"I really didn't expect that even the successor of the Alluring Sword Immortal would come."

Heng Wenhao shook his head and said, "The Prime Minister is right. The martial world is no longer the martial world."

Unlike the Dragon Spear Guards, Heng Wenhao had never followed Zhao Huan on the battlefield and still habitually addressed Zhao Huan as the Right Chancellor.

"Prince Consort, it seems I can only accompany you this far." Heng Wenhao looked at Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng sized up Gong Xue and asked doubtfully, "Is this person very powerful?"

Heng Wenhao said, "The famous Jinghai Sword Master only calls himself a sword master, not because he is humble, but because he cannot defeat the Qingcheng Sword Immortal, so he dares not be ranked as an immortal alongside her. This woman is the Qingcheng Sword Immortal's most outstanding disciple and is known as Little Qingcheng."

Zhao Cheng analyzed Heng Wenhao's words and estimated Gong Xue's strength.

The Alluring Sword Immortal is more powerful than the Serene Sea Sword Master.

Gong Xue is a disciple of the Alluring Sword Immortal, and Zhou Chuan is a disciple of the Serene Sea Sword Master.

Following this logic, Gong Xue might be more skilled than Zhou Chuan, or at least at a similar level.

And Zhou Chuan and Heng Wenhao...

Although they had never fought, Heng Wenhao himself said that he was slightly inferior to Zhou Chuan.

Zhao Cheng thought about what Heng Wenhao had just said: "Prince Consort, it seems that this is the only way I can accompany you."

Is this a farewell?

Heng Wenhao was not confident of defeating Gong Xue and had already resolved to die.

Zhao Cheng glanced back. He Zhi and the three hundred Dragon Spear Guards were trapped by Wang Yuluan. Yang Taozhi, Zhao Yan, and Zhao Hu were also nowhere to be seen. Zhou Nuo was skilled in archery, but only a first-rate expert in martial arts. Now, the only person who could stop Gong Xue was Heng Wenhao.

There was no choice.

"Your Highness, let's continue on our journey and take good care of the Princess."

Heng Wenhao said something and was about to dismount when a person suddenly flew out of Yuan Yun's carriage, pressed down on Heng Wenhao's shoulder, pushed him back onto the horse, and landed in front of Gong Xue.

Seeing her slender figure and petite back, Heng Wenhao exclaimed, "Atao, what are you doing?"

Atao turned her head to let Heng Wenhao see her profile and said, "You're a grown man, don't bully women. I'll deal with her."

Heng Wenhao said, "But what about the Eldest Princess..."

"What did Zhao Hu tell you when he stopped? He entrusted the entire family of the imperial son-in-law to you. You must protect them to the very end," A Tao interrupted Heng Wenhao.

The two had been partners for many years, and Heng Wenhao knew A Tao well, knowing that she wouldn't change her mind once she made a decision. Moreover, A Tao had flown out of Yuan Yun's carriage, which meant she had Yuan Yun's approval.

Heng Wenhao wasted no more time, sheathed his sword, and said to Zhao Cheng, "Prince Consort, let's go."

Gong Xue then gently raised her head, glanced at the Zhao family's group, and then her gaze fell on A Tao's face.

"Are you a Dragon Guard serving the Eldest Princess?"

Atao didn't answer Gong Xue, but instead asked, "The Maoshan Sect is truly full of hidden talents."

Gong Xuedao said, "What does the Maoshan Sect have to do with me?"

Atao was deliberately testing them, saying, "So you're not Wenhu's person. Then there's only one possibility: you're from the Prince Xin's mansion."

Gong Xue frowned and said, "Are you testing me?"

Gong Xue's rhetorical question was an admission, and A Tao continued, "Even Prince Xin has arranged for experts to deal with the Prince Consort's family. Does he have no regard for his sibling relationship with the Princess?"

Gong Xue said, "I don't need to know what Prince Xin thinks, and you have even less need to know."

There's no point in saying more now.

Atao was dressed in the same clothes she wore when she was an instructor at the Yiwen Society, all in preparation for battle. She took the initiative, flicking her hands and sending out a pair of golden bracelets flying towards Gong Xue.

Gong Xue swiftly drew her sword, and as soon as a small section of the blade was revealed from its sheath, a dazzling light illuminated the surroundings.

It was a snow-white sword, whiter than snow, whiter than white.

Ding ding!

Gong Xue gripped the scabbard with her left hand and held the sword with her right, deflecting a pair of flying bracelets.

At that moment, Atao appeared behind her, and as Atao appeared, the bracelet returned to Atao's hand and turned into two daggers.

Everything happened in one fell swoop. Ah Tao seized the opportunity and delivered a backstab!

Clang!

Gong Xue reacted very quickly. Although she did not turn around, she wrapped her sword around her shoulder and held it behind her back, blocking A Tao's dagger.

Gong Xue flipped her sword, knocking A Tao away, and quickly pulled away to create distance.

This sudden encounter gave Gong Xue a preliminary understanding of A Tao.

This is an excellent assassin.

Among the people she encountered, A Tao's lightness skill was not as good as Luo Ying, Yuan Fei, and Liu Ling, but her movement technique was second only to Luo Ying. If she wanted to defeat Gong Xue, she had to make the most of this characteristic.

"The Dragon Guards are indeed not to be underestimated."

Gong Xue murmured something, then slowly raised her hand. The snow-white sword gleamed brightly. There was no wind or waves around, but A Tao felt a chill.

This is Gong Xue's sword intent.

"A woman of unparalleled beauty, snow of unparalleled beauty."

"Take my Alluring Sword!"

Gong Xue quickly ran towards A Tao.

After leaving the place where Gong Xue had blocked him for some time, Heng Wenhao's mood calmed down a bit. Although he told Zhao Cheng that he would deal with whatever came his way, he was actually not confident. If another top expert caught up with them, he would be the only one in the group who could hold them off, and then the Princess and the Zhao family would be left without anyone to protect them.

Although they were getting closer to Jinghai, as long as they could reach the seaside smoothly, they could climb Lingshan from the other side of the sea. Zhao Huan's first thought was to go to Lingshan, so he must have some plans on the mountain, which Heng Wenhao was not worried about.

The key question is whether we can even get there.

As Heng Wenhao was thinking about these things, Deng Yanjiao, who was riding a horse with Zhao Cheng, suddenly started making a fuss. She and Zhao Cheng didn't argue or quarrel, but she suddenly jumped off the horse and ran into the field next to them.

The crops in the field grew lushly, and Deng Yanjiao's small body was submerged as soon as she went down.

Heng Wenhao was very troubled and wanted to dismount and chase after them.

"Wait!" Zhao Cheng called out to Heng Wenhao.

Heng Wenhao stared at Zhao Cheng, thinking that Zhao Cheng had other instructions, but after waiting for a long time, Zhao Cheng still didn't speak. Heng Wenhao became anxious and said, "If we don't go after them now, they'll really get lost!"

Zhao Cheng calmly said, "Yan Jiao may have the mindset of a child, but she's not stupid. I didn't upset her just now; she suddenly got agitated and ran into the field. She must have had her reasons. Wenhao, we don't need to look for her. Let's continue on our way."

Heng Wenhao asked, "What if there's any danger in the field..."

Zhao Cheng shook his head, interrupting Heng Wenhao, and said, "If there really is someone hiding in the field, then Yan Jiao is heading for that person. The one in danger is not Yan Jiao, but the person hiding there."

Heng Wenhao scratched his head, puzzled, and asked, "Why do you have so much confidence in Miss Yan Jiao?"

Let's get going.

Zhao Cheng couldn't help but chuckle, then pulled on the reins and continued onward.

A picture flashed through his mind: 'Wu Shijiu', who had been poisoned to death by Deng Yanjiao.

So he realized that he had forgotten that this little guy was also a powerful weapon!