At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight shone into the room, Chen Nan opened his eyes. After washing up, he began to meditate and regulate his breathing.
All the extraordinary individuals from the Qishi Mansion had received invitations from the Sima Mansion and, after breakfast, hurried towards the mansion. Once the Qishi Mansion was empty, Chen Nan leaped to his feet, having reached his peak condition. With his bow slung across his back and a long sword at his waist, he strode out of the mansion.
The capital of Chu was incredibly prosperous, with bustling streets and shops lining both sides, where the sounds of hawking and selling filled the air.
Today is the wedding day of Sima Lingkong, son of General Sima Changfeng, and Nalan Ruoshui, daughter of Prime Minister Nalan Wencheng. Sima Changfeng and Nalan Wencheng hold extremely high positions in the government, and they have now invited the Emperor of Chu to attend the wedding. Therefore, there are several times more soldiers patrolling the streets and alleys than usual today.
Chen Nan hadn't walked far down the bustling street when he was stopped by a group of soldiers wielding spears.
"Halt! Who are you, and why are you carrying a knife?"
The soldier who had asked the question turned to look at his companion and said, "Chen Nan... why does that name sound so familiar?"
One of the soldiers said, "Could it be Chen Nan, the guardian warrior who utterly defeated the Dragon Knights?"
"Exactly." In order to get rid of them as soon as possible, Chen Nan pointed to the ground and released a golden sword aura with a "whoosh", which immediately punched a deep hole in the ground.
"Ah, the legendary golden sword aura... it really is the esteemed Protector of the Nation!" the group exclaimed, quickly bowing in respect.
Chen Nan waved his hand and said, "Get up. I'm going to Sima Lingkong's wedding. Leave one person behind to guide me, the rest of you continue patrolling."
With soldiers leading the way, no one stopped Chen Nan on the road. After arriving outside the Sima Mansion, Chen Nan waved his hand to send the soldier away.
The Sima Mansion was grand and imposing, with a large "囍" (double happiness) character pasted on its vermilion gate, flanked by two majestic stone lions carved from white marble. At this time, the area in front of the mansion was bustling with activity, with a constant stream of people coming and going. Those who could enter and leave were all of noble status, mostly celebrities from the capital.
Chen Nan quietly observed from a distance outside the Sima Mansion until the emperor arrived, at which point he turned into a nearby alley. All the civil and military officials attending the wedding came out of their mansions to respectfully welcome the imperial emperor, Chu Han. The grandeur of the procession was astonishing, and shouts of "Long live the emperor!" were heard endlessly before the atmosphere calmed down after a long time.
About half an hour later, the streets were filled with the sounds of drums and music as the wedding procession returned. Sima Lingkong sat on a tall horse, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, his face beaming with joy and satisfaction.
As they approached the Sima residence, a dark green dragon suddenly rushed out of the mansion. The dragon circled and roared above Sima Ling, and then a red banner suddenly hung down from the dragon's body, bearing four large characters: "A Hundred Years of Harmony".
The crowd on the street erupted in cheers.
"Look, a dragon..."
"Wishing the Dragon Knight Sima Gongzi and the talented Miss Nalan a long and happy marriage."
...
Firecrackers and stringed instruments resounded throughout the Sima Mansion.
Sima Lingkong, beaming with pride, waved his hand towards the sky, and the flying dragon returned to the Sima Mansion.
The wedding hadn't even officially started yet, but it had already created a great buzz.
After the wedding procession entered the Sima residence, the area in front of the gate was no longer as noisy as before.
Chen Nan emerged from the alley, listening to the drums and cheers from inside the Sima Mansion, and a cold smile crept across his face.
Sima Lingkong's words from two days ago kept echoing in his ears: "Ruoshui will marry me in two days, but the groom isn't you, hehe... You must come to my wedding, um, you can come and make a ruckus in the bridal chamber, hehe."
"Since we've already decided to make a big scene, what are we hesitating for?" With that thought, Chen Nan took the Houyi Bow from behind his back.
At this moment, the guards outside the Sima residence noticed him and shouted, "Who are you? Why are you here with weapons?"
Chen Nan ignored them and drew a feathered arrow from his quiver, nocking it onto his bowstring. The guards were about to step forward when the dark Houyi Bow suddenly burst forth with a dazzling golden light, and a terrifying aura emanated from Chen Nan. The guards were terrified and involuntarily took a dozen steps back.
At this moment, inside the Sima residence, Sima Lingkong and Nalan Ruoshui were preparing to hold their wedding ceremony in the hall. However, at this moment, almost everyone felt a strong sense of unease.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth..."
As soon as the officiant finished speaking, a series of thunderous sounds suddenly resounded throughout the hall, leaving everyone in the hall astonished.
Chen Nan gently released the bowstring, and the feathered arrow shot from Hou Yi's bow transformed into a golden light and flew forward. The tall gate tower of the Sima Mansion was pierced through by the golden arrow and collapsed with a rumble.
The golden arrows, five or six meters above the ground, couldn't harm people, but they ravaged buildings. Like a golden dragon passing through a mansion, it trailed a long golden afterimage, traversing buildings with its rampant golden light, carving out "dragon gates" wherever it went.
When the golden arrow passed through the main hall of the Sima Mansion, everyone was stunned. The golden arrow passed through the wall above the emperor's head, leaving a terrifying "Dragon Gate" on the wall.
Chaos erupted in the hall.
Emperor Chu Han was truly frightened, his face turning pale. The Empress grabbed his hand, also feeling flustered.
Princess Chu Yue shouted, "Everyone, don't panic!" Then she stood protectively in front of the emperor.
Princess Chu Yu said, "It's Chen Nan, it must be that scoundrel Chen Nan."
At this moment, everyone who had witnessed the battle in the palace realized that it was indeed the divine arrow shot from Hou Yi's bow, and it must have been Chen Nan.
"Haha..." A long laugh rang out from outside the Sima residence.
"Where is Sima Lingkong? I, Chen Nan, have come to make a scene at the wedding night!" Rolling sound waves reverberated over the Sima residence.
Emperor Chu Han and Princess Chu Yue's expressions changed drastically. The thing they had feared had finally happened. Chen Nan was really going to rebel against Chu, which made them both regretful and resentful.
Those attending the wedding were all prominent figures in the capital, and they had long heard about the hidden story. They now understood that Chen Nan was most likely there to disrupt the wedding and might even be planning to rebel against the Chu Kingdom.
The wedding could no longer continue. By this time, Chen Nan had fought his way from the main gate of the Sima residence into the hall. He held a long saber, its blade radiating a dazzling light. Wherever its golden edge passed, spears shattered, halberds broke, and broken blades flew through the air. The saber's energy surged and roared, a powerful force emanating from him and surging through the courtyard. The warriors within the Sima residence swayed like duckweed in a raging storm, rows upon rows of them were thrown to the ground, and not a single person in the residence could withstand his attack.
Sima Ling gritted his teeth, wishing he could devour Chen Nan alive. He ripped off the large red confetti from his chest and strode outside.
The guests in the hall, including the Emperor of Chu, also came to the courtyard. Nalan Ruoshui trembled slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she finally pulled off the red veil from her head and also came to the courtyard.
At this moment, Chu Yue had already ordered the Sima Mansion to be sealed off, and countless guards surrounded it. The extraordinary talents of the Qishi Mansion were transferred to serve as the emperor's bodyguards, and the little princess Chu Yu was pulled to the empress's side, standing together beside Chu Han.
Sima Lingkong pointed at Chen Nan and said, "Why did you disrupt my wedding?"
Chen Nan said, "Don't give me that fake reasoning; you should know why!"
Sima Lingkong's face turned ashen. He said, "What do you want?"
At this moment, a tall, middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd and said, "Chen Nan, what are you doing here? Now that my daughter is married, you shouldn't be bothering her anymore."
Upon hearing this, Chen Nan realized that the person before him was Nalan Ruoshui's father, Nalan Wencheng, the Left Prime Minister of Chu. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "Ruoshui doesn't like Sima Lingkong at all. If she were to marry him, she would only suffer for the rest of her life. Can you bear to let her fall into such a pit of fire?"
Before Chen Nan could finish speaking, he was interrupted. A dignified middle-aged man strode out from the crowd and said, "Guardian of the Nation, you must understand what you are doing. My son's marriage was bestowed by the Emperor. Do you have any grievances against His Majesty?"
"So it's General Sima, what a grand title! Heh heh, why didn't you just say I'd already alarmed the Emperor by fighting him in front of him?" With that, Chen Nan turned to face Chu Han and loudly proclaimed, "If it weren't for my battle against the Dragon Knight at the martial arts arena that day, Chu would have been utterly defeated and become a laughingstock among the other states. What did I, Chen Nan, gain by risking my life? Why did His Majesty bestow Miss Nalan upon Sima Lingkong? Why treat me like this?"
Some ministers nearby rebuked him, saying, "How dare you, Chen Nan, question His Majesty! You have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor!"
"Deceive the emperor? Heh heh, if someone treats me with respect, I'll treat them with even greater respect. But if someone offends me, when I reach my breaking point, even if it's the King of Heaven himself, I'll drag him down!" With that, he pointed his long sword to the sky, and a dazzling blade of light shot straight up, illuminating the entire courtyard like lightning, its chilling aura terrifying. Everyone present felt an overwhelming pressure, and no one in the room paled.
Chu Han said, "Chen Nan, I know you are very dissatisfied, but the Sima family proposed the marriage first..."
Chen Nan interrupted him, sneering, "Heh heh, does marriage require queuing?"
Seeing Chen Nan's utter disrespect towards the emperor, the eldest princess, Chu Yue, angrily said, "Chen Nan, you've gone too far! Don't forget you are a subject of Chu. How can a subject speak to his ruler like that?"
When Chen Nan first met Chu Yue, he was immediately struck by her beauty. Later, on the road, Chu Yue's warm greetings made him feel like he was basking in a gentle breeze, further endearing him to her. However, recent events have caused Chu Yue's standing in his heart to plummet. She is a scheming woman who will stop at nothing to benefit the imperial family, and her deep-seated cunning is somewhat frightening.
"It's better not to be a minister of Chu!"
"You...you were born a citizen of Chu, do you intend to rebel against your own country? Can you live with yourself in peace after this?"
"I don't belong to any country. I'm just a passerby in the State of Chu. Chu hasn't yet risen to the level of my motherland in my heart, so I'm at peace with myself." As he said this, Chen Nan portrayed himself as someone from ten thousand years ago, leaving everyone present bewildered. "I just wonder if some people can be at peace with themselves, throwing their good friends into the nightmare of marriage for political gain."
Chu Yue's expression changed, and she rebuked, "Even if you have a thousand reasons, you shouldn't have betrayed the State of Chu!"
Chen Nan searched through the crowd and finally spotted Nalan Ruoshui, dressed in a bright red wedding gown. Her once beautiful face was now pale and haggard. He transferred his long sword to his left hand and swung his right, creating gusts of fierce wind and surging light. A gigantic golden hand appeared before him. The golden hand swept towards Nalan Ruoshui, enveloping her and whipping her back with a whirlwind that nearly knocked over the civil officials in the crowd who were unfamiliar with cultivation methods.
Those with profound cultivation in the arena couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Dragon-Capturing Hand... it's actually the lost Dragon-Capturing Hand!" All the cultivators changed color; the lost masterpiece had actually reappeared in Chen Nan's hands.
Nalan Ruoshui landed in front of Chen Nan, and she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. The Chen Nan of the past and the Chen Nan of the present were becoming more and more different.
Chen Nan looked into Nalan Ruoshui's eyes and said, "Ruoshui, I'll take you away."
"No, I can't go with you." Nalan Ruoshui shook her head.
Chen Nan said in a low voice, "I came here specifically to save you. As long as you can hide for a while, the so-called engagement will definitely be invalid."
Nalan Ruoshui exclaimed in alarm, "Watch out!"
Although Sima Lingkong was secretly shocked by the supernatural power Chen Nan had just displayed, he was now burning with rage. The guy in front of him had not only disrupted his wedding, but also treated him as if he didn't exist, trying to take the bride away right in front of him, which drove him to the brink of madness. He snatched a long sword from a guard beside him and slashed at Chen Nan, the dark green battle aura slicing through the air with a "hissing" sound.
Chen Nan pulled Nalan Ruoshui behind him, and with a backhand slash of his long sword, a blazing blade of light rushed forward, its dazzling brilliance stirring up huge energy fluctuations, accompanied by a fierce gale and emitting strange howls.
"Haha... If you want to fight, then fight! Today, I, Chen Nan, will definitely wreak havoc in the capital!"
The sword energy and battle energy collided, producing a series of tearing sounds in the air. Chen Nan remained motionless, while Sima Lingkong took five steps back in succession, his blood surging and his face flushed. But he refused to back down. His eyes flashed with cold light, and he charged forward again with his sword.
Blade energy and battle aura clashed and surged in the air. After unleashing a dazzling display of blade light, Chen Nan soared into the sky, leaping into the void. His body shone with golden light, like a raging inferno, as if he were clad in a suit of fine gold armor. He strode towards Sima Lingkong. Immense pressure enveloped Sima Lingkong, the overwhelming oppressive force making it hard for him to breathe. But in front of the capital's elite, Sima Lingkong refused to back down or lose face. He steeled himself, raising his sword to meet the attack, his brilliant battle aura surging upwards.
When the dark green battle aura encountered the sword aura emanating from Chen Nan's feet, it was shattered into pieces, its light instantly fading, and the golden sword aura shot straight down.
Sima Lingkong was terrified, retreating while slashing with his sword. A series of afterimages appeared before everyone's eyes; Chen Nan instantly unleashed thirteen kicks, breaking through the dark green battle aura defense, and stomped heavily on Sima Lingkong's longsword several times. Sima Lingkong gripped his sword with both hands to block, but the immense pressure was still unbearable for him; his feet shattered the marble floor and sank into the ground.
When Chen Nan's eleventh kick landed, the longsword shattered completely, turning into iron filings that fell from the sky. Sima Lingkong coughed up blood, and his legs below the knees sank into the ground. At this moment, Chen Nan's twelfth and thirteenth kicks arrived. Sima Lingkong was filled with remorse, secretly hating himself for being so stubborn. With no other choice, he raised his palms to meet Chen Nan's kicks.
With two loud booms, a flash of light appeared, and a shockwave rolled in. Sima Lingkong was kicked and sent flying backward. Those with high cultivation levels in the arena heard the two crisp sounds. Upon closer inspection, they could see that Sima Lingkong's hands, which had been broken and were now hanging limply, were actually kicked away.
At the same time, Chen Nan unleashed a powerful slash in mid-air, its dazzling sharpness like a rainbow piercing the sky, like lightning cutting through the air, accompanied by a surge of immense energy.
If that dazzling blade of light had struck Sima Lingkong, it would have shattered him instantly. At that moment, several high-ranking martial artists who had followed him from the palace to protect the emperor rushed forward and intercepted the powerful strike.
The six experts who rushed up stood dumbfounded in the field, holding their broken swords. The power of that single strike had nearly injured all six of them. At this moment, Chen Nan and Sima Lingkong landed on the ground. The former held his long sword to the sky, his body surging with golden light, his fighting spirit soaring. The latter was pale, coughing up blood, his face filled with shame and indignation.
The duel just now was too fast, all happening in an instant. If it weren't for the quick reaction of several high-level martial artists at the last moment, Sima Lingkong would have already been lying dead on the spot.
Many people in the arena had already seen Chen Nan make a move, but they still showed expressions of shock at this moment.
Sima Changfeng shook his head and sighed, "This child is too reckless. How can we possibly fight him head-on?"
Public debate:
"A third-tier Eastern martial artist who has reached the level of sword energy projection is indeed terrifying!"
"The Dragon-Capturing Hand technique, capable of unleashing blade-like energy, and a technique that's likely to be lost forever..."
...
The little princess was thrilled and whispered, "A hero saving a beauty happened right next to me! Wow, that's so cool! How wonderful it would be if someone with unparalleled skills appeared before me at my wedding, defeating all the masters and looking incredibly majestic!"
The Empress smacked her on the head with a "thud" and scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
The little princess said, feeling extremely wronged, "Why did you hit me?"
The Empress looked around and whispered, "If you continue to cause trouble regardless of the occasion, I will punish you by banishing you from the palace for a month."
"Hehe." The little princess laughed and said, "I didn't expect this scoundrel to get more and more powerful."
At this moment, Chu Yue addressed the members of the Qishi Mansion: "Chen Nan is so arrogant that he dares to rebel against Chu in front of the King. I now request that all of you Qishi join forces to capture him."
A gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd:
"Oh no, why can't I gather magical elements?"
"How did all my cultivation suddenly disappear?"
...
Exclamations of surprise filled the air.
Chu Yue seemed to have realized something, her expression changed drastically, and she angrily said to Chen Nan, "You actually instigated the old poison master to poison all the extraordinary warriors! You... how ruthless! Are you going to sacrifice so many people?" Chu Yue was really anxious. If all the extraordinary warriors were poisoned and died, it would be an immeasurable loss for the Chu Kingdom.
Chen Nan snorted coldly, "Don't judge others by your own petty standards. They've only temporarily lost their powers."
Ultimately, Chen Nan's understanding of human nature is still insufficient. He is still very naive and cannot bring himself to poison the group of extraordinary talents of the Chu Kingdom. He did not resort to any means necessary just because they were about to become enemies.
Instantly, Chu Yue's face turned ashen, and she roared, "All high-ranking palace warriors, heed my command! Slay this traitor at all costs!"
Dozens of highly skilled palace warriors entered the arena, emanating an oppressive pressure.
Chen Nan shouted, "Who dares to move? I'll kill him on the spot!" He took off Hou Yi's bow, and a feathered arrow was already nocked on the bowstring.
One of the palace guards, who appeared to be the leader, shouted, "Don't be afraid! Let's attack together! That arrow can only take down one person..."
The winds shifted, and the world lost its color! Accompanied by rumbling thunder, the bowstring of Hou Yi's divine bow trembled slightly, and a golden arrow shot out like lightning.
Chen Nan's cultivation level is now vastly different from before; the power of his light arrow is many times stronger than it was in the western border of Chu. That dazzling, awe-inspiring arrow, like a dragon emerging from the sea, swept across all directions, its immense pressure making it difficult for people within several miles to breathe. In the blink of an eye, the light arrow pierced the chest of the warrior leader, instantly shattering him into pieces, leaving only a cloud of blood mist in the air, the pungent stench of which was nauseating.
The arrow's residual force was immense, its enormous power fluctuations resembling raging waves that swept through the entire Sima Mansion. The terrifying energy fluctuations caused everyone present to lose their footing and tumble to the ground.
Many warriors in the Sima residence fell to the ground, many wounded by their own weapons, bleeding profusely. The entire court of officials was in even worse shape, tumbling to the ground in disarray.
If the Emperor of Chu hadn't been caught in time by the eldest princess, Chu Yue, he would have surely fallen flat on his back. The younger princess, in trying to support the Empress, herself fell to the ground, angrily cursing, "You scoundrel, ouch..."
The extraordinary warriors of the Qishi Mansion, having temporarily lost their powers, also collapsed to the ground.
Only a few experts remained unaffected, still standing in the arena, glaring angrily at Chen Nan.
The Sima family had hosted a banquet for the capital's elite today, but the power of the golden arrow had left them utterly humiliated and disgraced. Screams from the wealthy heiresses and noblewomen filled the air, creating utter chaos.
If this news were to reach other countries, the State of Chu would lose face and be ridiculed by them.
Once everyone had stood up and calmed down, they glared angrily at Chen Nan.
At that moment, the arena fell silent. Everyone held their breath, the shocking scene that had just occurred causing the palace warriors who wanted to step forward to stop in their tracks.
Chen Nan nocked his second arrow, and the divine bow moved everyone who saw it. In the end, he moved Hou Yi's bow from Sima Lingkong's body to the emperor's.
Nalan Ruoshui called out anxiously from behind him, "Chen Nan, what are you doing?"
Chen Nan didn't have time to answer, and said to Chu Han, "Let me and Ruoshui go together."
Chu Han nodded and said, "I didn't expect things to turn out this way. Alright, I'll let you go. Everyone, get out of the way."
Sima Lingkong was filled with rage, his eyes bloodshot. He had just suffered severe internal injuries, and now, overwhelmed with shock and anger, he coughed up three large mouthfuls of blood and was helped off the field.
Chen Nan, holding the Houyi Bow, gestured for Nalan Ruoshui to retreat to the sidelines.
As they exited the Sima residence, Nalan Ruoshui said, "Chen Nan, I really can't leave with you."
"I can't just leave. What will happen to my father? What will happen to my family? They will lose face."
"They're only sacrificing some face; are you going to sacrifice your entire life's happiness?"
Nalan Ruoshui shook her head and said, "This wedding can no longer continue, so you don't need to worry about me."
Chen Nan asked, "Why won't you leave with me?"
Nalan Ruoshui stared at him blankly and said, "You are so different from the ordinary Chen Nan you once were. I'm a little scared. I can't see the future... Besides, I can't just think about myself. I have parents, I have family..."
"Chen Nan, watch out!" Nalan Ruoshui cried out in alarm.
A dazzling sword light, like a bolt of lightning, slashed towards Chen Nan, instantly severing the feathered arrow on the bowstring. Chen Nan's pupils contracted; he recognized it as a cultivator's flying sword, and its owner was none other than the First Princess, Chu Yue. He left an afterimage in his wake, moving a distance of ten feet to the side like lightning, before swiftly drawing his longsword and slashing at the flying sword.
The onlookers gasped in surprise:
"The most mysterious cultivator among cultivators!"
"It's Her Highness the Eldest Princess!"
...
The flying sword gleamed with a cold, menacing light.
Chen Nan swung his sword straight down, but the golden edge couldn't stop the flying sword's momentum. In the end, he swung his long sword and clashed directly with the flying sword.
After a series of metallic clangs, the longsword was cleaved into several pieces, leaving only a bare hilt in his hand. Chen Nan was secretly shocked, marveling at how extraordinary cultivators truly were. He dropped the hilt and met the flying sword with his bare hands. A layer of golden light covered the surface of his palms. He dodged the blade and struck the spine of the sword with his palms. The collision of his flesh and blood with the flying sword produced a series of clanging sounds.
This series of actions was incredibly fast; all the onlookers could see was a sharp glint and a flurry of palm shadows intertwined, a dazzling light accompanied by a clanging sound, and a massive surge of energy.
By the time the many high-ranking warriors realized what was happening and tried to rush forward, the eldest princess was already struggling. Her face turned pale, and she reluctantly withdrew her flying sword.
Just as Chen Nan was about to give chase, a group of high-ranking warriors blocked his path. He quickly stopped, drew his bow again, and aimed the feathered arrow directly at the Emperor of Chu. The crowd was horrified and forced to halt.
"Ruoshui, come with me."
"No, I..." Nalan Ruoshui shook her head and said, "Chen Nan, I sincerely thank you for everything you did for me today. You don't need to worry about me. Perhaps we will meet again in the future..." Nalan Ruoshui didn't finish her sentence and quickly ran into the crowd, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Chen Nan was stunned for a moment, then angrily turned to Princess Chu Yue, drew his Houyi Bow, and aimed it at her, saying, "You dare to ambush me! Today I will..."
Suddenly, he heard an old man's sigh: "Alas, young man, don't get too excited. She is my great-great-granddaughter."
Chen Nan was startled and immediately came to his senses. He recognized the voice all too well; it was the Emperor's Xuan Zu, that old monster who was over 170 years old. He knew that the old monster was using his profound martial arts to transmit his voice to him alone.
The old monster sighed, "In this life, we will always encounter many unsatisfactory things. In fact, there is no eternal happiness or eternal regret in the world. Forever is but a fleeting moment. When the glitz and glamour fade and our appearance grows old, we will realize that what we need most in life is a peaceful mind."
The sound faded into the distance. Chen Nan looked around, but couldn't find the old monster anywhere. Although he had Hou Yi's bow, he was deeply wary of this unfathomable old man. If the old man were to ambush him from the shadows, he would be completely unable to handle it.
By this time, Chen Nan had already drawn the Houyi Bow, but out of fear of the old monster, he had no choice but to point it at the ground. A golden arrow of light, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, pierced the ground. The earth trembled violently, and the Sima Mansion collapsed more than halfway amidst a rumbling sound, with dust and sand flying everywhere.
No one knew that the golden arrow, shot into the ground, gradually changed its trajectory underground. It hurtled towards the nearby imperial palace, and then plunged into the ancient tomb beneath the royal library. As if drawn by some divine force, the golden arrow flew directly towards the deceased, peerless master within the tomb, finally exploding three feet in front of his indestructible body, transforming into specks of golden light that entered his form. The tomb returned to its tranquil state, as if nothing had happened.
Amidst the chaos, Chen Nan unleashed his Dragon-Capturing Hand once more. His golden palm whipped up a fierce gust of wind, pulling Princess Chu Yu, who was beside the Empress, towards him. He swiftly struck the princess's pressure points, then drew her into his arms. With his right hand holding the Houyi Bow, he placed his left hand on the princess's throat.
At this moment, the Sima father and son were furious. Not only had Chen Nan ruined their wedding, but he had also destroyed the entire Sima mansion.
"You scoundrel, you filthy thief, let me go..."
The emperor, empress, and others paled in shock. The eldest princess said, "Chen Nan, release my sister, and I promise you'll leave safely."
Chen Nan remained motionless, making no move. In truth, he was testing the limits of the old monster lurking in the shadows, to see if he would make a move. After waiting for a long time, the old monster still made no sound, and Chen Nan's anxiety eased slightly.
The little princess cried out, "You stinking thief, take your hand away! It stinks!"
Princess Chu Yue said, "Chen Nan, did you hear me? Release my sister, and I'll let you leave."
Chen Nan sneered, "Hmph, I don't want to waste any more words. Tell everyone to get out of the way and not to send anyone to follow me."
Chu Yue's expression changed several times with anger, but she finally said, "Fine, I agree to your request."
The Empress was extremely anxious and was about to speak when Chu Han stopped her, saying, "Trust Yue'er and let her handle it."
The civil and military officials of the court were stunned; what had happened today was beyond their imagination.
Although Chen Nan was not very familiar with Chu Du, he had already scouted out the way out of the city. He took the little princess hostage and left the capital.
The little princess huffed and puffed, "You scoundrel, you've already escaped! Let me go right now!"
"Life is truly wondrous. You were the one who brought me to the capital, and now you're the one who sent me out. I'm sure you haven't forgotten what happened in between, have you? Just stay by my side and be my obedient maid!"
"What? You want me, a princess, to be a maid for a scoundrel like you? You're dreaming!"
Chen Nan did something he had always wanted to do but never had the chance to: he pinched the little princess's smooth cheeks hard and pinched them repeatedly.
The little princess cried out in pain, "Ouch... You scoundrel, let go! How dare you treat me like this?"
"You little devil, I know you're incredibly cunning. Don't try anything funny with me. Just go on your way obediently."
"Where are you taking me, you bastard?"
"I never expected that you, little devil, would fall into my hands again."
Chen Nan felt a little disappointed. He took Princess Chu Yu hostage and left the capital of Chu.