Mu Li and Qiao Chu nodded. Just then, a gust of wind surged outside the tent, extinguishing the lamp.
The surroundings plunged into darkness, and within this darkness, murderous intent permeated. Even the torches around the tent were inexplicably extinguished. Shangguan Lin leaped up, flashing out first, with Mu Li and Qiao Chu following closely. The three of them suddenly shouted.
“Assassin! Everyone get up.”
This shout alerted all the elite soldiers. Some, without even time to put on their clothes, rushed in with their weapons.
In the darkness, there were many attackers, at least a hundred of them, and their martial arts were extremely formidable. More importantly, their killing intent was potent. Their moves were exceptionally fierce, a style of fighting for death.
These people had no intention of surviving. Shangguan Lin realized that the attackers were death warriors. He suspected that his elite soldiers would not be able to cope today.
As for himself, Shangguan Lin was just contemplating when someone attacked him. Although the weather was not cold, the pervasive killing intent in the dark night made him feel a chill to the bone. Soon, the smell of blood permeated the air. Shangguan Lin knew that someone had been killed.
He could no longer afford to pay attention to the elite soldiers, because if he did, he would surely die. His target was himself, and the death warriors surrounding him were the most numerous.
Everyone’s attacks were fatal, forcing him into a desperate situation. He gradually began to feel the strain. At this moment, someone leaped out from the distant mountains. Several masked men in black joined the battle, quickly surpassing everyone else and sliding to his side.
These people fiercely attacked the surrounding death warriors. The newcomer was his royal brother, Mu Rong. His movements were extremely swift, and a protective aura surrounded him, preventing others from getting close. Thus, he merely flicked his black cloak, releasing a powerful wave of energy.
He reached out and pulled Shangguan Lin away. The death warriors, seeing this, pursued them closely, leaping into the mountains. The others were obstructed by the elite soldiers. For a time, the sounds of fighting and shouting filled the forest, spreading far and wide.
Mu Rong Chong and Shangguan Lin fought and retreated into the forest, quickly killing the few death warriors who followed them.
“Let’s go.”
Shangguan Lin shed his outer garment and left with Mu Rong. He left behind Mu Rong’s subordinates to clean up, using a death warrior who closely resembled Shangguan Lin to impersonate him.
That death warrior had a horizontal slash across his face, his blood streaming down. He also wore the prince’s clothes and was led out of the deep mountain forest, abandoned outside the dense woods.
Outside the mountains, the elite soldiers and death warriors fought to the death. In the end, both sides suffered heavy casualties, with few remaining. One death warrior, perhaps seeing something, rushed over and reported to the leader. Several people then retreated silently.
The remaining dozens of elite soldiers exchanged glances and then took stock. They had arrived with five hundred men, and now only forty or fifty remained, a testament to the heavy casualties.
Furthermore, the prince was missing. The group was greatly alarmed and split up to search for him. By the mountain path, they found the prince tragically dead, stabbed several times in the chest and his face also slashed.
The elite soldiers all knelt down with a thud, their faces streaming with tears. They buried the prince on the spot, hoping to report to the Emperor as soon as possible.
Mu Rong Chong and Shangguan Lin avoided the crowds and rendezvoused with Mu Li and Qiao Chu thirty miles away. Seeing that the prince was unharmed, the two of them were finally relieved and overjoyed.
“Your Highness, it’s good that you’re alright.”
“Alright, let’s go.” Mu Rong Chong led the way. Soon, they saw a carriage. The few of them got into the carriage, and the coachman, taking them on a roundabout route, brought them into a mansion.
By this time, it was already dawn. Inside the grand mansion, there were not many people. Those who moved about occasionally were all skilled in martial arts. Shangguan Lin looked around as he inquired.
“Mu Rong, is this a place belonging to your Divine Dragon Palace?”
Shangguan Lin and Mu Rong Chong had agreed to call each other by name when outside. They would only address each other as brothers once the country was reclaimed.
“It’s an operational liaison point.”
Mu Rong did not hide anything. He was completely trusting of Lin; they were biological brothers.
Shangguan Lin then temporarily resided in the estate. Besides his daily duties, Mu Rong accompanied his brother. The two had not seen each other for nearly ten years, and it felt like a dream.
In the afternoon, in the back garden, there was a pavilion. Mu Rong and Shangguan Lin were sipping tea in the pavilion, while outside, a maid played the zither. The zither music was ethereal and moving, leisurely and elegant.
Mu Rong Chong sipped his tea, gazing at Shangguan Lin opposite him. Seeing that Lin had been in good spirits these past few days, he also felt a sense of relaxation he had never experienced before.
The two brothers were finally reunited. If their father knew, he would surely be gratified. However, he still had tasks to perform and could not accompany Lin forever. Once the throne was reclaimed, they would no longer have to be so cautious.
“Lin, I need to return to the capital. You stay here.”
“Mu Rong, I know what you’re doing, and I want to be involved in everything.”
Shangguan Lin was persistent. He wished to fight this battle side-by-side with Mu Rong and did not want to be excluded for his protection, which made him feel useless.
“Lin?”
Mu Rong Chong was about to say something more when suddenly a report sounded from outside the pavilion: “Master, there is a letter from the capital.”
“Bring it in.”
Upon hearing news from the capital, a flicker of worry crossed Mu Rong Chong’s eyes. The smile that curved his lips was exceptionally captivating. Shangguan Lin watched him, sensing that his royal brother seemed to have someone he cared about in the capital. Who could it be?
He couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, looking curiously towards the outside of the pavilion.
A tall, expressionless subordinate brought in the letter and quickly withdrew.
Mu Rong Chong read the letter with swift movements, seeming somewhat impatient. He finished reading it quickly, but his expression did not relax. On the contrary, it became more sinister, his eyes deep and unfathomable, a chilling aura enveloping him.
Even the flowers and plants outside the pavilion were still and silent, as if sensing his mood.
“Mu Rong, what happened?”
“Xiao’er entered the palace?”
Mu Rong Chong murmured, his eyes filled with deep worry. At this moment, he wished he could sprout wings and fly to the capital, to Xiao’er’s side.
As his words fell, Shangguan Lin looked astonished, raising his eyebrows and asking softly, “Who is Xiao’er?”
“Yun Xiao.”
Mu Rong Chong had no intention of hiding it from him. From now on, he did not wish to conceal anything from his imperial brother, nor from Xiao’er. This time, when he returned to the capital, he hoped to tell her everything.
“Yun Xiao? You mean that fool?” Shangguan Lin exclaimed in surprise, then his eyes widened as if recalling something, “You mean Yun Xiao isn’t a fool? Then all those incidents in the palace before were caused by her.”
“And me.”
Mu Rong Chong did not deny it. Mentioning Xiao’er improved his mood greatly, his face radiating splendor. Even though his entire face was not visible, the brilliant radiance and unrestrained demeanor made Shangguan Lin realize how much his royal brother cared for the foolish empress of Eastern Qin.