But suddenly, among the dying mice in his eyes, a spiritual fox flew out, and it was an ensorcelled spiritual fox.

This made the super first-class expert both shocked and furious.

His pupils suddenly contracted, his body retreated rapidly, and the knife in his hand swiftly struck out. The sword, carrying an unmatched killing intent, seemed to collide with his blade, but the sword bent softly, with its tip slashing towards his face!

The expert: "..."

Even though he reacted quickly, turning his face to avoid it, the tip of the sword still nicked him, leaving a shallow blood wound at the corner of his eye.

He had been observing for so long and knew that Huangfu Jingchen wielded a soft sword, but the scene just now happened too fast. It was so fast that he could only react instinctively, defending against the blade but not against the soft sword tip.

Even though it was just a minor scratch, it was already an enormous humiliation.

Especially because the one who inflicted the wound was a young master who led a life of luxury.

He had underestimated him!

He didn’t consider this young man important, just a princely heir under protection, yet he had the skill to wound him?

Especially earlier, he even felt the fear of death?

The expert was filled with intense killing intent, thinking that he would make the young man die a miserable death for daring to wound him.

With a swing of his knife, he immediately moved to attack Huangfu Jingchen. Old Qin was urgently worried that this man had such high martial arts skills that the princely heir would certainly not be a match, and the earlier move was merely unexpected!

He hurried forward, trying to take on this opponent. Although he was not as skilled, he could at least hold off a few attacks to buy the princely heir some time.

However, Huangfu Jingchen was already engaged with the opponent. Blades and swords clashed fiercely, like a small battleground formed by powerful energy, making it impossible for him to intervene.

Meanwhile, the group of assassins, following the super first-class expert’s attack, began their fierce assault.

The two heavily injured hidden guards, seeing their imminent demise, fought desperately. One with a hammer clung to an assassin’s leg, biting down fiercely. The assassin screamed in pain but couldn’t break free; a nearby assassin’s sword rose and fell, pinning the hidden guard to the ground.

"Yun Forty-eight!" The three hidden guards called out in agony, Yun Forty-eight’s lips twitched as if trying to smile, but his head slumped to the side, breathless.

The death of Yun Forty-eight spurred the remaining hidden guards. Though exhausted, their grief and anger made them fearless in battle.

But the assassins were equally skilled, with numbers on their side, and suffered fewer injuries.

The hidden guard who lost a leg sat on the ground, focusing on injuring the assassins’ legs within a three-foot radius.

However, his mobility hindered him. Though he managed to wound one, he was slain by the combined assault of three others.

"Yun Seventy-six!"

...

Sorrowful cries were near him, but he could no longer hear them!

Huangfu Jingchen’s eyes turned blood-red. He heard the tortured cries and knew two hidden guards were already dead, but he was helpless as the super first-class expert’s every attack was deadly.

To reach such a level of skill meant having fought countless battles.

His experience far exceeded Huangfu Jingchen’s.

However, after more than a hundred exchanges, Huangfu Jingchen did not falter; instead, the fight was evenly matched and intense.

Old Qin couldn’t intervene despite his anxiety. He joined two other hidden guards to block the enemy’s advance.

The assassination attempt had lasted an hour, yet nobody had come to aid them. Clearly, someone had cleared the area beforehand or given a warning, signifying the determination to kill Huangfu Jingchen.

For the first time facing a super first-class expert, Huangfu Jingchen could not afford to be distracted. Only the death of this expert could offer them a chance of survival.

Yet, a super first-class expert was no easy target.

At this moment, he felt a glimpse of Xia Wenjin, believing she would have a solution if present. She was so clever and worldly experienced.

Was he truly so incompetent?

Was he to die here, at this deserted street corner?

No, he couldn’t die!

If he died, he would never see Wenjin again.

In his mind’s eye, the image of a bright, smiling young girl appeared, igniting endless fighting spirit within Huangfu Jingchen.

The expert had pressed forward relentlessly, leaving Huangfu Jingchen barely able to fight back. But suddenly, it seemed as if something unlocked within him, transforming him into a fierce tiger descending the mountain, exuding an unmatched ferocity, turning the tables and allowing him to counterattack!

What was happening?

Huangfu Jingchen knew his opportunities were limited, so he seized every chance relentlessly. As he pressed his attack, another desperate cry sounded!

"Yun Fifty-four!"

Another brother lost!

These men all died protecting him!

The Imperial City was a place that consumed people without a trace, filled with treachery and deceit, yet he had done nothing. He was sent to the Capital City by the Emperor’s orders, seldom even visiting Prince Cheng’s mansion, yet the Crown Prince repeatedly sought his life!

The palace plots had failed, but this deadly setup awaited outside. If he survived today, he would avenge his fallen brothers!

Pan Yun County was still a half-day’s journey from the Capital City. The day was still early, not yet the hour of You, and without entering the county, rushing swiftly could reach the Capital before the gates closed.

But Huangfu Yuxuan was not in a hurry, preferring caution to prevent mistakes. They took a detour into Pan Yun County.

In this capture, Huangfu Yuxuan played a crucial role, and being the Imperial Grandson, even the Ministry of Justice showed him respect.

They found the best inn in town and headed to the restaurant for a meal.

The serious criminal was also escorted to the county government jail, guarded by the Ministry of Justice officials to prevent incidents. The chief in charge of this operation felt that without Huangfu Yuxuan’s plan, the capture would not have been so smooth, thus inviting the Second Young Master for a meal in gratitude.

Since his father transitioned from Crown Prince to Prince Liang, few addressed him as the Second Young Master, preferring "Young Master Xuan."

Hearing the chief call him Second Young Master now, Huangfu Yuxuan paused for a moment.

Second Young Master?

He sought more than just that.

What was lost, he would reclaim bit by bit; what he wanted, he would calculate step by step. What was once his or not, whatever he desired, he would hold in his grasp!

Today, Huangfu Hanyu would surely move against Huangfu Jingchen. If Jingchen died, he would send the news to Yunzhou. While Prince Cheng and his wife were far from the Capital, it wouldn’t stop him from using them against Huangfu Hanyu.

He was, after all, the War God of yesteryear. How could he stay out of the muddy waters of the Capital’s vortex?