Gu Zhixing sneered, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, but with a hint of mockery and helplessness.

He ripped open his collar violently, revealing a gruesome wound on his shoulder.

The wound was rolled back, and blood was still seeping out slightly, dripping down his arm and staining the hem of his clothes red.

He lowered his head slightly, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination: "I am seriously injured right now, anyone could kill me, what tricks can I possibly play?"

The young master's gaze swept back and forth between Gu Zhixing and Shen Jintang, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Everyone in Kyoto knows that Gu Zhixing is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, who would risk his life for a woman. It is not surprising that he is now willing to give his life for the one he loves.

His gaze gradually became complicated, but in his heart he already believed seven or eight parts of what Gu Zhixing said.

Gu Zhixing naturally noticed the young master's expression, so he pressed on while the iron was hot and said, "I, Gu Zhixing, always keep my word."

He looked directly at the young master, his tone firm and powerful, and said, "I swear on my life today that if Shen Jintang's life is safe, I will guarantee that you will leave Qingyakou safely."

Gu Zhixing said this, but his hands behind his back were making subtle movements.

His fingers moved nimbly, making a series of concealed gestures towards the depths of the forest.

There, his personal guard was hidden, a group of well-trained and absolutely loyal elites.

They are like shadows hidden in the darkness, ready to strike at any moment.

How could Gu Zhixing allow himself to fall into a completely passive situation?

How could he possibly place his life, and Shen Jintang's life, on the kindness of a bandit?

Gu Zhixing was not the kind of person who easily trusted others, much less would he entrust his fate to someone else.

"Young Master, what do you think?" Gu Zhixing spoke again, his tone as relaxed as if he were just having a casual chat.

His eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile played on his lips.

He promised to ensure the young master's safe departure from Qingyakou, but this was only Qingyakou.

As for what will happen after he leaves, that's beyond Gu Zhixing's control.

"this……"

The young master's fleshy face twitched slightly, like leaves swaying in the wind, indicating some unease.

He licked his lips, about to agree, when suddenly, a series of rhythmic hoofbeats came from down the mountain, shaking the earth like thunder.

The torchlight snaked upwards like a long serpent, and the leader, wearing a golden crown and a python robe, was particularly dazzling in the firelight, like Yama, the King of Hell, who had emerged from hell, majestic and arrogant.

"Gu Zhixing!" The Crown Prince's voice pierced the night, carrying a hint of authority and anger, like thunder from the heavens, making everyone's eardrums ache. "Who gave you permission to act on your own?"

Crown Prince?

Gu Zhixing recognized the voice as belonging to the Crown Prince and inwardly cried out in alarm.

The Crown Prince's actions are likely to cause trouble.

Sure enough, the Crown Prince's next words were: "Guards, leave no one alive among the bandits at Qingya Pass! Execute them all!"

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, the young master's smugness froze instantly, as if it had been frozen by frost.

He stumbled back a few steps, his ordinary face contorted in horror and rage.

The young master's voice echoed in the night sky, rough yet sharp with a crack: "You're playing me?!"

He suddenly grabbed Shen Jintang's hair, his movements rough and urgent, and pressed the gleaming blade against her slender neck.

Shen Jintang's body trembled slightly, her eyelashes blinked rapidly in the firelight, but she clenched her teeth and did not make a sound.

Blood seeped from her neck, meandering down the blade, appearing particularly glaring in the firelight, like a blood-red flower blooming in the night, chilling to the bone.

"Stop!" Gu Zhixing's pupils suddenly contracted as he shouted.

His gaze was fixed on Shen Jintang, and his heart nearly stopped beating at the sight.

He clenched his fists tightly, the knuckles turning a cold, bluish-white.

The stinging pain seemed to be the only thing that could bring him back to his senses and allow him to calm down and think of a solution.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves grew louder and louder in my ears...

“Young Master,” Gu Zhixing’s voice suddenly rose, like a sharp blade slicing through the silence of the night, each word resounding, “Do not act impulsively.”

The young master sneered, and the blade sank another half inch into Shen Jintang's flesh.

Blood beads rolled down the blade, dripping onto her plain white clothes, spreading a glaring red.

Shen Jintang's body trembled slightly, but she gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound, only a trace of pain flashed in her eyes.

Seeing this, Gu Zhixing's hands behind his back trembled slightly, but he still explained, "I have been here the whole time. As for the Crown Prince leading troops up the mountain, I was completely unaware of it."

"Bullshit!" the young master spat, spittle flying everywhere. "You officials are all more treacherous than the last!"

He sneered, "Who knows if this was all planned in advance, just waiting to set a trap for me!"

Gu Zhixing frowned, but his gaze remained fixed on the kidnapper's hand, afraid that if he used even a little more force, he might hurt Shen Jintang.

But he knew that rushing things wouldn't solve anything, so he forced himself to calm down.

"Young Master, don't be hasty, let me finish speaking." Gu Zhixing looked at the young master and said, "You must have heard of my reputation. I'm a ruthless person. If I want to do something, no one in the world can stop me. If I want to protect you, even the emperor would have to give me face."

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