Luo Bingqing joined the hunt, originally intending to deepen her relationship with Nangong Yu. However, once inside the hunting grounds, she got separated from him. Then, her horse inexplicably fell ill and died. Alone in the hunting grounds, unable to discern east from west, she could only wander aimlessly. By sheer luck, she encountered someone, and it turned out to be Xiao Man!
Logic told her to stay far away from Xiao Man. This woman was ruthless and wouldn't care if she was Prince Qin's junior sister; if provoked, she'd beat her to a pulp. But reality didn't allow her to leave. Lost in the dense forest, she had no sense of direction. If she encountered a fierce beast alone, she'd surely die. Luo Bingqing had no choice but to suppress her displeasure and stick close to Xiao Man.
As they traveled, they stumbled upon several corpses. "These are people from Wuyue Kingdom. Why are they dead?"
Xiao Man's brow furrowed. They hadn't been dead long; their bodies were still warm. Wulana should be nearby. It seemed her guess was right: someone was plotting to strike against Wulana!
Xiao Man looked at the disarray of footprints on the ground. They had run in a panic, likely pursued and lost their way, stumbling into an area frequented by fierce beasts.
Luo Bingqing had hoped Xiao Man would lead her back. To her surprise, Xiao Man not only didn't turn back but ventured deeper. Now, they were heading into beast territory. Luo Bingqing grew anxious! Su Dan Novel Network
"Xiao Man, let's go back," she pleaded.
"You go back first. I still need to hunt!" Xiao Man's footsteps didn't falter as she headed straight for the beast zone.
"You can't go that way!" Luo Bingqing blocked Xiao Man. "Didn't you see the sign? It says 'Beast Zone.' It's too dangerous for just the two of us. It's just a game, not worth risking our lives for. Xiao Man, let's go back."
"If you follow this path straight down to the giant rock, turn right, and go all the way, you'll find the camp. You don't need to follow me anymore."
Xiao Man bypassed Luo Bingqing and continued forward. Luo Bingqing wanted to follow but feared an accident. Gritting her teeth, she turned and headed in the direction Xiao Man had indicated. She certainly wasn't going to follow Xiao Man to her death!
Wulana was left with only five people, each bearing injuries. They had initially believed this was merely a competition, never expecting to encounter so much danger within it!
"Princess, I fear Emperor Yusheng has broken his word and is using this as an excuse to kill you. We can't return to the camp; we must find a way out."
Wulana's expression was grave. Even if Emperor Yusheng wanted her dead, he wouldn't act in the hunting grounds. If she were to perish here, Wuyue Kingdom would likely defect to other countries, which would be detrimental to Yusheng. Therefore, Emperor Yusheng wouldn't kill her. Someone else was after her life.
"It's not the Emperor."
"Then who wants to kill the Princess? This is the Princess's first visit to the capital of Yusheng. She has no enemies here, does she?"
"Who says she doesn't?" Wulana gnashed her teeth. "Have you forgotten? In this very capital, there is someone who detests me to the bone!"
The guards instantly realized, "Prince Han of Yusheng!"
"Without evidence, we can't speak rashly." Wulana knew in her heart that the one who set the trap was likely Prince Han Nangong Cheng. However, his cultivation had been crippled, and he wasn't participating in this hunt. Even if she suspected Nangong Cheng, she had no proof.
"Find a way back to the camp. At this moment, only by the Emperor's side is safe."
"We've been pursued by assassins and are completely lost. It won't be easy to return to the camp."
*Roar.* At that moment, a beast's roar echoed from not too far away. Wulana's expression turned serious. This was no time for bravado. Sending a distress signal would reveal their location and attract the assassins. It was a matter of luck who would arrive first, reinforcements or the killers!
A signal flare shot into the sky. Xiao Man saw it and quickly headed in its direction. Meanwhile, the assassins pursuing Wulana were also converging on that area.
"A signal. Whose signal is that?" Nangong Yi looked at Zhou Kang. "Do you recognize it?"
"No."
"Then we don't need to bother with it," Nangong Yi said slowly, riding his horse. "It's about time. We've hunted enough prey; let's prepare to return to camp."
Nangong Yu, having discovered the bodies of Wuyue soldiers in the hunting grounds, suspected Wulana was in danger. Now, seeing the distress signal, he pondered for a moment before heading that way.
On a distant mountain peak stood two figures, a man and a woman, both shrouded in black cloaks, their faces obscured. "Wulana is merely an accomplice. The one truly plotting against you is Xiao Man."
The other person's body trembled slightly. "Xiao Man?"
"You probably don't know, but Xiao Man has been leaking information to Wuyue Kingdom behind your back. She has spies within your army, revealing every move your forces made to Wuyue Kingdom, which is why you suffered a crushing defeat."
The person looked up, revealing a familiar face, though gaunt and emaciated, with prominent cheekbones and sunken eyes. It was none other than Prince Han Nangong Cheng.
"How do I know this isn't your scheme to use a borrowed knife to kill?"
"Soon, you will know if I speak the truth," the person said softly. "If Wulana has no connection with Xiao Man, then Xiao Man wouldn't go to her rescue. If Xiao Man rushes to save her, it means she has a deep relationship with Xiao Man!"
Nangong Cheng fell silent. He didn't want Xiao Man to be involved with Wulana. He had been counting on Xiao Man to make a comeback. If Xiao Man was the one who had schemed against him, then he would make Xiao Man wish she were dead!
Wulana and her entourage stumbled into the territory of a brown bear. The bear was as tall as two men, immense in size. With a single swipe, it crushed the head of a guard.
Wulana's face turned ashen. She used the trees to evade its attacks, but the bear swatted the trees down with a single paw. If it had hit her, she likely wouldn't have survived!
As the bear loomed before her, Wulana raised her curved saber. Was her fate sealed here today?
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.* Three arrows flew through the air, striking the bear's eyes. The bear roared in pain, flailing its arms wildly. Xiao Man leaped forward, grabbed the petrified Wulana, and quickly fled.
Wulana looked at the person holding her: Princess Yongning, Xiao Man, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Protector of the Nation General. Could this person be her master?
"Princess Yongning."
Xiao Man glanced at her, then released her grip. "Follow me."
Wulana immediately followed. The two evaded the eyes of various factions and quickly escaped the beast zone. By the time Nangong Yu arrived, he encountered the raging brown bear with blinded eyes. After he killed the bear, he found only the corpses of a few Wuyue soldiers and no trace of Wulana.
The arrows that had injured the bear belonged to Wuyue soldiers. Nangong Yu was puzzled. Had Man'er not come? He immediately leaped away.
Those who arrived later took away the body of the brown bear and the bodies of the Wuyue soldiers. Xiao Man, with Wulana, took a shortcut towards the camp.