roccoschili Chapter 109: Attack
Chapter 109: Attack
After an unknown amount of time, Cen Jiexiao's eyelids fluttered slightly, and consciousness gradually emerged from the chaos. She felt a splitting headache, as if someone had hit her hard with a huge hammer, and every nerve was buzzing in protest.
She tried to lift her heavy eyelids, but found that they were as heavy as if filled with lead, and there was only a blur of light and shadow in front of her eyes.
"Well……"
She struggled to make a sound, but found her throat extremely dry and could only make a weak moan.
"Dean, are you awake?"
A familiar voice rang out beside her ears, carrying unconcealed surprise and worry. It was Ye Qingwu! Cen Jiexiao felt relieved and wanted to ask, but she found she didn't even have the strength to speak.
She tried hard to open her eyes, but everything in front of her was still blurry and she couldn't see anything clearly.
"Don't worry, Dean. You were stabbed and need to rest well." Ye Qingwu's voice came again, with a soothing tone, "How do you feel now? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Cen Jiexiao wanted to answer, but found that she didn't even have the strength to open her mouth, so she could only shake her head weakly.
"Dean, don't move. I'll go call the doctor." Ye Qingwu seemed to have noticed her intention and said softly.
"Don't...go..." Cen Jiexiao used all her strength to squeeze out two dry words from her throat.
Ye Qingwu paused, and hurried back to the bedside, holding her hand, and said anxiously: "Dean, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Don't scare me!"
Cen Jiexiao felt a warmth coming from her hand, and her heart was relieved. She tried hard to open her eyes, but it was still in vain. She could only ask weakly, "Where is this...?"
"We are back to the academy, Dean. Do you remember? We were attacked by assassins in black... and then someone shot an arrow in secret to save you." Ye Qingwu's voice became low, with a hint of fear and anger.
"Who... who saved me? Did you see clearly?" Cen Jiexiao tried hard to recall what happened before she lost consciousness, but her memory was a mess. She only vaguely remembered being attacked by men in black and then losing consciousness. "By the way, what happened to those men in black?"
"Don't worry, Dean. We have already captured those in black and sent them to Lord Han." Ye Qingwu's tone was filled with a hint of fatigue that could not be concealed. "It's just..."
"Just what?" Cen Jiexiao's heart tightened and she asked.
Ye Qingwu was silent for a moment before he slowly said, "It's just that the person who suddenly shot and killed you and kidnapped you has not been found yet."
"Fortunately, the dean is a lucky man. Those men in black were ruthless and every move was aimed at taking lives. If it weren't for that cold arrow, I'm afraid..." When Ye Qingwu said this, his voice was choked with sobs, and he was obviously very scared.
Upon hearing this, Cen Jiexiao frowned, and waves of sharp pain came from her chest, making her gasp.
"Have you learned anything from those assassins?" Cen Jiexiao's voice was weak, but it revealed a majesty that could not be ignored.
Ye Qingwu shook his head, his tone indignant: "Those guys are very stubborn, insisting that they were instructed by someone to rob us, but they have no idea who is behind this."
"Robbery? Ha, how ridiculous!" Cen Jiexiao sneered, her tone full of disdain. "What on me could be worth them going to all this trouble to rob? It's clearly just an excuse! It seems the one behind this is determined to kill us."
"Dean, you mean her? ...The Queen Mother!" Ye Qingwu was startled and lowered his voice, his face full of disbelief. "But why would they do this? Just because you want to publish a newspaper and speak for the people?"
"Pleading for the people? Humph, in the eyes of those powerful people, what are the common people? Will they care about the life and death of those ants?" Cen Jiexiao's tone was full of sarcasm, and it was obvious that she was extremely disappointed with those high-ranking people in power.
"So they...are trying to stop you from exposing the Queen Mother's crimes?" Ye Qingwu suddenly realized, then became worried again. "But, Dean, you also know that the Queen Mother has enormous power in the court. We..."
"I understand." Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort in her body, and said slowly, "But I won't let this matter go! We are now completely standing in opposition to the Queen Mother."
"Dean..." Ye Qingwu wanted to persuade him again, but was interrupted by Cen Jiexiao.
"Qingwu, I know you are worried about me, but there are some things we must do. Even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead, I will never retreat!" Cen Jiexiao's tone was firm, and her eyes were like torches, as if a ball of fire was burning.
Ye Qingwu looked at this fragile yet strong woman in front of her, her heart filled with admiration and emotion. She knew that no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, Cen Jiexiao would not give up, and she herself would always follow this extraordinary woman and protect her.
"By the way, Qingwu, you said someone secretly saved me back then?" Cen Jiexiao suddenly remembered the scene before she fainted and asked anxiously, "Did you see who it was? I want to thank him in person for saving my life."
Ye Qingwu shook his head, a hint of regret in his tone: "That man deliberately hid his whereabouts again. We only saw a feathered arrow pierce the air and hit the black-clad man's heart with incredible precision. We don't know anything else. However, afterward we carefully examined the arrow, and it seems to be a special arrow used by the Xixiang people, the 'Moon Flute'!"
"A feather arrow, 'Moon Flute', from the Xixiang people?" Cen Jiexiao murmured to herself, and the scene of the feather arrow cutting through the night sky, carrying a cold murderous aura, but saving her life with incredible precision emerged in her mind.
"That man's archery skills are so precise, and his attacks are so ruthless. He is definitely not an ordinary person." Cen Jiexiao's tone was solemn. "Qingwu, send people to investigate, especially the Xixiang envoys who came to Linkang this time."
"Don't worry, Dean. I have sent people to investigate. I believe there will be news soon." Ye Qingwu replied respectfully.
Cen Jiexiao nodded, but she had a vague premonition in her heart that this mysterious savior might bring unexpected changes to her life...
Late at night, in the stillness of the night, Cen Jiexiao lay in bed, unable to sleep. The wound on her chest ached, and even more disturbed was the thought of her mysterious savior.
Who could he be and why would he save himself?
Xi Xiang! Could it be...
A figure suddenly appeared in Cen Jiexiao's mind. Tall and straight, cold and majestic, yet with a hint of indescribable tenderness...
"Impossible, it can't be him..." Cen Jiexiao shook her head, wanting to put this absurd thought behind her, but she found that figure was like a maggot attached to her bones, lingering...
The news of Cen Jiexiao's assassination spread throughout the Zhaoyin Academy like wings. The originally peaceful and busy academy suddenly became like a stone thrown into the air, causing a huge ripple.
"What? The dean was assassinated?"
"Who is so bold as to attack the dean?"
"Dean, you are a lucky person. Nothing will happen to you!"
When the students of the academy heard the news, they were all panicked. The usual scenes of laughter and playfulness disappeared, replaced by anxiety, worry and anger.
When the eldest senior brother Chen Zigui heard the news, the book in his hand fell to the ground with a "bang" and his face turned pale in an instant.
"Sister Cen!"
He could no longer care about anything else and quickly ran towards Cen Jiexiao's yard. His heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand and he felt like he was about to suffocate.
Yu Lan, who is usually calm and composed, dropped the sword in her hand to the ground with a clang when she heard the news that Cen Jiexiao was assassinated.
Her face turned pale, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.