Chapter 17: Do Not Harm My Lord's Life!

“Oh no!”

With a shout, Cao Zhengchun rushed toward them. Chen Rushuang felt a jolt of dread, her delicate brows knitting together.

This man was clearly a master of martial arts!

Moreover, she had just overheard that there were many guards stationed outside the Fragrant Pavilion. If the two of them wanted to escape, it would not be easy.

“My lady, you go ahead, I’ll cover you!”

In this desperate moment, Feng Qi made a split-second decision. She stopped, drew her sword, and turned to block Cao Zhengchun, intending to buy Chen Rushuang time to escape.

But seeing this, Chen Rushuang faltered inwardly.

After all, Feng Qi had been by her side since childhood, for more than a decade. If she were to flee alone now, leaving Feng Qi behind, she could not bear it.

Though they were mistress and servant, their bond was closer than sisters!

“No, we leave together!”

Having decided, Chen Rushuang called to Feng Qi, then drew her sword as well and charged with her toward the entrance of the Fragrant Pavilion.

But how could their skills possibly match Cao Zhengchun’s?

“Traitorous scum, where do you think you’re going?”

Cao Zhengchun sneered, his voice cold. In an instant, he had already engaged both Chen Rushuang and Feng Qi.

The sudden outbreak of violence sent the diners inside the Fragrant Pavilion fleeing in panic.

At the same time, several men emerged within the pavilion, joining the fray against Cao Zhengchun, seemingly intent on covering Chen Rushuang and Feng Qi’s escape.

But Cao Zhengchun’s martial prowess was unmatched. With only mediocre skills, how could they hope to evade him so easily?

Though their numbers were great, Cao Zhengchun alone managed to hold them all within the building.

Upstairs, at the second-floor railing—

Bai Muge, coming out of his reverie, watched the battle below with a slight frown.

Those two women just now—were they from the Azure Dragon Gang?

If not, why would they be so terrified at Cao Zhengchun’s words, desperate to flee?

It seemed Old Cao had sensed something amiss about them as soon as he entered the Fragrant Pavilion!

At this moment, Bai Muge felt secretly relieved.

Fortunately, he had not involved himself in their staged accident.

That little scene moments ago might well have been a ploy by the two women, using their beauty to lure him to his death!

There’s a blade hidden in the word “lust”—the ancients never lied!

Though their martial skill was nothing compared to Cao Zhengchun, it would have been more than enough to overwhelm someone as inexperienced as himself.

Even if he wore his golden-threaded jade robe, it would have been useless.

Beside him, Li Shixuan, who had come out with him, caught sight of the two women and several men battling with Cao Zhengchun. She gave a huff, pouting indignantly:

“Muge, I never would have guessed that those two refined-looking ladies are actually with the Azure Dragon Gang!

No wonder you told me to ignore them earlier!

So you saw through their disguise from the very start!

With Lord Cao here, they won’t get away!”

Bai Muge: “…”

I only just figured it out myself, all right?

But now, that no longer mattered.

Judging by their identities, Bai Muge surmised that capturing these two women might make wiping out the Azure Dragon Gang twice as easy.

He turned to those beside him and pointed at the girl engaged in the fight. “You all, go down and help. Make sure you capture that woman in white alive!”

Though Bai Muge wasn’t sure of their exact identities, they had all come with Cao Zhengchun, so he could trust them.

“Yes, sir!” they answered at once, bowing.

All but two of them, who remained to protect Bai Muge, leapt over the railing and joined the melee below.

“My lady, go now!”

Gritting her pearly teeth, Feng Qi retreated, glaring fiercely up at Bai Muge, who was smiling benignly above. She called out angrily, “I’ll hold him off, or none of us will get away!”

Chen Rushuang, seeing this, realized as well that Cao Zhengchun’s skill was far beyond anything they could handle.

“All right!” She nodded slightly and feigned an attempt to escape.

But in the next instant—

She seized the opportunity, narrowly dodged a deadly strike from Cao Zhengchun, then sprang off a doorpost, using her lightness skill to leap up to the second floor.

But instead of fleeing, she charged straight toward Bai Muge!

“Corrupt official, die by my hand!”

With a clear shout, Chen Rushuang thrust her sword directly at Bai Muge’s chest.

Bai Muge: “???”

How did I become a corrupt official?

And this young woman’s martial skill seems even stronger than before!

But he quickly regained his composure.

“Shixuan, watch out!”

As he called out, Bai Muge hurriedly pulled Li Shixuan behind him. After all, his golden-threaded jade robe would protect him—even if Chen Rushuang’s sword pierced his chest, she couldn’t kill him.

At the same moment, the two men at his side rushed forward to block Chen Rushuang’s attack.

“Don’t harm our lord!”

With heroic shouts, the two lunged at her barehanded, striking impressive martial poses.

But in the next instant, what unfolded left Bai Muge utterly dumbfounded.

The moment they reached Chen Rushuang, she spun and wounded both with a single stroke, then with a graceful kick, sent them crashing over the railing to the floor below.

Thud—crash—

The two landed atop a table, shattering it and tumbling to the ground, unable to rise.

“…” Bai Muge.

“…” Li Shixuan.

The two stared in shock.

Were these really the men Cao Zhengchun had brought? How could their skills be so pitiful?

They couldn’t even handle a second-rate female fighter?

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, I am here!”

Just then, the lady-in-waiting beside Li Shixuan confidently stepped forward and rushed to intercept Chen Rushuang’s sword.

“Huff, huff…”

Peeking out from behind Bai Muge’s robe, Li Shixuan finally let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “Don’t worry, Muge. Ling’er was sent by my royal brother to protect me. She’s a second-rate master—completely reliable!”

“Are you sure?” Bai Muge was skeptical.

After what he’d just witnessed, he was not eager for a repeat.

But Li Shixuan was full of confidence.

Peeking up at him with a bright smile, she nodded sincerely. “Don’t worry, Muge. My royal brother would never lie to me!”

“Uh…”

Hearing Li Shixuan’s certainty, Bai Muge’s lips twitched, and he felt even less confident.

That Prince Li Chen is hardly reliable…

Crash!

Suddenly, a loud thud sounded in Bai Muge’s ear.