Chapter Eight: The Assassination Fails

“Bold Yang Chuan, since you are so eager to die, I shall grant your wish!”

With a scornful laugh, Chen Song swung his saber, instantly engaging him in fierce combat.

Though Yang Chuan had regained some of his strength with the help of the system, he had yet to fully ascend to the seventh rank of martial cultivation.

Facing a warrior at the peak of the sixth rank, the fight was evidently taxing.

Behind him, Tian Yueying grew anxious; seeing the battle begin, she appeared helpless and flustered.

“Master Yang, you must hold on! Once we drive off these warriors, we’ll set off immediately—no more delays!”

But cheering silently was clearly futile.

Behind Chen Song, the other warriors saw Yang Chuan was outmatched and surged forward, forcing him back several meters.

In this critical moment, Tian Yueying refused to stand by and drew a long sword from the carriage, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yang Chuan.

Having spent three years together, this was the first time he had seen her take up arms in his presence.

He was inevitably shocked.

Could it be that this Empress of Great Qi was no delicate flower to be toyed with?

It seemed she harbored many secrets.

This revelation unsettled Yang Chuan’s focus.

Suddenly, he sensed a chill at his chest and quickly raised his sword to block a stealthy strike from an attacker.

“I thought you all possessed great skills. Turns out you’re just a bunch of cowards who rely on surprise attacks.”

With that, he exerted a fierce strike, cleaving the opponent’s weapon in two.

Witnessing this, Chen Song finally awakened to the seriousness of his foe.

If his earlier effort was only half his strength, it was because before leaving, the Empress told him Yang Chuan had lost all martial prowess and was a complete cripple.

He had hoped to capture him alive that night and bring him to the capital for a doubled reward.

But judging by that single sword stroke, it was clear Yang Chuan still possessed power surpassing a fourth-rank warrior.

“You traitorous rebel betraying the empire, even your strength was a sham! I didn’t expect you to secretly preserve so much power!”

“In that case, when I see the Empress tomorrow, all that will remain of you is your head!”

---

After a moment’s contemplation, Chen Song gathered his energy, instantly concentrating a sphere of true qi in his right palm.

The next moment, that force, accompanied by the coldness of his saber, surged forward.

Now came a contest of inner strength. Fortunately, Yang Chuan reacted swiftly and blocked the attack with all his might.

Yet, still inexperienced in wielding seventh-rank power, he was somewhat awkward.

Seeing his lethal strike thwarted, Chen Song’s vigilance heightened immediately.

He took a few steps back and commanded those behind him.

“Brothers, the rebel Yang Chuan fights to the death and refuses to surrender. Follow me and combine our strength—we swear to end this traitor here and now!”

At his command, the warriors closed ranks and began channeling their inner energy.

Seeing this, Tian Yueying could not remain idle. She brandished her sword and charged forward.

Yang Chuan, who had regained only half his strength, was visibly more weakened after receiving Chen Song’s fatal blow.

He planned to recover briefly before counterattacking, but Tian Yueying’s sudden charge from behind stirred concern.

“Yueying, be careful! These people are formidable—do not act rashly!”

He tried to pull her back, but it was too late.

Under the cover of night, a wave of energy burst forth from the warriors’ palms, knocking Tian Yueying back several meters.

Seeing this, Yang Chuan would not linger. He raised his sword and plunged into the fray.

Amid flashing blades and swirling shadows, the white-robed youth fought fiercely, the battle prolonged and evenly matched.

Tian Yueying, after using her body to block a strike against Yang Chuan, swiftly regained her strength and charged back into the chaotic melee.

The fight raged until dawn, several warriors collapsing in pools of blood as their powers waned.

Yang Chuan, with his inner strength still not fully restored, suffered a stab wound to his left arm from Chen Song, blood steadily seeping through his clothes.

Fortunately, Tian Yueying guarded him with her life, managing to drive the Shadow Organization's forces into retreat.

Chen Song, exhausted and battered, staggered back toward Wumeng City with his remaining troops.

Once he confirmed the area was safe, Yang Chuan finally relaxed his tense nerves.

He planted his sword into the ground and began to breathe heavily.

“Master!”

Tian Yueying turned toward him, her eyes brimming with tears.

---

“Quick… quick, drive on immediately! We cannot afford any more delay!”

After uttering these words, his body suddenly collapsed backward, slipping into unconsciousness.

…

After another day’s journey, Yang Chuan and Tian Yueying had traveled seven hundred miles north from the great capital of Dakang.

Chen Song, after a night of fierce combat and failing to capture Yang Chuan, could only grit his teeth and return to the capital to face Yan Wugou’s wrath.

In the grand hall, upon hearing that Yang Chuan had once again escaped his grasp, the Empress erupted in fury.

“Chen Song! What on earth are you doing? That Yang Chuan is a cripple, with only one attendant by his side. You led over ten elite warriors of the Shadow Organization and still let him escape?”

“Guards! Bind Chen Song and throw him into the death prison!”

“Your Majesty, you wrong me!” Chen Song trembled as he knelt, pleading with the Empress. “Your Majesty, last night I was certain Yang Chuan would die. But who would have thought he secretly retained some of his strength!”

“Judging from my years of experience, his power is at least above a sixth-rank warrior. And the attendant by his side must be at least fifth-rank. My men and I fought desperately to barely wound Yang Chuan!”

“What? He still has strength?”

Yan Wugou straightened instantly, disbelief written all over her face.

Impossible!

When she had stripped Yang Chuan of his title as Grand Secretary, she had personally seen his cultivation destroyed in the great hall, his complexion far worse than before.

Could he have secretly learned some technique to hide his martial aura?

But then she recalled that even at his peak, Yang Chuan’s grandmaster level corresponded only to about seventh rank.

How could he alone stand against so many warriors from the Shadow Organization?

Could it be that the attendant, Tian Yueying, was the real reason Chen Song’s assassination attempt failed?

Unwilling to believe Yang Chuan was protected by a mere woman, Yan Wugou glanced again at Chen Song kneeling before her.

Indeed, his wounds remained obvious, proof he had not fled the battle.

If so, her next focus would be on Tian Yueying.