Chapter 383

“Ah Re!”

Meng Guxue’s heart leaped at the sound of this call, her face filled with surprise! Could it be that Shen Yuanbai’s special powder was a deception? Fortunately, she hadn’t given up resisting; it turns out it was just a psychological ploy!

Shen Yuanbai turned to look at the intruders in the courtyard, his face showing genuine surprise. He had indeed scattered the powder around the courtyard, and to be thorough, he had tested it in advance to ensure it could guard against tracking-type gu worms.

What was going on?

Shen Yuanbai furrowed his brow and soon saw a familiar figure behind Ah Re. It was the middle-aged man who had ambushed him with Qiao Diyi at Peel Skin Ridge. Qiao Diyi had called him—Qiao Bo!

The Qiao family had arrived too!

Shen Yuanbai’s heart tightened slightly. The Qiao family had become an unavoidable thorn in his side.

Seeing Shen Yuanbai, Ah Re was truly relieved. Finally, he had found the princess!

Earlier, when the tracking gu worm had suddenly lost its direction, he was extremely anxious, but the Qiao family had caught up from another direction. Qiao Bo had said that to ensure the safety of the Qiao family’s daughter in a foreign land, he had also placed a tracking technique on her.

He had followed Qiao Bo with some doubts, but he had indeed found Shen Yuanbai!

It seemed that, as His Highness had said, the Qiao family was indeed exceptional!

“Ah Re! I’m here!” Meng Guxue shouted from inside the room, and Ah Re, hearing her, fought even more fiercely with the blocking guards.

Shen Yuanbai’s expression was grim, but he remained composed. He was someone who always made sure to leave himself a way out.

He raised his hand and blew a sharp whistle, and the next moment, the courtyard walls were filled with the sound of dense mechanisms!

Qiao Bo and the others looked up to see dozens of well-trained black-clad men emerging, some holding bows and arrows and others with concealed crossbows, ready to strike!

“Keep everyone here!”

Shen Yuanbai ordered sharply, then walked directly into the room and shut the door behind him.

The courtyard immediately erupted in the sounds of a fierce fight.

Taking advantage of Shen Yuanbai’s distraction, Meng Guxue adjusted her position and movements. Just as she was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief, seeing Shen Yuanbai shut the door, she was filled with dread!

“Shen Yuanbai, if you don’t want Baili Miaoxue to die, get out of the way now!”

Baili Miaoxue felt the coldness of the dagger and cried out in fear, “Yuanbai, you must save me! Don’t forget our great plan!”

Shen Yuanbai’s left hand subtly moved under his sleeve, then he looked at Meng Guxue with a calm expression and gently asked, “Miss Meng, are you willing to kill?”

As he spoke, he moved closer step by step.

Meng Guxue’s face turned pale with fear, and she pressed the dagger even deeper into Baili Miaoxue’s neck, shouting coldly, “Don’t come any closer! As you said, even a rabbit will bite when cornered!”

Shen Yuanbai smiled faintly, “So you know you’re a rabbit—”

The last word was spoken sharply, and Shen Yuanbai immediately launched a concealed weapon with his left hand!

Meng Guxue didn’t even react before the weapon struck her right shoulder, causing a sharp pain that nearly made her drop the dagger!

Seeing this, Shen Yuanbai’s expression showed a hint of regret. His right hand’s tendon was severed and still difficult to use; his aim with the left hand was slightly off. He had intended to strike Meng Guxue’s acupoints to immobilize her.

But it was enough—

Shen Yuanbai suddenly moved swiftly, almost like lightning.

Meng Guxue’s face changed drastically as she hurried to pull up her sleeve. At this moment, she suddenly felt her hem being pulled—Jiaojiao was moving!

At the same time, Shen Yuanbai suddenly crouched and reached out towards Qiao Jiaojiao!

Meng Guxue’s eyes widened in realization. At that moment, she understood that Shen Yuanbai’s real target was not her.

From the moment Shen Yuanbai entered the room, his target had been—Jiaojiao!

“Jiaojiao, be careful!” Meng Guxue cried out urgently.

How could Qiao Jiaojiao not see through Shen Yuanbai’s intentions? The moment he appeared and said “the Qiao family’s daughter must stay,” Jiaojiao had been on high alert.

Her eyes never left Shen Yuanbai, not missing any of his movements!

At the instant Shen Yuanbai made his move, Jiaojiao deftly slipped past Meng Guxue and quickly approached the door!

Shen Yuanbai missed his target and was visibly shocked.

Was it a coincidence or…?

Could a mere three-year-old child really have such strategy and reflexes?

Meng Guxue’s heart was instantly in her throat as she witnessed this scene!

She couldn’t imagine what a disaster it would be for the Qiao family if Jiaojiao were captured by Shen Yuanbai. Jiaojiao was fully committed to the act, even as she ran toward the door, she managed to shout in a high-pitched voice:

“Second Brother from Xiaosi is playing hide and seek with Jiaojiao!”

Meng Guxue: “……”

Hide and seek, really?

It’s a good thing Jiaojiao is just a naive child; if she were older and more aware, she’d probably be terrified!

At this point, Meng Guxue had fully regained her composure. She suddenly shouted, “Shen Yuanbai!”

Shen Yuanbai, who was about to pursue Jiaojiao again, instinctively turned his head at the sound.

Meng Guxue immediately pushed Baili Miaoxue towards Shen Yuanbai, then waved her sleeve, scattering a cloud of white powder.

Meng Guxue didn’t dare look at the result. She rushed towards Jiaojiao and grabbed her.

Seeing the white powder in the air, Shen Yuanbai immediately held his breath, but he still inevitably inhaled a bit as he turned his head.

He felt a slight dizziness and nearly missed catching Baili Miaoxue.

Meng Guxue didn’t care about anything else. She carried Jiaojiao and pulled open the door!

The courtyard was now a chaotic melee. Baili Miaoxue’s hidden guards were no pushovers, and there were also the northern elite fighters brought by Che Hebi!

Hearing the door open, Qiao Bo and Ah Re looked over simultaneously, both letting out a sigh of relief.

Throughout this ordeal, Qiao Bo had kept a low profile. Despite his worries, he held an unspoken trust and respect for the young lady. He knew that she never attempted anything without confidence, and if he communicated too much with the young lady, it might raise suspicions.

Seeing the young lady appear unharmed before him, Qiao Bo could hardly contain his pride.

He and Ah Re fought even more fiercely, quickly advancing to join Meng Guxue.

Everything seemed to be going in a positive direction, and Meng Guxue even felt a glimmer of joy.

She saw Ah Re in the courtyard, blocking a long sword aimed at him, striding towards her with a look of eager joy on his face—

In the next moment, Ah Re’s joy suddenly turned to terror. His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to shout!

Meng Guxue could vaguely make out Ah Re calling out, “Princess, be careful!”

Her scalp tingled, and she instinctively looked back into the room, catching a glimpse of a sharp silver light streaking toward her!