Lu Chen was quite satisfied with Mu Changtian's arrangements. Though Li Feng was merely a seventh-rank warrior, in this world, such a rank was enough to dominate a hundred foes on the battlefield.
More importantly, the soldiers under Li Feng's command weren't just common rabble—they were all second- or third-rank warriors. Not a single one could be called cannon fodder.
In other words, they were elite.
Lu Chen turned to him and said calmly, "General Li, please rise. I trust your strength will be enough to protect both me and my family."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Li Feng replied, straightening up after bowing respectfully.
Then, leaning in slightly, Li Feng whispered, "Your Majesty, Duke Mu asked me to remind you—the Eighth Prince has sent people to Beijun."
Lu Chen's brows furrowed ever so slightly as he fell into thought.
The Eighth Prince?
Lu Shuyun?
Why would he send people to Beijun?
To kill me?
It didn't take long for Lu Chen to piece things together. Lu Shuyun's mother hailed from a prestigious clan in Jiangnan. If he wanted the throne, he would need the powerful Chu family's support. And with Lu Chen gone, the Chu family would almost certainly throw their weight behind another noble heir of Jiangnan origin.
So that's the plan.
Kill me, and the Chu family changes sides.
He hadn't expected Mu Changtian to have eyes deep enough to catch even this. It was becoming increasingly clear that although he'd been dismissed from power, Mu Changtian still held significant influence over the military.
No wonder Father is so wary of him.
Lu Chen gave a small nod and said, "I understand."
Then, with a flick of his reins, he mounted his horse and looked at the gathered troops. "Since everyone is ready, let's move. The sooner we reach Beijun, the better."
All he wanted now was to reach Beijun and begin his path of cultivation.
Both the Qi Refining Technique and the Rejuvenation Technique required the cultivation of emotional bonds with his wives and concubines—an emotional bond, of course, referring to intimate matters between men and women. That sort of practice needed a stable, private setting, not the back of a jostling carriage.
As for potential attacks along the way?
He wasn't concerned.
Unless a Grandmaster appeared, mortals were no threat.
And mortals couldn't stop bullets. The Desert Eagle and Barrett he had brought with him were no ornaments—they were instruments of death.
With that, the procession from the Northern Palace formed ranks and began their grand departure from the capital.
Unlike his wedding procession, no ministers or court officials came to see him off this time. Not even his father-in-law made an appearance.
Only a crowd of onlookers stood on both sides of the road, watching the scene unfold like spectators at a play.
Lu Chen didn't care. Gifts, farewells, empty words—it was all irrelevant.
As the convoy passed by a large restaurant, a figure in green brocade stood on the second floor, quietly watching the receding procession.
The man turned and asked, "Are the preparations complete?"
"Rest assured, Your Highness," one of his men replied respectfully. "Everything is in place. The Blood Moon Tower has dispatched an eighth-rank and two ninth-rank killers. As soon as they leave the capital's jurisdiction, the operation will begin."
Lu Shuyun turned his gaze back toward the figure riding ahead on horseback and murmured to himself, "If Chu Yuqin hadn't gone with you this time, I wouldn't have chosen this path. My dear brother, travel safely."
He had originally assumed that once Lu Chen was exiled, the Chu family would completely cut ties. After all, even Emperor Xia had sent him to the desolate and bitter north.
What he hadn't expected was for Chu Yuqin—a ninth-grade expert—to personally accompany Lu Chen to Beijun.
And that could only mean one thing.
The Chu family hadn't given up on Lu Chen.
If they had, they never would've allowed her to follow him.
Since the Chu family still hadn't made up their mind…
Then I'll help them make the choice.
———
The convoy gradually moved beyond the city walls.
After they exited the capital, Chu Yuqin's gaze fell on Lu Chen, who was still riding his horse. A faint crease formed between her brows.
Inside the city, those who wanted him dead dared not make a move.
But outside?
It was a different story.
Riding in the open made Lu Chen an obvious target. If an arrow flew toward him, he'd have little room to react.
She spurred her horse forward and approached him. "Chen'er, return to the carriage."
Lu Chen turned to her with a faint smile. "Aunt Chu, don't worry. Even if someone wants to take my life, they won't do it this close to the capital."
Chu Yuqin's voice grew stern. "It's better to be cautious. Listen to your aunt. Get back in the carriage."
Not far off, Li Feng rode over and echoed her concern. "Your Majesty, we're about to leave the capital's protective range. Please return to the carriage. The ones Duke Mu prepared are reinforced and can withstand most arrows."
Seeing that both of them insisted, Lu Chen chose not to argue.
He was, after all, only a first-rank warrior. His physical strength barely exceeded that of an ordinary man. If someone truly launched a sneak attack, he likely wouldn't be able to react in time.
"Very well. I leave the perimeter to you. If anything happens, notify me at once."
With that, Lu Chen stepped into the specially reinforced carriage Mu Changtian had arranged.
At least this way, if an ambush did occur, even if something happened to him, Mu Zixuan and the others might still make it out alive.
The convoy slowly rolled along the official road.
Not long after passing the capital's borders, a dense forest appeared ahead, casting long shadows over the sunlit road.
Li Feng raised his hand and barked out orders to the soldiers, "Stay alert! Eyes on the flanks!"
Chu Yuqin turned to the palace guards and warned coldly, "From this point forward, no one is to step away from the carriage—not even half a step."
As the convoy entered the forest, the light dimmed drastically.
Peering out from the window, Lu Chen narrowed his eyes. The sudden change in lighting set off silent alarms in his mind.
This place... reeks of danger.
Without hesitation, he summoned his Desert Eagle from the system's inventory and loaded it with bullets.
Five hundred rounds.
That should be enough.
The small fry would be handled by Li Feng and the others—his job was to deal with any real threats that came for his life.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, a sharp "swish" pierced the air. In the next instant, a rain of arrows fell like a storm.
"Enemy attack! Protect the prince!" Li Feng roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Chu Yuqin's sword flashed from its sheath as she sprang into action.
Inside the carriage, Lu Chen tensed. The sounds of weapons clashing and arrows thudding outside made his heart race. He hadn't expected the ambush to come so quickly.
A soft thud hit the carriage wall—an arrow.
But to his relief, it didn't penetrate. Duke Mu's reinforced design had held up.
So long as he remained inside, the arrows wouldn't reach him.
Outside, the first wave passed.
Then came the second.
Dozens of black-clad, masked assassins charged in, blades drawn. Most of them were third-rank warriors, with one leading eighth-rank expert at the front.
Li Feng led his guards straight into battle, steel clashing with steel.
Meanwhile, Lu Chen's personal guards remained fixed by his carriage. Their orders were clear: protect His Highness at all costs. They would not fall for distractions or chase red herrings.
Chu Yuqin didn't move to assist Li Feng. Her eyes stayed locked on the trees and shadows around her, ever vigilant.
She didn't believe this ambush would end with just an eighth-rank warrior.
To deploy this many third- and fourth-rank fighters at once, the force backing them had to be immense. There had to be more.
Stronger ones.
Ninth-rank... maybe even higher.
Just then, a breeze swept through the forest.
A fluttering leaf split in mid-air, cleanly severed in two.
It drifted to the ground like a silent omen.
Chu Yuqin's gaze sharpened.
"The real enemy," she whispered, "is here."
﹌﹌﹌
Support the Translation! 🌐✨
20 Advanced Chapters are currently available in Patreon, make sure to visit and support our team.
patreon.com/Immortal_author
https://ko-fi.com/immortalauthor
https://discord.gg/KscfBegBPT