The time was up at the last moment.
Just when everyone thought Yan Zhao and the other two wouldn't be able to return in time, the sudden sound of a horse's neigh echoed through the air.
Following that was a white horse splashing through the mud as it returned.
On the horseback sat Yan Zhao, dressed in white with an astonishingly handsome face. However, there were some bloodstains on the lower side of his robe.
In the hunting ground, bloodstains were nothing unusual.
After all, there were a total of a hundred rabbits, a hundred pheasants, and a deer.
It was easy to get bloodstains just by shooting a few of them.
But when everyone's gazes shifted to the two black horses behind the white horse, they realized that the bloodstains were not that simple.
He Mengchang and Lin Lang had both regained consciousness. They both had arrow wounds on their legs, and blood was gushing out as they wailed in pain.
Two out of the three were injured, while Yan Zhao, who was usually the most frail, returned safely.
This inevitably made people secretly wonder what had happened in between.
"What happened?"
Even though she didn't like He Mengchang and Lin Lang, as the organizer of the hunting event, Chu Nian'an still asked for the reason.
The hunting forest on Fangshan had been cleared in advance, and there were only the small wild animals she had released.
How could there be something that could injure two living people?
He Mengchang and Lin Lang's pupils first froze, then they secretly glanced at Yan Zhao, who had calmly dismounted, and both shivered.
"It's..."
Their legs were in excruciating pain, but everyone obviously wanted to know what had happened, and no one suggested that they go for treatment first.
Lin Lang had to be the first to speak up. "It's because Brother He and I are not good at archery. We both thought the other was a wild animal, so we accidentally injured each other."
With Yan Zhao, the terrifying star, right in front of them, and considering his capabilities, Lin Lang didn't dare to tell the truth at all.
He Mengchang quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, yes. It was just carelessness on our part."
He was afraid that if he spoke too late, his intact leg would get another arrow!
Yan Zhao really dared to do it!
Even in public.
But obviously, Yan Zhao had already guessed what the two of them were thinking.
He listened expressionlessly to their nonsense, then turned around and returned to Ning Yuwan's side.
Seeing him move away, someone secretly hinted at He Mengchang and Lin Lang.
"Brother He and Lin Lang usually practice riding more seriously than anyone else. Why were they so careless today?"
"Could it be that someone shot you two and forced you to change your story?"
The "someone" here was very subtle.
It was almost like they were about to say Yan Zhao's name.
The person who asked had a malicious look on his face and a dark heart.
There were only three people in the hunting forest in the end.
But He Mengchang and Lin Lang were injured, and it was Yan Zhao who brought them back.
Where did this sickly guy get the ability?
If there was nothing fishy about it, who would believe it?
But He Mengchang and Lin Lang firmly stuck to their story. They covered their wounds and cried out in pain, asking for the accompanying imperial doctor, thus avoiding further questioning from everyone.
"Since it was just an accidental injury, go for treatment as soon as possible."
Chu Nian'an also felt that something was a bit strange in her heart, but she couldn't figure out the real reason.
She just focused all her attention on the prey brought back by the three of them.
According to He Mengchang and Lin Lang's story, the prey on the black horses belonged to them. Together, they had thirty-six rabbits and sixteen pheasants.
If they had tried a bit harder, they might have caught up with the first-place finisher, who had fifty-five prey.
"So, the first place is..."
It was Zhu Xiuwen, the son of the Marquis of Hu'an.
Before Chu Nian'an could finish her sentence, a little palace maid whispered something in her ear in a hurry.
Everyone only saw the little princess ask in surprise and joy, "Really?"
The little palace maid nodded solemnly. "Princess, it's absolutely true!"
Chu Nian'an immediately announced, "The first place in this hunting event is the Heir of the De Estate, Yan Zhao!"
Zhu Xiuwen had been waiting excitedly for her to announce the result. He didn't expect the winner to be someone else.
He was immediately stunned. "Your Highness, did you announce the wrong person?"
He clearly had fifty-five prey, and he clearly should have been the first.
Why did it turn out to be Yan Zhao?
But soon, the little palace maid told everyone the whole story.
It turned out that before Yan Zhao fell into the water, the white horse he was riding had returned.
But at that time, everyone was only focused on the news that Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao had fallen into the water.
Naturally, their minds were not on the hunting ground.
Only a group of servants were still in a hurry to count the numbers.
There were twenty rabbits and fifteen pheasants on Yan Zhao's white horse.
If counted by points, it would only be thirty-five points.
But there was also a big thing hidden in the bag on the horseback, which was the unique prize of this competition.
The deer, which was worth thirty points!
So Yan Zhao's score became sixty-five.
Even though he didn't enter the hunting forest again the second time, he had already secured the victory!
After the little palace maid's explanation, everyone was shocked and suspicious. No one had expected that this sickly guy would be the final winner.
But Chu Nian'an obviously didn't suspect. She gently shook Yan Zhao's arm. "No wonder when we were learning to ride before, Father once mentioned that Cousin Zhao was extremely skilled in archery when he was a child."
It was a pity that as he grew up, his archery skills seemed to become mediocre.
Who would have thought that today they would finally see Yan Zhao display his excellent skills again.
Chu Nian'an was simple-minded and naturally didn't know that the reason why Yan Zhao had been so ordinary in every aspect after he grew up was just to hide his true self.
After Chu Nian'an's words, everyone finally remembered.
The Yan Zhao in front of them had also been a heroic young man when he was a teenager.
For a moment, the suspicion gradually faded away.
The first place had been decided, and it was time to distribute the prizes.
Unfortunately, except for Ning Yuwan and Pei Yunlu, no one had bet on Yan Zhao.
All the prizes now belonged to Ning Yuwan and Pei Yunlu!
Chu Nian'an secretly stuck out her tongue. She hadn't believed in Cousin Zhao either and had chosen to bet on Gu Xiao.
That big idiot Gu Xiao!
In the crowd, Gu Xiao rubbed his nose and sneezed.
"Strange. Did I catch a cold from falling into the water?"
In front, Chu Nian'an handed the Dragon-Slaying Sword to... Ning Yuwan without any hesitation.
Although it was Yan Zhao who won, it was Ning Yuwan who was more curious about the Dragon-Slaying Sword.
Naturally, Chu Nian'an took the opportunity to "present the flower in someone else's name."
Ning Yuwan took the Dragon-Slaying Sword smoothly. But as soon as the sword landed in her hand, it immediately trembled and let out a shrill cry as if it was resisting.
Even though Ning Yuwan secretly used her magic to suppress it, she couldn't withstand the sword's determination to escape.
When the dragon and the sword were in confrontation, one exuded a cold and sinister aura, while the other was filled with a killing intent and sword qi.
Perhaps after a long period of confrontation, two invisible lights intertwined and pierced through the sky.
The clear blue sky quickly became overcast with dark clouds. If you listened carefully, you could even hear the terrifying thunder rumbling in the clouds.
"Is it going to rain?"
"Let's go into the house first!"
All the men and women who had been gathered around the hunting ground rushed back into the house.
Only Ning Yuwan was still struggling with the Dragon-Slaying Sword. Her eyebrows gradually showed annoyance and coldness as she channeled all the spiritual energy in her body into magic to suppress the sword.
Just as the light of the Dragon-Slaying Sword dimmed a little and the pressure on her body eased slightly.
Suddenly, a beam of red light shot from afar and penetrated into the Dragon-Slaying Sword.
The Dragon-Slaying Sword, which had been a bit slack, suddenly burst into red light and once again tried its best to fight against Ning Yuwan.
Someone was helping the Dragon-Slaying Sword!
Ning Yuwan's dragon pupils flashed without any concealment. A faint trace of blood oozed from the corner of her mouth, and her hands no longer had the strength to suppress the sword.
Taking this opportunity, the Dragon-Slaying Sword broke free and flew away!