Chapter 72 Loyalty and Righteous Faith

  It happened suddenly, without any warning. From the beginning to now, the assassins didn't say a word, everything was carried out in silence. The crossbow bolt missed its mark, and the assassins charged forward with their steel knives. They were dead men, dead men who lived only for their master, and their master's orders had to be faithfully executed, even if it meant sacrificing their lives.

  They received an order: Zhu Zhifan must die!

  The situation was extremely critical, Zhu Yunfen went out in disguise with only a dozen or so personal guards, while the assassins wearing black clothes and masks were as many as thirty. They reacted quickly and moved lightly, their skills were not ordinary.

  No one in the movie shouted idiotic slogans like "I'll kill you, dog emperor!" while spitting. The assassins silently charged at the imperial guards who formed a circular defense with their shields.

  Those who can stand out from the Wanqianjin Yi army and be selected as guards beside the future emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty are certainly not incompetent. In fact, they are all seasoned veterans with exceptional martial arts skills and knowledgeable about the tactics of joint attacks in military formations.

  As the assassins charged, the Imperial Guards stood still in formation, waiting until the steel blades were very close to their bodies. The guards' knives were suddenly raised high, clashing loudly as they advanced to meet the enemy, shouting in unison, and a small defensive formation of over ten people was launched. The guards formed groups of three, relying on each other, constantly changing positions as they advanced and retreated, meeting the assassins' swords that came slashing from all sides. Without any sign of panic, the crowd surrounded them in a circle, their knives and swords dancing so densely that no matter how hard the assassins tried to break through, they still couldn't get within half a step of Zhu Yunfen.

  A few muffled thuds. Several assassins were struck down by the guards and fell to the ground dead.

  Then there were several muffled sounds, and two more imperial guards were stabbed, the knife was clearly coated with a potent poison, and the guards quickly succumbed to the toxin and fell to the ground motionless. As the guards fell, the other guards immediately shifted positions, filling in the gaps, and their defensive formation remained impenetrable.

  Zhu Yunfen in the circle had never seen such a bloody scene, at this moment his handsome face was pale. His hands and feet were icy cold, and in the midst of terror, he was completely at a loss, his eyes filled with fear involuntarily looked towards Xiao Fan.

  Xiao Fan was stunned for a moment, and he too was shocked by the sudden change in front of him. At this moment, he suddenly felt a sense of confusion stronger than fear. Had Zhu Yunfen been assassinated in history? Why didn't he know about it? Or what had changed history?

  The familiar history suddenly changed. It became something he couldn't grasp at all, and for him, this was a more terrifying thing than being stabbed. The advantage of the traverser seemed to disappear in an instant, and Xiao Fan was now just an ordinary Ming dynasty citizen.

  No time to think, after seeing Zhu Yun's terrified gaze, Xiao Fan immediately came back to his senses. He grabbed Zhu Yun's collar with one hand and Xiao Hua Mei's collar with the other, like holding two small chicks, turned around and retreated backwards. Behind them was the county government gate, the situation wasn't looking good, there were more assassins than guards. The guards wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer, entering the county government gate might provide a glimmer of hope.

  "Back off and close the door!" Xiao Fan shouted loudly.

  The guards immediately understood Xiao Fan's intention, and a gap was opened at the back of the circular formation. Xiao Fan carried Zhu Fei Yun and Xiao Hua Mei into it to retreat.

  The assassins saw the formation change and knew that Zhu Yun would retreat to the county government gate. If he retreated and the gate closed, their assassination attempt this time could be said to have completely failed.

  The assassins' offensive rhythm suddenly accelerated, they let go of their lives and death moves, all of which were desperate life-and-death struggles, and slowly opened up the rear of the guards in a pincer movement from both sides.

  Two dull thuds, and two more guards fell down

  Xiao Fan's eyes were fixed on the carnage in the arena, but his hands were holding onto Zhu Yunfen and Xiao Huamei as they slowly backed away. Zhu Yunfen's handsome face had turned pale with fear, but Xiao Huamei still wore a calm and indifferent expression, as if she didn't know what it meant to be afraid. So many people had died in front of her, even Xiao Fan's legs were starting to go weak, yet she showed no signs of fear or emotion, as if the ones dying before her weren't human, but just pigs and dogs.

  Xiao Fan couldn't help but notice her expression, the guards protecting Zhu Yunfen were fighting and retreating, when suddenly a black shadow flashed behind them, an assassin had broken through the rear formation. The dim light of the knife flashed, chopping towards Zhu Yunfen's head.

  Xiao Fan was shocked, subconsciously twisting his body to block Zhu Yunfen's panicked face, but the fear and confusion in his heart grew stronger. As he blocked Zhu Yunfen with his body, he kept asking himself, why? Why was there this assassination attempt? What mistake had occurred in history? Was it because of his own transmigration that he had quietly changed the course of history, causing this crown prince who had not yet ascended to the throne to lose his life here?

  The blade edge approached, Xiao Fan clenched his teeth. Closing his eyes, waiting for the moment when he would lose his head. In a daze, he felt Xiao Hua Mei suddenly break free from his grasp, and in fright, he turned to look, only to see Xiao Hua Mei's small head lowered slightly, like a mad little tigress, fiercely colliding with the assassin who was chopping at him. The assassin's eyes only had Zhu Yun Fen as their target, and the scene was chaotic, how could they guard against a sudden attack from a little girl?

  The assassin who had broken through the formation fortunately only felt a stomachache, let out a muffled groan and bent down. Xiao Hua Mei took advantage of this to strike back with her hand, saving Xiao Fan's life. However, she still seemed like she had gone mad, taking advantage of the assassin's momentary pain to pounce on him, punching and kicking him. Feeling that it wasn't enough, she bit down hard on the assassin's wrist with her small white teeth. This kind of frenzied madness was as if a devout believer was using their life to defend their deity. To Xiao Hua Mei, Xiao Fan was her god, her faith. Anyone who harmed Xiao Fan would be her sworn enemy until death, and she would kill them at all costs!

  The assassin was bitten by her and let out a scream, with a fierce light flashing in his eyes. He raised the knife in his hand high, ready to chop down on her with one slash.

  Xiao Fan's heart was torn apart. Because they were separated by a few steps, he couldn't catch up to her in time and could only shout loudly: "Hua Mei, come back! Don't be foolish!"

  Xiao Hua's eyebrows were furrowed, her ears closed off to all sound, yet she still clung tightly to the assassin's wrist. Not relaxing her grip in the slightest, a thread of fresh blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she raised her eyes to meet the assassin's gaze. Her pupils, filled with bloody tears, revealed a crazed glint. A vengeful stare, tinged with an unyielding persistence and disregard for life itself.

  As long as she lives, she will never allow anyone to harm Xiao Fan. This is a simple and firm belief in the heart of a little girl, a faith worth defending with her life!

  The tip of the dagger in the assassin's hand fell, getting closer and closer to Xiao Hua Mei's back. The god of death sneered coldly in the darkness. Waiting for a moment... A lively life was put into his bag.

  Xiao Hua Mei's face showed no fear, radiating a serene light, like a devout follower, calmly.

  Behind the assassin, Cao Yi had been petrified all along.

  He has long been in battle arrays and rolled around among piles of dead bodies, so he is not afraid of bloodshed and death at all.

  He was just shocked

  Who? Who killed Zhu Yunfan? If Zhu Yunfan were to die, who would benefit the most? Why did the old family servant disappear early in the morning?

  The answer is on the tip of one's tongue.

  "King Yan", how can you treat me like this? At this moment, Cao Yi's heart is filled with sorrow.

  As a general under the command of the King of Yan, he is willing to die for the King of Yan. With just one order from the King of Yan, he can unsheathe his sword and kill Zhu Yun without hesitation. His loyalty to the King of Yan has been evident for many years!

  But why was it so important to assassinate Zhu Yunfen, and yet the King of Yan told him nothing about it, instead ordering someone else to take action. Does the King of Yan not trust him?

  There was another thing. The cruel fact made Cao Yi feel even colder.

  Zhu Yun died, as the county magistrate of Jiangpu, he was absolutely unable to escape the wrath of Emperor Hongwu and would be implicated in the purge. Even a small county magistrate like him knew this outcome, so how could Prince Yan not know? Why did Prince Yan remain silent about this matter? Was it because for the sake of the bigger picture, he had already decided to abandon himself and allow himself to be executed by Emperor Hongwu?

  He Cao Yi. Is he just an abandoned son?

  I too have wielded my spear and fought to the death on the battlefield, I too have led the vanguard and been crowned with bravery among the three armies. What crime has Cao Yi committed? Can he be abandoned just because of a word from the King of Yan? Your Highness, in your eyes, which is heavier, power or loyalty?

  Raising his eyes, he saw Zhu Yunfan, who was about one zhang away, with a look of panic and fear. A flash of ferocity suddenly appeared in Cao Yi's eyes. Alright, today I will make my last contribution to the Crown Prince, personally kill Zhu Yunwu, and ensure that the Crown Prince ascends to the throne. Cao Yi has been loyal to you from start to finish, and he can be accountable to himself.

  At his feet lay the corpse of a guard, the knife in the corpse's hand had fallen to the ground. Cao Yi kicked the tip of his foot and the steel knife flew into his hand. Zhu Yunfen's face was right in front of him, at this chaotic moment. No one noticed him, as long as he shook his hand and shot out the steel knife. Zhu Yunfen's life would surely be lost!

  A surge of sorrow and determination intertwined emotions filled Cao Yi's chest, what is loyalty? What is righteousness? With one slash of the knife, the world's hypocrisy and false intentions would disappear with the wind, from now on, it had nothing to do with Cao Yi!

  I, Cao Yi, may be just a common man, but within five steps, I can take the life of the Great Ming Crown Prince! The Crown Prince may be noble, but how can he withstand the blade in my hand? In an instant, a killing intent flashed across Cao Yi's eyes.

  "Paint your eyebrows! Come back! Don't be silly!"

  A shrill and desperate cry awakened Cao Yi, he stared intently ahead, Xiao Fan was grasping Zhu Ben's tomb with one hand. But his face was filled with despair as he stared at a little girl not far away who was biting down on an assassin's mouth, refusing to let go.

  The assassin's knife tip had already reached the little girl's spine.

  Cao Yi was suddenly shocked, and the steel knife in his right hand shot out without thinking. With a "whooshing" sound, it inserted into the assassin's throat with precision.

  The dagger aimed at the little girl stopped, and the assassin's entire body seemed to have been drained of energy in an instant. His whole body shook once, then he fell limp to the ground.

  Xiao Hua Mei's mouth relaxed, and her lips were filled with fresh blood. It was the assassin's, whose wrist had been bitten by her so deeply that the bone was visible. Xiao Hua Mei turned her head, gave Xiao Fan a faint smile, and opened her mouth, allowing the blood to flow down from the corner of her mouth. The smile looked particularly ferocious and evil, like a bloodthirsty Asura, adding an air of eeriness to this intense and deadly battle scene.

  Xiao Fan let out a sigh of relief as he saw Xiao Hua Mei being rescued, but the moment the assassin stabbed her, he felt like the whole world had darkened. Luckily, she was saved by Cao Da Ge, yet Hua Mei's smile with blood flowing from it shocked him deeply. She was just an eleven or twelve-year-old little girl! How could she be so ruthless and calm?

  Xiao Huamei still wore an innocent smile, like a fallen angel, bouncing and jumping towards Xiao Fan, completely ignoring the desperate fighting around her. Her eyes only had Xiao Fan in them, everything else was just an illusory phantom. As long as Xiao Fan was fine, how many people died, how much blood flowed, it had nothing to do with her.

  When Xiao Huamei ran to Xiao Fan's side, Xiao Fan immediately let go of Zhu Yunfen's hand. Then he slapped Xiao Huamei's little butt hard and scolded loudly: "Are you sick! The adults are fighting for their lives. What are you, a little kid, doing getting in the way! You scared me to death!"

  Xiao Hua Mei smiled mischievously, nonchalantly wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, then buried her small head in Xiao Fan's chest, acting like a spoiled little girl. It was hard to imagine that she was the same fierce and ruthless assassin who had just been fighting moments before.

  Xiao Fan only then lifted his head, smiled at Cao Yi, and the smile was filled with gratitude. In the chaos, it was Cao Yi who saved Hua Mei, and Xiao Fan's eyes were sharp, he knew that in the flash of lightning, the fierce light in Cao Yi's eyes was originally directed at Zhu Yunfen, but for Xiao Fan's desperate cry, he gave up his original plan.

  A true friend is one who will stand by your side, no matter what. A man's friendship doesn't need to be loud or boastful; a single act of loyalty can prove everything.

  Cao Yi also smiled faintly at Xiao Fan, his smile still full of contradictions, but his mind was now clear. Xiao Fan's loud shout had instantly dispelled the demonic obstruction in his heart, like a Buddhist chant. His guilt and karma were suddenly gone. His eyes once again became clear and bright.

  Two people looked at each other and smiled, everything was understood without a word.

  The fierce battle on the periphery was getting more and more intense, with the bodies of assassins and guards scattered all over the ground. Both sides were fighting desperately, but the guards were outnumbered and were gradually weakening.

  Xiao Fan grabbed Zhu Fu Yun and Xiao Hua Mei's hands and quickly retreated into the county government's gate.

  "Everyone come back! Defend the gate to the death!"

  Xiao Fan shouted loudly, Zhu Yunfan had already been frightened out of his wits, and was dragged by Xiao Fan to run around in a daze. Xiao Fan had no choice but to give orders on his behalf.

  The guards fought until only five or six were left, and upon hearing this, they responded with a loud shout, made a false move, and then retreated.

  There were still over a dozen assassins left, and when they saw Zhu Yun retreat into the county government's main gate, they immediately knew that the situation was already irretrievable. However, the Yan King had given them an order of death - if Zhu Yun did not die, then they would die. Therefore, the assassins still unwillingly closed in on him once again; they were dead soldiers who had to complete their mission.

  Then another fierce battle broke out at the entrance of the county government office.

  He stood idly by for a long time, seemingly oblivious to the intense fighting around him. He even began to play with his fingers, displaying an air of detachment that was utterly convincing.

  Xiao Fan retreated inside, and Tai Xu also waved his sleeve and followed him in.

  Xiao Fan raised his hand and blocked Tai Xu.

  "What's wrong? Didn't you say to retreat?"

  Xiao Fan gazed at him solemnly: "We can retreat, but Master, you cannot."

  With such a high level of martial arts skills, you're still so afraid of death and covetous of life. What a waste of your skills!

  Tai Xū saw a familiar evil glint in Xiao Fan's eyes, and couldn't help but shudder all over, his voice trembling as he asked: "What do you want to do?"

  Xiao Fan pushed him out and then kicked Tai Xu's butt heavily.

  "Protect the master!"

  Tai Xū was kicked and let out a loud cry, stumbling and staggering as he rushed towards the assassin.