She wasn't after prey, but rather enjoying this moment of freedom as she rode her horse.
Ling Siran, as the future imperial consort, was also among the entourage, following at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
The forest is deep and the leaves are lush, with dappled sunlight filtering through.
Suddenly, a shrill roar shattered the tranquility of the forest.
Immediately following were the second and third sounds.
The sounds came from different directions, yet carried the same ferocity.
"Protect His Highness!"
The guard commander shouted sternly, and the ranks instantly became somewhat chaotic.
Zi Xi reined in her horse, her phoenix eyes sharply scanning her surroundings.
Something's not right.
Something is very, very wrong.
The royal hunting grounds had already been cleared, so how could several ferocious-sounding beasts appear at the same time?
Just then, the bushes on the left shook violently, and a huge black bear, drooling, stood up and pounced on Zi Xi.
Almost simultaneously, a foul stench swept over them from the right, and a striped tiger lurked, ready to strike.
"Your Highness, be careful!"
Amidst the cries of alarm, Zi Xi remained calm under pressure, spurring her horse to the side to dodge the black bear's attack, and drawing her jeweled sword from her waist.
The sword appeared ornate, but its blade gleamed coldly, precisely parrying the tiger's claws.
She was incredibly agile, far exceeding that of ordinary people, but she also felt immense pressure when facing two out-of-control beasts at the same time.
Just as the tiger roared again and stood upright, poised to pounce with the force of Mount Tai, a dark figure flashed into the fray like lightning.
It was Ling Siran who had been staring at Zi Xi.
He didn't even draw his sword; he leaped off his horse and, with his fist imbued with internal energy, slammed it into the tiger's neck with a whooshing sound.
The heavy blow caused the tiger to let out a painful howl, its massive body tilting to one side.
"behind!"
Zi Xi reminded her urgently.
Ling Siran didn't even turn his head. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he nimbly spun around, dodging the black bear's giant paw. At the same time, his left leg swept out like a steel whip, hitting the black bear's knee joint.
The black bear was in pain and its movements faltered.
Before they could even exchange a glance, they naturally stood back to back, facing the ferocious beasts in front of them.
The Purple Dawn Sword Technique is agile and unpredictable, specializing in attacking vulnerable spots such as the eyes and throat of a fierce tiger.
Ling Siran, on the other hand, possessed immense power, with his fists, feet, elbows, and knees all serving as weapons. Each time, he used his flesh and blood to directly confront the beast.
Their breathing gradually synchronized, and their transitions between offense and defense were so seamless, as if they had rehearsed it a thousand times.
Zi Xi could feel the solid warmth and vibrant energy emanating from behind her.
Ling Siran caught a whiff of her unique, cool fragrance lingering around her nose.
Hearing her slightly rapid yet still steady breathing due to the battle, the urge to protect her in my heart was stronger than ever before, leaving only the instinct to fight.
However, the relentless onslaught of beasts did not stop.
A smaller but more cunning leopard silently pounced down from a high tree branch, its target aimed directly at Zi Xi's unsuspecting head.
It was taken at a tricky angle and moved at an extremely fast speed.
"Your Highness!"
Ling Siran caught a glimpse of the rapidly descending black shadow out of the corner of his eye, and his pupils contracted sharply.
The brain doesn't even have time to think before the body reacts before consciousness does.
He suddenly turned around, using his back to completely shield Xiao Zixi, while simultaneously raising his arms to block.
With a sickening thud, the sound of sharp claws tearing through flesh was enough to make your teeth ache.
The leopard's claws dug deep into Ling Siran's raised left arm, and blood gushed out instantly, staining his dark sleeves red. Several wounds were so deep that the bone was visible.
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