"Get back!"
Before she could react, Feng Jingyuan, the closest to her, was grabbed by the shoulder.
Her fingernails, protruding and sharp, pierced deep into his flesh through his clothes, drawing several bloody marks instantly.
Feng Jingyuan's brow furrowed. He kicked her away and retreated.
"Brother."
Feng Yinwan quickly stepped forward, only to see that the wounds on his shoulder had already rapidly rotted to a blackish hue. Her heart instantly startled.
"Bear with it for now."
As she spoke, she reached for the silver needles at her waist. Meanwhile, Concubine Yu launched another surprise attack.
Now facing her head-on, Feng Yinwan could clearly sense that her attacks were much faster than before.
This monster was truly difficult to deal with!
Her eyes narrowed. Just as she was about to defend, Song Qingan intercepted in front of her.
Their fight was swift and fierce, with only two fleeting afterimages visible in the hall. Feng Yinwan's heart tightened, but she dared not pause her actions.
The poisonous blood spread incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, dark marks appeared on Feng Jingyuan's neck.
Feng Yinwan's brow furrowed deeply. She sealed several of his acupoints with silver needles, then retrieved an antidote pill. Using her inner energy to catalyze its effect, his condition finally began to stabilize.
After finishing this, she turned to observe the situation in the hall, only to find that Lingxiang, who had been standing in her previous spot, had vanished.
"Not good!"
Feng Yinwan looked up and saw that Lingxiang had already launched a surprise attack behind Ye Tingyun. She immediately flicked a silver needle.
"Chic—"
The silver needle struck, forcing Lingxiang back with fierce momentum. Ye Tingyun, who had been solely focused on the Empress Dowager's injuries, was startled by the commotion. His face turned pale, and he immediately dodged.
"You ruined my good deed again!"
As if enraged, Lingxiang turned and glared fiercely at Feng Yinwan before falling back.
Feng Yinwan would not let her escape. Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. Just as she was about to pursue, she saw Lingxiang's lips move, and she uttered a string of low whispers.
Concubine Yu's eyes rolled back. Although her consciousness was unclear, she was remarkably attuned to such incantations.
Hearing this, her body suddenly broke free from her entanglement with Song Qingan and swiftly attacked Feng Yinwan.
A claw strike landed, mere inches away.
Feng Yinwan leaned back and, in that instant, saw clearly that wisps of dark energy were entwined around her long, sharp fingernails.
Concubine Yu's combat skills were already formidable, and her current swift movements were beyond human capabilities.
After a few exchanges, Feng Yinwan found it increasingly difficult to fend her off. Fortunately, Song Qingan's interference prevented her from being injured.
Lingxiang, however, appeared greatly excited. Her gaze swept over them, and she coldly commanded, "Kill them!"
Before her words had even faded, the clanging of armor was heard from outside the hall. The guards, who were supposed to have been dispatched outside the city, had suddenly reappeared.
"Form ranks!"
With an imperial decree from the Emperor, the guards surged into the hall with imposing momentum, swiftly forming a formation.
Lingxiang's expression sank upon realizing he had one last trick up his sleeve. She quickly recalled Concubine Yu to her side.
Completely surrounded, the two stood within the hall, like trapped beasts.
Before Lingxiang could issue another command, the Emperor's chilling voice echoed through the hall.
"All troops advance, capture the Yue Kingdom's traitors alive, and slay the wicked!"
The city gate had been breached, and the people of Yue would soon reach the capital. He intended to capture Lingxiang alive as a hostage, hence this arrangement.
The guards advanced in unison as ordered. However, as they drew near, Lingxiang stepped onto Concubine Yu's shoulder and leaped onto the roof beam.