Chapter 171: Shifting the Blame onto the Fiery Nation

Miss!

Xiao Er's pupils contracted sharply, he roared, and almost as the sound of breaking air rang, his massive body surged with astonishing speed, leaping sideways off the horse, blocking in front of Tuan Tuan like a small mountain!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Sparks flew in all directions!

He, at the very last moment, used his steel‑reinforced gauntlet to precisely deflect those deadly arrows!

The massive impact numbed his arm.

"Crossbow bolts!"

At the same time, Jifeng's arrow left its string, followed the bolt's path, and drove hard into the thicket, eliciting a cry of pain.

"Ambush! Guard the girl!"

Jifeng drew his curved blade from his waist with a reverse hand, his gaze as fierce and sharp as a wolf on the prairie.

Around them, tree shadows swayed as seven or eight masked silhouettes slipped out silently like wraiths, their weapons flashing coldly as they closed in.

In the blink of an eye, the two servants who followed were struck by arrows and fell from their horses.

Xiao Er cradled Tuan Tuan tightly in his arms, drew his long sword, pointed its tip toward the front, and let murderous aura surge skyward: "Looking for death!"

A black silhouette darted out first, its long sword aiming straight for Xiao Er's ribs, clearly trying to force him to release Tuan Tuan.

Cold light flared in Xiao Er's eyes as he flashed his blade, his large hand clamping the opponent's sword‑wrist like iron tongs with precision!

With a "crack," the assassin's scream was cut off; Xiao Er thrust his sword forward, sealing the throat with a single strike!

An assassin shouted, "Kill them all!"

The rest surged forward, and flashes of blades instantly enveloped the three of them.

Tuan Tuan clung tightly to Xiao Er's waist, her small head buried in his chest.

An assassin attempted a side ambush, but Xiao Er's reverse sword sliced his wrist off, and he fell screaming.

"Fine skill!" Jifeng bellowed, his curved blade tracing a bizarre arc, slashing from a razor‑sharp angle at an assassin about to flank Xiao Er.

The assassin hurriedly raised his knife to block, but Jifeng's heavy, forceful curved blade struck with a "clang," sending him and his weapon staggering backward, blood gushing.

"Xi Lu's curved blade?" an assassin shouted in shock.

Amid the melee, Jifeng stepped aside to open a path for Xiao Er, exposing a flaw in his side.

An assassin seized the chance, thrusting a Dagger straight into Jifeng's back heart! Jifeng saw he was about to be hit.

"Careful!"

Xiao Er rammed his shoulder hard into Jifeng, pushing him aside!

"Pfft!"

The Dagger pierced Xiao Er's left shoulder!

"Uncle Two!" Tuan Tuan felt the arm holding her stiffen and screamed in fright.

Xiao Er let out a muffled hum, never pausing, and with a reverse sword thrust drove back the assassin still trying to strike again.

"Big Black One!" Jifeng whirled his curved blade like a mad tiger, instantly cutting two charging assassins to the ground.

He grabbed the slightly trembling Xiao Er, stared at the blackened wound, his fury blazing.

The assassins, seeing Jifeng and Xiao Er standing side by side, coordinated flawlessly, blurted out, "Xi Lu and the Fiery Nation have teamed up?"

At those words, the remaining assassins' attacks visibly stalled, their eyes showing doubtful surprise.

Jifeng heard it, froze for a moment, then laughed furiously, "What a load of crap!"

A leader‑type assassin glared viciously at Tuan Tuan, who was protected between them, and barked, "Retreat!"

He turned with the remaining assassins and vanished swiftly into the deep forest.

Jifeng, unable to pursue, helped Xiao Er and Tuan Tuan dismount and examined his wound.

He saw the black around the wound slowly spreading, and Xiao Er's breathing grew heavy.

"Uncle Two! Are you okay?" Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Er's shoulder, large tears streaming down.

"Miss, don't be afraid, I'm fine." Xiao Er's voice was hoarse.

He tried to raise his hand to pat Tuan Tuan's head, but found his arm numb and unable to lift.

Jifeng tore a strip from his own robe, swiftly wrapped it tightly around Xiao Er's upper arm to halt the toxin's spread: "What a vile poison!"

He unhesitatingly took a small porcelain bottle from his chest, poured out a fragrant crimson pill and fed it to Xiao Er.

"Quick! This is my Xi Lu's Red Sun Pill, it can cure all poisons!"

After a while, the black vapors on Xiao Er's shoulder visibly receded, and his complexion gradually improved.

Jifeng let out a long sigh, and Tuan Tuan stopped crying and laughed: "Uncle Two! You're fine! You scared me to death!"

"Brother Jifeng, your great kindness needs no thanks!"

Jifeng waved his hand broadly: "Why say all that! You were wounded protecting me and the little girl; if I kept it hidden, would I still be human?"

Seeing Xiao Er out of danger, Jifeng crouched and rummaged through the assassins' corpses.

Xiao Er forced himself to endure the tingling and dizzy spells in his shoulder, staying alert and watching the surroundings.

"Nothing on them but dust, not even a copper coin," Jifeng said as he stood, kicked another corpse, his face grim, "Even the weapons are plain, reveal no identity."

"But mentioning Xi Lu and the Fiery Nation, they must be from Da Xia."

Xiao Er nodded slowly, and Tuan Tuan clenched her tiny fist: "It's that bad guy again!"

Jifeng's eyes flashed murderous intent: "Gongsun Hong! Good kid!"

He helped Xiao Er up: "Can you hold on? This place isn't safe to stay long!"

Xiao Er took a deep breath: "No problem, let's go!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face: "Let's go home and find Divine Doctor Grandfather!"

Jifeng gave the little girl an approving look: not bad, she didn't wail or cause a scene, a bit of courage.

The three of them no longer lingered.

Jifeng led the horse over and helped Xiao Er and Tuan Tuan mount.

He mounted to bring up the rear, then galloped toward Fangfei Garden.

Returning to the manor, he ordered a carriage prepared; Xiao Er and Tuan Tuan sat inside, while Jifeng personally drove, heading straight back to Ning Prince's Mansion.

Cheng Ru'an swept his daughter into a tight embrace, tears slipping down, still shaken with fear.

Jifeng said succinctly: "Prince, Princess Consort, Xiao Er and his brothers were wounded by the assassins' sneak attack while protecting me and Tuan Tuan."

Xiao Yuanhang urged: "Quick! Go fetch Divine Doctor Mo!"

The mansion instantly bustled with activity.

Mo Zhanggeng hurried over upon hearing the news, examined Xiao Er's wound: "It's fine; the medicine was taken in time, not serious. There happens to be a grown specimen of dust-cleansing orchid—just right for a trial." Having said that, he turned and left.

Xiao Yuanhang: "……"

Divine Doctor, are you really in such a hurry to test the spiritual herb you grew?

Mo Zhanggeng took the spiritual herb, crushed it to extract juice, and applied it to Xiao Er's shoulder.

He stared at it for a moment: "Not bad; the Sacred Medicine Valley's spiritual herb lives up to its reputation—apply once in the morning and once at night, and after three days the residual poison will be completely cleared."

Only then did everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

Tuan Tuan tugged at his sleeve: "Divine Doctor Grandfather! Thank you! You're truly skilled!"

Mo Zhanggeng chuckled hehe: "Of course!" and walked away laughing.

Xiao Yuanhang dismissed the attendants, clasped his fists in salute: "Thank you for coming to our aid! Had you not been here, my daughter and Xiao Er would have faced grave danger today. This kindness, the Ning Prince's Mansion will remember."

Jifeng waved his hand, resuming his usual nonchalance: "You flatter me, Prince."

"I have affinity with Tuan Tuan, and sharing life-and-death with Xiao Er counts for nothing."

He paused, then glanced at Tuan Tuan and Xiao Er.

Tuan Tuan was leaning over Xiao Er's bedside, gripping his big hand, her face full of worry.

Jifeng felt somewhat moved: "To be frank, Prince, I came on this journey just to see the excitement; I was otherwise bored stiff."

"I never expected that, by a fortunate coincidence, I would meet Tuan Tuan and come to understand many things."

He looked directly at Xiao Yuanhang: "The Prince governs his household well; the guards in the mansion are utterly loyal and fearlessly brave."

"The Kingdom of Lie indeed produces heroes in abundance; I, Jifeng, am impressed."

"Now that Xiao Er and his brothers' condition is stable, I take my leave—until we meet again!"

He clasped his fists in salute, turned, and was about to depart.

"Uncle Jifeng, wait!" Tuan Tuan suddenly sprang from the bedside, ran to Jifeng, pulled a bead from her sachet, and said, "This is for you!"

Jifeng took it, examined it carefully, and at once saw it was no ordinary object.

Xiao Yuanhang explained: "This is the 'Star Constellation Flow Pearl' gifted to my daughter by the Master of Xuanqiong Temple; it has the effect of protecting and changing fortune, and it is her beloved treasure."

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face to look at him: "Taoist Priest Grandfather said it keeps people safe! Uncle Jifeng, you should wear it!"

Jifeng's heart surged with heat, his throat tightening slightly.

He treasured it, clutching the small flow pearl tightly in his hand.

He reached up, took off a string of objects from his neck, placed it around Tuan Tuan's neck, and pointed to the pendant: "The wolf fang hanging here is from my first hunt as a child; I give it to you."

"If you ever come to Xilu, bring this to find me."

Tuan Tuan stroked the wolf fang, looked up and laughed: "How beautiful! Thank you, Uncle Jifeng!"

He rubbed Tuan Tuan's little head, then turned and left.

The residence of the Da Xia envoy.

A black-clad person knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, that Xilu brute wielding a saber was extraordinarily fierce, and together with another guard they fought to the death, preventing us from succeeding."

Gongsun Hong's face turned ashen: "What did that brute look like?"

"He was tall and muscular, with a full beard."

"Jifeng?" Gongsun Hong clenched his fists tightly.

Why would the Xilu envoy appear there?

And why would they desperately protect that dead girl?

Could it be that Xilu is secretly colluding with the Kingdom of Lie?

If that is truly the case, then in this contest our Da Xia would surely fall into an extremely passive and perilous position!

His voice icy: "Investigate! Have me investigate thoroughly! All recent movements of the Xilu envoy, and whether Jifeng has had any private dealings with the Ning Prince's Mansion!"

"If we cannot kill that dead girl, then kill Jifeng and blame the Kingdom of Lie! We must absolutely not allow them to become allies and jointly oppose our Da Xia!"

"Yes!"