The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The carriage clattered out of the palace gate and rumbled along the road. Inside the carriage sat Ye and Shun, the two princes of the Southern Neighboring Country.
At this moment, Shun was closing his eyes and dozing slightly, while Ye was listening intently with vigilant ears. After all, they hadn't completely left the Eastern Victory Country yet, so he couldn't fully relax.
They had been out of the palace for about a whole day, but they hadn't stopped and showed no intention of stopping. They were destined to continue their journey tonight.
Since their father had learned everything, they had to rush back as fast as possible.
Looking at the man in front of him, it seemed that he no longer cared about Ye's hesitation when saving him.
Thinking of this, Ye squinted his eyes slightly, and an inexplicable emotion welled up in his heart.
Suddenly, the wind outside the carriage grew stronger. Ye immediately frowned, lifted the curtain with a wary hand and asked, "What's going on?!"
But the coachman didn't seem to care at all. He just turned around with a smile and said, "It's just the night wind, Second Prince. We've just entered the Southern Wucheng. The wind is always strong here."
Ye then returned to the carriage. Shun on the opposite side also woke up upon hearing the noise. Rubbing his eyes, he said, "Brother, why are you so vigilant? Do you think the emperor of the Eastern Victory Country will chase us here?"
There was a hint of disdain in his tone, as if it was something completely impossible.
But Ye didn't answer. He still couldn't figure out the character of the emperor of the Eastern Victory Country. Who knew what he would do? One couldn't make hasty judgments about anything.
While he was thinking, he suddenly heard a strange sound outside. His heart tightened even more, for he knew that the sound couldn't be made by the wind.
The coachman was also a bit nervous. He said to the people inside the carriage, "Your Highness, it seems to be the sound of a Qiang flute!"
The others listened attentively. After careful consideration, they found that it really seemed that someone was playing the Qiang flute in the wind.
Ye frowned and jumped out of the carriage. Shun followed closely behind.
After the two stood still, Shun shouted into the air, "Who on earth are you? Why are you playing tricks? Come out and show yourself! I am Shun, the eldest prince of the Southern Neighboring Country!"
His voice echoed in the mountains and forests, and the sound of the Qiang flute suddenly disappeared. Only the chirping of a few birds could be heard in the air.
Shun curled his lips and laughed proudly twice, thinking that the person playing tricks must have been scared away after hearing his name.
Then he waved his hand at the man beside him, signaling to get back on the road. But just then, an arrow flew out from the depths of the forest. The arrow was shining a dark blue light and flew straight towards Shun.
He didn't react in time. It was Ye who was quick - witted and pushed him away, so that he was spared.
Shun wanted to shout something into the air again, but was stopped by the man beside him.
The arrow that had just flown over was extremely fierce, and it was also poisoned. It must have come from the same sect of hidden weapons as his own.
After thinking for a while, he asked respectfully into the air, "May I ask who you are? Can we have a meeting?"
Shun was a bit unhappy to see him being so humble, but since he didn't know the whole story, he had no choice but to let it be.
A figure gradually emerged from the depths of the forest and soon came in front of them. It was a woman.
However, the fog in the forest made it impossible for others to see her face clearly.
All they could see was that she was wearing a white - based cheongsam with printed patterns, a pure - white fluffy shawl on her shoulders, and she was holding a red oil - paper umbrella in her hand, which was extremely eye - catching in the night.
Ye squinted at the woman in front of him. A sense of uneasiness welled up in his heart, so he asked, "May I ask who you are?"
They heard the woman not far away chuckle softly. She turned the handle of the umbrella, and the umbrella leaves spun, just allowing people to see the vine - shaped pattern printed on it.
"Second Prince has a good memory. I'm afraid you'll forget your senior sister after living a life of luxury for so long..."
The woman said softly, and there was an indescribable viscosity in her voice. Then she closed the umbrella, allowing the people opposite to see her eyebrows clearly.
It was an extremely beautiful face. Her eyes were like crystals covered with a layer of mist, making it impossible for people to look away once they saw them.
Ye suddenly understood. His expression changed, and he said, "Is it you?! Senior Sister Bai Huan!"
He never expected that it would be Bai Huan. It was hard not to suspect that she wasn't supposed to have died in the palace dungeon?
Back then, Helian Qi had wiped out the entire underground trading field of the Black Hawk Society. At that time, Bai Yi had been cut down by Helian Qi for hurting Dongfang Yi, and Bai Huan should have taken poison and died in the dungeon. But now she suddenly appeared in the forest.
They heard her laugh sinisterly, then squinted her eyes and showed a dangerous look: "Call me senior sister? Do you deserve it? You were expelled from the sect by the master!"
As she spoke, a gust of wind rose around her.
Ye lowered his eyes after hearing this. There was a hint of hurt in his expression, as if her words had hit his heart directly.
Shun on the side was completely confused about what they were talking about. But hearing them call each other senior sister and junior brother, he let down his guard and got back into the carriage.
Ye thought for a while and wanted to say something, but the woman opposite didn't give him a chance. She rushed straight over. The red umbrella instantly turned into a sharp weapon. There was a broken sword shaped like a lotus at the tip of the umbrella, which was dark blue, making it obvious that it was poisoned.
Ye frowned and took out his weapon to defend himself. The two of them got entangled as soon as they clashed.
But there was a hint of suspicion in his heart. If he remembered correctly, his senior sister Bai Huan should have learned medicine. But why was she so proficient in poison now? Did she secretly learn the forbidden art just like him?!
Thinking of this, his brows furrowed even tighter, and he asked, "Where did you learn the art of poison?"
They saw Bai Huan sneer, with disdain in her eyes.
"Of course, it was taught by the master!"
But there was disbelief in Ye's eyes. He roared as if he couldn't believe it, "Impossible! If so, why did she expel me from the Poison Valley?!"
His eyes were blood - shot, as if telling a painful past. Even his movements became more fierce. He leaned forward and knocked Bai Huan aside.
After this blow, blood oozed from Bai Huan's lips, but there was still a smile on her face as she said, "Because the master said that you were the disciple she least wanted to mention..."