Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 11

11

The weather was gloomy, with heavy dark clouds brewing among the mountains, ready to sweep in at any moment. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth after the rain, and horse hooves splashed through puddles, kicking up droplets of mud.

An elegantly decorated carriage painted with green bamboo emerged from the stream of vehicles, turned a corner, and wound its way into the dense, verdant mountains.

Dozens of soldiers on horseback guarded the carriage, their hands silently gripping the long swords at their waists, expressions grave and eyes resolute.

Jiang Ciqing sat quietly inside the carriage, her slender back pressed against the wall as if she were resting with her eyes closed.

“Hyah!”

The coachman suddenly cracked his whip, the sharp sound startling the horses into a faster pace. The soldiers quickened their steps as well, their armor scraping against the overhanging branches, shaking off residual rainwater that fell like a light drizzle.

The path was narrow and short, leading swiftly into the mountain pass. Yet instead of relaxing, the group grew even more vigilant, their hands clenched so tightly around the reins that veins bulged.

—Swish!

A sudden whistling sound tore through the air, followed by the metallic rasp of blades being drawn. Urgent footsteps splashed through the mud as figures charged forward!

The soldiers, already prepared, dismounted in unison, their silver blades flashing as they swiftly formed a protective circle around the carriage.

From the dense foliage emerged over thirty figures, all clad in black, their faces and bodies concealed, leaving only their hands exposed for wielding weapons. Without a word, they raised their swords and slashed downward, their determination to take Jiang Ciqing’s life unmistakable.

The Jiang family guards had been briefed beforehand—they weren’t to engage head-on but to hold their ground around the carriage and wait for reinforcements. Thus, no one panicked. They calmly raised their swords to block the attacks.

Though outnumbered, Jiang Ciqing’s guards were all high-level Alphas trained from childhood to fight one against ten. Their armor and blades were forged from the finest tempered steel. Despite being surrounded, they fought with ease, not even needing the reinforcements to turn the tide.

Jiang Ciqing’s expression remained unchanged, as though the target of the ambush wasn’t her. Beneath her loose robe, she wore tight-fitting martial attire, and her hand had already grasped the hilt of a blade hidden beneath the cushion.

The wind from clashing weapons lifted the carriage curtains, revealing her dark, unreadable eyes. Even as the battle raged outside, bl00d splattering the ground, her face remained impassive.

Soon, the assassins had lost over half their numbers. The survivors wavered, hesitating to advance further.

The Jiang guards didn’t pursue, merely holding their positions outside the carriage, swords at the ready.

—Whoosh!

Just as the two sides reached a stalemate, a volley of arrows shot out from the forest.

“Shields up!” The coachman, who had remained seated until now, finally sprang into action, shouting the order as he drew his sword and slashed at the incoming arrows.

The black-clad assassins looked stunned, as though they hadn’t expected allies to be hiding in the woods. Some turned to peer into the forest.

The arrows rained down indiscriminately, piercing through the chests of the unprepared assassins. Bl00d gushed forth, mingling with the light rain.

—Thud!

Lifeless bodies collapsed into the mud, their wide eyes filled with confusion and resentment.

Stray arrows struck the carriage, their sharp tips piercing the wooden exterior and leaving dents in the iron layer beneath.

The arrow barrage hadn’t harmed Jiang Ciqing’s group—instead, it had wiped out the remaining assassins for them.

“Kill!”

The ambushers in the forest, seeing their arrows fail, discarded their bows and charged forward with blades drawn.

This group was far more formidable than the last. Their muscular frames strained against the iron armor hidden beneath their robes, and their heavy boots left deep footprints with every step.

A quick glance revealed over a hundred of them.

“Hold the line!” The coachman, who was actually the squad leader, barked the order. The slightly nervous guards steadied themselves, gripping their swords with both hands and bracing in a defensive stance.

The hundred attackers moved in unison, not as chaotic as the previous group. They formed a triangular spearhead formation, driving like a blade toward the carriage.

Jiang Ciqing leaned forward slightly, her blade now half-drawn from beneath the cushion. Every muscle in her body tensed, her eyes glinting coldly—like a leopard poised to strike.

Just as she was about to flip the curtain aside, a figure darted out from the woods. Clad entirely in black, their form was indistinguishable, save for the long sword in their hand—a weapon reminiscent of a Tang-style horizontal blade, its three-foot length dark as obsidian, with a deep bl00d groove. A single glance was enough to tell it was a weapon capable of severing limbs.

Jiang Ciqing frowned. Though the person wore a scent-blocking patch, the marked Alpha’s sensitive nose still caught a whiff of strong, intoxicating liquor.

Without a word, the figure lunged into the fray like a lone wolf. Their blade sliced through armor as though it were paper, leaving long gashes wherever it passed. Flesh split open, revealing layers of muscle and fat beneath, bl00d soaking through clothing in an instant.

It wasn’t that the enemies didn’t resist or stood dumbly waiting to be cut down. It was just that the overwhelming S-class mental pressure crashed down on them like a mountain, awakening an instinctive terror that made it impossible to lift their weapons. The triangular formation shattered.

“What are you waiting for? To die?!” A furious roar erupted from among the ambushers. Faced with death, even the suppression of a higher rank could be resisted.

The enemies snapped out of their daze, howling as they rushed the black-clad figure.

“Protect the family head!” The shout came from the mountain forest as soldiers clad in Jiang family armor rushed forward, their uniforms stained with bl00d as though they’d just fought a fierce battle.

The guards around the carriage, initially bewildered, regained their composure. It wasn’t their fault—despite being prepared, the three waves of attackers were bizarre, seemingly turning on each other in the woods. The Jiang guards hadn’t suffered a single injury, while the enemy had lost many.

“Ah Fu,” Jiang Ciqing suddenly spoke.

The squad leader disguised as the coachman immediately turned, bowing respectfully. “Family Head.”

Through the disheveled curtain, Jiang Ciqing adjusted her robe, pulling the collar higher to fully conceal her martial attire. The blade was tucked back under the cushion. She looked utterly unperturbed, as casual as if she were on a leisurely outing.

“Leave none alive,” the clean-featured Alpha said softly, her dark eyes icy and terrifying.

Ah Fu quickly clasped his fists in acknowledgment, not daring to question the order—even though just the day before, she had instructed them to capture two alive for interrogation.

Jiang Ciqing paused, then added in a low voice, “Don’t harm that one.”

Her gaze flicked toward the lone figure still cutting through the crowd.

“Understood!” Ah Fu replied before leaping off the carriage, his movements swift as a fish darting through water. In a blink, only his retreating back and the earlier command remained.

Jiang Ciqing watched the battle outside—or rather, watched a certain Omega. Though surrounded, the figure moved with ease, the white jade pendant on their sword hilt swaying with each motion. Dark bl00d slid off the blade, leaving no trace.

The enemy’s morale crumbled further, fear taking hold. Yet the Jiang guards encircled them, tightening the noose until they were packed together, unable to escape.

“Break through at one point!” someone screamed in terror—only to be decapitated the next second, their head rolling into the mud.

The attackers grew more frantic, swinging their blades wildly.

“Huh?”

Ah Fu, still in the thick of the fight, let out a puzzled sound. He’d been keeping an eye on the mysterious black-clad helper, wary of any reckless underling accidentally harming them.

But to his surprise, as the Jiang forces gained the upper hand, the figure began retreating from the enemy, drifting toward the carriage.

He hesitated, unsure—until the figure suddenly leaped onto the carriage, using a raised sword as a stepping stone before flipping onto the vehicle.

Ah Fu’s heart lurched with alarm, his swing going wide.

—Creak!

A boot scraped against the wooden frame. The black-clad figure used their sword to lift the curtain, their posture casual, almost teasing.

Jiang Ciqing looked up at them, her back resting against the cushion. Sunlight, late to arrive, filtered through the swaying curtains, casting dappled shadows over her like a divine being luring mortals.

Black pupils met red in a silent stare, as if replaying their last encounter.

Behind the mask, the figure’s lips twisted in irritation. Perhaps it was Jiang Ciqing’s composure—the way she seemed to have expected this rescue—that rankled someone used to being in control.

The sword tilted up, its tip, still reeking of bl00d and rust, lifting the divine one’s chin.

Jiang Ciqing frowned, disliking the smell. The pale skin of her throat reddened, already tainted by mortal bl00d.

“Family Head, the remaining enemies have all been eliminated!” Ah Fu’s voice came from outside, tinged with anxiety.

Still uneasy about the black-clad stranger, the guards had hurriedly finished off the last foes before reporting.

Xu Fusheng snapped back to reality, her ruby eyes flashing with something unreadable.

The blade withdrew.

Then someone leaned in.

The scent of tequila washed over Jiang Ciqing. She closed her eyes as coarse fabric brushed her lips.

“Family Head?”

Red eyes lowered, their emotions inscrutable. A thumb swiped over her chin, wiping away the earlier mark.

Jiang Ciqing’s lashes fluttered, her barely visible Adam’s apple bobbing.

When she opened her eyes again, the figure was gone.

“Understood,” Jiang Ciqing murmured, her voice so hoarse even she barely heard it.

The guards outside finally relaxed. One stepped forward, bowing in apology. “We were delayed. Punish us as you see fit.”

Jiang Ciqing was silent for a moment, her fingertips grazing lips still tingling, before replying, “Why?”

Her tone had regained its usual calm.

“We encountered over a hundred men hiding nearby on our way here. They spotted us, so we had no choice but to engage first.”

Jiang Ciqing’s eyes narrowed, a cold smile playing on her lips. “Three groups? My life must be worth quite a lot.”

“We captured two alive—”

She waved a hand. “No need to keep them.”

“Yes!”

The bloodstains were buried, the fierce battle erased without a trace. Puddles reflected clear skies once more. With a shout, the carriage wheels began rolling again.