’s expression changed abruptly.
“It is precisely the powder contained within this pouch. We could let one of the horses carry the pouch away to draw the wolves off, though I am afraid the horse will likely not return alive.”
As soon as Shen Ying finished speaking, the woman’s face paled with shock. “What exactly do you mean? Are you suggesting we use one of my horses to carry this pouch away and lead the pack of wolves away from here?”
Shen Ying did not deny it. “At this moment, there is no other solution available. This powder is extremely potent, and its effects will not fade for at least several hours.”
“Of course, I understand that you may not believe what I say. But if I am not mistaken, you have only been carrying this pouch for less than ten hours. What is more, this powder only becomes active and releases its scent when it has been warmed by heat or fire.”
Having explained the situation so clearly, the woman had no choice but to accept the truth of her words. Already frail and unwell, she stumbled backward several steps, her voice trembling. “How could things have come to this? I have already left my home and given up my arranged marriage. Why must they still seek to take my life?”
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, and her grief was so profound that it would have moved anyone who saw her to pity.
Under normal circumstances, everyone present would have felt sympathy and compassion for her plight. But at that moment, no one had the heart or time for such feelings, for their very lives were hanging in the balance.
“You must make a decision quickly. You have so many horses with you; losing one is hardly a great loss. What matters most is the safety and survival of all of us here.”
“Look at us—we are exhausted and worn out, and none of us know any martial arts or how to defend ourselves. When the wolves arrive, there will be nowhere for any of us to run or hide.”
Everyone was growing increasingly frantic and desperate.
The woman quickly stopped her crying and spoke with firm resolve. “Choose one of our strongest and fastest horses. Whether it survives or not will be a matter of fate and luck.”
Immediately, a strong and sturdy man stepped forward and clasped his hands in a formal salute. “This horse has been by my side for many years. I will ride it myself, ride up into the hills, and throw the pouch off a high cliff. Whether this works or not will be left to destiny.”
It was clear that this man intended to ride deep into the mountainous terrain. The paths there were rough and uneven, and there was no way of knowing whether the horse would be able to outrun or escape the pursuing pack of wolves.
But the man was determined and unwavering. He took the pouch, mounted his powerful steed, and rode away, quickly disappearing into the darkness of the night.
Only a short while later, the howling of wolves echoed through the air once again.
As everyone watched closely, they saw that the pack of wolves did indeed follow the horse and rider, moving further and further away and paying no attention whatsoever to the people hiding inside the temple.
Witnessing this scene sent a wave of cold fear through everyone, and they all breathed sighs of relief.
“Merciful heavens, it is a miracle someone noticed what was happening, or we would have been torn apart and eaten alive right here.”
There had been nearly a hundred wolves surrounding them earlier. The sight of so many heads bobbing in the darkness, along with the glint of countless pairs of glowing green eyes, had been enough to make anyone’s blood run cold.
Everyone turned to look at Shen Ying with deep gratitude.
“We owe you our lives. If not for you, none of us would have survived this night.”
“But what terrible luck we have had. We only wanted to rest for a while in this abandoned place, and yet we have ended up caught up in such danger and trouble.”
After all the chaos and excitement of the night, everyone’s hearts were still racing with fear, and when they lay down to rest once more, they found it impossible to fall asleep.
Shen Ying glanced over at the woman and her guards, but said nothing further, instead returning to her own place to rest.
Wei Jinhu moved closer to her, his expression filled with curiosity. “That woman is truly brave. She hardly showed any signs of fear at all.”
He had noticed that although she had cried bitterly, her distress came more from sorrow and heartbreak than from terror.
Shen Ying let out a long sigh. “There are countless schemes and plots hidden within the great families of this land.”
Having lived within the imperial palace for many years, she had witnessed her fair share of conspiracies and treacherous plans. To the outside world, these powerful families appeared magnificent, wealthy, and respectable, with their members always dressed in fine clothing and carrying themselves with dignity. But no one knew the extent of the corruption, cruelty, and dark secrets that lay hidden beneath the surface.
From the few words the woman had spoken earlier, it was clear that she had become a victim of internal conflicts and power struggles within her own family.
But what did any of this have to do with them? If something did not concern them directly, it was best to stay out of it entirely.
Holding the young prince in her arms, Shen Ying closed her eyes and tried to rest.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the temple, the woman was once again overcome by a violent coughing fit. She took a medicinal pill, and after a short while, her breathing and condition improved.
Surrounding her stood several strong men, their expressions serious and alert as they kept watch over the area.
Seeing the sorrow and injustice written on her mistress’s face, the young maid could not hold back her tears, which fell one after another. “Miss, we never should have left home. Look at what they are doing—they are even trying to kill you. This is simply unforgivable.”
Although her voice trembled with emotion, it was loud enough for others nearby to hear clearly.
The woman spoke in a soft and gentle tone. “What else can we do? My own family has turned their backs on me and cast me aside. If any of you wish to leave my service now, I will give you your documents of freedom and you may go wherever you please.”
“Mistress, my life belongs entirely to you. Even if I have to give my life in the process, I will do everything in my power to protect you.”
Hearing these words, the other men also spoke up one after another.
“Mistress, we swear that we will protect you and see you safely all the way to the region south of the Yangtze River.”
So their destination was the lands south of the Yangtze River.
Shen Ying narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze fixed on the weapons carried by these men.
Ever since the time when warlords rose up and fought for control of the land, the imperial government had imposed extremely strict regulations and controls over the possession and use of weapons.
The weapons carried by Wei Jinhu and his companions were simple butcher’s knives, yet the men accompanying this woman were armed with high-quality sharp swords—weapons that only officials and government personnel were legally permitted to own and carry.
This meant they were people connected to the authorities. Perhaps it would be possible for the two groups to travel together for safety and support.
Yet on the other hand, it was always better to avoid unnecessary trouble and complications. While this woman clearly had people protecting her, she also seemed to be surrounded by danger and problems. To say nothing of anything else, those who wished her harm had already made one attempt on her life, and having failed this time, they would undoubtedly try again.
Should they decide to join forces and travel together?
Shen Ying found herself deeply torn and uncertain.
Meanwhile, as she spoke, the woman had also been observing Shen Ying and her companions, and she had already made her own decision and plans in her mind.
When morning came, Shen Ying looked over at the woman and her group once more. Though neither of them spoke a single word to the other, there was a clear understanding between them, and both parties chose to set off on their journey at exactly the same time.
The woman’s group traveled at the front of the procession. Apart from one magnificent and elaborately decorated carriage, there were several other vehicles following behind, clearly carrying their baggage and supplies.
What drew even more attention, however, were the guards traveling alongside the carriages. In addition to the men who had been present in the temple the night before, there were nearly thirty more, all riding powerful horses and carrying long, sharp blades in their hands.