Chapter 557: Perilous Circumstances
Since Xiao Changying knew these were Your Majesty's men, he would leave no survivors. Otherwise, it would expose his unauthorized presence in the northwest. Given his prolonged stay, Xiao Changqing must have been covering for him in the capital, so he absolutely couldn't reveal his absence from Kyoto.
To guard against any unforeseen circumstances, Xiao Huayong still left Haidongqing behind. If Xiao Changying found himself outmatched, Haidongqing could provide some assistance.
They first headed for higher ground. The higher they climbed, the clearer the battle below became. The clash between the two sides was no less intense than a bloody battlefield.
Shen Xihe whipped her horse more vigorously, swiftly crossing over the mountain ridge and descending to leave this dangerous place. Just as they were nearing the plains—where ambushes would become nearly impossible—a hidden arrow shot out from nowhere. The arrow was wrapped in a fiercely burning cluster of flames, streaking past their line of sight before embedding itself in a tree, which instantly caught fire.
One tree ignited, and the flames spread rapidly, quickly reaching four others in front, behind, and on both sides. In the blink of an eye, the surrounding area had become a blazing forest.
As the trees burned, flaming leaves drifted down, landing on the ground where layers of dry foliage lay. Under the arid and parched conditions, tongues of fire easily leaped up.
"Your Majesty has no shortage of clever individuals under his command," Xiao Huayong remarked, looking up and spotting an extremely fine wire stretched across the treetops, crisscrossing with other trees. The fire had spread so quickly because this thin iron wire carried the flames, and combined with the dry northwest winds and desiccated trees, ignition was effortless.
About half a kilometer ahead, a bridge of fire had formed, arching over their path. Beneath this fiery arch, the blaze grew increasingly fierce. It was unclear what had been done to the leaves, but they dripped down like wax, each carrying flames.
A genuine rain of fire had been created. If these droplets fell on a person, they would at least sear off a patch of skin. While losing a layer of skin would be bad enough, Shen Xihe, who hadn't detected anything earlier, now noticed a unique scent dispersing through the air as the fire spread.
"The scent of Qilin Horn..." Shen Xihe murmured with a furrowed brow.
The horse beneath her grew increasingly restless, and Shen Xihe struggled to keep it under control.
"Qilin Horn?" Even the widely knowledgeable Xiao Huayong had never heard of it.
"It's a green plant native to India. Its sap, like that of the Dieffenbachia, is highly toxic, but it's even more potent—it can burn the skin and allow toxins to enter the body through the wounds," Shen Xihe explained to Xiao Huayong.
With no maritime trade restrictions in their dynasty, Shen Xihe often tasked people with searching for exotic flowers and plants brought back by seafaring merchants. She had a particular interest in toxic specimens and had been fortunate enough to acquire Qilin Horn. She had conducted numerous tests on it and was thoroughly familiar with its properties.
Before them, droplets of fire-wrapped leaves showered down, resembling a dazzling rain of flames. In the mountain forest, they fell like strings of crystal beads, occasionally shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight, with an almost eerie allure. Yet, accidental contact could be fatal at any moment.
"Should we... find another route?" Shen Xihe wondered aloud, admitting to herself that she saw no way to break through the current predicament.
The mastermind behind this trap had likely anticipated that this was an exit they couldn't block. Xiao Huayong and his companions would inevitably choose this path, hence the setup here—an attempt to encircle them from behind and prevent their escape.Yet they had underestimated Xiao Huayong after all. Not only had the men arranged by Xiao Huayong intercepted Pei Zhan, but they also blocked their own pursuit, leaving them unable to advance.
There were only a few escape routes—either return to the battlefield or take other paths that might harbor venomous snakes or other unknown dangers lying in wait.
Xiao Huayong let out a soft laugh. His dark, gleaming eyes swept up and down the trees before he glanced at the guard beside him. With a sudden leap, he called out, "Bring me a blade!"
As he soared into the air, Shen Xihe's guard instinctively threw a blade toward him. Xiao Huayong caught it mid-air, gripping it with both hands. His movements were swift as a gust of wind—so fast that Shen Xihe couldn't even follow them clearly. As he landed, he swung the blade horizontally. Though the blade's edge was still three to five steps away from the nearest tree, the powerful force it generated solidified like frost, rippling outward like water waves. A sharp crack, reminiscent of a dry branch snapping, echoed in the silence.
Xiao Huayong remained in his blade-wielding stance, not yet standing upright, when rapid cracking sounds erupted. The two trees closest to him toppled over, followed by two more behind them. Even the third tree in the row showed cracks, teetering precariously.
Shen Xihe had never been so astonished. Her obsidian-like pupils involuntarily widened, while even Moyu and Mo Yuan felt a chill in their hearts.
Such martial prowess was something they had only heard of in storybooks. As practitioners of martial arts themselves, they could more accurately gauge such skill. They had always believed such abilities existed only in tales, never imagining they would witness them with their own eyes one day.
As the trees fell backward, no more fire-wrapped leaves descended. Flames erupted on the ground, and Shen Xihe, noticing this, ordered Moyu, "Wrap the horses' hooves."
Having grown up in the northwest, where they faced the constant threat of war and often battled in harsh environments, they habitually carried essential supplies. Hoof coverings for the horses were indispensable.
With cold blades slicing through the air, tree after tree fell. As the trees collapsed, the flames on the ground grew fiercer. Xiao Huayong turned to Shen Xihe and the others and said, "Go now."
If they didn't leave soon, the raging fire would make it impossible to pass.
Shen Xihe and the others had just finished wrapping the horses' hooves. She turned and instructed Mo Yuan, "You go first."
She had to stay with Xiao Huayong. If the fire intensified, having horses would allow for a quicker escape.
"Crown Princess, this subordinate will stay. You and Moyu should go first," Mo Yuan insisted loudly.
How could he let the Crown Princess remain here, risking her life? Moreover, the fire... Given the distance and the increasing number of falling trees, the blaze would only grow harder to control. Yet, if these trees weren't cut down, the fiery leaves falling from above would release their trapped venom upon contact, seeping into their bodies.
At this moment, Mo Yuan could only curse his own lack of skill. If he possessed Xiao Huayong's profound abilities, he could sever the sturdy tree trunks from a distance without needing to stand beneath them, and Xiao Huayong wouldn't have to remain here.
"I demand obedience," Shen Xihe said coldly.
"Crown Princess..."
"Everyone, leave." With another swing of his blade, Xiao Huayong released layers of force, cutting down several trees across two rows. Steadying himself, he spoke in a deep voice.The wide sleeves slipped down, his hand gripping the knife trembling faintly. Cutting down the tree in such a manner had truly drained his strength. As the flames grew fiercer, the choking smoke filled his nostrils, making him increasingly uncomfortable. Shen Xihe’s presence would only distract him further—only when she was safe could he focus without distraction.
(End of Chapter)
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