Chapter 199 A Mysterious Color: Let's Go Together

Cui Jin waved his hand, "Archers, prepare to use flint arrows."

"Yes." The leader glanced at his own men on the execution ground. "Should our men step back?"

Seeing that Cui Jin did not respond, the leader understood. With a slight raise of his hand, dozens of archers were already in formation, waiting for Cui Jin's order to unleash a volley of arrows, destroying everything in their path.

“Avoid…that person.” Cui Jin pointed to the black-clad swordsman who was locked in combat with Lou Cangyu.

"Him?" The Eagle Guard leader followed Cui Jin's gesture and looked over. Upon seeing the face, his body tensed abruptly, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "Your Highness, how could he be at the execution ground?"

Cui Jin revealed a sinister look that no one could detect. “The Crown Prince was misled by treacherous people, which is why he did something foolish. But he is the Emperor’s most beloved son and the future heir apparent of Jin. This mistake is not irreversible. You understand what I mean.”

The leader, fully aware of the situation, nodded emphatically and said, "Thanks to the Imperial Advisor's reminder, we would have been truly unforgivable if His Highness had been accidentally injured."

“Except for His Highness the Crown Prince,” Cui Jin clenched his fist, “not a single one will be spared.”

—Leave no one alive.

Fire arrows?! Seeing the archers on the platform arrayed in formation with fire arrows and crossbows, Guan Ye inwardly cried out in alarm. Fire arrows, once fired, would incinerate everything. It seemed Cui Jin had no intention of leaving any survivors. With Cui Jin's sharp single eye, how could he not see that Crown Prince Chen Bi was also on the execution ground? Did he intend to eliminate even Mu Chen Bi?

Guan Ye didn't have time to think. She rushed forward and shouted towards the execution ground, "Watch out for the flint arrows! They're going to blow up the execution ground!"

Ajiu and Mu Chenbi both looked in the direction of the shout. In that instant of distraction, Lou Cangyu used his sword to deflect the two dimples in Ajiu's hand, then dodged Xiao Ma's follow-up attack, his sword flashing straight towards Mu Chenbi's throat.

"Mu Chenbi, watch out!" Guan Ye shouted hoarsely. Seeing the blade flash like lightning, Mu Chenbi had nowhere to dodge.

Mu Chenbi turned around upon hearing the sound. The sword blade was only inches away from him. Seeing that he could not dodge it, he bent his knees, closed his eyes, and met the sword head-on. With a slashing sound, blood splattered and spread across Lou Cangyu's gleaming blade.

Mu Chenbi covered his left eye, which had been slashed by the sword, and glared angrily at Cui Jin on the stage. Cui Jin stood up and saw that Lou Cangyu had failed. His single eye was filled with sinister energy. Cui Jin raised his hand again, and the flint arrow was already on the bowstring. Only Cui Jin could give the order.

“Guan Ye is here too.” Cui Jin also saw Guan Ye under the execution ground. “Good thing she came. She was afraid others wouldn’t be able to find her.” Cui Jin tilted his head and whispered to the Eagle Guard leader, “Did you see that girl? You must not let her go.”

Xiao Ma caught sight of the flint archers on the high platform, glanced at Ajiu, and said, "Don't linger in battle, let's go."

Ajiu nodded, but the Golden Armored Eagle Guards were like weeds that could never be cut down. No matter how many were cut down, many more would sprout up. Looking back at Mu Chenbi, whose wounds were still bleeding, Ajiu knew that everyone was about to give up.

"Release..." The leader had barely uttered the word "release" when several explosions suddenly rang in his ears. Puffs of white smoke rose from the execution ground, mingled with large clusters of sparks. The sounds of swords clashing became chaotic and frantic. "Grand Preceptor...this..."

Saltpeter? It's a tinderbox mixed with saltpeter and sulfur... Guan Ye took a deep sniff of the spreading smell and saw white smoke billowing on the execution ground, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe. Guan Ye knew that someone had helped everyone again.

"Let's go!" Ajiu shouted, raising her arm. "Let's go."

Xiao Ma hoisted Ji Fang onto his shoulder, and A Jiu put her arm around Feng Shisan's arm. Just as they were about to jump off the execution ground, they suddenly remembered something and turned to Mu Chenbi, saying, "Aren't you leaving yet?"

Blood seeped from between Mu Chenbi's fingers. Go? Should he... go with them...?

Ajiu said fiercely, "You're injured, and now's not the time to go back to the palace. If you go back like this, you'll just give Cui Jin an excuse to talk. The Emperor is suspicious, and he will never let you off the hook. Why aren't you leaving?"

Only… Mu Chenbi heard a crisp sound—it was a flint arrow! Before the flint arrow could explode, the group had already jumped off the execution ground. Mu Chenbi didn’t have time to think and followed Ajiu down. Under the cover of the white smoke, they moved like nimble wild deer into the depths of Rongdu.

"Chase!" Lou Cangyu was nearly hysterical. "Chase!"

As the figure drew closer, Guan Ye was about to go to meet it when her wrist was suddenly grabbed, and a familiar voice came from beside her ear, "Come with me."

In the thick smoke, Wan Qixi's narrow eyes were barely visible, his gaze firm and brooking no argument from Guan Ye, his grip so strong that she couldn't break free. "Cui Jin has sent men to arrest you. Come with me first."

Guan Ye, as if possessed, chose to believe Wan Qixi. She had once been wary of this man from the Western Regions, only daring to believe half of what he said. Although he was the young master of Tianhu Fang, he had wandered for many years and tasted all the hardships of the world. Guan Ye was not sure if he still had the will to live. Until last time in the inner workshop, the flame in Wan Qixi's eyes made Guan Ye realize that he had never been willing to be a frivolous and crazy merchant from the Western Regions. He was Lu Xiaojun, the young master of the Lu family who had been lying in wait for many years to take revenge.

"Guan Ye..." Mu Chenbi called out to A Jiu, "Where is Guan Ye?"

Ajiu led the group through the thick smoke, saying, "Someone will take her away."

Someone will take her away? Mu Chenbi suddenly realized, "It's the person who helped us..."

“Guan Ye knows where to find us,” Feng Shisan said weakly. “Let’s go there first; there’s no safer place than there.”

"Say less," Xiao Ma said, feeling both pity and annoyance towards him. "Talking too much will kill you." Seeing Feng Shisan and Ji Fang walking slowly, and hearing the pursuers getting closer behind them, Xiao Ma's worry returned. "Ajiu, you two take them and go first. I'll cover the rear..."

Ah Jiu shook her head, "If we're going to leave, we'll leave together. No one can be left behind."

Suddenly, they heard the neighing of a horse, and the clatter of hooves grew louder as they approached. A carriage, its features indistinct, stopped about half a foot away from them. Before they could get a good look at the carriage, the curtain was lifted, revealing a petite figure who called out softly, "Here! Get in the carriage quickly!"

"This carriage is…" Ajiu and Mu Chenbi exchanged puzzled glances. "What are you still standing there for? Get on first." Seeing them standing there motionless, the small figure was so anxious that she wished she could jump down and pull them up.

"Let's go." Hearing that sweet voice he had longed for day and night, Xiao Ma's heart surged with emotion, and tears welled up in his eyes as soon as he opened his mouth. "Come with me."

At this critical moment of life and death, there was no time for hesitation. Ajiu strode forward, and Mu Chenbi helped carry Feng Shisan's heavy body, gathering all their strength to rush towards the life-saving carriage.

The sudden weight made the wheels creak and groan, and the horse neighed in dissatisfaction. Seeing everyone board, Qian Rong raised his whip high, lashed it, and galloped into the deep alleys of Rongdu…

Inside the carriage, Mei Shiyu looked at the group of people covered in blood with concern, "Are you all injured? Are you alright?"

"—Is it Young Master Mei?"

Mei Shiyu followed the sound and looked towards the blood-stained man in the corner. His wise eyes were filled with cold sweat. "Your Highness...it's you..."

Upon hearing the name "Crown Prince," everyone except A-Jiu was utterly shocked. Even Ji Fang, barely clinging to life, managed to open his eyes and stammer, "Crown Prince? Isn't that A-Jiu? A-Jiu…" Ji Fang reached out and groped around, "Where is A-Jiu? Where is A-Jiu…?"

“I’m here.” Ajiu gripped Ji Fang’s hand tightly.

Ji Fang leaned against Feng Shisan's shoulder, forcing a smile on his pale face, "Ajiu is still alive... It's so good that Ajiu is with us."

Xiao Ma stared intently at the wound on Mu Chenbi's face. Crimson blood covered most of his face, and at first glance, it was not clear where the injury was. Seeing his phoenix-feather eyelashes fluttering in the blood, Xiao Ma knew that Mu Chenbi's eyes had not been scratched by Lou Cangyu. Then... then there could only be... Xiao Ma turned his head to look at the deep scar on A Jiu's left eyebrow bone... Xiao Ma opened his mouth as if to speak, but then stopped.

Mu Chenbi leaned back against the carriage frame, examining his sword inch by inch. He had lived to the age of twenty and never imagined that his sword would be stained with blood. Not only was the blade stained with blood, but he had almost lost his life... Thinking of this, Mu Chenbi couldn't help but laugh at himself, making everyone in the carriage look at each other in bewilderment, and for a moment no one spoke.

Mu Chenbi stopped laughing, "Where is Young Master Mei taking us?"

"go…"

“South Lane, Green Tiles, seventeen households facing north,” Feng Shisan interrupted. “Go there.”

Mei Shiyu frowned slightly. "The Mei family has a secret place where you can be settled. Don't worry, you will definitely not be discovered."

“South Lane, Blue House, seventeen households facing north.” Feng Shisan roared in a low voice with his eyes closed, “Only go there, as agreed, only go there, your Grandpa Feng will not go anywhere else.”

Mu Chenbi said, "Let's go there. We've already agreed with Guan Ye."

Upon hearing Guan Ye's name, A Jiu slightly raised her brows and glanced at Mu Chenbi before letting them fall silently again.

Mei Shiyu stopped insisting and said to the outside of the carriage curtain, "Go to the Blue House in the South Alley, quickly."

"—'South Alley Green House?' A girl's sweet voice came from outside the curtain again. 'Cousin, that's not our place, is it? Are you sure you're not mistaken?' Before she finished speaking, a soft white hand lifted half of the carriage curtain, revealing Mei Xiaojing's rosy face. 'Cousin?'"

When he saw the eyes meeting his own, his face was smeared with soot and blackened with ash, and his body was splattered with blood. It was hard to tell if it was his own or someone else's. He was calm and composed, like the deep sea. He looked at the girl's astonished face, grinned, and showed his teeth. The soot on his face made his teeth look snow-white, as white as the unmelted snow on Phoenix Mountain, pure and captivating.

Mei Xiaojing reached out incredulously to touch his face. "Is it you...? Didn't you... leave?"

“It’s me.” Xiao Ma took Mei Xiaoqing’s hand and covered his face with it. “I’m back.”