Qi Yue turned around and saw a young general she didn't recognize standing not far away. He was dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard, and he had a friendly smile, but his eyes made Qi Yue feel uneasy.

"Just getting some fresh air, I'll head back now," Qi Yue replied cautiously, instinctively taking a step back.

The general stepped forward and said, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? I have long admired Miss Qi's name. It is truly fate that we meet today."

Qi Yue's alarm bells rang loudly. She turned to run away, but saw two other people emerge from behind the tree, blocking her escape route.

"Who are you people?" She tried to remain calm, her hand secretly reaching for the dagger hidden in her sleeve—a gift from her sister, Qi Mingyue.

“Miss Qi, there’s no need to be afraid,” the leading general said with a smile. “We just wish to invite you to stay for a few days.”

Just as one of them reached out to grab her, Qi Yue suddenly drew her dagger and stabbed him. Caught off guard, the man's arm was slashed and drew blood.

"You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!" the injured man roared, and the three men pounced on him at the same time.

Qi Yue cried for help and resisted, but she was outnumbered and quickly subdued. Just as she was in despair, an arrow pierced the air and struck the throat of the person holding her down.

Xin Suiyun leaped out of the forest like a ghost; with a flash of sword light, the other two fell to the ground. He helped Qi Yue up and quickly checked her for injuries: "Are you alright?"

Qi Yue shook her head, still shaken: "How did you find me?"

“I’ve been protecting you in secret,” Xin Suiyun replied briefly, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. “This place is not safe to stay any longer. I’ll take you back to camp.”

However, it was too late. Dozens of men in black suddenly emerged from all directions and surrounded them. Ashina Lu stepped out from the crowd, clapped his hands, and laughed, "What a heroic rescue! It's truly touching."

Xin Suiyun shielded Qi Yue behind him and said coldly, "Ashina Lu, your target is me, it has nothing to do with her."

“Wrong,” Ashina Lu slowly toyed with the dagger in his hand. “My target has always been Miss Qi. Capturing her will not only make Qi Huaihe submit, but will also make you wish you were dead.”

Before he could finish speaking, the men in black swarmed forward. Xin Suiyun drew his sword to meet them, his swordsmanship fierce, each move aimed straight for vital points. Qi Yue gripped her dagger tightly, leaning against him, and repelled the enemies who attempted to attack from the side.

Amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades, the two coordinated perfectly, holding their own for a time. However, with the enemy outnumbering them and Xin Suiyun needing to protect Qi Yue as well, she gradually found herself overwhelmed.

"Don't worry about me, just go!" Qi Yue shouted anxiously when she saw blood seeping from the old wound on his shoulder.

Xin Suiyun deflected the blade aimed at her, her voice firm: "I will never abandon you again."

In the midst of the fierce battle, Xin Suiyun seized the opportunity and blew a sharp whistle. A moment later, a whistle echoed from the forest in response.

"Reinforcements will be here soon," he whispered to Qi Yue. "Hold on a little longer."

Seeing this, Ashina Lu's face darkened: "Let's finish this quickly!"

The battle intensified. Xin Suiyun sustained several wounds, but still fiercely protected Qi Yue. Just as they were about to give up, the Imperial Guard cavalry finally arrived, led by Xin Rui.

"Ashina Lu, you are surrounded!" Xin Rui shouted. "Lay down your weapons, or you may be left with a whole corpse!"

Ashina Lu grinned maliciously, "Even if I die, I'll take someone down with me!" He suddenly threw a dagger, aiming straight for Qi Yue's heart.

In a flash, Xin Suiyun whirled around and pulled Qi Yue into his arms. The dagger pierced deep into his back, and blood instantly stained his robes.

"Suiyun!" Qi Yue exclaimed in shock, supporting his staggering body.

Despite the excruciating pain, Xin Suiyun hurled his longsword, striking Ashina Lu squarely in the chest. The Northern Di prince stared wide-eyed, then collapsed to the ground, dead in disbelief.

With their leader dead, the remaining men in black were quickly subdued by the Imperial Guards. Xin Rui rushed over and, seeing Xin Suiyun's serious injuries, immediately ordered someone to summon the imperial physician.

"Hold on, Suiyun!" Qi Yue knelt on the ground, pressing her hand against his bleeding wound, tears blurring her vision.

Xin Suiyun weakly raised her hand and gently stroked her cheek: "Don't cry... I promised... I would protect you..."

“You’re not allowed to die,” Qi Yue choked out. “You haven’t kept your promise to stand openly by my side.”

A faint smile appeared on Xin Suiyun's pale face. She wanted to say something, but she fainted due to excessive blood loss.

The imperial physician arrived and immediately began emergency treatment. Qi Yue stood by his side, tightly holding his cold hand, her heart filled with fear and regret. If only she had been more careful, if only she hadn't left the camp alone…

After arranging the manpower, Xin Rui came over and gently comforted her: "Suiyun has a strong will to live, she will definitely pull through."

Qi Yue looked up through teary eyes: "He can't die, cousin, he can't..."

Xin Rui sighed, looking at the unconscious Xin Suiyun with a complicated expression: "He has sacrificed too much for you."

When Qi Huaihe and Xin Xiyao arrived at the scene, Xin Suiyun had already been carried to the imperial palace for treatment. Xin Xiyao nearly fainted upon seeing her daughter covered in blood.

"Yue'er, are you injured?" Qi Huaihe anxiously checked on his daughter's condition.

Qi Yue shook her head: "It's Sui Yun's blood... He took a knife for me..."

Upon hearing this, Xin Xiyao's face turned even paler. She looked in the direction where Xin Suiyun had been carried away, her eyes filled with pain and worry.

Inside a side hall of the imperial palace, the imperial physicians did their utmost to treat Xin Suiyun. Qi Yue, disregarding her parents' advice, insisted on staying outside. As night fell, the imperial physician finally came out to report: "The dagger has been removed, but it has pierced his lungs and internal organs. Whether he can survive the night depends on his fate."

Qi Yue was allowed to enter the ward. In the candlelight, Xin Suiyun was pale and breathing weakly. She gently took his hand and pressed it against her cheek.

“Please live,” she whispered. “I’ll do anything you ask if you live. If you don’t want me involved in your world, I can leave… as long as you live…”

A tear fell onto the back of Xin Suiyun's hand, and his fingers twitched slightly.

In the stillness of the night, Qi Yue rested on the edge of the bed. In her hazy state, she felt someone gently stroking her hair. Opening her eyes, she met Xin Suiyun's half-open eyes.

"You're awake!" Overjoyed, she hurriedly summoned the imperial physician.

Xin Suiyun shook her head weakly and said in an almost inaudible voice, "Don't... disturb others..."

Qi Yue understood and leaned closer to listen to him speak.

"Although Ashina Lu is dead... the Northern Di still have a backup plan..." he said haltingly. "You must be careful... if anything happens to me... go to the Crown Prince... he will protect you..."

Qi Yue burst into tears: "Don't say anything unlucky, you'll get better."

Xin Suiyun raised her hand with difficulty to wipe away her tears: "That day you said... you were willing to accept my world... does that still count?"

"It counts, it always counts." Qi Yue held his hand tightly.

Xin Suiyun gave a relieved smile before falling into unconsciousness again. Qi Yue stayed by his side, her heart filled with both sweetness and sorrow. At this moment, she made up her mind that no matter how difficult the road ahead, she would never back down again.

Outside the window, the autumn wind howled, foreshadowing an even greater storm to come.

Inside the room, one struggles on the brink of life and death, while the other wavers between love and responsibility. How their fates will intertwine remains to be seen.