"So fast!"
With his spiritual energy circulating the Grass on Flying technique, Chu Chen moved like the wind across the ground, instantly closing in on Shao Lili.
The masked assassins surrounding them immediately swung their swords and sabers, attempting to block Chu Chen.
"Seeking death!"
Chu Chen's expression darkened. He drew the sword at his waist and, with a swift and clean motion, slew the two assassins guarding Shao Lili.
"Go!"
He slung an arm around Shao Lili's waist. Amidst her blushing, startled cries, Chu Chen dashed out before the pursuers could fully encircle them.
"Quick, fire arrows!"
Failing to kill the target and having their hostage rescued, the leading assassin roared in exasperation.
He expected arrows, but Chu Chen looked back and saw they were using crossbows.
"Damn, crossbows? Are these assassins from the army? Otherwise, where would they get crossbows?"
Chu Chen cursed. Seizing the brief moment to dodge, he pivoted his feet, spinning his body in a rotation.
Spiritual energy surged from within him along the sword, forming a semi-transparent spiritual energy wall behind him.
He narrowly blocked over a dozen crossbow bolts.
Chu Chen dared not linger. He circulated his spiritual energy again, activating the Grass on Flying technique, and rapidly moved towards his own side.
Ahead of Chu Chen, the more than two hundred personal guards, after firing only two volleys from their hand crossbows, charged forward under Wang Biao's leadership.
The distance between the two sides was barely two hundred meters. The hand crossbows were too slow to reload, allowing only one shot at a time before engaging in close combat.
"Cover Duke Chu!"
Wang Biao shouted, rallying the guards around him to rendezvous with Chu Chen.
Chu Chen drew his sword again, cutting down the few assassins blocking his path, and landed steadily beside Wang Biao.
"Duke Chu, thank you for saving me."
As soon as Shao Lili landed, she clung tightly to Chu Chen's robes, her gratitude overflowing.
"We can talk about thanks later. Let go first, the danger isn't over yet."
Chu Chen frowned and patted her delicate hand.
"Ah~ I'm sorry."
Shao Lili's face flushed, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
"Right, do you know who these assassins are and how many there are?"
Chu Chen, about to turn and continue fighting, suddenly remembered something and quickly asked.
"I was leading over five hundred guards for a returning merchant caravan when we were ambushed by these people on horseback. They didn't harm me, but they kept me hostage without demanding ransom."
"I don't know who they are, but I'm sure they're not simple. They have crossbows and cavalry."
"There are over eight hundred cavalry alone, and nearly a thousand disguised as my guards."
Shao Lili quickly relayed the intelligence she had.
"Damn it, could it be that their reinforcements are cavalry? Then this place is not safe to stay."
Chu Chen's expression shifted slightly. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he shouted, "General Wang, the enemy has hundreds of cavalry. Don't engage them head-on, retreat while holding the line!"
"Understood!"
Wang Biao shouted back loudly and began directing the guards to retreat.
Chu Chen, holding Shao Lili, quickly returned to Princess Xin Yue's side.
"Shao Lili, I'm so glad you're alright."
Princess Xin Yue, concerned, gripped her friend's small hand.
"Xin Yue, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for attracting these assassins."
Shao Lili looked ashamed, a tear welling up in her eyes.
"No, even without you, they would have come for Little Chenzi. Strictly speaking, Little Chenzi implicated you."
Princess Xin Yue patted her shoulder, comforting her friend.
"So it's my fault after all."
Chu Chen rolled his eyes.
He then said, "The enemy has hundreds of cavalry reinforcements. We can't stay here, we must leave."
"How about this? Since they want to kill me and not target Your Highness, let's split up."
"Let General Wang lead the personal guards to escort you back. You'll be safe once you reach Shuangyue City. I'll draw them away alone."
"No! How dangerous would it be for you to face so many assassins alone? Even if you're a martial cultivator, you can't possibly handle so many people?"
Princess Xin Yue shook her head repeatedly. "If we leave, we leave together. A few hundred assassins, with the personal guards and Little Chenzi, we can definitely return to Shuangyue City safely."
"This..."
Chu Chen was about to say more when Princess Xin Yue acted, grabbing his wrist and pulling him away.
Not wanting to resist and hurt Princess Xin Yue, Chu Chen reluctantly let her lead him. Shao Lili followed closely, with over a dozen personal guards surrounding them.
"Damn it! That damned eunuch is trying to escape, what are you dawdling for!"
The leading assassin roared.
The assassins fighting desperately ahead could only lament their plight.
Disguised as caravan guards, they wore only leather armor to avoid suspicion. How could they possibly contend with these armored personal guards?
Not only was their equipment inferior, but their cultivation levels were also no match. If not for their numbers, they would have been routed long ago.
In this short time, over two hundred of the eight hundred assassins had fallen.
With a quarter of their forces lost, they had no chance to fight desperately. Now, they could only rely on their numbers to surround and attack intermittently.
Seeing the assassins' courage falter, Wang Biao had no intention of prolonging the fight. He shouted, "Brothers! Let's go!"
"Yes!"
The personal guards fought in squads of five, and their retreat was orderly, with mutual cover and staggered withdrawal.
"Damn it, you bunch of good-for-nothings."
The assassin leader cursed, but he had no good solution, watching helplessly as Chu Chen led the two women away.
"What are you still standing there for? Chase them!"
Seeing that over five hundred men remained, the assassin leader was furious.
"But chief, we're no match for them. Their armor is impenetrable with our current weapons."
A subordinate cautiously stated.
"Don't worry about that. Our mission is to kill that damned eunuch. If we can't, we must at least hold them back. Others will handle the rest."
"You're being cowardly now, but don't forget the consequences if we fail our mission!"
The assassin leader first boosted morale, then threatened.
"This... Please instruct us, chief."
"Follow me!"
The assassin leader glanced around, waved his hand, and charged forward.
Chu Chen, Princess Xin Yue, and Shao Lili ran for about two li before having to stop.
"Hoo... hoo... Little Chenzi, can we rest for a moment? This princess, this princess really can't run anymore."
The pampered Princess Xin Yue was so exhausted that her words were broken. She had always lived in the palace and had never experienced such an escape.
Chu Chen was speechless. She couldn't run anymore after only a thousand meters. This was too much.
With no other choice, Chu Chen hesitated for a moment and asked, "Your Highness, perhaps I could carry you?"
"Can you handle it?"
"I am a martial cultivator, this weight is no problem."
"Alright then."