"The guards just reported that there are people stationed on this mountain, and quite a few of them. It seems they are the rebels led by Su Lie!" Dongfang Heng's indifferent voice was low and deep, sending chills down one's spine.
"The guards are going into the mountains to encircle and suppress them. Prince Zhan is seriously injured. If he participates in the fight and captures people, his injuries will only worsen. I will not be able to explain to the Emperor when I return. For now, I will ask Prince Zhan to stay on the sidelines as a spectator. Once I have caught the real culprit and the mastermind, I will release the pressure points from the prince's pressure points!"
"There are rebels on Huoyin Mountain. Your Majesty and Prince An can use this opportunity to show off your talents. I would like to see your abilities. Being immobilized at the foot of the mountain, there's not much excitement to be had!" Dongfang Zhan suppressed his shock and unease and blurted out a suitable reason.
It's all because of that idiot Su Lie that he lured Dongfang Heng to Huoyin Mountain.
"Third Prince, if you wish to watch the excitement, I will certainly grant your wish!" The Crown Prince clapped his hands, and two guards carried over a chair, stopping in front of Dongfang Zhan: "Third Prince, sit in this chair and enjoy the scenery of Huoyin Mountain to your heart's content!"
Dongfang Zhan was furious. The Crown Prince and Prince An were fighting to the death with their enemies, while he was sitting in a chair leisurely enjoying the scenery. If word got out, all the officials would blame him for not knowing the gravity of the situation. What prestige would he have left in the court?
"Go up the mountain!" At Dongfang Hong's command, the guards, with serious expressions, lightly touched the ground with their feet and quickly ascended the mountain under the cover of tall grass, their long swords held in hand, moving with almost no sound.
Dongfang Zhan's sharp eyes narrowed instantly. The guards were using their light-footed skills to ascend the mountain, preparing for a surprise attack.
The light red mountain was lined with guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, yet no one noticed the approaching guards. It seemed the guards were about to sneak up behind the sentries and kill them quietly.
Dongfang Zhan's gaze sharpened, and he concentrated his inner strength into his dantian, preparing to shout loudly, "The guards' lightness skills are truly excellent; they walk so silently!"
A handkerchief appeared out of nowhere and was forcefully stuffed into his slightly open mouth. The words that were about to come out were abruptly cut off. He looked up and met Shen Lixue's cold and mocking gaze: "Prince Zhan is seriously injured. He should rest more and fight less and talk less!"
Turning around, he instructed the guards carrying the chairs: "You two, don't walk too fast. It's safer to carry Prince Zhan behind Prince An and His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Yes!" the guards replied respectfully.
Dongfang Zhan glared at Shen Lixue, his sharp eyes burning with anger. Was he trying to tell the world that he needed their protection by making him walk behind the Crown Prince and Prince An?
"Swish, swish, swish!" The sharp blades flashed, blood splattered, and the sentries were easily dealt with before they even noticed the guards approaching.
Looking at the boundless, towering Huoyin Mountain, Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Huoyin Mountain was quite large and must have been operating for several years. She wondered how Dongfang Zhan had found this auspicious place, so close to the capital, and had been secretly operating it for so many years without being discovered by the emperor.
He glanced to the side and saw Dongfang Zhan. His face was gloomy as he looked at the corpses scattered on the ground. His eyes flashed with cold light. His carefully trained guards had been killed by Dongfang Hong's guards without even uttering a sound.
His pressure points were sealed and his mouth was gagged, so he couldn't warn them or save them. He could only watch helplessly as they died one after another in front of him, his heart and eyes filled with nothing but misery and helplessness!
How did things turn out like this?
A guard hurried over and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Prince An, there's a stone cave over there, and there are voices coming from inside!"
"Go in and take a look!" Dongfang Hong ordered, and hurried over.
Shen Lixue glanced at Dongfang Zhan, whose face was gloomy, and smiled as she instructed the guards carrying the chairs: "You two, hurry up and follow!"
Dongfang Zhan suddenly looked up at Shen Lixue, his eyes flashing with a cold, eerie light. Did she want him to watch the guards of Huoyin Mountain die in front of him?
Shen Lixue seemed not to see his cold, sharp gaze and walked straight into the cave. The cave entrance was black, dark, and damp, with moss growing on the walls and floor. It smelled fishy and was very slippery.
Further in, there was a large rock. As the rock turned, a burst of white light rushed towards them. After walking a few steps, the view suddenly opened up. Hundreds of young men were walking back and forth, carrying bare wooden shafts, half-finished arrows, and finished arrows. Large containers were filled with red-hot iron, and dozens of men stood beside the containers, forcefully forging arrow tips.
Around the men, every three to five meters, stood a man in guard uniform holding a long whip, closely monitoring the laborers' every move. If he found any of them slacking off, he would whip them.
Dongfang Hong stepped forward, his clear voice resounding throughout the area: "Privately manufacturing arrows with the intention of rebellion, I have been ordered to suppress this. Those who surrender voluntarily will be considered to have abandoned darkness and embraced light, and will be spared!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked in surprise at the guards who had rushed in. The Crown Prince had brought people to suppress them. What was going on?
"Who goes there? Get out of here right now!" The guards of Huoyin Mountain were the first to react, their eyes flashing with cold light, and they lashed their long whips at Dongfang Hong.
Without even raising his head, Dongfang Hong suddenly swung out a palm, knocking away the long whip that was within arm's reach. The whip lashed out at the guard, sending him flying seven or eight meters away. He crashed into the wall, bounced back, and fell heavily to the ground.
"It seems you have no intention of surrendering!" Dongfang Hong's sharp gaze swept over the guards, who were holding long whips and standing ready for battle. He uttered lightly, "Leave no one alive!"
Behind them, guards rushed out and engaged in fierce combat with the whip-wielding guards. The young laborers all dropped what they were doing and hid in secluded corners, watching the carnage unfold in terror.
The sounds of fierce fighting grew louder and louder, and guards on both sides fell one after another, struck by swords, with a faint smell of blood spreading in the air.
The original wooden shafts, half-finished arrows, and finished arrows were scattered all over the ground, along with charcoal fire and tools.
Dongfang Zhan was gently carried into the arena by the guards. He was immediately greeted by several guards who had overturned a pot full of molten iron. The molten iron poured over the guards, scalding their faces and bodies. In an instant, their skin was burned and they screamed in agony.
A guard with a long whip covered his face, rolled around, and screamed as he approached Dongfang Zhan. He stared at him with his burned eyes, making noises but unable to utter a complete sentence.
This was his most loyal subordinate, destroyed and killed right before his eyes, causing his heart to erupt with hatred.
Looking at the devastated scene, and the slain long-whip guards, Dongfang Zhan's eyes turned bloodshot like a wolf's. All of this was the result of his years of hard work, and it had been destroyed right before his eyes.
He watched helplessly as they were destroyed and killed. He was speechless and unable to move. He wanted to help, but he was powerless to do so. He could only watch them be destroyed. It was hateful, truly hateful.
A surge of blood welled up in his chest, and the sweet, metallic taste of blood rushed to his throat. Thanks to the silk handkerchief, the blood didn't come out, but it filled his mouth, and his nose and wrists were filled with the unpleasant smell of blood.
Shen Lixue had long suspected that this was his secret base. Making him sit in a chair and watch his years of hard work be destroyed was a feeling that was worse than being killed.
Heh, Qingyan Zhanwang, who has always been a master strategist who can manipulate his enemies at will, never expected to be outmaneuvered so badly today!
"Your Highness, Prince An has discovered traces of Su Lie!" A guard entered and respectfully reported.
Dongfang Heng's gaze sharpened: "Where?"
The guard bowed and said, "By the stream!"
The mountains and trees are lush and green, and the stream is crystal clear. The afternoon sun shines warmly on the water, making it sparkle and shimmer.
Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng walked slowly over and saw a middle-aged man standing by the stream, fishing with a fishing rod. A gentle breeze blew by, and his clothes fluttered lightly. His black hair was tinged with frost.
"Su Lie!" Dongfang Heng called out coldly as he looked at the familiar figure.
The man turned around, looking at the young man and woman so close to him. He showed no panic, no anger, and no attack. He smiled helplessly and said, "You still found me after all!"
"You really have a good plan to fake your death and escape!" Shen Lixue said in a cold tone. If Dongfang Heng hadn't examined his body, she wouldn't have known that he was faking his death.