Zhang Se flung the carriage door open, and the sight before him made his breath hitch.
Chaos had already unfolded.
The arrow that had entered the carriage was not alone—it was part of a deadly rain of hundreds, each one cutting through the night like a shadow. The ground was littered with bodies; the guards who had once stood strong were now lifeless, pierced by the deadly projectiles. Those who remained quickly unsheathed their swords and raised their shields, forming a tight defensive perimeter around the carriage.
Bai Ren rushed to Zhang Se's side, his face grim. "Please stay inside my prince." he barked, gripping his bloodied sword.
Zhang Se shook his head. "Do we know where they fired from?"
Bai Ren's gaze darted around. "They've surrounded us. And I'm pretty sure they'll fire again soon."
Zhang Se's jaw clenched. "Then running isn't exactly an option. It it's truly the Shadow Sect, then they've likely set a trap ahead also in case we try to run."
Before Bai Ren could respond, the sound of hundreds of arrows slicing through the air sent a chill down Zhang Se's spine.
The assassins had fired again.
This time, there was no time to react. The sheer number of arrows would be impossible to block—dozens of lives would be lost in an instant.
Bai Ren stepped in front of Zhang Se, his grip tightening on his sword. His stance was firm, his muscles tensed, ready to cut down as many arrows as he could before he fell.
But then—
The arrows stopped.
Not because they had missed, nor because they had been deflected by swords or shields.
They simply… stopped.
As if they had struck an invisible wall.
Zhang Se's eyes narrowed. He could feel it—the energy surrounding them, thick and powerful. It wasn't coming from the soldiers. It wasn't coming from Bai Ren.
It was coming from behind him.
Inside the carriage.
His gaze flickered back, and in an instant, he understood.
The princess…
She was using Royal Qi of Defense.
It was a unique power exclusive to royal bloodlines, a temporary link to their Shiver Beast's abilities. For her kingdom, the Shiver Beast was a tortoise—a beast of unparalleled defense.
And now, that power was protecting them.
Zhang Se exhaled, his fists clenching. So that's the power of the royal family…
His own kingdom's Shiver Beast was different—a gorilla, a beast of raw strength. That was why his father, his brothers, and their ancestors and including him all possessed monstrous physical power. Strength unmatched. Power absolute.
At least… he once possessed it.
His grip tightened that his knuckle almost turned white. He was weak compared to them. He had no Qi to call upon.
The carriage door creaked open, and Princess Wei stepped out, her hands still raised toward the shimmering barrier that surrounded them. Her usually composed face was pale, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead.
She turned to Zhang Se, her voice strained. "It can't hold on much longer."
As if to prove her words, another volley of arrows whistled through the air, striking the barrier with force. The protective shield held firm against the deadly assault, but this time, two arrows managed to slip through.
Before anyone could react, two royal guards lunged forward, their blades flashing under the sunlight. With expert precision, they cut the arrows in half before they could harm anyone.
The princess exhaled sharply, her body swaying. "Prepare yourselves," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be releasing the barrier soon."
The moment the words left her lips, the shimmering energy around them faded. A surge of exhaustion hit her like a crashing wave, and she nearly collapsed.
Zhang Se moved instantly, catching her before she could hit the ground. His grip was firm but careful. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern flashing in his eyes.
"I'm fine," she breathed out, though the weakness in her voice betrayed her.
She steadied herself, then looked up at him. "What now?"
Zhang Se let go of her slowly, his eyes scanning the dark forest ahead. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"Now," he said, his voice cold and steady, "we wait to see how the assassins move… and react accordingly."
As they stood in tense silence, waiting for the assassins to strike again, Zhang Se felt a disturbance above. His instincts screamed at him, and he quickly looked up.
Two figures dressed in black stood on the branches of a towering tree, their faces hidden behind ominous masks. One of them held a black umbrella, its surface shimmering with an eerie light. The other, more concerning, clutched a flute in their slender fingers.
Zhang Se's expression darkened. He turned to Bai Ren. "The Mu brothers."
Bai Ren's eyes widened in alarm. Without hesitation, he roared to the guards, "Cover your ears! Guard them with Qi!"
But the warning came a second too late.
The masked figure with the flute raised it to his lips and began to play. A haunting melody filled the air, twisting into something unnatural, something wrong. Dark Qi seeped from the flute like an inky mist, slithering through the battlefield.
The moment the sound reached the guards, they reacted violently. Some clutched their heads, their swords falling from their grip as they screamed in agony. Others dropped to their knees, their bodies convulsing. Then, one by one, they collapsed into unconsciousness, their bodies twitching as if plagued by nightmares.
Zhang Se gritted his teeth as the sound tore through him. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before—a sharp, drilling pain in his skull, like needles stabbing into his mind. His vision blurred, his body shuddered, and he staggered.
No.
He forced himself to focus, drawing his Qi inward. He could not block the melody externally—due to his curse —but he could protect himself from within.
He forced his Qi through his bloodstream, his bones, his very core. The external pain still burned, his ears felt like they were bleeding, but inside, where it mattered most, he remained intact.
His fists clenched. His vision sharpened.
"The Mu brothers" he muttered, "Looks like this will be tough."