"These are all Deadpools!" Ghost Doctor exclaimed, his eyes filled with shock and rage. "They've been turned into unkillable weapons!"

Xu Yuehuai clenched her fists, furious: "It must be those aliens who did this. They are so cruel and ruthless. We cannot let Bai Yu succeed today!" After saying this, she wanted to go down the city to join the battle, but Pei Hai and a group of secret guards stopped her.

"Your Highness, you mustn't!" Pei Hai said anxiously. "His Highness has ordered that your safety is of paramount importance. Those people's target is very likely you. Please, Your Highness, consider the bigger picture and do not act rashly."

Helpless, Xu Yuehuai could only stay where she was.

Her gaze pierced through the billowing smoke, fixed on the scorched earth below where life and death had been fought.

"Soldiers, behind us are countless expectant eyes, the peace and hope of the people of Great Zhou. Though the enemy is numerous, our faith remains unbroken. We are the last line of defense to protect all of this! Remember, we were not born to fight, but to protect, we will fight to the very end!"

Beneath the city walls, Li Lei raised his spear high, his battle robe stained with blood. His eyes held no trace of retreat, only a burning desire for victory: "Brothers, we are sons of the Great Zhou! We will fight until our blood runs dry! For our families, for our glory, charge with me!"

His shouts, like a bugle call, ignited the deepest passion in the hearts of Li Wang, Li Feng, and other soldiers. They exchanged glances, needing no words, understanding each other's resolve with just a look, and then, like tigers descending the mountain, fearlessly charged towards the seemingly invincible enemy.

Qi Guze's sword flashed like a dragon, each swing accompanied by the falling of an enemy. His face was covered in blood and sweat, indistinguishable between his own and the enemy's, but his eyes shone brightly, as if illuminating the path of hope in the darkness.

"Follow me, and we will pave a way out for the army!" he roared, each charge accompanied by a thunderous roar that struck fear into the hearts of the enemy.

However, the battle was brutal, and even the bravest warriors could not withstand the overwhelming tide of enemies.

As time went by, Qi Guze's strength gradually waned, and he sustained more and more wounds. Just as he was about to be stabbed by a Death Servant's blade, Xu Yuehuai could no longer suppress her anxiety. She leaped down, her sword flashing like lightning, instantly severing the fatal blow.

"No!" Qi Guze shouted as soon as he saw this, but it was too late.

Just as the two were fighting side by side, trying to turn the tide of battle, Bai Yu's sudden appearance shattered everything. Holding a rope, he effortlessly bound Xu Yuehuai and then took her onto the chariot.

"You've finally come down." Bai Yu's voice was filled with complex emotions, a mixture of triumph and unspeakable bitterness.

Xu Yuehuai struggled fiercely, glaring angrily: "Bai Yu, what do you mean by this? Are you going to betray the human race and the shared ideals of the four kingdoms?"

A flicker of pain crossed Bai Yu's eyes: "Betrayal? No, I never intended to betray. But I have my reasons, my own reasons for having to do this."

He slowly reached out and gently stroked Xu Yuehuai's cheek, as if trying to wipe away the anger and confusion in her eyes. "Do you remember? When I was little, you saved me from a fire and gave me a second life. From that moment on, I vowed to protect you, even if it meant going against the whole world."

Xu Yuehuai was stunned. She never imagined that this long-buried memory would become the fuse for today's situation.

"If that's the case, then you shouldn't have done it! Do you know how many innocent people your actions will cost you their lives, and what kind of crisis will they plunge the Great Zhou into?"

Bai Yu smiled bitterly: "I know, but I have no other choice. Only by having you can I break the curse that has bound me for so many years, and only then can I truly protect you and this world."

"Absurd!" Xu Yuehuai retorted angrily. "Your so-called protection is nothing but a selfish excuse. Do you know that true strength lies in protecting, not plundering; in sacrificing, not possessing!"

The conversation between the two echoed across the battlefield, attracting the attention of the surrounding soldiers. They cast complex glances at them, some with doubt, some with anger, and others with deep sympathy and helplessness.

Xu Yuehuai's struggles seemed so futile; her once bright and lively eyes were now filled only with determination and resentment. The rope around her waist, seemingly from another world, bound her tightly, and every inch of her struggle seemed to mock her futility.

"Don't waste your energy, come back with me." Bai Yu's voice was as cold as ice, but his eyes held a hint of tenderness that was hard to detect. He waved to the soldiers to turn the chariot around, and the heavy metal axles left shocking marks on the blood-soaked ground.

Qi Guze lay not far away, covered in blood, and roared with his last strength: "A-Yue! Don't take my A-Yue away!" His words were like the last leaf falling in the autumn wind, drifting down alone.

Xu Yuehuai's gaze pierced through the crowd and met Qi Guze's eyes. She forced a smile, though it looked more like a grimace: "Aze, don't worry, just focus on recovering. I'll definitely come back once you're healed."

These words were both a comfort and a deep-seated expectation in her heart, but both of them knew that it might just be a distant dream.

Bai Yu stepped forward and roughly yet gently pulled Xu Yuehuai into his arms.

Her body stiffened, her eyes filled with disgust and anger: "You are not worthy of being human." Her voice was soft, but every word was like a needle, piercing Bai Yu's heart.

Bai Yu's expression stiffened slightly, then returned to its icy demeanor: "What you said hurt me deeply, but no matter what, I won't let you provoke me. Don't even think about escaping. This time, no one can take you away from me."

Just then, a sudden change occurred. Bai Yu's body convulsed violently, his face instantly turning purplish-black, as if countless venomous insects were gnawing at his soul within him. He bit down hard on Xu Yuehuai's neck, greedily sucking her blood, his once clear eyes now turning blood-red.

"It seems those people were particularly ruthless towards you. Now that you're in this inhuman state, you probably won't live much longer." Xu Yuehuai endured the pain and sneered, her tone filled with both mockery and pity.

Bai Yu did not answer, but sucked even harder, as if trying to integrate her into his own bones and blood.

"Then I will definitely die by your side." There was a hint of determination in his eyes.

Just then, a gust of cold wind swept by, and the man in black robes appeared on the battlefield like a ghost. He was tall, and his face was hidden in the shadows beneath his cloak, revealing only a pair of deep, pool-like eyes.

"Leave her to me."

Bai Yu suddenly turned around and shielded Xu Yuehuai behind him, saying, "You said that as long as I can bring her back, she will belong to me."