C5 He Met an Assassin in the Wilderness

As Ling Dao came to, he found himself in an old, rundown temple. He had been out cold for a full day and night, and even now, he felt utterly drained. He vigorously shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind.

"Your Highness, you're finally awake!"

The voice that reached Ling Dao's ears was familiar, but the sight that greeted him was startling. An elderly man with a full head of white hair and deep-set wrinkles stood before him.

"Grandpa Jiang, what happened to you?"

The man before him was none other than General Jiang Zhong. Previously, Jiang Zhong appeared to be a man in his forties, but now he looked to be in his sixties or seventies. That fateful night, General Jiang had fought valiantly, even sacrificing his own cultivation to defeat the black-clad assassins.

The consequence of his actions was the complete loss of his cultivation, causing him to revert to his true age. But at that moment, he had no choice—if he hadn't acted, both he and Ling Dao might have fallen to the assassins. His own life was of little consequence, but Ling Dao's safety was paramount.

"It's nothing, just the loss of all my cultivation," Jiang Zhong said lightly, though his heart was heavy. It was akin to a billionaire going bankrupt overnight; accepting such a loss was no simple feat. Yet, for Ling Dao's sake, he deemed any sacrifice worthwhile.

"This is all my fault. I've brought this upon you, Grandpa Jiang!"

Jiang Zhong had only ended up this way because he was protecting Ling Dao. Had he fled alone, he might have been safe, since the assassins' primary target was Ling Dao, not him.

"Your Highness, please don't speak like that. The Prince has been my savior and treated me like kin. To ensure your safety, even at the cost of my life, is an honor.

The recent events at the Free and Unfettered Wangfu have left me seething. Without a traitor among us, such a disaster would have been impossible. However, our immediate concern isn't vengeance, but to secure Your Highness's safety and to see that you acquire the necessary skills. The Prince once expressed a desire for you to be initiated into the Celestial Sect, and perhaps now is the time."

Both Jiang Zhong and Ling Dao were well aware that the royal family would offer no assistance to Ling Dao. Returning to the Free and Unfettered Wang Mansion now would be akin to walking into a trap. Their best option was to seek refuge with the Celestial Sect, a true powerhouse.

As the Crown Prince Xiao Yao, Ling Dao had long been familiar with the Celestial Sect. Rumors had it that the Sect stood on equal ground with the Great Luo Dynasty. This might have been an overstatement, but the Celestial Sect was certainly not to be underestimated in strength.

"Your Highness, there's no need to overthink this. Once the sun rises, we'll make haste to the Celestial Sect. It's fortuitous timing; they're currently seeking new disciples!"

Ling Dao nodded in agreement. He had always been frail, and with Jiang Zhong now disabled, returning to the Capital City would be a death sentence. Only by joining the Celestial Sect and mastering their arts could he hope for revenge. Moreover, as a disciple, he might find a way to purge the sword qi that plagued his body.

...

With the break of dawn, Jiang Zhong led Ling Dao away from the decrepit temple. Given their dire straits, the main roads were out of the question. Thankfully, Jiang Zhong was intimately familiar with the mountain paths. Otherwise, Ling Dao would have had no choice but to painstakingly navigate by the map of the Great Luo Dynasty.

"Your Highness, should we take a short rest?"

Jiang Zhong was acutely aware of Ling Dao's frailty; the fact that he had managed to travel so far was remarkable. Seeing the sweat on Ling Dao's brow, Jiang Zhong's heart ached for him, but their desperate flight left them little choice.

"Yes, let's pause for a moment to eat something."

It was fortunate that Ling Dao had never neglected his physical training. Otherwise, he would have found the journey unbearable. King Carefree, while loving, had always been strict with Ling Dao. Given his inherent weakness, without rigorous training, Ling Dao would have been gasping for air after a mere few steps.

"Your Highness, please wait here while I go and catch us some game," Jiang Zhong said before quickly departing. Having escaped, they hadn't brought any provisions. Once alone, Ling Dao didn't sit but searched for dry firewood instead.

Huffing and puffing, Ling Dao, in the middle of the wilderness, set about making a fire by friction. After much effort, he succeeded and gently blew on the smoldering embers. It was then that Jiang Zhong hurried back.

"Good fortune smiles upon us—I've snagged two wild rabbits. Let's feast on them for lunch today!"

Jiang Zhong wasted no time in cleaning the rabbits and roasting them over the fire. Ling Dao, who usually had little appetite for exotic foods, found his mouth watering at the sight of the roasting rabbits; his hunger was overwhelming.

Gurgle, gurgle...

The tantalizing aroma of the roasted rabbit made Ling Dao's stomach rumble. Once ready, he and Jiang Zhong devoured the meal. To them, at that moment, it was the finest delicacy on earth.

Da-da-da...

Footsteps approached, causing Ling Dao's ears to perk up and Jiang Zhong to leap to his feet. In such a desolate place, visitors were rare, and given they were fugitives, caution was paramount.

"Hahaha, I've searched high and low, and here you are without any effort. Crown Prince Xiao Yao, capturing you and completing my mission will earn me a handsome reward!"

A Black Assassin approached from a distance. Ling Dao and Jiang Zhong glared with fiery eyes; they recognized him as part of the group that had slaughtered the guards of the Free and Unfettered Wangfu. There was no mistaking it.

Jiang Zhong hadn't anticipated that even on such remote paths, they could be tracked. The Black Assassin's luck in finding them in the vast wilderness was extraordinary. It seemed that Jiang Zhong and Ling Dao's luck had run out.

"Look at those eyes of yours, practically itching to take me down. But what a shame, do you really think you have what it takes? An old man and a kid, what can you possibly do?"

The man in black had already approached Jiang Zhong and Ling Dao. His face was hidden, preventing Ling Dao from seeing his features, yet the greed in his eyes was unmistakable. For the Black Assassin, Ling Dao represented a fortune.

"He's a Zhenqi realm martial artist! Your Highness, you must flee at once. I'll hold him off!"

Jiang Zhong's expression grew grim. In his prime, he could have dispatched a Zhenqi realm fighter with a single stroke. Now, with his powers diminished and injuries within, he stood little chance against such a foe.

"Run now!"

With a fierce shout to Ling Dao, Jiang Zhong drew his war knife and lunged at the Black Man with all his might!