The attackers were all expert fighters. Although Old Qin and the four Hidden Guards were highly skilled, they were outnumbered, and the fight was intensely deadlocked.

On Huangfu Jingchen’s side, six people formed a small circle.

The attackers were determined to win this time. They chose an awkward location, first forcing the carriage to stop with arrows, and now trapping them here.

This area was already at the street corner, with few pedestrians. Even those present, faced with the flashing blades and swords, dared not approach.

A cold wind blew the scent of blood through the air.

The battle here was already brutal. Huangfu Jingchen and the others were all injured, and Old Qin had been stabbed in the back with a sword. Although it wasn’t a fatal wound, it was deep, with blood gushing incessantly.

The attackers were in even worse shape, having already left several bodies behind.

The people from the Cheng Prince Mansion were initially few, with the attackers having archers shooting concealed arrows. But those archers had weak martial arts skills and often the Hidden Guards or Old Qin would grab an arrow and throw it back, causing screams from the rooftops or street corners, after which no more arrows were shot, clearly their aim was superior.

However, even though they took out several archers, their situation was not optimistic.

Huangfu Jingchen’s brocade clothes were already stained with large patches of blood, although it was all from the assassins.

Old Qin and the Hidden Guards were in even more dire straits, all carrying some injuries.

At this moment, more than thirty opponents remained, with over a dozen still standing after the weak archers had been eliminated, all possessing first-class level skills.

The entire street corner resembled Asura Hell, with blood on the ground flowing like a river, sticky to tread on, and the night breeze carried an overwhelmingly nauseating scent of blood.

Yet, in the face of life and death, no one paid attention to these small details.

Uncle Qin fought while keeping an eye on Huangfu Jingchen. The previous assassination attempt in the Prince Mansion had been contained internally, with the assassins never reaching Huangfu Jingchen, let alone surrounded by a group like this.

During his time in Yunzhou, Uncle Qin was half a mentor to Huangfu Jingchen, having taught him martial arts. Uncle Qin was well aware of his prowess at that time.

He worried that Huangfu Jingchen would lack the martial prowess to withstand injury and feared such a brutal scene would be unbearable for him.

After all, it was too bloody, too cruel, too tragic.

But he discovered that Huangfu Jingchen’s gaze was calm, his eyes sharp, his moves swift yet steady, without any flashy techniques, with each strike precise and effective, every action the most efficient response.

The expected scenario of panic did not occur; his expectation that a Princely Heir who had never killed before would be unaccustomed to such bloodshed seemed unfounded.

Moreover, the Princely Heir’s skills exceeded Uncle Qin’s expectations, such that the need to protect him was eliminated—instead, Huangfu Jingchen often ended up shielding Uncle Qin, blocking fatal moves.

The Princely Heir’s rapid growth over a year in Jianghu was astonishing, so much so that Prince Cheng and the Princess need not worry about him managing such situations.

This integrated set of techniques, such quick and accurate judgment, this composed and calm dealing—he clearly surpassed their abilities!

However, despite such realization, Old Qin could only find slight solace; the assassins were too many, with their numbers too few. Though the Princely Heir had high martial arts skills and none of them were weak, even the best fighters can be overwhelmed by many!

They had attempted several times to escort Huangfu Jingchen to break out, but the attackers closed off all routes.

Notably, one of those blocking the way was a super first-class expert, whose skills could establish a sect in Jianghu.

This showed the attackers’ strength and support.

If only they could reach the Prince Mansion, where arrangements and reinforcements awaited, but here they were still far from the Cheng Prince Mansion. Were they to be trapped here?

Seeing the super first-class expert engage, Old Qin felt a sinking heart. He was merely first-class high tier, and the four Hidden Guards were only first-class middle tier. Even though the opponent was super first-class initial tier, appearing just one tier distant, the gap widened the higher one ascended.

The attackers dispatched over thirty, though mostly of second-class mid-high tier skill, but seven or eight were first-class initial to high tier, outnumbering them significantly.

Uncle Qin’s multiple attempts failed; leaving a trail of bodies, yet each incurred injuries, leaving them unable to withstand further assault.

Now, only eight to nine opponents stood, yet the initial twenty had exhausted much of their six’s strength—among the four Hidden Guards, one gravely injured, clearly at death’s door, another injured in the leg could only sit, the remaining two bearing varying injuries with no way to bandage amidst fierce battle!

Uncle Qin himself was wounded.

His eyes were bloodshot; he vowed to bring the Princely Heir back safe and sound even at the cost of his life.

The few Hidden Guards from the Cheng Prince Mansion shared this determination. Despite being on the verge of collapse, they erupted with unimaginable strength, even offensively charging the opponents. The one sitting swung his sword with fierce intent, while the severely injured one lying down held a gaze of deadly resolve, as if to bite in severed vengeance.

The leading super first-class expert, internally astonished yet more disdainful, thought: In this state, and still dreaming of escape? Impossible!

Old Qin charged straight at the super first-class expert, knowing that if either remaining Hidden Guard faced him, they wouldn’t last three to five moves and would perish. If he could tie the expert up, the two Hidden Guards could protect the Princely Heir’s escape! 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Just as Old Qin was about to meet the super first-class expert head-on, a bloodied figure suddenly swept from the side, a sword emitting a white light streaking across.

Powerful energy, a cunning angle, swift execution.

Old Qin paused, realizing the bloodied figure was Huangfu Jingchen.

Initially wearing moon-white brocade, it had been stained red through successive battles.

Old Qin’s astonishment wasn’t over the color but the skill of that sword.

The level of that strike surprised him; not even a first-class high-tier expert would necessarily produce such a sword move. Had the Princely Heir’s capability reached super first-class?

The super first-class expert, who had watched with a slight sneer and cool gaze, had underestimated the scene, believing his subordinates sufficient for the task as he observed condescendingly, like watching a desperate scurry of dying mice.