This arrow had clearly been shot and was clearly aimed at Jingrong.

Who knew which damned bastard came out to block it.

Zhao Huai was about to take his bow and shoot again!

But he saw a figure leap down before everyone’s eyes, landing steadily beside Jingrong.

Obedient as a small cat.

Shi Ziran wore a stern expression with an air of “can’t be bothered with you,” half his face hidden beneath his disheveled bangs, which also concealed the black eye patch he wore over his left eye.

The violent energy about him had a roguish quality.

That slender right eye stared slantingly at Zhao Huai on the earthen fortress!

At this moment—

From the tree shadows behind, another person leaped out, standing beside Shi Ziran.

Shi Zijin looked at him coldly and asked curiously, “Weren’t you fasting?”

Shi Ziran replied, “Mind your own business.”

“I won’t mind you, but if something happens to the Prince, can you bear the responsibility?”

“What are you babbling about? Did I tell the Prince to come? I just got back last night and he dragged me up here. Is that my fault?”

“But you couldn’t have come without bringing a single soldier.”

“The Prince said to avoid unnecessary sacrifices. He’ll rescue his own Princess Consort himself. Besides, you useless thing, you couldn’t even infiltrate this small bandit’s nest. What a waste of life.”

“You’re the waste of life. Did you see? It’s impenetrable outside. I couldn’t even get in.”

“That’s just for you. There’s no place in this world I can’t enter.” Shi Ziran glanced at her disdainfully, crossed his arms with his sword tucked between them, and shook one foot. “Forget it. I’ll protect the Prince’s safety. When we go in later, you just protect that Princess Consort well, so she doesn’t get hurt when the fighting starts.”

Extremely arrogant!

Bickering between the two was a common occurrence.

This Shi Ziran was actually Shi Zijin’s real older brother!

What Shi Zijin hated most was this arrogant and conceited brother of hers.

And what Shi Ziran disdained most was this sister of his with terrible martial arts skills.

Both had grown up with Jingrong, but despite being blood siblings, their personalities differed by a hundred thousand miles.

Shi Ziran’s arrogance came with a roguish air, and his tongue was extremely venomous, every sentence deadly, while Shi Zijin was much more cold and aloof, and didn’t talk much.

However, the two did share one thing in common—a stubborn streak in their bones.

Half a year ago, Shi Ziran had suddenly said he wanted to go to Mount Buddha to fast and purify his soul. At that time, Jingrong was about to leave the capital to investigate the “Linjing Case,” so he permitted him to go fast at Mount Buddha without having to follow along.

Now having descended the mountain, he had pursued Jingrong’s party through the night.

Jingrong acted as if he hadn’t heard their conversation. His lips curved slightly as he jumped down from his horse.

His proud, upright figure stood firm and towering!

He raised his eyes toward Zhao Huai on the earthen fortress, his tone cold and severe, “Since I’ve dodged your arrow, surely the Chief of High Mountain Stronghold won’t go back on his word?”

Zhao Huai was sullen, punching his thigh with one fist and tossing the bow in his hand to someone beside him.

With a single command.

“Open the gate.”

The main gate opened.

Jingrong strode in, with Shi Ziran calmly following behind.

But Shi Zijin was concerned and said by Jingrong’s ear, “Your Highness, you cannot go in.”

Jingrong paid no attention.

Shi Ziran gave his sister a disdainful look. “Meddlesome.”

Damn it!

After the three entered, that main gate was closed.

Those bandits stared with pairs of eyes, as if they wanted to roast them alive.

Zhao Huai also came down from above, striding up to stand before Jingrong.

With the same disdainful manner, tilting his head, “Coming in just like that, aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”

Jingrong said, “I just told you, you can try.”

“Truly worthy of being a prince of our Great Lin Dynasty—such backbone. I like it.” He waved his hand. “Someone come! Prepare strong liquor. Our High Mountain Stronghold is truly blessed to have invited a prince in.”

Amid the jeering of the crowd, Jingrong and the Shi siblings took seats in the stronghold camp, and jars of strong liquor were brought up one after another.

Actually, when Jingrong entered, he had already surveyed the outer layout of the stronghold.

Unlike the outside, the defenses inside were much more lax.

According to military strategy theory, it was like a large net separating the inside from the outside.

As they say, hard to get in, hard to get out!

It didn’t look like a bandit’s nest at all, but rather like a proper military camp.

One could see that the deceased old stronghold chief truly had great capabilities.

Zhao Huai raised a bowl of wine toward Jingrong. “Since I said I’d welcome you in for drinks, we won’t return until we’re drunk. Taste whether the wine brewed in my High Mountain Stronghold is sweet or bitter.”

Jingrong’s expression was calm as he picked up a bowl of wine.

“Your Highness, don’t drink.” Shi Zijin stopped him.

Zhao Huai laughed heartily. “What? Worried I’ve poisoned the wine? If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it outside just now. I wouldn’t wait until here. I, Zhao Huai, never do such things.”

Having said this, he drained the wine in his hand in one gulp.

Jingrong then raised the wine and drank it all.

Setting down the bowl, he swept his stern eyes around and said with a smile, “This High Mountain Stronghold is truly a good place. If it were positioned at a border fortress, it would certainly be able to resist enemy invasions.”

“Naturally. My High Mountain Stronghold has layers of traps. Even people with the best martial arts can’t get in.”

Shi Ziran couldn’t help but laugh. “A broken stronghold—I can enter whenever I want. What traps? They’re all just decorations.”

Oh my, truly arrogant!

Hearing this, Zhao Huai’s eyes tightened as he began sizing him up and snorted. “The only person in this world who can block my arrow is you. It seems your martial arts are quite good.”

“So-so, third in the martial world.”

“Who’s second?”

“Dead.”

“What about first?”

“Also dead.”

“Don’t tell me you killed them?” Zhao Huai asked.

Shi Ziran laughed, hugging his sword with narrowed eyes. “Not at all. I heard it was because they were too arrogant, so they were collectively executed by martial world people. Because of that, I even fasted for half a year to purify my soul, lest… I follow their path.” As he spoke, he pointed to his left eye. “This eye of mine is a stark lesson.”

His words carried deep meaning!

Zhao Huai picked up on it. “What do you mean by that?”

“Just wanted to offer some advice—when being human, one must never be arrogant and self-important, lest you get killed without even knowing it.”

After hearing this, Zhao Huai’s eyes immediately burst with murderous intent, shooting toward Shi Ziran.

Jingrong turned his head to glance at Shi Ziran.

“Ziran, don’t be rude.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Jingrong curved his lips and said to Zhao Huai, “My subordinate is impolite, speaking and acting too rashly. I hope the Chief won’t take offense. After all, when subordinates are disobedient and get killed, in the end, people will only blame the master for teaching them poorly.”

Pfft—

One had to admit, Jingrong and Shi Ziran’s double act was performed quite well!

But it left Shi Zijin completely stunned.