Hua Zhi lifted the curtain by the window. The carriage had stopped in the middle of a mountain path between two hills. Though the hills were small, they provided an ideal location for an ambush.
This was the only route to the estate, but it wasn’t an official road, and usually, few people traveled it.
At this moment, the enemies hadn’t yet shown themselves, but since Wang Rong said they were surrounded, there was no mistake.
After a brief standoff, Hua Zhi suddenly spoke, “Let’s go.”
Wang Rong jumped onto the carriage and took the reins himself. The carriage moved forward slowly but was blocked after just a few steps.
Clad in black and masked—Hua Zhi smiled. Their attire was exactly the same as during the incident at Yinshan Pass.
“There are more behind us.”
Hua Zhi looked back and saw ten men, just like the ones in front.
Gazing at the shadowy woods, Hua Zhi had a vague sense that more people were hidden within.
Wang Rong approached and whispered, “Later, abandon the carriage and escape on horseback.”
“How do you know there isn’t a trap ahead?” Moreover, she had Bao Xia, Nian Qiu, and Li De, who was driving the carriage—she couldn’t just abandon them.
“Miss, you should go first,” Bao Xia urged, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled. Every time they encountered danger, their young mistress shielded them. If she ended up being a burden, Bao Xia would rather end her own life.
“You’ve been practicing martial arts with me for a long time. Today, test yourselves against real opponents. Without facing real enemies, your skills will always be just for show.” Hua Zhi lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. Staying inside the carriage would only make her a target—if a torch were thrown in, she’d have to scramble out in disgrace.
Bao Xia and Nian Qiu followed her out of the carriage. Though Li De’s legs were weak, he showed no fear, gripping his horsewhip and staying close to the young mistress.
Hua Zhi already held a dagger in her hand. Except when entering the palace, this dagger never left her side.
Wang Rong was about to say something more when the black-clad men moved in unison, their attacks aimed at vital points. Wang Rong only had time to shout “Be careful!” before charging forward. The two men he had brought with him intercepted the other group attempting to encircle them, and a fierce battle erupted immediately.
The attackers were skilled. In close combat, Wang Rong couldn’t effectively use his whip and failed to stop them all. Two men rushed toward Hua Zhi. With a cold snort, she met them head-on, firmly blocking their advance.
Nian Qiu, timid by nature, trembled with fear. But seeing her young mistress step forward to protect them, her fear suddenly vanished. Even as her body still shook, she assumed a fighting stance—over a year of persistence hadn’t been in vain, as her starting posture showed.
Bao Xia was bolder. Gritting her teeth, she charged forward, throwing a punch at one of the men attacking her mistress. Annoyed by her interference, the man tried to eliminate her first. Though her strength was lacking, the boxing style they practiced relied on clever techniques. With Nian Qiu joining in and Li De using his horsewhip like a weapon, the three of them managed to hold off one opponent and even gained the upper hand.
One opponent was no match for Hua Zhi. She quickly defeated her adversary and, seeing that the others were managing, went to assist Wang Rong.
When no black-clad men remained standing, Hua Zhi was unsurprised to see two more groups of black-clad men emerge from the hills.
This time, the fight was clearly more taxing. Bao Xia collapsed to the ground, exhausted.Before they could catch their breath, the sound of arrows cutting through the air rang out. Nian Qiu, who was closest to Hua Zhi, instinctively threw herself over her mistress to shield her. But Hua Zhi reacted even faster, wrapping her arms around Nian Qiu and rolling aside, narrowly avoiding the arrow aimed at her chest.
Yet this was only the beginning.
Several figures emerged on both hilltops, each armed with a fully drawn bow.
Hua Zhi, being close to the carriage, dragged Nian Qiu with her as she rolled toward it. She severed the reins and drove her dagger into the horse’s hindquarters. The pained animal reared and bolted forward.
Arrows whistled through the air, chasing the fleeing horse. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Rong shielded Bao Xia while Li De was escorted by the other two men. Glancing back, they saw the spot where they had just stood now bristling with arrows.
Hua Zhi stared at the still-quivering arrow shafts, tightening her grip on the dagger. "Be careful."
Wang Rong cautiously peeked out but withdrew even faster as an arrow grazed his ear. Touching the wound, his hand came away stained with blood. "Such accuracy is no ordinary skill," he said grimly.
"No surprise there."
Wang Rong calculated the timing. "This subordinate will go clear out some of them."
"Wait." Hua Zhi shook her head. "With their archery skills, you’d be a walking target. Feign attempts to draw them out—both sides do the same."
Understanding her plan, they took turns—one side peeking out briefly, the other taking half a step forward—luring a continuous volley of arrows. After about a quarter of an hour, the clashing of weapons echoed from the hills.
Hua Zhi finally relaxed, sinking to the ground with relief.
Though she had prepared for this, unforeseen twists were always possible in the heat of the moment. Now, at last, the situation was under control.
As the commotion gradually subsided, footsteps approached. "Is the young mistress here?"
It was Chen Qing. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Hua Zhi rose to her feet, but before she could take any action, a swift, fierce arrow shot straight toward her chest. Even with Wang Rong nearby, it was too late to intervene. Hua Zhi fell to the ground with a thud.
"Young mistress!"
"Miss!"
Chen Qing rushed over, ready to carry her into the carriage without a second thought. But Hua Zhi stopped him. Under their anxious gazes, she lowered the hand she had pressed to her chest. There was no gush of blood as expected—the arrow was neatly clamped between her two fingers.
The enemy had laid a hidden trap, but she, too, had come prepared.
"Yan Xi had a soft armor made for me. By chance, I was wearing it today," Hua Zhi whispered, a hint of laughter in her voice. She pressed the arrow back against her chest, feigning injury. "Return and spread the news that I’ve been shot."
Chen Qing didn’t understand the young mistress’s intentions, nor did he need to. His duty was simply to obey.
As for the one who had launched the sneak attack, Chen Qing’s expression turned fierce. "Rest assured, they won’t escape!"
"Follow them and see which household they enter. Those who want my life won’t dirty their own hands—they’ll have covered their tracks well. Since we can’t pin it on them directly, we’ll cut off their visible limbs and cripple their operations."
"Yes." Chen Qing took a deep breath. "Forgive my impertinence, young mistress."
Hua Zhi nodded indifferently, closed her eyes, and feigned a faint, breathless state.
Chen Qing lifted her into the carriage while Bao Xia and Nian Qiu called out to their mistress in distress. The others wore dark, grim expressions. The captives bound on the hill, witnessing the scene, felt a surge of triumph—despite the minor setback, their mission had ultimately succeeded!
Wang Rong whistled for the horse, retrieved it, reattached the reins, and swiftly drove the carriage back the way they had come.In the carriage, Hua Zhi sat up and rubbed her chest. The force of the arrow had been so strong that even with the soft armor protecting her, the pain was still intense.
Looking down at the tear in her outer garment, Hua Zhi held the arrow and formed a plan. She had always been one to prepare for contingencies—even if it meant enduring some hardship, she would ultimately avoid suffering losses.
PS: The revisions for the second update were too extensive, and the third update couldn’t follow smoothly. I couldn’t finish it today, so it’ll be tomorrow. That means there might be… four updates tomorrow? I hope I can manage it. The recent plot has been a bit slow, but it’ll pick up soon.
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