Chapter 747: A Brief Escape
Shen Xihe had gifted various types of scents, and during the idle moments of their journey, Bu Shulin had already familiarized herself with the purpose of each one.
Initially, many were used to shake off the trackers sent by the Youning Emperor, Xiao Changmin, and Xiao Changyan. Later, she gave some to Xiao Changying, leaving only a few remaining. Among them, the most lethal type had not yet been used.
Bu Shulin's guard took the bag, opened it, and retrieved a paper package from inside. The package contained round, pale pills the size of chestnuts.
They resembled wax pills and emitted a faint medicinal aroma, looking almost like pregnancy-preserving medicine. In reality, they were not pregnancy-preserving medicine but scent pills, sealed inside with highly potent fragrant spices.
While groaning incessantly, Bu Shulin exchanged a glance with the guard supporting her. Though she appeared to be flailing aimlessly in the air due to pain, her hands, conveying messages through gestures, also relayed information to Shen Twenty-Seven and Jinshan.
The change occurred in an instant. Xiao Changmin only had time to watch as Bu Shulin and her servant unfolded the paper package to reveal the pills before turning back to confront Shen Twenty-Seven.
The two Embroidered Uniform Envoys did not even glance back, keeping their eyes fixed on Shen Twenty-Seven and Xiao Changgeng. The two had already found a breakthrough point and, after exchanging a knowing look, were about to act when a sudden shout came from behind: "Be careful!"
It was Bu Shulin who had grabbed the pills. Taking advantage of the lack of vigilance from Xiao Changmin's attendant beside her, she used the momentum from her guard's push to leap up nimbly. Moving swiftly, she drew the attendant's sword and, before he could react, struck him down with a single flash of the blade!
As she landed, she leaped up again and threw the scent pills toward the two Embroidered Uniform Envoys. The warning shout had also come from her.
The shout was meant to alert Shen Twenty-Seven, while the Embroidered Uniform Envoys, preparing to attack, sensed the pills hurtling toward them with force. Instinctively, they drew their swords and turned to slash at the incoming projectiles.
As the scent pills were split open, white scented powder scattered into the air, releasing an alluring, elusive fragrance that tempted one to investigate further.
Fortune favored them as a gust of wind swept by. Everyone centered around Xiao Changmin and the two Embroidered Uniform Envoys instinctively took a breath. Upon inhaling, the Embroidered Uniform Envoys were the first to react, raising their hands to cover their noses and mouths.
Almost simultaneously, the three people accompanying Bu Shulin also sprang into action. The one who had handed her the scent pills grabbed two more and threw them—one toward Xiao Changmin and the other toward his accompanying experts—just as Bu Shulin had done.
The two experts reacted similarly to the Embroidered Uniform Envoys. With four scent pills shattered in close proximity, the initial whiff of the fragrance seemed to clear the mind, causing most to take a deep breath. One or two even collapsed on the spot.
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, the others drew their weapons and surrounded Bu Shulin. Despite being five months pregnant, Bu Shulin moved with agility, her fetus now stable. With swift strikes of her blade, she kept her attackers at bay, none able to get close to her.Xiao Changmin leaped into action, launching a surprise palm strike at Bu Shulin's back. As if she had eyes on the back of her head, Bu Shulin swept her longsword in an arc, evading the surrounding attendants who tried to entangle her. She spun around to meet his palm strike with her own while flicking her sword-holding sleeve, releasing a cloud of fine white scented powder that shot straight toward the approaching Xiao Changmin.
Xiao Changmin's face paled dramatically. Though he twisted away in retreat, he was half a step too slow, and some of the powder dusted his face.
Almost simultaneously with Xiao Changmin's assault on Bu Shulin, two Embroidered Uniform Envoys sprang forward to attack Shen Twenty-Seven.
With Xiao Changgeng held as a hostage, Shen Twenty-Seven would push him toward any opening whenever at a disadvantage or unable to cover a flank. The Envoys, though impervious to threats and unwilling to prioritize Xiao Changgeng's life, dared not kill him with their own hands, thus fighting with restraint.
This allowed Shen Twenty-Seven to hold his own for several exchanges. Occasionally, when Shen Twenty-Seven failed to block or react in time, Xiao Changgeng would feign an escape to alert him or obstruct the Envoys, thereby preserving Shen Twenty-Seven's life.
As time passed, Xiao Changmin's men fell one by one—not from direct attacks, but from the effects of the fragrance they had inadvertently inhaled earlier. The onset varied among individuals; even Xiao Changmin and his most trusted martial instructor felt their strength stagnating during their clash with Bu Shulin and her servants.
The same affliction befell the Embroidered Uniform Envoys, though their rigorous training minimized the impact. Realizing they had been compromised, the Envoys ceased holding back. Despite Xiao Changgeng's repeated assistance, he could not reveal himself.
The vast disparity in skill soon left Shen Twenty-Seven wounded. A sweeping sword strike across his waist would have severed him in two had a suddenly flying pebble not intervened. Even so, the blow carved a long gash across his abdomen. He retreated swiftly while the Envoys stared at the pebble.
The stone had blocked the sword, dissipating most of its force. That it merely bore a scratch instead of shattering testified to the thrower's profound skill—someone far superior to both Envoys, lurking in the shadows!
Their momentary hesitation allowed Shen Twenty-Seven to flee in another direction.
After a brief pause, the Envoys glanced back at Xiao Changmin, still locked in fierce combat with Bu Shulin and others, then chose to pursue. To them, Shen Twenty-Seven was Worldly Son Bu—the primary target of their mission—and the hidden figure was likely Bu's Hidden Guard.
In reality, those fighting alongside Bu Shulin against Xiao Changmin were her true Hidden Guards; all her forces were already deployed openly.
Seeing Shen Twenty-Seven retreat, Bu Shulin forcefully cut a path through the fray: "Withdraw!"
Her pregnancy, combined with the residual effects of the scent pill—most of which had been inhaled by Xiao Changmin's group—had taken a toll. Though they had held their breath initially, the remnants affected them during the fight. Shen Xihe's scent pill was ruthlessly potent, yet without such ferocity, they would have had no chance of escape today.
Xiao Changmin shoved aside a corpse Bu Shulin had thrown to block his path, but as he moved to pursue, his vision darkened and he collapsed, saved only by his aide's timely support.Watching the direction in which Bu Shulin and the others fled, Xiao Changmin released a signal from his sleeve. A dazzling burst of flames bloomed toward the path Shulin had taken.
Xiao Changgeng stumbled over to support Xiao Changmin, concealing the worry in his eyes. Xiao Changmin must have set up an ambush—it was unclear how many more were lying in wait to intercept them in waves. From here on, it would be difficult for him to intervene again.
Xiao Changmin glanced at Xiao Changgeng and remarked meaningfully, "Twelfth Brother, it seems you weren’t affected by the incense!"
Xiao Changgeng replied with utmost sincerity, "I was standing farther away."
(End of Chapter)
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