A certain wolf, galloping behind Gu Sinian, suddenly felt an itch in its nose, making it want to sneeze uncontrollably. It was a hot day, and it hadn't caught a cold, so why the sneeze? It must be craving meat after not eating much of it these past few days. When they stopped to rest later, it would hunt a couple of wild rabbits for a feast.
The thought of plump, tender wild rabbits made the wolf's mouth water. At that moment, the fur on the back of its neck bristled – danger.
"Awoo—" the wolf let out a low growl to warn them. Gu Sinian and a few of the Gu family's hidden guards on horseback immediately leaned to one side, sliding off their mounts to the sides of the horses. Simultaneously, several cold arrows flew towards them.
Judging by the style, these attackers were likely from the same group as the previous two.
As the wolf pursued the attackers, it sympathized with its master. This unlucky fellow, who had he offended? After only a few days on the road, assassinations were coming one after another! No wonder his master insisted it follow. Without it, could they have survived several waves of attacks without any casualties?
The wolf had a natural talent for tracking. Within a few breaths, it discovered the enemy's traces. It took the lead, pouncing on a man nocking an arrow, and cleanly bit through his throat.
Seeing their companion killed by the wolf, and Gu Sinian and his group closing in, the assassins could only abandon their bows and arrows and draw their long knives.
Gu Sinian was exceptionally skilled, and the hidden guards by his side were also top-notch. Coupled with their extensive combat experience, they quickly gained the upper hand against these attackers.
After the previous two encounters, Gu Sinian was already familiar with their methods. After subduing them, he unhesitatingly dislocated their jaws and then efficiently severed their Achilles tendons.
"Speak, who ordered you to come?" Gu Sinian asked coldly.
The interrogated man's eyes were vacant; he did not reply.
A nearby hidden guard stepped forward, pried open the assassin's mouth, and looked inside. He shook his head at Gu Sinian, "Young Master, his tongue has been removed, and the man himself seems abnormal, as if controlled."
Gu Sinian examined them closely. These men had a pale green complexion and felt cold to the touch. Although they were breathing, they seemed devoid of consciousness, much like the living dead described in ancient texts. According to unofficial histories, before the previous dynasty fell, noble families would secretly raise such death warriors. After the founding emperor of Da Feng ascended the throne, he strictly prohibited this practice, and for a time, death warriors disappeared.
Now…
Gu Sinian frowned and nodded to the hidden guards. These death warriors could not be left alive, and the news of their appearance had to be conveyed to Emperor Chongwen as soon as possible.
These three groups, totaling dozens of people, were a significant number.
Crucially, the person raising these death warriors had impure intentions.
His mission outside the capital was not a secret, but the nature of the mission was.
There had been no leaks from his side, which meant there was a problem on Emperor Chongwen's end.
Raising so many death warriors required immense financial backing. Gu Sinian quickly narrowed down his suspicions to a few individuals, but upon reflection, these people didn't seem like the type to do such a thing.
If he sent a message back now, there was no guarantee the other party wouldn't find out, potentially putting Zhenzhen and his mother in danger.
"Let's go." Gu Sinian calmly remounted his horse. He couldn't rush back to the capital now; everything needed careful consideration.
A certain wolf let out a mournful howl and bolted, staying close behind Gu Sinian. The man was so careless, traveling for so long and then fighting a battle – couldn't he rest? Was he trying to wear out the wolf? It longed for its gentle and beautiful master. If it were still by its master's side, it wouldn't be this tired.
At Rui Wangfu, Qi Zhenzhen couldn't help but sneeze, causing Rui Ning and the others to worry she had caught a cold.