"Kill her!"
Beneath the opulent, gilded pavilion, over a dozen figures surged through flashing blades toward Yaoying, who was shielded at the center by her personal guards. Dressed as ordinary civilians, they shouted in Turkic, Persian, Sogdian, and Brahmi, rallying accomplices with faces contorted by frenzied hatred.
They were all from the Royal Court.
Yuanjue broke out in a cold sweat, cutting down an assassin whose eyes showed no fear. Drenched in blood, the assailant kept charging forward until collapsing from exhaustion.
Heart still pounding, Yuanjue glanced back.
Screaming civilians scattered in panic as a figure lunged at Yaoying. A glint of steel flashed, and someone emerged from the crowd, sweeping her into an evasive maneuver. The female assassin moved like lightning. Though the man struck her with his palm, her dagger still found its mark—a spray of blood drenched Yaoying’s robes.
Yuanjue felt his soul leave his body. He tried to rush to Yaoying’s side, but several assassins swarmed him, blocking his path.
These were no ordinary assassins—they were Martial Assassins!
Guards and killers tangled in a chaotic dance of clashing steel, battle cries, and agonized screams. Through the din, Yaoying heard the man’s pained gasp.
A sharp ache pierced her chest, her body trembling uncontrollably.
The man holding her, assuming she was wounded, tightened his arms and rasped hoarsely, "Where are you hurt?"
Drenched in cold sweat, Yaoying stared at the phoenix eyes visible above his face covering.
She wasn’t injured—he was.
Why was Li Xuanzhen in the Royal Court?
A splitting headache overwhelmed her, and she fainted.
Li Xuanzhen’s pupils dilated. Agony seared through his wound as he knelt, still cradling her, blood gushing steadily.
Icy blade arcs descended toward them.
"Seventh Lady!" a guard cried out in terror, struggling to break free but held back by other assassins.
The wind howled.
Yuanjue held his breath.
Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent—yet suffused with raging killing intent and explosive palm strikes.
A long blade tore through the air as a figure shot from afar, his fierce momentum shattering the curved daggers of Yaoying’s attackers into fragments. They fell one by one without a sound.
The newcomer, clad in white robes and a face covering, charged straight toward Yaoying, his aura radiating palpable lethality.
Li Xuanzhen, barely conscious, still clung protectively to Yaoying.
The white-robed man bent down, pushed Li Xuanzhen aside, pried his hands open, and lifted Yaoying.
Ignoring the ongoing battle, he examined her wounds, fingers pressing against her neck.
The crowd froze momentarily before rallying to cut down the remaining assassins.
Someone rushed to Yuanjue’s side and said coldly, "Remember to take prisoners!"
Yuanjue shuddered, gaping at the speaker before turning to the figure who had repelled multiple assassins with one strike. A chill ran down his spine.
"General Ashina, that person…"
Bi Suo gripped his blade, stating coldly, "It’s him."
Yuanjue trembled.
Wasn’t the King at Wang Temple? Why was he here?
He had undergone Power dissipation… yet he forcibly activated his energy just now. Is he the Buddha Prince now, or Su Dan Gu?
Yuanjue’s face turned ashen.
Bi Suo’s expression darkened equally.
The guards sighed in relief at the white-robed man’s timely arrival, regrouping to swiftly eliminate the remaining assassins. Yuanjue and Bi Suo worked together to capture two alive.The nearby imperial guards rushed over. Bi Suo ordered them to guard all key passages, investigate accomplices, and prevent unauthorized personnel from approaching. He hurried to Yaoying and asked in a hushed, tense voice, "Is the princess alright?"
Tanmoroqie, holding the unconscious Yaoying, shook his head. His pair of emerald eyes beneath the face covering slowly closed.
She had no wounds on her body—the blood staining her dress must be Li Xuanzhen’s.
The moment he saw her collapse in the distance, the surging, uncontrollable killing intent that had erupted within him gradually receded.
Holding her, he felt her soft, steady breathing, his hands trembling slightly.
She was safe.
Bi Suo, looking anxious, whispered, "There are too many people here... I have a nearby villa. Let’s go there first."
Tanmoroqie remained silent, stood up with Yaoying in his arms.
The guards gathered around, assisting the severely injured Li Xuanzhen. Following Bi Suo’s lead, they passed through a narrow alley and entered his villa.
Tanmoroqie carried Yaoying into a room. Bi Suo instructed servants to fetch clean clothes for everyone and followed inside.
Yaoying remained unconscious. Tanmoroqie laid her on a long couch, checked her pulse, and frowned deeply.
"Was she frightened?" Bi Suo asked cautiously.
Tanmoroqie didn’t respond, taking a warm towel to wipe the blood splatters from Yaoying’s chin.
A maid entered to change Yaoying’s clothes.
Tanmoroqie stood and retreated outside the felt curtain.
Heavy footsteps echoed from outside as Yuanjue brought the captured assassins forward.
Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze, watching Yaoying on the couch for a moment before turning to leave.
Bi Suo followed him. Seeing the assassins, his anger flared, and he punched one, leaving the man’s face covered in blood.
"You’re from the Royal Court—who sent you? Why target a woman?"
Today’s assassins had clearly aimed for Yaoying. She hadn’t exposed her identity—why would they try to kill her?
The assassin spat out several bloodied teeth, laughing viciously. His brown eyes fixed on Tanmoroqie standing with hands behind his back under the corridor, his face contorted.
"Su Dan Gu! You’re Su Dan Gu, aren’t you?! We never thought we’d actually lure you out today!"
"We weren’t wrong—the woman by Yuanjue’s side is indeed yours!"
Tanmoroqie stared at the assassin, his gaze cold as ice.
Bi Suo’s heart sank, sweat pouring down his face.
The assassin laughed wildly, "Who sent us? I’ll tell you—it’s all your fault! You’ve accumulated countless blood debts—we wish we could slice you to pieces! You’re highly skilled, elusive, and we couldn’t get to you, so we waited for an opportunity..."
His blood-stained face trembled with excitement.
"Finally, we found our chance... when you entered the city, when you went to war... Su Dan Gu, you thought you were flawless, but we’ve been tracking your movements these past two years. That woman who entered the city with you is important to you... so we followed Yuanjue..."
Bi Suo clenched his fists, "Just because of a suspicion, you resorted to murder?"
The assassin sneered coldly, "Better to kill by mistake than let her go. Who told that woman to stay close to Su Dan Gu?"
Bi Suo gasped sharply.The assassin’s eyes widened, his laughter twisted and menacing: "Su Dan Gu, you’ve killed far too many—it’s time you tasted the pain of losing someone you love! Your family, your brothers, your friends… everyone you care about will die by our blades! What use is your martial prowess? We will always find a chance to strike!"
"Today we failed, but tomorrow others will come… You have no idea how many people despise you, how many are waiting for revenge. Sooner or later, you will pay for your sins!"
Tanmoroqie stood motionless at the corridor’s edge, his figure solitary and detached.
Bi Suo could bear it no longer. He sprang forward, seized the assassin’s hair, and with a deft twist, snapped his neck.
The assassin died instantly.
Silence fell over the corridor, yet the curse seemed to linger in the courtyard air.
Bi Suo’s face was pale as he turned to look at Tanmoroqie.
"Regent…"
Tanmoroqie closed his eyes briefly. "I understand."
No matter which identity he assumed, it would only bring harm to Princess Wenzhao.
As the Buddha Prince, his followers would see her as a demoness. As Su Dan Gu, she would face assassinations like today’s, again and again.
Bi Suo’s heart grew heavy, his eyes stinging, unable to utter a single word of comfort.
He thought of General Saisang’er…
…
The previous night, nothing had happened in the stone cave. However, the physician mentioned that Luojia’s complexion had improved. Though Luojia did not wish to keep Princess Wenzhao by his side, it was clear that her presence brought him genuine ease.
That morning, Luojia sat in the Zen room copying scriptures. After finishing a scroll, a few sparrows fluttered outside the corridor, chirping and playing among the flowering vines. He listened for a moment, set down his brush, and stepped out.
Worried that his injuries might flare up, Bi Suo followed discreetly, trailing him to the main street, assuming he was observing the people’s conditions.
In the end, Tanmoroqie stopped in a secluded corner, his gaze fixed intently in one direction.
Bi Suo followed his line of sight and froze.
Yuanjue approached from that direction, accompanied by a woman in vibrant attire, her braids draped over her shoulders and a veil covering her face. Though her features were obscured, her lively demeanor suggested she was smiling and enjoying herself. The guards behind her wore Royal Court attire, two of them carrying an assortment of food, drinks, and novel trinkets.
She stood below the high platform, watching the song and dance performances, lingering without moving on.
Tanmoroqie stood in the corner, his back to the lively spectacle on the stage, quietly watching her through the crowd.
She reveled in the mortal world, while he observed her from beyond its bounds.
Bi Suo sighed inwardly.
Just then, chaos erupted. An assassin lunged—a woman, taking advantage of the guards’ inattention, threw herself at Yaoying, dagger raised. A man suddenly stepped in front, shielding Yaoying from the strike.
Bi Suo’s heart raced with terror.
In that instant, Tanmoroqie’s aura shifted dramatically.
He drew his blade and charged forward. "Regent, you must not reveal yourself—I will go…"
Tanmoroqie shot him a glance, snatched the sword from his waist, and leaped into action.
Bi Suo stood stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality and giving chase.
…
Recalling the scene, Bi Suo still felt a chill of fear.
This was what he had dreaded most—if anything happened to Princess Wenzhao, the King would be unable to suppress his cultivation method… just like General Saisang’er, who had gone mad after his family’s tragic death…
Now, discovering that the assassin had targeted Yaoying to exact revenge on Su Dan Gu, Bi Suo felt even more profound dread."I will dispatch more personnel to thoroughly investigate this matter, to prevent anyone else from approaching the Princess..."
He tentatively said.
Tanmoroqie turned and entered the room.
Both of them understood that these martial assassins, driven by a resolve to die for revenge, would not cease until death, making them impossible to guard against completely.
In the past, he had faced many assassination attempts. Alone, indifferent to life and death, without desires or attachments, he had nothing to fear.
But the thought of her facing similar dangers stirred turmoil in his heart, leaving him unsettled.
In his entire life, he had desired nothing—only this one selfish wish.
He would bring harm upon her.
Tanmoroqie closed his eyes briefly, then turned and went inside.
The maids were wiping Yaoying's body and changing her clothes. The ornaments she wore, the small dagger, the cloth bag she carried, the dew-collecting pouch, and the brocade pouch were all removed and piled beside the couch.
With a soft thud, a leather-wrapped bundle slipped from the sleeve of the clothes she had taken off and fell onto the felt rug.
A maid hurriedly bent to pick it up, but a dark shadow fell over her as someone picked up the bundle before she could.
She looked up and met a pair of icy eyes, paling in fright before bowing and fleeing the room as if escaping.
Tanmoroqie held the bundle, sat by the couch, removed his face covering, and with two fingers covered by a cloth, checked Yaoying's pulse once more.
She had no visible wounds, yet for some reason, she still hadn't awakened.
Perhaps she was truly frightened.
Tanmoroqie withdrew his hand, touched her forehead, and frowned slightly.
Footsteps approached as Yuanjue entered the room and said, "Regent, the Crown Prince of Wei's bleeding has stopped. The physicians say his life is not in danger, but with his old wounds not yet healed and new injuries added, it is truly perilous. He is drifting in and out of consciousness, asking about Princess Wenzhao and insisting on coming to see her."
Tanmoroqie replied indifferently, "Stop him."
Yuanjue acknowledged the order.
"Today, she..." Tanmoroqie suddenly began, pausing for a moment before continuing, "Was the Princess happy today?"
Yuanjue glanced covertly at his expression, thought for a moment, and said softly, "Today, the Princess was very happy... She said that customs vary from place to place, each with its own liveliness, and she even bought something for the King... The Princess also said she wished to dance with those performers..."
Tanmoroqie listened quietly, his face expressionless, then waved his hand.
Yuanjue withdrew.
Tanmoroqie scanned the items piled on the table beside the couch, his gaze halting as he reached out and moved aside the brocade pouch.
A stack of scripture scrolls was revealed.
He pulled out the scriptures.
The scriptures were bound like palm leaves into a volume, but instead of having a small hole in the middle fastened with string, they were folded in a unique style. The pages were made of parchment, softened and thinned through complex processes, adorned with exquisite patterns traced in gold, silver, and powdered gemstones, delicate and ingenious.
His room held many scriptures, all of them heavy scripture scrolls. Once, when Bore asked her to fetch a few scriptures, she carried over a large stack and muttered under her breath that scriptures were too heavy—it would be better to make them into portable books for easy use, paired with beautiful illustrations to make them pleasing to the eye.
After that time when he said only a few scriptures were needed, she often brought him scriptures, sending him a few copies whenever new styles were printed, and even borrowing his manuscripts for printing.
These scriptures must be a new design.
Tanmoroqie stuffed the scriptures back into the brocade pouch, picked up the bundle he had retrieved earlier to put it back, then paused as if remembering something, and untied the bag's opening.
A sweet fragrance overflowed; the thorn honey inside was fresh and glossy, the color of amber.
She had once gazed at him eagerly and asked, "Is it sweet?"He said, "Sweet."
She smiled.
Tanmoroqie's lowered eyelashes trembled slightly as he tightened his grip on the bundle.
The person on the bed stirred.
Tanmoroqie snapped back to attention, set down the bundle, and looked at Yaoying.
She hadn't awakened—her eyes remained tightly shut, her body trembling faintly.
Tanmoroqie frowned, reached out to brush aside her long hair, and checked her neck, forehead, and pulse. Nothing seemed amiss, yet her brow was deeply furrowed, her face pale as snow, her expression pained, and her body continued to shiver.
"It hurts..."
She murmured softly in her sleep.
Tanmoroqie abruptly stood up and sent Yuanjue to fetch a physician.
The physician hurried over, checked her pulse, and said in confusion, "From her pulse, the princess shows no signs of injury—neither internal nor external..."
As he spoke, Yaoying on the bed trembled even more violently, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Suddenly, she retched and vomited a mouthful of fresh blood.
The others in the room paled dramatically.
Setting everything else aside, Tanmoroqie sat on the bed, lifted Yaoying into his arms, and carefully examined her for any hidden wounds. He pressed along her acupoints but still found nothing unusual.
Bi Suo frowned. "Could it be poison?"
The physician shook his head. "There are no signs of poisoning either."
Yuanjue's eyes reddened with anxiety—it was all his fault for not being careful enough in looking after the princess!
The physician flipped through several medical texts and checked Yaoying's pulse again, his expression shifting abruptly.
"How could this be? In just a short while... the princess's pulse has weakened, as if... as if..."
He shuddered, not daring to finish the sentence.
Tanmoroqie remained silent. He too was versed in medicine and understood what the physician left unsaid.
She was fading.
In that instant, he felt as though he had plunged into an abyss.
Yaoying continued to tremble lightly. Tanmoroqie held her tightly, his expression still calm and composed, but turmoil churned beneath the surface of his eyes. "Summon the princess's personal guards. Ask them if she has ever exhibited such symptoms before."
"Interrogate the assassins. Find out if they used any poison."
His tone was more urgent than usual.
Yuanjue and Bi Suo rushed out of the room. Soon, Yuanjue returned with one of the guards, who had served in the prince's residence and knew more than the others.
Seeing Yaoying unconscious, the guard dropped to his knees with a thud. "The princess fell gravely ill once before... My lord summoned every physician, but none could cure her..."
Yuanjue nearly fainted and pressed urgently, "Then how did the princess recover?"
The guard trembled. "Later, the princess pulled through on her own... My lady said it might have been her deceased uncle watching over her... Physicians from Jingnan said that when this illness strikes, no medicine works..."
Yuanjue's face turned deathly pale.
Footsteps sounded at the door as Bi Suo entered, his expression grave. He shook his head. "The assassins couldn't get close to the princess. They didn't use poison."
Tanmoroqie's arms tightened around Yaoying.
"What about Duke Weiguo?"
Bi Suo replied, "We've already sent for him, but he doesn't know what's happened here yet. There's no news."
"Summon other physicians."
Bi Suo acknowledged the order and instructed his subordinates.
Soon, physicians trusted by Bi Suo arrived one after another. After examining Yaoying's pulse, each shook their head and sighed. "The symptoms are too bizarre..."
With no solutions in sight, someone suggested trying bloodletting therapy, while another proposed chanting sutras and prayers.
Bi Suo, overwhelmed with frustration, shooed out the crowd of useless advisors.
Yaoying's breathing grew increasingly faint.Tanmoroqie held her tightly, channeling his Internal Force in an attempt to warm her, but she remained unresponsive. Her body grew colder, her lips gradually turning blue.
A flush appeared between his brows, turmoil swirling in his eyes as faint shadows flickered across them.
Bi Suo watched with bated breath, silently praying that Princess Wenzhao would come to no harm.
Yuanjue clasped his hands together, pacing anxiously around the room while reciting Scriptures aloud, beseeching the Buddha for protection.
Yet Yaoying only grew weaker, her pulse becoming undetectable.
Tanmoroqie closed his eyes for a long moment, cradling the back of her neck as his arms tightened slightly.
He had once taken her to a pagoda to pray for her blessings.
Under the Buddha’s gaze, he had offered prayers, wishing her a life free from illness and disaster, filled with joy.
At that time, he had confessed his distracting thoughts and selfish desires to the Buddha—the one stirred by emotion and attachment was him, and it had nothing to do with her.
He had never asked for anything for himself.
He only wished for her peace and freedom.
Life is full of fears, fragile as morning dew. From attachment arise worries, from attachment arise fears. If one is free from attachment, there are no worries and no fears.
All is emptiness, life and death revolve in cycles. Though he regarded all matters with detachment, he still hoped she could fully savor the mortal world.
She was so precious.
Holding Yaoying, Tanmoroqie felt her life slipping away.
So suddenly.
Just as she had come to him—quietly, unexpectedly, as if descending from the heavens.
It felt as though he were falling endlessly into a bottomless abyss, the surroundings growing darker and colder.
Yuanjue began to sob softly, while Bi Suo broke out in a cold sweat.
Tanmoroqie removed the rosary from Yaoying’s wrist and began reciting Scriptures.
As dusk fell, candles were lit in the room. Physicians debated in the adjacent chamber, the sound of vigorous fanning accompanied the brewing of medicine, and servants moved in and out, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
Tanmoroqie’s eyes remained tightly shut.
After what felt like an eternity, the person in his arms suddenly stirred, emitting a few soft murmurs.
Warm breath brushed against his chest.
Tanmoroqie froze for a moment, his fingers clutching the Buddhist Beads abruptly tightening.
The person in his arms twisted a few more times, then opened her eyes, lashes fluttering lightly. Her eyes were moist, her face pale as snow.
“Is Li Xuanzhen alright?”
She asked groggily.
Li Xuanzhen had taken a blade for her. Earlier, she had felt a sharp pain in her chest, her entire body aching. Only now was she recovering. If something had happened to him, she wouldn’t have made it through this ordeal!
Tanmoroqie’s gaze deepened, remaining silent as he checked her pulse with two fingers.
Her pulse was still weak, but at least it had stabilized somewhat, much better than before.
He looked down to examine her complexion more closely. Fine beads of sweat covered her face, as if she had been drenched in water. Her lips had regained some color, no longer as pale as before.
The body in his embrace slowly grew warmer.
Tanmoroqie closed his eyes and tightened his grip on the Buddhist Beads.
Yaoying’s consciousness had not yet fully returned; she had no idea what had happened. All she felt was that she was drenched in sweat, sticky and uncomfortable, and she struggled to sit up. “Where is Li Xuanzhen?”
She asked again.
Tanmoroqie’s expression remained impassive.
Everyone else in the room had been preparing to kneel before the Buddha in prayer. To their astonishment, Yaoying, who had been on the brink of death just moments before, had suddenly awakened. After a moment of stunned silence, their faces lit up with overwhelming joy as they rushed forward.
“Princess! You’re alright!”
“Are you feeling better? Where does it hurt?”
Yaoying rubbed her head. “I’m fine…”
Remembering what had happened before she lost consciousness, her gaze swept past Tanmoroqie beside her, and she paused in surprise.
“Why is the Regent here?”
Tanmoroqie stood up and walked out without a word.
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