With a "snap".

Prince Qing collapsed to the ground, leaning against the bamboo, and looked up at the bright moon in the sky with his pale face.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes revealed an unconcealable weariness. His body was not exhausted, but his heart was ashen.

The sounds of fighting coming from the bamboo forest were clearly audible, and the faint neighing of horses could be heard from further away. He knew that the barbarian reinforcements must be on their way.

Can Xiao Yiming and his group really defeat the pursuers who have entered the forest? And can they return before the barbarian reinforcements arrive, and escape this mountain with him?

He shook his head, without any hope in his heart. He had reached a dead end. Not to mention that he could not get out of this mountain, even if he did get out, what would he do?

The sounds of fighting continued from the bamboo forest behind them, and they sounded very intense. Prince Qing knew that a fierce battle must be taking place there. Although Xiao Yiming was skilled in martial arts, people get tired, and in the endless fighting, probably no one would survive.

'I'll probably be caught, either killed on the spot or tied up and sent to the traitors to be humiliated before being killed,' he thought.

Thinking of this, Prince Qing looked down at the sword hanging at his waist. It was a precious sword, with various jade stones inlaid on its scabbard, and its gorgeous decorations were dazzling.

He silently stared at the sword for more than ten breaths.

With a "whoosh," he drew his sword.

The straight, slender blade gleamed with a golden light under the moonlight. Besides being precious, it was also a sturdy and sharp sword, forged by a master swordsmith of exceptional skill; it could sever a hair with a mere breath.

This is one of the two finest swords in the Prince's Palace, but like the other sword, Bishui, it has not been used for many years and has only served as an ornament. It was only when leaving Nanze that Prince Qing took it out of the sword storehouse and carried it with him.

Looking at the sword, Prince Qing reached out and gently stroked the blade, which immediately reflected his tired eyes.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh, but the next moment he held his sword to his throat.

A gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, ruffling her disheveled white hair; the touch of the sword blade was like the cool, gentle night.

He slowly closed his eyes.

'What are you still hesitating for? Kill yourself to avoid the humiliation,' a voice said.

'Suicide? You want to commit suicide?! You are Jin Weizun! Today you are being forced to commit suicide in this desolate wilderness?! Or are you being forced to death by a bunch of barbarians?!' Another voice rang out.

'What else can I do but kill myself? The country has changed, everything is over. Death is the end of everything. If I'm captured by the barbarians and handed over to the traitors, I'll inevitably suffer humiliation. Dying here is at least more dignified.'

"Haha! How laughable! You, Jin Weizun, want to regain your dignity by committing suicide? Don't you know that's the greatest shame! You spent the first half of your life fighting on the battlefield, invincible in every way; the second half you enjoyed worldly riches, a powerful prince second only to the emperor. Now you've fallen to a state of utter destitution, and you want to commit suicide? What difference is there between you and a wild dog that runs away with its tail between its legs after losing a fight for food?"

'If you won't commit suicide, then stand up and keep running. Flee your homeland, go to the Tu Yuan Kingdom, and see if you can one day fight your way back.'

"Haha! You think you can escape? You're delusional! You think you can use the Tu Yuan Kingdom to launch a major campaign? What were you doing for the first half of your life, Jin Weizun? Wasn't you just making a fool of yourself like a clown?! You've really gotten old and senile!"

'Whether I'm delirious or not doesn't matter anymore. The tide has turned, everything is over, and it's too late for regrets.'

'Regret? Regret what? Regret for taking action against the Qin family? Or regret for not eliminating them completely back then? Or perhaps regret for not becoming emperor?'

Prince Qing was speechless.

But that voice grew louder and louder in my heart.

'The empire is lost, unparalleled wealth and power are gone, daughters have turned against him, sons are dead—is he utterly destitute?'

'Not yet. There's one more thing that can never be taken away from you, unless you lose it or forget it.'

Suddenly, Prince Qing opened his eyes.

The cold glint of the blade flashed in his eyes, the straight and rigid blade as always, as good as new even though it hadn't been used for many years.

The two characters engraved on the blade are clearly visible: the sword's name is "Yizhi".

His throat felt like it was being choked, making it difficult to even breathe. He stared wide-eyed, his gaze seemingly fixed on a sword, yet also on something else entirely.

After a few breaths, Jin Weizun silently stood up.

With a flick of his left hand, he tossed aside the glittering scabbard, and with a clench of his right, he gripped the sword tightly.

"Traitors and villains! How dare you show off your bravery and ferocity before me, Jin Weizun!"

"Watch me kill!"

Suddenly a strong wind arose, the bamboo leaves rustled, like the sound of a reed pipe; the hard bamboo stalks, green and straight, resembled swords and spears piercing the sky.

The bright moon shines in the sky, and the ground is as white as frost.

Jin Weizun glared and gritted his teeth, then angrily drew his sword and charged back!

——

The excruciating pain in his chest made it difficult for Xiao Yiming to even breathe. He thought that perhaps two of his ribs were broken, but he had no time to care about his injuries at the moment. He had to kill the barbarian in front of him before he died.

At this point, killing even one more person would be beneficial, as it would allow the prince to go further.

With a "bang," the spiked club that was being swung was dodged, and several bamboos snapped in two under the blow. Xiao Yiming lunged forward and slashed at the scarred barbarian's chest, but before he could strike, a knife aimed at his neck was already close in front of him.

He had no choice but to bend down and lunge forward, letting the knife in his hand glide across the scarred barbarian's leg.

With a slicing sound, this light sweep cut off a piece of flesh. The scarred barbarian groaned, but did not cry out in pain, and still tried to raise his club to strike.

But he was almost out of strength. Just as he raised the club, his hand slipped, and the spiked club fell to the ground.

Yan Cheng, filled with anger and grief, had no choice but to rush forward and recklessly slash at Xiao Yiming. The enemy was no longer as agile as before, and he was already at his limit.

Seeing that the scarred barbarian general was leaning against the bamboo, panting heavily, Xiao Yiming knew that he was no longer able to fight. Therefore, he was now focusing all his efforts on dealing with Yan Cheng, but the vicious wolf was lurking around, ready to pounce at any moment.

Yan Cheng, unwilling to prolong the battle, had even stopped defending and was now recklessly attacking. His strikes became increasingly fierce, and Xiao Yiming could no longer afford to be distracted by the Wolf King.

Just then, the wolf king leaped out and pounced on Xiao Yiming's lower body!

Hearing the swift wind, Xiao Yiming knew he should dodge, but he could no longer extricate himself.

Just then, a sharpened bamboo stalk suddenly shot out from above and struck the wolf's head!

The wolf king fell to the ground with a "thud," rolled over once, and broke the bamboo stalk that was embedded in his flesh. Xiao Yiming didn't have time to turn around; he was still dealing with Yan Cheng's attack.

A burst of furious laughter followed immediately: "Good! Good indeed! Hahahaha!"

The panting, scarred barbarian, seemingly summoning strength from nowhere, slowly straightened up and even broke off a bamboo pole to use as a weapon. However, the sinister smile on his face startled Xiao Yiming, who vaguely realized something.