Huo Yan took a step forward and protected Yuan Zhao behind him.
His men heard the noise and rushed over.
The two groups of people were facing each other across the stable, and only Qingzhi in the middle was kneeling on the ground.
"Heh..." Dota stared at the family of three in front of him, and even saw Yuan Zhizhi poking her little head out from behind Huo Yan.
He turned to Yuan Zhao, his eyes fixed on her face, and spoke in a low and slow voice.
"You can't ride a horse... You lied to me, didn't you?"
His face was vaguely visible in the dancing firelight, which outlined his tense features like a knife edge.
The veins on his forehead were faintly bulging, and his thin lips were pursed to the point of being almost bloodless.
His eyes were as deep as the night, gazing heavily at Yuan Zhao.
It was like a silent question, and also like he was struggling for a solution in his heart.
Yuan Zhao looked at him and unconsciously tightened his grip on Huo Yan's hand, his heart involuntarily tightening.
But she still said, "You know, I never wanted to stay."
Her voice penetrated his ears like the wind, and Dota felt that the wind on this summer night was as sharp as a knife, cutting his eardrums and causing pain.
The hand holding the sword trembled slightly, but it still clenched into a fist unconsciously, the knuckles turning white, as if trying its best to suppress the emotions surging in its chest.
The closer his sword got, the more Qingzhi's body trembled.
As if he didn't want to ask any more questions, he was simple and direct.
"If you leave, she will die."
Yuan Zhao looked at the kneeling Qing Zhi with an indifferent look in his eyes. "She is yours, what does it have to do with me?"
When Qingzhi heard this, she lowered her head and clenched her teeth.
Only Huo Yan, who was holding Yuan Zhao's hand, knew that her palms were sweaty.
Duota sneered and stared at Yuan Zhao with a dangerous look.
"A Chao, you know my methods. If she lets you go, it won't be as simple as killing her with one blow."
Yuan Zhao clearly saw Qingzhi's trembling body when she heard this.
She thought of Wei Shaoqing whom she first met in the dark room.
That body riddled with holes, the tongue that was cut off, the eyes that were gouged out...
Even though she had made up her mind to leave from the beginning, she had no confidants in the people Dota placed around her.
But Qingzhi took good care of her...that was also a living life.
Yuan Zhao finally understood that when Duota took her to watch Wei Shaoqing's execution on the first day of her arrival, he never told her that this would be the fate of her if she tried to escape.
But if she were to escape, everyone else in Chaoyuan would suffer the same fate.
He was sure she wouldn't turn a blind eye.
Yuan Zhao closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Let her go. It has nothing to do with her."
Dota chuckled, "If you come back, I can pretend nothing happened."
Hearing this, Huo Yan pulled hard and completely protected Yuan Zhao behind him.
His palm gripped her arm with an undeniable strength, his movements carrying undeniable power.
He tilted his head slightly and whispered something, but the tense atmosphere made it hard to hear clearly.
But Yuan Zhao heard it and said, "I'm here, don't be afraid."
Huo Yan then raised his head, his eyes like a sharp blade, cold and sharp, piercing straight at Dota opposite him.
Dota did not retreat. He looked back coldly with a dangerous smile in his eyes.
There was no words between the two, but an oppressive atmosphere quickly spread in the air, as if the air would explode in the next second because of this invisible confrontation.
The people around also felt the tension.
The secret guards behind Huo Yan bent their bodies slightly, with their hands on the hilts of the swords at their waists. Their coordinated movements were like taut strings, ready to be released at any time.
On the other side, the Eagle Guards had their hands on their weapons, also on high alert.
Dota slowly raised his hand, his movements seemingly deliberately slowed down, as if he was savoring the pleasure of this confrontation.
One of his men immediately handed over a bow and arrow, while another took his sword steadily and held Qingzhi.
Qingzhi, who was being held captive, had a pale face, her lips trembling slightly, and her hands were twisted tightly behind her back, making her look helpless and embarrassed.
The long arrow was strung, and the bowstring made a crisp sound, which made people's hearts tighten.
The tip of the arrow gleamed coldly in the moonlight, pointing straight at Huo Yan's chest.
Dota's movements were neither hurried nor slow, but his eyes were fixed on his prey like a beast, revealing a cold murderous intent.
Huo Yan's Adam's apple twitched slightly, but his eyes did not move at all.
He stood straight, his broad shoulders blocking Yuan Zhao firmly behind him.
The finger moved slightly, almost imperceptibly, but the secret guards caught the signal instantly.
The wind seemed to have died down, and the chirping of insects had vanished. Only the flickering light of the torches illuminated tense faces.
The air was filled with the smell of burning grass and trees, mixed with the solemn atmosphere of a tense confrontation.
Yuan Zhao hid behind Huo Yan, looked up at his straight back and taut shoulders, his heart beating faster and faster.
Time seemed stretched, and every second seemed long and suffocating.
Duota moved! He exerted force with his hand, and the long arrow flew out of the air with a sharp whistling sound, shooting straight towards Huo Yan.
Huo Yan's eyes flashed, and almost instinctively, he grabbed Yuan Zhao's waist, exerted force with his feet, and spun her around. The tip of the arrow whizzed past the corner of their clothes.
The movements were clean and neat, the feet spun like the wind, and there was no pause when landing.
He looked back and saw that Yuan Zhao was fine, and his brows relaxed slightly.
"Leave it to me!" Huo Yan whispered, pushing Yuan Zhao towards the secret guard behind him, his tone leaving no room for questioning.
Then, he kicked his feet hard, flew up, and jumped onto the edge of the wall in an instant.
The night wind blew through his robe, making a rustling sound.
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