Gu Qianying's pupils contracted, the arrowhead enlarging in her eyes.
"Be careful!"
Her slender jade hand immediately grasped Luo Muchen's wrist, pulling him fiercely into her embrace.
Ling supported his waist with one hand, and as she turned, the sharp arrow grazed Luo Muchen's ear and back.
The wind picked up, and scattered petals drifted in the air, falling around them like pink snowflakes.
Luo Muchen stared blankly at the person holding him.
Gu Qianying was also looking at him.
Their eyes met.
In that moment, it was as if the world had stopped.
The voices of those around them seemed to vanish.
Time stood still, a beautiful scene magnified infinitely.
Heroes saving damsels were not uncommon throughout history, but handsome men saving handsome men, twirling in mid-air in an intimate embrace, was a sight rarely witnessed.
Some people's mouths gaped open, wanting to cry out but quickly having their mouths covered by those beside them.
As if unwilling to ruin the beautiful scene.
Even less willing to disrupt the image of these two handsome men, rumored to be lovers.
Just as everyone was lost in admiration, a group of men in black, wielding swift blades, charged forward from the crowd.
Ah...!
The crowd screamed in terror, "Someone's killing! Someone's killing!"
Some people, terrified, fled, while others trembled and hid to the side.
The scene descended into chaos.
Gu Qianying, who had held Luo Muchen and landed steadily, looked with cold eyes at the charging black-clad assassins.
Her thin lips curved into a cold smile. "Who do you want to kill?"
The leader of the black-clad men pointed his blade at Luo Muchen. "Get out of the way if you don't want to die. We only want his life!"
"Heh!"
Gu Qianying chuckled, turning to look at Luo Muchen. "I never imagined that a refined gentleman like you would have enemies outside!"
As she spoke, Gu Qianying released Luo Muchen's waist.
Luo Muchen, who had been lost in their shared moment, instantly sobered upon seeing the black-clad figures around him.
He extended his arm to shield Gu Qianying behind him. "Don't be afraid, I'll protect you."
At this moment, Luo Muchen had forgotten Gu Qianying's identity as a ruthless female demon.
He now saw Gu Qianying as merely a weak woman disguised as a man.
"Do you know martial arts?"
Gu Qianying, unhurried, turned to look at Luo Muchen.
"I... I don't know martial arts, but I can..."
If you don't know martial arts, why are you babbling here? Move aside.
Gu Qianying pulled Luo Muchen behind her.
She would face the dozen or so black-clad assassins alone.
The leader of the black-clad men looked at the slender Gu Qianying with utter disdain. "Since you want to die too, boy, I'll grant your wish. Kill them both!"
Upon his command.
Two black-clad men advanced with their blades, hacking fiercely at Gu Qianying.
However... a gust of wind swept through.
A powerful internal force erupted from her palm.
The two black-clad men were sent flying backward a considerable distance.
One crashed heavily onto the ground, spitting blood, while the other slammed into a tree, sliding down its bark to the ground, instantly lifeless.
Their swords clattered to the ground, making a ringing sound.
The other black-clad men froze, their eyes wide with shock.
The leader was the most astonished.
"I don't believe this brat can be that powerful. Everyone, attack together and kill them both!"
The leader was also a martial artist; he could tell whether the opponent knew martial arts and possessed internal energy.
It was precisely because he could tell that he ordered everyone to attack together.
"Yes, boss!"
Numerous black-clad men, wielding their swift blades, charged forward in unison.
Suddenly.
Gu Qianying's sleeve was tugged by someone behind her.
She turned to look at him, frowning, without speaking.
"They have the advantage in numbers, be careful."
Seeing Gu Qianying unleash her internal energy, Luo Muchen finally remembered Gu Qianying's other identity.
The Demon Empress's martial arts were formidable, but even so, he couldn't help but worry about her.
"Mm, don't worry, I'll leave one alive."
"..."
Actually... that wasn't what he meant.
Gu Qianying did not look at Luo Muchen's expression.
As soon as she spoke.
She released Luo Muchen, turned, and began fighting all the black-clad assassins present.
The black-clad assassins who had come were also skilled in martial arts, with two of them being particularly formidable.
The leader, the boss of the many black-clad men, and another tall, thin assassin whose face was covered by a mask.
After dealing with the other black-clad men.
Gu Qianying found herself surrounded by these two.
"Die, you!"
The leader of the black-clad men exchanged a glance with the tall, thin assassin beside him.
Simultaneously, they sheathed their respective blades and then pulled out a thick iron chain, which scraped against the ground, creating sparks.
Each holding one end, they swung the chain, dragging it back and forth on the ground until it grew increasingly hot.
Each holding an end, they leaped up together, swinging the chain in a circle around Gu Qianying, sparks flying, about to strike her.
Luo Muchen's heart tightened. "Be careful."
"A mere trick, and you dare to 'show off' before me? Heh!"
With a light leap.
Her feet landed on the iron chain that the two black assassins were swinging.
Her body moved rapidly, and the burning, sparking chain did not touch Gu Qianying in the slightest.
"Crack!"
Her slender jade hand shot towards the neck of the leader of the black-clad men. With a single movement, Gu Qianying snapped his neck!
As her hand released, the leader of the black-clad men looked at Gu Qianying in terror, his body falling heavily backward.
Dust kicked up from the ground as the leader of the black-clad men slowly collapsed.
Without the pulling force, the remaining black-clad assassin, who was still alive, fell back onto the ground.
The heat of the iron chain burned the back of his hand.
Ignoring the pain, he dropped the chain and immediately drew his swift blade.
Gripping the blade with both hands, he lunged at Gu Qianying.
"Go to hell!"
The black-clad man attacked with ferocity.
However... Gu Qianying's slender jade hand moved nimbly. As she dodged sideways, she grabbed the hilt of the blade in the black-clad man's hand.
She snatched the sword away.
Turning her back to the black-clad man, the blade thrust sharply from her hand behind her.
"Pfft!"
The black-clad man clutched his stomach, staring at Gu Qianying in terror.
Blood spread, dripping through his fingers onto the ground.
When Gu Qianying turned around, the last black-clad man was lying on his back on the ground, lifeless. His wide-open eyes refused to close, the long sword still lodged in his body.
By this time, many of the onlookers had dispersed.
However, some brave souls remained, watching the situation from a distance.
These people were whispering amongst themselves about how powerful Gu Qianying, disguised as a "handsome young man," was.
"Oh, I forgot to leave one alive?"
Gu Qianying stood in place, her male robes as pristine as ever, unstained by even a drop of blood.
"However... it's not too late!"
With that, Gu Qianying walked over to the leader of the black-clad men lying on the ground.
She squatted down, retrieved a dagger from her leg, and held it against the leader's face.
"Alright, stop playing dead. Wake up!"