The closer they got to the territory of Xiling Kingdom, the fewer carriages and pedestrians appeared on the official road, and a tense atmosphere, like the impending storm, filled the air. The "small assassinations" along the way did not stop, but like venomous snakes flicking their tongues, they became more cunning and ruthless.
One day, while passing through a dense black pine forest, the midday sun was shattered by the thick canopy. The group had just dismounted to rest when, without warning, dozens of tripwires soaked in tung oil and burning with eerie green flames shot out from the forest! The fire snakes darted along the ground, carrying a pungent stench! Their target was not people, but horses!
"Protect the horses!" the Shadow Guard leader roared. Several Shadow Guards simultaneously hurled grappling hooks from their waists, precisely ensnaring several burning ropes and pulling them backward with deadly force! The ropes were yanked off course, grazing the legs of several fine horses, sending up a trail of charred mane and a series of neighs. At the same time, several streaks of cold light shot down from the treetops, heading straight for Xiao Chengkang and A Yuan!
"Young master, be careful!" A shadow guard instantly raised his shield to block, but several muffled thuds were heard—it was poisoned steel needles! Another shadow guard reacted quickly, throwing a packet of "Three-Step Poison" in the direction from which the steel needles came! Several suppressed coughs and the thud of heavy objects falling to the ground came from the treetops.
Before they could catch their breath, seven or eight assassins, covered in mud and almost blending into the woodland, suddenly sprang up from the piles of decaying leaves on both sides. Their curved blades flashed with an eerie light as they silently slashed at the ankles of the group!
"Groundhogs!" the leader roared. The shadow guards, who were prepared, quickly retreated, their blue bottles (Bone-Corroding Sand) slamming into the ground without hesitation! The deep blue powder exploded on the decaying leaves, and the first few "groundhogs" let out a shrill scream, rolling on the ground clutching their instantly corroded and ulcerated calves!
The battle was swift and quick, ending just as fast. The assassins, having missed their target and suffered heavy losses, retreated like a receding tide into the deeper forest, leaving behind several corpses and the pungent smell of blood, burnt flesh, and poison powder in the air.
Xiao Chengkang quickly dismounted, inspected the horses burned by the fire, and sprinkled them with a special burn powder. A Yuan, meanwhile, warily surveyed the dark jungle, her short dagger gripped tightly. The shadow guards swiftly cleared the battlefield, dragging the corpses into hiding, their expressions cold and their movements swift, seemingly accustomed to such ambushes. Xiao Chengkang took out his medicine box and quickly treated a shadow guard whose arm had been grazed by a poisoned needle, applying an antidote ointment. His movements were fast and steady, though the bluish-black discoloration under his eyes deepened.
When the Xiling Royal City, built against the mountain and constructed of huge gray-white rocks that reflected a cold, hard luster in the sunlight, finally came into view, all the Shadow Guards stopped in a secluded valley ten miles away from the royal city.
“Princess, young master, we are nearing the gates of Xiling Kingdom’s city. Further ahead, there will be too many people and too many eyes to see. To avoid causing chaos, we should not expose ourselves any further.” The Shadow Guard leader clasped his hands in a low voice. “According to the plan, we will break into smaller groups and infiltrate the royal city, waiting at various strongholds. Princess, you only need to enter the city openly and legitimately, and we will know and act accordingly.”
Looking at the dozen or so warriors before her, who had fought their way through the battlefield and were covered in wounds but still stood tall like pine trees, A Yuan took a deep breath and solemnly bowed to them: "I will never forget your kindness! Please take good care of yourselves!"
The shadow guards all knelt on one knee: "We swear to serve you to the death! Princess, young master, take care!" Then, more than ten people disappeared into the forest like ghosts.
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