Chapter 102: Crisis Upon Crisis

The cold wind was biting, sharp as a knife. Jun Zijin leaped up, the dagger in her hand piercing toward the throat of one of the masked men like lightning. As her hand moved and the blade fell, a trace of terror flashed in the masked man's eyes; his pupils contracted sharply. He instinctively wanted to retreat and dodge, but it was already too late.

The dagger pierced his throat, and fresh blood gushed out. The man stared with wide eyes at Jun Zijin, who had run him through, his gaze filled with disbelief and despair. He didn't even let out a groan before he collapsed, lifeless.

The other two saw that the situation was dire, their expressions changing abruptly. They exchanged a glance and suddenly threw smoke bombs simultaneously. Thick smoke billowed out, and by the time it dispersed, the two were nowhere to be found.

"Damn it, let them get away," Guazi said, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth.

Jun Zijin looked around and saw that only Feiyan was seriously injured, while the others had sustained minor wounds but were otherwise fine. Feeling slightly relieved, she tossed a bottle of medicine to Feiyan and said:

"Deal with it simply for now; we must leave this place quickly."

Feiying frowned, a vague sense of unease in his heart. He walked to Jun Zijin's side and whispered:

"Master, these people are not simple; I fear the person behind them has a significant background."

Feiying’s tone carried a hint of gravity. He sheathed his long sword, crouched down, and carefully examined the clothing and accessories of the fallen masked men. Aside from a few ordinary weapons, he found no useful clues.

Jun Zijin stood beside him, narrowing her eyes slightly. Her gaze was as deep as a pool of water, revealing a cold, biting chill:

"It doesn't matter. Whoever it is, since they dared to make a move against me, they must be prepared to be dragged out by me."

Feiyan’s gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s, scanning the surroundings for movement, a flash of killing intent in his eyes:

"Whoever they are, anyone who dares to attack Master must die." He had just been saved by Jun Zijin and admired her to the point of total devotion.

Feiying stood up, a look of disappointment flashing across his face:

"Master, these people have no markings on them; it seems they were well-prepared."

She held the sword she had pulled from the carriage frame. The blade shimmered with a cold light, and the hilt was carved with strange patterns, not like anything from Tianqi. It seemed the only clue was the few arrows shot from the dense forest.

"Feiying, investigate this matter in secret. You must find the mastermind," Jun Zijin’s voice was low and firm, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Yes, Master," Feiying acknowledged the order.

"Let's go, to the main camp," Jun Zijin said, rising, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. Quan Aoyu was still waiting for her at the camp.

The four of them quickly left the dense forest and galloped toward the direction of the main camp. The sound of hooves echoed on the main road, kicking up dust.

Halfway there, they saw Quan Aoyu and Bai Yu galloping toward them on horseback. It was nearly noon, and since she hadn't arrived yet, he felt a vague unease and had brought Bai Yu out of the camp to meet her.

While still far away, Bai Yu waved and called out, "Crown Princess! Crown Princess!" His voice drifted in the wind, carrying a touch of urgency and joy.

She had seen them the moment Bai Yu waved. Far off at the end of the road, Quan Aoyu was on horseback; the moment he caught sight of her, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

A wave of warmth surged in her heart. She gently squeezed the horse's belly with her legs, accelerating toward them.

Feiying rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Cold-hearted little girl! A little girl who values romance over friends!" They had just shared life and death, yet she abandoned him so quickly to run to her lover. He was heartbroken.

Seeing Feiying suddenly gritting his teeth and talking to himself, Guazi blinked, not understanding why.

As Jun Zijin drew closer, she saw that Quan Aoyu’s eyes could not hide his worry. He scanned her carefully, and only after confirming she was unharmed did he let out a sigh of relief.

"It is good that you are unharmed." As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out with his long arms and pulled her into his embrace. He took her cold little hands and breathed warm air onto them, his eyes full of tenderness and pity.

Jun Zijin rested her cheek against his chest, hearing his powerful heartbeat. She closed her eyes gently, feeling his body heat and heartbeat, as if the world were no longer cold and her heart was at peace. The distant noise of the soldiers could not break this moment of tranquility. No matter how much wind and rain lay ahead, as long as he was there, she would have nothing to fear.

Bai Yu laughed heartily, his laughter bright and cheerful. His master, who had been so awkward for so many years and was so cold-hearted, finally had some warmth. He hadn't been beaten in months, all thanks to the Crown Princess.

Bai Yu flicked his horse whip, signaling for everyone to continue. The group turned their horses toward the main camp, and as the sound of hooves rose again, it carried a touch of lightness and joy.

Feiying followed behind, looking at the pair of lovebirds in front. He felt a bit sour in his heart, but he was also genuinely happy for them. He shook his head, a helpless smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and then sped up to catch up.

The outline of the main camp gradually became clear, with flags snapping in the wind. The soldiers stood in neat rows, having long been waiting for their Qingping County Princess.

Quan Aoyu and Jun Zijin entered the camp on horseback, and the soldiers shouted in unison, "Welcome, County Princess!" The sound was like thunder, shaking the earth slightly.

Jun Zijin smiled and nodded to everyone, her gaze sweeping over every determined face. She dismounted and walked with Quan Aoyu toward the tent. Bai Yu stood guard at the entrance. Inside the tent, the winter sun shone in, reflecting their grave expressions.

Jun Zijin took the arrow from her robes and placed it gently on the table, her voice low: "Quan Aoyu, this is a weapon seized from the masked men who attacked us. It doesn't look like something from Tianqi. Take a look."

Quan Aoyu took the arrow, his fingertips touching the cold metal, and his heart gave a sudden jolt. His eyes turned sharp, shimmering with cold light. He was all too familiar with this arrow. Five years ago, it was this very arrow that had pierced his chest and nearly taken his life.

He was silent for a moment, then took an identical arrow from a wooden box and placed it on the table. The two arrows lay side by side, as if silently telling of some secret connection.

"I didn't expect that the thieves, having hidden for five years, would finally appear today." Quan Aoyu’s voice was low and cold, as if coming from an abyss.

Feiying was shocked. "Master, these two arrows are exactly the same! Also, your subordinate feels that the martial arts style of the experts in the dense forest today is extremely similar to those from five years ago." Five years ago, it was Feiying and Bai Yu who had followed Quan Aoyu to rescue the Empress, and all three of them had nearly lost their lives.

Quan Aoyu closed his eyes. The upheaval of five years ago was like a sharp blade, still leaving deep scars on his heart to this day; his mother, the Empress, remained missing. Imperial Consort Shu had gone into premature labor, nearly resulting in two deaths, and the Emperor had left Empress Wang behind to rush back to the palace. The Empress had been attacked and disappeared on the way, and he, too, had been ambushed and severely wounded during that incident. Those masked men had strange martial arts and were ruthless in their strikes. Everything felt as if it had happened yesterday, yet it was as distant as a past life.

A trace of coldness flashed in Jun Zijin’s eyes. "Hidden for five years... it seems someone is getting desperate."