Ji Yunshu’s mind gradually sank in confusion. To summarize it, many points remained unclear in her conjecture, and she still had no lead to unravel that mystery. Right now, she could only hope that she finds a clue while going through this forest. “Enough, let’s try to find some clues first.” Ji Yunshu stated.
Li Shiyan stopped asking questions as he still had not digested Ji Yunshu’s explanations. Suddenly, Ji Yunshu stopped walking. “Wait, wait, wait!”
“What?”
“Look, isn’t that a white cloth?” She pointed in a direction. Not far from them, a white cloth was tangled in overgrown branches where a steep slope loomed below. If she was careful enough, she should be able to reach for that white fabric.
Li Shiyan squinted his eyes several times before nodding, “This is indeed some kind of cloth and one of average quality.”
“We will know after a closer examination.”
After a moment, Ji Yunshu leaned on a tree and bent down in order to reach for the white cloth in vain.
“Let me do it.” Li Shiyan pulled her up and was about to take her place when-
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Suddenly, something nailed the tree. In between the shadows of the trees, an ear-piercing sound could be heard. Then, more than a dozen men clad in black jumped down from a tall tree. Each of them held a sword and thrust it toward Ji Yunshu and Li Shiyan. When she saw the sword darting dangerously toward them, she instinctively raised her hand to protect Li Shiyan’s back.
“Be careful!”
Li Shiyan waved his beautiful fan and opened it. Unexpectedly, several sharp needles shot out from the fan and accurately pierced the throats of a few assassins, killing them on the spot!
Ji Yunshu didn’t have the time to react before realizing that the fan was, in fact, a terrible hidden weapon.
“Stay near the tree and don’t run anywhere.” Li Shiyan instructed her.
In no time, he was entangled in a perilous fight against the assassins. Unbeknownst to him, Ji Yunshu who hid near the tree was once again attacked by an assassin who had jumped down from it. His sword slashed down without pity, mercilessly slashing toward her head.
Her eyes unconsciously looked up and she stared at the sword’s tip, glinting like a shooting star. Her pupils dilated. ‘Am I going to die? I survived in Jinjiang only to die here? I haven’t solved the missing girls case and the Lin capital case yet. And there’s Wei Yi; what will happen to him? Will Jing Rong take care of him in my stead? Will he be fine after I’m gone?’
The sword ruthlessly descended. But, with only 0.0001 cm left before her skin was pierced, a stone timely struck the sword, deviating its trajectory. The force from the stone was enough to make the sword jump out of the assassin’s hand, falling into a broad hand.
After grabbing the other’s sword, Jing Rong immediately plunged the weapon into the man’s chest. At the same time, he pulled Ji Yunshu toward him, causing her to knock her head into his chest. “Next time you dare to leave me behind, I will kill you!” Anger surged into his eyes.
Despite the dim surroundings, Ji Yunshu could clearly distinguish the anger and seriousness painting his countenance.
“I…”
Jing Rong didn’t have time for Ji Yunshu’s explanation as he immediately pushed her back to the tree. “Stay here.”
After that, he turned away, sword in hand and joined the fray.
Ji Yunshu hugged her stomach without reacting for a long time. Then, she watched the ongoing fight. Her sight fell once again on the white cloth, and after thinking for a moment, she carefully sneaked toward it. When she came nearer, she tried once again to reach for it through the branches with her fingertips. She inched a bit more toward the steep slope and used her other hand to grab it.
‘A bit more!’ She inched a bit forward. ‘Almost there!’ Finally, she grabbed that white cloth.
“AH!” And she tumbled down the steep slope.