Xiao Man stopped at a fork in the road. Three paths lay before her, each leading in a different direction, and she had no idea which one was the way out.
"Your Highness, which way should we go?"
"You choose one."
Xiao Man frowned. "Perhaps Your Highness should choose."
"I have bad luck. If I choose, I might pick a dead end," Nangong Yu said with a smile.
"Then..."
"I think you don't need to choose. I'm here to send you on your way!" A voice called from behind, followed by a fierce attack.
Nangong Yu pushed Xiao Man aside, dodging the onslaught. Po Jun, wielding a long sword, charged forward. His clothes were torn and tattered, and his body was covered in wounds, yet his eyes burned with killing intent. One missed strike was followed by a barrage of blows, each aimed at Nangong Yu's life.
The fifteenth of every month was when Nangong Yu was at his weakest, and with his injuries still unhealed, he was even more vulnerable.
All his internal energy was spent suppressing the poison's effects, leaving him with no strength to fend off Po Jun's attacks. Yet, Nangong Yu was never one to surrender to fate.
"Your Highness, Prince Qin, you are at the end of your rope. Stop struggling," Po Jun sneered, his face contorted. "Dying by my hand will be a release for you!"
Saying this, he thrust his sword towards Nangong Yu again. Nangong Yu rolled to avoid it. Xiao Man, having gotten back on her feet, rushed towards Po Jun. Her cultivation was not as strong as in her previous life, but she hadn't forgotten her moves. She picked up a stone from the ground and flung it like a projectile, aiming for Po Jun's vital points.
Po Jun deflected the stone, his impatience evident. He glared at Xiao Man. "It seems I must kill you first."
"Hurry and go."
Po Jun, with his sharp sword, swung it at Xiao Man.
Xiao Man retreated, trying to lure Po Jun away so Nangong Yu could escape. But Po Jun saw through her ploy and changed the direction of his sword, thrusting it at Nangong Yu.
"Your Highness, be careful."
Nangong Yu staggered and fell to the ground, narrowly evading Po Jun's attack. However, Po Jun's next strike was swift, aimed directly at his heart.
Xiao Man gasped, her movements as swift as a phantom's. She kicked Po Jun.
Po Jun didn't retract his sword. He took Xiao Man's kick and, without hesitation, plunged his sword towards Nangong Yu. But just as it was about to end Nangong Yu's life, it could advance no further.
Xiao Man had actually caught his sword with her bare hands. Then, a hidden dart shot out. Po Jun quickly withdrew his sword and retreated, evading Xiao Man's projectile.
Xiao Man's expression was grim. She knew she was no match for Po Jun, and Prince Qin was also extremely weak. But she could not surrender. Fighting to the death would still result in death, as would surrendering. Even if she had to die, she would not let Po Jun have an easy time of it!
With this thought, Xiao Man's foot suddenly stepped out, landing on a spot it shouldn't have. A sinister smile curved her lips. "If I die, I'll take you with me!"
As Xiao Man withdrew her foot, the three of them heard a rustling sound from afar. It was dense and chilling, sending shivers down their spines.
"What did you do?"
"Just stepped on a mechanism."
Xiao Man helped Nangong Yu up. Relying on her Qinggong, she fled swiftly. Xiao Man knew that whatever was coming from behind, it was definitely not good.
Po Jun also knew that the approaching danger was not to be trifled with. He immediately pursued Xiao Man's direction. However, he was still curious about what was behind him. When he looked back, he felt his scalp tingle. It was countless venomous snakes, slithering towards him!
"Xiao Man, I'll never forgive you!"
Hearing Po Jun's roar, Xiao Man sneered. She was sworn enemies with Jiu Yu Lou. If she didn't destroy Jiu Yu Lou, she wouldn't be Xiao Man!
Xiao Man led Nangong Yu in their escape. The venomous snakes were extremely fast. Po Jun disappeared at some point, and the snakes relentlessly pursued the two. Xiao Man looked back and saw the snakes avoiding a path, as if unwilling to approach. Xiao Man looked closely and realized that the snakes were avoiding the blood-stained ground.
Xiao Man raised her hand. The wound was deep, exposing bone, and blood was gushing out.
Xiao Man's gaze fell on a large tree not far ahead. She took Nangong Yu and leaped onto the tree. Then, she squeezed her palm, causing blood to well up. Xiao Man dripped the blood in a circle around the tree. The snakes indeed dared not approach. After a moment, they pursued in another direction.
Nangong Yu was shocked by the snakes' fear of Xiao Man's blood, but he said nothing. He looked up at the sky, his face losing its color. It was getting dark.
Once night fell, it would be time for his poison to flare up.
"The snakes have retreated. Let's find a place to spend the night," Nangong Yu said softly.
He appeared calm, but he was extremely weak. If Po Jun attacked now, he would have no chance to fight back.
Xiao Man nodded, making sure there were no snakes below. She then helped Nangong Yu down from the tree to find a place to rest.
The Ten Thousand Ghost Forest was full of dangers, and Nangong Yu's condition was very unstable. She had to find a place to spend the night before it became completely dark.
Xiao Man's luck was indeed good. They found a hidden cave. Apparently, the swarm of snakes had scared away the original inhabitants, making it quite safe.
Xiao Man gathered firewood and lit a fire. She then saw Nangong Yu curled up to the side, his body trembling slightly. She couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, Prince Qin, are you alright?"
Nangong Yu gritted his teeth, preventing himself from crying out in pain. He had a good way to alleviate the poison's effects, and Xiao Man was right there, but he dared not.
Xiao Man grew more confused. She walked towards Nangong Yu and reached out to pat his shoulder. To her surprise, with her gentle pat, Nangong Yu collapsed to the ground, his face contorted in extreme pain.
"Your Highness, Prince Qin, what's wrong?" Xiao Man was extremely shocked. She wondered if Nangong Yu had been poisoned in the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest. She reached out to feel his pulse. The moment she did, Xiao Man was stunned. "Poisoned... the poison has entered your vital organs..." Soodan Novel Network
Xiao Man sank to her knees, looking at the suffering Nangong Yu. Her eyes held disbelief. With the poison reaching his vital organs, Nangong Yu had little time left. What was the point of fighting for the throne in such a state?
No, no!
Xiao Man shook her head, forcing herself to calm down. When Nangong Yu was injured, she had clearly felt his pulse, and he had shown no signs of poisoning. But judging by his current condition, he had been poisoned for a long time. How had he tricked her?
"When were you poisoned?" Xiao Man asked urgently.
Nangong Yu's vision blurred. He couldn't see Xiao Man's face clearly, only her voice, which flowed through his heart like a clear spring, making him yearn for her intensely.
Nangong Yu reached out towards Xiao Man. Before she could react, the world spun, and she found herself trapped by Nangong Yu. His cold lips pressed against hers, invading her, biting her until she bled.