Blood slowly trickled from her mouth but due to the black veil covering her face, Long Hao Chen did not see anything.

XuanRong hardened her left foot to stop the force and stabilize herself. After recovering, XuanRong ran forward, this time, she confronted Long Hao Chen face to face. Long Hao Chen twirled his sword, aiming for XuanRong's chest but XuanRong bent her waist, avoiding the narrow death. Flicking her sword, XuanRong was able to use the softness of her sword and successfully pierced Long Hao Chen on his waist.

*drip* *drip* *drip*

Long Hao Chen jumped backwards, trying to move away from XuanRong but XuanRong did not give him the chance to escape. Although she successfully injured Long Hao Chen, the wound was not deep, just a scratch from the surface of his skin, not a fatal wound.

*clank* *clank* *clank*

The two were entangled with each other. XuanRong ran forward and slashed her sword horizontally but Long Hao Chen once again defended himself. The noise during the fight attracted Long Hao Chen's subordinates.

XuanRong was already tired. Her stamina and force were weaker than men since she was a woman. No matter what she did, she could not beat Long Hao Chen's defense. XuanRong cursed herself for being physically weak.

"CATCH THE ASSASSIN!" Long Hao Chen ordered when two guards entered the premises.

When she saw Long Hao Chen's subordinates, XuanRong knew that it was already too late. Once again, her plan failed. XuanRong could only admit defeat and retreat.

XuanRong threw a ball shaped glass near Long Hao Chen and his subordinate. When the ball shaped glass broke, it released a green smoke. The smoke was the numbing gas she planned to use before. Since she had to escape, using the numbing gas to distort their balance would help her escape.

Pulling a small personalized flare, XuanRong ignited it and threw it above, creating a red firework. It was the signal for mission failure. Since she had been discovered, she would not let YuYing and the rest to be implicated as well. She had to make sure that they would be able to escape successfully. After sending the signal, XuanRong immediately dashed away.

Long Hao Chen saw the green smoke. He was familiar with it since he saw His Imperial Father used it once when an assassin tried to assassinate him during their mid-autumn banquet. He knew that once someone inhaled the green smoke, that person would have his five senses stolen from him, his body would feel numb for two shichen[1]. Thus, Long Hao Chen immediately moved away and covered his nose and mouth.

"Move away from that green smoke!! Avoid inhaling it!!"

Unfortunately, his reminder was too a little bit late. The two guards fell on the ground like a vegetable.

"USELESS PIECE OF TRASH!!!"

Long Hao Chen cursed before chasing XuanRong.

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"Ha.. Ha.. Ha…" XuanRong dragged her tired body and continuously ran away.

"STOP FOR THIS PRINCE!!!"

Long Hao Chen was able to chase XuanRong and cornered her at the edge of the east part of the residence.

Without any place to hide, XuanRong could only turn back her head and stare at Long Hao Chen. She could not help but chuckle and mock herself.

This time, she was truly reckless… and she had to pay the price for being reckless.

'I guess, I'll just have to fight till death huh…'

XuanRong could not help but wish. Hoping that she would be saved by that person she longed to see.

'Hahahah! As if.'

"YOU!! HOW DARE YOU ASSASSINATE THIS PRINCE?! THIS PRINCE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU DIE UNDER MY FEET!!"

Long Hao Chen moved, using all of his strength, he slashed his words vertically.

*baaam!!*

Before his sword touched XuanRong's clothes, a shadow suddenly appeared in between them. In a blink of an eye, Long Hao Chen flew away. He could not understand. Everything was very fast. The only thing he recalled as he flew backwards, the moment that shadow appeared, his chest was struck by a palm containing inner qi[2].

XuanRong's eyes were glued at the person's back in front of her.

'It can't be…'

"Why… why are you here?" XuanRong subconsciously whispered.

--------

When Xu Fei Yi arrived near at the residence where the delegates of Jing Country resides, he noticed the red firework at the distance. His countenance darkened. Signaling the five shadow guards behind him, Xu Fei Yi ordered each one of them to and visit the four sides of the residence and help their Ladyship's personal maidservants.

Without any delay, Xu Fei Yi went towards the signal. When he arrived at the edge, he saw his beloved woman looking tired while being chased by that barking dog Long Hao Chen.

When Long Hao Chen was bullying the 'weak' Xu Fei Yi when they were at the Jing country, Xu Fei Yi did not put him in the eyes and never got angry towards him, letting Mu Qing do the work. But now, looking at XuanRong's pitiful appearance, Xu Fei Yi's fury exploded.

'How dare this worm hurt This Lordship's woman? Seeking death!!'

Like flicking an ant, Xu Fei Yi snorted when he saw the battered Long Hao Chen on the ground.

"Why… why are you here?"

Hearing her question, Xu Fei Yi turned his head and angrily stared at XuanRong.

Looking at the eyes behind the mask, XuanRong could not help but shrink back. She suddenly felt afraid. It was the first time she saw his eyes filled with anger and frustration.

'Frustration?' XuanRong was puzzled.

"Are you done playing around?" His cold voice echoed in her ears.

XuanRong could not help but glare back at him.

'Playing around? Do you think that I was only playing?!'

XuanRong wanted to retort back but when she noticed the chilling air around him, she could not find the courage to speak. She suddenly felt like a little cat who was caught stealing food.

Although she was glad that he came and saved her, it did not mean that he could act like she did something wrong. For her, everything that she did was for the sake of her survival and the survival of her love ones.

How come in front of this man's eyes, she was only playing around, causing trouble?

XuanRong could not help but feel perplexed and frustrated.

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[1]. Four hours

[2]. Power/Life energy

[Unedited Chapter]