Chapter 40 So hot it made my heart tremble

In the dense forest.

Rainwater drifted by, the whole world was dark, lightning flashed across the sky, sometimes as bright as day, sometimes as dark as night, and a roaring sound resounded throughout the entire sky.

The heavy rain drowned out the sounds of swords clashing, and blood trickled down the river.

The figure moved through the forest like a ghost, sometimes leaping to the treetops, sometimes hiding in the grass, sometimes rolling into the mud... It was impossible to shake them off, impossible to escape, and danger lurked everywhere.

Not far away, someone was watching this scene casually.

"His skills are good, but it's a pity that he can't be used by me and has even ruined my plans. He is destined to be eliminated."

The guard holding an umbrella advised, "Your Highness, the rain is too heavy. Let's go. It's just a rat running away in panic. With Shadow Sixteen and the others taking action, it won't escape."

"Um."

The sound of footsteps splashing through puddles rose and faded into the distance, the shadows that had been lurking in the darkness finally disappearing.

Lin Xiao, who had been hiding and fleeing, suddenly stopped and stood on the treetop.

His gaze fell on the dozen or so men in black around him, and he sneered.

His Highness the Crown Prince really thinks highly of him. He's willing to send out so many secret guards just to kill an unknown nobody like him.

However, this also turned his initial suspicion into certainty.

When the men in black saw him stop, their eyes gleamed with mockery, and a sense of foreboding suddenly rose in their hearts.

"Attack together!"

The guards' killings were silent, each strike aimed at death. Lin Xiao concealed himself in the darkness, and each time he appeared, it was a sure kill.

As more and more of his comrades fell, the man in black couldn't help but feel a little scared. This man's martial arts style was so similar to theirs, and even more ruthless.

The leader immediately decided to change tactics: "Surround him and prevent him from sneaking into the woods!"

As weapons clashed, Lin Xiao was completely blocked in all directions, like a tightly woven net, unable to escape or dodge, and could only fight them head-on.

However, he was already injured, and now his wounds had reopened, slowing his movements. The man in black seized the opportunity and slashed at him with his sword.

Lin Xiao rolled over and quickly dodged, but still got injured in the arm.

The man in black attacked swiftly. His escape and assassination attempts had already depleted much of his internal energy. If this dragged on any longer, he would surely die.

Lin Xiao's expression darkened, and he immediately decided to stop holding back and finish the battle quickly.

With a backhand motion, his longsword drew a circle around his body, clanging as it blocked all attacks. Then, the sword thrust forward with fierce momentum, caring nothing for anything but protecting his vital points.

He traded wounds for wounds, fought ten against one. With the final blow, a heavy object fell to the ground with a thud, splashing blood. The last man in black collapsed to the ground, and Lin Xiao finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell to the ground as well.

If it weren't for the long sword supporting him, he would have already fallen to the ground.

Depleted of his inner strength, Lin Xiao was covered in wounds, his hair clinging to his face. Cold rain pelted his body. Blood streamed down his skin, from his fingertips to his longsword, mingling with the rain and seeping into the mud, like his fading body heat...

His body swayed precariously.

"Lin Xiao!!"

In a daze, he seemed to hear the princess's voice.

Lin Xiao raised his head blankly, pulled out his long sword with all his might, propped himself up, and stumbled toward the source of the sound.

"Lin Xiao!!"

It was the princess; she was calling him.

Why is the princess out here? Has she also encountered danger?!

Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, shook his head, and tried to clear his mind. The princess couldn't be harmed; even if it cost him his life, he had to get back to her side and protect her.

However, he was already at his limit, his legs felt as heavy as lead, and with the rain making the road slippery, he accidentally fell hard to the ground.

The fall did bring him to his senses.

Lin Xiao braced himself with his hands on the ground and used all his strength to kneel up, trying to stand up.

However, his injuries were too severe, and he failed repeatedly.

He had no choice but to grip the ground, his fingers digging into the mud, the gravel drawing blood. Even if he had to crawl, he would crawl to get there...

Shen Panyan held up her umbrella and searched around in the woods. She didn't know where Lin Xiao had gone. She could only search little by little. The dense forest was too dark, and the lantern she was carrying was about to fall, and the light gradually died out.

Shen Panyan looked anxious. Suddenly, a faint sound came from not far away, causing her to stop abruptly.

Is it Linxiao? Or perhaps it's a small animal from the mountains and forests...

She has been scammed many times.

But what if...? Regardless of whether it is true or not, she has to go and see.

Stepping through the puddles, Chen Panyan moved with lightning speed.

The moment she reached out and lifted the grass, Shen Panyan's face turned deathly pale.

"Lin Xiao!!"

As if hearing the princess's voice, the figure crawling on the ground, his knuckles bulging from the effort, paused.

He trembled as he looked up, and through the misty rain, he saw a familiar, fair face. "Princess..."

She's fine, she's alright....

Almost instantly, the taut string in his heart snapped. Lin Xiao's head slumped limply. Shen Panyan's eyelashes fluttered, and she could barely find her voice, "Lin Xiao!!"

She dropped the oil-paper umbrella and lantern she was holding, and reached out to help him up, but his body was too heavy for her to lift.

“Lin Xiao…” Her voice trembled.

What should she do? What should she do?

It's still raining. Lin Xiao can't lie here; he'll die.

"Muying! Muying!!"

But she left in such a hurry that Mu Ying didn't catch up. Right now, she was all alone in this dark and damp forest.

Shen Panyan's fingertips touched his skin. The rain washed over his skin, making it as cold as ice, as if he would never wake up again in the next moment.

Shen Panyan held back her tears, disregarding the mud and rain covering his body, and with great effort lifted his upper body, pulling him into her arms, trying to warm him with her own body heat.

Shen Panyan picked up the umbrella beside her and held it over their heads, holding him tightly with one hand to prevent him from slipping off.

"Lin Xiao, wake up, wake up, please don't sleep..."

It's so cold here, she's really afraid he'll fall asleep forever at any moment.

The fine rain fell like a tapestry, pattering softly on the oil-paper umbrella.

"Lin Xiao, wake up!!"

The rain on him had soaked her clothes, which clung tightly to her skin. The biting cold made her shiver, but she hugged him even tighter the next moment.

"Lin Xiao, wake up! Don't sleep! You promised to protect me, you can't lie here..."

Holding back her tears, Shen Panyan rambled on, her only hope now being that Mu Ying would find her soon, otherwise, she would have to sleep forever in this place with Lin Xiao.

"Cough cough..." The cold air entered his body, and an uncontrollable itch came from his throat.

Just then, the person in her arms stirred, their eyelashes fluttered, and they slowly opened their eyes.

“Princess…”

Shen Panyan was startled, then looked down in surprise, "Lin Xiao, you're awake!"

Lin Xiao then realized that he was being carried in a princess carry.

Her body was clearly more fragile than his, yet she insisted on using his body to warm him... Lin Xiao struggled to get off her.

Shen Panyan quickly pressed him down, "Lin Xiao, don't move around. Can you even get up now?"

"If you can't get up, just stay in my arms. Mu Ying and the others will find us soon."

"Princess...this subordinate..." Lin Xiao's voice trembled, "Your health is weak, this subordinate is not worthy of your plight..."

"What's the point of whether it's worth it or not? As long as you're alright, that's all that matters." Shen Panyan covered his lips, not allowing him to talk nonsense.

Her eyelashes trembled, and a tear fell between his brows. "Lin Xiao, do you know how scared I was just now? I was so scared that you would fall asleep like this and never wake up again."

Lin Xiao fell silent.

After a long pause, he whispered, "Princess, I am a tough person. The King of Hell wouldn't dare to take me. I won't just fall asleep like this."

Shen Panyan couldn't help but laugh at him, "Even after all this, you're still being stubborn."

But then, tears fell onto his cheeks. "Lin Xiao, you're such an idiot."

Not only did he get injured, but he also didn't take good care of himself. Instead, he ran around everywhere, and when he encountered danger, he didn't say a word and faced it all alone.

Shen Huai had barely left when Lin Xiao was seriously injured; he must have done it. It's all because of her that he ended up like this.

The tears weren't hot at all, yet they felt scalding hot as they fell on his cheeks.

For the first time, Lin Xiao felt so flustered that he stammered, "Princess, please...please don't cry...it's my fault..."

He struggled again, but Shen Panyan held him down once more. "You're not allowed to move. If you move again, I'll..."

"I cried even harder..."

Lin Xiao: "......"

He fell completely quiet, lying obediently in her arms, motionless like a puppet.

But the tears still fell on his cheeks, burning his heart.

He couldn't move, and dared not move, so he could only try to distract her.

"Princess, do you remember that there was one question I didn't answer for you back at the teahouse?"

Shen Panyan paused, then remembered, "It's... Lin Xiao, why did you save all your monthly allowance and not touch any of it...?"

Lin Xiao pursed his lips: "Because, I wish to leave the Dark Guard Camp one day..."

Shen Panyan was stunned. "Father, will Father allow it?"

Lin Xiao: "The Dark Guard Camp has a rule that those with disabilities will no longer be required to serve by the Emperor's side. Instead, they will be transferred elsewhere to become spies, and if nothing unexpected happens, they can have an ordinary life."

When did this idea come to you?

Lin Xiao had already forgotten some of it. He only remembered that he was punished by the leader that day and locked in a dark room. There was nothing in the room except darkness. There was no sound, no time, and he couldn't remember what he was doing. He was in a state of confusion and disorder. He only knew that when he was about to faint, a wisp of wind suddenly came from his temple.

His voice trailed off, "Princess, I yearn for the wind, for the wind is free..."

He wanted freedom.

Even if it is a freedom that is not truly freedom.

Shen Panyan's heart tightened slightly. "I understand."

"I will help you, Lin Xiao. I will plead with Father Emperor..."

She would plead with her father, trying to persuade him to grant her the throne.

Then give him the life he wants.

However, when she finished speaking and looked down, the boy in her arms had already fainted at some point.

"Lin Xiao..."

She silently hugged him tighter, trying to make him warmer, but her own body was about to give way. Fortunately, not long after, someone came looking for her.