Xiao En knew he was done for. After landing, he relied on his decades of experience and the decaying leaves to disguise himself. He barely managed to hide his scent, and quietly made his way out of the forest.
If Fan Xian and the seven masters were able to follow him all the way through the reeds by the lakeside and into the forest, then there must be something on him that they could control. Xiao En covered his mouth with his hand, forcibly suppressing the urge to cough. Twenty years in prison had damaged his heart and arteries. As he fell from the tree, he could clearly and sadly feel that his brain reacted slower than his body.
If it were twenty years ago, he believed he could have easily killed Fan Xian while he was falling. Even if there were seven sword-wielding masters under the tree, as long as he had the familiar North Sea fog to accompany him, Xiao En was still confident that he could easily escape.
It was just that … everyone would grow old one day.
The wound on his shoulder could not be stopped. The strange dagger in Fan Xian's hand had a strange edge, and blood continued to flow. Xiao En felt his body grow weak, but his eyes flashed with a hint of a smile, as if he had seen through something. He tore off a piece of his clothing, and with a twist of his hand, pressed down the wound.
His kneecap had also been broken into several large pieces. The sharp pain stimulated his mind, allowing this old spy chief to continue making his way through the thick fog.
After falling from the tree, Gao Da, the leader of the Tiger Guards, had sliced open his abdomen. Although he had dodged quickly, he could not stop the wound from gradually expanding, and his black clothes gradually became bloody.
Although Xiao En had suffered many and serious injuries, the one that truly made him feel helpless was the thin needle in his neck. He did not dare to pull it out, not knowing what the consequences would be. He only felt the blood vessels in his body gradually congeal, and his speed of advance also slowed.
His pale old hand still resolutely pulled out the mushroom from under the tree, chewed it a few times, and swallowed it. This type of sequoia mushroom could replenish the blood and disinfect it. This short fir forest was a place he had been very familiar with decades ago, so he had chosen to escape from here. Unexpectedly, he still could not escape from that young man's methods.
The sky gradually brightened, but the thick fog still did not dissipate. The white morning light diffused in the fog, exuding a holy aura.
Blood finally dripped from the old man's body. Although the sound of the blood dripping onto the ground was faint, he knew that those young men were following him like ferocious tigers in hiding. They could charge out at any time, but he didn't know why they hadn't made a move yet.
But Xiao En knew that he … was finished.
— —
No one knew what kind of power supported this old man, who had suffered 20 years of torture and had suffered a few heavy injuries today, to push his body through the fog-shrouded short fir forest, climb over the mountain, and step on the vast, slightly wet meadow. Finally, he saw the land that belonged to Northern Qi.
The town called Wuduhe shone brightly in the distant sunlight. Xiao En sighed and sat down dejectedly. He used his hand to move his right leg, which had already been shattered at the knee, to the left. He coughed twice.
In that town, the only thing that reflected light was the glazed tiles. Although this was the countryside and they could not afford to use glass, Xiao En had known for many years that there used to be a glazed factory a dozen miles behind the town. After it had fallen into ruin, the townspeople had picked up some fragments and placed them on the roofs of their houses.
No matter when or where, people always needed to arrange some light for themselves in a gloomy world.
Xiao En was the same. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the glowing shards, thinking that after 20 years, the town did not seem to have changed much.
On the plains outside the town, a battle had long since ended. The troops that had come to Xiao En's aid had been completely slaughtered. About 200 Black Knights stood like a lifeless black wall on one side of the plains. A few more Black Knights made their way through the pools of blood on the battlefield. When they saw an enemy that was still alive, they struck them with their swords. Muffled sounds rang out incessantly on the battlefield.
…
…
"Those young men lying in pools of blood on the meadow should be Hu 'er's subordinates, right?"
Xiao En squinted at the scene and suddenly felt tired. He coughed again. He had long since understood Fan Xian's plan. Although that handsome young man still lacked much experience, he had the courage to act. Fan Xian had chased him all the way to Wuduhe, and naturally he wanted to frame the Northern Qi soldiers who had died horrible deaths in the meadow.
A slender dagger was silently handed to him. The chill on the blade made goosebumps rise on the back of the old man's neck.
"You're not as strong as I thought." Fan Xian's calm voice came from behind him.
Xiao En pursed his dry lips and laughed bitterly. "I'm not as strong as I thought either."
"Given your experience, it shouldn't have been difficult to determine that this was a trap. Why did you still jump in?" This was the thing that Fan Xian had been most confused about during his night of pursuit.
Xiao En did not answer him. He only remained silent. He did not tell the young man that because of Wang Qinian's unintentional words, he had thought of a little girl and a temple.
"Why haven't you made your move?" Xiao En's voice was abnormally cold. He looked at the unusually quiet town in front of him. "You and I are both in this line of work. You should know that the longer something drags on, the easier it is for it to change."
"I just suddenly felt that I seemed to have made a mistake." Fan Xian tightened his grip on the dagger. His eyes, which were not covered by the black cloth, showed a trace of confusion. "I thought that the Eldest Princess would send someone to receive you. I didn't expect that it would only be Northern Qi."
"I don't know any Eldest Princess." Xiao En seemed to have long since cast aside the matter of life and death. He only took a deep breath of the fresh air of the meadow. It had been many years since he had smelled something so natural. In the Overwatch Council's prison, all he could smell was rust and hay. After so many years, he had grown tired of it.
Fan Xian suddenly felt that something was strange. His eyes stared daggers at the back of the old man's head.
"Let me remind you again. Since you want to kill me, and have chosen to do so on the border, it would be best if you acted immediately. That way, you can pin the blame on the troops below," Xiao En said coldly. "Otherwise, when the fake Northern Qi receptionists arrive, and you want to kill me again, you will have to consider the life and death of your comrade."
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes. This plan to kill Xiao En on the border was a risk. More accurately, it was a risk with Yan Bingyun's life. Since Northern Qi's general Shang Shanhu had sent people to help Xiao En escape, then in the chaos of battle, Xiao En's death should be a reason that the young Emperor of Northern Qi could accept and had to accept. The key was that the diplomatic mission was backed by the powerful military power of the Qing Kingdom. But to Fan Xian's great disappointment, Yan Xiaoyi's army did not appear on the battlefield. If he could not kill the Eldest Princess, then what was the point of killing Xiao En?
Thinking of something, Fan Xian tightened his grip on the dagger. His knuckles were pale.
"Why do you all always think I'm still a tiger?" Xiao En did not turn his head, nor did he look down at the tip of the dagger. He smiled and said to himself, "I'm just a skinny tiger without teeth. It's just that I know a few things that others don't, and that's why I've been able to survive until now. In the Kingdom of Qing, I'm a prisoner. Now that I've returned to the north, I'll still be a prisoner in the fake Northern Qi. Naturally, I have to fight. At my age, I don't really fear death … but I do fear not having freedom. "
"Perhaps I understand now why Director Chen was willing to send you back, and then wanted me to kill you." Fan Xian didn't seem to care about Xiao En's warning. He continued to speak in a casual manner. "This is a trial. Mister Xiao once said that I am very talented, and very strong. It's just that I've never challenged a truly strong individual. You are the first truly strong individual I've ever challenged. "
Xiao En shook his head. He still maintained his sitting posture. "No, I've long since ceased to be a strong individual. I've only been bluffing along the way. As for Chen Pingping … "The old man suddenly laughed with extreme resentment and delight." He actually … doesn't know anything. He only knows that he can't kill me, so he can only lock me up. He doesn't know why he can't kill me, and he certainly doesn't know what he should learn from me. He thinks he can scheme against the world, but in reality, he's just a pitiful little fool! "
The old man was very agitated as he spoke. He coughed, and his wounds had long since reopened. Blood sprayed everywhere, falling onto the fresh grass.
Somewhere in the grass, it trembled slightly in the wind.
"What secret do you have?" Fan Xian's face was expressionless, but he quietly changed his direction. "What do you know?"
"I've been locked up for twenty years, and I haven't said anything. Even Chen Pingping lost his patience, and brought me out to be your prey in the trial of adulthood." Xiao En laughed mockingly. "Do you think I'd tell a yellow-haired kid like you?"
"You're not even afraid of death. Why don't you dare tell me your secret?"
"There are many things in this world that are scarier than death."
Fan Xian sighed. He sensed that the seven long knives behind him had already stealthily approached. He smiled slightly and tilted his head to the right to look at the neatly lined up Black Knights in the distance.
Suddenly! Without warning, he stepped on the meadow with the tip of his foot, and his body slid to the left. A poisonous needle left his hand, and with a swish, it pierced into the grass!
His body was already in midair, as if he were dancing in the air. The slender dagger in his hand was like a pitch-black poisonous snake, piercing straight ahead. It made a buzzing sound as it broke through the air. He had already condensed all the Tyrannical zhenqi in his body!
Earlier, the seven Tiger Guards had already secretly occupied an advantageous position. Fan Xian's sudden sneak attack, and the seven long knives cooperated with each other to attack the pile of grass, sending up several puddles of white snow. The cold light was dazzling!
This kind of power, this kind of sudden movement, not to mention the ambusher, even the unfathomable Eunuch Hong of the Qing Kingdom's Royal Palace would probably be in a difficult position, and would have to pay the price of blood and flesh!
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