Four warriors spread out in formation.

Each drew their cherished longswords and began performing a sword dance as instructed by Na Tuo.

Naturally, everyone worked hard to earn rewards.

After all, they were men of the jianghu and trained martial artists—their sword dancing was quite impressive.

Moreover, their movements were synchronized, as if they had rehearsed beforehand.

However, Jingrong had an ominous premonition. His hawk-like eyes remained fixed on those four sharp longswords.

The longswords reflected the candlelight in the main hall, emanating a chilling cold gleam.

Those beams of cold light occasionally flashed across his eyes.

The glare made it somewhat difficult for him to keep his eyes open!

It was as if something was being foreshadowed.

To the point where an intense and urgent premonition scrambled through his mind.

He rarely experienced such a feeling!

Ji Yinshu vaguely noticed something was wrong with him.

She leaned over and asked softly, “What’s the matter?”

He frowned slightly, his gaze vigilant as it rested on the four warriors, responding softly to Ji Yinshu’s question: “If anything happens later, you must stay by my side.”

“Have you discovered something?”

“Just as a precaution.”

Seeing that his gaze remained fixed on the four sword dancers in the hall, Ji Yinshu guessed about seventy or eighty percent of what was happening.

She remained silent, sitting properly.

Meanwhile, Na Tuo on the high seat enjoyed the “performance” with satisfaction.

Wondering whom to reward afterward?

Among those four, one burly bearded man was closest to Jingrong. His martial arts skills were somewhat better than the other three, and his sword dancing carried considerable force.

Yet his gaze kept drifting toward Ji Yinshu’s direction.

As if waiting for some opportunity!

The facts proved that Jingrong’s worry and premonition were indeed correct!

Just as that warrior raised his sword to execute the next move, when all four should have thrust their swords forward in unison, only that burly man suddenly aimed his sword in Ji Yinshu’s direction.

In an instant, he thrust fiercely toward her.

Eh?

Ji Yinshu’s pupils widened—she had no time to dodge at all!

Her body could only involuntarily lean backward, trying to avoid the sword thrust.

But obviously it was useless!

However, the prepared Jingrong almost instantaneously grabbed the wine cup before him and hurled it forcefully at that sword.

It struck right on the blade!

With great force.

Causing the blade to deflect.

Jingrong also took advantage of the momentum to stand up, overturning the table and immediately pulling Ji Yinshu behind himself.

Protecting her.

In an instant, the main hall descended into chaos.

The serving maids were so frightened that the wine pitchers in their hands and the fruits they were carrying all fell to the ground.

Creating a clattering cacophony.

“Ah!” someone screamed.

Fleeing in panic.

At the same time, after Jingrong deflected his sword, the assassinating man quickly steadied his footing, immediately withdrew his deflected sword, and once again aimed it in Jingrong and Ji Yinshu’s direction.

Thrusting toward them!

However, Jingrong did not strike back, but merely led Ji Yinshu in dodging each sword thrust.

If it were before, he would definitely have seized that sword and taken the upper hand.

So why did he not strike back this time?

Instead dodging each attack?

Na Tuo’s expression suddenly darkened. He apparently had no intention of ordering anyone forward to help.

A pair of sinister eyes stared fixedly at Jingrong, both hands clutching at his own robes.

Only after the burly man failed repeatedly to force Jingrong to strike back did he give the order: “Someone, seize him for this prince.”

The other three warriors, receiving the command, immediately moved forward to intervene.

After all, one man’s strength was no match for three!

The burly man was quickly subdued.

Pressed to the ground.

The Third Prince’s Manor guards also rushed in one after another, drawing swords pointed at that man.

The man knelt on the ground, with no strength to resist whatsoever!

Like a corpse.

Na Tuo descended from above, his face full of fury, lifting his foot and kicking viciously at the man’s shoulder.

“You foolish dog who knows not life from death, daring to harm people in this prince’s manor.”

As he spoke, he seized a longsword from a guard’s hand and swung it toward the man’s neck.

With one stroke, he sealed the throat.

Blood splattered on the scene.

The man’s pupils remained open in a fierce glare as he clutched his slashed throat and fell dead.

He wasn’t even given the chance to speak!

Na Tuo’s rage had not subsided. The blood-stained sword in his hand was fiercely thrown to the ground.

Then he immediately looked toward Jingrong and Ji Yinshu, walked over with an apologetic expression, and asked: “Master Ji, Young Master Jing, are you all right?”

Ji Yinshu was truly somewhat frightened. She stood behind Jingrong and did not answer.

Jingrong’s stern countenance still carried some vigilance. He said: “We’re fine, but that person…”

“He killed someone in this prince’s manor—how could this prince spare him?”

Jingrong’s eyes deepened: “But to kill him just like that, without even asking the reason?”

Only then did Na Tuo realize something: “This prince was negligent, actually forgetting this point. Just now I was truly too furious.”

Regretful!

Jingrong laughed coldly: “I’m afraid this person had ulterior motives.”

“Young Master Jing means?”

“That warrior appeared to aim every sword strike at us lethally, but the blade carried no killing intent—it seemed to be testing something? So I speculate that this person’s true purpose wasn’t this, but rather he was acting under someone’s orders.”

Eh!

Implying that the burly man was deliberately instructed by someone to test and draw something out from Jingrong.

Na Tuo pretended not to understand, saying: “Whatever his purpose was, fortunately you two were not injured. This incident occurred in this prince’s manor. This prince noticed that person’s martial arts were good, which is why I brought him in. I never expected this to happen—this prince naturally must take responsibility! Please forgive me, both of you.”

Jingrong: “Now that the person is already dead, there’s no way to investigate further. So be it.”

Those two words—”so be it”—landed with resounding weight!

Making Na Tuo feel somewhat panicked and guilty.

Jingrong understood very clearly—this was a Hongmen Feast!

Right at this moment—

Li Cheng’s voice rang out from outside the door: “What’s going on here?”

Striding in, he saw a corpse lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

He ran anxiously to Ji Yinshu and Jingrong’s side, and only relaxed after seeing they were unharmed.

“What happened?”

Na Tuo said: “It was the warrior this prince invited in who sought death—this prince merely obliged him.”

Li Cheng didn’t believe it and looked toward Jingrong.

Jingrong gave him a meaningful look, indicating he shouldn’t ask further—everything could wait until after they left to discuss.

Li Cheng understood and asked no more.

Na Tuo: “As for tonight’s incident, this prince will also investigate secretly and thoroughly. As soon as there’s news, I’ll notify Master Ji and Young Master Jing. It’s just that tonight’s banquet has been disrupted like this—quite disappointing. Next time, this prince will definitely host you properly. For now, let me send people to escort you back.”

Jingrong: “That won’t be necessary. We’ll return on our own.”

“What if…”

“If someone is truly coming after us, it’s naturally our own grievance, so there’s no need for Your Highness to trouble yourself with it.”

“Very well then, but if there’s any place where you need help, inform this prince at any time.”

Afterward, Jingrong led Ji Yinshu and Li Cheng away from the Third Prince’s Manor.