"Eh!" The other party was clearly not expecting Brian Carter's reaction to be so quick, able to devise such a counterattack in a rush. With a slight gasp, their body curled and twisted deftly in midair, and a flash of cold light swept over in an instant!

Bending his legs, drawing in his arms, curling his body—three movements as fast as lightning—Brian Carter barely managed to dodge the opponent's fierce counterstrike. But now he was left hanging outside the ship's rail, in constant danger. Brian Carter simply took a deep breath, flipped himself up, and climbed onto the third deck.

Shadows flickered as several fully armed armored soldiers, wielding repeating crossbows, rushed in from both sides of the ship's rail to encircle him. A hail of bolts whistled through the air. The black-scarved man, who had just managed to steady himself on the rail, saw his chance slip away. With a sigh, he leapt into the water and disappeared into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

Chapter Six: Imperial Scion

Brian Carter had just caught his breath when a chill swept across his neck. "Don't move!"

A cold blade pressed against Brian Carter's shoulder and neck, forcing him to raise his hands in submission. Torches and candles on the deck were lit one after another, making Brian Carter squint against the sudden brightness.

"Kid, you're not with them, are you?"

The man opposite, dressed in a long robe with a belt, had long, arched brows and his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze, almost tangible, fell on Brian Carter's face, making it hard for Brian Carter to breathe. A master! Yet another rare master!

Brian Carter felt a bit dejected. Searching through Jiang Erlang's memories, there weren't many who could surpass him in martial skill. At least in Guangzhou City, Brian Carter considered himself among the top. Yet on this ship, in just a few moments, he had encountered two experts whose depths he couldn't even fathom. Especially the aura exuded by the man before him—it made Brian Carter instinctively feel a sense of dread.

"How dare you! The lord is speaking to you, and you dare not answer?" barked an armored soldier beside the middle-aged elder, hand on his sword.

"Haven't you already figured it out? What more do you want me to say?" Brian Carter stretched his body and replied calmly.

"Kid, you do have some character. If this were an ordinary situation, perhaps I would give you some pointers and see what fate has in store for you! But you dared to trespass in the hall—no, in the young lady's cabin. That is an unforgivable crime, and I cannot save you! Men, drag him out, behead him, and throw him into the river!"

The long-browed man's expression was as calm as still water, and his tone as casual as if chatting. Brian Carter had intended to play for time and find a chance to speak, but never expected this man to give him no opportunity at all, going straight for his life. His face changed dramatically, and he hurriedly cried out, "Wait!"

"Do you have any last words?" The long-browed man's gaze was cold and indifferent, looking at Brian Carter as if he were already dead, sending a chill through Brian Carter's heart. This guy clearly regarded human life as worthless, not caring about his life at all.

"I only entered by mistake. Why must I suffer such a fate?"

"By mistake? Then you can only blame your bad luck. Of all the cabins, you just had to barge into the young lady's?" The long-browed man shook his head slightly. "Behead him!"

The blade at his neck was already pressing into his flesh. Brian Carter was terrified and, unable to care about anything else, shouted loudly, "I also saved the young lady's life! If I hadn't entered by mistake, your young lady would probably have died in the cabin already!"

"Uncle Bennett, let him go!" A cool voice came from the other end of the deck. The young lady, now dressed in a splendid long gown, walked out.

"Miss?"

"He's telling the truth. If not for him, I fear I would have already fallen victim to the enemy." The young lady, now composed and poised, was nothing like the shy girl she had been alone with Brian Carter. Her words were calm and confident. "However, this man is truly despicable. Though he did not disrespect me, his words and actions were utterly vile. Adam Clark, slap him!"

Before Brian Carter could react, the blade left his neck, and the man beside him slapped him hard on both cheeks, one after another, making Brian Carter's nose bleed and stars dance before his eyes.

Furious beyond measure, Brian Carter knew that if he dared to resist now, he would surely die on the spot. He could only grit his teeth and endure the humiliation, hoping for a chance to take revenge on this ungrateful wretch.

"Miss, if you let this man go, it may damage your reputation," the man surnamed Bennett interjected hesitantly.

He could see that the young lady had no intention of killing the man before her. Although the Li family did not care much for such trifles, the man before them was clearly a lowborn servant. Compared to the Li family's reputation, his life was not worth mentioning.

Brian Carter was alarmed. In this world, the strong ruled all. If his life were to be lost over something as vague as reputation, it would be a true injustice.

"Lord Bennett, since the young lady and I are acquainted and have become friends, how could it possibly damage her reputation?" Brian Carter also knew that this era still retained the open customs of the flourishing Tang dynasty. Relations between men and women were not as rigid and dogmatic as in later Song and Ming times. Especially after the Five Barbarians' invasion, northern customs had become even more Hu-like, and the three-hundred-year Li Tang dynasty, due to blood ties, was even more influenced by Hu culture. So this was purely an excuse made up by this Bennett fellow to silence him.