2759 Too Softhearted
A certain individual emerged from the forest, sheltered by a retinue of servants, and suddenly it was as if he had stumbled upon an uncharted continent. With a swift leap, he positioned himself in front of Qiao Mu.
However, before his hand could reach out to pull her back, Crown Prince Mo swiftly slapped it away.
In the midst of this, Crown Prince Mo's eyelid involuntarily twitched.
/Well, what a surprise to see such a familiar face in this remote corner of the world!/
Little did he anticipate running into Duan Yue in such an unlikely place.
Qiao Mu was equally caught off guard, as the child unexpectedly darted out from that direction.
Her wide eyes glistened with curiosity as she glanced past him. Her delicate countenance turned serious. "Who are these individuals?"
Duan Yue's eyes lit up, and he theatrically exclaimed, "Qiaoqiao, you must save me at once! They're on the brink of ending my life."
/Wuwuwu, who said this journey would be smooth?/
/Wasn't it a mere trip to the Imperial Academy?/
That scoundrel Rong Li had, in fact, dispatched more than one group to pursue him relentlessly to this location.
/Naturally, he intended to toy with them a bit. However, being incessantly pursued was starting to grate on his nerves!/
He no longer wished to entertain these feeble opponents, yet they seemed insistent on behaving as if possessed, relentlessly pursuing and attacking him.
/Wasn't it vexing how failures kept piling up?/
Her Excellency Lady Qiaoqiao's delicate visage darkened as she fixed her gaze upon the black-masked men who emerged suddenly from the thickets.
About a dozen bewildered individuals, brandishing bows and arrows, had encircled them.
Upon spotting the additional nine individuals accompanying Duan Yue, an involuntary freeze gripped the newcomers.
The leader of the black-clad group's eyes darted, and he cast a chilly gaze at Qiao Mu and her companions. His voice carried an authoritative edge as he commanded, "Onlookers, step aside. Don't invite needless trouble."
"Qiaoqiao," Duan Yue whimpered as he sought refuge behind the young girl, drawing the disdainful scrutiny of both Crown Prince Mo and his notably contemptuous glares.
/What in the world was happening?/
/Why did these people seem to have an affinity for hiding behind his wife…/
/Even Duan Yue and Feng Chen had taken to this behavior, and that infuriating Eldest Qin was no exception!/
Her Excellency Qiaoqiao gazed icily at the black-clad figure confronting her.
From a distance, Dai'er and her band of mercenaries observed the situation.
After a prolonged silence, the young lady's voice sliced through the air like ice. "Leave."
The faction of black-clad pursuers tailing Duan Yue displayed an instant surge of displeasure.
Though they aimed to avoid stirring up further conflicts, it didn't translate to them cowering before a handful of privileged young masters and misses.
The chief of the black-clad contingent retorted with a scowl, "I'd advise you to mind your own business and keep your nose out of ours…"
"Are you acquainted with them?" Qiao Mu turned her gaze to Duan Yue, her expression a mixture of disappointment and expectation. "Couldn't you deal with them discreetly, employing your array of concealed weaponry?"
Duan Yue nodded with a pitiable mien, resembling a lamb at the mercy of fate. "Big Bro dispatched those people. I can't eliminate every successive wave, but I can ensure a few remain to spread the news."
/He hadn't foreseen these individuals being so unyielding, to the point of fighting to the death. Wouldn't it be wiser for them to retreat and report, while preserving their lives?/
"You're simply overflowing with benevolence," the young lad remarked dryly.
Mo Lian and his companions found it hard to contain their eye rolls as they overheard this rather amusing exchange.
/Her boundless compassion practically ensures that these assassins won't survive their every encounter…/
Duan Yue couldn't help but chuckle, his amusement barely held in check. With a quick nod, he concurred wholeheartedly, "I simply can't bring myself to harm those from my own camp."
