Poison Genius Consort

ssassin suddenly stood up from cover amongst the tea trees and began to retreat.
Guard Shangguan immediately gave chase, throwing his sword before him until it stabbed straight through the assassin’s back.
When he caught up, it was to pull out his sword and fend off incoming arrows before he rushed forward and rested the blade against another assassin’s neck.

“Don’t move or it’ll be only death for you!” Guard Shangguan said coldly.

In these situations, they had to leave a prisoner alive to talk.
Capturing one live assassin was more important than killing all of them.
But not only did the assassin not turn back, they even approached the sword on purpose and slit their own neck against the edge to commit suicide! Guard Shangguan was shocked but had no time to think it over.
He chased after another nearby assassin while his guards started fighting with the rest.
The clashing of weapons rose one after the other.
Mu Qingwu wanted to join in as well, but he held himself back.
He had to protect esteemed wangfei.

He shielded her form as they left the battlegrounds behind to land on a section of level ground higher up.
As soon as they landed, he released her with a serious look.
“Esteemed wangfei has suffered.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.
It’s all thanks to you!” Han Yunxi patted her chest, still feeling a bit shaken.

She thought there was only one assassin, but who knew they’d hidden so many? Luckily, there were relief troops, or else nobody would even realize if they died.
Looking at the fierce scenes of batting beneath them, Mu Qingwu still didn’t dare to be careless, but inspected his surroundings as he stood.
Soon enough, another batch of reinforcements appeared, surrounding the mountain perimeter so that it was impossible for the assassins to escape.
The assassins gradually retreated until they were amassed together.
They didn’t give up their attacks, but stood back to back as they kept shooting arrows, forcing the teashop guards to approach with caution.
Han Yunxi and Mu Qingwu watched, both worried over whether Guard Shangguan would be able to nab a survivor.

“Young General, these people are after you, right?” Han Yunxi asked in a low voice.
She knew she’d offended a few people too, but it wasn’t enough to force a whole score of assassins to kill her.
After all, assassinating a wangfei was a serious crime.
Light cases got off with executing three generations of one’s family, while heavier ones meted the death of an entire clan.

“Un, they understand me very well,” Mu Qingwu said lightly, his eyes on the battlefield.

Judt then, Han Yunxi heard the dootdootdoot of an alarm by her ears.
It was warning her that poison was approaching quickly at high speeds from behind them.
Han Yunxi didn’t react in time beyond a single glance backwards.

“Ah!” she shouted, and pushed aside Mu Qingwu with strength she didn’t know she had.
Not expecting this, Mu Qingwu was shoved onto the ground.
At the same time, a sharp sword came shooting past, aimed right at the position where Mu Qingwu had been standing.
If not for Han Yunxi’s shove, the aftermath…would have been unthinkable! This person had been able to get close enough to take Mu Qingwu’s life without him noticing?

What kind of high-level expert was this?

The sword-wielding assassin turned out to be a black-robed female.
Without a doubt, her martial arts skills were superior to Mu Qingwu’s.
In a flash, she’d grabbed Han Yunxi’s hand!

“Release me! Let me go!” Han Yunxi cried, struggling violently in fear. So these assassins weren’t aiming for Mu Qingwu, but for her!

Nobody expected this to happen.
This female assassin was the true killer! The rest were all there as cover! Even Guard Shangguan looked over in shock.
Mu Qingwu reacted swiftly, grabbing his sword as he made to get up.
In response, the female assassin tugged on Han Yunxi’s hand as she turned sideways and stabbed towards Mu Qingwu with her own weapon.

Everything happened too quickly.
Mu Qingwu had no choice; he’d rather get stabbed if it meant he could protect esteemed wangfei. He didn’t dodge the sword, but allowed his shoulder guard to meet the weapon while his own aimed for the assassin’s heart.
 

In the midst of this chaos, Han Yunxi warned, “Be careful of poison on the sword, it’ll kill you!”

Mu Qingwu was distracted by her words.
At the critical second before the two swords met their targets, the assassin deflected Mu Qingwu’s weapon with her own.
At the same time, she drew Han Yunxi into her embrace and turned to escape!

“Esteemed wangfei!”

Mu Qingwu was truly frightened as he recovered his position.
At the same time, Guard Shangguan flew past him in pursuit.
Mu Qingwu didn’t delay but did his best to give chase, but the female assassin’s speed was extremely fast.
Neither Mu Qingwu nor Guard Shangguan could catch up to her.
Seeing that they were about to leave the Celestial Fragrance Teashop behind them, the two added on a burst of speed, but still couldn’t make it.
They could only see the departing figures head towards the barren hills in the distance and disappear.

It was over!

Guard Shangguan fell panting to the ground, his face ghastly white.
Qin Wangfei had been kidnapped from the Celestial Fragrance teashop.
How could he assume the burden of such a responsibility? Mu Qingwu’s face was even whiter than Guard Shangguan’s.
In hindsight, he realized that these assassins were targeting esteemed wangfei!

They exchanged glances, neither one seeing a red shadow that swept past them into the barren hills.

Quickly, the two men recalled the rest of the assassins trapped in the south mountains.
Sad to say, by the time they hurried back, there was nothing but a pile of corpses.
All of the assassins had committed suicide.

“Useless!” Guard Shangguan was so angry that he sent a retainer flying with his kick.

Mu Qingwu clenched his fist so hard that the joints cracked, voice cold.
“Scour the mountains! Guard Shangguan, quickly search the hills for me! And also, send people to report to the Duke of Qin’s estate!”

When he finished, he didn’t bother to catch his breath, but headed straight for the barren hills.
Guard Shangguan didn’t dare delay either and arranged everything immediately.
He then flew towards the summit of the west mountains.
After such a calamity, the owner needed to be informed!