Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The assassins sent by Prince Yong arrived late at night seven days later.

That night there was no moon, and dark clouds covered the sky; it was the perfect time for murder and arson.

Twelve dark figures, like ghosts, scaled the four-zhang-high city wall of Hanyuan City and silently landed on the streets of the inner city.

They were dressed in black, their faces covered, only their cold eyes were visible.

He had a short knife hanging at his waist, a crossbow on his back, and a poisoned dagger in his hand.

They are the "Shadows," the sharpest blades under the command of Prince Yong.

Shadow One made a hand gesture, and the twelve men split into three groups. One group went to set fire to the armory to create chaos.

One group lay in ambush around the city lord's mansion to intercept reinforcements. The last group of four, led by Shadow One himself, stormed straight into the city lord's mansion.

Their target was clear—Xiao Chen, the Prince of Jingbei.

The guards at the city lord's mansion were twice as tight as usual.

Ever since Xiao Chen learned that Prince Yong was going to make a move, he has increased his vigilance.

Inside and outside the mansion, there were at least a hundred sentries, both overt and covert. Patrol teams made a round trip every time an incense stick burns, leaving virtually no blind spots.

But Shadow is no ordinary assassin.

They were assassins, killers, and killing machines built by Prince Yong with countless amounts of gold and silver.

They easily bypassed the patrol and made their way to Xiao Chen's bedroom.

The bedroom light was on, and a figure was reflected in the window, engrossed in reading a book.

Yingyi made a gesture, and two assassins stepped forward, used their daggers to loosen the door latch, and gently pushed the door open.

The moment the door opened, a crossbow bolt shot out from inside, striking an assassin squarely in the throat. The assassin groaned and fell to the ground, dead.

"There's an ambush!" Ying shouted in a low voice, advancing instead of retreating, leading the remaining two into the house.

Inside the room, Xiao Chen was indeed reading a book, but he wasn't alone.

Standing beside him were Zhao Tie and four personal guards, each holding a crossbow and aiming it at the door.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time," Xiao Chen said calmly, putting down his book.

Yingyi's pupils contracted; he knew he had fallen into a trap. But the arrow was already on the bowstring, and he had no choice but to release it.

"kill!"

The three pounced on Xiao Chen like tigers.

Zhao Tie and his guards met them head-on, and a fierce battle ensued instantly, with swords flashing and spears clashing.

Shadow One is the leader of the Shadows, possessing the highest martial arts skills. He wields a short sword with unparalleled skill, killing two of his personal guards in succession before heading straight for Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen drew his sword to meet the attack, and the two fought for more than ten rounds inside the house, with neither gaining the upper hand.

But outside, things have already descended into chaos.

Flames soared into the sky from the direction of the armory, and shouts of battle filled the air. Fighting sounds also echoed around the city lord's mansion.

It was clearly the other two groups of assassins who had engaged the Cold Abyss Guards.

"Your Highness, run!" Zhao Tie shouted as he fought off the assassins.

Xiao Chen knew he couldn't linger in the fight.

He was the assassin's target. As long as he left, the assassin would catch up, and the others in the city lord's mansion would be safe.

"withdraw!"

He feinted with his sword, forcing Yingyi back, then turned and rushed out.

Shadow One pursued relentlessly.

The two rushed out of the city lord's mansion one after the other and chased each other through the streets.

Xiao Chen knew the streets of Hanyuan City like the back of his hand, and he deliberately chose to explore the alleys.

Although Shadow One was highly skilled in martial arts, he was unfamiliar with the terrain and gradually fell behind.

Just as they were about to shake off Shadow One, a figure suddenly appeared at the alleyway ahead.

He was a beggar, disheveled and ragged, holding a dog-beating stick in his hand.

He saw Xiao Chen, grinned, and revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth.

Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat; he knew this was also an assassin. With ambushes ahead and pursuers behind, the situation was critical.

"Your Highness, over here!"

Suddenly, a small door next to them opened, and a thin figure peeked out—it was the mute Amu.

Amu couldn't speak, but he was diligent and honest, and deeply grateful to Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen didn't have time to think and slipped through the small door.

Amu quickly closed the door and bolted it.

Outside the door, Shadow One and the beggar assassin caught up and, seeing the door was closed, began to ram it.

"Your Highness, hurry and leave through the back door!" Amu gestured and pointed to the backyard.

Xiao Chen nodded and ran to the backyard.

But after running only a few steps, they heard a loud "bang" as the door was kicked open. Shadow One and the beggar assassin rushed in.

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Amu suddenly lunged at Yingyi and grabbed his leg tightly.

Enraged, Ying slashed Amu across the back with his blade. Amu screamed in agony, but refused to let go even in death.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the beggar assassin swung his staff at Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen dodged to the side, then retaliated with a slash, striking the beggar assassin's shoulder. The beggar assassin screamed and staggered back.

But at this moment, Yingyi had already broken free from Amu and stabbed Xiao Chen in the back.

"Your Highness—"

Amu, with strength from who knows where, suddenly leaped up and stood behind Xiao Chen.

puff-

The dagger pierced Amu's chest, the tip protruding from his back, and blood splattered all over Xiao Chen.

"Amu!" Xiao Chen's eyes were bloodshot.

Amu opened his mouth, as if to say something, but no sound came out. He just looked at Xiao Chen, his eyes full of concern. Then, he slowly collapsed to the ground.

"You're asking for death!" Ying Yi drew his sword and stabbed at Xiao Chen again.

But this time, Xiao Chen didn't dodge.

His eyes burned with murderous intent, and the Cold Abyss Blade transformed into a streak of cold light, cleaving straight at the Shadow Gate.

Ying raised her sword to block, but Xiao Chen's sword strike was born of anger, with heavy force and fierce momentum.

With a clang, Shadow One's short sword was knocked away, while the Cold Abyss Blade continued its momentum, slashing down from above his head.

Shadow One screamed in agony as he was cleaved in two from his forehead to his chin.

Blood and brain matter were splattered all over the ground.

The remaining beggar assassins, seeing Yingyi dead, were terrified and turned to run away.

But he hadn't run more than a few steps before he was shot to death by a hail of arrows from the Hanyuan Guards who had rushed to the scene.

The battle is over.

Xiao Chen knelt beside Amu, looking at his pale face, his heart aching.

Amu, an elderly man living alone with no children, a mute who can't even speak.

He usually stayed in the manor quietly, sweeping the floor and guarding the warehouse, never causing trouble or seeking credit. Xiao Chen rarely even noticed him.

But this unassuming old man saved his life at a critical moment.

"Your Highness... Amuta..." Zhao Tie rushed over and, seeing this scene, also had tears in his eyes.

"A lavish funeral."

Xiao Chen's voice was hoarse. "Bury him in the Martyrs' Cemetery with the honors due to a Duke. Erect a monument with the inscription: 'Loyal servant Amu, who sacrificed himself to save his master, his loyalty will last forever.'"

"Yes……"

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen stood up, looking at Ying Yi's corpse, "send these people's heads to the capital, to Prince Yong. Tell him this is the first and last time. If they dare to come again, next time we'll send their heads."

"yes!"

The Hanyuan Guards began cleaning up the battlefield.

That night, the twelve Shadow Warriors were completely wiped out. The Cold Abyss Guard suffered twenty-three dead and thirty-seven wounded. Three rooms of the City Lord's Mansion were burned down, while the armory sustained minimal damage.

The cost was considerable.

But Han Yuan survived.

Amu's death brought the people of Hanyuan City's loyalty to Xiao Chen to its peak.

A prince, for the sake of a mute old man, buried him with the rites due to a duke, erecting a tombstone and inscribing an epitaph. Where can you find such a prince?

"Your Highness is benevolent and righteous!"

"Amu is awesome!"

"With such a prince and such people, how could our Hanyuan not prosper?"

The people spontaneously held a funeral for Amu, dressed in white mourning clothes, their cries shaking the heavens.

Xiao Chen was also dressed in mourning clothes and helped carry Amu's coffin.

The funeral procession started from the city lord's mansion, circled the city, and was finally buried in the Martyrs' Cemetery in the south of the city.

There lie buried all the soldiers and civilians who died fighting for Hanyuan.

On the day the tombstone was erected, Xiao Chen stood in front of it for a long time.

"Amu, don't worry. I will avenge you. Prince Yong will surely die."

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie said in a low voice, "Night Owl has sent word from the capital that Prince Yong's head... has been delivered."

"What was his reaction?"

"It is said that he smashed a cup on the spot and killed three maids. After that, he secluded himself in his room and refused to see anyone."

"Scared?"

Xiao Chen sneered, "This is just the beginning. Issue the order for the entire army to prepare for war. Three months from now, I will march south, purge the court of corrupt officials, and execute the Prince of Yong."

"yes!"

With the order given, Han Yuan entered a state of full-scale war.

Recruiting soldiers, training soldiers, manufacturing weapons, and stockpiling grain.

Xiao Chen made a vow in front of Amu's tombstone.

I swear I will not be a human being if I do not kill the Prince of Yong.