Chapter 482: with translation of chapter title

Gu Jiu Ling hadn't even reacted when Xiao Yin grabbed her and pulled her up, shielding her behind him; immediately, the Longquan Sword placed under the pillow was drawn and gripped in his hand.

Bang!

Ling Feng led people in swift steps into the house where Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling stayed, his expression stern and grim.

"Reporting to the Prince, unidentified persons have set fire to the north of the village; the patrol brothers encountered them and a fight has broken out."

"There are also black-clad arsonists to the south! Prince! This place is no safe to linger!"

Xiao Yin's brows furrowed tightly, and Gu Jiu Ling's gaze also sank.

"These scoundrels can't wait any longer—are they starting to kill and set fires now?"

"If she guessed correctly, perhaps at this very moment people have also started setting fire to the east and west ends of the village."

"These damned bastards intend to burn them alive."

"Never mind that; to burn them down they've resorted to indiscriminate slaughter—don't forget this village has over a hundred households, not exactly a small village."

Gu Jiu Ling seized Xiao Yin's arm: "Prince, let's leave this place!"

"The villagers are innocent; we cannot implicate them. Once out of the village, we'll fight them!"

Xiao Yin nodded; he merely felt pity for this woman, who had traveled so far and finally found a village to rest in, not wanting to be harassed and violated in the middle of the night by those salt merchants' people.

At this moment his jaw muscles were clenched tight, frost in his brows and eyes; he wished to slaughter those damned beasts.

"Go!"

Xiao Yin led Gu Jiu Ling out of the house; at this moment flames shot up to the east, those fellows likely had ignited the east side, while the other directions were discovered by Xiao Yin's men.

"Prince!" Gu Kang looked flustered, as if just awakened from sleep, he scrambled up, his clothes not yet straightened.

"Prince, elder sister, we should withdraw from the village! The rain has stopped; we might as well go aboard ship, travel all night, and rest by day."

The three basically agreed, and they all left the village heading outward.

Gu Jiu Ling felt that these people had disturbed the villagers and even caused the villagers' houses to be set ablaze.

She had Yun Duo deliver the compensation silver to the villagers; the headman's family had already been frightened stiff, thinking they were ordinary merchants, never expecting to invite deadly danger—these merchants' backgrounds were likely significant.

The entourage no longer bothered with anything else, all fleeing toward the shore.

The path to the shore where the boats were moored required passing through a grove.

Xiao Yin entered the dense woods, yet with a backhand he tightly shielded Gu Jiu Ling beside him.

Ling Feng stood before Gu Kang, while Yun Duo and Meng each brought their hidden guards, layers of protection like an iron barrel.

"Everyone be careful!" Xiao Yin suddenly saw the treetops swaying overhead and couldn't help shouting.

At the same time, a group of dark-clad, sturdy warriors leapt down from the treetops, each wielding a sharp saber, slashing at Xiao Yin and his companions.

Xiao Yin's Longquan Sword was suddenly brandished; the blade spread a curtain of sword-light before him, cleanly cutting those sabers, followed immediately by the black-clad men's anguished cries.

Although Xiao Yin's retinue was small this time, each was a swordsman personally trained by him.

The opposing side seemed numerous, yet they could not even approach Xiao Yin's person.

"Watch for hidden weapons!" Gu Jiu Ling called softly.

Xiao Yin then realized that seeing they could not gain the upper hand despite their numbers, those men dropped a heavy Xuan-iron forged net from the treetops, with poisoned willow-leaf blades tied to it; if one were entangled, their flesh would be shredded.

"Up the tree!" Xiao Yin roared, swinging his sword to cleave an opening in the poison net, then seized Gu Jiu Ling's waist and leapt onto the treetop in an instant.

His lightness skill was superb; while leaping onto the treetop holding a person, he could still kick an assassin standing there off the branch.

That assassin was also unlucky, directly entangled in the blade-net lowered by his comrades; with a wail, blood mist filled the air, leaving not even a whole corpse.

All the fighting and encirclement took place in an instant; Xiao Yin's movements were smooth and exhilarating, and Gu Jiu Ling had already been left dumbfounded.

She realized that because Xiao Yin was holding her, his combat power could not be fully exerted.

"Prince, put me down; I'll be fine staying here!"

In the dense surrounding shadows who knows how many assassins lurk; Gu Jiu Ling is clearly dragging Xiao Yin down.

"What nonsense are you speaking? With you by my side I can truly unleash my abilities!"

"Hold tight!" Xiao Yin's left arm locked firmly around Gu Jiu Ling's waist, as if wishing to bind her to himself.

Even carrying Gu Jiu Ling, Xiao Yin remained swift as flying, leaping again to a nearby treetop and thrusting his sword through the assassin who had lowered the blade-net, chilling him to the marrow.

Ling Feng also hauled Gu Kang up the tree; Yun Duo followed closely, and the rest of the people trailed after them.

Instantly the situation became clear; seeing they gained no advantage, those men whistled and withdrew.

Ling Feng hurried to give chase, but Xiao Yin called out to stop him.

"Do not pursue a desperate foe!"

Ling Feng then halted his steps, cursing as he withdrew, supporting Gu Kang down from the tree.

Gu Kang's face turned ashen, his whole body trembling slightly.

Gu Jiu Ling immediately noticed something wrong with him, hurried over, and seized his arm.

She found that Gu Kang's arm had been cut by the blade-net into a gash about an inch long, the blade poisoned; this time the wound on his arm was oozing black blood.

"Oh no!" Gu Jiu Ling sucked in a breath, staring fixedly at her brother.

Such a wound, yet earlier he hadn't uttered a sound, fearing that crying out would interfere with Ling Feng's swordplay.

Even Ling Feng was somewhat surprised; Elder Gu truly could endure.

"First, aboard the ship!" Xiao Yin urged.

This place is clearly not safe to linger; if those assassins return with more men, they'll be finished.

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly ordered someone to bring Gu Kang aboard; she had Yun Duo carry the unconscious Gu Kang to a private cabin, then entered and drove out the attendants, attending to Gu Kang herself.

Xiao Yin hurried to push the door open and enter, but Gu Jiu Ling blocked him at the threshold.

"What are you blocking me for? I'll help from the side; although I'm not a physician, I've often treated such wounds on the battlefield."

"Gu Jiu Ling will soon take out those medical instruments from her space, conjuring them out of thin air—how could she do that in front of Xiao Yin?"

"Be good! Go wait outside! With someone watching, I can't bring out my medical skill!"

"Don't worry, it's a small matter; the Imperial Envoy will still be able to arrive in Yangzhou on time!"

Xiao Yin furrowed his brows, always feeling that this girl was speaking mysteriously, as if she were hiding something from him—he was the person closest to her, yet she still feared his gaze?

"Ling, I'll still go in to help you; although he's your brother, he's also an outsider male—taking off clothes and such, it's not convenient for you to show up, I'll do it!"

Xiao Yin secretly didn't want Gu Jiu Ling to change clothes for another man; just thinking about it made his heart feel sour.

Gu Jiu Ling blinked, then quickly tiptoed up and planted a kiss on his cheek: "Prince! Be good! Wait outside!"

That kiss was like the strongest seal in the Three Realms, directly holding him outside the door; by the time he came to his senses, the door had already been locked from the inside.

He touched his face, the corners of his mouth turning up in a smile; his earlier suspicion had long since vanished.

In the cabin, Gu Jiu Ling took out medical equipment and various medicines from her space to treat Gu Kang's wounds; only after half an hour did she relax, then she carefully took his pulse.

But as soon as she placed her hand on Gu Kang's pulse, Gu Jiu Ling's expression instantly turned solemn.