In the distance, a gong sounded.
He Mengchang knew that it was a signal that only an incense stick's worth of time remained.
Almost all the prey in the forest had been hunted down, and most people had returned with their catches.
But He Mengchang had checked them all, and no one had hunted a deer.
His eyes darkened with a menacing glint. He was even more determined to be the first in this hunting event.
It was not only for the "Dragon - Slaying Sword" that glistened with a cold light, but also because he had secretly framed Gu Xiao and there should be a result.
He urged his horse forward in a low voice and gradually rode deeper into the hunting forest.
Along the way, perhaps because it was the depths of the hunting ground and few people came here.
He Mengchang still managed to hunt a few rabbits and pheasants. The number of prey on his horse's back gradually piled up. There were about thirty - six rabbits and sixteen pheasants.
Even without a fawn, this was enough to rank among the top few.
Unfortunately, He Mengchang thought that among all the people who had entered the hunting ground today, only Gu Xiao and Yan Zhao could barely be considered his opponents.
The others were no match for him at all.
He came for the first place.
A flash of white darted through the jungle.
It was probably a rabbit.
He Mengchang felt a tinge of regret in his heart, but he was not willing to give up any chance. He drew his bow and shot.
At the same time, an arrow shot out from the direction of the "white rabbit", swift, fierce, and cold!
It was aimed straight at He Mengchang's chest!
In the urgent situation, He Mengchang only had time to dodge to the side, and the cold arrow pierced into his left shoulder!
"Ah!"
He bit his lip and let out a low howl. He bent his left hand to cover his chest, and his right hand holding the bow trembled slightly. "Who dares to shoot a cold arrow!"
He Mengchang and Lin Lang had been confident and cold - blooded when they framed Gu Xiao, but they never thought that one day, they would fall victim to the same trick.
There was no response in the jungle.
No!
To be precise, there was a response!
It was just another cold arrow that pierced through the sky!
It was still aimed at He Mengchang's chest!
This time, He Mengchang was on guard. He immediately rolled off his horse.
But because of the pain in his shoulder, his movements were not as fast and skillful as usual. Instead, it was more like he had fallen.
After rolling on the ground for a circle, He Mengchang's face was pale and covered in cold sweat.
He stared in horror at the long arrow that landed less than an inch from his feet. The arrow feathers fluttered gently in the wind, just like his trembling heart.
Now, he finally understood.
The person in the jungle was doing it on purpose!
Judging from the direction and target of the two menacing cold arrows, that person wanted his life!
"Sir, why do you hide your head and show your tail? If you have the guts, come out!"
There seemed to be a sneer in the wind, the voice somewhat familiar and somewhat strange.
And the next arrow came soon. This time, it was aimed at He Mengchang's right leg.
Even though his sudden backward dodging movement was agile, the arrow seemed to have anticipated his move.
It hit his calf precisely!
"Help! It hurts so much!"
The wound on his shoulder was already numb from the pain, but the pain in his calf was unbearable!
He Mengchang couldn't help but reach out to touch it, and the movement further tugged at the wound on his shoulder.
Double the pain, double the unbearable!
"Don't kill me!"
He Mengchang was scared. He kept shaking his head and dragging his injured leg backward.
His eyes were filled with panic as he stared at the jungle. The white figure moved.
Sure enough, it was a person.
He was handsome and elegant, dressed in white, approaching mercilessly and coldly.
Two horses snorted obediently and followed behind him.
When He Mengchang saw him, his heart was not surprised at all. That sneer just now was really familiar.
He just didn't react at that moment.
As Yan Zhao got closer, how could he not understand.
Especially since he could clearly see, with his good eyesight despite the injuries on his shoulder and calf, that there was a person lying on the back of the second horse.
From the view of the clothes and the familiar figure, He Mengchang naturally recognized that it was Lin Lang, who had just separated from him.
At that time, he had lost his patience. After sending out his prey, he was about to return.
Unexpectedly, they met again because of Yan Zhao.
"Prince Yan?"
He Mengchang's lips were cracked and painful from fear. He wanted to moisten them with his lips, but he found that his throat was also extremely dry, so his voice instantly became hoarse. "What are you doing?"
He Mengchang was sitting on the ground, while Yan Zhao was standing.
One high and one low, just like their auras, the contrast was distinct.
As if annoyed by his chatter, Yan Zhao took another arrow from behind his back.
"Prince Yan!"
He Mengchang widened his eyes, trying to stop him. "It's just a competition. There's no need to hurt anyone!"
His eyes quickly swept over the horse grazing with its head down beside him. "If you want to take the first place, I'm willing to give all my hunted prey to you!"
At this moment, he still held a glimmer of hope.
Yan Zhao shouldn't have known about the small tricks he and Lin Lang had played behind their backs.
Maybe he was just too competitive!
But Yan Zhao's unrelenting arrow shot down his thoughts. His right leg was shot again!
"Ah! You villain, Yan Zhao! You actually want to murder me. My grandfather won't let you go!"
His grandfather was just a prime minister.
Yan Zhao wasn't afraid, but He Mengchang didn't have any better cards to play.
Seeing Yan Zhao take another arrow with his right hand, a dark light flashed quickly in his eyes. In the end, he didn't say the name of that person.
Yan Zhao was crazy!
Even if the Emperor of Chu was here at this moment, he couldn't persuade him!
Let alone the person lurking in the dark!
"Yan Zhao..."
He Mengchang's voice suddenly stopped, as if he had been grabbed by the throat, because he saw that the long arrow in Yan Zhao's hand was aimed at his chest.
But there was only a small earthen mound behind him. He had nowhere to retreat!
"Don't kill me!"
"Please!"
He Mengchang was so scared that he forgot the pain in his chest. He curled up his injured leg and knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, spare my life!"
"Whoosh!"
The sharp sound of the cold arrow shattered the sky and shot straight at He Mengchang.
He Mengchang stared blankly, his pupils losing their luster, and his heart stopped beating.
It wasn't until a cup of tea later that Yan Zhao approached with a mocking sneer and kicked He Mengchang's stiff and numb body with his leg.
The latter rolled to the ground. His whole body ached badly, but he didn't dare to make a sound.
The shadow of the arrow piercing through was still in his pupils!
Hearing Yan Zhao's impatient snort, He Mengchang suddenly came to his senses.
He wasn't dead!
The cold arrow had indeed been aimed at his chest!
But the next moment, Yan Zhao quickly shot another arrow. With just the right amount of force, it knocked back the previous arrow.
The two arrows were now stuck diagonally beside He Mengchang's feet!
He Mengchang opened his mouth wide and gasped for breath, like a stranded fish, waiting for death in panic and fear.
The scene just now was engraved in his mind countless times. If the previous arrow had deviated a little or the latter arrow had been a little slower, he would be a dead man now.
To be able to control two arrows easily and deflect them easily.
Speed, dexterity, strategy, hidden but present.
All of He Mengchang's previous underestimation of Yan Zhao turned into fear.
It turned out that without the protection of his guards, Yan Zhao was even more capable!
Cold sweat and hot sweat alternated on He Mengchang's body and face. He felt hot and cold all over.
The whole person seemed to be soaked in water, trembling wetly.
As Yan Zhao showed disgust on his face, He Mengchang suddenly realized.
It turned out that he had actually been scared to urinate just now!