Just a few more steps.
Only a few more steps.
He would have escaped danger.
He would have reached Xiao Yunting’s side.
He would have saved his life.
With great difficulty, Zhang Zongbin dropped to his knees. Instinctively clutching his throat, he opened his mouth, trying to speak.
At this moment, the fury in Qingfeng’s heart was beyond description. He lunged forward at lightning speed, his sword sweeping out and cutting back the black-clad men who were still advancing. Catching the kneeling Zhang Zongbin, he shouted angrily: “Who was it?! Who colluded with you today to attack His Highness?! Who exactly was it?! Are there others inside our ranks?! Tell us clearly! Are there more of them or not?!”
Xiao Yunting never stopped moving. Behind him, the soldiers who had never actually been drugged charged out of their tents with thunderous battle cries, clashing head-on with the black-clad assassins.
In an instant, the mountains and wilderness echoed with the sounds of slaughter.
Anyone who did not know better might have thought an army of ghosts was marching through the night.
Zhang Zongbin could no longer speak.
His neck was nearly severed from his body.
It was obvious that whoever had attacked him was determined to kill him.
How could they possibly allow him to live?
Xiao Yunting turned his head and glanced at Feng Nanmu and the others.
Although Xing Min and Prefectural Judge Wang were civil officials, neither of them was cowardly. On the contrary, both acted courageously. They tucked up their robes and immediately took defensive positions in front of Feng Nanmu.
Feng Nanmu himself had been badly frightened. His face was pale as he stared at the chaos before him, seemingly stunned speechless.
Lowering his eyes, Xiao Yunting rapidly fired several more arrows, each one piercing a black-clad assassin who was approaching Qingfeng.
Only then did he shout sharply: “Lin Hai! They’re going to burn Zhang Zongbin’s tent! Hurry!”
The moment he finished speaking, Xiao Yunting had already leapt forward. Stepping onto a black-clad assassin’s head, he sprang through the air and rushed straight toward the tent.
Zhang Zongbin definitely had something hidden there!
To communicate with those people, he couldn’t have relied solely on that attendant.
There had to be some other token or evidence!
It had to be found!
Qingfeng reacted just as quickly. Immediately releasing Zhang Zongbin, he exchanged a glance with Lin Hai. Without a word, both men sprinted after Xiao Yunting.
Feng Nanmu’s gaze slowly darkened.
He had noticed it as well. Xiao Yunting’s martial arts were far beyond what an ordinary person could possess.
Inside the tent, a black-clad man had already found something hidden on Zhang Zongbin’s bed. He was just about to leap away when he saw Xiao Yunting and the others enter. With a cold laugh, he threw down two black spheres.
Qingfeng immediately shouted: “Explosive fire bombs! Your Highness, be careful!”
Xiao Yunting reacted instantly. With a slash of his sword, he cut open the side of the tent and leapt outside. Without pausing for even a moment, he chased after the black-clad man and intercepted him.
Only then did the two black spheres explode inside the tent, releasing clouds of thick black smoke.
Such speed. Such incredible skill.
The black-clad man was startled. But he had no desire to fight Xiao Yunting. Immediately, he let out a sharp whistle. Hearing the signal, nearby assassins rushed over. Taking advantage of the distraction, he turned and fled.
Xiao Yunting sneered. Drawing an arrow from his quiver, he pulled the bowstring taut. The instant the arrow was released, it arrived at its target.
The shot struck the black-clad man’s shoulder with perfect accuracy.
By then, Qingfeng, Lin Hai, and the Crown Prince’s guards had already arrived.
They immediately scattered the assassins who were trying to cover the man’s escape.
Xiao Yunting sprang forward. One hand seized the injured shoulder.
The black-clad man cried out in pain. Yet he endured it and instantly stabbed backward with a dagger in his other hand.
Xiao Yunting had anticipated the move. Tilting his head aside, he dodged the strike. Then he lashed out with a kick, sending the dagger flying far into the distance. Immediately afterward, he twisted the man’s arm behind his back, flipped him over, and slammed him to the ground.
One foot planted firmly on the assassin’s spine.
The entire sequence flowed smoothly without the slightest hesitation.
The civil officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple who had followed them stood staring in astonishment.
His Highness is incredible!
Bending down, Xiao Yunting ripped away the cloth covering the man’s face.
With a cold laugh, he asked: “What are you hiding for? At a time like this, who besides the real masterminds behind the Lu family’s case would dare collude with people inside and outside the camp to assassinate the Imperial Grandson?”
By now, Feng Nanmu and the others had arrived. Hearing those words, they could not help silently agreeing.
Xiao Yunting truly possessed a clear mind. No matter when or where, everything he said followed a logical thread.
The assassin snorted coldly. Without another word, he tried to bite off his own tongue and commit suicide.
Unfortunately for him, Xiao Yunting had already anticipated that as well.
A savage kick landed squarely on the man’s jaw.
Several teeth flew from his mouth.
Beside them, Feng Nanmu shivered.
Instinctively, he covered his own mouth.
Good heavens…
His Highness isn’t just skilled in martial arts.
He’s ruthless too!
Throughout the journey, Xiao Yunting had always appeared smiling and approachable.
When dealing with Zhang Zongbin, he had spoken sweetly and respectfully at every turn.
One moment it was:
“His Majesty instructed me to listen to your guidance.”
The next moment it was:
“His Majesty said you are my teacher.”
But all along, he had been suspicious of Zhang Zongbin.
Such scheming.
Such calculations.
At such a young age!
With this level of cunning and capability, if the throne did not belong to him, who else could possibly claim it?
It was terrifying.
After kicking out the man’s teeth, Xiao Yunting crouched down and gripped his jaw. His lips curled into a cold smile. “Will you talk?”
The assassin glared at him with unrestrained hatred. Then he spat.
Xiao Yunting dodged quickly, but some of the bloody saliva still splashed onto his collar.
His expression immediately darkened. Looking at Qingfeng, he said: “Take him to the tent.”
Qingfeng immediately obeyed.
Together with Lin Hai, he dragged the prisoner into Xiao Yunting’s tent.
Xiao Yunting paid the man no further attention. Instead, he issued orders directly: “Light every torch. Keep them all pointed at him. Don’t let him eat. Don’t let him drink.”
This was one of Xiao Yunting’s favored interrogation methods.
Qingfeng and the others were thoroughly familiar with it by now and immediately went to make preparations.
Before long, the entire tent was illuminated as brightly as daylight.
Only then did Xiao Yunting leave the tent and turn toward Feng Nanmu. “Lord Feng, you’ve seen it yourself. There are threats both inside and outside our ranks. If everyone were like Lord Zhang, colluding with bandits and assassins, I’m afraid I wouldn’t even survive long enough to reach the northwest.”
The words carried significant weight and Feng Nanmu had the distinct feeling that they were also a test.
He shivered. Quickly forcing a smile, he replied: “Your Highness plans everything flawlessly. And good people are protected by Heaven. Even if danger arises occasionally, you’ll certainly turn misfortune into fortune.”
Xiao Yunting sighed heavily. “That’s not necessarily true.” His face was full of concern. “How far have we traveled? And yet I nearly lost my life already. What’s worse, someone like Zhang Zongbin was right beside me all along. I’m truly alarmed. After all, a fourth-rank official has died. Someone should return and report this matter to Imperial Grandfather. Don’t you agree?”
Ah!
This little fox!
Feng Nanmu finally understood.
So this was what Xiao Yunting had been leading up to all along.
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