The flock of charging sheep scattered, and one sheep bumped into Xia Wenjin nearby.
Xia Wenjin's mind raced, but her body reacted first. She darted behind a tree, swiftly took off her brocade coat, performed the Shadow Circulation Step, and practically brushed past the sheep, then draped the coat over the sheep.
The startled sheep dashed out of the forest, faster than she could run at full speed. The coat's edge fluttered just two yards away. She shrank her body, hid behind a dense bush, held her breath, and concealed herself completely.
Everything happened so fast that even after being pursued for so long, Xia Wenjin's movements remained nimble and agile. In the blink of an eye, she executed this perfect escape. The black-clad pursuers, whose sight was obstructed in the forest, saw the brocade coat moving away and were immediately led astray.
Xia Wenjin quickly ran in the opposite direction, but as soon as she exited the forest, she felt the sunlight was blocked. An unfriendly aura came at her, and her vision blurred as someone stood in front of her.
Xia Wenjin was startled. There were supposed to be only six pursuers, and though it was a chaotic chase just now, she clearly counted six figures going after her.
Could these people have set up an ambush here?
A case of "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind"?
Her body reacted before her mind could process, stepping back into a defensive stance. However, the person moved shadow-like, extended a hand with claw-like fingers, and grabbed her shoulder.
Xia Wenjin sank her shoulder, inhaled, and quickly evaded. In the flash of an eye, she exchanged several moves with the person and finally got a clear look at their face.
Isn't this Huang Zheng?
Xia Wenjin said, "I have no grievance with you. Why are you attacking me?" Could these six people belong to him? Is it just for a bit of silver? Is he that petty?
At this moment, Huangfu Jingchen squinted his eyes, unreadable depth gleaming within them, his voice cold enough to chill bone: "Where's my overcoat?"
Xia Wenjin looked surprised and exclaimed, "Young Master, have you mistaken me for someone else? We met by chance and don't know each other well. As soon as we meet, you ask me for some coat. How would I know about your coat?"
"Xia Wenjin, don't think that changing your outfit would fool me!" Initially, he was also surprised; the black-clothed guy suddenly turned into a handsome young master. If it weren't for those eyes, he wouldn't dare to confirm.
Xia Wenjin blinked. Her current attire was that of a noble young master, and she hadn't disguised her face. There was a big difference from being the black-clad guy before. How did he recognize her? Oh right, the coat was gone, but there was still the accursed outfit.
Let it be, she glanced at Huangfu Jingchen with a dangerous look in her eyes: "I merely took your clothes, and you send assassins to kill me? That's rather ruthless, isn't it?"
"Who knows whom you've offended? Don't pin it on me!" Huangfu Jingchen chuckled to himself; this was not a blame he would carry. His gaze was sharp: "Return it!"
Judging by his expression, he wasn't the one who sent them? Originally denying any involvement, Xia Wenjin candidly said, "You're too late; it's already been taken away by a sheep!"
Taken away by a sheep?!
Huangfu Jingchen was so furious he almost jumped up: "That was Cloud Brocade Soft Silk, eight hundred silver taels per piece!"
"So what?" Xia Wenjin blinked innocently, face full of sincerity, "Don't you know? Over a hundred people were chasing me in the forest. They were ruthless, merciless killers. In such a dire situation, compared between eight hundred taels and my life, I could only choose my life. I really couldn't care about your coat!"
Huangfu Jingchen: "..." Over a hundred people? Does he look blind to her? Where did she learn to count?
"Why should I care? Return the silver!"
Xia Wenjin looked bewildered: "What silver?"
"The silver note you rolled up along with my belongings at the inn!" Other belongings could be disregarded, but without the silver note, being penniless, how could he return to Yunzhou?
Xia Wenjin was visibly shocked; she opened her eyes wide with innocence, and her eyes slowly pooled with a hint of hurt. Pointing at Huangfu Jingchen with a finger, she said incredulously, "Brother Huang, although we know each other, you can't falsely accuse me. I only borrowed your clothes because the fabric looks nice to put on airs. You're actually extorting me for silver?"
"Extorting you for silver? Do you dare say it wasn't you who took all my belongings from the inn?" Huangfu Jingchen frowned. If he hadn't already investigated the matter entirely, he might have been swayed by this young man's performance.
Xia Wenjin argued righteously, "Of course, it wasn't me. How could it be me? I sympathize with your misfortune, but I stand upright, act with integrity, and there are things a real man should or shouldn't do. How could such a noble person like me have taken your silver?"
Huangfu Jingchen: "..." Does he have any misunderstanding about what noble means? His face darkened: "Xia Wenjin, are you still playing innocent in front of me? Do you think I would believe you?"
"If you don't believe me, search me. If I have this silver, I'll apologize to you, even kowtow and admit my mistake," Xia Wenjin said, heart-wrenchingly, "I say, Brother Huang, even if you're dissatisfied with me, you shouldn't slander my character! So, this is the kind of Brother Huang you are!"
Huangfu Jingchen sneered, "Should I capture Jing Xian, the nun, while I'm at it?"
Xia Wenjin's expression changed. How did he even know about Jing Xian? It seems deniability won't work here?
She sighed, looking embarrassed and uneasy, took out the last seven taels of silver she had, and sheepishly said, "Actually, I... have my reasons. This has nothing to do with Jing Xian, really. I had to spend it all. Now this is all I have left."
Huangfu Jingchen looked at the pitiful seven taels, almost fainting. The silver note and silver she took from the inn amounted to nearly eight thousand taels. Now she gives him just seven taels as if shooing away a beggar? He reached out to grab her.
Xia Wenjin quickly jumped back, waving her hands to stop him, "It was assassins chasing me, and they will realize they've been tricked very soon and come back. Are you sure you want to die with me here?"
The word 'die' almost made Huangfu Jingchen's face contort, but even with a funny look, a handsome person still looks good. He scornfully said, "Swindling and causing people to chase, it's what you deserve!"
Xia Wenjin sighed, despondently said, "The blame lies in my own handsomeness, impressive demeanor, and exceptional charm. Those killers with good judgment mistook me for Young Master Jin, and they must be jealous of me! Ah, now's not the time to talk about this, let's run!" With that, she turned and ran madly.
Huangfu Jingchen: "..."
Is she boasting about herself? To the point of even praising the assassins who want her life for having good judgment? Mistaken identity—aren't their eyes blind?
No, Huangfu Jingchen felt a jolt in his heart. Prince Jin? Prince Jing? He scrutinized Xia Wenjin, who was still wearing his coat, thinking of her overcoat taken by a sheep, and his red-maned horse from the Capital City—could those people really have...
This is impossible!