Chapter 28 Assassination and betrayal? No, it's heartache!

Eunuch Gao's efficiency was frighteningly high. While Yun Zhan was still torn between Yan Linye's gentle advances and the skull warning, almost to the point of hormonal imbalance, An Si returned silently with news—the people were in place, just waiting for the right opportunity.

Yun Zhan's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected it to be so fast! He hadn't even mentally prepared himself!

"System... I'm a little panicked." Yun Zhan muttered to himself, looking at his pathetic and cowardly reflection in the bronze mirror.

[Host's heart rate has increased and adrenaline levels have risen. According to data analysis, this is a normal physiological reaction before carrying out an assassination mission. Host, please seize the opportunity, strike decisively, and escape your fate.] System Xiaoqi's voice carried an excitement of "finally waiting for this day" (if electronic voices could have emotions).

"Kill! Kill! Kill! You make it sound so easy!" Yun Zhan grabbed his hair in frustration. "Those were living, breathing people! And... and they were actually quite nice to me!"

[Host, please be aware that the target's kindness towards you is based on ignorance of your true identity. Once discovered, you will immediately transform from a 'cute' into 'raw material for your skull.' Please accept reality.]

The system's cold water was both precise and ruthless. Yun Zhan shivered. Yes, if Yan Linye knew he was Chu Yin, the tyrant he called "debauched and unworthy of his position," would he still be so gentle with him? He'd probably be the first to draw his sword!

Thinking of this, Yun Zhan's wavering resolve hardened again. To survive! He'd do it!

As planned, he made up an excuse, saying that he had discovered a rare mineral in the suburbs that might be suitable for improving agricultural tools, and invited Yan Linye to go and check it out. Yan Linye, without suspicion, readily agreed, taking only a few personal guards with him.

Along the way, Yun Zhan felt guilty and dared not look at Yan Linye, only focusing on walking. Yan Linye, however, thought he was looking forward to a "new discovery" and gently comforted him: "Don't be impatient. If it is really a useful ore, it will be a great achievement."

Yun Zhan: "..." My foot! It's the credit for sending you on your way!

Upon arriving at the designated location, a secluded valley, Yun Zhan, following the coded signal, pretended to trip over a stone and cried out, "Ouch!"

Signal sent!

In an instant, more than a dozen dark figures shot out from the woods on both sides of the valley! Each one was agile, sharp, and ruthless, aiming straight for Yan Linye's vitals! They were clearly the elite under Eunuch Gao's command, far more professional than the previous group of "comedic assassins"!

"There's an ambush! Protect the prince!" Yan Linye's guards reacted quickly, immediately drawing their swords to fight.

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

Yun Zhan was pulled behind Yan Linye to protect him. Hiding behind Yan Linye's broad back, he watched the flashing swords and the shadows of the enemy, his heart pounding in his chest.

He originally thought that with Yan Linye's bug-like luck and destiny, dealing with these assassins should be a piece of cake. At most, he would only suffer minor injuries, and he could just pretend to be scared unconscious to fool them.

But things took a completely unexpected turn!

These assassins were clearly well-trained, coordinated perfectly, and their attacks were deadly. Yan Linye was skilled in martial arts, but he had to deal with the barrage of attacks while also protecting the defenseless Yun Zhan behind him, which inevitably made him feel constrained.

"Watch out on the left!" Yun Zhan exclaimed in alarm when he saw an assassin attacking from the side.

Yan Linye parried the sound, but this left his back wide open, allowing another assassin to seize the opportunity and slash his arm with a sword, instantly staining his sleeve with blood.

Yun Zhan's heart clenched suddenly!

Then, more attacks came. To protect Yun Zhan, Yan Linye repeatedly took the hits with his body or narrowly dodged them, inflicting several more wounds on his body. His movements gradually slowed due to blood loss and protecting Yun Zhan, and his breathing became heavy.

Yun Zhan stared blankly at his pale face and the bleeding wound. Wasn't he supposed to be the chosen one? Wasn't he supposed to have incredible luck? How... how could this be?

He forgot that Yan Linye's destiny might be reflected in the macro trends, but in this specific life-and-death struggle that requires hard power, especially when he was still carrying Yun Zhan, this "burden," luck could not completely offset the gap in strength and the disadvantage in tactics.

"Thud—" A dull thud as a sharp blade pierced flesh.

Yun Zhan was horrified to see an assassin's sword pierce through the shoulder of Yan Linye who was blocking his way!

Yan Linye grunted and swayed, but still held Yun Zhan firmly behind him, forcing the assassin back with a backhand sword strike.

Blood gushed from his shoulder like a stream, quickly staining a large area of ​​his robes. His face was frighteningly pale, and his eyes began to glaze over; he was only holding on by sheer willpower.

"Yan Linye!" Yun Zhan's voice was choked with sobs as she instinctively supported his swaying body.

Just then, the remaining assassins seized the opportunity and attacked Yan Linye, who was already at his last gasp! They were about to tear him to pieces!

"stop!!!"

Yun Zhan, not knowing where the courage came from, suddenly stood in front of Yan Linye and roared at the assassins.

The assassins paused, looking at him with suspicion.

Yan Linye also struggled to lift his head. Through his blurred vision, he could only see Yun Zhan's slightly trembling back blocking his way. He opened his mouth to call out, "Yun Zhan, run!" but ultimately fainted due to his severe injuries.

Yun Zhan's heart pounded, his mind raced, but he forced a calm demeanor, adopting the air of an "emperor" (though lacking real conviction): "Who ordered you to use lethal force?! I... I will finish him off myself! All of you, step back!"

The assassins exchanged hesitant glances. They had come to kill Yan Linye, and now that their target was seriously wounded, it was the perfect opportunity to finish him off.

"Step back! That's an order!" Yun Zhan shouted again, his voice stern but his palms sweating.

The lead assassin glanced at the heavily injured and unconscious Yan Linye, then at Yun Zhan, whose face looked "fierce" (actually panicked). After a moment's deliberation, he finally waved his hand and led his men away quickly, disappearing into the woods.

In an instant, only Yun Zhan and Yan Linye, who had collapsed unconscious and was bleeding profusely, remained in the valley.

It was eerily quiet.

Yun Zhan's legs went weak, and he slumped down next to Yan Linye. Looking at his pale face and the hideous wounds on his body, he finally couldn't hold back his tears.

"System! System! Is he going to die?!" he cried out in his mind in a panic.

[The target's vital signs are weakening. Excessive blood loss and multiple severe injuries. Calculations indicate a survival rate of less than 30%. Host, congratulations, your assassination operation has achieved a significant milestone.] The system's electronic voice was coldly cruel.

"Achievements so-called 'stage results'! I don't want him to die!" Yun Zhan cried out, "Quick! The shop! Do you have any medicine? Medicine that can save him!"

[Host, are you sure you want to treat the assassination target? This action seriously conflicts with the main quest and will consume a large amount of points.]

"Stop talking nonsense! Take it out now! I'll exchange it for any amount of points!" Yun Zhan was extremely anxious as he watched Yan Linye's breath grow weaker and weaker.

[Searching... 'Potential Wound Medicine (Dimensional Technology Edition)', can quickly stop bleeding, promote tissue regeneration, and inhibit infection. Required points: 800. Current points: 1050. Redeem?]

"Change! Immediately! Right now!" Yun Zhan said without hesitation.

A faint light flashed, and a small porcelain bottle appeared in Yun Zhan's hand. He hurriedly pulled open Yan Linye's clothes, his hands trembling as he looked at the deep, bone-revealing wounds. He gritted his teeth and, following the system prompts, carefully sprinkled the medicinal powder onto the wounds.

The powder works extremely quickly, stopping the bleeding almost instantly, and the wound even begins to heal slowly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Yun Zhan breathed a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground, looking at Yan Linye, who was still unconscious with his brows furrowed. His feelings were a jumbled mess.

He was originally going to kill him.

He arranged for assassins.

He led him into the ambush.

But in the end... he saved him.

He also lost most of the points he had painstakingly accumulated.

"System, am I... beyond saving?" Yun Zhan wiped away his tears, his voice hoarse.

[From the perspective of task completion assessment, the host's behavior is indeed perplexing. But from the perspective of the complexity of human emotions... this system cannot understand it.] Xiao Qi also seems to be stuck.

Looking at Yan Linye's peaceful sleeping face, Yun Zhan recalled the resolute look in his eyes when he shielded him, and how Yan Linye instinctively stood in front of him when he was injured...

He reached out and gently brushed away the blood and dust from Yan Linye's face, muttering to himself:

"Yan Linye...you have to live..."

"You're dead...who will peel grapes for me...who will teach me to write...who..."

He didn't say the rest, but somewhere in his heart, he had already softened completely.