Blood Shadows were a group of phantoms among the Blood-Clad Envoys, adept at tracking. They were elite assassins cultivated by Xie Beihan in the Eastern Palace, living and dying for him.
Each one was a master capable of fighting a hundred opponents, and they had secretly resolved many issues for him in both the imperial court and the harem.
Since Huo Dao had sworn allegiance to Xie Beihan, he had never seen him deploy the Blood Shadows. Now, he was truly desperate.
He frowned slightly. That woman would undoubtedly become an obstacle to His Majesty's unification of the Nine Provinces.
Perhaps, she should be killed!
"Hurry up and go!"
"Yes."
The entire estate was in a frenzy of searching.
The moonlight hanging in the sky filtered through the branches, falling like clear frost onto the intertwined couple.
The swaying trees cast dancing shadows, appearing as if submerged in water, silent like the wind.
"You're surrounded, how can you escape?"
Ye Luan leaned against the thick trunk of a tree, her legs wrapped around Xiao Chi Zhan's waist, wriggling and undulating.
Her skirt bloomed open, obscuring the view within.
The scene was incredibly stimulating.
Xiao Chi Zhan buried his head in her collar, sucking and biting. Hearing her soft moans, he looked up.
"Come with me!"
His crimson eyes were truly bewitching. When he looked at her, it was as if he were hooked, captivating her soul.
A gentle evening breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of blooming begonia flowers that twined around their noses.
Ye Luan held his head and said, "I'm not going."
Taking her with him, he wouldn't be able to escape at all.
Xie Beihan was obsessive and ruthless; he wouldn't let them leave, and they would end up with injuries on both sides.
Moreover, as far as she knew, Dragon City not only had the thirty thousand troops of Southern Xinjiang, but also the fifty thousand reinforcements hidden by Northern Qi in Ghost Gu Mountain.
Back then, Great Liang had been defeated, and the entire city of Dragon City had been massacred, with the surrendered soldiers all killed.
The reinforcements from the Western Pass had likely not arrived yet, otherwise, he wouldn't have risked coming to Dragon City.
Xiao Chi Zhan heard the resolve in her words, his expression turning cold. His actions became fierce and forceful.
Ye Luan trembled instantly, her hands clinging tightly to his back, supporting herself.
"Kiss me."
He stared at her intently, his thrusts becoming more forceful with each motion.
Ye Luan felt her scalp tingle under his gaze. After a moment of confrontation, she lowered her head and kissed him.
The instant they touched, he instantly turned the tables, supporting her and pressing her fiercely against the back, kissing and biting her with abandon.
The air around them became somewhat suffocating. Unable to bear it, she turned her head to dodge.
He then kissed her neck and nibbled her earlobe.
A warmth and tingling sensation lingered on her skin. Though it was night, a cool breeze blew, yet she broke out in a light sweat, feeling hot.
She desperately suppressed the sounds of arousal.
"Xiao Chi Zhan, who was it that said I was merely a plaything for sleeping, and would be given away once you were tired of me?"
Xiao Chi Zhan, thick-skinned, replied, "It wasn't me."
Ye Luan scoffed, too lazy to expose him.
His movements suddenly became more vigorous. He looked up at her.
"I'll never tire of you, not in this lifetime, and you're not allowed to tire of me either."
Childish!
Ye Luan vaguely hummed in agreement.
Dissatisfied with her perfunctory response, Xiao Chi Zhan captured her lips, kissing and biting her fiercely.
Her breathing instantly became ragged, her whole body trembling. Unable to control herself, she bit him tightly.
Xiao Chi Zhan's eyes instantly turned crimson. He gripped her waist and pressed down forcefully.
"Hurry, you really should leave."
But this fellow was wild and ignored her pleas.
He burrowed deeper, and she felt as if her bones were about to be ground soft by him, panting and moaning.
"Have you been to the frontier?"
Suddenly, he bit hard at the front of her silk bodice.
Ye Luan cried out in pain, a wave of tingling surging through her spine.
Unwilling to be outdone, she bit into his shoulder, leaving a tooth mark.
"Speak."
"No, I was brought directly to Dragon City."
She didn't want to lie, but this fellow was too clingy and audacious. If he started causing a fuss, there would be no end to it.
Xiao Chi Zhan felt relieved, and his movements softened.
Ye Luan panted, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly, supporting herself.
Her slightly open collar revealed the Qiongqi on his shoulder. The moonlight shone upon it, making it look extremely fierce.
She paused and unconsciously wrapped her arms around his. She caressed the fierce beast on his back.
"Do you like it?"
His lips brushed against her ear, his voice low, with a touch of sexy hoarseness.
Ye Luan buried her face in his shoulder, hugging him tightly.
"I like it."
"Search, you go over there, you few, come this way."
Suddenly, the sound of soldiers came from below, startling Ye Luan, who then clung to him tightly.
Xiao Chi Zhan couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of comfort.
Through the dense branches, one could see the entire estate ablaze, with people swarming everywhere and armor clashing.
Ye Luan heard the sound of armor clattering away and quickly looked at him.
"Do you have any confidence at all? Can you get away?"
Xiao Chi Zhan kissed her lips and smiled, "Worried about me?"
Nonsense!
Ye Luan glared at him helplessly.
But before she could speak, suddenly, fires erupted from the southeast, filling the air with thick smoke.
She was shocked. "Isn't that the direction of the city wall?"
An Ding Gate was the first city gate occupied by the Southern Xinjiang army when they entered Great Liang's border. It was the city gate where the Lingnan Kings of past dynasties ascended to their thrones.
Southern Xinjiang's current invasion of Great Liang had entered the city through An Ding Gate.
The majestic city gate was suddenly set ablaze, with raging flames engulfing the entire sky.
When Xie Beihan heard the news, he was on the viewing platform.
He let out a cold laugh, said nothing, and scanned the entire Prefectural Governor's mansion with his spyglass.
A group of people stood in the eaves behind him.
"Has he gone mad? That's the first line of defense! If this is the case, with the army pressing down, how can they fight if the city gate is burned down?"
"Although the city gate is sturdy and cannot be burned, this act is also unbearable. To burn An Ding Gate for a single woman, it's an act deserving of heavenly punishment! The foundation built by our ancestors for a hundred years will be ruined by him."
Everyone spoke with righteous indignation. Someone suddenly realized something and exclaimed in shock.
"Does this mean he plans to abandon Dragon City and head straight for Southern Xinjiang, to attack the Sacred Pagoda?"
As soon as the words fell, someone else came to report that the Xiji Army camp's grain and fodder had been burned, resulting in heavy losses.
"This is too much! Such petty behavior. I've long heard that this fellow stops at nothing on the battlefield, that he would do anything. He truly is a madman."
Someone stepped forward and looked at Xie Beihan, who remained silent.
"Your Majesty, they must want to escape through An Ding Gate now. The reception party is likely not large. I will lead troops to capture him."
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow. "No need. Send people to Bei Wu Gate."
How could the city gate be burned down? It was just a diversion.
The crowd was puzzled but still followed the orders.
"Have the Blood Shadows arrived?"
Someone stepped forward and replied, "A group of assassins appeared within the city, seemingly shadow blood corpses raised by the Prince of Dingbei in the Blood Domain. They are tying people down."
Xie Beihan's expression remained unchanged as he continuously observed the surroundings with his spyglass.
From the viewing platform, one could see the entire landscape of the estate, and even some situations within the city.
Suddenly, his gaze narrowed, and his unnaturally red lips curved into a slight smile.
"Search in Liang Yuan."
"Yes."