As soon as the words fell, Chu Yu lifted the person and threw them onto the horse, then swiftly mounted herself. Together with Wang He, she charged toward the wilderness outside the city.
Dozens of assassins surged out from the nearby thickets, and arrows rained down in an instant. Chu Yu's men emerged from behind them, with the majority engaging the assassins in a fierce struggle.
Wang He dared not stop, shouting anxiously at Chu Yu in anger, "Who sent these people?!"
"You ask me, but who should I ask?!"
Chu Yu snapped back, yet as soon as the words left her mouth, both of them understood in their hearts.
Who else could have sent assassins appearing here at this moment, if not Zhao Yue?
But to even target Wang He—what kind of ruthless ambition was this?
Wang He's mind was filled with shock and doubt, while Chu Yu remained composed. She glanced back at Hua Jing and quickly said, "My lord, it's best you leave Hua Jing immediately and return to your fiefdom. Whether you rebel or remain loyal is none of my concern, but if you wish to live, you must go now!"
Wang He pressed his lips together and finally nodded. "This old man will never forget your life-saving grace today. In the future—"
"Don't speak of the future. Just go!"
Chu Yu lashed her whip at Wang He, then turned and charged toward the assassins behind her. Her sword stole the night as she halted the pursuing killers in their tracks, her voice icy. "Halt right there."
The assassins exchanged glances and attacked Chu Yu in unison.
That night, a light rain fell. Changyue and Wanyue were still far away, and the coldness in Chu Yu's heart deepened as she faced her enemies.
The best outcome would be for everyone who had seen her tonight to die here.
With this thought, her sword carried a ruthless edge. Raindrops scattered from the blade as she watched seven swords thrust toward her in succession—slashing, sweeping, stabbing, blocking, hacking. With a single sword in hand, she wove an impenetrable net around herself, leaving no opening for the enemy's blades.
After several exchanges, seeing that Wang He had fled far enough, Chu Yu tapped her toes and retreated. The assassins, noticing her attempt to escape, gave chase. Chu Yu sprinted ahead, the killers hot on her heels. Just as they were about to catch up, she suddenly spun around and swung her sword without warning. A head flew into the air, blood gushing from the severed neck and splattering onto the others!
Chu Yu's eyes gleamed terrifyingly bright in the darkness, her face covered in blood like a demon of slaughter.
"My apologies," she murmured with a fleeting glance before lunging at another. "In your next life, live in peace."
From Kunyang County to the outskirts of Hua Jing, it took about seven days at a gallop. If one traveled day and night, the journey could be shortened further.
Wei Yun counted the days, growing increasingly impatient.
This time, the person he was chasing clearly knew he was being pursued and deliberately took a detour, dragging out the journey for over half a month before arriving at Lingcheng at the foot of Heaven's Guard Pass. Yet just as they were about to capture him, he slipped away again.
"He has a slender frame," the guard knelt and reported in a low voice. "He disguised himself as a woman and escaped."
Wei Yun said nothing. He took a sip of tea and stood up calmly. "The tracking incense was left behind?"
"It was."
The guard replied steadily. "The hounds are searching now."
Wei Yun nodded without further comment. His white jade mask gleamed coldly under the lamplight as he turned to gaze out the window, his eyes distant.
Hua Jing was now only two hours away. If he wished, he could return. Yet he hesitated.
What would he do if he went back now?
The words he wanted to say could not be spoken. The person he longed to see—once seen—would only leave him restless and tormented, able only to watch from afar.After some thought, he sighed and decided to secretly meet her once everything was settled before leaving, to avoid unnecessary sorrow.
With this in mind, he lowered his gaze and took a sip of tea.
The rain fell lightly, and before long, someone hurried upstairs anxiously, saying, "Master, we've found him. At an inn in the outskirts. He booked a room but hasn't returned yet."
Wei Yun acknowledged with a sound and stood up calmly. "Take me there."
The group traveled for half an hour before arriving at a small inn in the wilderness. Wei Yun led his men inside, where a waiter greeted them, "Guest—"
"Don't speak."
One of Wei Yun's men behind him drew a blade, pressing it against the waiter's neck. The waiter's face paled with fear as another guard stepped forward, guiding Wei Yun into the room the target had reserved.
"Hide yourselves well. Don't alert the enemy."
Wei Yun glanced around and ordered, "I'll wait inside the room."
The guards acknowledged and closed the door behind them as they left, instructing the waiter before taking their positions in ambush.
Meanwhile, Wei Yun entered the room, lifted the bed curtain, placed his sword on the bed, and sat cross-legged. Listening to the rain outside, he suddenly realized—
This rain might last all night.
Chu Yu clutched the wound on her shoulder with one hand while using her sword to support herself with the other, stumbling forward unsteadily.
Earlier, she had been fighting while fleeing, deliberately luring the assassins into ambushes. By the time she had dealt with them all, she realized she had long been separated from Changyue and Wanyue, with no idea where she was.
Now, injured and uncertain if more assassins were pursuing her, she gritted her teeth and pressed on.
In the distance, faint flickers of light suggested an inn. She struggled toward the courtyard and approached the nearest room. Sensing no breathing inside, she pushed open the window and climbed in.
She had no time to go to the front desk to book a room—she desperately needed to lie down, rest, and tend to her wounds.
After fighting and running all night, her strength was completely drained.
She staggered toward the bed, lifting the curtain to lie down. But the moment she pulled it aside, a hand suddenly shot out from within! Instinctively, Chu Yu dodged, but the other seized her wrist and yanked her into the bed!
There was no killing intent—he seemed only intent on restraining her. Before she could process what was happening, she twisted her body instinctively, forcing his grip to loosen, and lunged out of the bed. Yet he grabbed her collar and dragged her back!
Her hair came undone, and her clothes slipped off her shoulders as she collided hard against his chest.
This was a man.
A very young man.
Chu Yu, weakened from blood loss and her mind hazy, could still discern this much from his presence behind her.
He pinned both her hands behind her back with one hand while the other pressed against her throat. His voice, as clear and steady as spring water striking porcelain, was devoid of emotion as he said coolly, "Hand it over."
Hearing this, Chu Yu knew he had mistaken her for someone else. But with her throat constricted, she could barely make a sound. She struggled fiercely, and at last, Wei Yun sensed something amiss.
His fingers brushed lightly over her throat, and his brow furrowed.
She had no Adam's apple...Though the person had disguised themselves as a woman to escape and bore a striking resemblance to one in stature, they were unmistakably a man.
Wei Yun's expression darkened as he abruptly shoved Chu Yu away. She swiftly rolled to the far corner of the bed, clutching her torn garments tightly to cover her exposed shoulders.
Yet the fabric had already been ripped apart, and no matter how desperately she tugged, a sliver of snow-white skin remained visible below her neck.
Her gaze was calm yet wary, her entire body coiled defensively as she studied the man before her. He, in turn, stared at her face, his eyes gradually widening in surprise.
In the darkness, the two remained at opposite ends of the bed. Chu Yu silently slid a dagger into her palm, her eyes locked onto the young man across from her.
He remained kneeling, his sword resting beside him. His moonlit robes stood out starkly against the shadows, and the white jade mask on his face contrasted sharply with the pale glow of the night.
His posture was upright, his breathing steady—unfazed by their earlier scuffle.
A master.
The thought flashed through Chu Yu's mind. Suppressing the pain in her body, she rasped,
"I was being pursued and stumbled into this room by mistake. I beg your forgiveness, hero. I’ll leave now and won’t interfere with your affairs."
With that, she struggled to rise from the bed and move toward the door.
Her wounds burned fiercer with each step, and her head spun. After only a few paces, her legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed.
Just then, a large hand reached out from behind, steadying her.
"Rest and heal."
His voice was calm. Chu Yu gasped for breath, lifting her head with difficulty to meet his conflicted gaze.
There was something familiar about him, though she couldn’t place where she might have seen him before.
In her current state, she had no room to refuse. She nodded weakly. "Thank you, hero."
Wei Yun pressed his lips together before murmuring, "Forgive the impropriety."
Then he bent down, scooped her into his arms, and carried her out the door.
The guards rushed forward in alarm. "My lord, did you catch the intruder?!"
"Fetch a physician," Wei Yun replied evenly. "I happened to rescue a lady along the way."
The guards froze. A moment later, their expressions twisted in shock:
Unbelievable! Our young lord, single for eighteen years, has fallen for a woman at first sight!
Author’s Note: [Mini Theater]
Guard A: My lord, may I ask a question?
Wei Yun: Speak.
Guard A: When you said you ‘happened to rescue a lady,’ does that mean you rescued a lady… who then became your lady? Is that what you meant?
Wei Yun: "…"
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