Ye Feng pondered for a long time, unable to conceive who would want to harm him.
"Who are you, and why do you attempt to assassinate this king!" Ye Feng asked coldly.
If it were a one-on-one fight, few would be his match. But these people were too cunning, resorting to poison and drugs – their methods were impossible to guard against!
"It seems what he said was indeed true," the straw-hatted man licked his lips. "The great Prince Chu is about to die at my hands. Surprising, isn't it?"
"Did you ever imagine you would die here?" The straw-hatted man casually tossed a head, clapping his hands lightly.
"You actually killed him!" Ye Feng's eyes widened as he stared at the straw-hatted man, his voice suddenly rising, "Do you truly disregard everything?"
"You are the noble Prince Chu, having had everything since childhood. Unlike us, we must seize everything ourselves," the straw-hatted man cursed. "As for him, he was just a fool who couldn't complete his mission. Keeping him alive was pointless!"
"Aren't you from the same organization?" Ye Feng, understanding dawning, gently squeezed a pill from the sachet with his fingers!
"He was just a fool. Dying by my hand is considered good fortune. If he had fallen into the Master's hands, he would have wished for death but found none." The straw-hatted man's body trembled constantly, as if struck by immense terror!
"Can you let this king die in clarity? Who is this Master you speak of," Ye Feng asked, stalling for time, "or rather, who wants to deal with this king?"
A corner of the straw-hatted man's hat was suddenly lifted by the wind, and he spoke in haste, "Impossible!"
In an instant, Ye Feng saw it clearly. The face was terrifying, covered in pockmarked scars, like a twisted centipede!
"Who is this person?" Ye Feng silently questioned himself. He couldn't fathom who in the historical records possessed such immense power!
"Come, let me witness the struggle of the great Prince Chu before his death!" The straw-hatted man advanced step by step. Diao Chan suddenly rushed in front of Ye Feng, tears streaming down her face, "You are not allowed to harm my King! If you must fight, kill me first!"
"Good, good, good!" Amidst the applause, a hoarse voice made one's blood run cold. "A devoted couple, indeed. I will surely fulfill your wishes!"
Diao Chan was about to rush forward but was pulled back by Ye Feng. The cold gaze in his eyes startled the straw-hatted man. He had seen countless people facing death, their eyes filled with struggle or terror, but never had he encountered someone as calm as Ye Feng.
"Aren't you afraid?" The straw-hatted man, after much deliberation, finally asked.
Ye Feng struggled to support himself, slowly rising with Diao Chan's help. "Why should I be afraid? Rather, it is you who, by asking that question, reveals your own fear of me!"
The straw-hatted man gritted his teeth. "Sharp-tongued. I shall send you on your way now!"
"Pop!" The straw-hatted man looked down to see a small dart lodged in his body. Diao Chan's face darkened, and she roared, disregarding everything, "You are not allowed to harm my King!"
"Beauty, I'm growing fonder of you. If you are willing to follow me, I might spare your life. Following him, you have only death!" the straw-hatted man sneered.
"You dream! I will accompany my King forever!" Diao Chan drew a dagger and pointed it at the straw-hatted man. He lightly flicked the dart from his chest. "Very well, even dying by a beauty's blade would be my just deserts!"
Diao Chan, accustomed to the company of officials and nobles, had never heard such outrageous words. Her face flushed red, and she cursed, "Get lost!"
A blushing beauty was the most disarming. The straw-hatted man was momentarily intrigued and eagerly said, "I never imagined you had such a side, little lady. Come into my arms quickly!"
"Die!" Diao Chan, regaining her senses, unhesitatingly flicked her sleeve. Three arrows shot out in an instant!
The straw-hatted man coldly smiled. With a slight movement of his fingers, he caught the darts firmly. "Little lady, I have finally found you!"
Diao Chan was momentarily speechless and rushed forward, intending to fight the straw-hatted man desperately. Ye Feng grabbed her arm and gently shook his head!
Diao Chan understood immediately when she saw Ye Feng's gesture.
"Alright, you dare to tease your Grandma? You have some nerve!" Diao Chan, hands on her hips, had a unique charm. "If you want to bully your Grandma, kneel and kowtow, and I'll agree immediately!"
"Good sister, if you recognize me, I'll agree to thirty kowtows, let alone three!"
The straw-hatted man's glib talk made Diao Chan cringe. Feeling the warmth from Ye Feng's hand, she regained strength and cursed coldly.
"Who said I'd go with you? Your Grandma is not that easily swayed!"
"I have plenty of ways to make you submit to me!" the straw-hatted man said coldly. "Do you really think the current Prince Chu can protect you? Can you still count on him?"
"If I can't count on the King, should I count on you, you scoundrel leader!" Diao Chan chuckled coldly and casually threw her dagger.
"A gift from a little lady, I must accept it!" the straw-hatted man said coldly, stepping forward to meet the throw. "Little lady, if you injure me, you'll have to come with me!"
Ye Feng remained silent, slowly releasing his grip and taking a single step forward. The straw-hatted man, thinking Ye Feng was merely bluffing, paid it no mind.
"Little lady, you must remember me!"
"He will always remember you!" Ye Feng retorted mockingly, taking three quick steps and kicking the dagger.
The strength of Ye Feng, who inherited the Hegemon's physique, was immense. The dagger flew as if it were a javelin thrown with all its might.
Before the straw-hatted man could utter a sound, the dagger plunged deeply into his shoulder. Blood immediately spurted out!
"You!" The straw-hatted man pointed at Ye Feng, trembling. "You've recovered? That was the poison given to us by our Master!"
"I see nothing special!" Ye Feng smiled coldly.
The previous opponent was no match for him, let alone someone who specialized in assassination like this. It was impossible!
"Now, do you have anything else to say?" Ye Feng said coldly. "Do you still want this king's beauty?"
"Prince Chu, you, you!" the straw-hatted man gritted out between his teeth. "How is this possible!"
"What I do best is make the impossible possible. If you want to fight, come on," Ye Feng challenged. "Can we talk now about who is behind you?"
Despite Ye Feng's kind words, the straw-hatted man stretched his neck and cursed, "Ye Feng, I admit defeat this time. Kill me and grant me a quick end. Otherwise, I will surely find an opportunity to kill you!"
"Very well, I grant you your wish!" Ye Feng said calmly, then picked up the Hegemon's Halberd and, with a single strike, the straw-hatted man ceased to breathe!
"My King, this is?" Although Diao Chan acted like a female general in the general's mansion, she still acted demurely by Ye Feng's side!
"You nearly scared me to death. Listen to my heartbeat, is it fast?" Diao Chan leaned against Ye Feng.
"Wait?" Ye Feng held Diao Chan, then quickly knelt on the ground, listening intently!
"My King, are you..." Diao Chan was anxious. When had Ye Feng ever ignored her like this, despite her coaxing and pleading?
Ye Feng raised his hand and spoke urgently, "Someone is coming. Something is about to happen. Do you remember my condition just now?"
"I remember," Diao Chan lowered her head and quickly said, "My King wants to lure the snake out of its hole?"
"Beauty, precisely. I want to see what sort of monsters and demons are behind this," Ye Feng sneered, then quickly lay down under a large tree. Diao Chan immediately understood and began shaking Ye Feng's body, crying mournfully.
"My King, wake up quickly, wake up, don't leave me alone!"
"My King~"
Her cries were heart-wrenching. At that moment, the whole world owed Diao Chan an Oscar!
As expected, soon a person on horseback rushed over. Seeing Diao Chan, he quickly dismounted, knelt on the ground, and clasped his hands. "Greetings, my Lord. Li Ru has arrived late, please forgive me, my Lord, my Lord!"
Ye Feng did not respond to his repeated calls. Li Ru bravely raised his head and looked. Ye Feng lay motionless on the ground, with only Diao Chan weeping inconsolably!
Li Ru was filled with sorrow, wiped his tears with his sleeve, and said, "I did not expect that I would arrive too late despite my haste. What exactly happened here?"
Diao Chan pointed at the straw-hatted man's corpse and the head, sobbing uncontrollably. "As you know, my King possessed unparalleled might, but who could have imagined that he was caught off guard and poisoned by that person. Later, this person took me hostage, and my King, to save me..."
Diao Chan was overcome with sobs. Li Ru, clutching something under his cloak, slowly approached Ye Feng's body. "Madam, please do not grieve. Please decide quickly how to handle my Lord's body. Everyone is waiting for Madam's decision!"
"What can I, a mere woman, decide?" Diao Chan knelt on the ground, weeping. "I don't even know if I can protect what my King has left behind. It would be better to go with my King!"
Li Ru nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, why not invite the other Madams here as well? Then a decision can be made. A country cannot be without a ruler, and we will trust your decision, Madam."
"I dare not deceive you, sir. My King lived in constant fear, always worried about losing his head one day. Therefore, the arrangements for what happens after his death are in the general's mansion. Please be a witness, sir!" Diao Chan tremblingly stood up and bowed to Li Ru. "Please do not refuse, sir!"
Li Ru's mind raced. Why himself? Why not someone else? Visions of grand ambitions flashed through his mind.
"Madam, I should not pry, but why did you specifically choose me? Did Prince Chu give any instructions?" Li Ru asked, adopting a determined demeanor.