Yelü Qi’s departing steps faltered.
He turned back, looking at the two figures lying in the pool of blood, his lips pursing slightly.
“Young Master, she’s dead. Why are you hesitating? We must leave quickly.”
The cold wind, laced with raging raindrops, intertwined in the sky. The splashes of water kicked up by the heavy rain fell like shattered white jade.
Yelü Qi’s gaze remained fixed on the white figure.
After a moment, he strode back, intending to take the person from Tantai Ye’s embrace.
Huo Feng followed, holding an umbrella, his expression darkening. “Young Master!”
Li Qiongyu, returning from not far away, saw the scene. With a cold glare, he swiftly thrust the knife in his hand into Yelü Qi’s chest.
Yelü Qi’s face instantly turned pale, and he stumbled back several steps.
He glared, clutching his chest wound, and was about to snatch the person.
Li Qiongyu’s figure flew forward with astonishing speed, seizing him and sneering.
“Yelü Qi, you used her to design the killing of Tantai Ye, and now you’re acting all affectionate.”
Yelü Qi laughed. “He doesn’t have the right to accompany her to the underworld.”
He didn’t want her to be restless even in death!
“If she knew you were so despicable and shameless, she wouldn’t want you to take her away!”
Just as the two began to fight, a violent rushing sound suddenly echoed from not far away.
More than a dozen樓船 (lóu chuán - multi-decked boats) crossed the river, the man at the forefront clad in brocade and black robes, his attire billowing in the wind. Behind him, soldiers held an umbrella for him.
He held a千里眼 (qiān lǐ yǎn - spyglass) and quickly locked onto their position.
“Dingbei Wang!”
Huo Feng grew anxious. “Young Master, hurry!”
Tantai Ye had lost too much blood and was at the end of his strength. If they could just leave this ship and quickly blow it up, they would have lived up to the Crown Prince’s expectations.
Yelü Qi was startled, a flicker of unwillingness in his gentle eyes. However, seeing the樓船 (lóu chuán) speeding towards them from the southwest waterline, he dared not delay. He hadn’t expected Xiao Chizhan to also be in Jiangzhou; it was truly unexpected.
“Men, stop him!”
At the command, countless assassins emerged from all directions, instantly surrounding Li Qiongyu.
Yelü Qi looked back deeply at Lan Murou lying in Tantai Ye’s arms, his eyes darkening slightly. He then turned and left swiftly.
The Eagle Guards guarded Tantai Ye, carving a bloody path.
On the ships, there was nothing but the gleam of blades and the flow of blood.
Blood flowed down the deck and into the river, then further down.
The air was filled with the smell of blood.
Li Qiongyu, covered in blood, broke free from the encirclement. Looking at the two figures lying amidst the blood and swords, his expression was grave.
He kicked away an attacking assassin, crouched down, and swiftly sealed their acupuncture points, shouting, “Eagle One, come quickly.”
“Take them away.”
“Yes.”
To assassinate Tantai Ye, they had mobilized many connections this time, even acquiring warships and cannons. How could they allow them any chance to escape?
After Yelü Qi boarded the ship, he directly ordered it to be blown up.
“Xiao Chizhan, they won’t be able to get out.”
Ye Luan, her hands and feet cold, clutched the ship’s railing. From a distance, she saw numerous cannons aimed at the massive ship under the pouring rain.
Xiao Chizhan’s eyes were cold. He drew his bow and ordered, “Blood Blade, have the Blood Corpse people bring them out.”
“Yes.”
As he spoke, he nocked an arrow and aimed it directly at the warships on the southeast waterline.
He scanned the surroundings and locked onto Yelü Qi, who was surrounded by everyone. His eyes immediately turned grim.
Three arrows were fired in rapid succession, crossing the vast army at lightning speed and striking directly at Yelü Qi’s head.
The warship was heavily armored.
The moment the killing intent struck, someone immediately intercepted the blade.
But no one expected that another white-feathered arrow would strike from behind in an extremely strange manner. Its speed was so fast that it could not be blocked, and it directly embedded itself in Yelü Qi’s chest.
“Young Master!”
Everyone was shocked. Under such strict guard, they had been ambushed.
Yelü Qi’s face turned instantly white. With a splurt, he spat out blood, and his entire body crashed to the ground.
Huo Feng ordered the guards to carry him away and said grimly,
“Blow up the ship.”
“Yes.”
With a boom, the entire river erupted with the sound of gunpowder explosions. Soaring flames spread across the sky, but the rain was too heavy, and smoke filled the surroundings.
Wei Qingge watched in shock as the massive ship was blown apart.
The glint of blades and the whistling of arrows flew through the air like a tide, descending from above.
Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
“Aluan, what do we do? They can’t get out.”
Ye Luan’s heart was in a turmoil. Looking at the scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with wisps of smoke curling upwards, her fingers turned pale.
Xiao Chizhan’s eyes were cold. “Surround them. They must not be allowed to leave alive!”
“Yes.”
The sound of bugles echoed, and majestic樓船 (lóu chuán) rapidly approached from the southwest waterline.
The leading warship was filled with soldiers in heavy armor. A volley of arrows instantly turned the main battleship into a porcupine.
Huo Feng looked at Yelü Qi, who had fainted from his injuries, and cursed under his breath.
A soldier urgently asked, “My lord, what should we do? Dingbei Wang is attacking with his men. Should we retreat?”
“Go.”
The massive ship had been blown open. Tantai Ye was already seriously wounded and had lost a lot of blood. It was impossible for him to still be alive.
Their mission was complete.
Xiao Chizhan coldly watched the more than a dozen ships fleeing in disarray, the ferocity in his sinister eyes unable to be masked even by the pouring rain.
“Long Tian, flank them and fill the sea with them!”
How dare they be so arrogant within the borders of Da Liang? It was as if they didn’t take him seriously at all.
The樓船 (lóu chuán) behind him were all skilled naval warriors.
With the King’s order, they instantly surged past the foremost warships, forming ranks with terrifying speed, encircling all the departing ships.
A sky full of arrows flew like released bowstrings. From beneath the water and inside the ships, a large number of naval warriors emerged, like a tidal surge.
Piercing cries of killing, accompanied by arrows, pierced through shields, roaring in the air.
Earth-shattering slaughter, mixed with the harsh sound of swords clashing, instantly erupted on the river, a constant clang.
Ye Luan stood beside Xiao Chizhan, her gaze fixed on the massive ship that had been blown up, silent.
“Aluan, what do we do? Will they be able to save them?”
Wei Qingge’s hands trembled with anxiety.
“Don’t be afraid, wait, just wait a little longer. Everything will be alright.”
This warship was filled with soldiers in oilcloth cloaks, standing ready.
Not long after, a large group of people emerged from the riverbed. Li Qiongyu, clad in a blood-red brocade robe, emerged from the water, looking disheveled, dragging someone with him.
Xiao Chizhan’s expression tensed, and he quickly leaped down, lifting several people and leaping onto the ship.
The Eagle Guards from underwater were also pulled up.
“Murou.”
Ye Luan and Wei Qingge ran over in shock. Seeing the severely wounded individuals, they were both greatly alarmed.
“Quick, carry them into the ship’s cabin.”
Li Qiongyu’s face and body were also covered in blood. He had narrowly avoided being hit by the explosion when he jumped into the sea with the two of them, his back tingling with pain.
Xiao Chizhan watched Tantai Ye being taken away for treatment and strode towards him.
“How is it?”