Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

As Lingyan thought of this, she felt a chill run down her spine, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her clothes.

Her eyes became even more wary as she stared intently at Shen Qingchen, as if trying to see right through him.

But he was wearing a mask, so she couldn't see his expression at all.

After calming herself down, Ling Yan asked casually, "Young Master Shen, since you haven't shown yourself all this way, why are you willing to appear before us now?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingchen frowned slightly, his expression as solemn as leaden clouds, and replied in a deep voice: "This place is fraught with danger. Those assassins could find this place at any time. The Ninth Prince has not yet recovered his strength. Given your current condition, it is difficult for you to cope with the impending danger. Therefore, I believe that you can no longer hide here. Hence, I have decided to show myself and take you back to the capital."

Upon hearing this, Lingyan involuntarily clenched the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands.

The doubts in her heart did not diminish in the slightest, but instead grew stronger: "Is it really possible that Young Master Shen would do such a thing just because he admires me? It might even be a matter of life and death."

Shen Qingchen's gaze was unwavering, clear as a spring: "Yes, people of the martial world are known for their loyalty and righteousness. As a person like the Crown Princess who is so devoted to the country and its people, I should protect her."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yan stared intently into his eyes, scrutinizing him.

They tried to find even the slightest flaw in his eyes: "Young Master Shen, this matter is of great importance and is by no means child's play. How can we trust you so easily?"

Shen Qingchen took a step forward, her tone sincere and urgent, as if she were crying out in a moment of crisis: "Your Highness, the situation is extremely urgent at the moment, and we cannot afford to hesitate or waver any longer. If we continue to delay like this, we may find ourselves in an even more dangerous situation."

Ling Yan's mind was in turmoil, and she was half-believing and half-doubting Shen Qingchen's words.

Her gaze lingered on Shen Qingchen, her thoughts racing.

She thought to herself, this person is highly skilled in martial arts. If he really wanted to harm them, he would have done so long ago, and there would be no need to wait until now.

But his silent following along the way made it truly difficult to discern his true intentions.

Ling Yan frowned, constantly weighing the pros and cons in her mind.

The current situation is indeed critical. Staying here would be tantamount to waiting for death, while returning to the capital might be the wisest choice at present.

Even if Shen Qingchen has ulterior motives, once he returns to the capital and is on his own turf, he will have more ways to deal with the situation.

Thinking of this, Ling Yan took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

She raised her head and looked at Shen Qingchen with a firm gaze, saying, "Young Master Shen, then we will do as you say and trouble you to escort us back to the capital."

Upon hearing Ling Yan's decision, Shen Qingchen's tense nerves finally relaxed slightly.

He secretly rejoiced, fearing that she wouldn't believe him; if she had, the situation would have been even more complicated.

At this moment, a hint of relief flickered in his eyes, and his furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

Once Ling Yan made her decision, she didn't hesitate any longer. She turned around and walked towards Chu Xiyao, gently but firmly helping him up.

Now that Shen Qingchen already knows about their affair, there's no point in hiding it anymore; it's better to be open about it.

They then left the area, with Shen Qingchen leading the way and Ling Yan and Chu Xiyao following closely behind.

Chu Xiyao was no longer so weak and powerless, so he did not need Ling Yan to support him.

Instead, he helped her walk step by step.

As a woman without any martial arts skills, her body probably couldn't have taken it long ago.

Right now, they're just gritting their teeth and holding on.

At this moment, sunlight shines through the gaps in the dense leaves, scattering like broken gold on them, creating dappled and hazy light and shadow.

Along the way, the surroundings were so quiet that only their slightly heavy footsteps and occasional rapid breathing could be heard.

Shen Qingchen would occasionally turn around to check on their condition, her eyes flashing with barely perceptible worry and heartache.

And so, the three of them struggled along the rugged mountain path for three hours.

Lingyan's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and her breathing became rapid.

But she never complained of being tired, and her hands remained firmly on Chu Xiyao's arm, never letting go for a moment.

Looking at Ling Yan's exhausted yet still determined appearance, Chu Xiyao felt a pang of heartache.

His voice was weak but full of concern: "Stop and rest for a while, don't tire yourself out."

Shen Qingchen turned around upon hearing the sound, her gaze falling on Ling Yan's slightly pale face, and she felt a pang of pity in her heart.

He nodded slightly and replied, "Alright, let's rest for a while."

The three of them then found a relatively flat spot to sit down and rest.

As soon as Lingyan sat down, she couldn't help but gasp for breath.

Shen Qingchen looked at Ling Yan and Chu Xiyao and said softly, "You two rest here. I'll go see if I can find some wild fruit to eat."

After saying that, he turned and walked into the depths of the mountains and forests.

Before long, Shen Qingchen returned to her resting place with a full load of wild fruit.

He handed the wild fruit to Lingyan and Chu Xiyao, saying, "Eat some wild fruit to fill your stomachs first."

Ling Yan accepted the wild fruit and looked at Shen Qingchen gratefully: "Thank you, Young Master Shen."

Chu Xiyao also said, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Shen."

Shen Qingchen said there was no need to be so polite.

After a short rest, the three prepared to continue their journey.

However, at that moment, a series of noisy footsteps and shouts came from afar.

Chu Xiyao's expression tightened, and he said in a low voice, "I'm afraid those assassins have come after us."

Shen Qingchen's eyes sharpened as he quickly shielded Ling Yan and Chu Xiyao behind him, saying, "Don't be afraid, I'll handle this."

The next moment, a group of men in black rushed out of the woods and surrounded them instantly.

Without saying a word, Shen Qingchen drew her sword with a "whoosh," the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

He moved with lightning speed, instantly rushing towards the men in black, his sword strikes sharp and fierce, aimed straight for the leader's throat.

The black-clad assassin dodged to the side, swung his longsword sharply, clashing with Shen Qingchen's sword and sending sparks flying.

Chu Xiyao stayed close to Ling Yan, wary of the assassins' attack.

Shen Qingchen actually defeated the leader in just twenty moves.

Then he fought against many opponents, his sword flashing, his figure moving as elusive as a ghost.

Each strike of his sword carried a deadly intent, splattering blood as several assassins fell beneath his blade.

His swordsmanship was like a dragon emerging from the sea, his sword momentum like a rainbow, and wherever he went, assassins fell to the ground.

In a short time, all the assassins were eliminated.

Only then did Ling Yan truly realize just how powerful he was.

No wonder they didn't discover him after following him for so long.

She now only hoped that this person was not their enemy.

Shen Qingchen immediately sheathed his sword, his posture upright like a pine tree, his expression calm and composed, showing no sign of fatigue.

His clothes remained as neat and tidy as ever, without a single wrinkle, as if the fierce fight just now was nothing more than a trivial episode to him.

Anyone else who had gone through such a fierce battle would surely be drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

But Shen Qingchen strolled leisurely as if nothing had happened, her breathing remained steady and orderly, and her eyes were calm as still water, without the slightest ripple.

A gentle breeze blew by, lightly lifting the hem of his robe, adding to his elegant and otherworldly air.

There wasn't a trace of life or death on him.

This person is truly unfathomable.

She really didn't want him to become their enemy.