Birthday Banquet Ambush

At the Alu Wine House, several young people of similar age found common ground and quickly became familiar with each other.

Su Jiangcheng's eloquence was excellent. His descriptions of Jiangnan's customs and traditions made Hong Yun and Hong Lian laugh continuously. Bai Bingxue secretly cursed the Su Xian Sect disciples for being so good at charming girls.

Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the King of Ziqi's palace, the birthday banquet and performances had become even more lively and chaotic, causing everyone to let down their guard.

The more lively things became in this world, the more danger lurked, and there were always those who sought to disrupt the atmosphere.

The sword dance began, performed by two men in black and two women in white.

A dance of swords that moved in all directions. The women's long sleeves fluttered, concealing their short swords, making them appear and disappear. The men, dressed in practical attire, wielded long swords that flashed. Amidst the swirling sword light, one could almost hear the sound of blades cutting through the air and feel the chilling aura of sword energy.

As the dance progressed, the movements of the four sword dancers became faster and faster, and the sword light grew more dense.

Suddenly, amidst a dazzling display of sword light, the four dancers leaped into the air simultaneously. The two men in black, with their swords pointed straight, lunged towards the King of Ziqi, who was seated in a high position.

In a flash, Ying Hu, the official of the Ministry of War, kicked over a table, sending it hurtling towards one of the black-clad dancers.

The King of Ziqi reacted swiftly, lifting a table with both hands and smashing it towards the other black-clad dancer. The two assassins' movements were hindered, their swords sweeping across the overturned tables. By the time they recovered, Ying Hu was already blocking their path.

The two female assassins in white also drew their sharp swords and joined the encirclement.

The leaders of the thirty-seven divisions, who had been drunkenly lounging in the hall, sobered up instantly. General Alu, General Age, Young Master A Wei, and General A Long of the Shizong division drew their swords and charged forward.

Young Master A Wei employed his family's White Fox Thirty-Seven Steps movement technique, weaving through the gaps between the four assassins to reach his master, Ying Hu, and then positioning himself in front of his grandfather. The King of Ziqi inwardly praised him, his tiger eyes narrowed as he roared, "Seize them!"

Four top experts of Ziqi Country attacked simultaneously. However, the four assassins were no ordinary opponents. With their backs to each other, they attacked and defended in an orderly fashion, holding their ground for the moment.

The King of Ziqi's two concubines were frightened. The King of Ziqi prepared to leave Wude Hall with them.

Seeing that their assassination attempt had failed, the four assassins were unwilling to give up. Their eyes met. The two male assassins in black feigned an opening, luring Ying Hu to close in for an attack. The two female assassins in white took the opportunity to circle behind Ying Hu. Two sleeve darts shot out rapidly towards the King of Ziqi.

A Wei, unable to block with his sword in time, lunged forward. With two muffled thuds, the sleeve darts embedded themselves in A Wei's abdomen. A wave of intense pain caused him to bend over and kneel on one knee. The leading black-clad assassin let out a long cry, preparing to retreat.

General Abu's second son, A Si, ran to the center of the hall, fearless, and shouted, "Vile villains, do not flee! My ferrets will bite them!"

He then threw two small hands forward, and the snow ferrets he held in his arms darted out.

The leaders, terrified, quickly stepped forward to shield the young master, fearing that an assassin's sword would end his young life.

The snow ferrets were deadly poisons from the Great Snow Mountain. They were swift and agile, and many wolves, jackals, and tigers had met their demise by underestimating them.

These four assassins, unaware of their prowess, were attacked by the ferrets while being surrounded by experts. The snow ferrets darted onto their backs, necks, shoulders, and into their sleeves and skirts, biting them in fleshy areas.

At first, the assassins felt like they were being pricked by needles or bitten by rats. Later, their vision blurred, their blood essence became sluggish, and finally, they collapsed, bleeding from their noses and mouths, their lives extinguished.

With the four assassins dead, the crisis was resolved.

At this moment, A Wei could no longer hold on. His legs gave out, and he fell backward.

"Quickly summon the imperial physicians, Young Master A Wei is injured!"

"Seal the city gates and apprehend any accomplices of the assassins."

"The birthday banquet is concluded. All division leaders are to return to their residences and rest. We will convene in Wende Hall tomorrow morning."

At the Alu Wine House, Bai Bingxue and the others were guests, enjoying a lavish spread. The monk Sixi ate heartily, unconcerned with whether the food was meat or vegetarian, his mouth glistening with oil.

Bai Bingxue ate some of the cakes she loved as a child. Su Jiangcheng and Su Dingfeng, however, had drunk two pots of wine, completely disoriented by the enthusiastic attention of Princesses Hong Yun and Hong Lian.

Their conversations ranged from the scenery of Jiangnan to poetry and songs, from the transport of grain along the Bian River to the talented scholars and beautiful ladies of West Lake.

Bai Bingxue and Sixi couldn't join the conversation and focused solely on eating.

Suddenly, the urgent sound of horse hooves stopped in front of the wine house. Then, a general in black, carrying Young Master A Si, shouted at the entrance, "Second Sister, Third Sister, something has happened, something big has happened!"

"Second Sister is Fourth Brother?" Princess Hong Lian exclaimed in surprise and hurried out.

"Third Sister, call Second Sister and quickly come back with me. There were assassins who tried to kill Grandfather, and Eldest Brother is injured," A Si shouted anxiously from his horse.

"Ah, is Grandfather alright? Is Eldest Brother alright?" Princess Hong Lian asked anxiously.

"Hurry and call Second Sister, you'll know when we get back," A Si said before turning his horse and heading towards the palace.

Inside the palace, Young Master A Wei lay on a sickbed, his abdomen and the lower part of his clothes stained red with blood.

The imperial physicians, seeing his bluish lips and pale face, with more air going out than coming in, all shook their heads.

The physicians dared not administer acupuncture or remove the feather darts, leaving him in this state.

The King of Ziqi, with his family, paced anxiously outside the room, their hushed movements creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere.

When the time was right, two imperial physicians came out, knelt, and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please accept our condolences. Young Master A Wei is about to meet the Buddha, sob sob..."

A Wei's birth mother, the wife of General Abu, fainted upon hearing this, and the physicians rushed to her aid.

The King of Ziqi, with tears in his eyes, said, "Abu, Alu, Age, come in with me to bid farewell to A Wei."

Just as the King of Ziqi pushed open the door, Bai Bingxue, Hong Yun, Hong Lian, and Sixi arrived.

"Grandfather, let me see my cousin's injuries," Bai Bingxue shouted as she entered.

The King of Ziqi moved aside, allowing her to enter.

Bai Bingxue entered the room, grabbed A Wei's wrist, and seeing that he still had a heartbeat, breathed a sigh of relief.

She quickly took a 'Returning Yang Rescue Reversal Heart Protecting Pill' from her medicinal pouch and gave it to A Wei. This would sustain him and give him a chance of survival.

Bai Bingxue first examined A Wei's nose and mouth, eyes, pulse, and then checked his wounds. She then instructed the imperial physicians to cut off A Wei's upper garment.

The head physician, seeing her busy for a while, said unhappily, "Miss, it's too late. Just let Young Master A Wei go in peace!"

Bai Bingxue's eyes widened, and she yelled, "Bullshit! If you dawdle any longer, watch out, I'll have my grandfather chop off your head!"

King Ziqi glared at her upon hearing this.

The head physician, startled, quickly ordered the other physicians to get to work.

After A Wei's shirt was cut off, his pale body had feather arrows inserted near the Zhongwan and Juque acupoints, already three inches deep into his abdomen, with black blood flowing out.

Bai Bingxue examined him carefully. The head physician beside her said, "The wounds are bleeding black blood. The arrowheads are coated with foul poison. The wounds are cracked, and these arrows lodged in the abdomen have barbs. If you try to pull them out rashly, your intestines will surely rupture and your belly will be torn apart."

"Moreover, Young Master A Wei's Sea of Water and Grain has suffered such a severe blow. Other than an immortal, no one in Ziqi Country can save him."

Bai Bingxue, annoyed by his rambling, roared, "Get out!"

The head physician still wanted to argue, but General Alu grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out the door.

The head physician cursed inwardly, "I don't believe a yellow-haired girl like you can save someone who's bound to die!"