A moment ago.

"Your Highness, it seems these barbarians are determined to fight to the death. If you want to leave, you must kill the barbarians who have chased you in. Only then can you leave Cangwu Mountain safely."

In the bamboo forest, Xiao Yiming spoke to Prince Qing.

Prince Qing looked dejected. He glanced at the soldiers who had followed him, then shook his head at Xiao Yiming and said, "The barbarian soldiers have wolves. This Cangwu Mountain is not a good place. We have no choice but to come here. It will be extremely difficult to kill the pursuers."

Xiao Yiming said in a deep voice, "No, the barbarians also suffered heavy casualties in the battle just now, and their reinforcements have not yet arrived. Now that they insist on chasing us in, we will definitely be able to take care of them!"

"But this will take time, Your Highness, you may go ahead."

"We'll deal with the pursuers as soon as possible, then escort the prince away."

Xiao Yiming's words did not reassure Prince Qing. On the contrary, he now felt that it would be an impossible task to deal with the pursuers with such a small number of people.

He couldn't even understand why Xiao Yiming could speak with such certainty.

Perhaps it's because he's in his prime, full of ambition, and never gives up easily under any circumstances, which is quite similar to his past self.

But time is a cruel mistress, and now I am in my twilight years...

At this moment, Xiao Yiming spoke up again: "Your Highness, I cannot take you with me now. I must join the battle to deal with the pursuers. I will have them take you with me."

"The rest of you, come with me to deal with the pursuers." Xiao Yiming gave two soldiers a wink, and the two immediately went to Prince Qing's side.

With so few people to begin with, and now two more have been separated, Prince Qing felt it would be extremely difficult just thinking about the battle they would have to fight with the pursuers. Under these circumstances, could they really defeat the pursuers and return?

But seeing Xiao Yiming's solemn expression, he didn't know what to say.

If it were someone else who said these words, Prince Qing would even think that he had already betrayed him, that this was an excuse to separate them so that he could escape.

But it was Xiao Yiming who said this.

This man, who had followed him since he was ten, had done so much for him over the past thirty years. He was like his shadow, always by his side. Before he was removed from his armor, he never let the enemy get close to him on the battlefield. With his sword, he had killed countless enemies that he wanted to kill.

Thus, after removing his armor, he felt at ease letting Xiao Yiming follow behind his second son. After that, he was just as efficient in his work. Hundreds of thousands of people died at Yanluo Mountain, but he was able to escape with his son and save his own life.

At the time, it didn't feel too bad, but looking back now, it was truly a harrowing experience.

After all—no one has ever survived a battle with the rebels.

Now that all was lost and he had nothing left, this man was still loyally guarding his side. Prince Qing was filled with emotion at this moment.

at this time.

"Protect the prince well. We need to make arrangements to ambush the pursuers."

"Your Highness, be careful!" Xiao Yiming said in a deep voice. He said no more and turned to leave with his men.

They had only taken a few steps when Prince Qing's voice came from behind: "Wait a moment."

Prince Qing patted the shoulders of the two men beside him and said, "There are many pursuers. You two go too. I can manage on my own."

Xiao Yiming was taken aback, and quickly said, "No! Your Highness!"

"You should have someone with you. Actually, I should have been the one to take you away, but without me, we might not be able to deal with the pursuers. Your Highness, are you worried about...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Prince Qing waved his hand, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his slightly pale face:

"I'm not worried about anything else."

"I just want to say that I am old, but I have fought for decades and walked through fire and water. Now I can walk this dark road alone."

"Am I someone who can't even kill a chicken?" He patted the ornately decorated sword at his waist and said to Xiao Yiming.

Xiao Yiming's expression froze for a moment, then he said, "No, Your Highness is just as you were back then!"

Upon hearing the phrase "just like back then," Prince Qing felt as if he had been pricked by a needle. If it were truly like back then, he should have already drawn his sword to kill the enemy. But tonight, he was constantly fleeing in a sorry state, and he was nowhere to be seen in his former glory.

But he knew that Xiao Yiming wasn't mocking him.

Prince Qing nodded and said calmly, "It's good that you know."

"Go ahead, there are many pursuers. If you all go together, you might be able to take them down."

"If you can resolve this, then come back to me..." The last part of the sentence was spoken weakly by Prince Qing, because he knew it was as difficult as climbing to the sky. These people would either all die, or only Xiao Yiming would be left. The most likely scenario was that none of them would ever come back.

But there's not much to say. The victor is king, the loser is villain—this is an age-old truth that has never changed.

"Go." After giving them a deep look, Prince Qing walked alone into the depths of the bamboo forest.

"Your Highness."

Xiao Yiming suddenly spoke up, and Prince Qing stopped in his tracks, turning to look at him: "What's wrong?"

"I first met the prince thirty years ago. He was so dashing and handsome that I still remember him vividly to this day."

"Though times have changed, Your Highness remains Your Highness." Xiao Yiming said respectfully, cupping his fists to Prince Qing.

Prince Qing's body stiffened.

Then, he raised his hand to brush away a strand of white hair that had fallen across his forehead and nodded slightly to Xiao Yiming.

Then he walked forward without saying a word.

Xiao Yiming's gaze lingered on his retreating figure for a couple of moments before he turned around:

"Let's go, kill those pursuers."

He expressionlessly pushed aside the bamboo branches hanging in front of him and leaped out.

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