Murong Yan and Zuo Canglang departed through the West Huamen Gate. Beneath the city walls, he turned back to cast one last look at Jinyang. A shadow flickered in his eyes. That girl had once been like a hibiscus weeping dew, pleading for him to take her away. Now that he was leaving, she… she would likely have no choice but to submit to her family’s will.
There was no time for idle thoughts. With the thunder of hooves, he galloped out of the city toward the northwest.
On the surface, he had only brought Zuo Canglang with him. However, knowing the dangers ahead, Leng Feiyan and Yang Lianting followed secretly in the shadows. Conversely, he had not brought Zhou Xin or Feng Ping. Both were old retainers of Consort Rong. In her time, Consort Rong had courted many court officials and cultivated considerable influence.
Over the years, Queen Li had slowly uprooted them until almost none remained. Yet, men like Zhou Xin and Feng Ping still served as reminders of the former Consort Rong. Thus, Murong Yan kept them by his side, where the two skilled men were like caged beasts, unable to find any use for their talents.
Precisely because they were kept in the open, the King and Queen’s vigilance had lessened significantly.
The horses galloped like driving rain along the official road toward Daji City. Once past Daji, it was only another sixty or seventy li to Wen Qi’s main camp. As they passed through a dense forest, Zuo Canglang suddenly called out, "Master."
Murong Yan slowed his pace slightly. "Keep moving."
As they spurred their horses forward, several leaves suddenly shot out from the woods like arrows. Zuo Canglang watched helplessly as the leaves sliced through the horses' throats. In an instant, blood sprayed violently.
Zuo Canglang and Murong Yan rolled off their mounts, using the carcasses as cover.
The flying leaves ceased. A man slowly stepped out from the forest. He appeared to be a youth of seventeen or eighteen, with a sword at his side and a flute hanging from his waist. He walked with a leisurely, composed gait, looking less like an assassin and more like a noble scion out for a stroll.
Yet, despite his youthful appearance, there was a terrifying aura of slaughter between his brows. Even from a distance, Zuo Canglang could feel the sharp intent of his blade. She stared, momentarily dazed, but Murong Yan smiled. "I didn't think the Queen would go so far as to disturb the people of Hidden Sword Villa for my sake."
The youth spoke tonelessly, "I do not know who you are, nor do I know who wants you dead. My father sent me, so I came."
Murong Yan said, "Judging by your age, could you be Zang Feng, the young master of Hidden Sword Villa?"
The youth remained indifferent. There was no hatred in his eyes, and his emotions were as still as dead water. "I am. Prepare yourself; I am about to draw my sword."
Zuo Canglang turned and asked, "Is Hidden Sword Villa very famous?"
Murong Yan gave a brief nod. Zuo Canglang knew little of the power dynamics within the martial world, so she wasn't particularly shocked. However, Leng Feiyan and Yang Lianting, hiding in the shadows, were greatly alarmed.
Though it had only been three months since they left the orphan camp, the name of Hidden Sword Villa already rang in their ears like thunder. Every year, when the martial world gathered to debate the sword, Hidden Sword Villa never participated. This was because the "heroes" at those gatherings were simply not worth them drawing their blades.
The people of Hidden Sword Villa rarely walked the martial world, but a single word from them could quell any dispute between sects.
Originally, the imperial court would not have tolerated such a power. However, after Murong Yuan ascended the throne and named Lady Li as Queen, the relationship changed. Queen Li was a cousin of Zang Tianqi, the Master of Hidden Sword Villa, making the villa’s ties to the court exceptionally close.
Murong Yuan had bestowed upon Hidden Sword Villa the title of "The World’s Preeminent Blade," and the villa was officially taken into the court's service. Nevertheless, their status remained transcendent; it was nearly impossible for an ordinary person to even catch a glimpse of them.
Leng Feiyan nudged Yang Lianting with her elbow. "Is that guy really the young master of Hidden Sword Villa?"
Yang Lianting replied, "How should I know? I've never seen him."
"How many moves do you think we can last against him?" Leng Feiyan asked.
"Four," Yang Lianting said. "If we stand further apart, surely he can't kill all four of us with one strike?"
Leng Feiyan kicked him.
As they spoke, Zang Feng had already reached Zuo Canglang and Murong Yan. He drew his sword, glanced at Zuo Canglang, and warned, "I am starting."
It was Zuo Canglang's first time encountering an assassin who gave repeated warnings before killing. Speechless, she retreated a few steps, bow in hand. Zang Feng ignored her; his sword-light bloomed like snow as he lunged straight for Murong Yan. Leng Feiyan, unable to stay hidden any longer, charged out with her blade.
When the two swords clashed, Zang Feng paused slightly. "Good martial arts."
Leng Feiyan was jolted by the surging internal energy behind his strike, forced back several steps. She suddenly understood why this man didn't wear a mask—even if he covered his face, any martial artist would recognize him the moment they traded blows.
Zang Feng glanced at Yang Lianting, who had rushed out alongside Leng Feiyan. "My target is only him," he said, pointing at Murong Yan. "The rest of you may leave."
Leng Feiyan’s temper flared instantly. "You think you're so special?!"
She flicked her sword upward in a challenge, but Zang Feng’s speed was like a gale. Within three strikes, he had forced her into a chaotic scramble of offense and defense. Zuo Canglang drew her bow to full tension, but just as she was about to release an arrow, Zang Feng broke through the circle of Leng Feiyan’s sword-light. With a single leap, he was right in front of her!
Zuo Canglang was startled. Zang Feng anticipated that she would try to use her bowstring to entangle his blade, so in that lightning-fast moment, his sword lunged directly for her bow. Zuo Canglang’s first instinct was to strike him with a full-force palm.
Zang Feng was slightly stunned. This style of fighting was a desperate attempt to trade injury for injury from the very start. These three didn't seem like bodyguards; they were more like death-sworn assassins. Zuo Canglang had already used the momentum to retreat, her hand numbed by the force of his sword striking her bow. Only then did she realize the true depth of the youth's power.
As the youth moved to press his advantage, Leng Feiyan entangled him again. He frowned slightly and said, "My apologies."
His longsword thrust forward. Before Leng Feiyan could react, his blade pierced through her defense and drove straight toward her chest!
For the first time, Leng Feiyan broke into a cold sweat. That sword was so fast it was silent, moving like a phantom.
Yang Lianting, standing nearby, found it impossible to intervene. In terms of pure martial skill, he was the weakest of the three, let alone when facing a martial legend like Zang Feng. Leng Feiyan flew backward, parrying the blade, but this only left her with greater openings. At this rate, she wouldn't last more than a few moves.
Murong Yan stood to the side, watching the three of them fight without saying a word. Yang Lianting whispered to Zuo Canglang, "Should we let the Master leave first?"
Zuo Canglang said softly, "No."
Yang Lianting bit his lip. "Feiyan won't last long. Even if the three of us combine our strength, we... we are no match for him."
"What do you have on you?" Zuo Canglang asked.
"A variety of poisons and antidotes," Yang Lianting replied.
Zuo Canglang pondered for a moment. "Take the antidote first, then scatter the poison powder on yourselves."
Yang Lianting blinked, then immediately understood. "Understood."
Seeing Leng Feiyan fall into peril, Zuo Canglang fired another arrow. Zang Feng was forced to turn and parry the projectile. Leng Feiyan gained a moment's respite, retreating from the web of sword-light before charging back in.
Zang Feng was clearly surprised. There were few people left in the world who could last more than ten moves against him.
Zuo Canglang and Leng Feiyan shared a deep rapport; the latter quickly grasped the plan. She pinned Zang Feng down while Zuo Canglang provided interference. Yang Lianting set up poison traps in various spots, occasionally assisting Leng Feiyan. The three moved as one, advancing and retreating with perfect coordination.
Zang Feng soon discovered that defeating these three would not be easy.
The weakest link was undoubtedly Yang Lianting. Zang Feng tried several times to kill him first, but Leng Feiyan clung to him tightly. Whenever he turned toward Yang Lianting, Leng Feiyan would immediately fire several arrows to force him back. He felt a surge of surprise; he hadn't expected to encounter such troublesome opponents on this mission.
He gritted his teeth and launched a fierce assault. Even under the interference of Zuo Canglang and Yang Lianting, he managed to wound Leng Feiyan twice. However, Leng Feiyan was a different beast once she bled. Instead of retreating, she seemed to go mad, her fighting spirit blazing even brighter.
Zang Feng gritted his teeth. This prolonged struggle was draining his stamina. He had to guard against Leng Feiyan while remaining wary of Yang Lianting and Zuo Canglang. Every drop of blood Leng Feiyan shed seemed to transform into killing intent. As time passed, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.
He was young, after all, and had never encountered such opponents since his debut. His patience was wearing thin. Disregarding Leng Feiyan’s tightening web of strikes, he turned back, determined to kill Yang Lianting.
Leng Feiyan’s blade carved a wound across his right shoulder, blood staining his clothes a vivid crimson. Zuo Canglang had already anticipated his move; the moment he neared Yang Lianting, she was already at Yang Lianting’s side. Zang Feng might be able to kill Yang Lianting in a few moves, but he could not take down Zuo Canglang so quickly.
After a few exchanges, Leng Feiyan was back on him. It had become a war of attrition. He was losing more and more blood, yet he could not break free. Leng Feiyan bit her lip; she was exhausted, but a person like her would never fall as long as she had a single breath left.
Her sword grew faster and faster. Zang Feng gradually shifted from offense to defense. A shocking thought suddenly occurred to him—could he actually lose to these three? But how was that possible? These three nobodies...
Just as the thought surfaced, he felt his breathing hitch. Had he just inhaled poison powder? Impossible. He had only been close for a moment—when did it happen?
In that moment of distraction, Zuo Canglang’s arrow pierced his right arm. The spirits of the three subordinates surged.
Leng Feiyan’s assault became frenzied. Zang Feng began to feel dizzy, his movements becoming clumsy and frantic. Zuo Canglang suddenly fired three arrows at once; one struck Zang Feng squarely in the chest. Zang Feng could no longer feel the pain. He had lost too much blood; he felt cold. Leng Feiyan’s next strike swept directly across his throat.
When he collapsed, his expression was still one of bewilderment. Murong Yan stood nearby and said tonelessly, "Well done."
Fearing he wasn't dead, Leng Feiyan immediately delivered a finishing blow to his chest. Once finished, she collapsed to her knees. She had lost no less blood than Zang Feng.
Zuo Canglang supported her and looked up to call Yang Lianting. Yang Lianting had already stripped off his outer robe and thrown it far away. He distributed the poison antidote to everyone and immediately began stanching Leng Feiyan’s bleeding. His brow furrowed. "The wounds are deep, and there are internal injuries. She... she needs rest."
Murong Yan said, "The Queen sent the young master of Hidden Sword Villa, so she must be quite confident. There won't be any more ambushes further ahead. You two may return."
Yang Lianting nodded. Zuo Canglang looked at Zang Feng’s corpse. "What about him?"
Yang Lianting pulled a bottle of corpse-dissolving water from his waist and poured it over Zang Feng. Once the body had dissolved into liquid, he bundled up the youth's clothes. "No one will find him."
Zuo Canglang stood up and looked at Leng Feiyan. "I leave her to you."
Yang Lianting nodded. "Don't worry."
His face was exceptionally pale; likely, the residual poison had not been fully cleared. Zuo Canglang bit her lip and said, "Be careful."
"I will," Yang Lianting replied.
He helped Leng Feiyan up, bowed to Murong Yan, and headed back toward Daji City, leaving his and Leng Feiyan’s horses for Murong Yan and Zuo Canglang. The ancient road was sparsely populated. The youth walked slowly, half-supporting, half-carrying Leng Feiyan.
Zuo Canglang mounted her horse and took one last look at the two of them before following Murong Yan. They whipped their horses into a gallop, leaving a trail of dust behind them.
West of Daji City, the landscape grew increasingly desolate. It was Zuo Canglang’s first time seeing the scenery of the Northwest. Murong Yan slowed down to let her catch up. "General Wen’s camp is nearly here."
Zuo Canglang gave a soft "mm" and looked at him. "Master, did you really come all this way to reward the army empty-handed?"
Murong Yan turned to her with a smile. "And if I did?"
"I don't believe so," Zuo Canglang said. "You must have a great gift to present to General Wen."
Murong Yan was slightly surprised. "Sometimes, I really enjoy talking to you."
Zuo Canglang had been trailing half a horse-length behind him, but as he lightly tugged his reins, she found herself riding side-by-side with him. Murong Yan said, "Guess then. What great gift am I bringing to General Wen?"
The vegetation around them was sparse. His face was full of smiles, radiating a boundless tenderness. Zuo Canglang remained silent. He laughed. "Go on. It doesn't matter if you're wrong."
Zuo Canglang pursed her lips slightly. "Currently, General Wen is in a standoff with the State of Yu. Your gift must surely be related to them."
Murong Yan’s smile deepened. "Continue."
Zuo Canglang thought for a moment. "Yan’s national strength is failing, and the State of Yu has coveted us for a long time. They want to invade but haven't yet, which means they still have reservations. Yan is a vassal of Xijing. If this war cannot be won quickly, Xijing likely won't stand by and watch Yu swallow Yan whole. Thus, they hesitate. Your gift might be a truce or a strategy to force their retreat. However, I don't believe those qualify as a 'great gift.' They are merely bandages on a wound, stopping the pain temporarily."
Murong Yan turned his head. "Then what do you consider a great gift?"
"I believe," Zuo Canglang said, "that a total victory for Yan over the State of Yu would be a great gift."
Murong Yan stared at her. Zuo Canglang continued, "Currently, it seems impossible for Yan to defeat Yu. But if one thinks carefully, it is actually possible."
"Oh?" Murong Yan looked at her with great interest.
Zuo Canglang said, "Because the State of Yu also believes it is impossible for Yan to win."
Murong Yan did not interrupt. She thought for a moment and added, "It is common knowledge that the Second Prince is not favored by the King. If the Second Prince were to send a secret letter to the Emperor of Yu, claiming he wishes to seize the throne and is willing to coordinate from within... Northern Yu would surely believe the time has come. When the Yu army drives deep into the heart of Yan, our forces can set ambushes, wait at our leisure for their exhausted troops, and strike from both sides. That is Yan’s true chance for victory."
As she was speaking, Murong Yan suddenly reached out and scooped her onto his horse. Zuo Canglang let out a startled cry. Murong Yan laughed heartily. After he finished laughing, he suddenly rubbed her head with force, then lowered his head and pressed a firm kiss onto her forehead.
Zuo Canglang was completely stunned. With a wave of his hand, Murong Yan tossed her back onto her own horse and suddenly spurred his mount into a wild gallop. "Keep up!"
The faint fragrance of his clothes seemed to linger at the tip of her nose; the mark of his kiss burned on her forehead. Zuo Canglang spurred her horse to follow. she struggled to keep a firm grip on the reins, her heart feeling as vast and rolling as the mountain ranges around them.
She had received a kiss from him. From this moment on, the Northwest was no longer desolate. For this, she would not trade the entire world, not even ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains.
***
