Chapter 120
The Holy Emperor stumbled down the hillside, his short robe torn and tattered, his hair mostly loose from its topknot. Seeing the purple tents of the Imperial Guard Battalion not far ahead, he glanced back several times to confirm no one was pursuing him, then slowed his pace and walked forward cautiously.
Suddenly, the distant sound of war drums echoed. A smug smile curled at the Holy Emperor's lips. "Whoever comes to rescue you will only be moths drawn to flame. So, it would be more realistic to consider how to kneel before me and speak sweetly..."
After advancing a few more paces, a purple-clad Imperial Guard on patrol spotted him and immediately shouted, rushing over with clamor.
"Xiao Canjun, they've spotted us! They're rallying their forces now, forming a battle formation," a deputy general reported urgently, pointing toward the encampment of the Imperial Guard Barracks. "The smoke is rising from the hills behind them—His Highness must be up there!"
Xiao Weiran narrowed his eyes, studying the rising column of smoke for a long moment before turning his gaze to the soldiers poised for action. Covering a cough with his hand, he spoke slowly but firmly, "I'll ask one last time—those unwilling to bear the name of traitors from this day forth may still withdraw now..."
"Xiao Canjun!" A burly man stepped forward from the ranks, his voice booming. "Give the order! Even if I have to lay down my life on this hill, I'll ensure His Highness's safety!" Before his words faded, the rest of the soldiers erupted in fervent shouts. "Xiao Canjun, give the order!" Their voices reverberated through the valley, echoing, "Give the order... give the order..."
"Very well!" Xiao Weiran declared, his voice resolute. "No matter victory or defeat, life or death, endless battles await us hereafter. This one—we must fight it well!"
"That's Weiran," Xia Jingshi murmured, frowning slightly. "We outnumber them, but the Imperial Guard Barracks has been lying in wait..." Feng Suige's mind raced as he spoke, "The Imperial Guards are focusing all their efforts on forming their battle lines—the numbers surrounding the mountain must have thinned. Could we find a hidden path to circle down the rear and break through to join Lucheng's reinforcements?"
"Possible, but—" Xia Jingshi cast a cool glance at Feng Suige, "Yixiao must stay behind to tend to Xiyang." Feng Suige scratched his head irritably. "I want to take Xiyang with us. Once we break through, we can send her directly to the nearest town for treatment."
"Be rational. She can't endure rough travel now. If anything happens amidst the chaos, regret will come too late." Xia Jingshi gestured to a nearby Military General, signaling him to muster the troops. "If I could, I wouldn't leave Yixiao here either. But apart from her, there are only men here—none can assist with Xiyang's injuries."
Feng Suige hesitated for a long while before reluctantly turning to Yixiao, who stood dazed nearby. "Fine. With her here, I can rest easier."
Only when the last warhorse vanished from sight did Yixiao finally drag the waterskin and provisions Feng Suige had left behind, trudging slowly back into the woods.
Hearing Yixiao's footsteps, Feng Xiyang weakly lifted her eyelids. "Where... is he?""The troops from Lucheng have arrived. The two of them led the charge to break through, leaving us to wait here," Yixiao crouched beside her, opening the waterskin and bringing it to her lips. "Drink some water."
Xiyang shook her head. "I'm not thirsty—can you move me somewhere I can see them? I... want to see him one more time." Yixiao froze, then firmly refused. "Your wound just stopped bleeding. Moving you again will reopen it—and I don’t have the strength to carry you around. Let’s just wait here for news." With that, Yixiao set the waterskin aside and leaned against the tree trunk.
She still hadn’t told Feng Suige that the fatal stab wound Feng Xiyang suffered was from her hand—though it hadn’t been intentional.
But she felt no guilt over accidentally harming Xiyang. Apart from being Feng Suige’s sister, any goodwill she’d held toward Xiyang had vanished after she’d secretly released the Holy Emperor. Now, all that remained was pity.
Xiyang didn’t understand love, and Xia Jingshi’s fleeting affection was no steadfast devotion—these two, trapped in their own drama: one fleeing without leaving any chance, the other chasing and only making things worse, unable to let go.
And she couldn’t even say for sure if she was the third person tangled in this sorrowful mess.
Her heart was conflicted.
She had always wished for Xia Jingshi to find happiness. She’d thought a woman with such passion could warm his cold, lonely heart. Who could have imagined it would come to this?
That man’s thoughts were always so hard to decipher.
In the Imperial Guards' command tent at the foot of the mountain, the Holy Emperor, freshly washed and clad in a general’s armor, looked much more composed. Sitting calmly in his chair, he took a sip of the fragrant tea offered by the guards and spoke coldly, "There are only a hundred or so men on the mountain. Form a defensive line to block the rebels approaching from the rear. What I want are Xia Jingshi and Feng Suige—capture them, and the rebels will collapse on their own."
"Your Majesty’s orders shall be carried out!" The heavily armored Imperial Guard General responded, swiftly exiting the tent. The Holy Emperor’s fingers lightly traced the bruises on his wrists from the ropes, murmuring darkly, "The humiliation I suffered will be repaid a thousandfold!"
Under the protection of two lieutenant generals, Xiao Weiran stood on a slightly elevated hill, observing the opposing armies in the distance. Suddenly, his brow furrowed. One of the lieutenant generals exclaimed, "Look! The Imperial Guards are splitting into two groups!" "The situation is bad," Weiran said grimly. "They’re planning to hold us off while attacking the mountain—we can’t wait any longer. End this quickly!"
The lieutenant general gave a sharp whistle in response, and the war drums roared from the battle formation. The cavalry at the front of the ranks let out a battle cry, charging toward the distant purple-clad army.
The thunderous drums startled the group that had just reached the mountainside after a difficult trek. Xia Jingshi turned his ear toward the sound in surprise. "Weiran ordered a swift attack?!" Feng Suige’s face paled. "Could there be some movement from the Imperial Guard Barracks? Could it be the Holy Emperor...?"
"Whatever the case, we must hurry," Xia Jingshi said anxiously, glancing back toward the mountaintop. "Every moment we delay puts them in greater danger."
Feng Suige nodded, tightening his grip on the reins and quickening his pace. The entire group followed closely behind.
Xiyang’s injury, the Holy Emperor’s sudden disappearance... The tense atmosphere before the bloodshed spread like a fog through the ranks.
Ning Fei led a group of soldiers, rushing through the dense forest.Since splitting up and moving forward, they had encountered the pursuing Imperial Guard Battalion several times along the way, barely escaping each time. He had left the severely wounded soldiers scattered among the local populace, continuing onward with the remaining men.
Counting the days, if all had gone smoothly, Xia Jingshi should have already joined forces with Weiran and perhaps even returned to Lucheng by now. The thought of Lucheng softened Ning Fei's heart—there, his wife and unborn child awaited him.
A stumbling sound came from behind. Ning Fei turned to see a soldier who had suffered minor injuries in the last skirmish collapse to the ground. Glancing at the others, he noticed they were all gasping for breath.
With a quiet sigh, Ning Fei stepped forward to help the fallen soldier up, murmuring, "Everyone's exhausted. Let's rest awhile before moving on."
The soldier gave him a grateful look before sitting down heavily, panting.
Ning Fei pressed his cracked lips together and unhooked the waterskin from his belt. Shaking it lightly, he heard a faint sloshing sound—there wasn’t much left. Scanning the surroundings, he headed toward a low-lying area.
Their rations could last a few more days in these mountains, but water was indispensable. It would be best to find a clean water source nearby. Otherwise...
The sound of running water reached his ears. Ning Fei leaped down from a protruding rock and jogged into the hollow, only to freeze mid-step, his pupils contracting sharply at the sight before him.
There was indeed a small stream ahead.
But.
Along the forest edge by the stream sat row upon row of resting Brocade cavalry, their armor gleaming. And all of them, startled, looked up at Ning Fei as he dashed abruptly into their line of sight.
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