When he reached them, Chu Gaohan reined in.

Leng Wenyan stared at the dripping black bundle in Chu Gaohan's hand, his voice shaking with excitement. "Is—is Ning Chen's head in there?"

Chu Gaohan nodded. "That's right!"

Leng Wenyan said hurriedly, "Give it to me, quick."

Chu Gaohan's voice was grim. "King Wen, your information was wrong. Ning Chen had other masters guarding him... Thirty of us brothers went to kill him, and only three of us came back alive.

If you want Ning Chen's head, fine. But it'll cost you more."

Leng Wenyan's eyes darkened, and murder showed between his brows.

A chill went through Chu Gaohan. Ning Chen had been right: if the job had failed, Leng Wenyan would never have let him go.

Leng Wenyan held his anger in check and pointed at a chest on one of the carriages. "What's in there is worth ten thousand in gold. Give me Ning Chen's head, and it's all yours."

Chu Gaohan glanced at the chest, greed all over his face, then casually handed the bundle to the man behind him. "Give Ning Chen's head to King Wen."

"Yes!"

And that man was Ning Chen in disguise.

Pan Yucheng gripped the hilt of his saber, his palms sweating with nerves.

Leng Wenyan had several thousand soldiers around him. If anything went wrong, however good he and Ning Chen were, they'd never fight their way out alive.

Ning Chen took the bundle from Chu Gaohan and rode toward Leng Wenyan.

When he got close, he tossed it at Leng Wenyan. The black cloth slipped off, and a human head came into view.

Every eye was drawn to it.

Leng Wenyan reached out to catch it without thinking.

And at that very moment, Ning Chen moved. He sprang from his horse, touched one toe to its back and flew at Leng Wenyan.

Leng Wenyan's face changed. He was no weakling, but it was too sudden, and Ning Chen's skills were far beyond his own.

Thud!!!

A heavy kick landed square on Leng Wenyan's chest.

He spewed a mouthful of blood and flew…