Chapter 66 Goodbye, Shengjing

Xue Lanyi struggled to get up and try to escape, but a large hand firmly grasped her ankle and pulled her to the edge of the haystack.

Xiao Cheng's enormous shadow loomed over her, his undone clothes revealing bulging muscles; his two strong arms alone were enough to tear Xue Lanyi in two.

A deep fear arose from her heart, and Xue Lanyi's weak legs kept kicking Xiao Cheng's abdomen.

With a single rip of his bear paw, Xiao Cheng tore Xue Lanyi's outer garment, revealing her slender neck beneath the red wedding dress.

The dense hickeys on his skin were particularly striking against his fair complexion.

Xiao Cheng's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and he swung his hand down hard.

Snap!

This time, the blow struck Xue Lanyi squarely in the cheek, causing her slender profile to swell instantly, and a bruise appeared at the corner of her mouth, with traces of blood flowing out.

Xue Lanyi felt no pain at all; her head was buzzing and her vision was blurry.

"This morning, you acted all coy and seductive in front of Wei Zhang like this, trying to seduce him?"

Xiao Cheng grabbed Xue Lanyi by the neck, his fingertips pressing against the scattered hickeys.

"What a pure and innocent Princess Zhaoyang! She's nothing but a restless hussy!"

Xue Lanyi was suffocating, her legs kicking incessantly as if she were sinking into a swamp.

If she sinks any further, she will truly die without a burial place.

Xue Lanyi laboriously reached for Xiao Cheng's palm with both hands and pried open his thumb and forefinger.

Unable to break it open, they could only catch their breath.

Her chest heaved as she stammered, "Duke Wei is strong, healthy, and exceptionally handsome. I have been his wife for several years, so it's only natural that we would have some feelings for each other, isn't it?"

"You bitch!"

Xiao Cheng heard the harsh words and became increasingly angry, tightening his grip on his hands and fingers.

For a moment, Xue Lanyi's soul seemed to leave her body; she raised her neck and collapsed onto the couch.

As the body neared death, a faint pink hue emanated from it, along with a subtle fragrance.

However, the sight of the beautiful woman lying on the couch, scarred and battered, was an even more exquisite scene for Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng's anger surged to his lower abdomen, "If you think about men like this, I'll let you think about them to your heart's content today, until you're completely aroused!"

Xiao Cheng stood still, focusing his energy in his dantian and exerting force several times, his temples bulging with veins, but it seemed to have no effect.

He decisively pulled a handful of medicine from the porcelain bottle at his waist and swallowed it.

At this moment, the medicine on Xue Lanyi's body began to take effect, her breathing became rapid, and the way she bit her lip and breathed showed an urgent longing for something.

Xiao Cheng clearly saw a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but her lower abdomen remained still. So he simply poured the entire bottle of medicine into his mouth, pressed down on the knees of the beauty in front of him, and took a step closer.

Just then, he suddenly stood up, his excitement surging as he was about to tear off Xue Lanyi's skirt, when he was lightly tapped on the back.

"who?"

Xiao Cheng turned his head, baring his teeth and glaring, only to find that his concubine had thrown a rock at him with both hands.

After smashing it, he shrank back in fear, retreating repeatedly.

Xiao Cheng was unharmed, but his mood was ruined. His eyes flashed with murderous intent. He drew his curved sword and slashed at the concubine's face without hesitation.

"You bitch! You want to die?"

A flash of silver light appeared, heading straight for the concubine's face.

Just as it was about to slice her face in two, the cold light shifted its angle and slashed straight past her ear.

Pebbles fell from the stone wall with a soft rustling sound.

At the same time, Xiao Cheng was hit hard on the back of the head again.

This strike had a completely different force than the previous one.

Steady, accurate, and ruthless.

Blood trickled out from the back of his head.

Xiao Cheng turned around hesitantly. Xue Lanyi was holding a huge rock high, the rock covered in blood.

"cheap……"

Snap!

Xue Lanyi slammed the stone down again, hitting Xiao Cheng squarely in the face.

Blood splattered everywhere, and Xiao Cheng collapsed to the ground.

Xue Lanyi stood on the haystack, looking down at the burly man, and said, word by word, "You're the one who's a slut."

Having finished speaking, he had exhausted all his strength and collapsed.

The concubine quickly stepped forward and supported Xue Lanyi's arm, "I... let's go."

"You bitch, how dare you... how dare you..." Xiao Cheng, with his face covered in blood and gore, tried to stand up, but his body was stiff, and all his strength was concentrated in one place.

He vaguely realized something, and his scarred eyes glared at the concubine through the blood trickling down his forehead.

The concubine lowered her head and instinctively hid behind Xue Lanyi.

Yes, the medicine Xiao Cheng used to strengthen his body was the one that Xue Lanyi had Su Yin prepare for the concubine a few days ago.

She had seen many secret medicines used by men in the brothel before, and she also knew that people like Xiao Cheng would crave something more the more they lost it.

Once he tastes the benefits of this medicine, he will take it every day and become addicted.

It should be known that forcibly stimulating one's vital energy when one's fundamental health is damaged will harm both mind and body, especially since Xiao Cheng was forced to take a whole bottle of medicine today.

At this moment, all his vital energy had flowed to his lower abdomen, so he no longer had the strength to grab them.

But such punishment is far from enough for someone like Xiao Cheng.

Xue Lanyi sat on the haystack to catch her breath, took the concubine's hand, and looked at the blood-stained stone on the ground. "I am weak. I trouble you... I trouble you, concubine... do not give him a way to live."

"ah?"

The concubine was so frightened that her face turned pale and she shook her head repeatedly.

Murder?

She didn't dare.

She wouldn't dare.

Xue Lanyi realized that she was making unreasonable demands. The concubine was just a woman who had been persecuted and was powerless. How could she be forced to do such a thing?

She took a deep breath, forced herself to stand up despite the effects of the drug, and with unsteady steps, picked up the stone and walked towards Xiao Cheng.

The last time Xiao Cheng tried to take advantage of Xue Lanyi but failed, so after returning to the country he intensified his persecution of other women.

If this were to happen again, Xue Lanyi's sins would be even more grave.

She remembered Wei Zhang's often-quoted phrase, "cut the weeds and eliminate the roots."

At this point, Wei Zhang's theory was indeed correct.

She approached step by step.

Perhaps it was because he had spent so much time with Wei Zhang that he had also picked up a strong and authoritative aura about him.

At this moment, Xiao Cheng's strength was all concentrated in one place, and he couldn't get up, so he kept retreating.

"Xue Lanyi, have you gone mad? I am the Crown Prince of Western Qi! Anyone who plots to harm a prince deserves the extermination of their entire family..."

"A murderer must pay with his life. Don't you want to live?"

"Li Zhaoyang, I... I won't do it again, I will never provoke you again..."

Xiao Cheng's momentum was growing weaker and weaker.

Xue Lanyi's expression grew increasingly resolute.

The slender figure blocked the fiercest Flying Tiger General of Western Qi against the stone wall.

From beginning to end, there was not the slightest hesitation.

She would never let him hurt any other woman again!

All his strength was gathered in his palm, and he slammed the stone down on the straightest part of the rock.

"ah!"

A heart-wrenching scream came from the cave, along with the sound of something breaking.

She felt extremely happy.

After letting out a howl, Xiao Cheng's blood stained his genitals, pooling into a pool of blood, and he fainted.

There was no breath left.

Xue Lanyi belatedly realized that she had killed someone.

A life was lost in her hands.

Out of fear, he staggered half a step.

The concubine supported Xue Lanyi's waist, not daring to look at the person who had been smashed to pieces by the stone, and only took out a handkerchief to wipe Xue Lanyi's face.

Xue Lanyi herself couldn't see that the blood on her face was no less than that on Xiao Cheng's face, dripping down her chin and staining her collar crimson.

The concubine's hands trembled violently as she applied the ointment.

Xue Lanyi only came to her senses after touching her cold fingertips, and then grasped her hand in return, saying, "Don't panic, let's go!"

A hundred paces outside the cave, Xiao Cheng's guards were stationed, and they would likely notice something amiss soon.

Xue Lanyi had no time to waste and pulled the concubine down the mountain.

Fortunately, Xiao Cheng led her to the cave she had visited before. Xue Lanyi knew the way and how to escape, so her steps were exceptionally steady.

Instead, the concubine who was being pulled along felt weak in the legs and staggered, unable to keep up.

Xue Lanyi pulled her along, parting branches to scout the way while comforting her.

"Don't worry, I killed Xiao Cheng by myself. Even if someone investigates in the future, I will never implicate you, young lady."

"Also, I checked the route in advance. After we pass Sishui Pass, you can head west along the river and return to Maple Leaf Village in five or six days, where you can be back with your family."

Maple Leaf Village is the hometown of Consort Xiao.

Consort Xiao paused, "You..."

Xue Lanyi turned around and smiled at her, "Don't worry, once you get through this part, the road ahead will be smooth sailing, okay?"

Xue Lanyi still had bruises on the corners of her mouth from Xiao Cheng's beating, but her smile was both gentle and firm.

As you smile, a ray of sunlight pierces through the dark clouds ahead.

A gentle halo enveloped her, radiating hope.

Consort Xiao finally smiled, the heavy makeup on her face peeling away to reveal her most innocent and simple appearance.

The two held hands and headed down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, Granny Liu waved excitedly when she saw the girl return.

Earlier, Xue Lanyi had discussed the escape route with Granny Liu and told her to wait at this fork in the road.

The girl also said, "If it's dawn and I haven't come down the mountain yet, Grandma, you should leave on your own."

Granny Liu waited anxiously all night, but thankfully, her wish came true.

Overwhelmed with excitement, she didn't know what to say first. She pointed to the two horses behind her and said, "Look, young lady, these are the horses I stole from the stable. I specially picked out the most handsome ones for you."

Grandma Liu secretly wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.

Xue Lanyi also felt a sense of relief, and laughed, "I never thought that my mother-in-law would be such a discerning judge of horses."

"What's with all this talk about talent scouts?" Granny Liu waved her hand dismissively. "I've raised donkeys and cows before, they're all four-legged animals, pretty much the same, but..."

Grandma Liu looked troubled; leading the horse was fine for her, but riding it was difficult for her.

The mother-in-law glanced awkwardly at the girl behind Xue Lanyi, "Consort, can you ride a horse?"

Consort Xiao shook her head.

The concubine was just a woman from an ordinary farming family; how could she possibly be involved in horseback riding?

This is a problem.

There were two horses and three people, but only Xue Lanyi knew how to ride them.

As dawn broke, Xiao Cheng's men had probably already discovered their prince's body.

There is no time to waste.

"It's alright, I'm very good at horsemanship, second only to Shengjing." Xue Lanyi tied the reins of one horse to the saddle of another.

At this moment, only Xue Lanyi, along with Granny Liu, led Consort Xiao away on a horse that she was riding on.

Xue Lanyi used to ride horses with Wei Xuan when she was young, so her horsemanship was not bad, but it was not particularly advanced either.

It's actually quite difficult to manage two people at once, especially in a misty forest.

The horse kept slipping and sliding.

Grandma Liu sat behind Xue Lanyi, the ride was so bumpy, it was even worse than riding a donkey.

"Is the young lady truly an excellent horsewoman, second only to Shengjing?" Granny Liu asked suspiciously, perched on her shoulder.

"Of course, of course." Xue Lanyi straightened her back proudly, glancing at the silent concubine behind her.

If it weren't for the concubine's cooperation, she would have surely been killed by Xiao Cheng.

The concubine was her benefactor, and she couldn't let the concubine feel superfluous or a burden.

Xue Lanyi stiffened her neck and said in a seemingly relaxed manner, "After we get out of the deep mountains, I'll perform a leap across the Yellow River for you!"

"Young lady, you mustn't joke with this old woman's life! I don't know if the horse can fly there, but I'm afraid my soul will be sent to the Western Paradise by you."

Seeing that the young lady was full of energy today, Granny Liu unconsciously softened her voice.

Despite being on the run, the atmosphere in the dense forest was unusually lively.

Xue Lanyi had hoped to make the concubine happier.

However, the concubine remained absent-minded, not uttering a single word or even showing a smile.

Xue Lanyi had no other choice, and she was also tired, so she stopped talking.

The horse's hooves clattered as it moved forward.

No one saw a stream of blood flowing down the horse's back.

A light drizzle falls, winding its way along the road...

The horse traveled a distance along the valley between the two mountains.

Suddenly, a long gust of wind swept in, and billowing sand and dust rushed towards Xue Lanyi and the other two.

Xue Lanyi quickly covered her eyes with her hand, and when she opened them again, she saw a group of men in black riding horses at full speed a hundred paces away, rushing towards them.

"Aunt Xue!"

"Is that Aunt Xue ahead?"

The approaching group was vast and imposing, like dark clouds blocking the road ahead. Xue Lanyi recognized the voice; it sounded very familiar…

Shadow Seven!

How did he end up here?

Xue Lanyi's face turned deathly pale.

He was Wei Zhang's closest confidant, and his presence here must mean that Wei Zhang had issued some death order.

Xue Lanyi recalled the nonsensical words Wei Zhang had said before he left.

He said he would tell Xue Lanyi who she was in three days.

Clearly, Wei Zhang never truly intended to let her go from that point on.

He wants to take her back!

This thought immediately shrouded his heart, which had just seen the light at the end of the tunnel, in an even heavier cloud of gloom.

She doesn't want to go back!

Absolutely not!

Just thinking about Wei Zhang's eyes, which could devour anyone, made Xue Lanyi's heart pound, and her unsteady gaze swept around her surroundings.

On either side were towering cliffs reaching into the clouds, in front was Wei Zhang, and behind was Xiao Cheng.

Four insurmountable walls surrounded her, circling before her, with no way out in sight.

Without much hesitation, Xue Lanyi immediately turned her horse around and headed back in the direction where Xiao Cheng was.

For her, neither cliffs and abysses nor bluish wild beasts were as dangerous as Wei Zhang.

If she were to fall back into Wei Zhang's hands this time, she had a premonition that she would never be able to escape his clutches again.

Therefore, we might as well head towards Xiao Cheng's direction and take another gamble.

However, even Wei Zhang's guards were more swift than Xue Lanyi had imagined.

Their horsemanship improved, and Xue Lanyi, carrying two people, quickly closed the distance between them.

The rolling yellow sand kicked up by the horses' hooves looked like approaching ocean waves.

"Oh no, oh no, the girls have caught up!" Granny Liu had never seen anything like this before. She hugged Xue Lanyi tightly, muttering to herself.

Xue Lanyi's hands were trembling, and her hand holding the reins was becoming increasingly unsteady.

Hearing the sound of hooves approaching from behind, I gritted my teeth, turned the reins around, abandoned the winding mountain road, and went straight up the steep slope on the left.

The steep slope is covered with intertwined branches and vines, making it difficult for even a person to climb on their bare hands, let alone on horseback.

Fortunately, there was a string of old hoofprints on the steep slope.

Having paved the way before is always easier to travel.

However, the horse being pulled behind was not being guided and slid down several times, causing Xue Lanyi's horse to fall as well.

Shadow Seven's men had already reached the foot of the mountain, and they could faintly hear the sounds of searching the mountain.

Xue Lanyi was extremely anxious at this moment, but she couldn't show it. She gritted her teeth and took five steps, then slid two.

"Aunt Xue...Miss Xue, please put me down." A weak voice sounded from behind.

"Consort, don't give up on yourself. We finally escaped with great difficulty. Once we climb this slope, we'll go our separate ways. They won't make things difficult for you..."

Thud—

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden crashing sound came from behind.

Consort Xiao fell off her horse and rolled down the steep slope.

"Consort!" Xue Lanyi and the other woman quickly dismounted and chased after her.

The concubine was frail and was constantly scraped by the branches on both sides, rolling a long way before suddenly crashing into the trunk of an old tree.

A mouthful of blood gushed out.

Xue Lanyi stumbled after her, helping her up.

My hand touched something warm.

"Blood...blood!" Granny Liu cried out in alarm, her eyes widening as she pointed at the concubine's skirt.

The concubine was wearing a white dress, the hem of which was already soaked with blood.

Bloodstains were everywhere on the road where the body rolled.

Even the damp air around them faintly smelled of blood.

How much blood can flow in a person's body?

Xue Lanyi had a bad feeling. She lifted the concubine's skirt and saw a menstrual belt stuffed with cotton fall off her body, covered in blood.

It was bulging and heavy.

The location of the injury is self-evident.

"Xiao Cheng did it?" The shocking scene brought tears to Xue Lanyi's eyes.

The concubine nodded weakly, then shook her head.

It doesn't matter anymore.

It doesn't matter anymore.

In fact, she was already beyond saving seven days earlier, on the day Xiao Cheng molested her at the Duke's mansion.

It was Su Yin who found her and asked for her help, which is why she has survived until now through sheer willpower.

Because she still had something to finish.