Ye Luan let out a loud shout, startling everyone in the inn. They all lit lamps and got up.
Seeing the situation was unfavorable, the assassins sent to capture Ye Luan exchanged glances and rushed towards her.
She was prepared. The hidden weapons in her hand flew out, and she smoothly darted downstairs.
"Ah, murder, murder---"
Many people staying in the inn heard the commotion and came out to see.
Some screamed in fear.
"Report to the officials, hurry and report, a flower thief is killing people--"
Perhaps the commotion was too great. Those who were ruthless killers, to prevent leaks, directly injured the onlookers with hidden weapons. This terrified everyone, and they dared not cry out again.
Panic filled the inn.
Ye Luan ran out and kept running.
Under the dark and dim sky, the pursuers were close behind.
She glanced back a few times. There were at least thirty people. Their skills, martial arts, and attire didn't resemble Xiao Chi Zhan's dark guards, but rather people from the martial world.
Could they be the assassins Qingyi had mentioned?
No wonder they hadn't killed her.
She had no Qinggong, no internal energy. Those people were all highly skilled and relentlessly pursued her. She could even sense other presences around her.
Ye Luan quickly looked around and spotted the mansion of a wealthy family. She immediately scaled the wall and leaped inside.
"Who's there?"
In the courtyard, someone relieving himself saw a figure flash by and quickly chased after it, holding a lantern.
Ye Luan held her breath and hid in a dense tree, not daring to move.
Through the thick branches, she could see the person searching everywhere. Unable to find anything, the person muttered and left.
Assassins from martial world organizations usually had taboos.
She waited for a long time and found no one had pursued her. She got down from the tree, crept cautiously, and found an empty room in the mansion to rest.
Qingyi should have left by now, right?!
Ye Luan slept uneasily all night. The next day, as soon as the sky began to lighten, she quietly slipped out of the room and left the mansion.
But as soon as she stepped out, assassins from all directions suddenly appeared.
Her eyes turned cold, and she quickly ran towards the bustling street.
The early morning stalls in the city had already opened, exuding warmth and steam.
There were also many pedestrians around.
Those assassins were probably losing patience and no longer cared about anything else. They actually hurled hidden weapons at her.
A strong killing intent surged from behind her. Ye Luan was slightly startled and immediately dodged. Seeing the person leap towards her disregarding the public, she immediately drew her saber and slashed.
At that moment, a carriage approached her.
Ye Luan acted almost instinctively, without a second thought. She leaped onto the carriage, kicked open the door, and ran inside.
But before she could catch her breath, an evil, mocking laugh echoed within the carriage.
"What a coincidence, I've caught you."
Hearing the familiar voice, Ye Luan's heart clenched in fear. A chill instantly surged from the soles of her feet to her head, penetrating to the bone.
She stared with her alluring eyes, examining him inch by inch.
A pair of clean black satin boots with white soles, a brown robe embroidered with lotuses and clasped with purple gold, black hair, red lips, and an aura as cold as a snake.
Xie Bei Han!
He smiled sinisterly, looking at her as she slumped onto the carriage floor, unhurriedly.
His beautiful phoenix eyes appeared vicious and chilling in the dim carriage. His smile was devoid of any warmth, causing one to tremble.
Ye Luan instinctively wanted to jump out of the carriage, but the coachman outside had firmly secured the door, making it impossible to budge.
"Why run? I've been looking for you for a long time."
His voice was cold and dark, like a brewing storm of blood.
The carriage sped away, the assassins relentlessly in pursuit.
In the cramped carriage, Ye Luan clenched her fists, forcing herself to calm down.
She took a deep breath, calmly stood up, and sat at the other end of the carriage. "What a coincidence," she said.
Xie Bei Han smiled when he saw her actions.
His clean, handsome hands offered her a cup of fragrant tea, his voice extremely gentle.
"I've saved your life again."
Ye Luan took the tea and chuckled, "Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my life."
"Tsk, what do people say in the common folk--" he provocatively hooked her, "A life-saving grace should be repaid with one's own person."
The fragrant, warm tea bloomed in her stomach.
Ye Luan calmly removed her beard and picked off the moles on her face. As she did so, she replied, "Since Your Highness has saved my life, I naturally cannot harm my benefactor."
Xie Bei Han's smile deepened at her words.
He leaned back lazily against the jade pillow, his snake-like cold eyes staring at her without blinking.
Ye Luan felt as if she were being stared at by a venomous snake, chilling to the bone.
No matter how he smiled, a chill spread through her. His smile never reached his eyes; it was filled with schemes.
"Why are you staring at me, Your Highness?"
Xie Bei Han teased, "My Bei Qi's Nine Rivers have fallen, and it's in imminent danger. Should I hand you over to Xiao Chi Zhan to force him to withdraw from Yue Han Pass?"
"Your Highness jokes. A mere woman cannot compare to his grand ambitions. He won't willingly withdraw for me."
"How do you know if you don't try?"
Ye Luan put down the teacup with a clatter. "Oh, then you try."
As she spoke, he suddenly leaned forward, his sinister face only three inches away from her.
She could clearly see the evil smile in his eyes, staring directly at her.
"But I can't bear to."
Ye Luan reached out and pushed against his chest, retreating slightly.
"Are you going to tell me you like me, Your Highness?"
Xie Bei Han saw her evasiveness and her inability to escape, and raised an eyebrow slightly.
He sat back down, flicked his robe, ignored her words, and ordered outside, "Go buy some food."
The assassins outside seemed to have been intercepted, as there was no sound of fighting.
Ye Luan lifted the carriage curtain and peeked outside.
The bustling marketplace was filled with various small stalls selling steamed buns, hu biscuits, roasted naan, sheep's milk, and more.
"I want to eat jùnù and soy milk."
Xie Bei Han raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Buy according to her instructions."
"Yes."
The carriage did not stop; it continued to move forward.
Ye Luan guessed that a dark guard had gone to buy the food.
"Where are you taking me, Your Highness?"
Xie Bei Han lightly tapped the tea lid and glanced at her. "Of course, to Bei Qi."
Ye Luan's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged.
She smiled, "Yes, that's good. I haven't been to Bei Qi yet."
As she finished speaking, a low chuckle spread through the carriage.
His deep, unfathomable eyes slanted towards her, as if he could capture her inner thoughts from her expression.
That gaze was somewhat inexplicably terrifying.
"It is quite good that Xiao Chi Zhan personally came to Mo Bei for you. It is also quite good."
Xiao Chi Zhan is in Mo Bei?!
Ye Luan was slightly startled.
He smirked sinisterly, "Will the true ruler of this Da Liang die in Mo Bei? I am truly looking forward to it."