Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Stutterer

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“Your… Your Highness, behind you…” Luo Tong’s words stuttered out in terror.

The Golden Blade Guards all stepped back in unison, their faces filled with fear.

Li Zhi looked at them, puzzled. “What’s wrong with you all?”

“Don’t tell me there’s a ghost behind me!”

Everyone held their breath, not daring to utter a word.

Li Zhi turned his head and saw a wisp of ghostly fire drawing near. He was startled, but only for a few seconds before he recovered and shouted, “Assassins are here!”

“Your Highness, that’s not an assassin, that’s… that’s ghost fire!” someone cried.

“I’ve heard the old folks say that when ghosts walk the world of the living, they need ghost fire to lead the way. This must be…” Luo Tong was shaking all over, utterly terrified.

He was nothing like his usual self—just a coward now.

With such fear overwhelming him, even the greatest martial skills were useless. He couldn’t even hold his sword steadily, reduced to waiting helplessly for death.

Li Zhi realized things couldn’t go on like this. They couldn’t just sit and wait for doom. He pinned his hopes on the Eighteen Golden Blade Guards—surely these men couldn’t be afraid of ghosts?

“What are you all standing there for?”

“Are you going to watch while a ‘ghost’ slaughters your young master?”

“Even if it is a ghost, what should I fear? At worst, I’ll die!” Lou Yi quickly cast off his terror. He wasn’t afraid of death; to protect the Luo family’s heir, he had to stand his ground.

“Attack!” he roared, hurling his scythe at the green glow.

Clang!

His weapon struck a sword.

Before he could react, two daggers flashed out, stabbing into his lower abdomen.

“Argh…” Lou Yi gritted his teeth and drove his foe back with a sweeping blow. “They’re not ghosts, they’re assassins! Lou Er, Lou San, protect the young master and His Highness! The rest, with me!”

“Yes!”

At the crucial moment, the Golden Blade Guards proved reliable.

Under Lou Yi’s orders, they split into groups of three and pressed forward.

The green glow faded, transforming into a torch.

Behind the torch stood seven or eight men in black, each brandishing a blade, ready for battle.

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“That little brat is the Prince of Jin—kill him!” a shout rang out from the rooftop.

Li Zhi looked up, only now noticing a dozen more men atop the roof, bows drawn and aimed at him.

“Could these be the assassins my system warned me about?” Li Zhi wondered. It was entirely possible. Today’s ambush was more perilous than any before.

Without the Golden Blade Guards, with Luo Tong paralyzed by fear, he’d be dead by now.

“Loose arrows!”

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Dozens of arrows flew, most aimed at the Golden Blade Guards. Only two were directed at Li Zhi and Luo Tong.

Alarmed, Li Zhi pinched Luo Tong hard on the leg. “Are you awake yet? Block those arrows!”

Clang, clang!

Luo Tong swiftly drew his sword and deflected the arrows, dragging Li Zhi hurriedly backward. “These aren’t ghosts at all—just assassins in disguise! Did they really think I’d be afraid? What a joke!”

“You’re not afraid?”

“I don’t even want to talk to you!” Li Zhi rolled his eyes. “Focus on defense and retreat as you fight. Once we reach the main street, we’ll deal with them there!”

“Alright!”

Luo Tong understood. In this narrow alley, the assassins had laid a trap, preying on the unprepared. But on the main street, they’d have to worry about the authorities: the Watch Commander’s Office, the Night Guards…

Even the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Garrison and the Six Armies of the Northern Garrison might be alerted.

Any one of those forces stepping in, and these assassins would be nothing.

“Let’s go—Lou Er, Lou San, cover our retreat!”

Luo Tong grabbed Li Zhi and charged out.

The Golden Blade Guards shifted formation. Aside from Lou Er and Lou San, who engaged the assassins, the rest withdrew in close formation, including the severely wounded Lou Yi.

Blood gushed from the dagger wounds in his abdomen.

“The alley’s too narrow for them to catch up. Hurry to the palace gate—there are men from the Southern Garrison there. Ask them for help—hopefully, they’ll arrive in time!” Li Zhi urged Luo Tong.

“If I go, what about you? Let the Golden Blade Guards go instead!”

“They were only just formed and don’t even have official badges. Who would believe them? Worse, they might be detained at the palace gate. Don’t waste time—go, quickly!”

“Alright!”

Pressed for time, Luo Tong didn’t dare delay.

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He instructed the Golden Blade Guards to protect Li Zhi well, then sped off using lightness skills to seek reinforcements.

“Attack…!” The assassins soon broke through Lou Er and Lou San’s defense, pouring out of the alley and targeting Li Zhi with a frenzy of attacks.

Fortunately, the Golden Blade Guards held firm, keeping the situation under control.

Only then did Li Zhi realize the assassins numbered over fifty. Apart from a few from the Watch Commander’s Office, most were dressed in black nightclothes, faces veiled—obviously to avoid being recognized.

Lou Yi, drawing close to Li Zhi, said, “Your Highness, do not fear. We Golden Blade Guards will protect you!”

“I’m not afraid,” Li Zhi replied.

“I’ve always been curious—how did the Eighteen Riders of Yan Yun win all those battles and earn such renown? You’re their descendants. I’ll see for myself today!” Li Zhi smiled.

Lou Yi looked at him in astonishment.

In this mortal danger, even grown men would tremble, yet the three-year-old Li Zhi stood unflinching, as if none of this concerned him. He truly possessed the composure of one unfazed by disaster.

“Your Highness is no ordinary person. I am in awe!”

“Save the praise—defend against the enemy! Capture every last one of these assassins!”

“Yes!”

Lou Yi, Lou Er, and Lou San, though not joining the fight themselves, stood back to back with Li Zhi, commanding the Golden Blade Guards to form a defensive line. Until reinforcements arrived, they would not leave their position, avoiding any rash moves.

This assassination attempt was clearly premeditated.

How strong were these assassins, truly? It was still unclear.

Their mastermind remained shrouded in mystery. Perhaps even the authorities were involved—it was already certain that the Watch Commander’s Office was complicit, acting alongside the assassins in a bid to kill the prince.

More and more assassins in black gathered from the shadows, blocking the street as their attacks grew fiercer.

Li Zhi was deeply puzzled. “No one knew I was leaving the palace today—it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. How did these assassins know my whereabouts and plan such a large-scale ambush?”

“It is indeed strange. This must be investigated,” Lou Yi replied.

Li Zhi nodded thoughtfully. Besides Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards, no one knew of his plans.

Luo Tong was from the Duke of Yue’s household—it was impossible for him to betray Li Zhi. The Golden Blade Guards were single-minded in their devotion to protecting Luo Tong and, by extension, Li Zhi. They had no reason to turn traitor, especially given their current desperate fight against the assassins.

So who could it be?