The Martial Doctor

The black clouds pressed heavily against the horizon, and the wind had stopped.

"Master, it looks like it’s going to snow. We must hurry, or the roads will become even harder to traverse once it starts..."

"Then what are we waiting for? Speed up!"

Zhao Yuanze was now eager to return home.

"Yes, sir." The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage noticeably picked up speed.

A storm of snow arrived unexpectedly.

The rules set by the heavens could not be changed by anyone.

Ordinary warhorses could not travel in the snowstorm, but the Crown Prince’s horses were different; they had been meticulously chosen.

Therefore, they continued to gallop at high speed along the official road.

The sound of the wind drowned out the galloping of the warhorses; as the sky darkened, the light dimmed, and visibility gradually decreased.

"Master, up ahead is Cloud-Riding Ridge. The terrain there is treacherous, and bandits often appear. Be extra cautious at this hour!"

"Pass quickly!" Zhao Yuanze ordered in a deep voice.

The snow would further delay their journey, so he must seize every moment, or else it would indeed become difficult to return to the capital in time.

...

At Cloud-Riding Ridge, an elite force was already in position. Everyone wore masks and scarlet cloaks, and the horses beneath them were bridled.

They waited quietly in a grove on a hillside.

In just a few breaths, a thick layer of snow covered them. It’s often said that a dark, windy night is the time for murder.

In fact, a snowy day is also a good opportunity for killing.

There was no sound, just a calm silence. The two leaders watched the long official road below the mountain.

Jingle jingle...

Suddenly, a crisp ringing sound was heard.

One of them slightly raised his head: "They’re here."

...

Swoosh!

The carriage carrying Zhao Yuanze traveled along the official road of Cloud-Riding Ridge, with the hands of the guards on either side gripping the hilts of their swords, their expressions tense and vigilant.

Suddenly, a whistling sound broke through the air.

The sound was very distinctive.

"It’s an armor-piercing arrow, Master, be careful..." The captain of the guard shouted in shock, drew his sword, and leaped from horseback, slicing the arrow aimed at the carriage into two.

Swoosh, swoosh...

Over a hundred armor-piercing arrows whizzed through the air, all targeting the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort inside the carriage.

The Crown Prince’s guards drew their swords to fend off these armor-piercing arrows, protecting the safety of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort inside the carriage. But there were too many arrows, and the archers were not ordinary men; they were martial experts of the Blood Fusion Realm.

Although the Crown Prince’s guards were also at the Blood Fusion Realm, inevitably, they were caught off guard, suffering seven or eight casualties in an instant.

This was one-third of the Crown Prince’s guards.

Yet their opponents had yet to reveal themselves.

"Mr. Shen, I thought they’d be tough opponents, but they are just so-so," Xuesha laughed heartily, addressing Shen Yidao, Sect Leader of the Green Blade Sect, who had come in disguise.

"Brother Xuesha, don’t be complacent. There are still experts around who haven’t shown themselves!" Shen Yidao replied. There must be masters in the Meridian Passage Realm by the side of the Crown Prince, who had not yet acted, clearly protecting the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort.

"Protect the Master, move quickly!" The captain of Zhao Yuanze’s guards could see clearly that this sudden assassination was targeting the Crown Prince.

There’s no need to say who was behind this.

The Crown Prince must not come to harm, or not only would they lose their heads, but even their families would not survive. Therefore, they needed to escort the Crown Prince away first.

The carriage with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort set off, but after traveling forty or fifty meters, they found that a large tree had been dragged across the road.

The path was blocked.

"Turn back, reverse the carriage..." The guard captain’s eyes blazed with anger. If the front was blocked, it was likely the same at the rear.

These people wanted the Crown Prince’s life.

Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze sat inside the carriage, his face livid and dark. Although his fifth brother wanted to compete for the throne, he had never intended to kill his brother. Yet this brother was now bent on taking his life, disregarding any fraternal affection.

To gain that position, he truly extinguished all humanity.

This specially-made carriage had just withstood those armor-piercing arrows without a scratch. But if everyone outside died, he would be trapped inside, turning the carriage into a coffin.

Crown Princess Consort Yua was even more frightened, her face pale, trembling. As a weak woman, when had she ever witnessed such perilous scenes?

Drive!

Xuesha charged down with his men.

Only a dozen people remained. He had brought over a hundred skilled fighters; dealing with these few was just a piece of cake.

"Xuesha, be careful!" Shen Yidao, wearing a mask, still gave a reminder. Though he had planned and executed the assassination, he would not act unless absolutely necessary.

If he could use Xuesha’s hand to kill the Crown Prince without staining himself with blood, that was his aim. Moreover, afterward, he could use Xuesha as a scapegoat.

He had cultivated and supported Xuesha all these years, precisely for this day.

"Master, it’s the great bandit Xuesha!" As Xuesha charged down with his men, a royal enshrinement immediately recognized him.

"Insolent Xuesha, how dare you make a move against my lord!" This royal enshrinement of the Meridian Passage Realm roared and lunged at Xuesha.

Xuesha was startled. Shen Yidao hadn’t lied; there really were Meridian Passage Realm experts hidden in this team.

However, he was not afraid. Xuesha had run rampant through Lanzhou, Shuozhou, and northern Da Li for so many years, and he had killed several Meridian Passage Realm experts. Moreover, his own cultivation had recently surged, and he was in high spirits.