Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 169 Assassination
The speed was so fast that Lin Zhiqing didn't even have time to dodge.

At the crucial moment, Lin Shi'an put his arm around Lin Zhiqing's shoulder, and the two instantly switched positions.

At the same time, the arrow rapidly approached them.

In an instant, Lin Shi'an reached out and grabbed the arrow just as it was a finger's width away from his vital point.

All of this happened in just a few seconds.

Lin Zhiqing could even feel her heart pounding violently.

"Cousin, are you alright?" She didn't have time to be scared and quickly checked on Lin Shi'an's condition.

"It's nothing." Lin Shi'an held the arrow in his hand, his face extremely cold and stern.

He slowly raised his head and looked in the direction from which the arrow had flown.

A figure dressed in black flashed past on the opposite high-rise building.

Lin Zhiqing and Lu Huai also saw the figure, and their expressions instantly darkened.

“That arrow was definitely aimed at you. It was fast, accurate, and ruthless. He’s a trained fighter!” Lin Shi’an’s tone was serious, unlike anything Lin Zhiqing had ever heard before.

Moreover, this seriousness carried an extremely strong murderous intent: "You all go back to the carriage and wait for me. I'm going to chase after him."

With that, he took a step forward.

"Wait." Lin Zhiqing grabbed his sleeve. "Do you know who he is?"

"I don't know." Lin Shi'an shook his head: "But they dared to attack you. Even if they are the emperor's men, it makes no sense."

These words are completely irrational. Lin Shi'an grew up by Lin Congli's side and was influenced by him, so he highly respected the law.

Even when he's angry, he wouldn't casually utter the word "emperor."

Now it seems they were furious.

Lin Zhiqing was surprised by his unusual reaction and remained silent for a moment.

Lin Shi'an tossed the sword at his waist to Lu Huai: "Take this and go back to the carriage with Zhiqing. I'll be right back."

With that, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and instantly chased after the direction in which the black man had disappeared.

"Cousin!" Lin Zhiqing reacted and called out loudly.

But Lin Shi'an's figure disappeared in just a few steps.

Lu Huai held his sword in one hand and grabbed Lin Zhiqing's wrist with the other: "Stop shouting. He's probably in a bad mood right now and won't listen to anyone."

"Let's find a safe place to stay quickly, that carriage is too conspicuous." As Lu Huai spoke, he slung the sword behind his back with practiced ease.

"This is troublesome." Lin Zhiqing was so worried about his cousin that he didn't even notice this.

She and Lu Huai hid in an abandoned shop.

"Who do you think wants to take your life?" Lu Huai asked while cautiously observing the outside.

"Who else could it be?" Lin Zhiqing's gaze was very sharp.

There are only two parties in total.

Lin Zhiqing is currently investigating a case, which means that it will affect the interests of certain people.

One member of the royal family and the other Liu Mang—neither of them wanted her to uncover the truth.

She had thought that they might harm her, so she always brought someone who knew martial arts with her when she went out.

To her surprise, those people attacked her in public.

To be honest, this is somewhat inconsistent with the way Liu Mang and the royal family operate.

The royal family clearly feared the Lin family, yet on the surface they still tolerated the Lin family's existence for so many years.

Things are progressing exactly as the royal family wants, so they are unlikely to go to any unnecessary trouble to deal with Lin Zhiqing.

As for Liu Mang, he was usually portrayed as a kind-hearted person.

He always got along well with his colleagues and never made enemies on the surface.

To put it nicely, this behavior is called being tactful; to put it bluntly, he's particularly good at pretending and acting, ensuring no one can find fault with him. His style of conduct should prevent anyone from plotting against him in public.

Neither the royal family nor Liu Mang seemed to have a reason to take action.

But apart from these two forces, Lin Zhiqing did not think that anyone else who had antagonized him was capable of doing such a thing.

Just as she was racking her brains trying to figure it out, a faint sound of footsteps suddenly reached her ears.

Lin Zhiqing immediately held her breath.

She looked at Lu Huai, and Lu Huai looked at her too.

Someone is coming again!
Lu Huai gently reached out and shielded Lin Zhiqing behind him, and the two hid in a corner.

Lin Zhiqing was stunned. Lu Huai's figure overlapped with the figure that had shielded her from the knife yesterday.

Lu Huai didn't notice Lin Zhiqing's gaze; his eyes were fixed on the window.

The footsteps stopped abruptly at the window and then fell silent.

Lin Zhiqing and Lu Huai held their breath and focused intently, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Who is the person outside the door?

Lin Zhiqing frowned and immediately thought of a possibility.

Could the person who just shot the arrow have been a decoy? Was his purpose to lure away my cousin, who is the only one who knows martial arts?
The more Lin Zhiqing thought about it, the more he felt that the cold arrow was deliberately released to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

The person outside the door...

"boom!"

Lin Zhiqing's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as a man in black burst through the window. His short sword gleamed coldly, and his gaze immediately fell upon Lin Zhiqing.

Lin Zhiqing's eyes narrowed, and her hand slowly moved to her waist, where she grabbed the dagger.

"Who are you?" Lu Huai narrowed his eyes, took a step forward, and blocked the man in black's view.

The man in black was only showing his eyes, which were completely expressionless.

He didn't speak, but slowly raised the short sword in his hand.

Lu Huai sensed something was wrong. This person was refusing to communicate, clearly indicating that he didn't want to say more and wanted to cut the Gordian knot and take their lives!

Danger!

Lu Huai grabbed Lin Zhiqing's wrist, and just as the man in black approached them, Lu Huai suddenly flicked his sleeve, and powdery objects floated up into the air.

The man in black was caught off guard and got his eyes covered in the powder.

It's now!

Lu Huai grabbed Lin Zhiqing and ran outside.

The shop was in another alley, and the two dared not stop.

Once you pass through the alley and reach a crowded area, you'll feel much safer!

Lin Zhiqing hadn't expected Lu Huai to have a backup plan. After realizing it, she grabbed Lu Huai's hand and the two ran out together, not daring to stop.

But before he could run a few steps, Lin Zhiqing heard a loud noise.

She turned around and saw the man in black kick open the door, rubbing his eyes with one hand while throwing the short sword out with the other.

In a moment of urgency, Lu Huai grabbed Lin Zhiqing's waist and pushed her forward a step.

"Lu Huai!" Lin Zhiqing was stunned the moment she turned around.

The short sword was heading straight for Lu Huai's back; the scene was...

Lin Zhiqing had seen this scene before, in a dream in the Liu family's study!
In the dream, Jiang Liuyun chased after them and threw a teacup, which hit Lu Huai right in the back of the heart!

The scenes from reality and dreams alternated, and the image of Lu Huai lying in her arms with a bloodied head gradually became clearer.

Lin Zhiqing felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if it had been pricked by a needle.

Do not!
Lu Huai cannot die!