She hated spineless women like this the most. She had no idea what Brother Qiyuan saw in her, so affected and coquettish.

The more Li Zhaoying thought about it, the angrier she became. Her fury at Brother Qiyuan’s poor taste even exceeded her anger at having Brother Qiyuan stolen away.

She cracked her whip hard, and the surrounding trees flew backward rapidly. Soon she reached the deepest part of the forest.

All around became quiet. She held her breath and concentrated, nocking an arrow and drawing her bow.

There was a slight movement in the bushes ahead.

Li Zhaoying struck extremely fast. Even with an unfamiliar bow, her accuracy and strength were flawless. With a whoosh, something fell to the ground with a thud, struggling frantically.

She rode over with the reins and, disappointedly, discovered it was a wild rabbit.

Sighing lightly, she was about to continue searching when she heard someone behind her praise: “What agile movements.”

Startled, she turned around, her eyes nearly popping out: “How are you here?”

Ruyi lazily hugged her horse’s neck, curving her lips in a smile: “It’s my first time here – how would I know where the spotted deer go? Naturally, I had to follow you.”

Wait, she had just ridden over, running faster than some of the men nearby, and was still panting. Yet this person had followed silently and looked completely at ease, as if strolling.

“You can ride?” She couldn’t believe it.

This couldn’t even be called knowing how to ride – it should be called being extremely skilled at horsemanship.

Ruyi didn’t answer, only looked at her with sparkling eyes: “Where should we go next?”

Li Zhaoying was so angry her cheeks puffed up: “Don’t follow me! Go search by yourself, around this area.”

“Hunting alone is so boring.” She pouted reluctantly, both charming and petulant.

To be fair, this person was born beautiful and enchanting. Those long eyes were especially spirited, and her every smile and frown made it impossible to dislike her. Even Li Zhaoying was momentarily dazed by that lovely appearance.

Li Zhaoying quickly looked away.

With a great enemy before her, how could she boost others’ morale while destroying her prestige? What use was beauty when she couldn’t even draw a bow?

Snorting lightly, Li Zhaoying spurred her horse forward, turning sharply all along the way, trying to shake her off.

Yet this person’s voice kept coming from not far behind: “How could there be any spotted deer in this place?”

“Mm, why are bugs biting me?”

“Hey, little Princess, there are people ahead.”

Li Zhaoying reined in her horse and looked around, saying irritably: “We’ve already run the fastest. They haven’t caught up yet – where would there be people?”

Ruyi stopped smiling, her long eyes slightly narrowing as she looked toward the dense branches and leaves.

A chill ran down the back of her neck for no reason. Li Zhaoying finally realized something was wrong and silently cursed.

She usually hunted alongside His Majesty, and even when going alone, would bring sufficient guards. Today, in a moment of pique, she had forgotten that people had always been plotting against her life.

How could these people have set up an ambush so early? This was the imperial hunting ground.

“Let’s go quickly.” Turning her horse around, Li Zhaoying frantically tugged at Ruyi’s reins.

Ruyi said, “It’s too late.”

As if responding to her words, over ten featherless arrows suddenly shot at them from all directions. Each arrow had precisely calculated angles, completely sealing off their escape routes.

Even though Li Zhaoying knew some martial arts, she was dumbfounded.

She was only fifteen and not an immortal – how could she escape this inescapable net? She had fantasized about those scenes in storybooks where one fought against a hundred, but when truly encountering it, an ordinary person’s most direct reaction was to wait dumbly for death’s arrival.

In that instant, she even saw the gates on the road to the underworld.

In the blink of an eye, Ruyi reached out to embrace her waist and instantly brought her in front of herself, then reached out and caught a soaring arrow from thin air, throwing it back with tremendous force, precisely knocking down another feathered arrow nearby.

This opening was only two feet wide, and the breathing space lasted only an instant, but she managed to bring them both through that gap.

Li Zhaoying looked at her in shock.

This person was completely different from her previous soft appearance. Her posture was graceful and efficient, her eyes like an eagle catching rabbits. Though the arm holding her was slender, it was hard and strong as iron. She controlled the horse with one hand, her lower body so stable that there was almost no jolting.

The attackers were all death warriors who naturally wouldn’t give up easily. As killing intent followed closely behind, she actually lowered her head and asked teasingly: “Scared already?”

Her brows and eyes held heroic spirit, confident and bold, as if with her there, even if the sky fell, it wouldn’t hit the person in her arms.

Li Zhaoying instinctively gripped the leather belt at her waist: “Watch out behind you!”

A long sword sliced through the air. Ruyi tilted her head, barely missing the blade. Her features reflected in the bright sword body carried a trace of mockery: “What kind of cats and dogs come out to be assassins?”

She reached out to seize the blade, moving so fast no one could see clearly. They only saw a cold light flash before the long sword pointed at the attacker’s throat.

Li Zhaoying watched, feeling that Ruyi could easily kill this person. But for some reason, just as the blade was about to pierce through the person’s throat, a trace of hesitation flashed in her eyes.

With this moment of hesitation, the opponent immediately counterattacked, drawing an emei spike and stabbing viciously.

Ruyi held her and rolled to the ground beside them, clicking her tongue in considerable annoyance.

The person was fine, but the horse was wounded and ran away neighing madly. The two of them were left where they were, no different from falling into a snake pit.

Rustling footsteps all headed toward them. Li Zhaoying drew her dagger, wiped her face, stood up, and said to Ruyi: “They came for me. You can still leave.”

Ruyi raised an eyebrow: “Hmm?”

“Keep going east – there’s still a way out.” She said without looking back, “You’re innocent. There’s no reason to die with me.”

“Today’s competition – consider it your win. Treat Brother Qiyuan well in the future.”

“Go quickly.”

Ruyi looked at her tender back of her head. Though finding it cute, she couldn’t help slapping it: “Who told you we’re going to die? How old are you to be playing hero already?”

Li Zhaoying staggered from her slap and angrily turned around: “You person, don’t you recognize kindness?”

“I’m also reckless and ignorant of death.” Ruyi stood up, brushing dried leaves off her skirt. “Alright, close your eyes and count to twenty. If you’re hurt even a hair when you finish counting, I’ll personally carry Shen Qiyuan to your manor.”

“…”

How to put it – this proposal was absurd, but somehow strangely appealing.

Li Zhaoying dubiously raised her hands and covered her eyes.

Sounds of cutting through the air whistled through the entire forest like signals. She felt the wind around her ears and gritted her teeth while counting: “One, two, three…”

Someone ahead seemed to grunt.

Her heart trembled as Li Zhaoying’s throat tightened: “Nine, ten, eleven…”

Something fell to the ground with a thud, and sharp weapons flew over her head. She nervously crouched down.

“Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen…”

There was the sound of a blade entering human flesh, making teeth-aching noises.

She couldn’t count to twenty. Li Zhaoying opened her eyes in panic.