33 A Shocking Arrow (2/2)

At the same time, pigeons were flying everywhere, but upon exiting the palace, were quickly shot down by men, dressed in black, lying in ambush.

At that moment, Fang Minghe, who was stuck outside the palace gates, paced around anxiously. Amid his hesitation, he caught sight of a bundle of fire arrows falling whizzing from the sky and blossoming into a multi-colored display of fireworks.

”He's done it?” Fang Minghe called out in joy, waving his hand. ”Attack!”

Above the city gate tower stood a man with cherry red lips, in a robe as white snow. He turned toward the fireworks exploding in the northwestern skies before looking down at the army, led by Fang Minghe, who was breaking the doors with wooden blocks.

”How unexpected.” he sighed.

”Master.”

After turning around and seeing his subordinate's dependable eyes, Zong Yue smiled.

”We've come to create a mess but looks like that's not needed anymore. We can withdraw.”

He took his leave at the same time that the last door got knocked down. The thick, heavy gates opened up slowly, and the guarding soldiers only managed to catch a glimpse of the floating figure.

Inside the building on the left side of the Qianan Palace, Yun Hen was probing about. ”The guards outside are all gone. It's a good time to leave. I'll chase after the crown prince. He should be rushing to gather the imperial guards within the Imperial City.”

”I'll stay inside and continue disguising myself,” replied Meng Fuyao, lying motionlessly on the ground, not wanting to move.

”No.” Yun Hen pulled her up disapprovingly. ”Prince Qi has his suspicions, and Fang Minghe is ruthless. The whole palace will be wiped clean if it was up to them. It's too dangerous for you to remain here since your inner energy is sealed. Let's go after the crown prince. He still has a strong bunch of loyal guards so it'd be safer.”

”Hmm...” Meng Fuyao got up lazily.

Seeing that she was getting tired, Yun Hen tore off a section of his belt. He tied one end around her waist and the other around his own hand.

”What are you doing?” asked Meng Fuyao in surprise. ”Won't it be inconvenient to move about?”

”I'll protect you,” he responded simply.

Meng Fuyao broke into a smile before adding shamelessly, ”Won't I be dragged down if anything happens to you?”

Yun Hen kept quiet, and Meng Fuyao cut the belt with a blade. ”Let's go then,” he smiled with a sigh.

...

7:00 PM.

Yan Lie walked in circles before the first gate. He, too, had seen the palace fire but daren't leave his spot. He had to be there to obstruct the crown prince if the latter were to exit the palace.

Hooves could be heard approaching, and Yan Lie's eyes shrank. With a wave of his hand, the imperial guards readied their weapons and waited.

A few figures gradually emerged from the darkness, but they turned out to be Qi Xunyi and his guards.

Yan Lie sighed in relief, signaling for the guards to open the door. Qi Xunyi's grip on the reins tightened, his fingers turning white, as his eyes flickered along with the fidgety movements and neighing of his horse.

The man beside him, on the other hand, appeared calm and poised. Yan Lie couldn't help but throw him a few more glances in between.

The first palace door opened up slowly, revealing the faint, red light from afar and projecting a blood-colored hue onto the ground.

”Xiu–––”

A hidden arrow appeared out of nowhere, piercing through the darkness and landing onto the buckle on Qi Xunyi's horse, cleanly breaking it.

Startled, the horse stood up on its hind legs, throwing the unguarded Qi Xunyi backward. Focused on regaining stability, he failed to notice an incoming black shadow that was whizzing toward him in light speed. The next moment, he was flung off the horse. As the figure was about to pull him up, Yuan Zhaoxu raised his hand, successfully dragging Qi Xunyi to a side, to avoid being slaughtered.

The black figure turned around, his identity was revealed under the light of the fire. It was Yun Hen.

As he failed to take Qi Xunyi down, Yun Hen let out a growl. He flipped himself onto the horse's back, holding its reins with one hand and jerking the other. With his motion, a slender figure was tossed into the air before slamming onto the man beside Qi Xunyi.

The slender figure moved delicately, but that did not stop her headscarf from coming loose during the somersault. As a result, her long, black hair was freed and left to dangle amid the sea of red. At the moment, she looked no different from a goddess from Hell.

In between her fingers was a shiny dagger that she extended out and toward the horseman's eyes.

”Get off!”

Her cry filled the air, cold and deadly, but the horseman lifted his eyes suddenly and smiled.