Free Web NovelChapter 391: Chapter 391: Timing
Shen Yanchuan shook his head.
Princess Qingyang realized what he meant and grew worried. "Just how many assassins are there?"
Even a fool could see these people had come prepared. They had a detailed plan from the very beginning and had split up to carry it out.
They might have dealt with six of them, but the Third Prince...
WHOOSH—!
A few birds suddenly burst from the nearby woods with a great rustle.
Along with the sound, several familiar figures came running quickly toward them.
Seeing the man in the lead, Princess Qingyang’s eyes lit up. "It’s the Third Prince!"
The man was dressed in bright blue brocade. He had a slender figure and handsome features—who else could it be but Xiao Chengqi?
The three men following closely on either side of him appeared to be his guards. They were all covered in obvious bloodstains and looked utterly wretched. Even Xiao Chengqi’s own hair was disheveled at the temples, and a strip of cloth was crudely wrapped around his left shoulder as a makeshift bandage.
One look was all it took to see that they had just survived a vicious battle.
Just then, Xiao Chengqi finally spotted them. His gaze, sharp with extreme vigilance, swept over the group. He froze for a second upon seeing their faces, then finally let out a sigh of relief.
Shen Yanchuan’s gaze fell on the space behind Xiao Chengqi.
’They’re clearly being hunted. Xiao Chengqi is no weakling, so to be pushed into a state like this...’
With a fluid motion, Shen Yanchuan drew three arrows from his quiver.
Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly.
’Anyone can see there’s more than one assassin after the Third Prince, but their figures are still just blurry shapes. How has Shen Yanchuan already pinpointed their positions?’
The thought had barely crossed her mind when Xiao Chengqi suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned to look behind him and let out a hearty laugh.
"It must have been tiring, chasing me all this way. As it happens, I’ve just run into a few friends. Why don’t you sit down and rest for a while?"
The threat in his words was palpable.
It was only then that the assassins, who had been pursuing them for a long time, finally noticed Shen Yanchuan and the others in the distance. Their hearts skipped a beat.
’This is bad!’
’We should have finished him off sooner!’
’Now these others have shown up. We’re outnumbered. A direct confrontation would be suicide!’
The men exchanged a look and, without a moment’s hesitation, turned to flee.
But the moment they moved, they made a sound.
At that exact moment!
Shen Yanchuan’s long fingers suddenly relaxed. Three arrows shot forth simultaneously, streaking away in three different directions!
THWIP! THWIP! THWIP—!
A few muffled thuds echoed through the trees.
The figures that had just emerged collapsed one after another.
Three arrows, three hits!
Jolted to their senses, the remaining assassins knew the situation was hopeless. With no thought for their fallen comrades, they immediately turned to escape.
Ye Chutang looked at Ye Yunfeng and lifted her chin slightly.
"Go on."
’Sparring partners of this caliber aren’t easy to come by.’
’Now that they’ve delivered themselves to our doorstep, it would be a waste not to use them.’
...
Night had completely fallen, and a bright moon hung high in the sky.
The Third Prince and the Heir of Duke Dingbei had still not returned. Even Princess Qingyang and Ye Chutang, who had gone into the woods to find them, had sent no word back.
Emperor Muwu sat with a grim expression. No one around him dared to utter a word, and the atmosphere was taut with tension.
Consort Ru studied Emperor Muwu’s expression, then drew a few steps closer and coaxed in a low voice, "Your Majesty has already sent men to search. The forest is vast, so it’s normal that they haven’t found anyone yet. If we just wait a little longer, perhaps they’ll be found."
Sitting to one side, the Eldest Princess frowned.
’Easy for her to say,’ she thought. ’Time is of the essence. Every moment they’re delayed could mean countless more dangers!’
