The old Heavenly Master's voice was low. "Little Liu, this old Daoist will look after my lord prince. You go after the shooter."

Liu Baiyi said nothing. He pushed lightly off the ground and shot away like a streak of light. A few bounds, and he was gone.

Ning Chen fought the pain. "Tell the garrison this prince wants everything for a mile around that pavilion sealed off."

"Yes!"

A Ning'an Army soldier raced off.

The old Heavenly Master crouched to check Ning Chen's wound. He tore open the front of Ning Chen's robe and found the bullet had driven the gold-thread armor into the flesh. Blood was welling out.

He'd seen a great deal of the world, and he recognized at a glance that Ning Chen was wearing precious armor, proof against blades and spears.

Even so, Ning Chen had been badly hurt, and that shocked the old man. He looked at the bullet in Ning Chen's chest, only its tail showing, and said in astonishment, "What kind of hidden weapon is this, to hit this hard? It's as strong as one of Little Liu's sword beams."

As he spoke, he jabbed several fingers into points on Ning Chen's chest and stopped the bleeding.

Then he examined him carefully and said gravely, "Thank heaven for this armor. Otherwise there'd have been no escaping it this time."

Ning Chen's face was twisted in pain. "My breastbone deserves some of the credit too. I think it's broken."

The old Heavenly Master said, "Have a little confidence. It's not I think. It's broken."

Ning Chen rolled his eyes, speechless. "Old Heavenly Master, this is the deadly calamity you were talking about, isn't it?"

The old Heavenly Master thought about it. "It should be."

"So does this mean I've escaped it?"

The old Heavenly Master nodded. "If this was your deadly calamity, then since they didn't manage to kill you, the calamity has been broken.

As for the details, this old Daoist will tell you after watching the stars tonight."

Ning Chen nodded. "Get me home quick, and have Zisu treat me."

There…