Chapter Six: Assassination

Under the moonlight, Xiao Yizhi, dressed in a gray-white wide-sleeved robe, slowly and deliberately fiddled with the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist, a smile on his lips, but his eyes were as cold as a frozen pool.

The guard immediately knelt on one knee: "Lord Xiao!"

Xiao Yizhi coughed lightly twice, his pale face appearing even more gloomy in the moonlight.

He raised the corners of his lips slightly, but there was no hint of a smile in his eyes: "I have been curious about Miss Li for a long time, and today I finally get to see her true face."

He stared directly at Li Bao'er, his tone flippant yet sharp: "Indeed, she has a beautiful face, but unfortunately, she's blind and black-hearted. What a pity."

Li Bao'er felt a chill run down her spine.

The seemingly sickly strategist before them was actually a trusted confidant who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood alongside Mu Cenlin.

Xiao Yizhi's identity remains a mystery; the only certainty is that he is not from Da Lin.

He had the deep features typical of people from the Western Regions, and his pale skin contrasted with his amber eyes. Despite his frail and sickly appearance, he exuded a deadly danger.

"Lord Xiao is joking, I was just..." Li Bao'er forced herself to remain calm.

"Just an ungrateful scoundrel?" Xiao Yizhi interrupted her, suddenly stepping forward.

The faint scent of medicine emanating from him, mixed with a subtle smell of blood, wafted towards you.

"Miss Li, do you know that every time the Prince is injured, I make a note of it for you?"

The prayer beads spun in his hand, making a clear, ringing sound.

Li Bao'er then noticed that each bead was engraved with fine patterns and gleamed with an eerie luster under the moonlight.

Xiao Yizhi suddenly smiled and said, "Since we've met today, why don't I keep you company?"

Before Li Bao'er could refuse, he coughed twice and said, "Why don't you stay in the tent and rest well, Miss Li?"

After saying that, Xiao Yizhi turned around and prepared to leave.

Li Bao'er understood, of course, that she would not be able to leave the military camp if she did not travel with him.

"Lord Xiao, please wait. We'll trouble you to lead the way."

Xiao Yizhi's lips curled slightly, and the moonlight cast two shadows on his eyes.

The fool took the bait.

As he gathered his sleeves, a cold glint flashed in the iron armor on his wrist, concealing deadly needles that could kill instantly upon drawing blood.

Xiao Yizhi gestured for them to proceed and led the way.

The guard who had been watching from the sidelines saw Li Bao'er about to leave and couldn't help but speak up, "Sir, the Prince said that Miss Li cannot leave this place."

"Um?"

Where in the army cannot I go?

"Do I need to ask you to take her away?"

Xiao Yizhi swept his gaze lightly, and the sickly aura he had just exuded suddenly transformed into a tangible killing intent.

The guard's Adam's apple bobbed violently. "I understand."

Only after the two figures disappeared into the night did the guard realize that his back was soaked with sweat.

Who doesn't know that beneath Vice Commander Xiao's beautiful exterior lies a ruthlessness far more potent than that of a poisonous spider?

Under Xiao Yizhi's leadership, leaving the military camp went much more smoothly.

As she passed through the military camp, Li Bao'er had to admit she was shocked.

Even late at night, soldiers were still drilling on the drill ground, the sparks from clashing swords illuminating their fierce faces.

On the distant arrow tower, the sentry's figure remained motionless, like a sculpture.

With such an iron-blooded army, it's no wonder they were able to follow Mu Cenlin to conquer the northern frontier.

As Li Bao'er followed Xiao Yizhi across the training ground, the night wind swept by, carrying sand and dust. She swayed slightly and had to hold onto the wooden fence to steady herself.

The aftereffects of excessive blood loss are still present; every step feels like walking on cotton.

It was precisely this frail appearance, bathed in the pouring moonlight, that made it possible.

The silvery light made her pale skin almost transparent, and her lips were so pale they were almost indistinguishable from her complexion. Yet, because of her sickly and weary appearance, they exuded a fragile and delicate beauty.

A few stray strands of her dark hair brushed against her cheeks in the wind, making her almond-shaped eyes appear even darker and more profound, reminiscent of pear blossoms wet in the rain.

Delicate, yet possessing a stubborn resilience.

Like a fairy maiden in a painting who has mistakenly entered a military camp.

A soldier wiping his spear was so engrossed in watching that he didn't even notice the weapon hitting his foot. Gasps rose and fell around him, and several young soldiers even instinctively straightened their backs.

"Is she a celestial being descended to earth?" someone murmured, only to be viciously elbowed in the ribs by his companion.

"Fool! That's Li Bao'er, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family!"

"A femme fatale, infamous throughout the capital!"

"Her?" The young soldier's eyes widened. "But she looks like she could be blown away by the wind. She doesn't seem like the kind of person who could do those things."

Someone sneered, "The more innocent she pretends to be, the more vicious she is! Last spring hunt, she deliberately shot and injured the prince's Black Cloud Snow-Treading Horse, and that horse still limps when it runs!"

"Rumor has it that the prince digs out people's hearts and livers in the middle of the night to eat with his wine, which has made my sister afraid to go out at night! Maybe she's the one who spread the rumor."

The murmurs grew louder, and Li Bao'er heard them all clearly. On the surface, she remained calm, but in reality, she was filled with dread.

Li Bao'er cried out in her heart that she was wronged. If she hadn't mistaken someone for someone else, who would dare to show off their skills in front of the King of Hell!

Xiao Yizhi glanced at her sideways, a half-smile on his face: "Miss Li is quite composed."

She raised her eyes, her gaze calm: "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles."

Xiao Yizhi's smile deepened, and he lightly tapped the token at his waist with his fingertips. The soldiers immediately fell silent, but their eyes were still like knives piercing her back.

The night wind grew colder.

Once the two had walked away, the suppressed discussions began to resurface:

"She looks like Guanyin, but her heart is more venomous than a snake."

"The prince should hang her on the gate and dry her into jerky."

"I heard she even dared to steal the tiger tally for the Third Prince."

Suddenly, someone lowered their voice and said, "But have you noticed? The prince has never actually laid a finger on her."

"Who said that? I went to arrest her with the prince. She was clearly knocked to the ground by the prince's elbow and couldn't get up!"

......

After leaving the military camp, Li Bao'er couldn't wait to head towards the mass grave.

The jade pendant is most likely in that direction.

Li Bao'er struggled to support her weak body, her steps unsteady, but dizziness kept coming, and she had to lean on the tree trunk by the roadside to catch her breath.

The moment the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, the surroundings were plunged into chaotic darkness.

The mournful cries of birds could be heard in the distance; the jade pendant must be retrieved as soon as possible.

But she still had one more thing to do in the middle.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the crooked locust tree not far away, with a slightly raised mound of earth beneath it—the very place where she had hidden the tiger tally before she lost consciousness.

Looking at the figure not far away, Li Bao's voice trembled weakly, "Lord Xiao, could you wait here for a moment?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yizhi slowly turned around. The moonlight once again pierced through the clouds, illuminating his face and his unfathomable eyes.

Xiao Yizhi's words left Li Bao'er completely bewildered.

"Miss Li, this place is a bit too close to the military camp; it's not very convenient."

"What brings you here, Lord Xiao?" Li Bao'er looked warily at the gloomy man before her, a chill rising from the soles of her feet.

She watched as Xiao Yizhi slowly drew his short sword, the blade gleaming in the moonlight.

"What are you doing?!" She staggered back half a step, her back hitting the rough tree trunk.

A soft chuckle escaped Xiao Yizhi's lips, "Pfft."

In an instant, the smile on Xiao Yizhi's face vanished, replaced by a grim expression.

"Of course, I'll take your life!"

"The ridiculous things you've done over the past few years are enough to kill you several times over."

Xiao Yizhi's expression turned serious, and he twisted his wrist, thrusting forward.

Before Li Bao'er could react, the cold light was already upon her.

She recoiled in panic, the dagger grazing her throat, the force of the slash stinging her skin.

Li Bao'er wailed inwardly, "What's wrong with this world?! Everyone wants me dead!"

Xiao Yizhi's offensive was like a storm, each move aimed directly at vital points.

Li Bao'er dodged awkwardly, her hair disheveled and her skirt torn to shreds by dry branches.

Despite her best efforts to dodge, the cold blade still tore several bloody gashes into her arm.

It was obvious that Xiao Yizhi could kill her more easily than crush an ant, but he was deliberately toying with her.

It seems more interesting to see her in such a disheveled state.

Li Bao'er gasped in pain and tripped, falling heavily onto the muddy ground.

The stench of decaying leaves mixed with the smell of blood assaulted my nostrils, and my vision blurred.

Seeing that the man in front of her was determined to kill her, she could only shout, "If you kill me, Mu Cenlin will not let you go!"