The other wolf, seeing its companion in distress, roared fiercely and pounced toward Li Shimin from behind. Yunyi had just killed that wolf and couldn’t make it back in time to rescue him. She could only shout in panic, “Watch out!”

Just as the wolf’s claws were about to reach Li Shimin’s back, Li Shimin suddenly pulled out the torch and swung it at the wolf’s head with all his strength. The wolf howled and fell to the ground.

Seeing this scene, Yunyi breathed a sigh of relief. Taking advantage of the opportunity while the wolf hadn’t yet recovered, she raised her dagger and thrust it forcefully into its neck, then killed the other dying wolf.

After all seven wolves were killed, Yunyi let out a long breath. The crisis was finally resolved. That was close – if Li Shimin hadn’t awakened, she alone couldn’t have handled four wolves simultaneously.

Before she could finish her thoughts, a hand had already gripped hers tightly. Li Shimin was staring at her seriously, with a trace of bewilderment and confusion in his eyes. When that wolf had ambushed him earlier, this female assassin had shouted a warning. Although it was in haste, he could still tell that voice was different from the previously heard coarse voice, and it sounded very familiar, as if… No, it couldn’t be her!

Yunyi also realized the mistake she had just made. Oh no, had Li Shimin recognized her voice? She resumed her previous tone and said with feigned casualness, “What, just saved your life and now you want to repay kindness with enmity?”

Li Shimin ignored her words and reached out to pull off her face covering. Yunyi quickly turned aside to avoid him, then broke free from Li Shimin’s grip on her wrist, saying coolly, “Men and women should not touch each other. Second Young Master’s behavior seems rather inappropriate.”

Li Shimin said sternly, “Who exactly are you?” While they were talking, sounds could be faintly heard in the distance. Looking out, they could see many torch flames – presumably soldiers coming to search for Li Shimin.

Yunyi withdrew her gaze and covered the wound on her arm, saying, “Alright, Second Young Master, we’ll meet again next time.” With that, she quickly ran toward the darkness.

“Don’t go!” Having finally found the murderer who killed Li Xuanba, how could Li Shimin let her leave? But he had fallen from such a height, and although the trees had slowed his fall, he was still injured. Combined with the fierce battle against two vicious wolves just now, once he relaxed, pain immediately shot through his limbs and body. He barely managed to chase a few steps while enduring the pain before falling to the ground, unable to get up. He could only watch helplessly as Yunyi’s figure disappeared into the darkness. After recovering a bit of strength, he laboriously gathered nearby leaves and branches to throw into the remaining flames to keep them burning so the searching soldiers could find him.

As for Li Yuan’s side, after leading people to the city gates, he immediately summoned the gate keeper to open the city gates overnight and personally left the city to search for Li Shimin’s traces. When they reached the mountain, the soldiers still hadn’t found suitable trees and were scolded by Li Yuan. Having experience leading troops in battle and having seen all kinds of difficulties and obstacles, he immediately ordered the soldiers to gather vines and tree bark on the spot, twist them into long ropes, and tie two trees together. This way, the length would be sufficient. Using this method, they indeed quickly crossed the cliff face ahead. They continued using the same approach afterward. Although there were incidents of ropes suddenly breaking and soldiers falling, it was generally smooth, and they began slowly approaching the bottom of the cliff.

Although Li Yuan was unwell, he insisted on searching together with the soldiers. Duan Zhihong and other guards stayed close beside him, not daring to be careless.

“Sir, the bottom of the cliff is just ahead!” As soon as the guard finished speaking, a soldier’s voice came from ahead: “Look quickly! There’s fire over there!”

Everyone hurriedly looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw fire burning at the bottom of the cliff. Duan Zhihong said with delight, “It must be Second Young Master! He’s safe, he’s safe!”

Li Yuan trembled with excitement and said in a shaking voice, “Quickly! Go quickly!”

Everyone hurried toward the firelight. The mountain path was treacherous – it looked close but they had to take a long detour to reach it. Li Yuan walked at the front with Duan Zhihong’s support. When he could clearly see the figure sitting by the firelight, he was immediately overcome with excitement. Shimin, it was Shimin – he wasn’t dead!

Li Yuan found Duan Zhihong too slow, broke free from him, and quickly came to Li Shimin’s front, saying tremblingly, “Shimin, how… how are you? Are you hurt?”

Li Shimin forced out a smile, “I’ve worried father. Your son is fine, just some superficial wounds.”

Hearing him speak personally, Li Yuan’s heart finally settled, and he nodded repeatedly, “Good that you’re fine, good that you’re fine!” After the soreness in his eyes subsided slightly, he said, “Oh right, what about that female assassin? Is she dead?”

Li Shimin replied, “No, she escaped before father and the others arrived.”

Li Yuan snorted coldly and said to the guards nearby, “Go after her immediately. You must catch this female assassin and absolutely cannot let her escape again. Also, immediately pass down my order – tomorrow morning, strictly examine all people entering the city. If anyone is found with suspicious traces or injuries, bring them back to the Governor’s residence immediately.”

“This subordinate receives your command.” After the guards and others left with most of the soldiers to pursue, he personally examined Li Shimin and, after confirming he had no broken bones, had people gather materials on the spot to make a crude chair to carry Li Shimin away from this place.

Before leaving, Li Yuan saw the wolf corpses on the ground and asked Li Shimin what had happened. After learning the details, he said with a strange expression, “You’re saying the female assassin woke up before you but didn’t kill you, and even saved you?”

Li Shimin answered hesitantly, “Your son also can’t be certain, but the wolf pack had already surrounded us then. If she hadn’t acted, given your son’s condition at the time, it would have been very difficult to remain unharmed under those vicious wolves’ claws.”

“This is truly strange.” Li Yuan, unable to figure it out, could only temporarily set this matter aside and had people quickly carry Li Shimin down the mountain.

On the way down, Li Shimin called over Duan Zhihong, who was walking behind, and said, “Do you remember the last words Ajin said before he died?”

“This subordinate naturally remembers. He said the person who killed Third Young Master and the others was Wú… and then nothing more. If this woman truly is the female assassin who once tried to assassinate the Governor, then Shen Yunyi should be her false name – she should actually be surnamed Wú. But there’s one thing this subordinate has never understood: why would the female assassin appear in the mountains? Logically, she couldn’t have known we found Ajin, unless…” Duan Zhihong glanced at the soldiers following behind and said in a low voice, “Besides Shen Moping, she has accomplices, and they’re among these people.”

Li Shimin’s mind conjured the female assassin’s eyes. He always felt those eyes were very familiar, and that voice too, but he couldn’t recall at the moment. Could it be… the female assassin had always been by his side? But if that were truly the case, he couldn’t have been completely unaware for half a year.

“Wú… Wú… Wǔ…” When he pronounced the last character, Li Shimin’s face suddenly changed dramatically. Wú and Wǔ were homophones. What Ajin said before dying could have been Wú, but it could also have been… Wǔ.