The gravel at their feet rolled into the bottomless abyss without even an echo.
The gloomy valley swallowed the two living souls.
It left nothing behind. Only the cold wind from the valley slapped the crown prince's face.
The crown prince's mind went blank. His body seemed to have fallen off the cliff, plummeting rapidly, plummeting.
He gasped for breath. His unfocused eyes swept over the cavalry behind him.
"Who did this?"
Xu Mufeng knew he had caused a big problem.
The moment he shot the arrow, he had already anticipated the joy of meriting a reward.
Song Wanchu would be saved, and Liang Yuzhou would be dead. He had created the scene the crown prince would most like to see...
But why did Song Wanchu, a timid and weak girl, jump in front of Liang Yuzhou to take the arrow for him?
The subsequent chain reaction was beyond his expectation.
He just wanted to help the crown prince get rid of Liang Yuzhou!
The crown prince's gaze finally landed on Xu Mufeng.
Meeting those blood - red, crazed eyes, Xu Mufeng felt guilty. His legs went weak.
"Who told you to shoot? You've killed my Wanchu!"
The crown prince drew his sword and slashed at Xu Mufeng.
Xu Mufeng knelt down in a panic. All his courage had deserted him. He cowered at the crown prince's feet, trembling.
"Spare me, Your Highness! Spare me!"
The sharp blade scraped across his neck. Shi Minglang rushed forward and held the crown prince's arm.
His face was deathly pale, but he managed to keep his composure. "Your Highness, the tragedy has already happened. Even if you kill Xu Mufeng, it won't change anything! The most urgent thing is to send people to search the valley. Liang Yuzhou is skilled in light - body technique. He and Miss Song may still have a glimmer of hope!"
Xu Mufeng had just been scolded and beaten by Shi Minglang and was resentful towards him. He never thought that in this life - and - death moment, the first one to plead for him would be Shi Minglang!
He looked up at Shi Minglang with gratitude in his eyes.
"Your Highness, I'm willing to lead people to search the valley to atone for my sin!"
The crown prince seemed to have lost the ability to sense the world. The muscles on his handsome face twitched, and his eyes were blood - shot.
He was in an extreme state of emotion, but his breathing was so light that it seemed he might stop breathing and lose his heartbeat at any moment.
Shi Minglang glared at Xu Mufeng. Xu Mufeng understood and scrambled to his feet. He led the men to find the way down the mountain.
Behind them came the sound of hooves.
Shi Luohan broke through the early - morning mist, dismounted, and rushed towards the crown prince at full speed, using both running and light - body technique.
His escort team had been resting at the post station. At midnight, he was awakened by the thunderous sound of hooves. To his surprise, it was the crown prince's cavalry galloping towards Qingzhou.
Liang Yuzhou's trick of transporting Wanchu in a coffin would soon be seen through by the crown prince. Their intention was not to make Wanchu disappear permanently. They just wanted to use the time when the crown prince was caught off - guard to escape further.
But the crown prince reacted even faster than they had expected!
Shi Luohan was worried that Liang Yuzhou would fight the crown prince to the death. He rode alone behind the main force.
He didn't dare to get too close for fear of being discovered, so he was late.
Running downhill all the way, his breath was a bit unsteady. Before he could stop steadily at the cliff, he grabbed the crown prince's collar.
"Where's Wanchu? Where's my sister?"
Shi Minglang was so scared that his scalp went numb. Shi Luohan was extremely bold. It was one thing for him to grab the collar of a fourth - rank official like him, but how dare he grab the crown prince's collar?
But he didn't dare to stop him or say a word. Shi Luohan's fists looked powerful.
The crown prince seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. He looked at Shi Luohan with dull eyes.
Shi Luohan had already seen a group of cavalry rushing down the mountain towards the valley.
He had guessed everything. His heart exploded in his chest, and he felt as if his liver and gallbladder were shattered.
He let out a heart - rending roar and punched the crown prince to the ground.
"Lu Sihong, look at what you've done! You've forced Wanchu into a corner. Are you happy now? Give me back my sister's life!"
The crown prince didn't move or resist. He took the punch head - on. A metallic taste filled his mouth, but he didn't feel the pain. He even wished to be beaten harder.
Shi Luohan pounced on the crown prince and punched him in the face several more times.
"Enough, Shi Luohan. Do you have so much energy to spare?"
Seeing that Shi Luohan was about to lose control, Shi Minglang quickly hugged him from behind and dragged him away from the crown prince.
He had been dealing with three crazy men from night till morning. Who could understand his exhaustion?
Fortunately, Shi Luohan hadn't completely lost his mind. He broke free from Shi Minglang and didn't even look at the crown prince lying on the ground. He rushed towards the valley.
The crown prince stared blankly at the sky. His chest was filled with an indescribable sourness.
Why could Liang Yuzhou jump off the cliff with Wanchu without hesitation, while he didn't have the courage?
...
"Wanchu, wake up."
In a hazy world of pain, Song Wanchu slowly opened her eyes. It took a while for her eyes to adjust to the bright light.
There was the sound of the wind, the gurgling of water, the chirping of birds, and Liang Yuzhou's gentle voice calling her.
She tried to sit up, but her whole body ached, and she had no strength.
Her head was dizzy, and her eyes couldn't focus on Liang Yuzhou's face. His features were blurred.
Large patches of red刺痛 her eyes.
An arrow had pierced his right shoulder. When they fell off the cliff, he had always held her above him.
During the fall, they had been caught by tree branches several times, which had slowed down the impact and saved their lives.
Before she fainted, Song Wanchu remembered that Liang Yuzhou had been under her, acting as a cushion.
"Are you okay?" she asked anxiously, trying to reach out and touch Liang Yuzhou's face.
"I'm okay," Liang Yuzhou's voice was steady and calm, which made her feel at ease.
"Don't get up in a hurry. Move your limbs first to see if you've hurt your bones."
Song Wanchu obeyed. She slowly stretched her arms and moved her legs.
Except for a dull pain in her right ankle, there was nothing seriously wrong with the rest of her body.
"I don't think I've hurt my bones."
"That's good." Liang Yuzhou's hand groped on her shoulder for a few times. Song Wanchu sat up following his strength.
The world righted itself in her eyes. Her mind gradually cleared, and her vision became clear.
She quickly checked Liang Yuzhou's injuries. Her gaze suddenly fixed on his eyes.
Those eyes were still as deep as black jade, but they had lost their luster. His dark pupils were dilated, and she couldn't see any reflection in them.
Song Wanchu held her breath. She waved her hand in front of Liang Yuzhou's eyes.
There was no reaction.
He showed no reaction at all.
A huge wave of grief seized her heart. She choked back sobs and felt like she was suffocating. "Liang Yuzhou, your eyes... your eyes..."