CHAPTER 26: CAPTURED BY PRINCE SHANG

Yue Mingxuan’s heart tightened.

He dodged swiftly to the side, avoiding the attacker’s strike.

However, before he could shout, a sharp sting spread from the back of his neck.

Someone had already sneaked up behind him silently and trying to attack him.

His whole body went numb and his consciousness faded fast.

The last thought that crossed his mind before he blacked out was a desperate whisper: Please... please don’t let it be Prince Shang’s men... please, no...

...

It’s painful.

His whole body ached.

Especially his backside, it felt like he’d landed hard enough to flatten it.

Yue Mingxuan pushed himself up while rubbing his sore rear and grimacing.

These people had no idea what it meant to show mercy!

Luckily, his body was strong and he’d used the right technique to fall.

Otherwise, he might’ve broken a few ribs.

He lifted his head, ready to curse whoever did this to him but then his eyes locked with a pair of dark alluring eyes staring down from above.

The man lounged lazily in a high seat, his gaze sharp and mocking.

All of Yue Mingxuan’s anger instantly vanished.

The complaints caught in his throat and his pain twisted into panic.

Enemies truly meet on narrow roads, he thought bitterly. Heaven, why must it be him again?

Shang Qinghua curved his lips faintly while looking down at Yue Mingxuan with amusement and disdain.

His voice was smooth but carried cold arrogance as he spoke: "Fifth Prince, has it only been a few days and you no longer recognize me?"

"Your Highness... what are you saying? How could I possibly not recognize you?" Yue Mingxuan’s hands that was hidden under the wide robe sleeves clenched tightly.

He forced what looked like a faint smile, though in truth, it was nothing but a bitter one. "I just don’t understand... what is it that Your Highness intends to do?"

That night in the brothel, he remembered it clearly, the man’s eyes had been closed from start to finish.

He definitely hadn’t seen him and he couldn’t have.

Yue Mingxuan tried to convince himself again and again, but even he knew how laughable that hope was.

He might just be a hostage prince, but every time Yue Mingxuan saw him, his heart trembled uncontrollably. Perhaps the rumors were true, that this man was moody and unpredictable and capable of taking a life on a whim.

"What I wanted to do?" The man’s lips curved slightly, his voice calm and distant, yet chilling. "I always preferred to kill a thousand by mistake rather than let one go. Tonight, I’ve taken an interest in you."

His voice was low, smooth, and elegant, like a melody drifting from the heavens.

It was strangely pleasant to the ear and when paired with those dark gleaming eyes that was bright and mesmerizing, one could easily lose themselves in them and unable to look away

Such a beautiful man should have been a sight pleasing to behold, yet now, everything about him filled Yue Mingxuan with fear.

Wasn’t he supposed to be just a hostage prince? Wasn’t he supposed to be depressed and withdrawn from worldly affairs?

Then how , after only two days,had he found him and even recognized him?

Impossible. It had to be an illusion and it was a trick of his frightened mind. But before Yue Mingxuan could even test that thought, he heard the cold command, "Guards, come, give our dear Fifth Prince a proper welcome."

Those words shattered every last hope in Yue Mingxuan’s heart.

A tall and dark figure began moving toward him quickly.

Yue Mingxuan took a deep breath.

Fear would not solve anything now and explanations would be useless. He didn’t want to die here. His only chance was to escape.

The large man that was built like a mountain approaching him, his heavy footsteps shaking the floor. Just as he was about to reach out and grab the person in front of him, a slender, pale hand shot out and rested lightly on his thick arm, faster than he could react.

Yue Mingxuan lifted his head, his expression soft and pitiful, his voice trembling just enough to sound fragile and harmless. "Big brother... please, don’t scare me. I’ve never seen such a scene before. Be gentle with me, alright?"

"Uh..."

Several of the men nearby stared in disbelief, their expressions blank.

Most people in this situation, especially a "delicate" youth like him would be crying, begging, or frozen in fear.

But this one... not only did he look unusual even his personality was strange!

Shang Qinghua’s slanted eyes narrowed slightly, a faint gleam flashing deep in his gaze as he watched Yue Mingxuan’s seemingly weak hand resting on the man’s arm.

The gleam disappeared in an instant.

He clearly knew what was about to happen, yet said nothing to stop it.

In the next second, those soft, boneless fingers turned sharp and deadly. With a precise twist and a firm press, Yue Mingxuan struck the man’s pressure point.

In his past life, Yue Mingxuan had been a special forces military doctor.

He knew the human body and its acupoints like the back of his hand.

Even against a skilled martial artist, as long as he could hit the right spot, he could paralyze them long enough to escape —

or even defeat them.

The burly man named is Mo Yi and he realized too late that he had fallen into a trap.

His arm went numb before he could pull it back and he could feel his strength drained from his body.

Yue Mingxuan seized the chance and then a sweeping kick.

With a loud "thud," Mo Yi who is twice Yue Mingxuan’s size crashed heavily to the ground.

With one swift move, Yue Mingxuan knocked the man down.

He didn’t dare stay even for a moment.

Using all his strength, his toes tapped the ground and borrowing force from the fallen man’s body, he flipped through the air and aimed straight for the open window he had already planned as his escape route.