Chapter 06: Bloodbath Nightmare
by Donghua Reader“Wait!” Chen Nan hurriedly stepped back. “Your Highness, this is too heartless. Earlier today, I knew your faction was at a disadvantage, yet I still threw caution to the wind and joined you. How could you treat me like this?”
“Heh heh, you slippery scoundrel. You saw through it all—you knew Third Prince would silence you after his move. Otherwise, why risk your life to bargain with me then?”
“Cough… well… that’s precisely why you shouldn’t kill me now. Your guards are all gravely wounded. I still have the strength to fight.”
The young princess paused, then smiled at him. “Very well. Since that’s the case, I’ll spare you for now. Here, strap this on your back.”
As the princess handed him the box containing Houyi’s bow, Chen Nan cried out, “No! Just kill me!” He understood the princess had made a decisive choice: sacrificing the Houyi Bow to divert their attention, then seizing an opportunity to escape.
“Fine. I’ll kill you.” The princess drew her sword.
“No, please don’t! I’ll carry it!”
Deadly Intent in the Tranquil Night
On this seemingly tranquil night, deadly intent lurked within the forest. At the Third Prince’s tent, swords flashed as he whispered strategies with his men.
Yang Chong, the commander of the prince’s guards, declared, “That old man Zhuge Chengfeng is nowhere near here. We were all deceived during the day. Your Highness, strike now. Better to act swiftly than risk complications.”
The Third Prince pondered briefly before replying, “Hold your horses. We’ve already surrounded them. Keep them under close surveillance, but don’t make any rash moves. Let them sweat it out through the night. When dawn comes and their guard is down, that’s when we strike.”
Yang Chong protested, “Surely we needn’t treat them with such reverence? Nearly every one of them is gravely wounded. Even if that little witch is formidable, could she possibly surpass Your Highness?”
The Third Prince replied calmly, “Yang Chong, you still lack experience. With such rashness, how could I ever trust you to lead independently? True, they are all gravely wounded. But even a sick tiger can strike. Never underestimate your foes. If a single night can shatter their resolve and weaken their strength, why not exploit it? The art of defeating enemies lies in creating every possible advantage for yourself. You still have much to learn.”
Sweat beaded on Yang Chong’s forehead. He felt both reverence and awe toward His Highness the Third Prince. There was an ever-present, almost intangible aura of dominance about him, creating a heavy sense of pressure.
“Yes, Your Highness. I understand my mistake.”
The Third Prince paced the tent with his hands behind his back. “Once we succeed, you take the Houyi Bow and return immediately to the Moon Worship Sect. Not a moment’s delay on the journey. Is that clear?”
“Your Highness, won’t you be leaving?”
“I cannot depart yet. I still must visit the Luofeng Mountains to see the qilin,” the Third Prince replied with a smile.
Yang Chong protested, “Your Highness, this is far too dangerous.”
“Returning to Baiyue immediately would be even riskier. That would make it obvious I orchestrated this. Heh heh. By staying here, without evidence, who could say it was me?”
“Your Highness is brilliant.”
“Enough. Go make the arrangements. Tell them to strike cleanly at dawn—leave no survivors.” The Third Prince’s face turned icy.
“Understood, Your Highness.” Though Yang Chong had faced countless life-and-death trials, he couldn’t help but shiver at those words.
The Princess Rallies Her Forces
Princess Chu Yu gathered all her subordinates. Gone was her usual playful demeanor; now she stood solemn and stern, like a seasoned general.
“That scoundrel Chen Nan has already informed you of the impending events. A man is innocent, but the treasure he holds makes him guilty. The Third Prince of Baiyue harbors wolfish ambitions, coveting our Chu Kingdom’s national treasure—the Houyi Bow. The disparity in our forces is vast. Even if I surrendered the Houyi Bow now, they would show no mercy—they would still slaughter us to silence us. But death comes in two forms: a humiliating surrender without a fight, or a heroic death in battle. Which will you choose?”
A collective, hushed roar erupted from the guards within the tent: “A heroic death in battle!”
“Right! Though we’ve been driven to the brink, we must never yield. We’ll fight to the bitter end and make them pay the heaviest price. Are you willing to defend the dignity of our Chu Kingdom with your blood?”
“We are!”
“We’ll fight for the princess!”
“We’ll shed our last drop of blood for Chu!”
Chen Nan marveled at the young princess’s skill. Clearly, she intended to use their strength to escape, yet she framed it with such stirring rhetoric.
“Good. Now let us begin our preparations…”
The young princess assigned each guard a specific location, instructing them to secretly take up their positions under the cover of night.
Then she turned to Chen Nan: “Scum, considering your mediocre martial arts, I won’t ask you to fight. Just guard the Houyi Bow properly.”
Chen Nan: “…”
“Anything else to add?”
A female guard stood up and asked, “Princess, why not break through the encirclement under cover of night?”
The young princess shook her head and sighed. “Come closer, all of you.”
She lifted a corner of the tent flap, picked up a small pebble from the ground, and flicked it away. A soft thud echoed nearby as the stone landed in the grass. Simultaneously, the air rang with the faint twang of bowstrings as dozens of feathered arrows shot toward that patch of grass.
“Did you all see that? They’ve laid traps. They’ve been preparing to ambush us all along. Heh heh, since that’s the case, we’ll wait right here until they fall into our ambush instead.”
The guards couldn’t help but look at the little princess with admiration.
The little princess continued, “I suspect if they don’t attack within the next hour, they might delay until dawn. You must be extremely cautious and not let your guard down. Alright, go prepare yourselves.”
Chen Nan sighed inwardly: Who would have thought the little devil was so meticulous? Pity she has no troops at her command. If her forces matched those of the Third Prince, the outcome might well be uncertain. This little girl is truly terrifying!
As the group prepared to depart, one guard suddenly knelt and swore, “This subordinate will spare no effort to escort the princess to safety.”
Seeing this, the other guards knelt in unison.
“We swear to guard the princess with our lives.”
“We pledge to shed our last drop of blood for the princess.”
Everyone present murmured their vows, pledging their lives to protect the young princess.
Of course, there was one exception: Chen Nan, whom the princess regarded as a “scum” and a “stinking thief.” He thought to himself: Are you kidding me? Protect this little devil? She’s already made her escape plans. That damn girl actually wants me to carry Houyi’s Bow into certain death. Sigh, if only Houyi’s Bow hadn’t been sealed away, who could stop me now?
After the guards withdrew from the tent, they immediately took up positions in ambush nearby.
Just as Chen Nan moved toward an adjacent tent, a female swordswoman suddenly drew her blade and pressed it against his throat. “You’re staying to protect the princess,” she declared. “Stay right here.”
Chen Nan felt more wronged than Dou E from ancient myths—swept into this vortex for no reason, trapped in mortal peril.
The Agony of Waiting
Death itself brings no pain; it’s but an instant. The true agony lies in awaiting death. Every minute is torture, the heartstrings tightening with each passing second until they snap under the immense pressure, shattering into ruin.
Though the princess’s guards were skilled fighters, cold sweat broke out on their brows during this interminable wait. In contrast, Chen Nan—the “mysterious stranger” in their eyes—seemed surprisingly relaxed. He was constantly surveying escape routes, refining his escape strategy.
“Hmm, first step: toss Houyi’s bow at that unlucky soul. Second step: dash to that spot, then… Hmm, should step N involve playing dead under that tree? Let me think… Hmm, finally, escape when they’re most disorganized.”
If these men knew what Chen Nan was thinking, they would kill him on the spot.
Only a dazzling morning star remained in the eastern sky. Chen Nan knew the moment of life and death was approaching. He drew the ebony Houyi bow from its case and ran his fingers lightly over its surface. In the ancient language of the continent from ten thousand years ago, he murmured, “Old friend, do you remember me? I am Chen Nan. Who would have thought we could meet again after ten thousand years?”
A guard beside him nudged him. “What are you muttering about?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Dawn of Chaos
Just then, over twenty figures closed in, encircling them in a ring. The guards under the young princess’s command exhaled deeply. The end of the agonizing wait brought relief—whether they survived or not, they could endure no more of this torment.
As the long night drew to a close, a murderous aura filled the forest. The twenty-odd figures charged forward like tigers and wolves. Simultaneously, the guards under the young princess’s command had already aimed their bows at the intruders.
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
Feathered arrows flew in unison, followed by a chorus of agonized screams. Six men were struck dead instantly, collapsing lifeless to the ground.
Yang Chong, the guard commander under the Third Prince, cursed under his breath, “Damn that devil princess! It’s already dawn, and she’s still on guard.”
As the ninth man fell to the arrows, the Third Prince’s guards had already charged to within striking distance of Chen Nan and his companions. The arrows had lost their purpose.
The guards under the young princess’s command gripped their weapons and advanced. Only two remained rooted to the spot: Chen Nan and the apprentice mage who had survived the giant serpent battle. Chen Nan was searching for an opening to escape, while the apprentice mage chanted incantations, preparing to cast a spell.
A surge of magical energy rippled through the air, rapidly forming a massive ice spike. The spike transformed into a blinding white beam, plunging into the enemy ranks. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through the chests and abdomens of two men before shattering upon killing a third.
The apprentice mage was thrilled by his successful ambush. Yet when he attempted to cast another spell, he discovered his magic reserves were completely depleted. Already gravely wounded, casting even one spell had been an extraordinary feat. But the inability to cast another spell now meant certain death. A steel sword was hurled toward him, piercing the apprentice mage’s heart with pinpoint accuracy. With a look of bitter resignation, the apprentice mage slowly closed his eyes.
Chen Nan remained motionless, lying in the grass, waiting for the optimal moment to escape.
The clashing sides suffered casualties on both fronts. Though the princess’s guards were wounded beyond measure, they clung to their weapons, fighting with a desperation that bordered on suicide.
Suddenly, the princess burst from the tent like a bolt of lightning, plunging into the enemy ranks. A slender sword gripped in her hand, she cut a swath of death through the air, leaving trails of blood in her wake.
Chen Nan froze. He had expected the princess to flee amidst the chaos, not charge into the enemy ranks. Yet, she must have made this last-minute decision after a painful struggle—otherwise, she wouldn’t have forcibly handed him the Houyi Bow earlier.
“Who would’ve thought the little devil hasn’t fully evolved into a true demon yet. Ah, she’s still just a girl at heart. Her resolve isn’t quite hardened yet—she couldn’t bear to abandon her men and flee alone. In a few more years, who knows?”
As chaos erupted among the enemy ranks, Chen Nan rose to his feet, the ebony Houyi Bow raised high in both hands. Instantly, he became the focal point of everyone’s attention, a dozen currents of killing intent surging toward him simultaneously.
Seeing Chen Nan successfully draw the enemy’s attention, the young princess flashed a look of reluctance in her eyes. Yet, in the next instant, her expression twisted into fury.
Chen Nan shouted at the guards under the Third Prince’s command: “Brothers, I have no desire to be your enemy! You want this Houyi Bow? Here!” He hurled the Houyi Bow forward, deliberately steering it off course so it landed beside the young princess.
“Kill!” The Third Prince’s guards swarmed forward. The young princess’s guards, fiercely protective of their mistress, charged in as well. The encirclement instantly collapsed. Everyone rushed toward either the young princess or the Houyi Bow, both sides plunging into a chaotic melee.
The young princess glared at Chen Nan with such ferocity that her eyes nearly shot flames. Had looks alone been lethal, Chen Nan would have been reduced to ashes. With bitter resignation, she shifted her gaze to the enemies closing in and met them sword in hand.
Chen Nan sneered coldly, “Don’t blame me. I don’t provoke others unless provoked first. You forced me to carry Houyi’s Bow into certain death. I’m merely defending myself.”
He bent down, picked up a long sword from the ground, and fastened it to his waist. Just as he turned to flee deeper into the forest, Houyi’s Bow suddenly plopped down from the sky, landing at his feet.
“No way, it’s back already!” Chen Nan spun around to see the little princess sneering at him from within the enemy ranks. Simultaneously, several guards under the Third Prince’s command charged toward him.
“You’re ruthless, little girl.” There was no time to throw Hou Yi back. He turned and sprinted deeper into the woods. But after barely a dozen steps, he froze abruptly, his body turning ice-cold.
Confrontation with the Third Prince
The Third Prince emerged from the forest depths with four guards, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Amusing. Quite amusing. Brilliant. Truly brilliant. Who would have thought Princess Yu could miscalculate? To let you slip through her fingers… I truly underestimated you. Never imagined you possessed such quick wit. I was waiting here for Her Highness Princess Yu, yet you were the first to escape.”
“Well… Your Highness, I never intended to oppose you. I didn’t leave the palace with them, nor am I any sort of eunuch. That little devil—oh, I mean Princess Yu—she’s been hounding me because I know a colossal secret. She’s been trying to pry it out of me, but… she’s never succeeded.”
“You call her a little devil? Ha ha… You’re quite the amusing fellow.” The Third Prince roared with laughter, but his expression darkened instantly. “Before me, you’re nothing more than a slippery snake. Don’t try any tricks, and don’t even dream of using some ‘earth-shattering secret’ to beg for mercy.”
Chen Nan’s heart sank, cold sweat breaking out on his body. “It’s true. I stumbled upon a map in an ancient cave. Though I’m not well-versed in ancient culture, I recognized those characters—three ancient script characters: ‘Xuanwu Armor’.”
“What?!” the Third Prince exclaimed, his face instantly turning icy. “How dare you spout such nonsense in my presence!”
“Your Highness, every word is true. It’s absolutely genuine. Otherwise, why would that little demon be chasing me for thousands of miles?”
The Third Prince’s eyes flashed with icy glare as he fixed Chen Nan with a cold stare. After a long moment, he demanded, “Where is the map?”
“Well… I’ve hidden it in a secret location.”
“Hmph!” The Third Prince snorted coldly. “Go retrieve the Houyi Bow.”
The guards who had been hunting Chen Nan for the Houyi Bow retreated upon seeing the Third Prince. The bow now lay hidden in nearby grass.
The mystical treasure, the Black Tortoise Armor—never before obtained by mortal hands—proved irresistibly alluring. Though skeptical of Chen Nan’s claims, the Third Prince spared his life, intending to investigate further later.
“Whew…” Chen Nan exhaled deeply. Cradling the Houyi Bow in both hands, he presented it to the Third Prince. The prince’s face lit up with excitement as he ran his fingers repeatedly over the jet-black bow’s back.
“The continent’s divine treasure, the Houyi Bow, is finally in my hands. Ha ha…” His eyes blazed with fervor.
The Bloody Aftermath
By now, daylight had fully broken. A faint mist drifted through the forest, carrying a pungent stench of blood. Deep within the woods, bodies lay strewn haphazardly across the ground.
The young princess’s white robes were now splattered with over a dozen crimson blossoms. Her eyes held a murderous glint as her sword drew blood with every strike, cutting down most of the Third Prince’s guards. Yet her own retinue had suffered near total loss, with only one or two lying on the ground, emitting faint, intermittent moans.
“Halt!” the Third Prince bellowed. “Princess Yu truly is formidable. My guards are all masters capable of holding off ten foes each, yet so many have fallen.”
Guard commander Yang Chong and the three other guards surrounding the princess retreated together.
The young princess leaned her sword against the ground, gasping for breath. Her jet-black hair was drenched in sweat, strands clinging together in wet locks. She was utterly exhausted, yet the brutal deaths of her guards pierced her heart deeply. It was the fire of rage within her that had sustained her until now.
Glaring at the Third Prince, she addressed him directly by name. “Renjian, do you not fear provoking war between Chu and Baiyue?”
“Heh heh,” he replied. “Princess Yu, you know full well today’s events will forever remain a mystery. No one will ever know Chu’s young princess met her end here.”
“There’s no such thing as a wall that doesn’t let the wind through. This will spread across the continent sooner or later.”
“There are no walls here, nor anyone listening to the wind.”
The young princess pointed at Chen Nan. “Isn’t he?”
“Hah! The very thought amuses me. The renowned Little Witch, the esteemed young princess of Chu, was outmaneuvered by such a minor figure.”
The princess glared at Chen Nan with venom. If she could move, she would have charged at him with her sword already. Chen Nan seethed inwardly—this little devil was still trying to frame him at a time like this.
The Third Prince shot Chen Nan a cold glance before turning back to the princess. “Princess Yu,” he said, “how do you suggest I deal with you? A beauty like you, I truly cannot bear to kill. Yet to keep you by my side means constant vigilance against your assassination attempts. Ah, what a headache! After much thought, the only solution is to quietly gift you away. I’m sure some princes from other nations would be delighted to receive you as a present.”
The princess’s face twisted with pain, as if she’d made some agonizing decision.
The Third Prince coldly declared, “Do not delude yourself into thinking you can use those princes’ power for revenge, or that they might take pity and set you free. You will be given away as a private concubine. You are merely a gift to seal an alliance between me and others. Heh heh, I know you won’t take your own life. You won’t let slip any chance to survive. Only by living do you retain the opportunity for vengeance.”
The young princess slumped weakly to the ground.
Not far away, Chen Nan felt a chill run through him. The Third Prince was truly terrifying—a genuine tyrant.
Suddenly, the young princess lifted her head, shot Chen Nan a fierce glare, then turned to the Third Prince. “Renjian, why didn’t you kill him?”
The Third Prince chuckled. “Oh, I forgot to mention—this fellow decided to give me the treasure map for the Black Tortoise Armor.” Though he doubted Chen Nan knew the armor’s secret, he believed the princess’s grudge stemmed from the map. He intended to use this chance to strike at her.
“Ha ha…” The princess suddenly burst into an uncontrollable, unseemly laugh, tears streaming down her face.
“Renjian, you big fool! Ha ha… this is absolutely hilarious! You actually believe that guy has the Xuanwu Armor? How laughable! Ha ha…”
Prince Renjian’s face turned ashen as he shot a cold glare at Chen Nan.
Chen Nan’s heart sank instantly. Seizing the moment, he struck out with a palm strike, hitting a guard beside him square in the chest. With the same motion, he snatched the Houyi Bow from the guard’s grasp. Following the example of Princess Xing’s master, Zhuge Chengfeng, Chen Nan wielded the Houyi Bow like a club, swinging it with force at another guard nearby. The attack was so sudden that the guard hadn’t even grasped what was happening before his chest caved in, killing him instantly.
“Ha! How amusing! Well done, scum!” the young princess cackled with schadenfreude.
“Kill him!” Ren Jian roared.
Two other guards swung steel blades at Chen Nan. With no other choice, he raised the Houyi Bow to defend himself. Though he initially shattered one guard’s blade with the bow’s force, he couldn’t withstand more than twenty exchanges. A guard’s palm slammed into his back, sending him crashing to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth.
As Chen Nan’s blood splattered onto the Houyi Bow, a warm current surged from the bow’s back into his hands. The dark bow began to emit a faint golden glow, its string quivering lightly.
“This… Wasn’t the Houyi Bow like this ten thousand years ago? Whenever I grasped it, it would cheerfully hum and emit waves of golden light. Could it be… Could its seal have been broken?”
All this happened in an instant. Just then, a guard raised his blade to strike the fallen Chen Nan.
Chen Nan swiftly snatched a withered branch from the ground and placed it on the bowstring. He drew the string taut, and golden light flowed toward the branch like mist. A faint golden arrow shot from the bow like lightning, stirring a violent wind through the forest, accompanied by thunderous roars.
The golden beam struck the steel blade, exploding into a shower of light in midair. The blade shattered instantly, raining down from the sky. Amidst the light shower, the withered branch pierced the guard’s chest like the spear of death. Blood gushed forth like a geyser from the gaping wound, and the guard died with eyes wide open.
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