Chapter 567: So Ugly, What Good Is He?
Gu Shuo, Zhan Chi, and Qian Fanji surrounded the two men in black, and in an instant, a fierce battle erupted.
Qin Huai stared in that direction. He took a few tentative steps, and seeing that the three men were too preoccupied to spare him any attention, he turned tail and bolted for the cave entrance.
SMACK!
"AARGH!"
Qin Huai was still about ten feet from the cave entrance when a red shadow flashed before his eyes, and his entire body was sent flying.
He slammed onto the ground, a sharp pain shooting through his tailbone. His jaw swelled up instantly, and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. He spat, and a mouthful of fresh blood mixed with several teeth splattered onto the floor.
The man in red stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, staring coldly at him.
"Who... who are you?" Qin Huai stammered, his words slurred.
The man in red didn’t even deign to answer. He walked over, step by step, and planted his foot on Qin Huai’s chest. His foot felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds.
Qin Huai’s face instantly flushed crimson. *SPURT!* He coughed up another mouthful of blood.
"Don’t kill him yet."
Ying Ge walked in, carrying Ye Qianning in her arms.
Sang Zhi followed beside her.
At the sound of her voice, the man in red retracted his murderous aura. He turned to Ye Qianning. "Hideous. What’s the use in keeping him alive?"
"...I still have questions for him." Ye Qianning’s gaze fell upon Qin Huai. His face was purple from suffocation. ’If I’d spoken a moment later,’ she thought, ’Qin Huai would be a corpse by now.’
The man in red removed his foot.
Qin Huai gasped as fresh air suddenly filled his lungs. The purple hue on his face gradually faded. He felt as if he had just taken a trip to death’s door and back. Panting heavily, he caught sight of Ye Qianning out of the corner of his eye.
He froze, turning his head to stare. ’Ye Qianning and the Eighth Prince?’
’They’re still alive?’
’They’re badly injured. The princess must have run into them. If they’re alive, does that mean...’
’No, Her Highness will be fine!’
"You can put me down," Ye Qianning said to Ying Ge.
"My Lady, my injuries aren’t serious. I can still carry you."
"I want to sit and watch the show."
"Yes."
Ying Ge murmured her assent and gently set Ye Qianning down against the stone wall. She knew perfectly well what was going on. ’My Lady is afraid I’ll worsen my injuries.’
Sang Zhi sat down next to Ye Qianning.
"You... you... Where is Her Highness the Princess?" Qin Huai asked hurriedly, having recovered a bit.
Ye Qianning merely shot him a glance before her gaze returned to the three men who were still fighting.
The black-clad guards Chu Yue had brought were highly skilled. Just moments ago, when the two of them had been ganging up on Gu Shuo and Qian Fanji, the pair had been at a disadvantage and found it hard to break free.
In a one-on-one fight, they could almost battle them to a standstill. Killing them would take some time.
Now, however, the three of them were ganging up on the two men in black. Fueled by pent-up rage, they were clearly using the two assassins as punching bags.
Qian Fanji and Gu Shuo each took on one of the men, while Zhan Chi weaved between them, striking first here with a couple of sword thrusts, then there with another. Every one of his attacks was completely unexpected.
As a result, every blow landed true. Gradually, the two men in black started paying more and more attention to Zhan Chi.
Qian Fanji saw his chance. He swung his longsword, pressing it against the neck of one of the men.
The man in black reacted quickly, twisting his hand to parry. But just as he blocked the longsword, a sharp wave of Sword Qi came at him from behind.
He sensed it coming but had no way to dodge.
SHLICK!
The sword pierced through his left shoulder from behind.
"AAAAH..."
The man in black screamed. His wrist, which had been blocking the other sword, went limp. The blade pressed down, slicing deep into his shoulder.
Zhan Chi pulled his sword free. Without giving the man any chance to counterattack, he thrust it toward the back of his head.
SQUELCH!
Blood sprayed forth.
The man in black stared wide-eyed, then moved no more.
Ye Qianning instinctively covered Sang Zhi’s eyes. ’This scene is a little too gruesome,’ she thought. ’He’ll probably have nightmares if he sees this.’