Suddenly, a deafening sound of horse hooves echoed from afar, rushing forward with unstoppable momentum.
Gazing afar, at the edge of the vast desert, were the Northern Qi armies, charging through the heavy rain. The sabers in the soldiers' hands pointed towards the sky, emitting a chilling cold light.
The man at the forefront, clad in a purple robe and riding a chestnut horse, exuded a captivating and unrestrained aura.
Xie Beihan!
Li Qiongyu turned back, her eyes holding a hint of cold killing intent. "He really is everywhere."
Two figures plummeting from the city walls in the rain were conspicuously visible.
Xie Beihan was shocked and immediately urged his horse towards the base of the city wall.
"Your Highness, don't go yet, be careful of assassination."
Huo Dao also quickly rode forward to block him. "Xiao Chizhan's Qinggong is peerless; Miss Ye will surely be fine."
Xie Beihan's grip on the reins faltered for a moment. Then, his expression smoothed over, though his eyes, hidden deep within, held a chilling darkness as he stared intently at the two figures.
Thunder rumbled ominously, and lightning seemed to tear through the very fabric of the sky.
Ye Luan felt her waist being encircled by a pair of strong arms that instantly caught her falling form.
The torrential rain lashed down on them like a waterfall, while wind and sand obscured the sky, creating a scene of chaos.
The usually stern and fierce eyes changed, now filled with vulnerability, fear, and grief.
He held her so tightly that her ribs ached.
"You win, you win."
Hearing his words, Ye Luan breathed a sigh of relief.
"But without you, I cannot live. Luanluan, as long as you stay by my side, I will no longer restrain your freedom, nor will I make you do anything you don't wish to. You can do whatever you want, go wherever you please, and I will accompany you."
After speaking, he slowly lifted his head from her neck, his deep crimson eyes revealing a morbid madness.
"I only want you."
He knew she was faking it, that she was certain he would save her.
He yielded, he compromised.
But she absolutely could not leave him.
"Otherwise, I will die with you."
This madman, even at this point, his heart remained so stubbornly fixed.
Hearing his words, Ye Luan felt a dull ache in her chest for some reason. She tried to suppress it, but it was impossible to hide.
Around them, the cacophony of swords, spears, and footsteps filled the air. A dense mass of soldiers waited below the city wall.
Their falling speed increased, and the wind felt like icy blades against her cheeks.
The wind howled, the dark sky seemed about to collapse, and the rain poured down like a shattered galaxy, spreading across the entire land.
The moment the two figures fell, Li Qiongyu's horse steadied itself beneath them.
Xiao Chizhan used the momentum to roll to the ground, holding her.
The horse was crushed to death on the spot.
"Damn it, Ye Luan, are you trying to die?" Li Qiongyu rushed over to help them.
Ye Luan was held so tightly by Xiao Chizhan around her waist that she couldn't reply.
"Are you hurt?"
When she fell, she landed entirely on him, and he protected her so fiercely that she was unharmed.
Seeing her silence, Xiao Chizhan thought she was injured and immediately checked on her.
"I'm fine."
"Heh, I am truly fortunate today to witness such a spectacle."
His sinister and cold voice, laced with laughter, pierced the desert air, his cruel smile undeterred by the rain.
Ye Luan stood up and looked up, her heart filled with both anger and dread.
Xie Beihan!
What was he doing here?!
She had barely escaped death at Xiao Chizhan's hands, and now this crazy lunatic was interfering?
Xiao Chizhan's deep crimson eyes gazed at the distant army, his arm unconsciously tightening around the person in his embrace.
"Didn't you say you respected everything about me? Let me go."
His powerful grip was suffocating her waist.
The girl's indifferent voice made Xiao Chizhan's gaze even more chilling. He didn't want to let go, but the image of her determined fall in his mind filled him with dread.
He was silent for a moment, then loosened his hold.
"Little girl, come here."
Suddenly, Xie Beihan, with a smile, extended his hand towards Ye Luan.
His intimate tone made Xiao Chizhan's crimson eyes seem like they were poisoned, instilling fear.
Ye Luan's eyebrows twitched even more, fearing he would say something that would drive Xiao Chizhan into a frenzy.
"Xie Beihan, daring to provoke this king with tens of thousands of troops? Does this mean you don't wish to leave Xiyu alive today?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Beihan showed no fear, riding his horse a few steps forward, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Xiao Chizhan, can't you see the young lady doesn't want to go with you? She even went so far as to jump off the city wall."
At these words, Xiao Chizhan's heart felt as if it had been pierced, and a murderous intent surfaced on his otherwise indifferent face, the pain in his legs paling in comparison to his heartache.
The general on the city wall sneered and retorted loudly, "The Crown Prince openly coming here to snatch someone, does he intend to go to war with us?"
"What war? General, please do not slander this prince. I am merely here to save someone."
Hearing his shameless words, Ye Luan's heart felt as cold as ice shards. She retorted sternly, "What is the Crown Prince trying to achieve by provoking discord like this?"
She had risked her life to gamble on Xiao Chizhan changing, to prevent him from imprisoning and tormenting her. Was he determined to ruin everything?
One after another, they both wanted to imprison her. What sin had she committed?
"I traveled halfway across Mobei to find you, and now he has gotten there first. Are you not even allowing me to say a few words?"
Ye Luan angrily exclaimed, "What have I done to you? What do I owe you? If you want to fight Daliang, go fight them openly. What kind of hero uses women?"
"Heh, is that what you think?" Xie Beihan laughed. He licked his lips slightly, a hint of provocation in his sinister expression. "I said, I never use women. I want your person, and your heart."
As soon as he finished speaking, a white blur flashed by with extreme speed. Without a word, he swung his fist towards Xie Beihan.
In the midst of the pouring rain, one white and one purple figure engaged in a fierce, indistinguishable battle.
There was no strategy involved.
Li Qiongyu was infuriated. What was this nonsense?
"Guards, shoot down that bastard's head. He's tired of living."
"Young Master Li, the Northern Qi people opposite are eyeing the Prince covetously."
He feared that if arrows were shot, the Prince might also be attacked.
Before Li Qiongyu could say anything further, he saw Ye Luan snatch a horse, leap onto it, and charge out.
"Stop her, stop her!"
The army loomed, with black masses of soldiers on both sides.
Before Ye Luan could escape, she was intercepted.
She immediately pulled out a saber and held it to her own heart, turning her horse to look back at the two figures who had separated.
"Let me go!"
Xiao Chizhan watched her determinedly trying to leave with a cold gaze. The suppressed ferocity within him could no longer be contained, and the pain in his leg was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.
"I've already agreed to your terms. You can do whatever you want from now on. Why do you still want to leave?"
Ye Luan was tired of being fought over by these two madmen.
She didn't want to see them.
She scrutinized Xiao Chizhan's expression and then spoke loudly, "The moment the Prince kills Xie Beihan, I will willingly stay."