Chapter Thirty-Eight: An Ambush on the Road

The Seventh Prince, seeing that Tao Ming's expression remained unchanged, could only say, "Why don't you tell me about the other world?" Tao Ming was about to refuse when she heard a voice from outside demanding, "Who is blocking the road ahead?"

The carriage slowed to a halt, and Tao Ming's heart tightened; she reached out to gather the two little ones into her arms. The Seventh Prince remained unruffled. "The carriage is inscribed with protective wards, and three hundred Imperial Dragon Guards are stationed outside. Rest assured and wait."

Tao Ming clutched the children tightly, listening intently to the sounds outside. However, as the guards opened the way ahead, the newcomers were still some distance off; only a woman's voice drifted intermittently to her ears.

After a brief wait, a guard announced at the carriage door, "Your Highness, a woman with her children is returning to her natal home and was waylaid by bandits on the road; her carriage and belongings have been stolen, and she became separated from her servants in the confusion. She wishes to ride with us to the next village."

The Seventh Prince's eyes flickered as he turned to Tao Ming, "Shall we take them along?" Tao Ming feigned ignorance as well, "I'm just a clueless woman; asking me is pointless."

The Seventh Prince laughed softly and instructed toward the door, "Let them ride one horse ahead; three people may accompany us to the next carriage station. Rent them a carriage and give them some crystal coins."

The guard responded, and there was silence outside.

The carriage resumed its journey. Tao Ming watched the Seventh Prince's relaxed demeanor, biting back her anger and holding the children even closer.

Noticing Tao Ming's protective gesture, the Seventh Prince smiled and asked, "Are you afraid?"

Tao Ming thought, how could I not be? Anyone could tell something was off. Ordinary folk, seeing so many guards, would have avoided the area, let alone approach a royal purple carriage. If this wasn’t suspicious, she’d let Soft Soft play kickball with her head.

Soft Soft and Sticky Sticky remained silent, but communicated telepathically:

"This uncle is a bad man."
"And a fool."
"Definitely a fool!"
...

As dusk approached, Qin Sihao finally exited the teleportation array at Cloud Immortal City, dividing his thousand death warriors into ten teams, each a hundred strong. He personally led two teams toward the Qiluo Clan, while the others fanned out along the routes, intercepting any suspicious travelers.

Su Nanxing led three hundred death warriors, while Wind Shadow led two hundred, both following Qin Sihao out of the teleportation array. Their teams exited through different city gates.

Su Nanxing avoided the main road, choosing instead to travel along lesser paths. She reached the predetermined rendezvous point without incident and waited half an hour, but Wind Shadow did not arrive. Making a quick decision, she led her people to search for a suitable ambush site along the necessary route.

Cloud Province was full of mountains and winding roads, making ambush sites easy to find. As Su Nanxing searched, she came upon two small hills, each no taller than thirty feet, with the main road passing between them. At that moment, the road bustled with people and carriages. After a moment's hesitation, Su Nanxing ordered her men to drive unrelated travelers from the road.

Chaos broke out immediately—people shouted, horses neighed, and some even overturned their carts. The three hundred death warriors acted swiftly, and soon the road was cleared.

Climbing one of the hills, Su Nanxing examined the surroundings. The area within five miles of the hills was within the range of her spells. She laid a ten-step kill trap in the middle of the road, divided her troops into two teams to occupy each hill, disguised them, and waited for the Saintess to arrive.

Wind Shadow and her group had just stepped onto the main road, leaving the city’s protective range, when they encountered Qin family's intercepting death warriors.

The two sides squared off, faces masked, neither knowing the other's strength. The Qin squad, only a hundred strong against two hundred, was tense. Their leader whispered, "Quickly summon nearby brothers."

Signals were sent.

Seeing this, Wind Shadow drew a round object resembling an incense burner. She cast a spell, and black mist surged from the burner, forming a wall of shadow to shield her group.

At the same moment, the Qin captain ordered, "Attack!"

The hundred warriors unleashed their spells—flames, ice, hurricanes—all crashed into the wall of mist, which quickly weakened and began to break and dissipate.

When the wall vanished, those behind it had disappeared as well.

The Qin captain declared, "These are Chen family members. Inform Fifth Lord immediately."

Meanwhile, Wind Shadow hurried to rendezvous with Su Nanxing, avoiding prolonged fights along the way. Limited by the number of traps she brought and outnumbered by Qin’s warriors, she fought as she retreated, the distance between her and Su Nanxing growing ever wider.

...

The carriage traveled for another half hour before stopping again.

The Seventh Prince toyed with his teacup and said, "They’ve arrived."

Tao Ming tensed, holding the children close, ready to escape at any moment.

A guard reported from outside, "Your Highness, the woman’s son is suddenly vomiting uncontrollably, burning with fever. Should the accompanying physician examine him?"

Tao Ming was truly furious! If you want to ambush and assassinate, so be it, but why torment a child?

The Seventh Prince’s eyes flashed. "Have the child examined by the physician."

The guard answered and footsteps faded away.

Soon, Tao Ming heard hurried, chaotic steps and the woman’s cries: "Oh, my son! If anything happens to you, I won’t want to live either!"

Beside her came the crisp voice of a young girl, "Mother, mother."

The sounds drew closer, right beside Tao Ming’s carriage, when suddenly, chaos erupted.

The boy, moments ago limp and feverish, now opened his eyes wide. His right hand, cloaked in shadow, struck at the throat of the guard carrying him. The guard, battle-hardened, was unfazed, gripping the boy’s leg and arm firmly, lowering him. The boy’s fist struck the guard’s chest.

The shadow hit the guard’s breastplate, which flared with dazzling white light, repelling the shadow. The guard then cast a spell, engulfing the boy in fierce flames.

The boy grunted, cast a spell of his own, slipped free from the guard, and landed before the carriage. His body stretched, transforming into a burly man who prepared to leap onto the carriage.

At the same time, the woman and the girl also cast spells, attacking the surrounding guards.

The woman’s hands moved swiftly; lightning whirled around her, keeping the guards at bay.

The girl, small in stature, wielded a sharp blade, aiming for the guards’ ankles. The guards, bending low, found themselves less nimble, and soon several suffered ankle wounds, severely reducing their fighting ability.

The two little ones inside, hearing the chaos outside, exchanged a glance and spoke telepathically: "Protect mother."

Tao Ming focused, holding the children close, ready to vanish at any moment.

The Seventh Prince seemed oblivious to the turmoil, leisurely pouring water from the kettle, then transferring it from one cup to another.

The burly man, flames licking his body, gritted his teeth and leapt, nearly reaching the carriage. The surrounding guards, seeing his move, instead turned to attack the woman.

He was mere inches from the carriage when violet light streamed around its edges, forming a thin band that struck him precisely. In an instant, the burly man vanished without a trace.

Seeing her companion dead, the woman’s lightning grew fiercer. She roared, "Heaven is blind!"

The girl continued to harass the guards with her blade. The guards, now wary, withdrew and attacked from a distance.

From afar, more guards rushed in, and soon the woman and girl were subdued.