Chapter Sixty-Nine: A Timely Rescue

Chapter Sixty-Nine: A Timely Rescue

Princess Anran was the most beloved jewel of Emperor Tianwu. The current emperor had twelve princes, but only one princess. Although the emperor himself had little interest in power, it did not mean his sons were equally indifferent. Now, as the twelve princes neared adulthood, each had rolled up his sleeves and was fiercely contending for the throne.

Only Princess Anran, perhaps due to her being a woman, showed no interest in such matters of power. She was deeply cherished by the emperor, treasured as his very heart and soul.

Should anything befall Princess Anran, heaven knows how furious and heartbroken His Majesty would be. And when the emperor is enraged, the consequences are dire—especially when the emperor feels no genuine affection for his own nation.

Ye Feng had no time to dwell further when Princess Anran’s palanquin arrived before him. The two palace maids at the front, seeing Ye Feng standing there motionless, showed clear signs of annoyance and whispered something to the one inside.

A quiet command was given, and the palanquin halted. The curtain was drawn aside, revealing a young woman in a pale yellow palace gown, her beauty serene and peerless. Though she seemed slightly impatient, she restrained herself and asked, “Ye Feng, why do you block my way?”

“You know me?” Ye Feng was taken aback. In his memory, he had never met Princess Anran before.

He only knew of her existence, but this was his first time seeing her in person. Yet she recognized him. He could not help but feel a strange sense of curiosity.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Princess Anran’s skin was fair and delicate, her brows gently arched, and her eyes clear and deep as autumn lakes, exuding a noble, sacred aura. She seemed untouched by the world’s dust, like a lotus emerging unsullied from the water.

“Where is Your Highness heading?” Only then did Ye Feng notice that at the end of the street, several hundred meters ahead, rose the majestic towers of the imperial palace. Princess Anran had just left the palace—how had she been targeted so quickly?

This could mean only one thing: there was a traitor within the palace.

Realizing this, Ye Feng felt a sudden urge to turn and walk away. What business did he have meddling in royal affairs?

“Months ago, Ying’er spoke of you. Just recently, you killed several high-ranking nobles. Now, in the capital, who does not know you, Young Lord Ye?” Princess Anran’s eyes sparkled as she spoke with a playful smile.

Hearing this, Ye Feng stopped in his tracks. “You and Xiao Ying, are you close?”

“Ying’er was my childhood companion! What do you think?”

Well then! It seemed he had no choice but to help. Such a beauty, and Xiao Ying’s close friend at that—if he did nothing, she would surely perish at the hands of assassins. Ye Feng silently cursed the heavens for their lack of mercy.

“Young Lord Ye, may I proceed?” Princess Anran feigned annoyance, puffing her cheeks. Today, she was on her way to the Xiao residence. With the twelve princes embroiled in fierce rivalry within the palace, the atmosphere was stifling. After much pleading, she had finally secured the emperor’s permission to leave for some peace of mind.

Princess Anran alternated between feigned anger and genuine worry, making Ye Feng feel rather perplexed.

“Your Highness, please go ahead.” The assassins were lurking among the crowd. If Ye Feng warned them now, he would only implicate himself.

As the palanquin passed him by, Ye Feng whispered to a palace maid at its side, “There are assassins!”

Even as he spoke, Ye Feng found it absurd. The princess was leaving the palace with only a detachment of ordinary guards? Still, this was the emperor’s household business. The old saying rang true: Once you enter the palace, it’s as deep as the sea.

“You are the greatest threat here!” the palace maid snapped, glaring at him.

Damn it! Ye Feng, quick-witted as ever, realized much from her reaction. Thanks to her outburst, the assassins in the crowd would surely have marked him.

Swish—

Executing his “Flood Dragon Stride,” Ye Feng swiftly tore down the yellow curtain of the palanquin, disregarding all protocol, and pulled the princess out to escape.

Just as he drew her close, Ye Feng felt a chill at his lower back. From experience, he knew he’d been stabbed.

“Out of my way!” Ye Feng roared, his dagger flashing cold as it sliced the maid’s throat. He was racing against time—should the assassins react swiftly and surround him, today would mark his death anniversary next year.

“Ah! What’s happening?” Princess Anran screamed in terror at the sudden violence.

“Take them down!” someone shouted urgently from the crowd.

“Yes!” In the blink of an eye, several icy auras locked onto Ye Feng.

At that moment, the sun finally set. The sky, which still held a trace of light, was plunged into darkness as night fell upon the earth.

With the coming of night, several masked figures in black surged from the crowd. Even before they neared, dozens of black arrows, each charged with intense spiritual power, shot toward the palanquin. Blades and swords, gleaming with all manner of spiritual energy, rained down from above.

Cries of pain echoed as, in an instant, a dozen of the princess’s attendants fell to the assassins. A few quick-witted guards shouted, “Protect the princess!” and closed ranks around her with drawn swords.

In a heartbeat, the clashing of blades rang out continuously. Bystanders shrieked and fled in all directions.

Two masked assassins dropped from the rooftops, heading straight for Ye Feng. Judging by the surging energy around them, they were both Spirit Emperor-level experts—far beyond what the injured Ye Feng could handle, especially as they were seasoned killers.

“To send two Spirit Emperors after a wounded Spirit King like me—they really think highly of me,” Ye Feng thought bitterly. To mobilize such experts for this assassination—the mastermind was indeed powerful.

Twin swords gleaming with silver lunged for Ye Feng, their wielders’ eyes behind the black masks cold and merciless.

Confronted with the deadly blades, Ye Feng did not hesitate. He launched into his “Flood Dragon Stride,” dragging Princess Anran with him. With a powerful leap, he mounted a nearby stallion.

Behind them, five Spirit Emperors who’d dispatched the guards shot into the sky in pursuit.

“Dragon Seizing Hand!” Gathering his spiritual power with reckless abandon, Ye Feng unleashed two mighty Dragon Seizing Hands from above, ignoring the stabbing pain in his back, striking toward the void.