Chapter 266: A fierce melee

Just behind Gu Xixi and He Jinglan, a group of black-clad people swarmed over, a dark mass, at least thirty or forty of them.

Today's situation is indeed unusual.

Previously, when the black-clad people appeared, they either sneaked in alone or in small groups of three to five, trying to act discreetly.

But now they openly gathered in broad daylight on the official road, weapons in hand, pursuing straight ahead.

First, the Northwest Army has left the border, so these people have fewer scruples.

Second, the Northwest Army keeps winning and pressing toward the capital; the Empress Dowager's faction in the Imperial Court is panicked, the hidden figure has issued a strong order demanding the remaining assassins and sleeper agents all be deployed, sparing no expense, they must seize the hostage.

For these black-clad people, failing the mission means a dead end.

But if they fight hard to complete the mission, as long as they luckily avoid falling into the Northwest Army's hands, they can survive.

Everyone knows how to choose.

This group of professional assassins is hot on their heels; how long can two women who know no martial arts keep running?

Hearing the panting and footsteps behind them already close at hand, Gu Xixi grew anxious.

"Listen to me, I'll hold them off, you run quickly! Anyway they want to take me alive, they won't harm me."

"As long as you reach the village entrance, you can bring people to rescue me!"

He Jinglan ran, glanced at Gu Xixi, and gritted her teeth.

"All right."

"Then you must hold on, buying as much time as possible."

Both of their eyes sharpened at the same moment.

Gu Xixi whispered the count: "One, two,"

As she reached "three," Gu Xixi suddenly braked and turned, covering her arm with her left arm and flinging her right hand out swiftly.

The powder traced an arc in the air, spreading a pale yellow dust mist.

Recently, Gu Xixi had practiced the scattering motion with fine sand in her spare time; her effort finally paid off.

The poison covered a wide area, affecting everything within a radius closest to Gu Xixi.

Several black-clad people hurried to cover their noses and retreat, but it was already too late.

Their expressions changed drastically, they clutched their stomachs and collapsed one after another.

It's a pity there was no wind at the moment.

If the wind had been favorable, it could have felled even more.

Gu Xixi's initial strike succeeded, and she felt quite pleased; she reached out and grabbed another packet of medicine, preparing to wreak havoc in all directions, striving to buy time for He Jinglan to call for help.

However, she horrifiedly discovered that the fallen black-clad people quickly pulled out a pill and swallowed it.

Meanwhile, the other black-clad people who weren't poisoned didn't bother with their companions' fate; each produced a leather mask, put it on their faces, snugly covering mouth and nose.

"Damn it!" a poisoned black-clad man sitting on the ground cursed.

"How come nobody told me the woman we're supposed to catch would use poison!"

"Good thing this time we said we'd go all‑out; best to be fully prepared, so I brought all my gear, or I'd really die here!"

The black-clad person Gu Xixi had poisoned to death earlier had already been silently disposed of by Madam Liu and others.

Therefore, no related information leaked out.

Only then did Gu Xixi's earlier strike manage to catch them off guard.

But now...

Assuming Gu Xixi could no longer retaliate, the assassins no longer wasted time.

Several people lunged at once, reaching out to grab Gu Xixi.

At the critical moment, it was a hair's breadth from disaster.

Gu Xixi squeezed her eyes shut.

At the same moment, an indigo‑blue figure glided in, a bright silver sword flash splitting the air and driving those few back.

However, the sword's owner had not yet steadied his feet when a sixth sense warned him of danger, and he immediately dodged at an angle.

But he saw a large expanse of white dust rolling up.

The man in the indigo‑blue brocade robe frowned involuntarily, habitually raising his sleeve to cover his face.

All that could be heard were incessant cries: "My eyes!"

"My eyes hurt so much I can't open them!"

Gu Xixi said calmly with her eyes closed, "If you don't inhale it, I can't poison you to death."

"But I can blind you; this is made from nettle and oleander extract, it burns the eyes. If you don't quickly find a place to wash it off, not only will your eyes be ruined, but you will also slowly be poisoned."

The pain of blinded eyes is nothing ordinary; immediately several black‑clad people ran off to look for water.

At that moment, Gu Xixi again heard a clinking sound.

She had experience; this was clearly the sound of weapons clashing.

The black‑clad people couldn't possibly be fighting among themselves.

Reinforcements have arrived!

Gu Xixi joyfully opened her eyes, first seeing the man in a blue robe bearing the ordinary face of "Chen Yuan."

But his face at that moment was full of displeasure.

"Gu Xixi, if you're going to scatter medicine, at least give a signal! Are you trying to blind the very people who came to save you?!"

Mu Nan Zhao now recalls it and still feels lingering fear.

He was about to leave when he sensed something wrong, hurriedly bringing people to rush over, only to see Gu Xixi in danger.

He naturally rushed over to rescue them, but before he could steady himself, he nearly got hit in the face with a handful of powder.

Gu Xixi, knowing she was at fault, said, "Sorry, I threw it with my eyes closed just now and didn't see you; it just so happened… what a coincidence."

She stepped forward to check Mu Nan Zhao's face, "Are you okay? Did you inhale any? Do your eyes hurt?"

Mu Nan Zhao was about to speak when his eyes turned fierce; he grabbed Gu Xixi, pulling her toward him, and his right-hand long sword swept out as well.

Several black-clad individuals dodged Mu Nan Zhao's attack and jumped back.

Besides, a dozen or so people Mu Nan Zhao had brought fell like rain around them.

Without a word, they met the black-clad fighters and engaged in close combat.

The black-clad fighters knew that delaying further would only make their hopes slimmer, so they attacked frenziedly.

Some scattered in small groups, tasked with holding back Mu Nan Zhao's covert guards.

Moreover, a dozen or so experts gathered together, launching a concentrated attack on Mu Nan Zhao.

Each move was vicious, aimed at his life gate from all angles.

Anyway, the superiors only ordered them to capture hostages, and didn't say to spare anyone else!

To avoid revealing his whereabouts, Mu Nan Zhao couldn't use his own soft sword; he could only grab a random long sword.

The weapon wasn't handy enough, and he also had to protect Gu Xixi; gradually, Mu Nan Zhao began to struggle.

Gu Xixi anxiously reminded, "Let go of me, focus on dealing with them!"

"Anyway, they won't kill me!"

Mu Nan Zhao merely glanced at her, yet did not loosen his grip.

Two black-clad individuals exchanged glances; it seemed his weakness was this woman, so they would use her to distract him!

Assassins, to complete their mission, never hesitate to use any means.

The two suddenly changed direction, slashing toward Gu Xixi.

Mu Nan Zhao had just stabbed one person; wanting to block with his long sword was already too late, so he could only turn sideways and take a blow to the shoulder.

Mu Nan Zhao's sword reversed and thrust directly into one person's chest; the other was kicked away by his raised leg.

Crimson blood welled out, soaking the blue fabric, especially conspicuous.

Gu Xixi's heart lurched; she lunged forward to support him, "Mu... how are you?"

At that moment, her heart felt as if an invisible hand had clenched it tightly, painful and sore.