Shen Twenty-seven was right – Xiao Changyan’s primary target was himself, and he couldn’t stay here any longer. He had already told Shen Twenty-seven everything necessary.

Nodding to Shen Twenty-seven, Shen Yunan looked back at the gradually approaching official ships.

He couldn’t simply dive into the water – that would give Xiao Changyan leverage since his travel papers had just been presented under Shen Twenty-seven’s authority as Crown Prince of Shu South. A sudden escape would give Xiao Changyan the perfect excuse to detain Shen Twenty-seven’s group.

His eyes flashed as he focused on the Shadow Guards engaging with the young men Zhapu had brought.

These Shadow Guards, trained at great cost and effort by Xiao Changyan, were no ordinary fighters. Even four or five of them could hold their own against Zhapu’s dozen or so men.

A cold glint flashed across Shen Yunan’s crimson lips as they curved into a smile. His sharp eyes quickly assessed every point of combat between the two sides, and a viable path flashed through his mind. His feet and body were already moving along the trajectory his mind had mapped.

The blazing sun overhead cast glittering golden light across the river’s surface.

What should have been a suffocatingly hot summer day was pierced by countless cold glints flashing before everyone’s eyes.

They only saw Shen Yunan’s movements leave afterimages, his lightning-fast form darting from one end to the other through countless clashing fighters, making their sword fights and sparking blades seem to move in slow motion.

When Shen Yunan finally stopped, many Shadow Guards had blood flowing from cuts on their necks or napes. The pain came so suddenly that before they could even raise their hands to their wounds, their bodies stiffened and crashed to the ground!

Shen Yunan’s move shocked everyone, especially those on Zhapu’s side who had crossed blades with the Shadow Guards and knew their skill – they instinctively felt a chill run down their necks.

Killing six enemies in one move – while the remaining Shadow Guards were momentarily stunned with fear, their leader instantly leaped up, sword point aimed directly at Shen Yunan. The other Shadow Guards also recovered and resumed fighting with Zhapu’s men.

Watching the sword cleaving through the air toward him, Shen Yunan quickly jumped backward, his foot touching the sword’s edge as he executed an elegant flip in midair before plunging into the river.

The moment he entered the water, a long arrow shot through the space his body had just occupied, striking the ship instead.

Shen Twenty-seven quickly moved to the ship’s edge, eyes fixed on the rippling water where Shen Yunan had disappeared. He hadn’t seen whether Shen Yunan had been hit by the arrow. Only after the ripples gradually settled without any blood rising to the surface did his expression slightly improve.

By then, the Shadow Guards had also plunged into the river one after another as Xiao Changyan’s official ship drew near. Shen Twenty-seven faced Xiao Changyan, now just steps away, with a dark expression: “Why did Your Highness shoot arrows at my Shu South people?”

Xiao Changyan raised his eyebrows. “That was a man of Shu South?” he asked with feigned surprise, then cupped his hands toward Shen Twenty-seven. “My apologies, Prince. The distance was too great – I couldn’t see clearly and thought it was someone attempting to assassinate you.”

After a pause, Xiao Changyan raised his hand: “Quickly find the Prince’s attendant and bring him back safely.”

At his command, men who seemed to have been prepared in advance cleanly dove into the water, creating circles of waves across the river surface. Shen Twenty-seven could only maintain his cold expression.

Though Xiao Changyan’s explanation was perfunctory, it was reasonable enough. For just an attendant, he couldn’t risk confrontation with a Prince. Xiao Changyan was acting deliberately to have an excuse to send more men to hunt down Shen Yunan.

Shen Twenty-seven could only hope Shen Yunan had made preparations in advance.

Indeed, Shen Yunan had prepared. While he couldn’t predict exactly how Xiao Changyan would target him, he knew beyond doubt that he would.

Before entering the water, his arm had been grazed by Xiao Changyan’s arrow, breaking the skin, but he didn’t need to flee – the Qu family’s merchant ship had a hidden door below, behind which he could conceal himself by sliding open the panel.

Xiao Changyan could never have dreamed that he was right beneath his feet inside the ship.

In the dark, narrow hidden compartment, Shen Yunan heard many splashing sounds through the wooden boards. He calmly began treating his minor wound.

Lighting a fire stick, in the weak light Shen Yunan saw the injured area turning black and swollen, indicating the arrow had been poisoned. He quickly took out a porcelain bottle from his waist, removed a sealed wax ball, broke it open, and swallowed the medicine inside.

Leaning against the wooden panel, his fingertips on his pulse, Shen Yunan’s expression grew increasingly tense as he felt his abnormally rapid heartbeat.

After a long while, unable to bear the pain in his chest, he vomited a mouthful of black blood and finally relaxed: “Fortunately I was prepared. Youyou said this fellow was viciously ruthless and cunning – she wasn’t wrong!”

Shen Xihe had sent Shen Yunan personally to deal with Xiao Changyan because she and Xiao Huayong couldn’t leave the palace this time – His Majesty would be watching them closely.

Others likely wouldn’t be a match for Xiao Changyan. Even with Shen Yunan coming personally, Shen Xihe had made complete preparations. This antidote pill was personally compounded by Xie Yunhuai – it could counter any ordinary poison except the rare kind that had afflicted Xiao Huayong. She had also added Immortal Vine to it.

She had discovered that Immortal Vine seemed to enhance medicinal effects – whether medicine or incense, adding a little would multiply the effectiveness.

Naturally, she had made many items using Immortal Vine to give to family and friends.

Feeling his pulse gradually return to normal, Shen Yunan closed his eyes to rest.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Guards and soldiers Xiao Changyan had sent quickly spread out in all directions like a net being cast.

They pursued from the middle of the river to the edges without finding Shen Yunan, and some Shadow Guards who reached the shore were ambushed, never to return.

Xiao Changyan forced Shen Twenty-seven’s ship to the nearest dock, claiming concern for Prince Bu’s safety and the need for a detailed inspection.

During the journey, Shen Yunan calculated the timing and silently emerged from the hidden compartment, diving deep into the river and departing without causing a single ripple.

When he returned to their temporary lodging, Mo Yao and Qi Pei were anxiously waiting.

“Your Highness, are you injured?” Mo Yao strode forward, his face showing genuine concern.

Shen Yunan’s gaze subtly swept across Mo Yao’s face before his eyes closed and he collapsed into Mo Yao’s arms.

He was pretending.

Letting Mo Yao and Qi Pei panic and scramble about, he lay quietly on the bed. The physician who was called had been arranged in advance by Shen Xihe through Qu Hongying.

Though the poison had already been neutralized, the physician claimed it hadn’t. Feeling Mo Yao’s care no different from usual, Shen Yunan was secretly alarmed.

Having spent years in the Northwest and campaigned in the Western Regions, he had heard of soul-capturing techniques, but experiencing them firsthand made him realize how terrifying they were.

Mo Yao probably didn’t even realize his strange condition.