Chapter 13: A Stirring Encounter with Fu Heng Once More

The wind had ceased, yet the air grew heavier with the scent of blood.

Jiao Yan wore a stern expression. After hearing the intelligence brought by his subordinate, his gaze darkened, and the look he cast at Chu Li deepened with meaning and scrutiny.

“Brother Yan, it’s truly miraculous. If that young lady hadn’t warned us, we might have all perished there. Over a hundred mountain bandits, all reckless madmen, while we only had twenty men escorting the caravan — utterly insufficient to fend them off.”

The reporting subordinate was still shaken, his heart pounding as he vividly recalled the brutal scene.

The entire escort team had now learned of the massacre in that wild forest, and in an instant, everyone’s gaze toward Chu Li had shifted.

The clash of swords and blades had ceased. Jiao Yan personally led a group to investigate and soon returned accompanied by a band of men exuding a fierce aura of slaughter.

The night was thick and heavy, yet Chu Li immediately spotted a tall and imposing figure among them. Her pupils contracted sharply, and a wave of terror surged within her.

Fu Heng?!

Qiu Yi trembled with fear. If Chu Li hadn’t steadied her, she might have collapsed to her knees then and there.

“Lord You, we did not know you were there. Had we known, no matter what, we would have gone to assist,” Jiao Yan’s deputy explained nervously, stealing glances at the enigmatic lord. It was said that this noble’s temperament was unpredictable and merciless in killing. They feared he might accuse them of standing idly by and assign blame.

Fu Heng remained silent, his cold aura even more biting than the wintry night.

He glanced over the escort members, his gaze lingering on Chu Li’s face for a moment before sneering aloud.

“Chief escort, what refined taste you have — bringing a lady along on such a perilous mission?”

At these words, both Jiao Yan and Chu Li’s faces shifted.

Chu Li never expected this man’s sharp tongue. In her impression, he was always taciturn, preferring action over words.

“Lord You, Miss Chu is a distinguished guest of the Longyan Escort Agency. Such jesting is inappropriate,” Jiao Yan frowned.

“Chu, is it? Intriguing.” Fu Heng’s penetrating eyes settled again on Chu Li, seeming to peer into her very soul, causing her heart to race wildly.

But she quickly regained composure. No matter how formidable Fu Heng was, he could never see through the disguise crafted by her transformation talisman.

She was confident that no other disguise technique could match hers.

Even if Fu Heng racked his brains, he would never suspect that the frail young lady before him was the very princess of his household.

Fu Heng withdrew his gaze and soon ceased paying any attention to Chu Li’s group.

---

“Qiu Yi, don’t be afraid. He didn’t recognize us,” Chu Li gently patted Qiu Yi’s hand. This girl was once a lowly maid in the prince’s residence, often bullied until fate brought her under Chu Li’s wing as a personal attendant.

Qiu Yi was timid, and having lived a sheltered life within the prince’s estate for three years, she had little worldly experience. Accompanying Chu Li in flight was already a great challenge for her.

Now, for some unknown reason, Fu Heng—who should have taken another official route—had appeared here.

But since they had encountered him, contact was unavoidable.

Chu Li had to ensure Qiu Yi would not accidentally reveal anything.

“Qiu Yi, listen carefully. It’s normal to be nervous around the prince. Don’t burden yourself with guilt. As long as you keep quiet, he cannot discover us.”

Qiu Yi nodded firmly.

“Miss, you can trust Qiu Yi to never betray you!”

Seeing Qiu Yi calm down somewhat, Chu Li nodded in satisfaction.

The night had become pitch black, the cold making one shiver, breath visible in the air.

Fu Heng and his men did not occupy the escort team’s resting area but camped about ten meters away. Both parties kept their distance.

From Jiao Yan, Chu Li learned that Lord You’s group intended to travel this official road as well; they would be companions for the journey ahead.

Though worried, Chu Li felt a strange thrill stirring within her.

Fu Heng would never dream that the princess who fled his estate had been hiding right under his nose all along.

But perhaps Fu Heng didn’t care. He had already lifted the search order at the city gate—maybe he was indifferent to her departure.

Chu Li sighed deeply, prepared to rest, when suddenly a chill of unease surged through her.

She immediately stood, eyes fixed on a point where a crimson glow suddenly flared against the horizon, rising like a vengeful storm.

Terrible—it was the wild forest from earlier.

The recent carnage had caused an abnormality there. If left unchecked, this growing resentment would surely lead to catastrophe.

“Qiu Yi, take my bundle and come with me,” Chu Li said as she set off toward the forest. Though Qiu Yi did not understand what had happened, seeing her mistress’s solemn expression, she hurriedly took the bundle and followed.

---

Jiao Yan had long wished to apologize to Chu Li for his men’s earlier harsh words, for she had saved the agency from disaster. Without a proper apology, his conscience was unsettled.

Seeing Chu Li leave with her maid, he was filled with doubt and concern, so he followed with several men.

“Miss Chu, it’s dangerous at night. Where are you headed? Let me protect you.”

Chu Li considered it and agreed to let them accompany her. It would be a chance to demonstrate her skills and earn their respect.

“Then I’ll trouble Brother Yan and the escort brothers.”

Supported by Qiu Yi, Chu Li continued to play the fragile role. To avoid suspicion, she coughed occasionally, drawing Jiao Yan’s pity.

“Miss Chu, is your health truly all right?”

Chu Li smiled softly, though the smile carried a hint of melancholy.

“It’s nothing serious, an old ailment. I practice a mysterious art of divining fate, which goes against the natural order, hence my frail body.”

Jiao Yan believed her wholeheartedly. He had heard of powerful mystics who suffered divine retribution for peering too deeply into fate. It was pitiable that such a young lady bore this burden.

Chu Li’s words were half-truths. While many sorcerers who overstepped suffered backlash, she was born with the heavens’ protection and thus immune.

Soon, they arrived near the forest. Even before approaching, the stench of blood overwhelmed their nostrils.

Qiu Yi covered her nose, gagging. Having never witnessed such a grisly scene, she was naturally unsettled.

“Give me the bundle. Wait here for me,” Chu Li said calmly, frowning at the blood-soaked earth before striding swiftly into the woods.

The bodies of over a hundred bandits had been crudely piled into a mound. Around it, low-lying ground had gathered pools of blood.

From that heap of corpses, waves of blood-tinged resentment radiated.

Fu Heng’s shadow guards were indeed formidable—just over a dozen men had slain so many bandits.

How many of these bodies had fallen by Fu Heng’s own hand... no one knew.