Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 369 - 344 The Ferocious Si Snake

Meng Qianqian asked Wu Ge’er to go to the Imperial Palace to fetch Lu Yuan, but unexpectedly Lu Yuan was summoned to the Ministry of Justice right after the morning court session.

The Supreme Emperor handed the evidence presented by Lu Yuan to Minister Xing. Minister Xing was greatly shocked after reviewing it, and could hardly believe it was true.

Minister Xing needed to understand the authenticity of the evidence, where it originated from, and through whose hands it passed.

Lu Yuan didn’t want to involve Meng Qianqian, Bai Yuwei, Tan’er, or the mysterious Twelve Guards, so he took it all upon himself and Chen Long.

No one expected that after disappearing that night, Chen Long would vanish without a trace, leaving Lu Yuan to shoulder all the evidence gathering alone.

Upon leaving the Ministry, Lu Yuan only said one sentence: "It’s a blood feud between me and Chen Long!"

In early November, the Capital City experienced its first snowfall.

Meanwhile, Si Snake and Bai Qingchen, along with the escort masters from Weiyuan Escort Agency, were escorting the coffin southward. After several days of long journeying, they had already traveled hundreds of miles.

In another seven or eight days, they would reach Miaojiang.

The further south they went, the warmer the weather became.

"I fear the Capital City has already seen snow by now."

The Chief of the Escort said with a smile to Bai Qingchen.

This particular escort mission not only offered generous rewards, but the employer was amiable and did not bark orders at them. When occasionally encountering mountain bandits, the employer’s own guards could handle it.

The brothers were only responsible for carrying the coffin, making it an incredibly pleasant job.

"I haven’t seen snow before."

Bai Qingchen said regretfully.

The Chief of the Escort asked in surprise, "Is there no snow in Miaojiang?"

Bai Qingchen replied, "Miaojiang is vast; some villages do see snow, but where I live, it hasn’t snowed."

The Chief of the Escort waved his hand: "No worries, once this mission is over, I’ll take you back to Capital City to see the snow! You’ll be going back to Capital City, right?"

Bai Qingchen thought for a moment: "I don’t know."

A smart and resourceful escort master named Hu San came over.

"Chief of the Escort, the horses are tired, and the brothers can’t walk anymore. There’s a forest over there with a water source nearby; shall we camp in the woods tonight to rest?"

The Chief of the Escort looked at Bai Qingchen: "Young Master Bai."

Bai Qingchen said, "Let’s rest."

"Alright!"

The Chief of the Escort agreed with a smile, immediately instructing his men to make preparations.

He could tell that Young Master Bai and his group were different from them; they were true experts. Even after traveling all day, they didn’t show signs of fatigue and could easily continue for another few hours.

Even with such a generous reward, even if rest wasn’t offered, the escort agency brothers would not dare to complain.

Yet, Young Master Bai never made things difficult for them.

The group chose a site close to the water source to set up camp.

The coffin was placed in the center, surrounded by tents, and guarded by both the escort agency and Miaojiang guards.

Si Snake still refused to stay in a tent.

The Chief of the Escort couldn’t help but ask him, "Hero, why don’t you stay in a tent?"

"I don’t like it."

Si Snake said.

Except when avoiding rain, this hero would sit in a tent with the flap open, but otherwise, he would never stay inside for even a moment.

The Chief of the Escort shook his head and proceeded to arrange for the brothers to fetch water and make dinner.

At night.

Most had settled down to sleep, leaving a few escort masters and Miaojiang guards to keep watch.

In the dead of night, they were suddenly ambushed.

Unlike the mountain bandits they had encountered before, this time the attackers were black-clad and highly trained, akin to top-tier assassins of the underworld.

In no time, several escort masters were injured.

"Fall back!"

Bai Qingchen severed an incoming arrow with a single slash and grabbed an escort master, pulling him out of the path of a hidden arrow.

"Ruan Qing, Ruan Ling! Protect the coffin!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Ruan Qing and Ruan Ling were personal hidden guards of the Miao King; Bai Qingchen couldn’t usually command them, but before departing Capital City, the Miao King had ordered that until they met the Goddess, they were to follow the commands of Young Master Bai.

After meeting the Goddess, they were to follow her instructions.

Even if the Goddess commanded them to kill the Miao King, they would have to comply.

The Miao King’s exact words.

The enemy was numerous and aggressive; both sides fought fiercely.

Nonetheless, no matter how many Miaojiang guards fell, Ruan Qing and Ruan Ling did not step away from the coffin for even a moment.

Everyone had their own missions, sacrifices were considered necessary.

Si Snake also joined the battle.

Bai Qingchen said to Si Snake, "They are Hidden Guards from the Prime Minister’s Mansion. I’ve fought them at the hunting grounds."

Si Snake sent an enemy flying with a single palm strike, "There are a hundred of them; are you sure they’re all from the Prime Minister’s Mansion?"

Bai Qingchen frowned, quickly glancing over the chaotic swarm of black-clad assassins.

Upon careful identification, some indeed had martial arts different from the previous Hidden Guards.

"Boy, don’t get distracted."

Si Snake caught a cold sword aimed at Bai Qingchen with two fingers, snapped it forcefully, and flicked the broken blade into the attacker’s eye.

The attacker screamed and fell, splattering Bai Qingchen’s face with blood.

Bai Qingchen calmly said, "Didn’t expect you to be so ruthless."

Si Snake replied coolly, "I prefer to end it in one move; more is a hassle."

Among the black-clad assassins, one stood out as particularly formidable; anyone he struck met a swift end.

Five Miaojiang guards had already fallen to his blade.

Bai Qingchen’s eyes grew cold.

Si Snake observed the opponent’s form and style, "It’s Xun Liu."

"I’ll kill him."

Bai Qingchen charged at Xun Liu with his blade.

Si Snake had seen Xun Liu spar with Ji Li and knew Xun Liu was tough to handle. After dispatching the nearby black-clad attackers, he also joined the fray.

Despite his high martial prowess, Xun Liu started to feel pressure facing the combined assault of Bai Qingchen and Si Snake.

Si Snake said, "Target his lower body."

"Got it!"

Bai Qingchen slashed at Xun Liu’s legs.

Xun Liu stomped mightily and leapt high into the air.

Now!

Si Snake lunged forward, grabbing Xun Liu by the throat, and slammed him into the large tree behind him.

Xun Liu felt piercing pain in his back and chest, breaking two ribs and injuring his organs, spitting a mouthful of blood.

Si Snake released his grip, landing steadily on the ground.

Xun Liu collapsed heavily in front of Si Snake.

Even in his severe condition, he mustered all his strength to fire several poison darts at Si Snake and Bai Qingchen.

Bai Qingchen swung his blade to deflect them.

Si Snake exclaimed, "Don’t touch them! Get back!"

Bai Qingchen withdrew his Scimitar just in time and ducked behind a tree.

Several darts struck the tree, exploding with a loud crash, releasing countless tiny poison needles.

Bai Qingchen wiped cold sweat from his brow, "This is—"

Si Snake said, "A mechanism from the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion; he’s an Outer Disciple."

As soon as these words were spoken, Si Snake heard something, stepped out from behind the tree, only to find that Xun Liu had disappeared.

Si Snake said, "He was rescued."

-

The moonless night howled with winds.

Xun Liu was carried on someone’s back, escaping ten miles before stopping.

Shangguan Ling panted heavily, "This should be far enough... can’t be pursued now..."

He found an abandoned dilapidated temple and set Xun Liu down, "Take the medicine first... can you hold on?"

Xun Liu swallowed the medicine Shangguan Ling handed him, his lips pale, "Not dead yet, why are you here?"