The sound of a sharp arrow piercing through the air had never sounded so despairing. The arrow was so fast that it could not be captured by the naked eye as it headed straight for Meng Fuyao!
"Boom!"
At the same time, a loud explosion came from the first palace gate, followed by a flood of shouts. The leader was Fang Minghe, wearing black armor and a yellow scarf. His long eyebrows were so long that they were joined together.
"Minghe, you're here!" Qi Xunyi shouted in delight.
Fang Minghe laughed heartily, his voice imbued with inner force. "Congratulations, Your Highness!"
Qi Xunyi was startled, but before he could say anything, Fang Minghe had already rolled up his sleeves and laughed. "We killed to our heart's content along the way!"
The last three palace gates were at least a mile apart, but even at such a distance, one could still smell the blood and smell of the soldiers on their armor, as well as the murderous aura of trampling over human heads!
It was not hard to imagine how many corpses, how many heads, how many fires, and how many lives were wailing when Fang Minghe's army, believing that King Qi had succeeded, broke through the city gate and charged into the capital!
Fang Minghe was in high spirits, looking forward to his bright future as an important official of the imperial court. He did not notice Qi Emperor's change of expression, nor did Yuan Zhaoxu, who was beside him, smile and shake his head.
But Yuan Zhaoxu's gaze was not on the incoming army, but on Meng Fuyao, who had been sent flying by his arrow.
The arrow arrived! It whistled through the air, but when it was about to reach Meng Fuyao, it suddenly changed direction. The arrowhead fell with a strange thud, and the body of the arrow hit Meng Fuyao's horse.
The horse whinnied in pain and reared up on its hind legs. Then, as if it had gone mad, it leaped and dashed forward.
Meng Fuyao's body shook uncontrollably, but she gritted her teeth and gripped the reins tightly to prevent herself from falling off the horse. The violent galloping made her feel as if her bones were about to fall apart. She bit her lip and struggled to wrap the reins around her wrist, forcing herself to turn her head back to look at Yuan Zhaoxu.
She looked back, her loose black hair tossing out a black brocade, covering half of her face. Between the strands of hair, the expression in her eyes was complicated and difficult to understand.
His gaze was like a bridge, instantly piercing through the chaotic crowd, like crossing a natural moat, stepping over the River of Forgetfulness, reaching the other side.
In front of her was a surging tide of armored soldiers, and behind her were King Qi's imperial bodyguards. Between them was a smiling Yuan Zhaoxu, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. He raised his eyes to meet her complicated gaze, and his lips moved.
A voice transmission entered his ears, and it belonged to that person who would remain calm even if Mt. Tai collapsed in front of him.
"Be careful."
Fuyao's heart skipped a beat. Then, she felt her body jolt again. The arrow that had landed on the ground had actually bounced up again and accurately struck the horse's back. The horse neighed in anger, raised its hooves, and galloped away at lightning speed.
Meng Fuyao felt as if she was in the middle of the ocean, rising and falling uncontrollably. She was carried by the horse straight to the second door. She looked at the half-opened palace gate that Fang Minghe had barged into, the thousands of fully armored guards lined up in strict formation, and Pei Yuan, who was holding a sword in front of the palace gate. A trace of gloominess rose from the bottom of her heart. 'Sigh, how can I barge out like this?'
She tried her best to look back at Yuan Zhaoxu, but she did not realize that there was a rare trace of panic in her eyes.
Yuan Zhaoxu raised his eyes and fixed them on her. His heartstrings trembled at the sight of the usually strong and courageous Fuyao's expression in a moment of crisis. His smile faded a little, but there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes.
'She's not afraid of death, is she?'
The horse charged forward. King Qi waved his hand, and the imperial bodyguards were about to give chase when Yuan Zhaoxu said, "Your Highness, it seems that the Crown Prince didn't leave through the palace gate. You have to hurry up and search the palace. The people here shouldn't all be stuck here."
Qi Xunyi's face was ashen, and he hesitated. Yuan Zhaoxu continued, "It's more appropriate for you to personally lead the search for the Crown Prince. As for this place … I can share your burden."
Qi Xunyi glanced at him and felt that this person wasn't all that reliable. However, Fang Minghe had to lead the troops, and the Yan and Pei families had to guard the gates. There was no one else available. Thinking that most of his troops were here, Qi Xunyi wouldn't be able to do anything alone, so he agreed and personally led some people to search the palace. He quickly sent a signal for Fang Minghe to send a group of people to block all the roads leading to the Imperial Guards' camp.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you, Sir. Please capture these two suspicious men and women."
Yuan Zhaoxu smiled. "Don't worry!"
Qi Xunyi left. Yuan Zhaoxu suddenly looked up and smiled at the gate tower. He then waved his hand and led the imperial bodyguards to 'chase' Fuyao.
On the horse in front, Yun Hen's entire body shrunk behind his horse as he continuously deflected the arrows in front of him to protect Fuyao. However, he could not help but sigh in despair when he saw the army approaching through the half-opened gate and the imperial bodyguards blocking the entrance.
'… So the Crown Prince did not leave through the palace gate. If that's the case, then I'm the one who harmed her. No matter what, I'll protect her even if I have to risk my life.'
On the other side, General Pei stared at the man and woman charging at him. Such a thin pair of people seemed like a tiny dot in the long and wide Sky Street. Behind him, there were thousands of soldiers and horses. It seemed like they could be crushed to death with a gentle wave of their hands. General Pei and Pei Yuan sneered in disdain, but they still refused to be careless. They suddenly waved their hands!
"Buzz!"
Arrows shot out from the distant palace gate like a torrential rain, forming a dark cloud that whistled through the air like a ghost's cry. In an instant, it traversed the vast sky and pierced through the layers of clouds, heading straight for the lonely man and woman in the corridor.
The horses neighed miserably as they were turned into beehives in an instant.
With a clear shout, Yun Hen leaped into the air like a flying fish. His sword danced like a stream of light, condensing into a perfectly round light wall that firmly protected Meng Fuyao within it. Using his sword as a formula, he danced himself into a whirling wind. The wind did not sweep nor sweep, but always surrounded Meng Fuyao by his side. It was everywhere, and there was nowhere that it could not block.
Yan Lie, who was guarding the Third Gate, and General Pei, who was guarding the Second Gate, were both famous martial artists with excellent eyesight. With one look, they could tell that the young man was putting his life on the line. He had actually used the supreme sword controlling technique of martial arts and sword techniques, transforming the sword into Qi and making it as hard as metal. Both of them could not help but reveal a look of surprise. Then, a cold smile appeared at the corner of their mouths.
Everyone knew that using true Qi to control a sword for a long period of time was a fighting style that completely disregarded one's life. In the best case scenario, one's skills would be greatly reduced, and in the worst case scenario, one's cultivation would be destroyed and one's life would be lost.
A trace of mockery appeared in Yan Lie's eyes. 'Putting his life on the line, he's courting death!' He laughed coldly and casually turned his head away.
At that moment, Yun Hen was no longer thinking about anything else. He only had one thought left: to protect her! He was the one who had dragged her into this mess. He could not let her be shot to death in front of the palace gates!
The sorrowful wind howled, and the faint moon tilted. The black arrows that were flying over were once again deflected, shooting towards the azure sky from all directions. The clouds were blown away, and countless holes were blasted in the firmament. From those holes, countless rays of starlight could be seen.
Under the starlight, the young man's face was as white as snow. His white teeth bit his lips, which were as red as a drop of blood.
He waved, danced, and controlled his sword … He had completely lost his own consciousness. His arm was so sore that it had lost all feeling. Everything was left with instinct and machinery.
All of his attention was focused on Fuyao, so he could not divert his attention to take care of himself. A cold arrow flew towards him in a crooked manner, but it was forced to deviate again and again by the force of Qi. It brushed past his Gang Qi and shot into his shoulder, embedding itself in the gap between his bones. Even the slightest movement would cause a heart-wrenching pain.
Meng Fuyao, who had been suppressed by his aura, suddenly raised her head. Her face was even paler than Yun Hen's, and her usually clear and unyielding eyes were now glistening.
The glistening eyes were illuminated by the moonlight that broke through the clouds. In that instant, it was as if the entire sky had bloomed.
Yun Hen lowered his head and saw the glistening teardrops in the eyes of the usually unyielding and fearless woman. His heart trembled and ached, as if it had also been pierced by a cold arrow.
He clenched his teeth and did not look at Fuyao. Instead, he suddenly pulled back his sword and chopped off the arrowhead. Fresh blood splattered from his shoulder, but he did not seem to feel it at all. The whirling wind suddenly turned blood-red, like a moving red curtain that blocked all killing intent and harm.
However, even with all his might, he could only protect Fuyao through the rain of arrows in front of him. He could no longer take care of the pursuers behind him. In the midst of the chaos, he turned around and glanced at the guards behind him, led by the man. They were only a few steps away. In front of them, due to the approaching distance, the archers suddenly retreated, and a group of soldiers in embroidered garments quickly knelt on the ground. Each of them held a jet-black spear on their shoulders, their pitch-black muzzles coldly aimed at Yun Hen and Fuyao.
The Flintlock Squad.
Yun Hen's heart sank, and he subconsciously rushed over to block in front of Fuyao.
Since he could not do anything, he could only use his own flesh and blood.
Yun Hen's heart dimmed, but his gaze toward Fuyao was as bright as the stars, radiating a myriad of colors and radiance.
However, the moment his heart dimmed, the sky also dimmed.
Yun Hen was shocked, thinking that he was about to faint from exhaustion. Suddenly, he heard a low roar above his head. It was deep and fierce, like a sudden clap of thunder that exploded beyond the Nine Heavens. In an instant, it was above his head. The fierce lightning and the rustling rain came in an instant!
Yun Hen raised his head and felt darkness above his head. A dark cloud suddenly descended from the top of the city wall like a storm. Amidst the rumbling thunder, a shout louder than thunder.
"I'm here to kill!"
*****
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