She really couldn't bear it.

However, no matter what Qin Susu said, she refused to put her down.

"At a time like this, what are you still trying to prove?"

Qin Susu tightened her grip on Qiu Yan's body again, looking at her bloodless face.

She truly protected Qiu Yan's body like an older sister.

All I could think about was getting her out of the mountains as soon as possible.

Qiu Yan felt dizzy, her abdominal pain lessened considerably, and her consciousness gradually became hazy.

She was so sleepy and wanted to go to sleep.

A strong will compels her not to close her eyes.

In a daze,

The troops in front suddenly flashed.

Qiu Yan felt a tightness in her chest as she thought of the army she had just seen.

"Sister Susu!"

Instantly, her confused expression dissipated, and she became much more alert.

When Qin Susu saw this, she realized that it was one of her own people who had arrived, and she breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Xiaoyan, I forgot to tell you, our army has won the battle, but they still can't find you..."

"Do you know what? Ling'er and Xiao Ran are going crazy..."

"Huyan Xun is finished; he has no chance of making a comeback."

"That beast will surely die today!"

Qin Susu kept talking, trying to put Qiu Yan at ease.

However, Qiu Yan shook her head.

"The mountains and forests are vast, and we don't know where Huyan Xun's 50,000 troops might be hiding."

"What?" Qin Susu's knees went weak.

She coldly watched the approaching army, who were hastily taking cover.

But it was too late.

The man on horseback had already fixed his gaze on the two of them.

Qin Susu panicked immediately.

Because the person on the horse's head was none other than... the Northern Desert General, Yuwen Xian!

Even though Qin Susu didn't recognize the clothes, she could tell just by looking at them and the military uniform.

The odds are against them!

"Oh, isn't this the 'Western Region Princess'? How come you look so disheveled?" Yuwen Xian looked down at Qiu Yan with a mocking expression.

Qiu Yan lowered her eyes, refusing to look at him or reply.

His entire body had already followed Qin Susu's footsteps, moving further and further away.

"Halt!" Huyan Xun's horse galloped forward, blocking Qin Susu's path.

"Since we've run into each other, then... leave your lives behind!"

Qin Susu was so frightened that her speech trembled slightly.

However, his entire body did not collapse.

Her hands were still supporting Qiu Yan's body.

Tears welled up in her eyes... Was she doomed?

Looking at Qiu Yan again,

His eyes held a deathly stillness, a sense of farewell.

Because Yuwen Xian's curved blade was already slashing towards her neck.

Similarly, Yuwen Xian also hated Qiu Yan.

He felt that the phrase "beauty is a curse" perfectly described her.

"No..." Qin Susu shook her head forcefully.

Looking at Qiu Yan again, she had already grasped Yuwen Xian's blade with her bare hands, and blood was seeping from her fingertips a second time.

Yuwen Xian's sword was blocked, and his face showed impatience.

Because his orders were to begin the battle immediately, he didn't want to prolong the conflict, so he forcefully drew his sword.

Qiu Yan's palms were a bloody mess, yet she still gripped the blade tightly.

Because she heard the distant sound of horses' hooves...

I also saw dust billowing in the distance.

"Xiao Yan, your hand..." Qin Susu tried to protect Qiu Yan, but Yuwen Xian kicked her hard.

He was kicked several feet away and crashed straight into... a warm chest.

So familiar, yet so strange.

Qiu Yan endured the pain, but not the fear.

As the figure silently descended to the side, a soft sword flashed out, severing Yuwen Xian's curved blade in two.

He hugged her tightly, holding her horizontally against his chest.

Looking again, Qiu Yan seemed to be in a dream.

She thought she was going to die.

The two had only been apart for a few days, but Qiu Yan felt as if an eternity had passed.

"Brother Qian... quickly save A-Xu... and Su-Su... Xiao-Ran and Ling-Er... they are outnumbered... the barbarians are numerous and powerful, and we cannot resist them..." Qiu Yan murmured, thinking she was hallucinating.

The close touch from her body told her that this was not an illusion.

Qin Susu looked up and was extremely surprised to see Liang Yuchen.

Before she could even ask, she said she was eager to know:

"Has General Gu returned...?"

However, she was met with endless silence and the warm touch on her face.

She looked into the distance again and saw Gu Qian holding Xiao Yan, engaging in a life-or-death struggle with Yuwen Xian.

Caught off guard by Gu Qian's sudden arrival, Yuwen Xian was so startled that his back was drenched in sweat.

The army...Dongjin only has five thousand men, right?

"Are you Gu Qian?"

He stepped back and asked,

But at that moment,

Gu Qian drew his sword, a whooshing sound followed.

Yuwen Xian was terrified and dodged backward.

His close associates all protected him.

However, at the very moment they gathered,

A huge bullet suddenly shot towards Yuwen Xian's chest.

Yuwen Xian covered his head and retreated.

But at the same time,

With a loud crash, Yuwen Xian,

Along with his closest confidants, they were instantly reduced to ashes.

They didn't even have time to utter a sound of alarm.

"They're dead, they're dead, Xiaoyan..." Qin Susu pushed Liang Yuchen away and ran towards Qiu Yan.

However, after running two steps, he saw Qiu Yan being tightly embraced by Gu Qian.

She stopped in her tracks, and her body went limp, causing her to unconsciously sit down on the ground. Once again, Liang Yuchen helped her up.

"Why did you come back?" Qin Susu asked, puzzled, but all she received in response was endless silence.

Qin Susu simply stopped asking questions and stood alone, watching the battle intently.

Beside him, Liang Yuchen's gaze darted back and forth over Qin Susu, his mind racing.

Even if I offer you a shoulder to lean on, you won't.

"Mother!" He Jinran put away the bullet and walked towards his parents. Instantly, his eyes blurred with tears.

"Father, it's my fault for not protecting Mother."

"It's not your fault!" Gu Qian shook his head, holding Qiu Yan tightly, and gave a firm order.

"attack!"

Looking at Yan Yan's body covered in whip marks and her bloodied palms, Gu Qian couldn't suppress his anger, his eyes turning bloodshot with rage.

The Dongjin army's cavalry charged forward with unstoppable momentum.

Beside him, Ling Yun and Ling Zhi stood, their blades flashing.

Five thousand soldiers fought against Yuwen Xian's thirty thousand troops.

Although fewer than more,

However, when facing Gu Qian,

The northern barbarians, leaderless, were in complete panic.

They started running around like headless flies...

In the mountains and forests, amidst fierce battles and the screams of the northern barbarians...

...

Gu Qian carried Qiu Yan in his arms, his grief-stricken eyes filled with a determination to fight to the death.

He urgently called out to Ling Yun and Ling Zhi behind him.

"Protect Lord Liang and his wife, and cover their escape!"

Then, embracing Qiu Yan, he mounted his horse.

"Yan Yan, hold on!" Gu Qian was so nervous that he couldn't hear his own voice.

"You'll be alright."

Ling Yun and Ling Zhi nodded in succession, and together with Liang Yuchen and Qin Susu, they followed behind Gu Qian.

"Father." Realizing he had been abandoned, He Jinran rode after them.

He felt that his father must be angry with him.

Gu Qian was actually angry with himself.

He was angry with himself for leaving Shangjin when Yan Yan needed him the most.

Huyan Xun, don't even think about leaving alive today.

Anything that makes his death easy is his fault.

Gu Qian hates Huyan Xun and is determined to kill him today.