Chapter Sixty-Two: Ambushed on All Sides

The situation was urgent, so Chu Yun didn’t waste words with Luo Feng and hurried to find Ye Zhelan. “Quick, pack your things. We must leave immediately.”

Ye Zhelan, seeing his panic, couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor Chu, what’s wrong? Has something happened?”

“Just pack your things first. I’ll explain on the way,” Chu Yun replied.

“Oh, all right!” Ye Zhelan answered, her brow furrowed with worry. She quickly turned and ran to her guest room to pack. Neither Chu Yun nor Ye Zhelan had much luggage, so they finished swiftly and made their way to the front courtyard of the Luo residence.

By then, Luo Lin had already brought over two fine steeds and handed them to Luo Feng.

As soon as Luo Feng saw Chu Yun and Ye Zhelan approach, he urged, “Doctor Chu, Miss Ye, hurry! Ride out at once.”

“Thank you, Lord Luo. Take care!” said Chu Yun.

“Take care, Lord Luo!” echoed Ye Zhelan.

Both Chu Yun and Ye Zhelan offered a formal farewell to Luo Feng. They had a good impression of him and regarded him as a friend.

“Take care, Miss Ye! Take care, Doctor Chu. I’ll send Luo Qi to you later,” Luo Feng replied, returning their gesture.

His intention to send Luo Qi to Chu Yun was clear—he had seen through Chu Yun’s thoughts. Chu Yun smiled inwardly, sighing with appreciation for Luo Feng’s understanding.

Then, Chu Yun and Ye Zhelan mounted their horses and rode away from the Luo residence.

Though a woman, Ye Zhelan was adept at riding. She had, after all, arrived in the royal city on horseback.

Spurring their mounts, they soon reached the city gates leading toward Chu Family Town.

There, a troop of cavalry was already waiting.

Chu Yun’s brows drew together. He wondered grimly if the Witch Doctor Sect had sent men to intercept him. That would be troublesome indeed.

Ye Zhelan, noticing Chu Yun’s grim expression, grew anxious as well—especially when the cavalry, upon seeing them, rode forward and surrounded them. Their fear deepened.

Chu Yun’s gaze turned cold as he readied himself for combat. But unexpectedly, the leading cavalryman saluted and said, “Doctor Chu, I am Bai Hao, squad leader of the Royal Guard. By order of Prince Qi, I have brought fifteen men to escort you and Miss Ye home.”

So it was Prince Qi who had sent them as an escort. Chu Yun breathed a sigh of relief, and an idea sprang to mind.

Ye Zhelan, still tense, couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor Chu, what has happened to make you flee in such haste? And why would Prince Qi send a cavalry escort—each soldier armed with spear, sword, and bow, all elite fighters?”

Now that they had left the royal city and were under escort, and seeing that Chu Yun’s mind was already working on a new plan, she felt somewhat reassured. Chu Yun explained, unhurriedly, “Young Master Qi has been poisoned by the Witch Doctor Sect, and I may be blamed for it. Most people in the city only know that I was treating him and are unaware that the Witch Doctor Sect took over later.”

“I see! So we must leave the city at once to clear ourselves of suspicion. The Witch Doctor Sect will try to capture us and make you take the blame, so Prince Qi sent this cavalry to protect us,” Ye Zhelan concluded.

Chu Yun nodded. “Exactly. So let’s move quickly, before the Witch Doctor Sect catches up.”

With that, he led Ye Zhelan and Bai Hao’s squad rapidly toward Chu Family Town.

Unfortunately, the Witch Doctor Sect’s influence was vast. With the cunning Huang Taiyi advising them, they had already anticipated that Prince Qi would alert Chu Yun and arrange his escape before murdering Young Master Qi.

Although they arrived at the Luo residence too late to catch their quarry, they immediately sent word by carrier pigeon to their men in Ning City to intercept Chu Yun.

No matter whether Chu Yun took the western fief or headed south to Chu Family Town, he had to pass through Ning City.

Of course, the Witch Doctor Sect did not dare openly apprehend Chu Yun within the city itself. They lacked the authority, and doing so would also provide Chu Yun with an alibi for not being in the royal city.

They dispatched twenty cavalrymen, twenty armored soldiers, and ten archers, choosing a densely wooded stretch between Ning City and the royal city for their ambush.

Before long, Chu Yun and his group came into their sights.

The leader’s lips curled into a sinister smile as he gestured for his men to await his command. He silently praised Huang Taiyi’s foresight—Prince Qi really had sent an escort for Chu Yun. Without sending fifty men, their mission might have failed.

Chu Yun, a seasoned military doctor, sensed something amiss at once.

“Whoa...” He pulled up his reins and stopped.

Bai Hao quickly signaled his men to halt and asked, “Doctor Chu, do you suspect an ambush in those woods ahead?”

Clearly, this squad leader was no novice—he, too, sensed something was off.

Chu Yun nodded. “There’s an ambush in the woods. Tell everyone to be on their guard.”

Bai Hao immediately relayed the warning. As he did, he found himself admiring Chu Yun. At first, Bai Hao had only suspected an ambush; but after Chu Yun’s words, he observed closely, and with his sharp eyes, confirmed something was indeed wrong.

“Why aren’t they coming forward? Have they discovered us?” The Witch Doctor Sect’s men were surprised by Chu Yun’s group’s hesitation and looked to their leader for guidance.

The leader frowned. “No rush. Perhaps they only found the woods suspicious. Don’t act rashly yet.”

The others held their breath and remained motionless.