In an instant, a shower of arrows rained down.
Thousands of commoners below the city wall were so frightened that they scurried for cover, clutching their heads. The sharp arrows sliced through the air, creating a shrill whistling sound.
At the moment Xu Yue'er was thrown off the city wall, her face turned deathly pale, and her eyes widened in terror.
This little girl they had unexpectedly acquired was quite something.
Zhao Shuning rose into the air and flew towards the spot where Xu Yue'er was falling. At the same time, the incantation of her cultivation technique flowed rapidly from her lips.
As the incantation took effect, protective barriers rose from all around the commoners. Just as the arrows were about to hit the people, there came a crisp "ding," and then thousands of arrows slid off the protective shield and fell to the ground.
Zhao Shuning caught Xu Yue'er just before she hit the ground.
A true lady from a noble family, indeed.
By this time, Xu Yue'er's face was as white as a sheet, but when she realized she had been rescued, she quickly composed herself. Then she bowed to Zhao Shuning.
"Thank you, miss, for saving my life."
In the night, Zhao Shuning was not only breathtakingly beautiful but also made Xu Yue'er realize for the first time that the word "dashing" could be so fittingly applied to a woman.
Zhao Shuning nodded and casually complimented, "Miss, you have a good disposition. Are you already betrothed?"
Xu Yue'er was taken aback for a moment. Then, her face flushed red, and she quickly stepped aside.
Zhao Shuning thought she might have been too straightforward with her question and offended this noble lady, so she fell silent.
What a pity. Gu Zhiruo already had a wife. Otherwise, with her values and character, Xu Yue'er would have been a great match.
Yang Hun on the city wall had now noticed Zhao Shuning below.
Such a powerful protective shield—there were very few people in Cangwu Kingdom who could wield it so skillfully.
When did these commoners in Jiangning City find such a formidable person?
Yang Hun was a cunning man. Once he realized something was amiss, his first thought was to run.
The best strategy is to retreat.
Xu Yue'er looked up and quickly said, "Miss, that scoundrel is trying to escape."
Seeing that the beauty was talking to her, Zhao Shuning happily ran over and said, "Don't worry. He won't get away."
Xu Yue'er could smell the faint fragrance on Zhao Shuning as she got so close. For some reason, she thought the woman in front of her was truly imposing. She had always thought this kind of aura was exclusive to men, but among the men in Cangwu Kingdom, she had never seen anyone as heroic as Zhao Shuning. Her breath was like the fragrance of an orchid, yet she was both humorous and cute.
"Wait for me. I'll be back in a moment."
Since it was Zhao Shuning who had set up the protective shield, she could easily step out of it.
At this moment, Yang Hun was about a hundred meters away from Zhao Shuning.
"Want to run?"
The next moment, Zhao Shuning's figure appeared in front of Yang Hun.
Yang Hun immediately stopped in his tracks and tried to flee to the right.
"Bang!" A thick wall of qi blocked his path on the right.
The same happened when he tried to go left. There was no way back, and even the sky above was sealed off.
Yang Hun was now hovering in mid - air, surrounded on all sides by the woman in front of him.
Yang Hun said, "I don't recognize you, senior."
"You don't recognize a lot of people."
"I wonder when I offended you, senior, that you would go to such lengths against me."
Zhao Shuning remained silent. She just wanted to see how this trapped beast would plead for mercy. She wanted Yang Hun to experience the feeling of despair.
Seeing that Zhao Shuning didn't answer, Yang Hun's breathing quickened.
"Is it because of my inappropriate actions towards the commoners in Jiangning City that you're unhappy, senior? Are your relatives among the people below the city wall just now?"
"If so, it was my oversight. I can tell that you're a cultivator, senior, and your cultivation level is far above mine. Please, considering how difficult it is to cultivate, spare me this time."
"Please tell me what I need to do, senior, for you to show mercy."
Zhao Shuning leisurely looked down at Yang Hun. She gently waved her hands, and the barrier above Yang Hun shrank further, forcing him to land on the ground.
Zhao Shuning then chose a big tree and sat on one of its branches, looking down at him from above.
"I'm not from Cangwu Kingdom. Originally, I could have stayed out of Cangwu's affairs."
"What do you mean, senior? Please explain in detail. I'm slow - witted."
Zhao Shuning added, "There is a way for me to calm down, but only if..."
"You die."
As these two words left her lips, Yang Hun's face stiffened visibly. He wanted to say something in defense, but Zhao Shuning crossed her legs and said another thing.
"By the way, I forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Zhao."
Zhao?
Yang Hun had committed so many evil deeds. But the only non - Cangwu person with the surname Zhao he had offended recently was Zhao Zheng three months ago.
At this thought, his pupils dilated in shock.
Zhao Shuning gave a cold and charming smile.
"So? Have you figured it out?"
"Senior, it's not worth going to such lengths for a small member of a family. If you spare me, I can regard your Zhao family as honored guests in Cangwu Kingdom. The benefits I can bring will surely be no less than what Zhao Zheng could offer."
"So, you knew he was from my Zhao family."
Yang Hun's face looked rather ugly, but he still managed a forced smile and said, "I didn't know he was from the Zhao family beforehand. Otherwise, I wouldn't have done such a thing."
"Really?"
Zhao Shuning waved her hand gently, and a clear image appeared in front of Yang Hun.
"Why did I hear that he announced his family name first, but you still wanted to kill him?"
Yang Hun was embarrassed. Where did this woman get these images?
"Do you know why I'm going to capture you tonight?"
Yang Hun remained silent.
Zhao Shuning pointed her finger, and a red - hot flame shot into the protective shield. The space where Yang Hun was located immediately became scorching hot.
"What kind of fire is this?"
Why was it so hot? What tormented Yang Hun was not only the waves of heat but also the anxiety in his heart. He even felt that his spiritual root was being gradually devoured by this fierce fire. What was going on?
"What kind of sorcery have you used on me?"
"It's the Crimson Lotus Karma Fire. Haven't you heard of it?"
The Crimson Lotus Karma Fire can burn everything externally and protect the master internally. It's the natal lotus of the thousand - year imperial teacher Yan Ruyu. But the person in front of him was clearly a woman. How could she use this Crimson Lotus Karma Fire?
"I can hand over all the wealth in Jiangning City. You're hunting down an imperial official without permission. The king of Cangwu Kingdom will surely not let you off."
Zhao Shuning sneered.
"If Gu Zhiruo were to come after me for an official like you, then he doesn't deserve to be the king."