There really were assassins!

Jiang Xuening had just returned to her own carriage when chaotic slashing and killing erupted outside, truly astonishing her. However, having previously witnessed such merciless grand scenes as Xie Wei’s suppression of the Heavenly Teachings at Shangqing Temple, she wasn’t particularly afraid now when this group of assassins came.

Moreover, those assassins were all heading toward Xiao Dingfei at the front.

Who could have expected people to be hiding in the forest alongside?

The group was caught somewhat unprepared.

Fortunately, Jianshu had been guarding outside a nearby carriage just moments ago. Discovering the anomaly in time, he blocked in front of Xiao Dingfei’s carriage. His long sword unsheathed, when wielded it displayed extremely fierce momentum—completely unlike what Xie Wei had casually mentioned earlier about “crude martial skills, understanding some blades and swords”!

“Clang clang clang”—a chaotic clamor!

Screams rang out constantly in the field.

Before long, the muddy ground outside the forest was spattered with fresh blood, with people continuously falling.

These assassins’ skills were exceptionally good, one after another, and their strikes were extremely ruthless—completely reckless fighting styles. Upon discovering Jianshu steadfastly guarding Xiao Dingfei’s carriage without moving an inch, three to five people came up together raising their blades at him, actually surrounding him completely, preventing him from breaking free.

Two others flanked from the side.

Black scarves covering their faces, only their eyes exposed, flashing with cold light that startled anyone who saw.

The two raised their blades and stabbed toward the interior of the carriage!

“Riiip!”

The carriage curtain was immediately slashed open with a huge gash.

Xiao Dingfei was trapped inside the carriage. Though he was a good-for-nothing, he still carried a sword. Upon learning there were assassins, he’d already drawn it and gripped it in hand. Now as the assassins’ blades entered, he immediately raised his sword horizontally to block!

Immediately came two “thud thud” sounds.

Two carved-feather arrows arrived almost simultaneously, striking with perfect accuracy through both assassins’ foreheads, piercing through two skulls!

Xiao Dingfei looked outside—

In the tree shadow by the forest’s edge stood a figure, steady as rock—it was that blue-clad youth Daoqin from Xie Wei’s side who wasn’t always seen, holding a bow with arrows on his back, actually unhurried and calm, one arrow per person!

Before long, a mass of bodies lay on the ground.

Only then did Xie Wei lift the carriage curtain and emerge from inside, standing on the carriage shaft. He surveyed this tragic battle situation with a glance, calmly instructing: “Leave one alive.”

Daoqin secretly pursed his lips.

Though somewhat dissatisfied in his heart, that last carved-feather arrow nocked on the bowstring ultimately shifted down slightly.

“Whoosh”—a sound of breaking air.

The arrow left the string, transforming into swift lightning that shot forth, fiercely piercing through the last assassin’s shoulder. The force was so vicious it actually nailed this person to the thick wooden board on the side of Xiao Dingfei’s carriage!

Xiao Dingfei was still inside the carriage, but seeing a section of the arrow shaft penetrate through the board, his scalp went numb with fright!

He immediately couldn’t help cursing: “Fuck your grandmother!”

Whose life were they really after!

This group of assassins came fast and died fast.

Only now did those traveling with them realize they’d broken out in cold sweat, completely not daring to imagine—if they’d discovered the anomaly a bit later, given how formidable these assassins were, who knew how many would have died.

Looking again at Jianshu and Daoqin beside Xie Wei, they carried some reverence.

Jiang Xuening watched from afar, not daring to exit her carriage.

Xiao Yuan’s carriage was ahead. At this moment, with a frightened appearance, he descended from the carriage. Sweeping a glance around, his face immediately darkened like thunder, filled with gloom: “Good, there really were assassins!”

Xie Wei didn’t descend from his carriage, only calling Jianshu once.

Jianshu hadn’t even had time to wipe the blood from his sword. Hearing Xie Wei’s call, he already understood. He walked straight to that assassin nailed to the carriage and pulled off the black scarf covering his face in one motion.

About thirty years old in appearance, with a scar on his left cheek.

His face had long been twisted from the pain of the arrow piercing his shoulder.

Then the instant the face-covering black scarf was torn away, a fierce look flashed through this person’s eyes. Both sides of his jaw bone suddenly protruded, as if he wanted to forcefully bite down on something.

His reaction was indeed fast, but the youth before him moved three points faster!

Not even waiting for him to bite down, the shadow before his eyes suddenly flickered.

This assassin only felt pain in his jaw, then lost all sensation—Jianshu had, in that split second, directly dislocated his jawbone!

Watching from the side, Xiao Dingfei felt his own jaw go cold.

Despair had already appeared in that assassin’s eyes.

Jianshu, practiced and familiar, extracted that tiny poison sac from beneath his teeth without the slightest effort, turning back to report to Xie Wei: “Sir, a death warrior.”

Xie Wei was just putting that “Master of Zhuoqin Hall” seal back in its pouch, not at all surprised. Smiling, he said: “Seems we won’t get anything from questioning.”

Xiao Yuan had just walked over, somewhat alarmed and fearful.

Xie Wei waved his hand lightly: “Kill him then.”

That assassin truly hadn’t expected this. Shock had just flooded his face when Jianshu directly slashed half his neck with one sword stroke. Blood pooled everywhere, then he cleanly and efficiently pulled out the sword along with the corpse that wouldn’t rest in peace, tossing them on the ground beside.

Everyone couldn’t help shuddering.

Zhang Zhe at the front saw this, only feeling it didn’t accord with normal reason. His brow thus furrowed imperceptibly.

But Xie Wei appeared perfectly ordinary. Looking back toward Xiao Yuan beside him, as if just remembering, with a somewhat apologetic manner: “Look at me, I forgot. These assassins seemed to be coming for Young Master Dingfei—truly heinous criminals. I didn’t ask Duke first before having him killed. Duke won’t blame me, will you?”

Heaven knows how afraid Xiao Yuan was when he saw the death warrior fail to commit suicide?

But immediately after, he saw the person die before him.

Shocked and horrified, he nevertheless tremblingly breathed a sigh of relief. Even now still somewhat dazed, he only said: “Blame you I do not. Just somewhat regrettable—though he’s a death warrior of the Heavenly Teachings, bringing him back for severe torture and interrogation might not have failed to make him divulge some information…”

Death warriors of the Heavenly Teachings?

Xiao Dingfei glanced at this ground full of carnage, sneering coldly in his heart. For a moment he felt chilled to the teeth, and somewhat pitying.

He only raised his head again, looking toward Xie Wei.

The sun had come out at noon. Now approaching dusk, it was precisely when the sun thinned at the western mountains.

The remaining glow of sunset, miserably red.

Mist rose in the mountain forest.

This young Shaoshi stood tall, his originally snow-white Daoist robe covered by the evening sun’s radiance, as if soaked in blood, then faded and aged by years of time, only flowing thinly with pale red.

Xie Wei seemed at ease, smiling faintly: “If Duke doesn’t blame me, that’s good. If Young Master Dingfei is indeed Duke Dingguo’s former heir Dingfei who was lost years ago, should any mishap occur, no one could bear the responsibility. After all, I’ve heard that when the heir sacrificed himself to save his master years ago, His Majesty constantly remembers this benefactor…”

Xiao Yuan’s complexion changed slightly.

He raised his eyes to look at Xie Wei.

But Xie Wei stood with his back to the west. That slanting light gilded his body, making it hard to see his face clearly. Only slightly cupping his hands toward Xiao Yuan, he returned inside the carriage.

Jiang Xuening watched from afar, slowly lowering the carriage curtain, thoughtful, sighing: “We’re about to return to the capital.”