The Emperor, upon learning that the young lady of the Mu family was traveling south accompanying his son, nodded with some satisfaction. He felt he had chosen the right daughter-in-law. Despite her less-than-stellar reputation, her actions were heartwarming, and his initial displeasure towards her waned.
Meanwhile, Wu Caiwei, the object of their thoughts, encountered some trouble. It was summer, and the south was prone to heavy rain. They had barely traveled halfway when a torrential downpour began. However, disaster victims awaited their relief ahead, and with plague following floods, they had no choice but to press on through the rain.
The Fifth Prince watched her struggling figure and said with remorse, "I regret it. I shouldn't have let you come and suffer with me."
"I am willing to share hardships with you. As long as you are by my side, I am at ease. If anything were to happen to you alone traveling south, I would never forgive myself," Wu Caiwei replied, offering comfort and speaking her truth. Rather than waiting anxiously at the manor, she preferred to accompany him, ensuring she could intervene promptly should any danger arise.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the rear. The Fifth Prince quickly rode back to investigate. Wu Caiwei pondered for a moment before following closely behind him.
Upon arriving, they saw without needing any explanation that due to the continuous heavy rain, the ground had become unstable. Their carts, laden with grain and medicinal supplies, were heavy and stuck in the mud, unable to move. Everyone rushed to help.
With everyone working together, the carts soon began to move. Just as they were about to be pushed free, a rustling sound came from the nearby woods. Wu Caiwei reacted swiftly, pulling the Fifth Prince to her side. In the next moment, his mount was riddled with arrows.
Then, screams echoed from all around as arrows rained down from every direction. The guards, regaining their senses, quickly raised their iron shields, forming a protective circle around the Fifth Prince.
Huddled within the shields, armed with their weapons, they listened intently to the sounds of their surroundings, ready to fight at any moment.
At that precise moment, Wu Caiwei suddenly looked up, stepped onto the heads of the surrounding soldiers, and leaped out. The next instant, a giant net descended from the sky, ensnaring everyone within the iron shields.
The soldiers frantically hacked at the net with their swords. They were shocked to find that the net, made of some unknown material, remained completely undamaged by their weapons. Their hearts sank.
As they contemplated their impending demise, realizing the Emperor's mission remained unfulfilled, a wave of sorrow washed over them. Far from home, they had long accepted the possibility of death, knowing their lives could end at any moment. However, they had hoped to bring glory to their families in death, allowing their parents to live out their remaining years in peace. Failing the Emperor's mission would not only render their sacrifice in vain but also bring ruin upon their families.
Just as despair threatened to consume them, they heard screams. These cries were clearly some distance away, coming from those hiding in the shadows. Remembering that the guards who had been near the Fifth Prince had escaped, they understood what must have happened.
The current situation was highly disadvantageous for Wu Caiwei. The heavy rain and dense fog obscured her vision, but it also made it difficult for the enemy to spot her easily.
In her haste, she had escaped alone, leaving the Fifth Prince behind. Fearing for his safety, she was determined to end the conflict quickly. Even though the powder she carried might not be as effective in the heavy rain, she couldn't resist scattering it.
The unseen attackers clearly did not anticipate that this unassuming person would be carrying potent powder. Due to the thick fog, the powder was upon them before they realized it. They quickly covered their mouths and noses, initially dismissing the substance.
Washed by the rain, very little of the powder adhered to their bodies, let alone entered their respiratory systems. Yet, to their astonishment, they began to cry out in agony. It turned out Wu Caiwei had anticipated trouble on this journey and brought all the potent poisons she had developed at the Mu family's residence over the past few days.
In her desperate act, she had indiscriminately thrown out whatever powders she had on hand. These substances required very little contact—a mere touch on their sleeves was enough to ensure they would not leave alive.
Soon, those who had come into contact with the powder began to vanish, leaving only a pool of liquid on the ground. To the casual observer, it would have been mistaken for rainwater.
The mastermind behind this attack had clearly intended for the Fifth Prince to perish here, dispatching a considerable number of operatives. The powder had already eliminated half of the people in the area. The remaining attackers, witnessing this bizarre scene, involuntarily retreated in terror.
With no energy to deal with the people trapped in the net, they drew their swords, their gazes fixed warily on the man before them. They realized they could not capture the Fifth Prince unless this individual was dealt with first.
Soon, a fierce battle ensued between them and Wu Caiwei. Aware that more ambushes awaited them, Wu Caiwei avoided using the powder unless absolutely necessary. Thus, facing their blades, she unleashed her full martial arts prowess with genuine combat.
Those trapped within the iron shields soon broke free from the net and came to assist, only to stare in astonishment at Wu Caiwei. Under the onslaught of multiple attackers, she moved with such fluidity and skill that her form was almost a blur. It was then that they truly understood why she was inseparable from the Fifth Prince; this young woman was a hidden master, her martial arts skills rarely seen and unheard of in this era.
While the Fifth Prince's retinue rejoiced, those engaged in combat with Wu Caiwei inwardly lamented. They had never imagined such a formidable master was accompanying the Fifth Prince. Not only would they fail to complete their master's mission today, but their own lives were likely to end at her hands.
After an unknown period, Wu Caiwei finally stood, exhausted, leaning on her sword. Around her lay a sea of corpses, their deaths gruesome.
Those attempting to flee in the distance were swiftly surrounded and intercepted by the Fifth Prince's men. Although they were part of the Fifth Prince's forces, they instinctively kept their distance from Wu Caiwei. In their eyes, she was a dangerous entity. They had never witnessed such terrifying methods of killing; if she had not been on their side, they would have readily bestowed upon her the title of demon.
The Fifth Prince silently stepped forward to support her and they made their way towards the main road. Upon reaching the carriages, they discovered that the horses had either been shot dead by the enemy or had bolted in fright.
The soldiers split up to search for horses. After a long time, only a few were recovered. They had no choice but to have the horses pull the heavier cargo, while the rest of the goods had to be carried manually. Involuntarily, their pace slowed.
Although they were still wary of her, Wu Caiwei noticed that her displayed prowess had its benefits. No longer did they look at her with dismissive expressions, believing she had gained the Fifth Prince's trust through flattery. Now, they dared not slight or complain about any task assigned by him. Not only did they complete them efficiently, but they also waited with trepidation for her judgment, fearing any hint of her displeasure.