44: Chapter 44 Attack

The Pavilion Master held that exquisite Phoenix hairpin with both hands and presented it solemnly, his posture as if he were offering a peerless treasure.

"Young Master, this 'Phoenix Seeking Its Mate' is yours! It is worthy of your poem!"

The surrounding crowd erupted into a roar of discussion.

Envy, jealousy, shock.

Countless complex gazes focused on that unremarkable bodyguard.

He had really done it.

With half a poem, he had taken away this not-for-sale treasure.

"Young Master, the second half... could you please teach me the second half of the poem?" The Pavilion Master was practically begging, his old face flushed red, filled with a longing for a masterpiece that would be passed down through the ages.

"Yes! Tell us the second half quickly!"

"Such a stunning first half, the rest must surely be a legendary verse!"

The onlookers joined in the clamor, each craning their necks, their faces full of anticipation.

Chen Fan, however, ignored them.

He took the warm, smooth jade hairpin from the Pavilion Master's hands, turned, and walked over to Princess Li Ronger.

Under the astonished gaze of everyone, he bowed slightly and presented the Phoenix hairpin with both hands.

"Princess, the item you requested."

His actions were respectful yet distant, as if the poet who had just stunned the entire room was merely a fleeting phantom.

Now, he had returned to being that taciturn bodyguard, Lin Shou.

The entire Treasure Pavilion fell into a deathly silence once again.

Those wealthy Young Masters and scholars who had originally harbored jealousy now felt a burning sensation on their faces.

So, he hadn't done it for himself at all.

He wrote the poem solely to obtain this hairpin for his master.

What loyalty! What talent!

Princess Li Ronger stared blankly at the radiant Phoenix hairpin before her, then looked at the bodyguard with his head lowered.

An unprecedented, complex emotion—a mixture of shyness, agitation, and a trace of sweetness—surged within her heart.

She reached out reservedly, took the Phoenix hairpin, nodded slowly, and said in a calm tone, "Not bad."

Yet her slightly reddened earlobes betrayed the turmoil within her.

Afterwards, the Princess turned and left, her pace seemingly quickened.

Chen Fan followed silently behind, escorting her out of the Treasure Pavilion.

Behind them, only the Pavilion Master's breast-beating sighs and the clamor of the guests remained.

...

The carriage started slowly once again, merging into the flow of people.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was completely different from when they arrived.

The two little maidservants would occasionally peek through the gaps in the carriage curtain to steal glances at Chen Fan, who was driving the carriage outside, whispering and chattering excitedly with flushed faces.

Princess Li Ronger just sat there quietly, stroking the "Phoenix Seeking Its Mate" in her hands, without saying a word.

She would occasionally look at the Phoenix hairpin in her hand, then at the tall, upright figure outside the window; ripples spread one after another across her previously empty heart.

I do not know how much time had passed, but she finally could not help herself and spoke softly.

"Clouds evoke her attire, flowers evoke her countenance, the spring breeze brushes the railing, the dew is rich."

She recited these two lines of poetry in a low voice, finding every word a precious gem, leaving a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth.

"What is the second half?"

Her voice was very soft, carrying a hint of anticipation and tenderness that even she herself had not noticed.

On the carriage shaft, Chen Fan's movements paused for a moment.

Should he say it?

If he didn't, it would seem too deliberate.

Oh well, it was just a poem.

"Were it not for meeting on the peaks of Qunyu Mountain, we would surely meet beneath the moon at the Jade Terrace."

His calm voice passed through the carriage curtain and clearly entered the carriage.

Boom!

Princess Li Ronger's body trembled violently.

Were it not for meeting on the peaks of Qunyu Mountain, we would surely meet beneath the moon at the Jade Terrace.

If they had not met atop the immortal mountain, then they must have been destined to reunite at the immortal palace of the Jade Terrace under the moon.

This was no longer describing beauty.

This was saying that she was meant to be a Fairy from the heavens!

How romantic, how... bold!

In an instant, Princess Li Ronger's cheeks burned, turning so red that they seemed ready to drip blood.

At this moment, she associated many things, her mind in a chaotic whirl.

She gripped the Phoenix hairpin tightly, her heart pounding uncontrollably, as if it were about to jump out of her throat.

She had lived for over twenty years and had never heard such soul-stirring words of love.

No, these were not words of love.

This was just a bodyguard answering her question.

But why, when heard, did it make her heart more chaotic than any oath of eternal love?

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the agitation in her heart, and asked in as steady a voice as she could manage:

"This poem... do only I know it?"

"Yes."

Chen Fan's answer was simple and direct.

Upon receiving this affirmative reply, an indescribable sense of satisfaction and joy surged within Princess Li Ronger's heart.

This peerless poem belonged to her alone.

She looked at that silhouette outside the window; that previously unremarkable outline now, in her eyes, had become mysterious and full of attraction.

Just as this warm and ambiguous atmosphere was quietly fermenting inside the carriage.

An unexpected change occurred suddenly!

"Bang!"

With a loud noise, the entire carriage shook violently, as if hit hard by a wild bull!

"Ah!"

The two maidservants inside the carriage let out a terrified scream, swaying unsteadily.

Princess Li Ronger was also knocked to the side by this sudden impact.

Before they could even react.

"Rip!"

A harsh sound of tearing fabric.

The tough carriage wall was actually torn open, creating a huge hole from the outside by a sharp burst of force!

A ghostly black figure, like a hunting falcon, carrying chilling killing intent, lunged in through the breach like lightning!

The target was aimed directly at the Princess, Li Ronger, in the center of the carriage!

"Watch out!"

Chen Fan's explosive shout rang out at almost the same moment!

He had no time to think; the moment the assassin broke through the window, he abandoned the reins, spun around, vaulted from the carriage shaft into the carriage, and drew his waist sword like lightning!

"Clang!"

The blade flashed, precisely blocking the assassin's path.

The black-clad assassin clearly had not expected the driver to react so quickly; the short dagger in his hand, quenched with a green glow, collided violently with Chen Fan's long sword.

Sparks flew everywhere!

A massive force came from the blade.

Chen Fan felt his tiger's mouth go numb, his entire body shaken, his Qi and blood churning; he took three steps back, his back slamming heavily against the other side of the carriage wall.

What strong Internal Energy!

8th Grade!

This is definitely an 8th Grade Martial Artist!

Chen Fan's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

His current body was only 9th Grade.

With a difference of one major Realm, he was simply no match!

The assassin, having been blocked once, did not pause his attack; with a flick of his wrist, the short dagger traced a strange arc, bypassing Chen Fan's blade, and stabbed again towards Princess Li Ronger behind him.

The Move was ruthless, tricky, and every strike was lethal!