Chapter 511 First Meeting with Uncle, Saving the Emperor!
On that very day, the moment Emperor Zongzheng Langri of the Great Chu stepped into the mountains and forests, the originally clear sky suddenly turned into a thick cloud cover.
The dark sky seemed ready to fall at any moment.
"Your Majesty, the weather changes in an instant; it's suddenly pitch black."
"For His Majesty's safety, shall we return to the palace today?"
Zongzheng Langri's personal guard nervously asked for instructions.
"How about we discuss the hunting another day?"
"Once you enter the mountains and forests, you'll be surrounded by wild animals. If you're not careful, you might not even be able to tell whether someone is a human or a beast, let alone a tiger, even if you're only ten meters away."
"Your Majesty's safety is now the most important matter concerning the nation and the people's well-being, and it is the most important wish of all people."
"I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to return!"
Zongzheng Langri glared fiercely at the guard, turning his head slightly to the side: "Shut up!"
"My mind is made up! You want to stop me today, and you want to stop me too?"
"You're so terrified that you've become like dogs jumping over walls just because I cured you of your long-standing illness?"
"If you dare to utter another word to stop me, I'll chop off your head first!"
The guards then hurriedly lowered their heads, no longer daring to obstruct the Emperor.
The Chu Emperor spurred his horse and led the way.
Soon, it was so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
The guards lit torches one by one.
They also dispatched a small team to the mountains and forests to search for traces of the tiger.
At that time, it was only three quarters past noon.
That day was eerily unsettling.
But the more this was the case, the more the Chu Emperor believed Qingyangzi's words.
Darkness, a nightmare.
For the Chu Emperor, this was indeed more like the beginning of a new nightmare.
Soon enough, they actually found the tiger.
The Chu Emperor, carrying a bow and arrows, rode away at breakneck speed, but little did they know that they had unexpectedly stumbled into a real beast forest.
Unexpectedly, a torrential downpour followed.
One by one, the torches went out, and everyone was plunged into darkness once again.
Countless eyes, densely packed together, glowed with an eerie green light in the darkness.
A low, rumbling growl echoed from all around.
They were completely surrounded by wild beasts in the mountains!
"Protect His Majesty—"
The guards shielded the Chu emperor in the middle, intending to break through the encirclement at all costs.
However, the brown bears, wolves, tigers, and venomous snakes seemed to have reached a tacit agreement, not attacking each other, but instead all rushing towards the guards.
Even the strongest defenses were instantly shattered.
At this moment, the Chu Emperor was not thinking about how to escape quickly. He picked up his longbow and planned to take the opportunity to hunt down the tiger.
But he overestimated his skills, which had been neglected for many years.
Even after he had fired all his arrows, in the pitch black, he had no idea whether he had shot a person or a beast.
All around were screams of agony.
The Chu Emperor had no choice but to draw his precious sword again.
Then, brimming with confidence, he prepared to break through the encirclement and personally confront the tiger.
Unfortunately, just as he finally caught a glimpse of the tiger and charged forward with his sword, he was immediately surrounded and attacked by three-headed wolves.
The tiger slowly strolled towards him from behind.
"Escort His Majesty, retreat—"
A guard had his neck bitten off.
At this moment, the Chu Emperor's eyes were also reddened by murderous intent and bestial desire.
But he had regained some of his senses and could only spur his horse to flee, only to find that the wolves and tigers were chasing after him.
The horse galloped wildly in panic, and the Chu Emperor drew his sword, ready to personally cover their retreat. However, the horse, in its frantic flight, charged headlong into an outstretched tree branch.
The horse neighed and galloped away, while the Chu Emperor was left hanging from a tree branch.
The tiger and the three wolves slowly walked forward together.
The tiger roared, intending to climb the tree and bite the Chu Emperor down himself.
The Chu emperor could only laboriously wave the sword he still gripped tightly in his hand: "Don't come any closer—save me, save me—"
But the guards were still desperately covering their retreat, and it was too late for them to rush over and rescue him.
The Chu Emperor closed his eyes in despair.
All that flashed through my mind were those days when I was still in the cold palace.
Suddenly, there was a 'poof' sound.
Someone chopped off a wolf's head with a single stroke.
"Help!"
Several young men who looked like ordinary hunters emerged from the woods and offered timely assistance to the Chu Emperor.
And they were none other than Zhuiyu, Lengdian, and several guards from the Prince Su's mansion, who were brought by Duan Rongshi.
The men were all exceptionally skilled.
Moreover, Duan Rongshi had been secretly observing for a long time.
He would not have shown himself if the time had not been ripe.
After they swiftly dealt with the three wolves, Duan Rongshi jumped onto the big tree in front of him and deftly wielded the large axe tucked into his waistband.
With a single axe stroke, he chopped off the branch the Chu Emperor was hanging from, and the Chu Emperor fell heavily to the ground with a 'thud'.
Then, he turned and confronted the tiger.
Zhuiyu followed behind and jumped up into the tree.
Leng Dian then led his guards to kill the remaining wild beasts that pounced on them.
Naturally, it was another fierce battle.
Only three or five of the Chu Emperor's guards remained alive.
Although Duan Rongshi's men were all injured, none of them were seriously injured.
Even as he fought the tiger to the very last moment, the Chu Emperor still shouted, "Stop—!"
"I...perfect, I'll come in person!"
The Chu Emperor picked up his sword and personally pierced the tiger's neck.
Before Duan Rongshi could turn around, the Chu Emperor raised his sword and stabbed him in the arm.
Who are you?
"Speak! Did you bring these wild beasts upon yourselves?"
"How dare you...take our lives! Do you know what your punishment is?!"
"Master!"
Zhuiyu and the others immediately tried to come forward, but Duan Rongshi stopped them with a raised hand.
The remaining five guards of the Chu Emperor, dragging their wounds, also stepped forward to protect him. The two sides glared at each other menacingly.
Duan Rongshi covered his bleeding arm and gave a cold laugh.
"There are still such ungrateful people in this world."
"I don't even know who you are, so how could I possibly harm you?"
"If I hadn't intervened just now, this gentleman would probably be dead by now, wouldn't he? Yet he repays kindness with enmity and even wants to hold me accountable."
"But I wonder if this sir has the confidence to fight against my men and break out of these mountains again?"
Clearly, Duan Rongshi had more manpower.
Moreover, his martial arts skills were superior to those of the emperor's guards.
The difference in their abilities was immediately apparent, and the Chu Emperor's expression changed.
But the king was inherently suspicious, and the appearance of this person was too coincidental.
"How do you know who I am?"
"You really don't recognize me?"
"Is everything today truly just a coincidence?"
Duan Rongshi: "Judging from your demeanor, you are either a court official or a prince or nobleman. Could you possibly be someone else?"
"Although I am merely a son-in-law who married into a merchant family, I have seen officials before and would not mistake them for someone else."
"As for who you are, I really don't know."
"But to call it a coincidence is definitely not true."
The Chu Emperor's guards stepped forward, swords drawn: "How dare you! You are indeed a treacherous bandit! Your Majesty... Now that things have come to this, why don't you quickly reveal your true intentions!"
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