Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 838 - 836_1

Chapter 838: Chapter 836_1

Shangguan Xuanyi watched as Xiao’er fell, his anger instantly overtook his rationality. With an imposing momentum, he swung his whip, wrapping it around a person before pulling forcefully. Several assassins dressed in black were knocked back.

The person wrapped by the whip was flung away, landing on a nail board, and cried out in agony as he struggled to get up.

"Activate the trap!" Shangguan Xuanyi glared at the shadowy figure, his eyes filled with threats and his voice icy cold.

The shadow’s task today was to capture them both to use them as bargaining chips with the Emperor of Minze Country to exchange for rice breeding techniques. There was no way he would willingly activate the trap.

No words left the shadow’s mouth. Instead, he lunged at Shangguan Xuanyi.

The assassins who had fallen also quickly rose and drew their swords to attack him.

Shangguan Xuanyi, filled with rage, flourished his whip, creating endless illusions. The assassins could not distinguish which shadow was real, none could dodge, let alone approach him.

Several assassins had already fallen.

Building up a group of powerful subordinates with high martial arts skills was not an easy task. The shadow, seeing Shangguan Xuanyi fighting like a madman and realizing his martial arts skills were superior, knew his group wasn’t faring well. All they’d managed was to inflict a slight injury.

Frowning, the shadow realized he couldn’t delay any longer. Otherwise, more would die. So, he shouted, "Retreat!"

Upon his command, someone quickly fell away.

Others ran towards the door leading to the stairway.

Shangguan Xuanyi then let loose multiple darts, taking down two of those attempting to escape.

Three managed to flee successfully.

With a flick of his whip, Shangguan Xuanyi disarmed the shadow, then darted forward, his hand seizing the assailant’s throat: "Tell me! Where is the trap activated?"

The shadow stretched out his hand attempting to pry Shangguan Xuanyi’s grasp away, but even his kicks were futile.

"Will you speak?!"

Struggling to speak, the shadow rasped out, "I’ll - I’ll tell -"

The moment Shangguan Xuanyi loosened his grip-

The shadow suddenly spat out a small dart, aimed directly at Shangguan Xuanyi’s forehead.

Shangguan Xuanyi swerved his head slightly as soon as the shadow’s lips moved, and simultaneously struck him in the chest with his palm. Still, the dart grazed the side of his temple.

The shadow was flung backward, hitting the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood. A sinister smirk appeared on his face: "The dart is poisoned! Soon, you’ll be dead."

With an emotionless stare, Shangguan Xuanyi watched him before taking out a pill and swallowing it.

The shadow’s eyes widened in horror before coughing up another mouthful of blood. How could he forget, Prince Rui and his wife possessed the antidote pill that could cure any venom! The shadow closed his eyes in frustration and resentment.

Without sparing him another glance, Shangguan Xuanyi started searching for the trap’s lever.

Just then, there was the sound of many footsteps outside. It must be Sun Liang arriving with his soldiers.

Shangguan Xuanyi quickly leaped up onto a roof beam and disappeared into the void.

A troop of soldiers wielding big swords burst in, with Sun Liang walking amidst them.

Seeing the empty cell and the unmoving shadow on the floor, Sun Liang was startled!

"Go, quickly check what’s happened to the shadow!"

One of the soldiers ran down quickly to check. "Sir, the shadow is dead."

Dead? Sun Liang turned pale.

All these years, his position as the county magistrate was all thanks to the shadow’s assistance!

He had always followed the shadow’s command. Now that he was dead-

What was he to do?

A single word appeared in his mind: "Run!"

Even the shadow with his high martial arts skills had perished, why should he stay here!

After all, the ill-gotten wealth he had accumulated was enough for him to live comfortably for the rest of his life. If he didn’t escape now, he wouldn’t even live long enough to spend it!

No, he needed to hurry back and gather his belongings.

Trying to stay calm, Sun Liang gave his orders, "The shadow’s been murdered. You guys better start looking for the killer!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Liang left, his walk slightly unsteady.

Hearing his orders, the soldiers hastily ran out.

But where on earth was the killer hiding? And if the assassin was skilled enough to kill the shadow, were they even a match for him?

Once all the soldiers had left, Shangguan Xuanyi dropped down from the beam.

He was slightly disappointed. He had expected someone to activate the trap to investigate, but none did.

Perhaps these people were simply clueless there was a trap here!

Without further delay, Shangguan Xuanyi jumped down and began searching for the lever to trigger the trap.

Xiao’er fell down when he was with his back to her and the shadow.

The shadow had been standing right here.

Shangguan Xuanyi walked over to where the shadow had been standing, starting to examine the items nearby. There were several candles in a row, and a nail board on the floor.

Extending his hand, Shangguan Xuanyi moved each candlestick, but as each could be picked up, it was clear they weren’t the lever.

He then kicked the nail boards on the ground, discovering one that couldn’t be moved.

Shangguan Xuanyi swiftly crouched down, then started turning each nail by hand, testing if one of them was the lever.

Shangguan Xuanyi’s actions were quick. A single nail board, thousands of nails, it merely took him a few breaths to test the last few nails. When he tried the second-to-last nail, it finally moved!

Shangguan Xuanyi quickly stood up and walked towards where Xiao’er had fallen. He lifted the floorboard with the scabbard revealing shimmering water!

There was also a post next to it with a rope tied to it.

Shangguan Xuanyi’s face fell! If he was not mistaken, that rope was probably tied to a boat previously.

He was not naive enough to believe that the assailants’ objective was to drown Xiao’er.

Xiao’er was kidnapped!

Shangguan Xuanyi quickly got up and ran out.

Midway, a soldier spotted his figure and loudly shouted: "The fugitive is here!"

The distant soldiers instinctively looked over when they heard his shout but collectively decided to ignore it.

The moment the words left his mouth, the soldier who had shouted regretted it. He wished he could have bitten his tongue!

Should he chase or not?!

If even the shadow couldn’t defeat this fugitive, there was no doubt he would be risking his life by chasing after him!

Seeing everyone pretending not to hear his call, the soldier subconsciously blurted out, "My apologies, I was mistaken! It was just a cat running past."

Upon hearing this carried by the wind, Shangguan Xuanyi almost choked on his anger!

Every year, the Imperial Court spent a large sum of silver nourishing these cowards who took advantage of the weak and feared the strong!

It was absolutely infuriating!

By this time, the sky had started to lighten. Shangguan Xuanyi found an unoccupied spot and summoned a horse from his ring, then galloped towards the nearest pier.