719 Bring Dabao Home, Duel Begins (3)
“It’s fine.” Prince Yan had already guessed what Xiao Zhenting had gone to do. He was definitely not going to buy food for Shangguan Yan.
Prince Yan was right. Buying food was just a pretense. Xiao Zhenting had gone out overnight to look for Dabao. He found the bamboo forest where Bai Qianli was.
The reason why he could find this place was because he was skilled in martial arts. When Shadow Thirteen and Shadow Six reported the news to Yan Jiuchao, he accidentally heard it. He was not sure if Nangong Yan would bring Dabao here. He was just here to try his luck. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the forest, he felt an unusual aura.
Xiao Zhenting paused suspiciously. After thinking for a moment, his expression changed slightly. “Asura!”
As soon as he finished speaking, an aura of internal energy turning into a blade attacked his vital points.
Xiao Zhenting tapped his toes and flew up to avoid the attack.
The bamboo behind him was not so lucky. Hundreds of dense green bamboo were broken by this Qi blade.
Xiao Zhenting felt a chill run down his spine.
What powerful strength!
Xiao Zhenting’s internal energy could be counted on one hand in the world. However, if he had fought head-on with the Asura just now, he was not confident that he could receive it unscathed like last time.
Was the Asura here actually so terrifying?
What was terrifying was not Asura, but three Asuras!
The three Asuras released their internal energy at the same time and firmly suppressed Xiao Zhenting. He might still have a chance to fight one, but there was almost no way for him to fight three.
Just as an Asura stabbed mercilessly at Xiao Zhenting’s heart, a white figure suddenly appeared and stood in front of Xiao Zhenting.
“Stop!” Nangong Yan shouted.
Asura, who was holding his sword, turned around and brushed past Prince Yan. Asura’s figure only appeared for a moment before disappearing into the night. The suppression of the three Asuras disappeared at the same time, and Xiao Zhenting was finally able to move. He held his chest and swayed, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
“Are you alright?” Prince Yan turned around to support him.
Asura’s suppression was usually only targeted at martial artists. A powerless person like Prince Yan was like an ant in Asura’s eyes. He did not let the three Asuras attack him when he approached or appeared, so he was still fine.
Xiao Zhenting wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and forced himself to say, “What can happen to me? Why are you here? Hurry up and leave.”
Killing him was easier than killing an ant, okay?
Prince Yan smiled faintly. “You can leave.”
“Who said anything about letting him go?” Nangong Yan walked over coldly. “If he doesn’t comply with the promise of the competition three days later and insists on sending himself to his death in advance, I’ll take Grand Marshal Xiao’s life!”
She was not surprised to recognize Xiao Zhenting. After all, she had seen the portrait and knew the inside story.
Xiao Zhenting shielded Prince Yan behind him.
Prince Yan smiled. “It’s fine. She won’t kill me.” As he spoke, he walked out from behind him and walked towards Nangong Yan. “Let Grand Marshal Xiao go.”
“Why should I let him…”
“I’ll stay.” Prince Yan interrupted her.
Nangong Yan suddenly clenched her fists. She looked into his eyes without blinking. After doing so many heartless and cruel things to her, how could he still look at her with such gentle and harmless eyes?
What did he take her for? Did he think she could still be obediently used by him like before?
Nangong Yan clenched her fists so tightly that her fingertips dug into her palms.
Prince Yan said gently, “Prince Yan of the Great Zhou, the Emperor’s most beloved younger brother, Yan Jiuchao’s biological father, and the Eldest Princess’s in-law. No matter how you look at it, I’m more valuable than the Grand Marshal of the army, right?”
Xiao Zhenting exploded. “Hey! Do you think you’re selling pork!”
Nangong Yan said coldly, “You’re here to pick up Dabao.”
Prince Yan continued to maintain a harmless and gentle gaze. “I don’t want to take him away. I just want to stay and accompany him. You can have one more hostage. Isn’t that good?”
“Then I might as well keep both of them! Or… I might as well kill him!” As Nangong Yan spoke, she raised the sword in her hand.
Prince Yan grabbed her sword. “Yan’er!”
Nangong Yan watched as his hand cut her sword until it bled. She was so angry that her chest heaved. “You!”
Prince Yan seemed to not know pain and just looked at her steadily and gently. Nangong Yan wished she could stab herself to death! This man had caused her so much trouble, yet she still had to be soft-hearted towards him?
No, the former Nangong Yan was already dead. She would not make the same mistake again. She wanted to use him once, just like how he had once used her!
Nangong Yan retracted her sword and looked coldly at Prince Yan before looking at Xiao Zhenting. “Alright, you stay. I’ll have to trouble Grand Marshal Xiao to go back and bring news to the Eldest Princess. Don’t send anyone else to die. See you at the altar in three days!”
Xiao Zhenting was “sent” out of the forest by Asura.
Prince Yan followed Nangong Yan into the house.
Nangong Li had already returned. As soon as he walked out of the room, he bumped into Prince Yan. His eyes lit up. “Father!”
Prince Yan glanced at Bai Qianli, who was like a shadow in the corner, and said calmly, “I’m not your father. He is.”
Nangong Li froze on the spot as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue.
Prince Yan ignored him and entered the house to look for his Dabao.
The children always had to leave a light on when they slept, but this room was pitch-black. It was obvious how afraid Dabao was.
Prince Yan regretted not coming earlier. He walked to the bed and looked at the lump under the blanket. His heart ached. He gently lifted the blanket. “Dabao, it’s me.”
Upon hearing a familiar voice, Dabao, who was curled up into a ball and hugging his little head with his little hands, suddenly raised his head and looked at Prince Yan, who had suddenly appeared, with reddened eyes.
Prince Yan hugged Dabao and let him rest his head on his neck. His large palm gently stroked his back.
Dabao pouted and cried!
Dabao was afraid!
Dabao felt wronged!
Dabao wanted to go home!
Prince Yan hugged the child in his arms who was trembling from crying. “Dabao, don’t be afraid. Grandpa will bring you home soon.”
I’ll definitely bring you home.
Xiao Zhenting went to the Helian Manor and told Yu Wan, Yan Jiuchao, and the others about what had happened in the forest. Helian Beiming and Yu Shaoqing were also there, and so was Grandma.
When they heard that Prince Yan had taken the initiative to be a hostage of Nangong Yan in order to take care of Dabao, the room was silent.
“Let’s think of a way to snatch them,” Yu Wan said.
Xiao Zhenting shook his head. “We can’t snatch them. They have three Asuras.”
If they killed one, they would have one less opponent in the competition. Nangong Yan was not afraid of them looking for her at all because of this.
They also had Asura in their hands, but it was a one-on-one battle. Now, it was a one-on-three battle. Not only would they not be able to win, but they would also expose Asura.
“Is there any other way, Grandma?” Yu Wan looked at their think tank—the old man.
The old man was about to say something when Yan Jiuchao said calmly, “Don’t do anything. Preserve your greatest strength so that his painstaking efforts won’t be in vain.”
Three days passed like a white horse passing by.
The news of the two Princesses inviting each other to a duel had long spread throughout the Imperial Capital. This was a rare wonder in a hundred years. Before dawn, there were commoners rushing to the altar.
They all wanted to see the two Princesses, especially the elusive Eldest Princess.
