coobybook Chapter 1284 Variables
Chapter 1284 Variables
The maidservant obeyed and left. Min Yue walked to the window, gazing at the deep twilight outside, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.
She murmured softly, "Zhan Xuan, you shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess. This kingdom of Li, this throne of the empress, can only belong to me, Min Yue! As long as you, this variable, are removed, and once the king has completely broken with the Holy Maiden, I can rest easy and sit firmly at the top of the harem."
As she finished speaking, she reached out and gently touched her belly, her eyes softening.
Her son should be the rightful heir to the throne of Li Kingdom!
Before his death, the adoptive father cared deeply about this child and planned to help him ascend to the pinnacle of power.
She was determined to help her godfather fulfill this wish.
Following her secret order, many of the Heavenly Mandate Hall assassins have already rushed to the border of the Kingdom of Li.
Tiger Ridge is a treacherous place with steep cliffs on both sides and only enough space for one vehicle to pass in the middle, making it an ideal location for an ambush.
The Heavenly Mandate Hall assassins lay in ambush all around, led by a black-clad man named "Lone Wolf," who held a black iron token and had icy, cold eyes.
"Proceed according to plan. Archers and crossbowmen will ambush on the cliff top, and swordsmen will hide in the dense forest on both sides. Once Zhan Xuan's convoy enters the pass, release rolling stones to block their retreat, and then unleash a volley of arrows. Make sure to kill them in one hit!" Lone Wolf gave the order in a low voice, his fingertips lightly stroking the curved sword at his waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the twilight.
Before long, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and a group of black-armored knights escorted a blackwood carriage slowly approaching. The young man at the head was dressed in silver-white close-fitting clothes, with a handsome face; it was Zhan Xuan.
He seemed to have sensed something was amiss, raising his hand to signal the convoy to stop. His sharp gaze swept across the cliffs on both sides, and he said in a deep voice, "This place is dangerous; there may be an ambush. Everyone be on high alert!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than several boulders suddenly rolled down from the cliff top, crashing down behind the convoy and instantly blocking their retreat. Immediately afterward, arrows rained down like a storm, and from the dense forest, black-clad swordsmen swarmed out, charging straight at the convoy.
"Kill!" Zhan Xuan gave the order, and the Xuanjia knights immediately formed a defensive formation, shields touching to block the arrows, longswords drawn, and they fought with the dark guards.
Zhan Xuan leaped off the carriage, silver spear in hand. The tip shot out like a meteor, instantly piercing the throats of two guards. His spear technique was fierce and deadly, and in the blink of an eye, the guards were forced into retreat.
Seeing this, Lone Wolf personally drew his sword and stepped forward to engage Zhan Xuan in combat. Their swords clashed, sparks flying. Lone Wolf's swordsmanship was ruthless and unpredictable, each strike aimed at vital points, while Zhan Xuan's spearmanship was expansive, steady, and powerful, gradually gaining the upper hand. "Who sent you?" Zhan Xuan demanded sharply, the tip of his spear pointing directly at Ying's chest.
Lone Wolf gritted his teeth and remained silent, unleashing a powerful slash, only to be dodged by Zhan Xuan, who then swept his spear across, slamming it heavily onto Lone Wolf's shoulder.
The lone wolf let out a painful groan, then spat out a mouthful of blood and turned to flee.
"Leave your life behind!" Zhan Xuan roared, his silver spear flying from his hand and piercing Lone Wolf's back with pinpoint accuracy.
As the lone wolf lay on the ground, before dying, he suddenly turned his head to look at Zhan Xuan, a strange light flashing in his eyes. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he murmured, "Loyalty to destiny, without regret!"
Zhan Xuan frowned, his mind filled with doubts. He ordered the battlefield to be cleared, and found the dark black token on Lone Wolf's body. The token was engraved with intricate patterns, which was the symbol of the Heavenly Mandate Palace.
"The Hall of Destiny?" Zhan Xuan murmured to himself, a knowing glint in his eyes. It seemed his arrival had affected the interests of many.
Those people want to get rid of him!
However, he was ordered by his grandmother to come to Li Kingdom.
No matter how dangerous it is, he must never back down.
He ordered his men to continue their journey, and they finally arrived at a dilapidated temple to rest.
The night was as dark as ink. Zhan Xuanjing stood by the window, the candlelight flickering as he traced the black token of the Heavenly Mandate Hall with his fingertips, his eyes as deep and cold as a pool.
The ambush at Tiger Ridge seemed imminent, and the danger in Li Kingdom far exceeded his expectations. Tonight, there would surely be another fierce battle.
"Brother Xuan, it's late. I've made you some deer antler soup." A concerned voice came from the doorway. It was Ye Li carrying a celadon bowl as he slowly entered.
He was tall and slender, yet not rugged. His dark outfit accentuated his snow-white skin, and his eyes possessed a touch of delicate charm.
His eyes were like autumn waters, his long eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings, his nose was straight and his lips were a natural cherry pink. Together, they made him even more radiant than a woman.
Yet he exuded youthful vigor, and when his sword-like eyebrows were slightly raised, that gentle charm transformed into a sharp edge, showing no trace of femininity.
He now stays by Zhan Xuan's side every step of the way, taking care of his daily needs.
Zhan Xuan felt a pang of jealousy. Why was it that, despite both being in such harsh conditions at the border, his skin was tanned and rough, while Zhan Xuan's remained as smooth as fine porcelain?
It's really annoying to compare people to each other!
Zhan Xuan gave him a complicated look and quickly looked away.
He said somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you for your hard work. Be extra vigilant tonight; the Heavenly Mandate Palace probably won't give up yet."
Ye Li nodded and handed over the soup bowl: "Don't worry, Boss Xuan. We've already set up sentries inside and outside the dilapidated temple. If there's any unusual activity, everyone will notice immediately."
Zhan Xuan took the soup bowl, and had just taken a sip when he suddenly heard the faint sound of water coming from outside the courtyard, as if someone was wading through the water. He abruptly put down the bowl, his eyes suddenly sharpening: "Not good!"
Before the words were finished, several dark figures swept in through the window. Dressed in black and masked, they carried short knives that gleamed with a ghostly blue light, clearly coated with deadly poison.
At the same time, the pond not far from the dilapidated temple suddenly churned, and several men in black burst out of the water, rushing straight towards Zhanxuan. Water splashed and wet the window frames, carrying a chilling aura.
"Protect the general!" Ye Li shouted, and his long sword was instantly drawn from its sheath, its light flashing like a bolt of lightning, blocking Zhan Xuan's path.
With a flick of his wrist, his sword flashed, instantly forcing back two black-clad men who had come close.
Zhan Xuan also drew his silver spear, the tip of which flickered with three spear flowers, and thrust it straight at the black figure attacking from the left. The silver spear clashed with the short sword, sparks flying, and the black-clad man groaned, forced back several steps by the force of the spear.
However, these guards were far more ferocious than those from Tiger Ridge, their moves were ruthless and unpredictable, and their teamwork was so seamless that they were subtly forming an encirclement. Even more strangely, they seemed to be extremely skilled in naval warfare, their bodies shrouded in a damp, cold mist, their movements as agile as fish, and every strike aimed at vital points.
"Brother Xuan, we shouldn't stay here any longer. I'll protect you and help you break through!" Ye Li fought and retreated, his longsword cleaving a gap in the air as he tried to lead Zhan Xuan to the door.
Just then, several chained water-splitting spikes suddenly shot out from the pond, the chains coiling like snakes and binding Zhan Xuan's spear shaft. He exerted his strength, but several men in black held the chains tightly, and he couldn't pull his silver spear back for a moment.
"Master Xuan, be careful!" Ye Li caught sight of a man in black circling behind Zhan Xuan, a short knife aimed straight at his back, and his pupils contracted sharply. Without thinking, he lunged forward, using his back to block the fatal blow.
"Thud!" The sound of the dagger piercing flesh was grating and unpleasant, and the eerie blue venom instantly seeped into his bloodstream. Ye Li groaned, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth, splattering onto Zhan Xuan's silver-white outfit like blooming red plum blossoms.