Retreat, Prince Nolan Exists to Draw Hatred

The trap was enormous—a pit several meters ahead filled with upright swords. Even if it couldn't wipe out all of Prince Nolan's men, it would at least cripple his vanguard. But...

A voice rang out, faster than the woman in red: "Abandon your horses! Stop! Fall back!"

One order, one action—Prince Nolan's icy voice pierced through the carriage curtains into his soldiers' ears. The front-line troops didn't hesitate; they leapt off their horses immediately.

Those behind instantly pulled their reins, turning their mounts around. Over two hundred men moved as one, without a hint of chaos—proof of just how well-trained Prince Nolan's force was.

The front ranks jumped off their horses, each curling up and rolling on the ground, narrowly escaping disaster. The horses weren't so lucky—one by one, they plunged into the pre-dug pit, crashing down with a thud and letting out shrill screams.

"They've noticed us." The woman in red suddenly stood up from the shadows and whistled sharply. "Move!"

In an instant, a group of women dressed in pink and green leapt onto the road. Each one wore powder-pink clothes, looking delicate and charming—their arrival added a splash of color to the gloomy weather.

"Your Highness, they're from Heartshadow Pavilion." The adviser, seeing that their ambushers were women, immediately guessed their origin.

"Heartshadow Pavilion? Since when did they start meddling in court affairs?" Prince Nolan frowned slightly, already realizing that the Pavilion must have been bought off. Today, they were in for a hard fight—Heartshadow Pavilion was no ordinary assassin group.

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" The adviser looked worried—their regular soldiers weren't equipped to handle jianghu fighters.

"Let the dark guards move in." At this moment, there was no room to hide his strength.

So, as the women charged forward, a group of black-clad figures appeared like ghosts from the corners of the road.

These black-clad men radiated killing intent, brandishing their swords as they charged straight ahead...

As the two sides prepared to clash, thunder suddenly rumbled in the distance—the deafening roar seemed to shake the mountains.

Both the dark guards and Heartshadow Pavilion froze for an instant, as another lightning bolt flashed across the sky. The blinding light made neither side dare to move.

Both sides gripped their blades tightly, watching for any opening and guarding against the other's strike.

The dark guards' eyes were cold and merciless, like killing machines. The Heartshadow Pavilion women, beautiful as they were, looked at the men with disgust, their knuckles white on their swords. Anyone unaware would think there was deep hatred between them.

After the thunder and lightning faded, silence fell. Both sides said nothing, even their breathing careful—no one dared make the first move now.

Nolan's dark guards and soldiers were wary of facing martial experts, while the Heartshadow Pavilion women, unsettled by their deadly aura, realized their opponents were tougher than expected.

Thunder rumbled overhead as the standoff dragged on. The air grew thin and stifling; even breathing felt heavy. Suddenly, a raindrop hit the ground, shattering and splashing in all directions.

Without warning, after that single raindrop, a torrential downpour began—like the sky had overturned. The rain didn't fall in lines but in sheets, each drop hitting like beans, stinging the skin.

The sound of rain drowned out every other noise, but Prince Nolan's voice cut through the downpour, ringing clearly in the ears of his guards.

"Attack!"

At the same moment, the Heartshadow Pavilion leader in red shouted, "Kill!"

Both sides charged at each other as if on cue. Using the pouring rain as cover, they began a fight where only one side could survive.

Blades hacked mercilessly at the enemy, showing no softness for female opponents. Swords stabbed into men's bodies, each thrust aimed at a lethal spot—no mercy given...

Blood stained the earth, only to be washed away by the rain. The wounded were quickly dragged aside. Nolan's guards formed a semicircle, blocking the Heartshadow Pavilion women from approaching their prince.

Nolan's dark guards and soldiers fought bravely, but the Heartshadow Pavilion women were no pushovers. As a major sect, their disciples' martial arts were formidable—each one superior to a dark guard in single combat.

However, only fifteen Heartshadow women had come, putting them at a slight disadvantage in numbers. If both sides were equal, Nolan's guards wouldn't be able to hold out at all.

The Heartshadow Pavilion women fought with ruthless moves, even harsher than assassins, but they lacked the killers' reckless disregard for their own lives.

Even with the dark guards' help, Nolan's men grew more and more exhausted, blood flowing everywhere—though quickly washed away by the rain, their injuries couldn't be healed so easily.

'Your Highness, more and more men are getting hurt. If we keep fighting, we may be at a disadvantage. Should we retreat?' The prince gave no response.

'This is Southlyn—where could they retreat to?'

If they fled back to Southlyn's inner city like beaten dogs, they'd only be mocked and driven out.

At that moment, the woman in red broke through the defenses, charging at Prince Nolan's carriage. The coachman and adviser immediately threw themselves in front: "Protect His Highness!"

Thunder and lightning flashed, the brief glare clearly revealing the terror in the adviser's eyes and the murderous intent in the woman's.

Thunder crashed repeatedly—several bolts struck nearby trees, which fell, flared with sparks, then were instantly extinguished by the rain, sending up clouds of smoke.

Prince Nolan stepped out of the carriage as another lightning bolt flashed. The stark white light against the gloomy sky made his face appear alternately bright and shadowed—like a death god, terrifying beyond words.

The woman in red hesitated for a split second, but in that instant, Nolan drew his sword from his waist—no flourish, just a direct slash. A flash of green, a spray of blood mist, and a splatter on the ground, quickly washed away by the rain.

The woman in red stared at Nolan, touched her belly wound, her eyes widening until she finally collapsed, unwilling to accept her fate.

Even in death, she never saw when Nolan had attacked.

"Madam Red!" As the woman in red fell, the Heartshadow Pavilion disciples cried out in shock.

Prince Nolan didn't even blink. With a tap of his foot, he leapt into the thick of the battle.

"Kill that man! He killed Madam Red!"

"You beast in human skin! How dare you kill Madam Red!"

The Heartshadow Pavilion women, seeing their hatred for Nolan surge, withdrew from fighting others and all attacked him together. They looked determined not to stop until Nolan was dead.

Nolan's dark guards and soldiers rushed forward desperately to shield him, but Nolan ordered them back: "All of you, fall back!"