Eternal Life: I Rely on Fortune Points for Improvement-Chapter 99: Not Xiao Ran, Yet Xiao Ran

The man in black used his Spring Saber to deflect the arrows rushing towards him.

Facing the most dangerous arrow, he concentrated fully, unleashing all his strength, slashing down with one stroke.

"Clang!"

His saber technique was superb.

It seemed as though he struck right on the arrowhead.

But this arrow carried a terrifying force, as though it could pierce a stone wall; although the Spring Saber met the arrow, it failed to knock it away outright.

The arrow deviated by several centimeters, scraping past his cheek.

Leaving behind a bloody scratch.

"How dare you break into the Prince’s Mansion at night!"

This delay allowed Xiao Ran’s spear to close in; his Spear Technique was the Shadow-Following Form, enveloping the man in black. Even with his impressive Body Technique, the man could not break free in a short time.

He could only grip his saber with both hands, confronting Xiao Ran.

Facing Xiao Ran’s relentless, storm-like Spear Technique, the man in black retreated step by step.

Several clangs rang out.

With the archers’ support, Xiao Ran seized the chance and struck at his opponent’s wrist with one thrust.

This spear landed with overwhelming force.

The man’s wrist fractured on the spot.

As the Spring Saber dropped, he twisted his arm to grab it, launching a full-force Sea-Gathering-the-Moon move at Xiao Ran; Sword Essence surged, exploding with power.

A streak of Qi more than a meter long appeared along the blade.

At the critical moment, Xiao Ran burst backward, his spear executing a Powerful Slash of Hua Mountain, cutting down vertically.

Boom!

A wave of Qi burst out from the clash of blade and spear.

The man in black used the impulse to dash toward the outside of the mansion.

His wrist was broken, but his Body Technique was unaffected.

Still, as he fled, his expression was tense, listening intently for the sound of arrows breaking the wind, fearing a stray shot would wound him.

"Whoosh!"

Xiao Ran hurled his spear.

The fleeing man dodged it.

The spear pierced the courtyard wall. By the time Xiao Ran reached, pulled out the spear, and vaulted onto the wall, the man in black had already vanished, disappearing into the dense cluster of buildings in the distance.

"That arrow just now?"

Xiao Ran turned to look at the mansion’s archers.

Amid the rain of arrows just now, one lethal arrow had been mixed in, its powerful force and sharp sound unable to deceive the man in black—or Xiao Ran.

"Chase him!"

Misreading Xiao Ran’s gaze, the archers’ leader prepared to chase after the man in black with his men.

"No need to pursue. Come over here to the archery range; each of you shoot for me to see."

Xiao Ran said.

He wanted to confirm.

Was that powerful arrow just now fired by one of the mansion’s archers?

If so,

he would surely promote and favor them.

If not, then who could it be?

"I want some water."

Inside a luxurious guest room of the mansion.

Jiang Feng called out.

A servant at the door quickly entered, pouring him a bowl of water.

Jiang Feng drank the water before letting the servant leave.

"No matter who that man in black really is, I just hope that arrow I loosed drew some attention."

Jiang Feng mused inwardly.

He cultivated the Tai Chi Longevity Skill.

Extremely sensitive to changes in the surrounding Qi.

When the man in black had only just slipped into the mansion, Jiang Feng noticed him. Seeing the man go for Xiao Ran, Jiang Feng decisively found a bow used by the mansion’s archers and shot a cold arrow at the man.

The cold arrow released.

Jiang Feng quickly slipped back to his room.

And immediately called out his thirst, drawing the guards’ attention, to solidify the fact he had never left his room.

"Has anything happened here?"

"Reporting, Little Prince, nothing."

"Is Jiang Feng alright?"

"He just drank some water."

At the door, the voices of Xiao Ran and the servant came through.

Unsettled, Xiao Ran had come to check for himself.

He promptly pushed the door in.

And saw Jiang Feng lying on the bed, his complexion still somewhat pale.

"Cough, cough, Little Prince, please let me go back! I’m really fine now."

Jiang Feng coughed and said.

"Hmph! Wait until the physician says you’re recovered before you leave. There’s no shortage of food and drink here. Just stay put."

Xiao Ran snorted coldly.

He only glanced at the door.

Then turned and left; the servant closed the door behind him.

"Watch him closely. If anything happens, notify me at once."

"Yes!"

Xiao Ran instructed at the door, then began patrolling around the mansion.

He had just checked every archer, confirming that that powerful arrow had not been shot by any of the archers here—there might be a master hidden in the mansion.

He wondered if it was someone assigned by his father, hidden here to ensure his safety.

"That arrow just now resembles the one from last time, when I was practicing in the garden and an arrow pierced the book."

"But the force seems somewhat different."

"If someone shot at me in secret, my Spear Technique might not be able to defend against it."

"If it’s someone my father sent here, if Dong’Er were in danger, they wouldn’t notify me, would they?"

"Maybe it’s two people."

Xiao Ran murmured to himself, turning it over in his mind.

Given Xiao Ran’s skill and insight, if Jiang Feng’s arrow tonight hadn’t been camouflaged by the archers’ rain, he would have recognized right away it was fired by the same person.

For now, he simply maintained suspicion.

...

In a dark corner of Dragon Capital.

After escaping the mansion, the man in black used the crowded buildings as cover, relying on his skilled Body Technique and speed to vanish from Xiao Ran’s sight.

He seemed to merge into the darkness.

He tore off a piece of cloth to crudely bandage his fractured wrist.

He muttered softly, "No wonder it’s the Prince Zhennan’s Mansion—even a Divine Archer is hidden inside! Nearly fell into his hands; although it wasn’t Xiao Ran himself, at least I can give an account to the young lord."

Then he hurried toward the Imperial City.

The next day.

The Second Prince finished his business.

Once again, he came to that secluded, comfortable courtyard.

The elder servant, as usual, brewed him a bowl of Qi and Blood Replenishing Soup.

Upon seeing the Second Prince,

the old servant nodded slightly.

As if conveying something.

The Second Prince was briefly surprised.

The old servant said, "It wasn’t Xiao Ran, and yet it was Xiao Ran. That man is inside Prince Zhennan’s Mansion; Yanzi nearly fell into his hands."

"Well, Xiao Zhan, you’ve dared let Xiao Ran oppose me in Dragon Capital."

The Second Prince’s gaze turned grim.

Holding power throughout the court, year by year he expanded his influence; apart from a handful of people, few dared to oppose him.

The King Zhennan, who guarded the National Gate against the Turkic Army, was one of them—a so-called Exotic King, not putting him in his eyes.

He had suspected Xiao Zhan before.

But lacked concrete proof.

At last, he had a clue.

"Find a way to delay handing over warhorses and grain to Xiao Zhan by ten days. Have Huo Shangxiang interrogate Han Dong, start from Han Dong’s sect, and force Han Dong to leave Zhenbei Prison.

I want father and son running in circles."

The Second Prince gave the order coldly.

"Old servant understands."

The elder servant bowed and withdrew.

Prince Zhennan’s Mansion.

Jiang Feng sat up from bed.

Murmuring to himself, "I still don’t know whose man that black-clad intruder was last night. Has my suspicion been cleared or not?"

He immediately checked his status panel.

Was he out of danger?

The Fortune Point was clear evidence.