Chapter 114: A Single Sword to Break the Encirclement

At the sound of that whistle, a sudden sense of foreboding rose in Liu Ling’er’s heart. Sure enough, as soon as the signal was given, dozens more assassins seemed to appear out of thin air, and the assassins present abruptly abandoned their own targets, converging as one on Chu Meier.

Their target was the Empress Dowager, and this reserve force was clearly aimed straight at Chu Meier. Led by that shadowy figure, the assassins pressed relentlessly closer to her. Watching the leader of the assassins, Liu Ling’er was struck by a feeling of familiarity, as though she had seen him somewhere before.

But it wasn’t just Liu Ling’er who felt this way—Su Yunyun, too, found the figure deeply familiar. All at once, he recalled where he had seen such a person not long ago, when he visited Jun Miaoshou, the Imperial Physician of Eastern Chu. At that time, there had been a man in white, his back to Su Yunyun, speaking with Jun Miaoshou.

Ordinarily, this would not have aroused suspicion, but he distinctly remembered Jun Miaoshou saying, “I am powerless in this, unless the Elixir of Creation can be found to save him.”

At the mention of the Elixir of Creation, Su Yunyun’s ears had perked up. He had spent years searching for rare medicines to save his mother, and though he had collected many exceptional remedies that could barely keep her alive, none could truly cure her.

At the banquet, Su Yunyun had gifted Chu Meier a thousand-year-old Ice Lotus, which could prolong life and preserve youth, and he had done so without hesitation or regret. Yet, it was said that the Elixir of Creation, left behind by the founding Empress Ma of Eastern Chu, might be able to save his mother. Seizing the opportunity of his diplomatic mission to Eastern Chu, he had searched tirelessly for the pill, later learning it was kept within the palace—he had even considered asking Baili Hai for it.

Had Baili Hai been willing, Su Yunyun would have agreed to any condition. But then word came that the Elixir had been stolen, and the news nearly made him cough up blood in despair. Ever since, any rumor or whisper concerning the Elixir of Creation drew his undivided attention.

It just so happened that he overheard Jun Miaoshou discussing the Elixir with someone that day. Although the conversation yielded nothing concrete, that man in white had left a deep impression on Su Yunyun. Even though the man wore a bamboo hat that obscured his face, his presence was unforgettable.

Now, the man who had just flown in from afar, though he wore black instead of white, was unmistakable—Su Yunyun recognized him at a glance.

All the assassins surged toward Chu Meier, plunging her into grave danger. Though the Empress Dowager was surrounded by many guards, so many attackers pressing in at once rendered their defense nearly useless. It was an old saying: too many fists can fell even the most skilled master.

That man in black, wielding a greatsword on his back, suddenly split his blade into two, holding a sword in each hand. He swept through the guards with the force of a tempest, cutting them down as if they were nothing.

My goodness, it’s him! Liu Ling’er’s memory finally surfaced. No wonder he seemed so familiar—this black-clad assassin was none other than Chu Sheng, the Twin Swords of Shadow Dragon.

This killer was truly ferocious. Last time, he had nearly lost his life at the Prince Virtue’s manor, and now here he was, bursting with energy, attempting to assassinate the Empress Dowager at her own birthday celebration. Such a reckless, unrestrained life needed no explanation.

Seeing Liu Ling’er’s stunned expression, Su Yunyun quickly asked, “Who is that man? From your look, you seem to know him!”

Liu Ling’er’s mouth twitched. “Though I’d rather not admit it, I really do know him. He’s someone of great renown—Chu Sheng, the Twin Swords of Shadow Dragon, the number one assassin in Eastern Chu!”

“What?!” Su Yunyun was equally shocked. The name Twin Swords of Shadow Dragon was not only famous in Eastern Chu, but renowned in other nations as well—plenty had tried to hire him, but none could ever find him.

In the midst of their astonishment, Chu Sheng had already cut his way into the inner circle around the Empress Dowager, dispatching the guards before him as if they were so much chaff. If not for Liu Degui intervening at a critical moment, Chu Sheng would already have reached Chu Meier.

Chu Sheng was truly desperate now—his son’s fate would be decided in this very struggle: either the Empress Dowager would die, or the Prince Virtue. Baili Xian was protected by martial arts and surrounded by guards; to kill him was utter fantasy. Though Chu Meier’s skills were formidable, Chu Sheng was confident he could take her head within ten moves. Thus, after weighing the odds, he had come for the Empress Dowager.

Feigning an opening, he forced his way past Liu Degui’s palm strike, then lunged at Chu Meier with his sword, unleashing his famed technique: the Twin Dragons’ Dance. With nowhere to retreat, Chu Meier could only raise her sword to meet the attack. At that moment, Liu Ling’er, sensing disaster, acted without hesitation, hurling her own sword straight at Chu Sheng.

Though Chu Sheng’s Twin Dragons’ Dance struck Chu Meier and made her cough blood, Liu Ling’er’s sword, thrown with all her internal strength, flew straight and true, piercing Chu Sheng’s shoulder and pinning him against the palace wall.

By the lakeside of Fengqi Palace, Young Master Wuyou watched, his heart clenching at the sight of Chu Sheng nailed to the wall, his face deathly pale, fearing for his brother’s fate.

Liu Ling’er’s sword was like a stroke of divine intervention, rescuing Chu Meier at the most critical moment, and allowing Baili Xian, who had just reached Chu Meier’s side, to breathe a sigh of relief.

Chu Sheng seethed with hatred—this was the second time this woman had ruined his plans, and she was formidable indeed. He had underestimated her again and paid dearly for it. Wrenching the sword from his shoulder, Chu Sheng dared not reengage, but instead spat out a cold command: “Loose the arrows!”

At his order, the assassins raised their arms and shot hidden darts towards the Empress Dowager. At that moment, Baili Xian was helping the Empress Dowager to her feet, leaving his back exposed. Liu Ling’er’s heart leapt to her throat and she shouted, “Prince Virtue, look out!”

The guards blocked the first volley, but a second wave followed immediately. As one arrow sped directly toward Baili Xian, Liu Ling’er’s mind went blank; without thinking, as if guided by fate, she threw herself in its path.