Arc 3 – Chapter 167, Vicious Princess Wants to Reverse Fate (61)

The moment the wolf lunged at Zhou Min and Shangguan Qi, Zhou Min, cradling Shangguan Qi, abruptly leapt toward their cave with rapid jumps. However, as fate would have it, they ran straight into the very assassins to kill them. Without hesitation, Zhou Min initiated a counterattack against the three assailants, holding Shangguan Qi's left hand and channelling his internal energy into his right sleeve.

Meanwhile, the wolf caught up and pounced upon the closest black-clad figure without hesitation. Originally, the wolf had set its sights on Zhou Min and Shangguan Qi, but the black-clad figure had foolishly tried to sneak up on them from behind and was taken down by the wolf.

Zhou Min knew that these assassins typically operated in groups of ten. The fact that only three were present meant that the remaining seven were nearby. However, Zhou Min was in a dire situation with Shangguan Qi in her arms, and his mobility was compromised. He was already sweating due to the internal injuries he had sustained earlier in the ravine. When one of the black-clad figures feinted and thrust his dagger toward Shangguan Qi, Zhou Min instinctively moved to shield him.

The dagger pierced Zhou Min's flesh, and she grunted in pain. However, she seized this opportunity to toss Shangguan Qi to a relatively safe spot. She twisted her body, lashing out at the black-clad figure's wrist with her right sleeve. The figure's grip on his sword loosened, and Zhou Min took advantage of this moment to deliver a swift kick, snatch the sword, perform a backflip, and send the assassin flying. She then quickly moved toward Shangguan Qi.

Another assassin had already sent a signal when the first one dealt with Zhou Min and Shangguan Qi. All the nearby assassins had seen it and were rapidly closing in.

Zhou Min realised that they could no longer run to their original cave. Their only option left was to change their course. She glanced back at Shangguan Qi and smiled, "I thought we had at least three more days. I didn't expect the time to come so quickly..." Her comment threw Shangguan Qi's plan completely off track.

Shangguan Qi was confused, not understanding the meaning behind Zhou Min's words. However, he saw the sadness and helplessness in Zhou Min's eyes. He wanted to ask, but Zhou Min, right after finishing her sentence, disregarded her chest wound and started running towards the ravine with Shangguan Qi.

The stabbing pain in her chest turned Zhou Min's face white, and her lips began to tremble. Shangguan Qi had never hated his powerlessness more than at this moment. Seeing Zhou Min beside him, his pride was once again shattered.

"Zhou Min, let me go. Save yourself. If you take me with you, neither of us will make it..." The determination in Shangguan Qi's eyes took Zhou Min by surprise, who then surprisingly laughed, "Shangguan Qi, you've never really listened to me. I told you from the first day we fell I won't let you die!"

Zhou Min's words, filled with frightening stubbornness and obstinacy, made Shangguan Qi's heart beat abnormally fast, "Then we'll both die!"

"No, we won't!" Zhou Min's confidence left Shangguan Qi momentarily stunned. However, the scent of blood swirling around Shangguan Qi was becoming increasingly thick, and his eyes grew more dangerous.

But the seven assassins who had arrived first blocked their path to the nearby ravine. Zhou Min had no choice but to change direction again, carrying Shangguan Qi and racing toward the other side of the jungle.

Just as Zhou Min and Shangguan Qi were leaving, a sudden shriek of agony echoed behind them, resounding through the ravine. Zhou Min didn't dare to look back or have time to see what had happened. But thinking back to the man pinned down by the fearsome, robust wolf when they left, she could make a guess.

Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind whistled from behind them. The force it carried made Shangguan Qi turn his head. The glinting sharpness sent chills down his spine. They twisted mid-air narrowly avoiding the hidden weapon that whizzed past Zhou Min's ear. They then fell from the sky.

With a loud "thud," their bodies slammed into the ground, kicking a cloud of dirt and dry leaves.

As they rolled on the ground, Shangguan Qi shielded Zhou Min, his back slamming into a large tree. A muffled groan escaped from his lips, and Zhou Min looked up with concern, "Are you okay? Did you hit your wound?!"

"Look out!" Before Shangguan Qi could reply, he saw a sword shadow looming over Zhou Min. His body instinctively switched positions with her, but at the same time, Zhou Min hurled her sword, a cold light flashing out.

Just as the sword light was about to reach Shangguan Qi's back, Zhou Min had already swiftly taken down one of the assassins. Without a moment to spare, Zhou Min and Shangguan Qi quickly got back on their feet. Zhou Min pulled out the sword lodged in the dead man's throat, the one she had snatched from his hand, "Wait for me!" She then charged at the remaining two assassins.

"It's Zhou Min! The Princess of Zhou Kingdom!!"

In seconds, the assassins who had caught up were effortlessly dispatched by Zhou Min. The others who had caught up finally recovered from the shock of Zhou Min's ruthless attacks. An older assassin suddenly kicked his companion toward the charging Zhou Min. Drawing a short flute from his sleeve and putting it to his mouth, he was about to blow into it when a figure in red rushed past him. A kick, filled with fierce strength, landed squarely on his chest.

"Spurt." A mouthful of blood sprayed out, and using the force of the kick, the assassin's body traced a parabolic arc in the air. With the last bit of strength left in his body, he blew a sharp, short sound from the flute.

The sound wave emanated from the flute and spread out in all directions.

With a sombre expression, Zhou Min quickly put an end to the assassin, who was not yet fully dead. She looked toward the other side of the jungle, where more figures were rushing toward them.