Before that hand could touch him, Feng Xiao, who was originally oblivious to it, immediately lashed out his hand to grab his opponent's wrist at the blinding speed of lightning.
"Aiya!" His opponent exclaimed, before they conveniently slip and attempt to fall into his arms.
A gentle, fragile, and boneless arm. A beautiful body like soft jade with a lingering sense of warm fragrance. A voice so sexy it struck into one's bones.
It was enough to seduce most of the men in the world, shattering their hearts in half.
Most, but not all.
How dare Khan Apa's most treasured and beloved beauty try to seduce an ambassador of the Sui Empire? If this news spread out, it would seem that another wave of trouble would rise in no time.
Feng Xiao released his hand and took two steps back. The beauty could not support herself in time, so she fell to the ground and immediately and groaned in pain.
"Who allowed you to come?" Feng Xiao knelt down and reached out to hold her chin in his hand.
The strength was not much, but it was impossible for her to escape.
"I... admire your Lordship's grace and beauty." The Kucha beauty could speak Han, and although she was not fluent in it, it instead added a foreign accent to her words.
"Are you not afraid you would be found out by your Khan, and that he would order your head to drop?" Feng Xiao asked curiously.
The beauty wished to speak, but she discovered that her voice meridians were sealed, unleashing a stinging pain from her chin. It pained her so much that tears were beginning to flow from her eyes, falling down drip by drip. It was a pity that this place is veiled in darkness where the light is unable to reach it, so others would not be able to see such a beautiful yet pitiable scene.
Feng Xiao, "Did someone send you, order you to harass me, then shout to draw the attention of outsiders?"
The beauty could not speak, so she only shook her head with all her might, her tears flowing down the curve of her cheeks.
She wanted to say that she loved him for real, but the beauty did not have the chance to open her mouth at all. Feng Xiao held no interest in listening to what she had to say, so he released her chin to grab her raven black hair instead before immediately dragging her towards the King's yurt, not appreciating her beauty at all.
Just as they emerged from the darkness, Feng Xiao could see something has arised near the Second Prince's yurt.
Fire and light gathered in the blink of an eye, and following it was a sharp cry and rumbling noise.
Very quickly Feng Xiao realized that all the commotion originated from the Second Prince's yurt.
At the same time, a huge number of people were rushing towards the King's yurt, carrying shocked and panic expressions as if something large has happened.
Feng Xiao reached out to tap on a specific meridian, and the beauty slumped to the ground.
...
Within the King's yurt, music and dances filled the atmosphere.
Just a few days ago, Jin Lian had been in deep worry, and it was truly difficult to see her so laid back and relaxed. She has travelled far to the Central Plains and has been through many hardships and difficulties to bring back the Sui Empire's ambassadors. All she has earned wasn't only the the benefit of rising through the ranks, but also her power of speech and influences has also expanded. She knew that the big Kedun is still present, and that she is the birth mother of the First Prince, so her position was stable. All she can do was to make herself seem even more important and gather more power into the heart of her palms. It was only through this that she can get even more in the future. So because of this, she would definitely hold on tightly to the benefits of sailing aboard this boat with the Sui Empire, determined to cooperate with Cui Buqu, and even if she has nothing to do, she would not change her sides so easily.
At present, Fo Er is dead. It would take some time for the news to travel to the ears of Khan Ishbara, and even if the other responded to it, the alliance would have already been sealed. No change of events would take place, and additionally, after this lesson, it was a given that the Second Prince would not try to sow any trouble before Cui Buqu and his company's departure.
Yet at this time, a Göktürk guard rushed into the yurt from the outside, skipping the usual procedure to inform of his arrival.
All the audiences present could not respond in time, and there was no time for them to lecture him, for he was seen coming in drenched in sweat, before exclaiming in a loud voice, "Khan! The Second Prince is dead!"
Jin Lian's face changed.
Khan Apa shot up to his feet, ignoring tha grape wine that spilled on his clothes. He pushed away his maidservant before rushing out of the yurt in big steps.
Wearing an expression of panic, everyone could only follow behind him as they made their way to the Second Prince's yurt.
The physician of the Royal Court has also been summoned. The other is a Göktürk, yet he is also quite knowledgeable in medical lore within the Central Plains, so facing an unmoving Second Prince as he examined his body for practically half a day, he could only announce that there was nothing he could do.
Khan Apa exploded in fury, "How can he die just like that! Save his life quickly!"
It was difficult for him to believe that his son was dead. The First Prince also found it very hard to believe, because the Second Prince was still jumping around and looking for trouble in that same morning.
The Göktürk physician knelt on the ground and begged, "The Second Prince did not sustain any external wounds, nor did he carry the scent of alcohol on him. It could be that he has eaten something poisonous and..."
The Royal Court of Göktürk was not as meticulous as the Imperial Court in the Central Plains, but anything that is poisonous would definitely not have the chance to get themselves near royalty. Right now, the Second Prince was killed, and it also means that Khan Apa himself might be in danger.
On one hand, the Khan is grieving over his own son's death, and on the other hand he is fearing for his own life, so he felt blood rushed up his mind in that very momen, giving orders that the banquet would be paused, and that everyone is forbidden to leave.
Everyone has yet to respond to this shock, but the Khan's guards have already surround the yurt, forbidding anyone to leave.
Everyone has yet to respond to this shock, but the Khan's guards have already surround the yurt, forbidding anyone to leave.
Under such a heavy killing intent radiating from the Khan, the physician thickened his face and called for his disciple to resume examining the Second Prince's corpse.
Both maidservants that were responsible of serving the Second Prince were asked to report the whereabouts of him before his death.
In the day, the Second Prince has lost all his face. Fo Er is dead, so naturally his mood dulled. He refused to go to the banquet at night, but he also refused to let his brother take all the glory, so he had been spacing around the yurt, and even threw a tantrum when his maidservants did not meet his standards , whipping them before chasing everyone out.
The maidservants waited and waited outside, waited until the banquet begun, and they could not wait any longer. So they decided to risk it and went inside to ask.
The lights inside were all extinguished, half of them smashed by the Second Prince. Later on, when they were standing guard outside, they also heard the Second Prince scolded and yelled as he smashed everything. Everyone could only relit those candles, then they saw the Second Prince lying on the ground unmoving.
It was impossible that he was tired out by his tantrum. The question lied in the Second Prince never had the habit of sleeping with his eyes open. Everyone felt something wrong and rushed up to check on him, only did they realize that the Second Prince was no longer breathing.
Everyone listened to the maidservant stutter, and they couldn't help coming to the conclusion that the Second Prince was angered to death by himself.
But at this moment, the physician's disciple shouted, "Here! There is something on his Highness' head!"
Khan Apa walked with big steps forward as he watched with his own eyes, two people helping his son up and spilt his hair, revealing an iron needle.
The needle had pierced very deep, straight into his skull. No matter how much strength they used, the needle cannot be pulled out. It is very obvious that this iron needle is the reason of the Second Prince's death.
Normal people could not have done this. The Second Prince himself was a practitioner of the martial arts. Even if he isn't terribly skilled, there were guards outside of his yurt. How could they not hear anything if someone slipped in and killed the Second Prince without him emitting a cry or any sound, then leaving without a trace? This is definitely the work of a top martial artist.
In the whole of Western Göktürk, no one could have done this.
Even if Jin Lian thought herself quite skilled, but it was still impossible for her to assassinate the Second Prince without alerting a single soul.
However, there is one person who could have done it.
Suddenly she jerked visibly, feeling a cold feeling radiating from the bottom of her heart, spreading to her chest, then her throat.
As if, this is the taste of conspiracy.
Of course, she wasn't the only one who thought of this. Another Göktürk royalty suddenly shouted, "The Sui Empire's ambassadors! That one with incredible martial arts, he is missing!"
Jin Lian turned her head violently toward the direction of Cui Buqu. The latter could feel her gaze and raise his head slightly to match it.
It was impossible to read his expression, when Cui Buqu's face is partially veiled by the darkness.
Khan Apa did not see Cui Buqu, but shouted angrily, "Find him!"
"Is someone looking for me?"
Feng Xiao pushed his way through the crowd, emerging from them.
He looked completely normal, as if he did not notice that a dozen gazes were on him.
Khan Apa said with a deep, sullen expression, "Where were you?"
He had recalled Feng Xiao's martial arts, so he was still wary about asking his men to put him in chains just yet.
Cui Buqu translated all the Khan's words into Han.
Feng Xiao, "Just now I left early to rest. I heard something has happened here, so I came to look."
He did not mention the Kucha beauty, because if he had, it would only make the Khan more angered. Additionally, the Kucha beauty would not have owned up to this. So if he spoke, it would only be equivalent to him digging his own pit.
Khan Apa said coldly, "How can you explain, Ade's death?"
Feng Xiao waved his hand, "His Highness the Second Prince and I do not share any vengeance. You have my condolescence for his death. Other than that, what more can I say?"
Khan Apa ordered his servants, "Summon Liu Sigu."
Feng Xiao knew not who this Liu Sigu is, but he was aware that suddenly, everyone around him took a step back, and the space around him was replaced by Göktürk guards.
Jin Lian tried to speak, "Khan, the Sui Empire's ambassadors are in order to seal an alliance with us. He has no reason to kill the Second Prince, there is definitely someone who is planning to..."
The Khan raised a hand, forbidding her from saying more.
The Göktürk called Liu Sigu was brought here quickly. The Khan asked Feng Xiao, "Do you know who he is?"
Feng Xiao shook his head.
Khan Apa, "He is the disciple of the HeiYue Shaman. On the night of the Shaman's death, he saw you snooping into the Shaman's hut with his own eyes!"
Khan Apa laughed coldly, "Ambassadors of the Sui Empire. There are a lot of suspicions pertaining the Shaman's death. I have known this long ago, but for the peace of both countries, I have decided to sustain this matter and told no one, choosing to believe you instead. But today, Ade's death has allowed me to see everything! The reason you people have come here, is to annihilate the whole of Western Göktürk! You people have killed Fo Er, so we would not be able to ally with Khan Ishbara, sealing off that alternative of ours. Then you kill the Shaman and Ade. What is your next move? Me?"
Everyone was shocked, even Jin Lian could not help but looked in between Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao.
Cui Buqu's eyebrows furrowed.
But Feng Xiao remained tolerant and composed, "I have nothing to do with the Second Prince and the Shaman's death. If I really wanted to annihilate Western Göktürk, I can just kill you. What use is there turning around and killing people who do not matter?"
"Who knows! I've said before, the Hans are untrustworthy!"
No one knew who started it, but it immediately spiralled into chaos.
"Right. The Hans are evil, they have longed wanted to have war with us Göktürks!"
"They killed the Shaman, then killed the Second Prince. It could be that he wanted to kill the Khan as well, but the Khan has been lucky!"
"Kill them!"
"Kill the Hans!"
Sweat was pouring down Jin Lian like rain, practically soaking her back wet.
Khan Apa's expression was deep, dark, as he glared at Feng Xiao.
The First Prince's mouth opened wide, he has not yet completely understand what was happening.
Not everyone present was loyal to the Second Prince, but during such a situation they all united, tolerating and encourgaging the Khan to execute the two Sui Empire ambassadors once and for all.
It was true that Feng Xiao's martial arts are incredible, to the point that it instilled fear into others.
But in the end, he was only a one-man army. Both hands cannot fight four. In the lands of the Royal Courts, top martial artists are everywhere. Perhaps he could retreat on his own, but it would be impossible for him to save Cui Buqu as well as a wounded Qiao Xian.
Under such a situation, he would be left with no choice.
The Göktürk guards surrounded them step by step.
Only a word from the Khan is needed, then there would be thousands of long knives raining upon them.
And for Cui Buqu, who knew no martial arts at all, even if his strategies are unparalleled, he would soon become Feng Xiao's burden.
Both of them exchanged glances.
Feng Xiao cannot tell what lurked inside Cui Buqu's heart.
Cui Buqu knew not how Feng Xiao would choose, but he knew what he himself would choose.
"Wait." Cui Buqu said.
His voice was not loud, but it was enough to suppress the ramblings all around them.