#121 - A dramatic change
Azure skies, yellow leaves cover the ground.
Autumn colors connect with the waves, a cold, emerald mist upon them.
The group chatted and laughed, leisurely enjoying the scenery, stopping by the lake after about fifteen minutes to prepare lunch.
The difference between ancient and modern picnics wasn't significant; it seemed one had to eat outdoors to make the trip worthwhile.
Ordinary families might bring their own food, but given Ning Qingyu's status, he would naturally source ingredients locally for a wild game meal.
Several guards were sent into the mountains to hunt rabbits and pheasants, while Wei Changtian followed Ning Qingyu to the lake to fish.
Wei Changtian's experience in this area was limited to goldfish fishing in parks in his previous life, so he had no expectations of actually catching a fish. After casting his line, he began to look around aimlessly.
It must be said, the scenery was indeed beautiful.
The side of the small lake closest to the mountain was a vertical cliff face. Water cascaded down, scattering into white mist in the lake, forming a picturesque little waterfall.
Looking closely, one could even see several gray, long fish bravely swimming upstream along the waterfall.
What a moving scene!
Most fish migrate to reproduce. Even a fish could go to such lengths for the sake of having children. How could he, as a human, allow his desire to procreate to be “ranked behind a fish”!
Wei Changtian sighed inwardly, his gaze involuntarily shifting to Ning Yuzhu and Ning Yuke, who were also fishing by the lake.
The former was hugging her knees, constantly stealing glances at him, not even noticing that a fish was dragging her fishing rod away.
Shaking his head, he retracted his gaze. His fishing rod remained motionless.
Should he just use his inner force to blast the fish out?
Wei Changtian was quickly losing patience, but at that moment, ripples suddenly appeared on the lake surface not far away, and immediately afterward, a large fish leaped out of the water.
Ning Qingyu had caught a fish.
“Hahaha! Excellent!”
This Prince was easily pleased, becoming ecstatic from simply catching a fish, and immediately stood up to reel it in.
Although he was sickly, dealing with a fish wasn't a problem. With a few pulls, he dragged the large fish to a position very close to the shore.
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the large fish, but in that fleeting instant, a sharp arrow suddenly shot out from the forest.
The arrowhead must have been specially treated, as the arrow made no sound, rushing towards Ning Qingyu's back like a silent black lightning bolt.
“Your Highness!!!”
A sudden scream exploded in the air, probably from one of the guards.
If he could run as fast as his voice, he might actually be able to block the arrow.
Unfortunately, he couldn't achieve “supersonic” speed, so the arrow ultimately struck Ning Qingyu, who was still unaware of what was happening, directly without any obstruction.
“Father!!”
“Your Highness!!”
“Splash!”
Amidst the terrified shouts, Ning Qingyu plunged into the lake, instantly creating a huge splash.
Except for a few well-trained guards who had already drawn their swords, everyone else stood frozen in place, staring wide-eyed at the rippling water, unmoving.
Had a Prince just... died?
The scene fell into a very brief, but fear-filled silence.
Until a black shadow suddenly shot towards the spot where Ning Qingyu had fallen into the water.
“He's not dead!! I'll go save him!!!”
“Everyone else, get away from the edge of the forest immediately!!”
The black shadow was naturally Wei Changtian, and he wasn't just saying those words casually.
Although he hadn't noticed the arrow coming, he had clearly seen Ning Qingyu being hit—
The arrow hadn't actually penetrated Ning Qingyu's body; it must have been blocked by something!
This wasn't surprising, after all, how could a Prince not have something to protect his life?
“Splash!”
Plunging into the water, grabbing Ning Qingyu, who hadn't sunk too far, Wei Changtian burst out of the water almost instantly.
By the time he had done all this, everyone else was still standing there, clearly not having recovered.
Damn it!
Impatient, Wei Changtian even shouted out a curse.
“Damn it!! Run! Are you all waiting to be killed by the assassins?!!”
“Whoosh!”
As if to confirm the truth of his words, a whistling sound rang in everyone's ears almost simultaneously, followed by a series of them.
“Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
Nearly a hundred arrows once again pierced the air, instantly enveloping everyone.
I'm truly defeated!
Wei Changtian didn't have time to think. With one hand carrying the already unconscious Ning Qingyu and the other carrying Ning Yuke, he headed straight for Ning Yuke, who was closest to him.
In this life-or-death moment, he couldn't afford to be picky; saving one was better than saving none.
“Clang! Clang clang clang!”
Dragon's Roar was unsheathed, the blade's shadow deflecting a shower of arrows like an umbrella.
The guards finally reacted, rushing towards Ning Yuzhu and Ning Yuling respectively, blocking the second wave of attacks for them.
The important figures were all protected, but the others...
“Ah!!”
“Princess, save me!”
“I... I don't want to die!!”
“Pfft pfft!”
The shrill, desperate cries came and went quickly.
The accompanying servants, retainers, and maids... more than a dozen people were instantly shot into pincushions, all losing their lives in the blink of an eye at the foot of the picturesque Nanshan Mountain.
But the few who had survived by chance had no time to feel sad for them.
Because in the next moment, perhaps feeling that the bows and crossbows were no longer effective, the assassins finally emerged from the forest.
Yellow clothes, white knives, masked faces.
Nearly a hundred people appeared suddenly like a swarm of locusts. Apart from the differences in height, weight, and build, at first glance, there was no identifying mark related to their identities.
They didn't speak, nor did they shout or yell. After coming out of the forest, they immediately formed an encirclement and rushed towards Wei Changtian and the others.
The three women's faces instantly turned pale, and the five or six guards subconsciously took a step back.
Only Wei Changtian calmed down at this moment, and after thinking for less than a breath, he shouted in a deep voice:
“Quick! To my carriage!!”
The carriage?
The others didn't know why Wei Changtian wanted to do this, but this time, they didn't hesitate or waver.
The guards immediately picked up Ning Yuzhu and Ning Yuling and ran frantically towards the carriage, while Wei Changtian, carrying Ning Qingyu in his left hand and Ning Yuke in his right, followed closely behind.
“Don't stand there! Throw them into the carriage!”
Rushing to his carriage, Wei Changtian shouted as he first threw Ning Qingyu and Ning Yuke into the carriage compartment, then pushed Ning Yuzhu and Ning Yuling in as well.
This was the only solution he could think of.
Although the carriage box looked ordinary, it was actually lined with three inches of Immortal-Locking Stone, making it essentially a riot-proof carriage.
Three inches of Immortal-Locking Stone; if there were no experts above the third rank among these assassins, it would take at least an incense stick's worth of time to break through.
Enough time for his hidden guards to arrive.
The plan was good, but there was still a problem.
The carriage was sturdy, but it had doors.
Which naturally meant someone had to guard the doors.
“...”
Looking up at the yellow-clad assassins rapidly approaching from all directions, Wei Changtian turned back, slammed the carriage door shut with a "thud", and asked the guards in a deep voice.
“Guard the carriage door, and those inside can live!”
“Will you guard it?!”
“...”
The guards only hesitated for a moment, then gritted their teeth and roared in unison:
“We are willing to swear our loyalty to the Prince to the death!!”
“Good!”
Wei Changtian drew Dragon's Roar with a "clang" and took a deep breath.
“I will stand with you!!”
