After all, she had once fallen into his trap.
For instance, she was previously asked to fulfill her obligations as a wife...
She thought about it carefully. What does it mean to warm each other's bed?
If I win, he'll warm my bed.
If I lose, I'll have to warm his bed.
Then… what is the difference between winning and losing?
Helian Wei Wei was left speechless.
The moment His Highness agreed to engage in a friendly match with her, he already had the intention to trick her into his ploy.
With her arms crossed and her brows furrowed, she stared at the man who was standing beside her.
The enchanting curved lips were still hanging on his flawless face. As the sunlight shone on him, his face appeared as beautiful as the broken pieces of diamond. He slowly approached her and rested his lips on the back of her ears as he whispered, "Why? Do you regret now?"
Yuan Ming's voice resonated across the hall, "The array has been resolved. However, the culprit is still probably at the Green Dragon Lake. Quit flirting with your man and head to the Green Dragon Lake immediately. We need to find out who's the mastermind behind the entire agenda!"
Helian Wei Wei did not bother to correct Yuan Ming. She hopped out of the window and flew directly toward Green Dragon Lake.
Baili Jia Jue withdrew his finger. His gaze landed on the magical beast that was lying on the ground as he rested his left foot on its body leisurely...
"Pff!"
The little one, who carried a bottle gourd on his back, stood by the bank of the Green Dragon Lake. The corner of his mouth was stained with black blood. "Master, seemingly, the Demon-Transforming Beast has been killed. The man's spiritual energy was too powerful. Before I could react, I…"
"I understand." The man extended his hand to pat the little one's head. He then replied in a comforting and warm tone, "Without the dead men mound, we still have our second plan. Moreover, I think that Emperor Murong's troops are arriving soon. However, we can't stay here any longer. We ought to leave now."
As he spoke, the man opened the paper umbrella that he held in his fair hands before he walked into the dense fog…
Helian Wei Wei arrived in a hurry. Yet, she only managed to catch a glimpse of the blurry silhouette.
Without any hesitation, Helian Wei Wei hurled the item in her left hand!
A swoosh echoed.
Then, a gleaming silver knife was flung directly at the man's back!
Helian Wei Wei heard a distinctive noise as his shirt was ripped open. Just then, a child-like voice cried, "Master!"
When she arrived at where the man stood a moment ago, she found nothing other than the bloodstain on the floor. Narrowly, they managed to escape within a fraction of a second.
Nonetheless, the man was an intelligent one.
Yet, other than the first puddle of blood she found, Helian Wei Wei did not see another drop of blood. It was evident that her opponent had seen through her tactic and defended himself impeccably.
A punctilious man made a tough enemy...
"With your current cultivation, you'll never be able to defeat the man," Yuan Ming materialized. Eyes agaze, he stared at the lake as the fog slowly dispersed, "The destruction of the array weakened his body. If you were to fight him during normal times, you'll be at an absolute disadvantage."
Handsomely, Helian Wei Wei picked up the silver knife and placed it back at her waist. "I am really keen on meeting him in person and find out what kind of a character he is," she said.
"It's better for you to give up that idea," Yuan Ming gently massaged his temples as they were hurting. But, he quickly put on a faint grin. "However, you're insane enough to be able to injure a man like him."
"In my opinion, he intended to dodge your attack, but failed to foresee how efficient the strike was."
Helian Wei Wei smiled in silence.
At this moment, they heard rapid footsteps of the running troops.
It was so loud to the extent that there was no way for them to ignore the sound.
Helian Wei Wei reached out and grabbed a fellow student before she asked in a muffled voice, "What's happening?"
Dazed, the student shook his head as he answered, "It's the magistrate. He's here with his troops."
The magistrate?
Before Helian Wei Wei could recompose herself, the magistrate had already entered the hall with a troop of soldiers following right behind him. The number of soldiers was big enough to guard each and every exit of the academy.
Helian Wei Wei could sense the danger coming. She was used to dealing with this in her previous life.
Hence, she was very s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e to even the slightest change in her surroundings.
Helian Wei Wei stopped in her tracks before she caught sight of the surrounding of the academy. The guards around the compound were replaced by soldiers in their armor. It was unnecessary to send the soldiers from the military base if this assemblage was here only to investigate the murder case...
Helian Wei Wei's heart skipped a beat when the realization hit her.
This line-up was too extensive for an investigation. However, if the prince was their target...
Almost immediately, Helian Wei Wei returned to the Inferior Compound. Baili Jia Jue was undoubtedly their target!
But, the students were not fools. They exchanged gazes as they knew that there was something shady and suspicious about the magistrate's order.
"Your Highness!" Knowing that this was an urgent matter, Shadow disregarded the others, knelt right in front of Baili Jia Jue and spoke in a tempo faster than ever, "Emperor Murong is not running a drill. Instead, the city guards are on maneuvers under Emperor Murong's personal order. They intend to work with the magistrate to ambush the academy. I've followed Your Highness' command and visited the nearest military base, but…"
Before he finished his sentence, Shadow raised his head to glance at Baili Jia Jue who appeared as unsympathetic as ever. With his fist clenched, Shadow spoke in an infuriated tone, "They refused to send aid!"
Helian Wei Wei was stunned. As far as she could remember, she had never seen either of the 18 shadow guards being in this state. Despite wearing his usual black outfits, it was evident that more than one part of Shadow's body was wounded. As his blood clotted, his shirt was stuck to his body and stains were seen all over his clothes. Since the moment he entered the room, he had been holding onto his abdomen, apparently, his belly was injured.
However, things were more complicated than Shadow's brief explanation. Not only that the military base refused to send aid, but they also intended to annihilate Shadow.
It was a publicly known fact.
The 18 shadow guards represented the reigning Third Prince himself.
They were unlike the other guards.
During the Grand Huang Dynasty, besides the greatest martial art teacher, they listened to no one's command and the reigning emperor was no exception. They were reluctant to obey anyone other than the man who had achieved the highest league.
Baili Jia Jue made the right decision to stay away from the White Academy's affair as it was extremely intricate. With a minor mistake, he could possibly create turmoil.
If she did not ask for his help to save Heize, this would not have happened.
Helian Wei Wei pursed her thin lips as she slowly clenched her fist.
Yun Biluo threw a glimpse at her before her eyes began to glimmer…
Chapter 400 - Was Wei Wei Gone?
Walking to an empty corner.
Helian Wei Wei was stopped by Yun Biluo.
Helian Wei Wei was not in the mood to entertain her right now. She looked at her with icy cold eyes and uttered coldly, "Get lost."
There was a change in Yun Biluo's expression. She took a deep breath before saying anything, "I don't care how you treat me, but I never expected that you would let His Highness risk his life for Master Hei." She paused momentarily and continued, "It's you who
told His Highness to interfere, isn't it? Otherwise, Master Hei would not be released so soon."
There was a slight pause. Helian Wei Wei clenched her fist that was hidden in the long sleeve, but her eyes were clear and rational.
Yun Biluo softened her voice, "His Highness has told me everything about the two of you, including the agreement. There's nothing wrong to ask for the help of His Highness, but don't you think that you've crossed the line this time?"
"Are you done?" Helian Wei Wei looked back at her and said with a bloodthirsty smile. "Get lost if you're done."
Yun Biluo raised her eyes, her face was full of sorrows. "We both know what Shadow meant just now. Emperor Murong wants to kill His Highness and take over his place. His Highness and I will soon be together. I don't want him to put himself in danger simply because of a previous agreement. I hope you can leave if that's possible. This is the only way for His Highness to let go of the burden…"
She walked into the crowd upon saying that, without turning back or looking at Helian Wei Wei's reaction.
Bang!
It was another academy student who wanted to leave but was 'politely' sent back by the soldiers.
They had no idea what happened to their martial Qi.
They finally came back to their senses when they saw someone from the magistrate came back from the well. All of them were spiked with Energy Varying Powder. Although the amount was insignificant and not fatal, it reminded them that they were unable to use their martial Qi.
The magistrate had made a strategic deployment in an all-round way outside. They could hear the noise of hooves at the foot of the hill even when they were sitting in the room. It showed how near they were already!
The shadow guards remained expressionless even though they were injured. They scattered at all the corners around the inn, pinning down the enemy from the vantage point of the inn.
Even though they were injured, anyone who underestimated them would be greeted with more kicks than halfpence.
This was the power of the 18 shadow guards.
However, they did not receive any news from the military barracks.
There were some of their men in the Capital, but they were quite far away. It was unlikely for them to reach in time even if they had received the news now.
The magistrate had yet to start attacking, as he knew that anybody else might leave but the Third Prince would never leave.
That was the case even if he had extraordinary martial Qi.
How is the Prince going to be the Emperor of the country in the future if he were to abandon his subjects and flee before a war?
Needless to say, people would surely spit on him if he fled. His face would be covered in a layer of spittle.
They had plotted everything before besieging the mountain. Everything they did was for the sole purpose of driving the Third Prince into the corner!
He would have no way out even if he managed to survive!
Looking at the situation, Yun Biluo was worried and grasped the handkerchief in her hand tightly. The situation was far worse than she had ever thought. The enemy troops were arriving and they could not get any reinforcement, which meant there was only one way out… Death!
She never expected to get into such a mess when she asked her Master to take Heize captive.
It won't do.
She had to advise the prince to leave the academy and descend the mountain!
Listening to the running sounds outside, all the academy students looked at Baili Jia Jue like a bird startled by the twang of a bow.
Although all of them had martial Qi, they never participated in a war.
Among these people, there were lots of major-domo ladies who lived a splendid life.
They usually needed someone else's assistance to walk. They had never encountered such a fright.
They were exhausted after a hard day, almost bursting into tears. "Your Highness, let's get out of here quickly. Things are not going to work out if we stay the same. It will be more difficult for us to leave once they break through the academy door."
"That's right, Your Highness! Let's go out now! How daring can the magistrate be!"
Seeing that everyone had voiced out, Yun Biluo lowered her voice and said, "Your Highness, I understand that you are worried about those academy students that you can't take with you. But we have come to such a state now, all we can do is to get out from here first. Worst comes to the worst, we can just compensate them later. You're the Prince of the Grand Huang Dynasty. If any mishap were to happen to you, what would all the people who have helped you over the years end up with? How many spies have you planted all these years? Aren't you waiting for the day to sit on the throne? The rise and fall of the War Dragon Empire will fall on your shoulders. Are you really willing to die at this Green Dragon Mountain?"
"Sister Yun is right, we will just have to take the people from the Superior Compound and Fine Compound away, leaving people from the rest of the compounds. They are supposed to try their very best to serve His Highness, even at the expense of their lives. Most of them are going into battle and fight in the future. The Prince needs to use them now, it's not a big deal even if they have to make some sacrifices."
It's merely an unrealistic thought of a little official.
There are so many officials in the area of the Green Dragon Mountain. So what if the military barracks refuse to send their troops, someone will naturally come and protect His Highness when they reach the Capital.
Even if they are defiant, they would not dare to hurt the Third Prince.
Those major-domo ladies always fancy themselves wiser than any other.
Even the military had refused to send troops, how are they going to reach the Capital in one piece?
Looking at these morons, Baili Jia Jue said with a spurious smile on his face, "Shadow, since these people want to go out so badly, send them away."
"Yes," Shadow lowered his eyes, glancing toward those spoiled major-domo ladies. He could not help shaking his head in his mind. These people are hopeless. Don't they know that the first batch of people who escape from the city during siege warfare would die in far more horrible ways!
His Highness' measures were so firm and resolute as usual.
"I won't leave," Yun Biluo raised her teary, beautiful eyes, looking softly at Baili Jia Jue. "No matter what happens this time, I will stay by your side and take care of…"
She did not continue as she was extremely uncomfortable under Baili Jia Jue's staring eyes.
He looked so superior in his cold majesty. Even though his eyes were emotionless, she could easily tell the hint of mockery inside.
Right at this moment, a shadow guard came from outside and said in a low tone, "Your Highness, it seems like the princess consort is gone."
Chapter 401 - The Dazzling Prince
The air in the yard became stagnant for a moment.
Yun Biluo lowered her face. Nobody noticed the curl on her lips.
Baili Jia Jue said, his tone was cold as ice, "What do you mean she's gone?"
"I didn't see the princess consort around here just now." The shadow guard made a slight pause and continued, "Second Master Hei's gone too."
Upon hearing that, Baili Jia Jue clenched his fingers into a fist so tight, his knuckles hidden under the sleeves had clearly turned white.
They could hear the exclamations from the crowd, "Even Second Master Hei's gone too?"
"Heh! In my opinion, the first young lady from the Helian family must have been terrified by the situation outside, yet she still remembered to bring along her old flame!"
Listening to the chatter of tongues around her, Yun Biluo subconsciously glanced in the direction of Baili Jia Jue as though she wanted to console him in some way. She said after some hesitation, "Your Highness, it's understandable why Wei Wei would take such a step. After all, everyone will feel like running away from such a situation. You…"
Yun Biluo lifted her head, thinking that she would see a furious face. U
nexpectedly, she was unable to read any emotion on Baili Jia Jue's face. He was playing with the black jade thumb ring on his finger without even bothering to raise his eyelids. Nobody could tell what he was thinking.
Even Shadow was at a loss, unable to understand his master's thought as well. He felt like it would seem, at first blush, that Miss Yun was sticking up for princess consort.
There's no doubt that the princess consort has left. However, I'm afraid it's not a good idea to conclude so soon since we still don't know the real reason behind this.
Baili Jia Jue finally opened his mouth to speak after a while, but it was not related to Helian Wei Wei at all. His voice sounded nonchalant and casual but in reality, one could see his long eyes spelled death. "Send out the people who wanted to leave first. And also, who told you that she fled?"
Everyone's spine stiffened at his tone.
They did not know how his voice could be so cold.
They could not figure out why they could feel a chill running down their spines even though they would be sent out of this place soon.
Meanwhile, the know-it-all Shadow nodded his head in reply. His Highness' words must have been words of anger at first.
But now, His Highness is really flying into a rage.
Perhaps this was all because of them badmouthing the princess consort just now?
"Your Highness!" Seeing that Baili Jia Jue disregarded all the advice, Yun Biluo's eyes slowly turned red. She tagged along behind him at double-quick step and stepped into the room. "I know you're up a stump that Miss Wei Wei is gone, but it has happened. Shadow has reported to you just now. When you were a child, you used to tell me that the thing you hated the most was a betrayal. I regret it all these years. If I were by your side back then, would you treat me better now?"
"Who gave you such a wrong impression?" Baili Jia Jue sneered mockingly. He casually took a teacup and played with it in his hands. It felt like he was holding a chess piece for the decisive battle instead of a teacup, probably because of his temperament. Above all, he was standing beside the window and watching with his dark eyes, like a superior waiting for the right time to take action and let the remarkable battle begin.
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