"Attack!"
The leader of the group shouted, his voice booming through the Jinse Pavilion. Just as expected, there were a lot of them. In an instant, disciples from the Moonblade Sect rushed in with fierce attacks, forcing Qiu Yue and the princess's guards to fight back with everything they had.
A Cai ran to protect the ladies from Yunxiang Tower, quickly helping them hide under the tables.
But A Cai only knew basic martial art. He managed to block one or two strikes before a strong blow knocked him down. He hit the ground hard, unable to get up.
"A Cai!" Lang Huan cried out. She jumped to his side, knelt down, and checked his breath. Her face relaxed slightly when she felt the faint air under his nose. She stood up and threw herself back into the fight.
With fast and sharp movements, she struck several of the masked disciples who tried to come close. Her hand flashed through the air and hit one of them in the stomach. Blood sprayed as his body flew backward, slamming into a wooden pillar before falling to the floor. Lang Huan moved like a wild beast, relentless and merciless.
A Li was holding onto the Eldest Princess, her arms around her protectively. She gasped in horror when she saw the enemy's torn body and blood pooling on the floor. Quickly, she buried her face into the princess's shoulder, trying to block out the terrible sight.
On the other side, Feng Yao could only stand frozen. Her beautiful face was tense as she watched Jinse Pavilion transform into a battlefield. One by one, her guards fell in the fight.
Some of the remaining disciples began to hesitate. Lang Huan's presence was terrifying now. She no longer looked like a normal human—her face was covered in blood. Even the two leaders standing nearby started to feel uneasy. They glanced at each other, fear starting to show on their faces as they watched her stand in the middle of the bloodstained floor.
"I'm the one who killed Mo Yuan. Let them go," Lang Huan said coldly. Fresh blood dripped from her hand, staining the wooden floor.
Without warning, Lang Huan leaped toward the two leaders. With all her strength, she grabbed both of their throats at once. The two men struggled and dropped their swords, unable to breathe. They tried to pry open her grip.
Unfortunately, despite her powerful internal force and martial arts skills, Lang Huan hadn't yet learned how cunning the world of martial arts could be. One of the leaders— a burly man—managed to pull out a hidden weapon from his sleeve. In one quick move, he shot a poisoned needle into Lang Huan's body.
"Ugh—!" Lang Huan gasped. Her body instantly weakened, her muscles felt as if they were paralyzed from within. Her grip loosened, and before she could react, the man kicked her in the stomach with brutal force.
Lang Huan's body was sent flying backward like a lifeless doll, crashing into the pavilion wall with a loud 'CRASH!' The sound echoed, shocking everyone around. She fell to the ground, limp. Sunlight from the window highlighted the extent of her injuries.
Fresh blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, falling slowly onto the floor. Her vision blurred, and the strength that once surged within her seemed to vanish completely. She clutched her chest with one hand, trying to rise, but her body refused to respond.
"What is this...?" she thought, confused and frustrated. She tried to channel her internal energy, but it felt like all her pathways were blocked. No energy came. Her breath grew shallow, and she collapsed again, her eyes half-open. Lang Huan pulled the needle from her shoulder.
The two leaders laughed loudly, seeing Lang Huan now powerless and no longer a threat.
"You've been struck by the Silver Qi Needle from the Moonblade Sect," one of them said with a sneer. "No matter how strong your internal energy is, it will be useless."
They retrieved their fallen swords, their blades gleaming in the sunlight. Slowly, they walked toward Lang Huan, who lay helpless on the ground, like a wounded wolf awaiting its final blow.
The situation shifted quickly. Panic spread among the others. A Li cried out in distress, and Qiu Yue gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. Meanwhile, the princess's guards were already wounded and unable to fight back.
"Stop." The voice was calm but filled with authority. Feng Yao stepped forward, her face cold in the midday sunlight that filtered through the pavilion. "I order you to stop."
Her voice left no room for argument. She rushed to Lang Huan's side and hugged her, her hand gently brushing Lang Huan's cold cheek.
The two men stopped in their tracks. One of them spoke, still polite but with a hidden threat. "We don't want to make things difficult for Your Highness. The Master of the Moonblade Sect has ordered us to bring you back to the sect."
"No..." Lang Huan whispered weakly, her hand tugging at Feng Yao's sleeve. "Don't go with them... I'd rather fight to the death."
Feng Yao stayed silent, her heart torn as she looked at Lang Huan in such a dire condition. How could she let Lang Huan fight?
Qiu Yue and A Li quickly joined Feng Yao's side. "Your Highness, don't go with them. It's a trap," Qiu Yue said, panic in her voice. But they knew there was nothing they could do, except resist until the very end.
Lang Huan looked at them all, and with great effort, she spoke again.
"Capture me instead," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I killed Mo Yuan... your Palace Master will be pleased."
The two men exchanged glances, and one of them grinned wickedly.
"Very well. If that is your wish. Take them both."
"No... you're injured," Feng Yao protested, but Lang Huan reassured her with a faint smile. "I'm okay," she said softly, trying to calm her. As long as she was by Feng Yao's side, she would do everything in her power to protect her.
Qiu Yue and Feng Yao carefully helped Lang Huan to her feet.
Lang Huan's voice, though weak, was still clear as she whispered urgently to Qiu Yue, "Release Xiaobai... tell him to find me. Don't forget." Her eyes locked onto hers.
Qiu Yue nodded firmly, believing that Lang Huan had a way to save Her Highness.
Under the bright afternoon sun, Lang Huan and the Eldest Princess were taken away in a carriage. The carriage rolled slowly down the road, its wheels grinding against the stone with a soft, faint sound.
Qiu Yue quickly mounted her horse and rode toward the Princess Mansion, determined to release Xiao Bai. As she galloped through the streets, her mind raced. She began thinking of every possible way to rescue the Eldest Princess and bring her back safely.
Inside the carriage, the Eldest Princess held Lang Huan close, supporting her weak body carefully in her arms. She reached up with one hand and wiped the blood from Lang Huan's face, her expression calm but cold. Then, without even looking at the two men sitting across from them, she spoke.
"If I'm not mistaken, you two are the Left and Right Branch Leaders of the Moonblade Sect—Mo Zhi and Mo Jie."
The two masked men exchanged a glance but said nothing.
"You didn't come just because of Mo Yuan's death," she continued, her tone sharp. "I know the Moonblade Sect is working with my eldest brother. And I know exactly what it is you want."
She looked straight at them, her eyes clear and fearless.
"Give me the antidote to your poison. In return, you'll get exactly what my brother wants. Doesn't that make your job easier?"
Mo Zhi—the burly one—let out a low chuckle.
"Your Highness, indeed, everything they said," he said with a smirk. "Smart… and dangerous."
His tone softened slightly as he added, "The Moonblade Sect Master has ordered us to bring you safely. As for the antidote... you'll receive it once we arrive at our sect."
The Eldest Princess was clearly displeased, her brow furrowing as she wanted to speak again. But before she could, Lang Huan gently touched her hand, a firm gesture that stopped her.
Lang Huan didn't want the Eldest Princess to negotiate with people like them, especially not for her sake. These men were dangerous, and any words spoken would only give them more leverage.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Lang Huan's mind—someone from her past who might be able to help in situations like this: Lang Yuyan, her ancestor. Could she possibly reach out to her now?