"Wait." Chen Nan quickly stepped back and said, "Your Highness, you’re being too heartless. I clearly knew your camp was in a weak position during the day, yet I still made a bold decision and joined you. How could you treat me like this?"

  "Heh, you slippery little thief, you’ve already figured out that once the Third Prince makes his move, he’ll definitely silence you. Otherwise, why would you risk your life to make a deal with me back then?"

  "Cough... well... in that case, you absolutely cannot kill me. Your guards are already heavily injured, and at least I still have the strength to fight."

  The little princess paused for a moment, then looked at him and smiled, "Alright, since that’s the case, I’ll spare you for now. Here, carry this."

  Looking at the box containing the Hou Yi Bow that the little princess handed over, Chen Nan shouted, "No! Kill me instead." He understood that the little princess had already made her decision. She would reluctantly discard the Hou Yi Bow, shift the target of their enemies, and then look for an opportunity to escape.

  "Alright, I’ll kill you." The little princess drew her sword.

  "No, wait, I’ll carry it."

  In this peaceful night, hidden dangers lurked in the forest. At the Third Prince’s tent, there was a flurry of swordplay as he whispered plans with his men.

  Yang Chong, the captain of the Third Prince's guards, said, "Zhuge Chengfeng, that old man, is definitely not nearby. We were fooled earlier. Your Highness, it’s time to act, or we might regret it."

  The Third Prince pondered for a moment before replying, "Don’t rush. We’ve already surrounded them, so let’s keep a close watch. No rash movements. Let them be tense throughout the night. When they relax at dawn, we’ll strike."

  Yang Chong said, "There’s no need to treat them with such caution. Almost everyone on their side is seriously injured. Even that little witch, no matter how powerful she is, can’t be stronger than His Highness, right?"

  The Third Prince calmly said, "Yang Chong, you’re not experienced enough. If you act rashly like this, how can I trust you to stand on your own? True, they’re all injured, but even a sick tiger can still show its claws. Never underestimate your enemy. Since we have a whole night to weaken their morale and reduce their strength, why not use it? The way to defeat the enemy is to create favorable conditions for ourselves by any means possible. You still have a lot to learn."

  Sweat began to form on Yang Chong's forehead. He felt both reverence and fear for the Third Prince. The prince always gave off a subtle, yet unmistakable aura of dominance, creating a heavy pressure.

  "Yes, I understand my mistake."

  The Third Prince walked back and forth in the tent, his hands behind his back. "Once we succeed, take the Hou Yi Bow and return to the Moon Worship Empire immediately. Don’t waste a single moment on the way. Do you understand?"

  "Your Highness, are you not leaving?"

  "I can’t leave yet. I still haven’t gone to the Luofeng Mountains to see the Qilin," the Third Prince smiled.

  "Your Highness, this is too dangerous."

  "If I rush back to the Moon Worship Empire, it will be even more dangerous. Everyone will know it was me. Heh, if I stay here without any evidence, who can say it was me?"

  "Your Highness is truly wise."

  "Alright, go make arrangements. Tell them that when dawn comes, they must act swiftly and leave no survivors." The Third Prince’s face darkened with a cold expression.

  "Yes, I understand." Despite Yang Chong having been through countless life-and-death situations, he couldn’t help but shiver at that moment.

  Princess Chu Yu gathered all her subordinates together. She had completely shed her usual playful and cheerful demeanor, now appearing solemn and composed, like a steady general.

  “That scoundrel Chen Nan must have already told you what’s about to happen. ‘A man without guilt, but with a gem, is guilty.’ The Third Prince of the Moon Worship Empire has sinister ambitions, plotting to take the Hou Yi Bow, our national treasure, from our Chu Kingdom. The power disparity between us is immense. Even if I were to give them the Hou Yi Bow, they would never show mercy. They would still kill and silence us. But death comes in two forms: one is a humiliating death through surrender without a fight, the other is a heroic death in battle. Which one do you choose?”

  A low, angry roar of “Heroic death in battle!” echoed from the guards.

  “Correct! Although we’ve been pushed to the brink of despair, we must not yield. We must fight to the end and make them pay the most painful price. Are you willing to shed your blood to defend the dignity of our Chu Kingdom?”

  “Willing!”

  “We are willing to fight for the princess!”

  “We are willing to shed the last drop of blood for the Chu Kingdom!”

  ...

  Chen Nan couldn’t help but admire the little princess's skill. She had made her subordinates rally their spirits, even though he himself had intended to use their strength to escape. Yet, she managed to make it sound so passionate.

  “Alright, now let’s start preparing…”

  The little princess assigned each guard a specific position, instructing them to quietly ambush there under the cover of night.

  She then turned to Chen Nan and said, “Scoundrel, considering your low martial ability, I won’t ask you to kill any enemies. Just watch over the Hou Yi Bow.”

  Chen Nan: “…”

  “Does anyone have anything to add?”

  A female guard stood up and asked, “Princess, why don’t we break out under the cover of darkness?”

  The little princess shook her head, sighed, and said, “Come here.”

  She lifted the corner of the tent, picked up a small stone from the ground, and flicked it out. A faint sound followed as the stone landed in the grass nearby. At the same time, the sound of bowstrings echoed in the air, and dozens of feathered arrows shot towards that spot in the grass.

  “Did you all see that? They’ve already set a trap, ready to ambush us. Heh, since that’s the case, we’ll wait right here. Let them fall into our trap.”

  The guards couldn’t help but show admiration for the little princess.

  She continued, “I suspect if they don’t strike within an hour, they may delay until dawn. You must be cautious and never relax. Alright, go prepare.”

  Chen Nan sighed inwardly: "I didn't expect this little demon to be so meticulous. It's a pity she has no soldiers at her disposal. If her strength were on par with the Third Prince’s, it’s hard to say who would emerge victorious. This little girl is truly terrifying!"

  As everyone was about to leave, one of the guards suddenly kneeled to the ground, swearing, "I will do everything in my power to protect the princess and help her escape."

  Seeing this, the other guards also kneeled, one after another.

  "To the death, we will protect the princess."

  "We are willing to shed the last drop of blood for the princess."

  ...

  Everyone present swore in hushed tones to protect the little princess with their lives.

  Of course, there was one exception — the "scoundrel," "stinking thief," Chen Nan, in the princess's eyes. He thought to himself: "What a joke, protect this little demon? She’s already made her escape plans. That damn girl wants me to carry the Hou Yi Bow to my death. Sigh, if the Hou Yi Bow weren’t sealed, who could stop me now?"

  Once the guards left the tent, they immediately set up ambushes nearby.

  Just as Chen Nan was about to walk toward a nearby tent, a female swordsman suddenly drew her long sword and pressed it against his neck, saying, "You also have to stay and protect the princess. Stay here and behave yourself."

  Chen Nan felt more wronged than Dou E in ancient myths, having been inexplicably dragged into this whirlwind, trapped in a perilous situation.

  Death isn’t painful — it’s quick. The most agonizing part is waiting for death. Every minute is torment, the tension in the heart slowly building until it becomes unbearable, breaking under the immense pressure.

  Although the princess's guards were skilled, even they couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat during this long wait. On the other hand, Chen Nan, the "unknown" figure in their eyes, seemed more relaxed. He was constantly surveying potential escape routes, adjusting his plans for escape.

  "Hmm, first, throw the Hou Yi Bow to that unlucky bastard. Second, I should run to that spot, then... hmm, should I pretend to be dead under that tree in the next step? I’ll think it over... Hmm, finally, escape when they’re in the most confusion."

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  If the guards knew what Chen Nan was thinking, they would surely kill him on the spot.

  The morning star was the only thing left in the eastern sky, and Chen Nan knew that the moment of life and death was approaching. He took the dark Hou Yi Bow out of its box and gently rubbed it. In the ancient language of the continent, he whispered, "Old friend, do you remember me? It’s Chen Nan. I never thought we would meet again after so many millennia."

  One of the guards next to him nudged him, saying, "What are you muttering about?"

  "Oh, nothing."

  Just then, a circle of twenty or so figures surrounded them. The princess's guards sighed deeply. The agony of waiting was over; whether they survived or not, they no longer wished to endure this torment.

  As the long night drew to a close, the killing intent in the forest soared to the sky. The twenty-odd men rushed forward like wolves and tigers. At the same time, the princess’s guards had already aimed their bows and arrows at the invaders.

  “Whoosh!”

  “Whoosh!”

  ...

  The feathered arrows were released in unison, and a series of agonized screams followed. Six men were immediately struck by arrows and fell to the ground, lifeless.

  Yang Chong, the leader of the Third Prince’s guards, cursed under his breath, “Damn it, this devil princess! It’s already dawn, and she’s still on guard.”

  When the ninth man was shot down by a feathered arrow, the guards under the Third Prince had already reached the front of Chen Nan and the others, and the effectiveness of the bows and arrows was nullified.

  The princess’s guards immediately gripped their weapons and advanced. Only two people remained motionless—one was Chen Nan, and the other was a trainee mage who had survived the battle with the giant serpent. Chen Nan was looking for an opportunity to escape, while the trainee mage was muttering incantations, preparing to cast magic.

  A surge of magical energy filled the air as a massive ice spike quickly formed. The ice spike shot forward like a streak of white light, piercing through two people’s chests and stomachs, and finally shattered after killing the third.

  The trainee mage, having succeeded in his surprise attack, was overjoyed. But when he tried to cast magic again, he found that his mana had already been depleted. He was already heavily injured, and being able to cast a spell once was a rare feat. However, the inability to cast again now meant certain death. A steel sword was hurled toward him, striking his heart with pinpoint accuracy. The trainee mage, with a look of unwillingness, slowly closed his eyes.

  Chen Nan remained motionless, crouching in the grass, waiting for the perfect moment to escape.

  On the battlefield, both sides suffered casualties. Although the princess’s guards were severely wounded, they continued to hold their ground, fighting with their lives on the line.

  Suddenly, the princess darted out of the tent like a flash of lightning, charging into the enemy ranks. She held a slender sword in her hand, and wherever she passed, someone fell, leaving a trail of blood in the air.

  Chen Nan was stunned. He had thought the princess would use the chaos to escape, but instead, she charged into the enemy ranks. It seemed she had made a sudden change of heart after a painful struggle; otherwise, she wouldn’t have forced the Hou Yi Bow onto him earlier.

  “I didn’t expect this little demon hasn’t yet evolved into a true demon. Sigh, after all, she’s still a little girl. Her heart isn’t completely hardened. She can’t bear to abandon her subordinates and escape alone. But in a few years, who knows what will happen.”

  In the midst of the chaos, Chen Nan stood up, holding the dark Hou Yi Bow high. In an instant, he became the center of attention, with killing intent pouring in from all sides.

  Seeing that Chen Nan had successfully drawn the enemy’s attention, the princess’s eyes flashed with a hint of reluctance, but then her expression turned furious.

  Chen Nan shouted at the Third Prince’s guards, “Brothers, I have no intention of becoming your enemy. Don’t you want this Hou Yi Bow? Here you go!” He threw the Hou Yi Bow, but intentionally made it veer off course, causing it to land beside the princess.

  “Kill them!” The Third Prince’s guards surged forward, while the princess’s guards, intent on protecting her, also rushed forward. The encirclement immediately collapsed, and everyone surged toward the princess or the Hou Yi Bow. The two sides clashed together in a chaotic melee.

  The princess glared at Chen Nan with fiery eyes, as if her gaze could burn him to ashes. If looks could kill, Chen Nan would already be reduced to cinders. With great reluctance, she shifted her gaze to the enemy charging toward her and met them with her sword.

  Chen Nan sneered, “Don’t blame me. I don’t strike unless struck. It was you who forced me to carry the Hou Yi Bow to my death. I’m just protecting myself.”

  He bent down to pick up a longsword from the ground and strapped it to his side. As he turned to run deeper into the forest, there was a sudden "thud"—the Hou Yi Bow fell from the sky and landed at his feet.

  "No way, it's back so soon!" Chen Nan looked back and saw the princess coldly smirking at him from within the enemy ranks. At the same time, several of the Third Prince's guards were charging toward him.

  "You little girl, you're ruthless." He no longer had the time to throw the Hou Yi Bow back. Turning, he ran deeper into the woods, but after just a few dozen steps, he suddenly stopped, feeling a cold chill sweep through his body.

  The Third Prince, leading four of his guards, emerged from the depths of the forest. He wore a faint smile and said, "Interesting, very interesting. I never expected Princess Yu to make a mistake. You really found an opening. I must say, I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to have such quick wit. I was waiting for Princess Yu here, but you were the first to escape."

  "This... Third Prince, I never intended to be your enemy. I'm not one of those who came from the palace, nor am I some eunuch. That little demon, oh, Princess Yu, the reason she’s been after me is because I know a huge secret she’s been trying to pry from me... but she hasn't succeeded."

  "You call her a little demon? Ha... you really are interesting." The Third Prince laughed, but his face quickly darkened. "In front of me, you're nothing but a slippery character. Don’t try any tricks, and don't even think about using some 'great secret' to bargain for your life."

  Chen Nan's heart sank, a cold sweat forming on his body. "It’s true. I accidentally found a map in an ancient cave. Although I'm not very knowledgeable about ancient cultures, I recognized a few characters. It said 'Xuanwu Armor' in ancient script."

  "What?" The Third Prince exclaimed, but his face immediately turned frosty, his voice cold. "How dare you spout such nonsense in front of me!"

  "Your Highness, I swear every word is true. Otherwise, why would that little demon chase me across the land?"

  The Third Prince’s eyes glinted with cold light as he stared at Chen Nan, and after a long silence, he finally asked, "Where is the map?"

  "Well... I’ve hidden it in a secret location."

  "Hmph!" The Third Prince coldly snorted. "Go pick up the Hou Yi Bow."

  The guards who had been chasing Chen Nan for the Hou Yi Bow retreated when they saw the Third Prince. The bow now lay in the nearby grass.

  The legendary celestial treasure, the Xuanwu Armor, indeed had immense allure. Although the Third Prince didn’t believe Chen Nan’s words, he decided to spare his life for now, planning to investigate later.

  "Whoo~~~" Chen Nan sighed in relief. He carefully handed the Hou Yi Bow to the Third Prince, whose face lit up with excitement as he rubbed the dark bow.

  "Finally, the Hou Yi Bow, the continental celestial treasure, is in my hands. Ha ha..." His eyes shone with a burning light.

  By now, the daylight had fully arrived, and a faint mist hung in the forest. A pungent smell of blood wafted through the air, and the forest was littered with the bodies of the fallen.

  The princess’s white clothing had blossomed with more than a dozen bloodstains. Her eyes were filled with murderous intent, and every strike of her sword claimed a life. The Third Prince’s guards had been decimated by her. But her own guards had almost all been wiped out, with only one or two left, weakly groaning on the ground.

  "Stop!" The Third Prince shouted. "Princess Yu is truly formidable. My guards are among the best, able to fight ten to one, yet they have suffered so many casualties."

  Captain Yang Chong and the other three guards, who had been attacking the princess, retreated together.

  The little princess leaned on her sword, breathing heavily, her long, dark hair soaked in sweat, strands sticking together. She was already exhausted, but the tragic deaths of her guards had deeply wounded her heart. It was only the burning fury within her that kept her going this far.

  She glared at the Third Prince, addressing him by name: "Renjian, don’t you fear that your actions today will ignite a war between Chu and Baiyue?"

  "Heh, Princess Yu, you should know this well. What happened today will forever remain a strange case. No one will ever know that the little princess of Chu suffered an unfortunate fate here."

  "There’s no wall that doesn’t let wind through; this will eventually spread across the continent."

  "There are no walls here, nor ears to listen to the wind."

  The little princess pointed at Chen Nan. "Isn't he one of those?"

  "Ha ha, it’s so laughable. The mighty little princess of Chu, the famous little witch, being outplayed by such a minor character," the Third Prince sneered.

  The little princess glared at Chen Nan fiercely. If she could still move, she would have already charged at him with her sword. Chen Nan seethed inwardly. That little demon was trying to frame him even at a time like this.

  The Third Prince glanced coldly at Chen Nan, then turned his attention back to the little princess. "Princess Yu, what do you think I should do with you? A beauty like you... I can’t bear to kill you. But if I keep you by my side, I’ll always have to worry about you trying to assassinate me. Sigh, it’s truly troublesome. After thinking it over, the only choice is to quietly send you to someone else. I’m sure some princes from other countries would be more than happy to accept you as a gift."

  The little princess seemed to make some painful decision, a look of anguish crossing her face.

  The Third Prince coldly continued, "Don’t think about using those princes’ power for revenge, or trying to soften their hearts to let you go. You’ll be sent as a personal gift. You are nothing more than a token of alliance between me and others. Heh heh, I know you won’t commit suicide; you won’t waste any opportunity to survive. Only by staying alive will you have a chance to take revenge."

  The little princess weakly collapsed to the ground.

  Not far away, Chen Nan felt a chill run through him. The Third Prince was truly terrifying; he was undoubtedly a ruthless warlord.

  Suddenly, the little princess lifted her head, casting a fierce glance at Chen Nan before turning to the Third Prince. "Renjian, why didn’t you kill him?"

  The Third Prince smiled. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. This guy has decided to give me the treasure map of the Xuanwu Armor." Although he didn’t fully believe that Chen Nan knew the secret of the Xuanwu Armor, he assumed that the feud between Chen Nan and the princess had something to do with the treasure map. He wanted to use this opportunity to strike a blow against the princess.

  "Ha ha..." The little princess suddenly burst into an ungracious laugh, tears streaming down her face.

  "Renjian, you idiot, ha ha... you really crack me up. You actually believe that guy knows about the Xuanwu Armor? What a joke! Ha ha..."

  The Third Prince, Renjian, turned pale with anger, glaring coldly at Chen Nan.

  Chen Nan’s heart sank. Suddenly, he struck out, slamming his palm into the chest of a nearby guard, snatching the Hou Yi Bow from his hands. Mimicking the princess’s master, Zhuge Chengfeng, Chen Nan used the bow like a staff, swinging it forcefully at another guard. The guard had no time to react before the blow collapsed his chest, killing him instantly.

  "Ha ha, interesting, well done, scoundrel!" The little princess gleefully shouted, her voice dripping with malicious amusement.

  "Kill him!" Renjian roared.

  Two other guards wielding steel knives charged at Chen Nan. Forced to defend himself, he raised the Hou Yi Bow to face them. Although at first he relied on the bow to shatter one guard’s steel knife, he couldn’t hold on for long. After about twenty exchanges, one of the guards struck him with a palm on his back. Chen Nan spat blood and collapsed to the ground.

  As his blood spilled onto the Hou Yi Bow, a warm current surged from the back of the bow into his hands. The dark bow began to glow faintly with golden light, and the string trembled lightly.

  "This... isn't this exactly how the Hou Yi Bow was a thousand years ago? Every time I gripped it, it would hum happily and emit bursts of golden light. Could it be... could its seal have been lifted?"

  All of this happened in an instant. At that moment, one of the guards raised his knife and swung it at the fallen Chen Nan.

  Quickly, Chen Nan grabbed a dry twig from the ground and placed it on the bowstring. He pulled the string back slightly. Golden light poured from the bow like a fine mist toward the dry twig, and a faint golden beam, like lightning, shot out. The forest was engulfed in a furious wind, and thunder rumbled.

  The golden light collided with the steel knife, causing an explosion of light in the air. The knife was instantly shattered into dust, falling from the sky. Amidst the shower of light, the dry twig, like the Grim Reaper’s spear, pierced through the guard’s chest in an instant. Blood sprayed from the wound like a gushing spring, and the guard died with his eyes wide open.