Futile Devices Scans

“Your Highness, let us stop for a moment.”

Hearing Su Ruhan’s words, Third Prince naturally stopped in his tracks.

“I smell a heavy poisonous vapor, and it carries the floral fragrance of the courtyard.”

Third Prince remained silent. He had also smelled it; it was drifting down from the direction of the mountain summit. He was more familiar with this fragrance than anyone, for this was the scent his nose encountered every day. It was only that today, mixed into the floral fragrance, there were other scents as well. Clearly, this was no ordinary floral scent, and this mountain could not possibly emit such a fragrance.

“Someone from the courtyard must have come here,” Third Prince said faintly.

Su Ruhan nodded, then instinctively held his breath and looked toward the mountain.

“Going up the mountain now may be dangerous. Aside from the fog, there is also this inexplicable floral fragrance…”

As if he had not heard, Third Prince walked straight toward the mountain. Su Ruhan had long expected this, so he followed silently behind him.

Before long, they discovered several bandits collapsed near the foot of the mountain. There was not a single visible wound on their bodies, but their lips were faintly blue, clearly showing signs of poisoning. “This really is poisonous vapor,” Su Ruhan murmured to himself.

Third Prince showed no reaction at all. His gaze had already passed beyond Su Ruhan and fixed on the two people walking over from the distance. Although he could only make out their outlines, Third Prince already sensed who those two people were.

Sun Ye was carrying Mu Xueshi on his back as he walked down the mountain. Mu Xueshi had been trying to get down from Sun Ye’s back the entire time, but since he could not speak, his muffled sounds were swallowed by the air.

Following Third Prince’s gaze, Su Ruhan also noticed Sun Ye and Mu Xueshi. For a moment, he could hardly believe it. He had never expected that before they even reached the mountain, they would see the person they had been searching for all these days.

Third Prince stared blankly, his eyes tightening little by little with the approach of those two figures. It had already been eight days since they last met. Unlike their previous separation, this time he had known nothing at all, and had passed those eight days in constant fear and anxiety.

He did not know how many times he had thought about what he would do with the rest of his life if he truly never saw him again…

Sun Ye also saw the two figures walking toward him. At first, he thought there might be another ambush, but he had never expected them to be people he had not seen in many days.

Sun Ye’s steps unconsciously quickened, and his heart grew chaotic along with them.

By the time he reached Third Prince, Mu Xueshi had already been jostled until his head was dizzy and swollen. The moment he lifted his head, someone pulled him into an embrace.

Feeling that familiar warmth, Mu Xueshi eagerly raised his head and met Third Prince’s downward gaze. For a moment, he did not know what to say, and Third Prince pulled Mu Xueshi tightly back into his arms.

Sun Ye silently knelt beside them, not speaking and not interrupting the quiet of this moment.

Mu Xueshi looked at the fine lines at the corners of Third Prince’s eyes and the stubble that had emerged on his face, and guilt filled him so deeply that he did not know what to say. No matter what he did, Third Prince always treated him the same as before. Yet what absurd things had he done these past few days? Just thinking about it made him feel too ashamed to face him.

“I won’t leave you alone again. Whatever you want to do, you can do it. Tell me, and I’ll go with you.”

Hearing Third Prince’s gentle words, Mu Xueshi lifted his head almost in disbelief. He had thought that at the very least, Third Prince would scold him, ignore him for several days, but he had never expected to hear words of apology from him instead.

Third Prince tenderly wiped the moisture from Mu Xueshi’s cheek with his hand and kissed his thin lips. Unable to suppress the heat surging in his chest, Third Prince pried open Mu Xueshi’s teeth and tangled with his soft little tongue for a long while before finally releasing his head.

“Your Highness, let us return to the palace first. Xueshi has been missing for so long; he must be very tired. Let him go back and rest properly for a while before we discuss anything else.”

Third Prince nodded and lifted Mu Xueshi into his arms. Only then did he notice Sun Ye kneeling beside them.

When Sun Ye met Third Prince’s gaze, his expression faltered. He suddenly knocked his head against the ground and called out unsteadily, “Third Prince.”

Third Prince’s gentle expression slowly turned somewhat cold. He did not say anything to Sun Ye, but gave Su Ruhan a look, signaling for him to bring Sun Ye along as well.

Third Prince held Mu Xueshi as they rode one horse, while Sun Ye and Su Ruhan each rode another, preparing to head toward the imperial palace.

Suddenly, a tall figure darted in front of the three horses and blocked the four people’s path.

The moment Mu Xueshi saw that person, his heart gave a heavy thump, and he instantly panicked. First, he was afraid Third Prince would get angry after learning why he had come. Second, he was afraid Third Prince might kill the Mountain King in a fit of rage.

“Why are you blocking the road?” Su Ruhan asked coldly.

The Mountain King did not look at him. Instead, he fixed his gaze firmly on Mu Xueshi and Third Prince, then said stiffly, “Put my wife down, and I’ll let you pass at once.”

Wife?

Third Prince gave the Mountain King a cold glance and considered the words he had just spoken, silently wondering who this so-called wife of his was…

Afraid Third Prince would become angry, Sun Ye did not reveal everything he had just seen, even though he knew the truth.

“Why would we need you to let us pass? Once outside this mountain, you are nothing but a useless man,” Su Ruhan sneered.

The veins on the Mountain King’s forehead bulged, and his fists clenched with audible cracks. His left hand reached behind him toward the long crossbow on his back.

Su Ruhan had already seen through the Mountain King’s movement. In the blink of an eye, he flew down from his horse and leaped in front of the Mountain King. Unexpectedly, the Mountain King was not slow either. By the time Su Ruhan reached him, the bowstring in the Mountain King’s hand had already snapped back with a buzzing sound, and that thick, long arrow shot straight toward Third Prince.

Third Prince did not dodge. He seized the rapidly flying arrow in one hand. Because the force was too great, the arrow rubbed through his palm for a short distance before stopping, forcibly grinding a bloody mark into Third Prince’s hand.

Sun Ye could not help silently praising his skill from the side, because he knew very well what condition the Mountain King was in. If he had not been poisoned, perhaps no one would have been able to catch that arrow at all.

Mu Xueshi hurriedly spread open Third Prince’s palm. When he saw the red mark streaked with blood, his heart ached sharply, and his gaze toward the Mountain King carried a trace of resentment.

At that moment, however, the Mountain King’s gaze remained fixed on Third Prince. The flames burning in his deep eyes seemed strong enough to set the entire forest ablaze.

“To dare launch a sneak attack on Third Prince…”

“I don’t care what Third Prince or Fourth Prince he is. Whoever has my wife on his horse had better obediently put him down.”

Third Prince lowered his head and glanced at Mu Xueshi. Mu Xueshi shivered in fright, terrified that Third Prince would throw him down from the horse, and immediately wrapped both arms tightly around Third Prince’s waist.

Seeing this, the Mountain King felt as though he had swallowed several jin of sand, heavy and suffocating. The person who had been protected in his arms only the day before was now clinging tightly to another man’s body. How could he not feel stifled?

In less than a moment, the Mountain King and Su Ruhan began fighting. Although the Mountain King was powerful and fierce, and his skills were not poor, because he was poisoned and because his opponent was Su Ruhan, he was clearly at a disadvantage.

After more than ten exchanges, the Mountain King could no longer withstand the heavy blows. He staggered and nearly fell. If he had not grabbed onto a nearby tree trunk, he might have lost all face in front of the person he loved.

Su Ruhan withdrew his hand and coldly glanced at the man before him. Blood trickled from the corner of the Mountain King’s mouth, yet his expression still did not change. If an ordinary strong man had taken so many of Su Ruhan’s strikes, he would likely have collapsed long ago.

Just on this point alone, Su Ruhan felt that the moves he had used just now had not been wasted. It was only a pity that such a heroic man insisted on refusing to recognize the situation and insisted on choosing a path to death. In that case, he could not blame Su Ruhan for being merciless with his sword.

The Mountain King’s eyes remained fixed on Mu Xueshi not far away, and he did not see Su Ruhan’s sudden sword thrust at all. By the time he realized it, Su Ruhan had already withdrawn his sword. White light filled his vision, and his chest was already stained crimson.

His strength had already been drained by the poison, and now his body was even weaker. One of the Mountain King’s legs knelt halfway on the ground, while the other barely supported his body. His eyes were somewhat clouded, yet they still could not conceal the savagery inside.

“Kill him directly. I don’t want to waste too much time here.”

Mu Xueshi suddenly struggled in Third Prince’s arms. Third Prince lowered his head and saw Mu Xueshi shaking his head like a rattle-drum, muffled sounds coming from his mouth, clearly trying to stop his order.

“Is the wife he speaks of you?” Third Prince suddenly asked.

Looking into Third Prince’s eyes, Mu Xueshi would not dare lie even if he had a hundred lives. Dead if he said yes, dead if he said no, so he simply nodded honestly.

“Then chop this man into pieces, piece by piece, put him in a sack, and send him back to the palace,” Third Prince said darkly.

The moment Mu Xueshi heard this, his face instantly drained of all color, and he hurriedly tugged at Third Prince’s hand to plead for mercy. Third Prince was already furious, and once Mu Xueshi pleaded for him, his anger flared even higher. If he had not retained a shred of reason, he would have dealt with Mu Xueshi on the spot as well.

Seeing that pleading with Third Prince was useless, Mu Xueshi could only cast a pleading look toward Su Ruhan. This master of his still held some weight before Third Prince, and besides, the one carrying out the order would be Su Ruhan.

Su Ruhan originally did not want to meddle in this matter, but seeing that long-unseen handsome face of Mu Xueshi looking at him with such pleading eyes, he could not quite resist. He said to Third Prince, “Your Highness, why be so anxious? Perhaps this marriage is not what we imagine. Everyone under heaven knows Young Master Xue is extremely beautiful. Those who want to take him for themselves are likely countless, so it is not strange for a bandit chief like this to appear. As for why Xueshi became his fortress wife, and what exactly happened over the past few days, Your Highness should return and let Xueshi explain it personally.”

“Return?” Third Prince snorted coldly. “If he does not explain the reason here, then he can sleep forever in this place.”

Mu Xueshi whimpered twice and clutched Third Prince’s sleeve tightly, neither letting go nor speaking. Seeing that Third Prince’s expression still showed no sign of improving, Mu Xueshi tentatively leaned his face toward Third Prince’s chest, only to be blocked back by him.

Suppressing a smile, Su Ruhan said to Third Prince, “I think we should first let Xueshi go back and rest. Did Your Highness not say before that Xueshi had been missing for several days and must have suffered greatly? Whatever it is, let us wait until he has rested before discussing it.”

Mu Xueshi hurriedly nodded, looking at Third Prince with a face full of remorse.

Third Prince still ignored him, and seeing that Mu Xueshi said nothing at all, his expression grew colder and colder.

“What are you trying to force my wife to say? His throat has already gone hoarse. He cannot speak,” the Mountain King suddenly said through gritted teeth to Third Prince.

Hearing the Mountain King’s words, Third Prince’s heart jolted, and he looked at Mu Xueshi with doubt on his face.

Mu Xueshi shook his head and pointed at his throat, telling Third Prince that he was merely suffering from internal heat. Third Prince, however, could not immediately understand. He only knew that the Mountain King’s words were true. As for how Mu Xueshi had lost his voice, they could only ask the imperial physician after returning.

This bad news temporarily suppressed the fire in Third Prince’s heart. He raised the riding crop and said to Su Ruhan, “I will return to the palace to summon an imperial physician. As for this person, whether he is killed or spared is up to you.”

Faced with Third Prince’s obvious contempt, the Mountain King gritted his teeth and said to the two people left behind, “If you want to act, then do it quickly. Otherwise, once I recover, I will definitely take back my wife.”

“We have no habit of taking advantage of someone in danger. Take care of yourself.”

With that, Su Ruhan mounted his horse and galloped in Third Prince’s direction, with Sun Ye following closely behind.

Only after Mu Xueshi’s figure disappeared did the Mountain King withdraw the hand gripping the tree. His legs instantly weakened, and his entire body toppled to the ground. The leaves beneath him were instantly dyed blood-red, like a bed of red leaves.

The Mountain King touched his chest with one hand. The flesh around the wound burned hot, as if being gnawed by thousands upon thousands of tiny insects. He took a deep breath and watched the trees above his eyes grow blurrier and blurrier. Unable to hold on even another moment, he closed his eyes with unwillingness still on his face.

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