Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

In the valley in October, the cold wind was as sharp as a knife, blowing up the withered yellow leaves and swirling in the air.

The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the entire valley a sad red.

The cry of crows could be heard in the distance, adding a touch of eeriness to the solemn atmosphere.

Chu Ning, wearing a black cloak, stood on a protruding rock, looking coldly at the eight big secret guards who were forced to kneel on the ground.

His eyes were more piercing than the cold wind in October. His slender fingers gently stroked the jade pendant around his waist, which was a token of love Wu Xiuning had once given him.

"Mo Wushang, I'll ask you one last time."

Chu Ning's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the valley: "Where is Princess Xiuning now?"

Mo Wushang, who was tied up, raised his head, with blood on the corner of his mouth, but he showed a ferocious smile:

"Chu Ning, I'll kill you or chop you up as you please. You want to get the princess's whereabouts from me? Dream on!"

A cold light flashed in Chu Ning's eyes, and he slowly walked down the rock.

The boots made crisp cracking sounds as they stepped on the dead branches, and every step seemed to be stepping on the hearts of the secret guards.

He stopped in front of Mo Wushang, looking down at this stubborn man.

"If you don't tell me, will others keep their mouths shut like you?"

Chu Ning suddenly smiled, and that smile made everyone present shudder.

He turned to the other seven secret guards and suddenly raised his voice: "As long as you tell me the clues about Princess Wu Xiuning, I will let you go."

As soon as these words were spoken, the seven secret guards showed different expressions. Some showed hesitation, some clenched their teeth, and some even glanced at Mo Wushang secretly for instructions.

They all knew Chu Ning's character - the Emperor of Chu had always been ruthless and never did business at a loss, so why would he be so kind today?

The cold wind blew up the dust from the ground, blinding everyone. A young secret guard couldn't help but shudder. He thought of his newborn child at home, and his clenched fists trembled slightly.

"Hahahaha!"

Mo Wushang suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter echoing in the valley: "Chu Ning, do you think that all of us Han Dynasty secret guards are so spineless?"

He turned and glared at his men: "Remember this, whoever dares to betray the princess will not let him go even if I become a ghost!"

"is it?"

Chu Ning narrowed his eyes dangerously and reached out to pull out the sword of the guard beside him.

The blade shone coldly in the setting sun, with traces of blood still lingering on the edge.

He walked slowly to the first secret guard.

He was a burly man about thirty years old with a hideous scar on his face.

Chu Ning lifted his chin with the tip of the knife, and said in a terrifyingly soft voice: "You, will you tell me?"

The scarred secret guard bit his lips tightly, and beads of sweat the size of beans slid down his forehead.

He could feel the cold blade against his throat. Just one scratch and he would die.

"Have some backbone."

Chu Ning nodded in appreciation, but suddenly raised the long sword in his hand and chopped it down in front of everyone's horrified eyes.

"Pfft!"

Blood gushed out, staining the hem of Chu Ning's robe red.

The head rolled on the ground several times and finally stopped at the feet of the second secret guard.

The headless corpse was still kneeling, with blood gushing out from the broken neck like a fountain, staining the surrounding dead grass dark red.

The second secret guard was a handsome young man, and at this moment his face was splashed with the warm blood of his companion.

His pupils contracted violently, his breathing became rapid, and he stared at the head on the ground that still had an expression of astonishment.

Those wide-open eyes seemed to be asking: Why me?

Chu Ning shook off the blood on the knife and walked up to the young man: "You, are you going to tell me?"

The young man trembled all over and subconsciously looked at Mo Wushang. The moment he turned his head, Chu Ning's knife flashed again.

"Crack!"

Another head fell to the ground.

This time the blood splashed directly onto the face of the third secret guard. The warm liquid slid down his cheek, carrying a strong smell of rust.

His stomach cramped and he almost vomited.

Mo Wushang roared, "Chu Ning! You beast! Come at me if you dare!"

Chu Ning ignored him and came to the third secret guard.

This was a middle-aged man with a beard. His crotch was wet at this moment, and the strong smell of urine mixed with blood filled the air.

"You, will you tell me?"

Chu Ning's voice remained calm, as if he had not just killed a human, but had only cut two watermelons.

"I...I..." The bearded man's lips trembled and his eyes were unfocused.

"Crack!"

The knife flashed, and the third headless corpse slowly fell down.

Among the remaining four secret guards, some had already begun to sob quietly.

The young secret guard, who thought of his children at home, finally collapsed. He crawled forward a few steps on his knees.

"I'll tell you everything! I beg His Majesty the Emperor of Chu to spare my life!"

"Wang Mazi! How dare you!"

Mo Wushang's eyes were bloodshot, and he struggled to throw himself forward: "Your Majesty has treated us well, how dare you betray us..."

Before he could finish his words, Chu Ning swung his knife in the opposite direction, and Mo Wushang's head flew high into the air.

The angry face drew an arc in the air and finally fell heavily to the ground, its mouth still in the shape of a roar.

Chu Ning shook off the blood on his knife and looked at the secret guard named Wang Mazi: "Tell me, where is Princess Xiuning?"

Wang Mazi trembled all over and stammered, "According to the last information we received, Princess Xiuning...she must have secretly fled to Jizhou City."

"very good."

Chu Ning nodded, and suddenly swung his sword to kill the remaining three secret guards.

Blood splattered on his dragon-patterned boots, but he didn't even frown.

Wang Mazi watched this scene in a daze, and only came to his senses when the ropes on his body were untied:

"Really...really let me go?"

Chu Ning sneered: "If you don't leave now, I will change my mind."

Wang Mazi crawled out of the valley, looking back from time to time, fearing that Chu Ning would change his mind.

His back looked particularly disheveled in the setting sun, and it was completely impossible to tell that he was once a well-trained secret guard.

When Wang Mazi ran about a hundred steps away, Chu Ning winked at Zhao Yu beside him.

Zhao Yu understood and immediately drew his bow and arrow.

The sound of the vibrating bowstring was particularly clear in the silent valley, followed by a shrill scream.

Chu Ning walked towards his warhorse without looking back and ordered Zhao Yu, "Go to Jizhou City immediately and make sure to find Princess Xiuning."

The sun sank completely below the horizon, plunging the valley into darkness.

Chu Ning jumped onto his horse and took a last look at the corpses on the ground. His stern face flickered in the light of the torch.

"Let's go!" He gave an order, and the white horse cavalry lined up in an orderly manner.

The sound of horse hooves gradually faded away, leaving only blood and corpses on the ground, and crows circling around.

The night wind howled, as if mourning for the lost lives.

And in the distant Jizhou City, a new storm is brewing.