The White-Haired Imperial Concubine

Chapter 13 Assassins in the Garden

A dozen or so masked people wearing black appeared, surrounding them.

Man Yao was startled, how could she not have noticed such a strong killing intent from so many people?! Trying her luck, she suddenly felt that her inner force…couldn’t be utilized, causing her to become instantly terrified. Sweeping her gaze over the black-clothed people surrounding them, she saw that they were holding long swords as they focused in on Zongzheng Wuyou. It seems like their target is him. But why did she suddenly lose her inner force, yet Zongzheng Wuyou seem as if he wasn’t affected at all? Or could it be that he’s the same as her, only pretending that everything is normal? If that was true, then they…are in big trouble!

Zongzheng Wuyou calmly drank his cold tea, his words carrying a mocking tone as he laughed, “It looks like he still hasn’t given up. He couldn’t afford the people of Wu Yin Lou, so he went to go find such second-rate assassins like you guys. Do you think you have the ability to take my life?”

He spoke as if he knew who wanted to kill him, yet he could still be this calm, it seems like this wasn’t the first time something like this happened. On the other hand, the person who wants his life is able to still live well despite Zongzheng Wuyou knowing his identity. Who is this person exactly?

The black-clothed men’s eyes glinted, their killing intent becoming even stronger as they gave each other a look and began to attack without saying anything else. In just a blink of an eye, numerous swords formed a net, falling down towards his body.

Seeing this, her heart rose while Zongzheng Wuyou kept calm, as if the weapons in their hands weren’t swords but falling leaves.

Suddenly, like a ghost, someone appeared in the nick of time to block the swords, fighting against the black-clothed men.

Leng Yan? She almost forgot that he had such a mysterious person by his side. Those assassins were definitely not second-rate like he described but actual experts, each move they made were meant to kill. Leng Yan, who she had met a few times but never heard him say anything, appeared like a ghost, the sword he was swinging like rain and as quick as lightning. The garden was filled with chopped limbs and dead bodies as blood flew through the air.

One of the black-robed men was able to escape and redirected his sword again to this target—running towards Zongzheng Wuyou’s back neck, his gaze was filled with cruelty and although his movements were extremely quick, they were silent.

Man Yao didn’t expect this and suddenly yelled, “Your Majesty be careful—” her voice was full of urgency.

Surprised, Zongzheng Wuyou raised his head as something flashed through his eyes. This woman actually did something so unexpected—reminding him to be careful of what’s behind him! Even so, he didn’t need the reminder. Not changing his expression, he sat unmovingly like a mountain. When the sword almost reached his neck, he slightly turned his head and raised his hand, two slender fingers accurately catching the sword, his actions casual and elegant.

The black-clothed man was shocked, frantically trying to pull his sword away to no avail.

Zongzheng Wuyou gave a cold smile, applying pressure between his fingers and the sound of the sword breaking could be heard. As he calmly raised his eyebrows, he laughed, “What a poorly built sword. Has Wuxiamen fallen into hard times?

Wuxiamen, an assassination organization whose infamy surpassed even Wuyin Lou. As long as they received money, they could do anything and rumors had it that they’ve never failed. Unfortunately, they met Zongzheng Wuyou this time.

Being recognized, the black-clothed men froze, clearly panicking as they aimed their swords at him once again only to see Zongzheng Wuyou wave his hands as their weapons met empty air.

“Ah—” Ear-piercing cries rang out as those black-clothed men rolled on the floor, their hands tightly covering their eyes as fresh blood flowed between their coarse fingers. Their faces were numb from the pain, and after a period of time, the sounds died down as they lost energy. Man Yao took a look and froze, turning into a statue after seeing that these black-clothed men no longer had their eyes, leaving behind two black holes in their faces as fresh blood flowed out to stain the white bricks on the ground.

From beginning ’til the end, Zongzheng Wuyou never looked back.

Looking at the man who looked like a cross between a celestial and a devil and seeing him use such cruel methods to kill someone without his facial expression ever fluctuating, as if he was just stepping on an ant, she felt a chill that went through her bones, grabbing a hold of her and causing her to have difficulty breathing even as she did her best to keep calm.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, entering one’s nostrils. Droplets of fresh and hot blood fell onto her body. Even though she knew martial arts, she only ever used it for self-defense and had never killed anyone before. Since coming to this world three years ago, this was the first time she saw such a tragedy occurring before her eyes, witnessing someone go from being alive and breathing to dying on the ground right before her. She felt her whole body turn cold, as for someone who had already died once, she was especially sensitive towards matters regarding death.

After a while, only three assassins remained, each with their own injuries. Seeing their comrades fall one by one, they became fearful, seeking opportunities to escape. Assassins are also afraid of death! Everyone only has one life after all.

Zongzheng Wuyou’s gaze had stopped on her, seeing her faintly furrowed eyebrows as different emotions flashed through her eyes. The only emotion he didn’t see from her was fear, and she quickly returned back to being calm even though her face was slightly pale. Suddenly, he bent his body as his voice carried concern, “I’ve scared you!”

When these words were spoken, the black-clothed men immediately locked their gazes on her. Rumors said that Zongzheng Wuyou was cold and indifferent, never having any relations with any woman, yet here he was showing concern for a man and had come to this tea garden daily for the past half a month, could it be…he likes men?

Man Yao gave a ruthless glare at this sinister man…he did it on purpose! Seeing the black-robed men move towards her, she tried to force out her inner strength to strengthen her body, but the frustrating thing was that the more she tried, the softer her body became. Why? Why was she the only one who lost her inner strength but the Zongzheng Wuyou who sat at the same table as her was completely fine?

Not waiting for her to think any further, one of the assassins’ swords laid on her neck. Just as Leng Yan was about to move, the assassin firmly yelled out, “Don’t move. Prince Li, if you want him to live, then let us go.”

Leng Yan paused while Zongzheng Wuyou didn’t even think before he indifferently replied, “What does his life have to do with benwang?”

The assassin froze. Just now Prince Li clearly was worrying about this man who was more beautiful than a women, how come now he suddenly doesn’t care at all?

The sword inched closer until she felt the cold steel touch her dewy skin. Soon, she felt pain from where the tip of the sword was as warm blood flowed down from her slender neck.

Zongzheng Wuyou leaned back against the chair, his face saying that this whole entire situation had nothing to do with him as if he was watching a good play. Would this woman still be this calm when facing death?

Man Yao ground her teeth, unable to figure out what Zongzheng Wuyou was thinking. Sweeping her gaze, she raised her hand to gently touch the chess piece near her finger. Taking a look a Zongzheng Wuyou then the chessboard, she raised an eyebrow as her eyes filled with sincerity as if she was trying to say: If I die, then there won’t be anyone to play chess with you. Oh…I get it, you must be afraid that one day I’ll win against you, so you’re trying to get rid of me by using someone else’s hands to do it!

Zongzheng Wuyou raised the corners of his lips, his sinister face carrying a smile. Clearly he knew what she was trying to say but he was pretending that he didn’t know anything.

Seeing her touch the chess piece and giving Zongzheng Wuyou a look, the assassin thought that there was something suspicious about that chessboard. Raising his leg, he kicked the colored glass table over. The cups and pot shattered as tea flowed out; the white jade chessboard had already been broken into pieces and the finely crafted chess pieces littered the ground, stained with tea and fresh blood.

Zongzheng Wuyou’s gaze became heavy. Rotating his wrist, the leaves that landed in his hand seemed to have come to life as they shot out towards the extremities of that assassin, faster than one’s eyes could follow.

“Ah—” A tormented cry rang out, piercing through her eardrums as the assassin sank to the floor, his whole body twitching. Each of his four extremities was already cut off.

Zongzheng Wuyou didn’t even look at him, only focusing his gaze on her as his phoenix eyes were half-closed. This woman…did it on purpose! The looks she gave him were fake, but the act of luring the assassin into breaking the chessboard so that he would take action was real. This woman sure was manipulative, she was able to see how much he valued this chess set.

The other two assassins were frozen, how could leaves become a weapon used to kill someone?! Seeing how they were shocked into a standstill, Leng Yan used the opportunity to quickly move to behead one of them. In the midst of the chaos, the last assassin pushed her out to take the blow of that life-taking sword for him.

Leng Yang unconsciously drew back his sword. Her body lost all strength as she could only watch as Leng Yan was about to crash into her. However, at the very last moment, Leng Yan dodged and she had no choice but to directly fall onto the person behind Leng Yang, the person who wouldn’t even let a woman touch the same teacup he drank from, that world-ending man.