Chapter Five: A Strange Fate from Heaven

The early summer sunlight wasn't harsh, casting dappled shadows through the roadside greenery. But ahead lay a chilling scene; in the refracted light, a blade gleamed with a deadly light.

Ye Yiqing's heart sank, but she didn't show it on her face. She reined in her horse, squinted to judge the distance between the tripwires, and flicked out a hidden arrow with one hand while pulling on the reins with the other.

With a whoosh, the hidden dart pierced the air, leaving a long trail of sound. As the sound rang out, Ye Yuqing immediately leaned forward, clinging to the horse's back. The horse reared up, propelling its rider forward like an arrow. Caught off guard, the black-clad men who had surrounded the horse with their swords were thrown to the ground the instant they charged forward, tearing a gap in the encirclement and allowing Ye Yuqing to break free.

"Quickly, chase after him..." The leader of the men in black was somewhat annoyed and hurriedly gave the order. He thought that dealing with a weak scholar would not require so many people, but he did not expect that this kid had mastered excellent horsemanship. Despite being surrounded by so many people, he managed to break through.

Damn it, if I can't even handle a weak scholar, my reputation in the martial arts world will be ruined.

The wind whistled past his ears, and he could hear the sound of a powerful crossbow bolt piercing the air behind him. Ye Yuqing had no time to care about anything else; he could only press his body tightly against the horse's back and firmly hold onto the reins. He was a genuine scholar who was utterly powerless; if it weren't for his excellent horsemanship, he would probably have been killed just now.

"Damn it, shoot the horse..." After hurling two arrows but missing, the leader of the men in black became even angrier. Fortunately, he finally remembered the saying, "Shoot the horse before the man."

Oops!

With the sound of arrows piercing the air, Ye Yuqing heard her horse neigh in pain, its hooves rearing up high again. The horse twisted and turned, almost throwing Ye Yuqing off its back.

"Horse, horse, bear with it, go faster, go faster..." Slightly startled, Ye Yiqing quickly hugged the horse's neck, stroking its mane with her slender fingers to comfort it. Fortunately, this horse had been with Ye Yiqing for several years, and this hasty and gentle comforting words gradually calmed the injured horse down, stopping its restlessness and allowing it to continue galloping.

"Damn it, this horse is injured, why isn't it stopping?" The leader of the men in black was both angry and shocked, but his men were not idle either, firing three arrows at once again. This time they used almost all their strength, firing three arrows at once, one from the top, one from the middle, and one from the bottom, with a fierce momentum.

Ye Yiqing pulled hard on the reins to avoid it, but the horse was still injured and was shot with an arrow.

"My life is over." At this moment, Ye Yuqing would be lying if she didn't panic, but she had to save herself before the last moment, right? She hugged the horse's neck tightly again and muttered some words. The horse seemed to understand its master's strong desire to escape and continued to gallop despite the pain.

"Oh dear, how strange!" The leader of the men in black was even more furious. Although it was a last-minute assignment, so many of them couldn't even handle a weak scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken. Wouldn't they be ashamed to death if they didn't go?

With a wave of his hand, the two men in black with the best agility stepped forward from the left and right, each wielding four knives. Taking advantage of their light leaps, they unleashed eight knives simultaneously, weaving a dense net of blades that enveloped Ye Yuqing's head. This time, unless heaven intervened, Ye Yuqing was doomed.

Seeing the flashing blades all around him, Ye Yiqing helplessly closed his eyes. To die before achieving one's goal is truly a tragedy that brings tears to the eyes of heroes.

In a flash, several clanging sounds were heard as several butterfly-shaped iron caltrops spiraled out and struck the eight knives. The blades were deflected, the force was neutralized, and the knives all fell to the ground.

"Who goes there?" the leader roared.

"They dare to touch my people, they really don't want to live anymore..." Before the words were finished, a woman wearing a silver mask spiraled down from the treetop.

The men in black looked at each other, bewildered, wondering when the masked woman had arrived.

Meng Yuan adjusted the silver mask on her face, her high ponytail tracing a graceful arc in the warm early summer sun. This time, she could act as the head of the academy, so she had to put on a good show of power, lest she tarnish the reputation of our Judicial Academy.

"Boss, judging from the outfit, it looks like that woman..." A sharp-eyed man in black hurriedly stepped forward and whispered to the leader.

That woman? Is she the legendary ruthless, cold-blooded, and manipulative woman who also cuts off men's genitals?

The men in black inexplicably felt a chill between their legs, and some of the younger, more inexperienced ones unconsciously covered their genitals.

The leader of the men in black grew even angrier, glaring at his subordinates before shouting, "What are you afraid of? Attack all at once..."

"Huh? Shouldn't you retreat quickly?" The man in black standing to the side paused for a moment, glancing at the leader with a puzzled look. Only when he saw the anger in the leader's eyes did he hurriedly make his move, naturally a beat too slow.

"So useless, yet you dare to take on the business of killing people on your own?" Meng Yuan swung her sword horizontally, her slender hands flashing, and the black-clad men charging ahead instantly fell to the ground with a series of clattering sounds.

"Boss, boss, retreat quickly..." Seeing the situation was dire, the man in black who had just whispered the message hurriedly pulled the leader back. Oh well, if the mission failed, at worst they wouldn't get the money, but if they lost their lives here, they wouldn't even have the chance to spend the money they earned.

Amidst the chaos and seeing the men in black hastily retreat, Meng Yuan didn't give chase. Her mission today was to play the role of the head of the academy; as for these petty scoundrels who were paid to do things, they would naturally be dealt with by the person who had wasted her money.

"Hey, was it you who fired the hidden arrow?" Turning around, Meng Yuan asked Ye Yuqing, who was clinging tightly to the horse.

This man is indeed handsome! His features are as radiant as willows in spring, as swaying as the wind beneath pines. He has a pair of bright, sparkling eyes and a chiseled face. Even though he is still shaken, he still exudes a natural and elegant charm in every gesture.

"Yes, may I ask if you are the Chief Justice Mu of the Court of Judicial Review?" Ye Yuqing asked, bowing as he slowly slid down from his horse.

As expected, they've come for our Dean Mu. Meng Yuan didn't answer, but asked again, "Who are you?"

"Greetings, Headmaster Mu. I am the son of Imperial Censor Ye..." Ye Yuqing thought to herself, Headmaster Mu looks like a young girl, not as scary as the legends say.

"So you are Young Master Ye, I've heard so much about you..." Upon hearing the name of Imperial Censor Ye, Meng Yuan hurriedly bowed respectfully in return.

When Mu Lian rescued Meng Yuan, she almost couldn't do so because she was short of money. Fortunately, Imperial Censor Ye happened to pass by and gave his family heirloom jade pendant to the beggar leader, thus saving the ten-year-old Meng Yuan. Although she later helped Imperial Censor Ye redeem the jade pendant, she was still indebted to him at the time. Therefore, Mu Lian left the hidden arrow as a token of gratitude, and thankfully, this time she truly saved the Ye family.

"How come Chief Mu doesn't recognize me?" Ye Yuqing was somewhat surprised. The Court of Judicial Affairs is directly under the Empress and has the authority to supervise all officials on her behalf. Although few of the court officials have seen Chief Mu's true face, Chief Mu should know all the court officials by heart.

Why does Headmaster Mu address Ye Yuqing as Young Master Ye instead of Lord Ye?