The neighbouring camp,
The people around were moving back and forth packing up their belongings, all working in full swing preparing to march off.
Today was the day they were planning to set off to hunt. They had rested enough and it was time to make a move.
Everyone was busy going about their own business when suddenly a group of murderous black-clothed men descended out of nowhere and started a fierce onslaught.
"Aaaaaah!....."
A series of shrill painful cries broke out and echoed penetrating the space and eardrums, startling all birds and beasts nearby.
Startling bright red blood splattered all over the ground dyeing the verdant forest ground crimson.
" Assassins, alert! Protect His Highness!"
" Protect the Young miss!"
After a moment of shock, yells rang out and people reacted quickly, taking their chances to counter the fierce assault.
However, the killers were extremely ruthless and every move they made was filled with menace and brutality. They killed left and right unceremoniously and made their way to the Crown Prince.
This group of assassins was here for the Crown prince.
Xiao Tingfei and Bai Ya both were startled for a brief moment but the people around them seemed well prepared. They immediately formed a formation surrounding the pair and protecting them from all sides.
No one was backing down, no one was willing to show weakness.
Those who were capable went ahead and fought and those who couldn't, immediately scattered around looking for their chances to escape. This group of assassins were here for the Crown prince they wouldn't be killed unless they came in their way.
Just as they had guessed the assassins didn't bother with this weak group of servants. They kept going for Xiao Tingfei.
Both parties fought violently, their moves growing increasingly aggressive and lethal. The scene was in a deadlock.
One after another oppressive Qi's burst forth causing the surrounding air to turn chilly and turbulent. Strong gales of wind blew carrying a thick murderous stench in it.
The original tranquillity was long lost and the only things that remained were blood and chaos.
At this time, not far from the scene a bunch of people were hiding behind the bushes and sneaking a peek at the bloody battle with great interest, their eyes completely glued and unmoving.
Their faces were all expressionless, they didn't speak nor made any noise as they continued to watch intently.
However, Wei who stood at the back glancing at their backs for some reason always felt that this bunch seemed exceptionally happy.
And he was very sure about it.
Although he had lost all his emotions and ability to feel them, his ability to gauge them in others had always been frighteningly accurate.
His emotionless eyes which looked dull and lifeless peered at the girl who had been craning hard for a while from behind the bushes.
There were no emotions in his eyes as usual but Wei suddenly felt some helplessness.
If she wanted to see it that bad she could just tell him and he would just directly carry her there.
What was she straining her neck for?
What was the fun in crouching under the bushes?
Wei couldn't help feeling sorry for her neck and pitiful back.
Wei resisted the urge to yank her up and carry her all the way there in his arms. He was scared she would be unhappy again for touching her randomly.
Jiang Ying Yue, who was bent on abusing her neck and back was still standing behind the bushes craning hard to get a good glimpse of the action scene ahead.
Although she refused to show it she found it still very hard to conceal her excitement.
She was also completely astounded.
This was the first time she had encountered such a thrilling scene after crossing over.
It was bloody and brutal.
.....Yet she couldn't help but find it stunning and beautiful. Despite being grotesque and bloody it carried an undeniable enticement.
Jiang Ying Yue had to admit that she admired such power that could crumble a mountain in a single stroke.
She wondered when she would be able to do that.
The wind continued to blow hard but this bunch stood rooted still waiting to see the end of the battle.
" I wish he would just drop dead. Why struggle so much?" Jiang Ying Mei's voice was very soft but it was glum and full of resentment.
Even though no name was mentioned, everyone knew who she was talking about.
The little boy seemed to have some sort of deep animosity with Xiao Tingfei but they won't comment on it because they all felt the same. Especially Tian Lan, when it came to Xiao Tingfei it was as if she was facing her mortal enemy. She loathed the guy to the core.
" Yes, he should just die. Why keep hanging around and bring disaster to the world?" Jiang Ying Mei's sentiment was equally shared by Tian Lan, she hated so much this man's existence.
They all looked ahead as the situation continued to be in a deadlock. No one was gaining the upper hand.
Jiang Ying Yue couldn't help but wonder what Xiao Tingfei was thinking. She never had any contact with that person and even when it came to the original owner they had very few contacts. She couldn't tell what sort of person Xiao Tingfei was.
Was he a real block-head or a schemer?
She couldn't guess what his intention was in coming here. It was a turbulent time and he must know very well coming out at this moment would only spell danger.
What was he thinking?
Was he that eager to greet his death?
Was he that reckless?
....And even if Xiao Tingfei happened to be the reckless one then what about the Empress?
She wouldn't believe that woman was that stupid. She heard from her mother that woman was quite shrewd. Otherwise, there was no way she could help the current Emperor ascend the throne despite facing countless schemes and opposition.
Although the current Emperor was the legitimate Crown prince back then he was not that favoured. There were many instances when the late emperor had shown the intention of re-electing the crown. If not for the Old master Xu, the father of the current empress who pulled many strings in secret the current emperor would not have inherited the throne so easily.
Jiang Ying Yue couldn't help finding this situation suspicious.
What was the exact reason that brought Xiao Tingfei here?
For hunting Spirit beast?..... No, there was no way she was willing to believe that.
Who didn't know the Academy basically belongs to the royal family?
It was an unspoken fact. So, there was no need for Xiao Tingfei to drag himself to such a great length just for some beast cores.
What was planning?
Hmm....forget it, it's none of her business.
This wasn't her world and there was no need for her to meddle.
As the fight grew more intense Xiao Tingfei stood in the corner leisurely surrounded by his guards glancing at the people with a strange look in his eyes as his lips crooked into a sadistic smile.
They were just lambs to be slaughtered.
These people were destined to be just a mere sacrifice on his way to glory.
Many people wondered why would Xiao Tingfei, the esteemed crown prince of the Burning Phoenix nation would choose to abandon his post and travel this far away during these troubled times when the country and the court were both turbulent.
Wouldn't it be better for him to stay in the Capital to guard his position closely?
If there was a war, there be would chaos. If there was chaos how could the court go unscathed?
Definitely, there would be changes in the court and various shifts in power. Every faction would try its best to gain some advantages during this chaos. They would make sure to get a piece of the big cake the court was going to swallow.
To common people, it may be a war, the destruction of a great nation but to those who held great power and influence, it was a magnificent feast. A feast that could stimulate their hunger and greed.
People didn't fight only on battlefields. The imperial court wasn't anything less than a bloody battlefield.
Xiao Tingfei understood all these very well. And actually, he wasn't as good-for-nothing as some people portrayed him to be. Rather he was a good schemer.
Xiao Tingfei had been living in the palace all his life and was long used to treading muddy water. He had his own set of schemes for his use that helped him maintain his position all these years. Although he had a very capable mother he wasn't useless either.
Just like now...
Xiao Tingfei knew his father treated him well, pampered him and indulged him but even so at the end of the day his father was a monarch. A monarch was unpredictable and suspicious by nature.
He was very well aware of this fact and never dared to take his father's indulgence for granted. He knew his limit. That was even more so when his father had so many sons. He wasn't the only prince and not was he the only one who set his eye on the throne.
His Empress mother and the Xu family couldn't always shelter him. He needed to make some major achievements and consolidate his position. Especially at this time when all the founding families were all about to be uprooted.
Now that those families were out of the game his Emperor father would definitely set his sight on them, the recent uprising families. Then no one knew how the future would unfold so it was better to be prepared.
That was why even his mother had agreed to his suggestion of coming here.
The third prince, who was younger than him by a year had stepped into the battlefield to earn merit, and even the fifth prince who was usually idle was given the duty of delivering the army ration.....And it was only him, the crown prince who was sitting idle.
Although his father said it was for his wellbeing anyone with some brain could tell his Emperor father seemed to have started putting up some guard against him.
There was no way he could sit with ease with that thought!
That was why he took his chance to come here to earn his glory and consolidate his Crown prince position.
He had gotten news from somewhere that Beast Heaven Mountain sheltered White tiger, a mythical beast. He was definitely going to hunt it down and bring it back.
He would let the whole world acknowledge his valour and ability.