Yun Zhen, not far away, was no better. His dark eyes spewed surging flames, fiercely directed at the people escorting the prisoner carriage.
If they came any closer, he would not let them off.
The group remained still. Yun Xiao and Yun Zhen quickly assessed the situation. There were about a hundred soldiers escorting the prisoners. Besides Yun Mo, two others were also being held.
Both men were severely injured. Upon seeing their faces, Yun Xiao recognized them as two of her father's top generals, Mu Qing and Mu Bai.
If the three of them joined forces, ordinary people would find it difficult to subdue them. Therefore, there must have been a traitor from within who led to their unexpected capture.
Although there were over a hundred people escorting them, considered major criminals of the court, Yun Xiao felt something was amiss. However, there was no time to ponder further. The appearance of Mu Qing and Mu Bai confirmed they had indeed been captured.
If it were truly just these hundred or so people, they might be able to hijack the prisoner carriage. But she feared there might be others hidden in the shadows.
Time, however, did not allow them to hesitate. The prisoner carriage had already slid past their location on the mountain path. Yun Xiao waved her hand, and everyone leaped forward, lunging directly at the prisoner carriage being escorted.
Yun Xiao's icy voice rang out, "Wan'er, play the zither."
"Yes, Master."
Wan Wan flicked her hand and sat down on the grass by the mountain path. Her fingers lightly pressed the zither strings. Yun Xiao turned and ordered those who followed her to hold their breath and suppress their killing intent. Everyone channeled their energy to dissipate the ferocity within their hearts.
Melodious notes, like flowing water, rose from the mountain path, ascending to the nine heavens.
The graceful and agile notes of the zither lingered in the air.
The hundred men escorting the prisoner carriage did not anticipate a group of people leaping from mid-air. They were momentarily stunned. By the time they recovered, Yun Xiao and her group had already reached them. Sword light and blade shadows flashed, and a battle erupted.
Those hundred men were all handpicked from the army and were not usually this weak. However, Wan Wan's zither could charm the soul. By the time they realized what was happening, their bodies felt powerless, their minds disoriented, leading to their swift demise.
The air was thick with the smell of blood. The group of about twenty people, each like tigers descending from the mountains, wielded their blades with merciless precision.
In the blink of an eye, dozens fell. The leading deputy general immediately ordered the remaining men to form a tight circle around the prisoner carriage and shouted, "Who dares to hijack a prisoner carriage in broad daylight?"
No one paid him any mind, continuing to wield their weapons and attack the ranks.
Each of them wore a black cloth covering their faces, making their features indistinguishable. Thus, they had no fear of being identified by the escorts.
As the soldiers began to falter, the leading deputy general suddenly raised his hand. A signal flare shot into the sky with a "zhi" sound. In an instant, the rustling of approaching robes echoed, and a group of black-clad figures descended from the sky.
However, these individuals were not masked. They were all expressionless, flying low from the sky like giant rooks, skimming past like fallen leaves. It was evident from a glance that these people were highly skilled.
In a flash, they surrounded them. Wan Wan, who was playing the zither, was struck by a palm from one of the black-clad figures and sent flying. She and her zither tumbled like a broken doll.
Yun Xiao gasped in shock and immense concern. She leaped into the air, embracing Wan Wan tightly.
Wan Wan's face was as pale as paper, with a trace of blood at the corner of her lips. At this sight, Yun Xiao knew she was severely injured and couldn't help but cry out, "Wan Wan?"
The two landed on the ground in the center. Wan Wan opened her eyes, her pale skin making her black pupils exceptionally striking. She coughed and managed a smile, "Master, Wan Wan is truly so useless."
"Wan Wan, you will be alright."
She spoke with certainty, taking out a pill and protecting Wan Wan's vital points. She then stood up, gazing at the encroaching black-clad figures surrounding them.
These people were all expressionless, not even a flicker in their eyes. They were like automatons, completely controlled by someone else. Yun Xiao was shocked.
These were death warriors.
Death warriors were raised from birth in sealed spaces, trained to kill, and administered various pills to enhance their internal energy. They were not only highly skilled in martial arts but also devoid of any human emotions, akin to ferocious beasts of the mountains.
To think so many death warriors had appeared at once, it was clear that the mastermind intended to kill them.
Yun Xiao scanned her surroundings, her heart sinking to the bottom. She looked at the people beside her: Mother-in-law, Liuxing, Zhuiyue, Jingyun, and the severely injured Wan Wan.
If they delayed any longer, Wan Wan might not be saved. Seeing her forced smile, a tear finally slid down Yun Xiao's cheek, landing on Wan Wan's face. Wan Wan reached out with concern, "Master, I am fine. Don't worry."
From beginning to end, Yun Xiao had not looked at Yun Zhen even once. If even one person died among them today, she would never forgive Yun Zhen.
Only now did Yun Zhen feel a profound sense of regret, not out of fear of death—his death would be insignificant.
However, he had implicated Xiao'er and their father. He knew clearly that if anyone died here today, Xiao'er would never forgive him.
But at this moment, forgiveness or no forgiveness was unimportant. The question was whether they could survive at all.
The escorts retreated, and the black-clad figures advanced, encircling Yun Xiao and her companions, along with the two prisoner carriages.
Yun Zhen slowly retreated, moving closer to the front prisoner carriage, and cried out in anguish, "Father, are you alright?"
The person who had been hanging their head slowly raised it. Yun Xiao waved her hand, and Liuxing and Zhuiyue, who were by her side, stepped forward, their penetrating gazes fixed on the black-clad figures opposite them. Yun Xiao, however, slowly retreated, wanting to see if her father was well.
The midday sun dappled through the branches, blindingly bright. Yun Xiao squinted, seeing the person who had been sitting with difficulty in the prisoner carriage suddenly stand up with swift movements. He flipped his hand, took out a sharp blade from his sleeve, and lunged at Yun Zhen.
At this moment, Yun Zhen was consumed by grief and completely unaware of the changes within the prisoner carriage. Yun Xiao screamed and rushed forward, pushing Yun Zhen aside, "Brother, be careful!"
The person in the prisoner carriage was not Yun Mo at all, but a soldier in disguise. He had intended to kill Yun Zhen. Unexpectedly, with Yun Xiao's push, the blade pierced Yun Xiao's shoulder blade. Blood splattered, staining her white clothes.
Yun Xiao stumbled back, her brows furrowed in pain. She swayed, steadying herself against a horse. Those around her cried out simultaneously.
"Master."
"Xiao'er."
Everyone's faces turned ashen with shock. Yun Zhen was stunned. He hadn't expected the person in the prisoner carriage to be someone else, a mere diversion, using Mu Qing and Mu Bai as bait. Their sole objective was to capture him.
And since Xiao'er resented him, why did she save him? Wouldn't it be better if he died?
"Xiao'er," Yun Zhen rushed forward, stopping a step away from Yun Xiao. He dared not step closer, afraid to see the look of disgust in her eyes, his heart aching.
Seeing Xiao'er take the blow for him earlier had nearly stopped his heart. In that fleeting moment, he suddenly understood one thing: whether Xiao'er was someone else or his sister, he didn't want her to suffer any harm. He only wanted her to live, to live forever.
"Why must you do this?"
Yun Zhen spoke with pain, wishing it had been himself who was injured.