A layer of clouds drifted across the sky, and a biting wind, carrying moisture, seeped into the room through the cracks in the window.
Yu Chengxuan’s eyes snapped open. The tip of his blade sliced through the air, erupting in a silver glint. He sprang to his feet, tugged at the corner of the quilt, and with a twist of his wrist, the saber vanished into the bedding. He then kicked upwards at the hand gripping the hilt.
Thirteen released the hilt, his fingers curling into a claw that clamped onto Yu Chengxuan’s ankle and yanked him forward. Yu Chengxuan’s body lost its balance abruptly and toppled towards the floor.
Yu Chengxuan reacted with lightning speed, bracing himself on the bed. Using the force of his fall and the counter-force, he leaped up, twisting his body 180 degrees in mid-air. As his hands landed on the bed, his feet simultaneously pushed backward. Freeing himself from his opponent's grasp, he spun around, swiftly drew the saber hidden in the bedding, and slashed at him.
Just then, another figure emerged from the darkness.
Xuan Yi, holding a long sword, thrust it towards the back of Yu Chengxuan.
Yu Chengxuan was forced to abandon his offensive stance, retracting his saber to defend himself.
Xuan Yi’s sword remained sheathed, yet the saber struck the scabbard, emitting a barely audible sound. A sharp glint flashed in Yu Chengxuan’s eyes as his blade grazed the scabbard of the opponent's sword and then swung towards the vase on the display cabinet by the bed.
He bellowed, "Come..."
The moment the words left his lips, a searing pain erupted in his abdomen. His throat felt sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
His eyes widened in an instant, his unfocused pupils darting around before settling on a decorative incense burner on the table – an item that did not belong in his room!
Thirteen, quick as a flash, caught Yu Chengxuan and slung him over his back.
Xuan Yi sheathed his sword, opened the lid of the incense burner, extinguished the still-burning incense, and then replaced the lid, tucking the burner into his怀中. He then walked to the bedside, smoothed the quilt, proceeded to the wardrobe, packed essentials into a bundle, and slung the bundle over his shoulder.
This created the illusion that he had fled Lin Yuan on his own accord.
With everything in place, Xuan Yi and Thirteen carried the unconscious Yu Chengxuan and vanished into the night.
The journey was uneventful, encountering no disturbances whatsoever.
When Xuan Yi reported back, he expressed surprise that a prince of a nation was apparently without any hidden guards. He found it understandable that the Emperor of Da Li had not bestowed any upon him, but he couldn't fathom why the Zhang family hadn't secretly provided protection.
Listening to Xuan Yi’s report, Ji Jin’s hand, which was fiddling with prayer beads, paused slightly. The stark contrast between his pale knuckles and the vibrant red beads accentuated the lines of his hand.
Ji Hong, noticing the slight hesitation in his bead-fiddling, asked, "What is it? Is there a problem?"
Ji Jin Mo picked up the prayer beads again. "Just some doubts!"
He didn't elaborate further, and Ji Hong didn't press. He merely wondered what aspect of Xuan Yi’s report had triggered his uncle's unease, prompting his suspicion.
Was it the hidden guards?
Should a prince have hidden guards?
When his father passed away, he was still very young. It wasn't until he reached his twentieth year that his uncle entrusted him with hidden guards, though by then he had already ascended the throne for many years.
Logically, without imperial decree, princes were not permitted to secretly harbor assassins and hidden guards. Of course, if they did, the Emperor would likely turn a blind eye.
However, he was unsure if Yuwen Yi would be as lenient with Yu Chengxuan.
Wangfu Dungeon.
Qin Qiancheng lay on the ground like a puddle of flesh, his form no longer recognizable as human. If not for the rise and fall of his chest, he would have been mistaken for minced meat churned by a grinder.
Thirteen tossed Yu Chengxuan to Jia Huan, who then bound him to a cross-shaped wooden stake. He picked up a bucket of Qin Qiancheng’s blood and splashed it onto Yu Chengxuan’s face.
On the way to the dungeon, Xuan Yi administered an antidote, curing the poison in Yu Chengxuan.
The rich smell of blood filled his nostrils. In a daze, Yu Chengxuan slowly opened his eyes. Blood dripped from his eyelashes, blurring his vision. Yet, the intense smell of blood and the pungent, damp stench that assailed his nose made Yu Chengxuan acutely aware of his surroundings.
"Does Lin Yuan truly intend an endless war with my Da Li?"
He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of rough sand. His blood-soaked voice thrummed with boundless killing intent, like thunder splitting the sky on a somber, overcast day, rolling with immense power.
For a moment, it evoked a primal fear of an apocalypse, as if the sky were about to crack and the land to be destroyed.
Qin Qiancheng tried to lift his head, but his neck felt as though it were broken. Not only could he not lift it, but even breathing was difficult.
Was Yu Chengxuan captured?
Had Chang Sheng Sect not acted?
Had Chang Sheng Sect abandoned Yu Chengxuan, or were they, from the very beginning, merely pawns to be discarded at any moment?
"Hah... hah..."
Bloodwater soaked Qin Qiancheng’s throat. With every breath, the blood in his throat bubbled. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
Xuan Yi crouched down, his toe nudging Qin Qiancheng’s back and rolling him onto his side. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth onto the ground, preventing him from choking on his own blood.
Yu Chengxuan vaguely saw a bloodied figure, but his eyes were almost entirely covered in blood, making it impossible to discern who it was.
Jia Huan picked up a red-hot branding iron and pressed it onto Yu Chengxuan’s chest. The searing pain shot from his chest to his brain and quickly spread throughout his body. Yu Chengxuan hadn't expected them to resort to torture immediately, completely disregarding his questions and threats, making him feel like a clown. He gritted his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter, managing to swallow the scream that was about to escape his lips.
Jia Huan lifted the branding iron, admiring his work with satisfaction. He turned and took a pile of coarse salt from the torture rack, sprinkling it onto Yu Chengxuan’s wounds. The smell of burnt flesh mingled with salt, and a roast-meat aroma filled the air. Yu Chengxuan’s eyes bulged, his pupils dilated and filled with crimson blood. The pain, akin to skinning and dismembering, struck him to the bone. Veins in his neck bulged, threatening to burst.
Jia Huan smiled at him, "Seventh Prince, bear with it. This is merely an appetizer I'm serving you."
...
Ji Jin Mo closed his eyes. A wind began to blow outside, growing stronger. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the night sky, followed by a torrential downpour of large raindrops.
In the wind and rain, the treetops swayed, beating against the eaves and creating a sound like waves crashing against a shore.
Ji Hong was jolted awake by the thunder. His hand, propping up his head, slipped slightly, nearly twisting his neck.
He glanced at the sky and asked Ji Jin Mo, "Your Highness, what time is it?"
"The third watch!"
Ji Hong was instantly wide awake and eagerly asked, "How is it?"
Ji Jin Mo slowly opened his eyes, his voice deepening, "He's a tough one!"