Chapter 252: Close Call — Assassination
Nan Xun really wanted to snatch the tea and drink it all in one gulp, but in the end she only bowed properly, politely declining the National Preceptor’s kindness. With a solemn expression, she said, “Thank you, my lord. However, none of my senior brothers or the guards have had any water yet. Though I am a woman, I do not wish to be treated as an exception.”
The hand holding the teacup paused, then withdrew.
From inside the palanquin came a calm voice: “Gong Da, have them speed up.”
Gong Da frowned slightly and nodded. “Yes.”
A street procession that usually took most of the day was completed at nearly twice the speed today, all because of a single sentence from the National Preceptor.
Everyone secretly thought: the National Preceptor truly dotes on this new disciple.
The procession soon reached the final alley.
There were still many commoners on both sides of the street. The inns and teahouses were packed, no different from the previous alleys.
Yet inside the palanquin, Gong Mo Ran suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze turning icy and sharp.
“Gong Da.” He called softly, his thin lips parting to utter two words. “Be on guard.”
Gong Da’s expression changed instantly. Understanding at once, he shouted in a low voice to everyone, “Everyone, be careful—there’s an ambush!”
Almost the moment his words fell, countless hidden arrows shot out from the buildings on both sides.
The palace guards drew their blades together, blocking the arrows as they closed ranks toward the center. In no time, they completely surrounded the National Preceptor’s palanquin and the disciples of Mo Ran Hall.
Even so, arrows as dense as rain still pierced into the soft palanquin.
“My lord!” Nan Xun saw with her own eyes a hidden arrow skim past her cheek and shoot into the palanquin. She cried out in alarm.
From within came Gong Mo Ran’s steady voice. “I am fine.” After a brief pause, he turned his head toward someone. “Gong Da, protect Duoduo.”
Having experienced many worlds, Nan Xun was confident she could dodge these arrows—especially with palace guards protecting the perimeter. But Li Yun Duo couldn’t. She didn’t know even a bit of flashy martial arts.
So, quite shamelessly, Nan Xun hid behind Gong Da.
Gong Da looked at her with obvious disdain, then pulled her into his protective circle.
The disciples of Mo Ran Hall raised their hands, drawing circles in the air, forming extremely complex hand seals.
Then something strange happened.
Just as the arrows were about to hit them, they fell to the ground, as if an invisible wall had abruptly cut off their path!
The commoners on both sides of the street had long since scattered. Those who couldn’t escape in time hid beneath tables and racks. Witnessing this scene, they were utterly shaken.
Immortals—true immortals! The arrows couldn’t harm them in the slightest!
When the rain of arrows stopped, over a hundred black-clad figures suddenly leapt down from the rooftops on both sides, blades in hand. They were clearly well-trained assassins, every move lethal.
Some of the palace guards held fast around the palanquin, while the rest charged forward, engaging them in fierce combat.
“Captain, take them alive,” the man inside the palanquin said calmly.
“Yes, my lord.”
There were over a hundred assassins, but two hundred palace guards, each highly skilled. After a bout of fighting, the assassins were clearly losing.
As the guards subdued them, they twisted off their jaws to prevent them from swallowing poison. But the assassins reacted swiftly; realizing the guards’ intent, they crushed the poison capsules hidden between their teeth. Only nine were captured alive.
The captain finished counting and was about to report when he suddenly saw two hidden weapons shoot toward the white palanquin.
“My lord, watch out—!”
Neither the ferocious clashes nor the screams had stirred the man inside the palanquin in the slightest. But at that moment, everyone saw the white palanquin shatter under a single palm strike from within, as the man in white flew out.
With his left hand, Gong Mo Ran scooped up Nan Xun by the waist. With his right, he casually swept the air.
When everything stilled, two poison-coated darts were caught between his long fingers.
His gaze sharpened. With a light flick, the two darts flew back the way they came, piercing the chest of a palace guard.
The man collapsed, foaming at the mouth, dead on the spot.
The other palace guards were stunned.
Gong Mo Ran merely said flatly, “This man was an inside traitor. He nearly harmed my disciple just now.”
The traitor’s true target was not Nan Xun, but Gong Mo Ran in the palanquin beside her. However, Nan Xun kept lingering near the palanquin, giving him no opening. So he fired two darts at once—one to kill Nan Xun, the other to kill Gong Mo Ran.
The captain was horrified. With a thud, he knelt to the ground. “This is my failure in oversight, allowing a traitor among the escort. I beg the National Preceptor to punish me!”
Gong Mo Ran replied expressionlessly, “Report this matter truthfully to His Majesty. As for the punishment, it will depend on the Emperor’s decision.”
Hearing this, the captain’s legs went weak. He knew he was finished. The National Preceptor would not plead for him. Being stripped of rank and beaten would be light punishment—clearly, the National Preceptor was truly enraged this time.
Nan Xun was still held by the waist in Gong Mo Ran’s arms. She poked his arm with one finger, looking shaken. “My lord, I’m fine now.”
Only then did Gong Mo Ran release her waist. He reached out and rubbed her head. “With me here, there’s no need to be afraid.”
Nan Xun looked at him with eyes full of admiration, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. “I know. With you here, my lord, I’m not afraid of anything.”
Gong Da watched this scene, his gaze flickering. At that moment, Gong Mo Ran swept him with a cold glance, making Gong Da feel as if his heart had plunged into icy water.
My lord… he really noticed.
When the hidden weapons were fired earlier, Gong Da had actually had time to stop them—but he hesitated.
In that instant, he thought it might be better if this woman simply died.
News of the assassination attempt on the National Preceptor quickly reached the ruler and the envoys of the three nations.
At that time, the Eastern Lin envoy Qi Hengqing was in the hall, playing chess against himself. Upon hearing the news, he let out a low chuckle, swept the chess pieces into disarray, and said, “It seems this Southern Yun Nation isn’t as united as it appears. I haven’t even made my big move yet, and they’re already fighting among themselves.”
A trusted subordinate asked in a low voice, “My lord, now that the National Preceptor has been attacked, how should we proceed with our next move?”
Qi Hengqing sneered. “I’ve heard that the most favored prince in Southern Yun is the Second Prince, while the most talented is the Fifth Prince. But because the Fifth Prince’s mother was a lowly maid, he’s not favored. I’ve always appreciated talent—I don’t mind giving this Fifth Prince a little push.”
…
After the false alarm, once they returned to Mo Ran Hall, Nan Xun immediately downed an entire pot of water.
She’d thought she could get back early to wet her throat, only for so many assassins to appear midway—she not only didn’t return early but was delayed for quite some time.
Gong Mo Ran watched from the side. Seeing her drink too fast, he shook his head slightly. “Drink slower. I still have more here.”
As he spoke, he pushed another pot of water across the table to the little girl.
“Thank you, my lord!” Nan Xun unceremoniously grabbed it and drank, smacking her lips in satisfaction. “My lord’s tea is just so good!”
Little Eight snorted. “Why don’t you just say even the big boss’s farts smell nice?”
Nan Xun: …
