Two or three men dressed the same as the assassins before stood in front, each holding a sword. Their martial arts skills seemed no less formidable than those the assassins Ling Yan and the others were holding off.
"Who are you all? Do you want money or valuables?" Qiao Yan shouted. One reason was to boost her own courage, hoping her loud voice would be heard by others. The other was a glimmer of hope, for she knew her own martial arts were barely enough to defend herself against one opponent, let alone three, and she didn't know if there were other reinforcements. After all, wanting money or valuables was better than "wanting a person".
"Come and take the money if you want. If you want something, as long as we all stay safe today, I'll do my best to find it for you!"
The assassins remained silent, as if they hadn't heard Qiao Yan's words at all. They just stared straight at the group, their eyes cold and numb, as if looking at dead objects.
Knowing there was no way to get out of this easily, Qiao Yan gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on the soft whip around her waist. Sure enough, a cold glint flashed, and before Qiao Yan could fully draw out her whip, the three assassins charged forward.
The red whip slithered like a venomous snake. With a few "swish" sounds, it wrapped around the three swords that were close together.
But it was only for a moment.
The assassin on the far right sank his wrist, and the sword in his hand dropped down. The sword blades rubbed against each other, making a long, sharp "clang—" sound.
Before one could even see the movement clearly, the assassin tightened his grip, and in an instant, he deftly thrust his sword through a gap straight towards Ye Xi's throat.
Ye Xi's face turned pale, and she instinctively took a step back. However, her movements were far slower than the assassin's. Seeing the tip of the sword about to pierce her throat, she quickly crouched down and rolled cleanly. In a split - second, she actually rolled more than ten feet away.
"Miss!" Sai Xing was so scared that her heart almost stopped. She rushed over, forgetting Ye Xi's current identity and shouting out without thinking.
Fortunately, in this situation, no one noticed what she had shouted. Only a man wearing a golden mask standing on a tree not far away slightly raised his eyebrows but didn't think much of it.
On this side, Qiao Yan was already no match for the assassins. Being distracted by Ye Xi, she was kicked in the chest by the assassins. She let out a muffled groan and was sent flying. The assassins didn't bother with Qiao Yan and instead turned towards Ye Xi and charged.
It was obvious that they were after her. But she wasn't the well - known Miss Xi on the surface now; she was in the identity of Man Ping. Who wanted her life this time?
In the blink of an eye, she didn't have time to think it through. She suddenly pushed Sai Xing, who had run to her side, and shouted:
"Go and call for help!"
Finally, seeing Qiao Yan still struggling to come towards her, Ye Xi quickly got up and ran in the other direction. While running, she shouted at Qiao Yan:
"You go too. They're after me! I can hold them off for a while. Go and find someone quickly!"
Ye Xi said it bravely, but the assassins caught up with her almost instantly. They raised their swords and stabbed at her back. Qiao Yan and Sai Xing were scared half to death and couldn't bear to really leave her.
They both rushed towards her, one in front of the other. Qiao Yan was fast but far away; Sai Xing was close but slow. Seeing the sword qi already tearing through Ye Xi's clothes on her back, they were both still more than ten feet away. They couldn't help but scream in horror:
"Miss!"
"Spiritual Lady!"
"Clang—"
Three sounds rang out simultaneously. A long, snow - white silver spear with a fluttering red tassel blocked the sword that was only an inch away from Ye Xi's back.
Yun Qi held the spear in one hand, his face cold and stern. He flipped his wrist, and with a "swish", he deflected the swords in the assassins' hands. Then he turned to Qiao Yan and said:
"Miss Qiao, take them away first."
Not expecting a powerful person to suddenly appear, the assassins quickly glanced at each other and then swarmed towards Yun Qi.
"Okay, be careful!"
Qiao Yan came to her senses and knew she couldn't help Yun Qi. She just shouted in response, then quickly ran to Ye Xi, grabbed her with one hand and Sai Xing with the other, and ran towards the main road.
However, the man quietly watching from the tree wouldn't let them escape so easily.
He casually glanced at the running group below, then gently pointed with his slender, jade - like finger and said:
"Sheng Yu, go."
"Yes."
Sheng Yu didn't waste any words. As soon as he answered, he flashed in front of Ye Xi and the others. Without mercy, he raised his sword and stabbed at Ye Xi's heart.
Qiao Yan couldn't stop her momentum. In a panic, she could only push Ye Xi hard, and she and Sai Xing fell heavily in the opposite direction due to the impact.
Ye Xi was suddenly pushed and was thrown into the air. With a "thud", she hit a nearby tree. The pain was so intense that it felt like her internal organs had shifted. She couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood, which stained the veiled hat and the gauze that had fallen over her face.
Qiao Yan barely steadied herself. Without thinking, she whipped at Sheng Yu, who was about to rush towards Ye Xi. Sheng Yu's martial arts were far better than Qiao Yan's. He nimbly dodged the red whip and without hesitation raised his sword and stabbed at Qiao Yan's heart.
Yun Qi had just forced back the three assassins. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw this heart - stopping scene. Before his mind could react, his long spear had already flown out. With a "thud", it knocked the sword out of Sheng Yu's hand and was deeply embedded in a nearby tree trunk.
Lightly tapping his feet, Yun Qi rushed over like the wind and fought with Sheng Yu.
It all happened in an instant, and Qiao Yan hadn't even reacted yet. At the same time Yun Qi's spear flew out and knocked Sheng Yu's sword away, Shen Zhou had gracefully descended from the tree. The golden mask covered his delicate and charming face but couldn't hide the cold killing intent in his eyes.
He raised his sword, lifted his hand, and lightly stabbed—
"Shh—"
The sword, which could cut through iron like mud, easily pierced into Ye Xi's heart, making a faint, inaudible sound.
The air seemed to be silent for a moment.
Sai Xing stared in horror, her hands and feet going weak and unable to utter a single word. Qiao Yan, angry and anxious, let out a shout and ran over like a madwoman. Only then did Sai Xing finally regain some of her senses and let out a heart - rending cry:
"Miss—"
She crawled towards Ye Xi.
But a hint of surprise flashed in Shen Zhou's eyes. It wasn't because of Sai Xing and Qiao Yan, but Ye Xi. Her fair and delicate hand tightly grasped the sword in his hand, temporarily stopping it from going deeper. Bright, eye - catching blood was dripping from between her fingers.
However, it was only a moment of surprise.
Man Ping must be killed.
This was a death order.
Too many unexpected things had happened today. Shen Zhou didn't hesitate any longer. He exerted a little force on his hand and was about to stab deeply.
Just then, a series of sharp sounds of something breaking through the air rang out again.
But this time, they were all heading towards Shen Zhou.
Dense silver needles sparkled, forcing Shen Zhou to draw back his sword to defend himself. But just as he blocked the silver needles, a continuous stream of sleeve arrows followed.
Shen Zhou frowned slightly. With his dexterous body movements, he quickly dodged them all.
Knowing that reinforcements had probably arrived, Shen Zhou attacked even more fiercely. He flipped over and stabbed straight towards Ye Xi's throat like lightning.
The speed was too fast for Ye Xi to avoid. She could only tilt her body, trying to make the sword miss.
But with this movement, a bamboo - shaped wooden pendant slipped out silently from her loose collar.
It swayed slightly.
Ying Ying!