Chapter 435: Dark Night Elf

Seeing the familiar figure, Zu An inwardly sighed. With such striking looks, even in coarse cloth and hemp, she didn't resemble an ordinary person at all.

The enchanting charm evident in her brows and her generous curves both clearly gave her away.

Many men around couldn't help but steal glances at her, and a few with ill intentions even pretended to be jostled by the crowd, trying to press against her.

Yet, each time they neared her, it was as if an invisible wall of energy pushed them away, preventing them from touching her.

Zu An knew Pei Mianman was trying not to draw too much attention, so she had suppressed her cultivation. Otherwise, these men wouldn't be able to get within ten feet of her.

If they were in the wilderness and she were in a bad mood, she could simply unleash a black flame, burning these scoundrels to cinders.

Seeing that he had noticed her, Pei Mianman gave him a sweet smile. "I thought you'd be miserable after being captured. Who would've thought you'd be riding in such a luxurious carriage, accompanied by a beauty? How enviable!"

Zu An knew she was communicating with him via vital energy transmission, but unfortunately, his own vital energy was suppressed, preventing him from responding. So, he simply spoke aloud, "It would be even more perfect if Big Manman were accompanying me."

Given her cultivation, she would surely hear him.

Sure enough, Pei Mianman's face flushed slightly. "You always come up with all sorts of strange nicknames for people. Chu Yan really should discipline you properly. Oh, I almost forgot, you two are no longer husband and wife."

Zu An remained silent.

Did this woman really need to sound so gloating? And she was supposedly Chu Yan's best friend.

"Big Manman? What's a Big Manman?" Huang Huihong, outside the carriage, couldn't help but turn and ask. Clearly, Zu An's words had not escaped his ears.

Zu An was about to tell him to mind his own business when Pei Mianman's anxious warning suddenly reached his ears: "Careful!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Zu An saw a streak of black light shoot from the crowd.

The black light was incredibly fast; the moment he saw it launched, it was almost instantly in front of Zu An.

For a brief moment, he could even smell the metallic scent and killing intent emanating from the black light. He didn't know how to describe that killing intent—it was a sensation that made his body go cold, his hair stand on end, as if death were imminent.

Zu An was startled. Without time for any other reaction, he immediately summoned Great Wind, teleporting a foot away while pulling Zheng Dan with him.

The instant he moved, the black light struck his previous afterimage, missing his nose by a hair's breadth.

Zu An's heart pounded. Although he had faced death many times, this was the only instance that had arrived so suddenly, leaving him utterly unprepared.

Only then did he clearly see what the black light was: a uniquely designed arrow, now embedded in the carriage wall. It had pierced through the specially made carriage, and its fletching was still trembling violently. It was clear that if he had been hit by this arrow, it would have blown half his body apart.

"Ah Zu!" Zheng Dan only reacted then, her pretty face deathly pale with fright. She frantically reached out, feeling all over him to check if he was injured.

Just then, another streak of black light shot out, clearly not intending to give him a moment to breathe.

However, Huang Huihong had already reacted. He had been distracted moments before by questioning Zu An, and hadn't expected that momentary lapse to be seized upon. But now, he wouldn't allow the assailant to act so brazenly.

With an angry roar, he immediately pulled out his Soul-Hooking Chain and lashed it towards the black light.

With a sharp crack, the black light was shattered to pieces. Huang Huihong himself also shuddered, clearly feeling the immense force within it.

At this point, the surrounding Embroidered Uniform Guards and Imperial Guards also reacted, rushing out in pursuit of the source of the black light.

"Ah!" The onlookers, seeing the assassination attempt, shrieked in terror and scattered in all directions. The street instantly descended into chaos.

Seeing that he was unharmed, Pei Mianman smiled at him, then melted into the crowd and left. Otherwise, being caught and questioned by the Imperial Guards would have been quite troublesome.

"We'll meet again soon." Before leaving, Pei Mianman transmitted her voice via vital energy, her tone carrying an indescribable meaning.

It was a perfectly ordinary statement, but combined with her tone, it invariably made one's imagination run wild.

Zu An's expression was a little strange. The phrase sounded familiar; Xue'er had said the same thing to him when her conspiracy was exposed and she left the Chu family. He wondered how Xue'er was doing in the capital now.

"What exactly happened?" Prince Liang and Liu Yao rushed over upon hearing the news, accompanied by Sun Buqi and others from Prince Wu's residence.

"Someone was disguised in the crowd and attempted an assassination..." Huang Huihong briefly described what had just happened, still feeling a sense of dread. He had only been distracted for a split second, and the assailant had seized the opportunity. If Zu An had truly been shot dead right under his nose, he would have been entirely to blame.

"Where's the assassin?" Prince Liang's face was ashen. He had just been happily anticipating a hot spring bath in the city, followed by finding some well-behaved maidens to dance for him. Now, with this mess, wouldn't all his plans be ruined?

"My subordinates have gone in pursuit, but with the scene so chaotic, I'm afraid..." Huang Huihong hesitated.

Just then, the Embroidered Uniform Guards who had given chase returned. "The assassin's movements are extremely fast, and he blended into the crowd, disappearing quickly."

Sun Buqi quickly said, "Immediately issue orders to seal the city gates! We must catch this damned assassin!"

Liu Yao sneered, "An assassin who can evade the pursuit of the Embroidered Uniform Guards and Imperial Guards? How could mere city gates stop him?"

Prince Liang nodded. "Indeed. There's no need to disturb the populace over this; it would create a bad impression."

"Yes, I will obey Your Highness's instructions." Sun Buqi had no choice but to call his men back.

Liu Yao, standing by, scoffed, "This happened in your Jibei City. Don't you think you owe us an explanation? To me, it looks as if you did it on purpose—sending you to delay us while dispatching an assassin to seize the opportunity."

Sun Buqi was greatly alarmed and hastily said, "General Liu, where did such a statement come from?! Our Prince has always been loyal to the Emperor; how could he possibly commit such a treasonous act? Even if we consider the worst-case scenario, if an imperial criminal were to meet with an accident on our territory, Prince Wu would also be implicated. How could we be so foolish as to act on our own territory, and in plain sight? In my opinion, someone is most likely trying to frame us, attempting to sow discord between Prince Wu and the Emperor."

Liu Yao couldn't help but say, "The world speaks of how remarkable Master Sun under Prince Wu is. Seeing you today, you truly are eloquent and persuasive."

Sun Buqi gave a wry smile. "It's not that I'm being artful or sophistical; these are simply the facts. I hope Prince Liang will uphold justice."

Prince Liang remained silent. In truth, he also believed what Sun Buqi said. If this had been arranged by Prince Wu, how foolish would he have to be?

Even Liu Yao likely knew that saying this was purely to provoke the other party.

However, an incident had indeed occurred here, so an explanation was necessary.

Just then, Huang Huihong's voice rang out. "The assassin is a Dark Elf."

He held a uniquely shaped arrow in his hand, its fletching black—precisely the one that had just shot into the carriage.

"It is indeed a Dark Elf's arrow, no wonder it could appear and disappear without a trace." Prince Liang took it, then cursed, "These foreign tribes truly haven't given up their wicked intentions."

"Dark Elves?" Zu An murmured to himself. He recalled what he had learned from Shang Liuyu at the academy: Dark Elves were a branch of the Elf race. Unlike ordinary elves who loved nature and peace, Dark Elves were very warlike, delighting in bloodshed and slaughter, and were known as the world's most skilled assassins.

In the histories of both foreign races and humanity, countless great figures had fallen victim to their assassinations. He hadn't expected to have the 'honor' of experiencing such treatment himself.

Just then, Prince Liang's voice suddenly rang out. "Dark Elves don't strike unless they mean to, and when they do, it's usually bloody. So how did Zu An dodge that arrow just now?"