SWHCBB 74

Chapter 74: Entering the Game with His Body / Zhiyu Is Struck by a Sword

Zhuge Qing had said they needed to act quickly, lest a long delay give rise to new complications. Besides, Jiang Chuang still had to catch up to Huang Guang’s unit, and there could be no further holdups.

But Wen Jue hadn’t expected Zhuge Qing’s “quick” to be this fast!

That night, Jiang Chuang was helping him wash his face and hands, as usual. Once everything was done, he was about to coax him to sleep when a noise suddenly came from outside. Jiang Chuang, who had just gotten into bed, instantly threw back the covers, pulled on his outer robe, and unsheathed the sword at the bedside with swift, practiced movements, ready for battle.

Wen Jue sat up, looking at him with worry.

Jiang Chuang grabbed a coat from the rack and handed it to him. “Put this on. Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Outside, the clash of blades rang loud. It sounded like Changning was fighting alone. There were no guards from the governor’s residence, only the sound of one man holding back many.

A shout came from outside. “General! Protect His Highness! I’ve got this side!”

Wen Jue dressed quickly and hid behind Jiang Chuang, unconsciously clutching at the hem of his robe.

He stared at Jiang Chuang’s back, filled with guilt and worry. Though the ambush had been part of the plan. He still couldn’t help fearing for Yunchuan, fearing he’d be hurt, or that Zhuge Qing’s carefully arranged assassins might be no match for him, disrupting their entire plan.

“You must be careful,” Wen Jue urged, “Don’t get dragged into a prolonged fight with them.”

Jiang Chuang kept one arm protectively in front of him as he surveyed the room. There were two windows, he could break through them and flee, but he didn’t know how many enemies were outside, or if any were lying in ambush.

If someone was on the rooftop, trying to escape might just be walking into a trap.

Damn it! They’d come too fast. He hadn’t brought enough men. If he’d brought more, they wouldn’t be so cornered now.

Chen Lin had taken leave for personal reasons and was supposed to meet him at the border, so for now, Jiang Chuang had no one else to rely on.

He could only be glad that Changning was out there, a man who’d been beaten into incredible resilience after sparring with Chen Lin for so long.

But how long could Changning last alone? Judging by the sound of steel clashing, these attackers were highly skilled, clearly no ordinary thugs. He’d already heard swords piercing flesh more than once, but no pained cries. These people weren’t just well-trained, they were inhumanly disciplined.

Whose men were they? What was their purpose?

As if reading his thoughts, Wen Jue suddenly said, “Judging by the way they fight, they’re clearly well-trained. They knew exactly which courtyard in the governor’s residence we were staying in. They also knew I was sick and that we came unprepared with few men. This is the perfect time for a sneak attack. If they succeed…”

Jiang Chuang froze, a chill running down his spine. “Their target is… me or you?”

“If their goal were you, it would have to be Xige, but if they could stretch their hand this far into Huazhou, they wouldn’t still be stuck pulling small tricks at the border.” Wen Jue answered firmly, “Their goal is me. And the one behind this may not even be my sixth brother.”

It’s the Third Prince… That thought flashed through Jiang Chuang’s mind.

He gripped his sword tighter, his expression growing more vicious and alert. “If they want to hurt you, they’ll have to step over my corpse first!”

The tip of his sword touched the ground, the blade angled outward. His back was always to Wen Jue, so Wen Jue could safely stand behind him, protected. He was willing to fight and die for him, his own general, no one else’s.

If not for it wasn’t the right moment, Wen Jue really wanted to praise him: My husband is amazing~

But right now, he had to think of how to advance the plan. “Yunchuan, Changning can’t hold out for long. No matter how strong he is, he can’t take on so many. If he falls, we’ll just be sitting ducks in here.”

Jiang Chuang turned to look at him and suddenly remembered how, in their past life, Changning had died fighting for him. He couldn’t let that happen again.

“Find a place to hide.” Jiang Chuang planted a solemn kiss on his forehead. “I’m going out to help him!”

“Okay!” Wen Jue nodded and hid behind the bed, watching as Jiang Chuang opened the door and raised his sword to block an incoming strike before quickly shutting the door behind him.

The sound of battle resumed outside, followed by Changning’s exasperated shout: “Weren’t you supposed to protect His Highness? What are you doing out here?!”

Jiang Chuang shouted back, “Cut the nonsense! You think you can handle them all alone?”

Inside the room, Wen Jue held his breath, nerves taut. He didn’t know where Zhuge Qing had found such people. How could they hold their own against both Yunchuan and Changning?

Would Yunchuan be hurt? Did the assassins know to hold back? Why hadn’t the signal come yet?

Wen Jue’s heart hung by a thread, every second dragging like a lifetime. He’d never found anything so agonizing.

He didn’t know how much time passed before he suddenly heard Changning cry out in pain, then shout, “I’m going to take you all down with me!”

Wen Jue clenched his jaw and cracked the door open to peek outside. He tried to find Jiang Chuang, and just then, saw him leaping toward the room, a sword flash trailing behind him.

Wide eyed, Wen Jue stepped out as Jiang Chuang rushed forward and caught him in his arms. But before Jiang Chuang could even feel relief, Wen Jue shoved him hard aside.

Caught off guard, Jiang Chuang stumbled and with a sickening squelch, the tip of a sword pierced directly into Wen Jue’s chest.

His face went deathly pale. But he ignored the pain and turned his head with effort to look at Jiang Chuang, who stood nearby, eyes filled with shock and terror, on the brink of despair.

The pain was so intense that Wen Jue couldn’t speak. He could only mouth silently over and over: “It’s okay… it doesn’t hurt…” Really, it’s okay…

Before he could finish, the agony overwhelmed him, and he lost consciousness.

In the haze of blacking out, he vaguely heard Jiang Chuang’s anguished roar: “Zhiyu!!!”

And Changning’s desperate cry: “Your Highness!!”

Then came Zhuge Qing’s voice: “General! We were too late!”

He didn’t know if this move would work…

He didn’t know whether they’d tell Yunchuan the truth, that he had long been prepared to throw himself into this trap, all to make sure Yunchuan wouldn’t worry or grieve too much.

His last thought was simple:

It hurts… it really hurts…

Whether it was drinking that medicine or taking this sword, each time hurt more than the last. Thank goodness Bai Yuan was here, Bai Yuan wouldn’t let him die.

Zhuge Qing, that strategist, is too ruthless!