Chapter 116 They're going to kidnap her to the Western Regions
Mu Cenlin's eyes were icy cold as he slightly raised his spear: "New and old scores, we'll settle them all today!"
Helian Xiyuan laughed loudly and drew his curved sword: "Just what I wanted!"
Mu Cenlin and Helian Jue moved almost simultaneously!
Mu Cenlin's spear, accompanied by a piercing whistle that seemed to tear through the air, thrust straight at Helian Jue's mouth! The move was simple and direct, yet its power was boundless.
Helian Xiyuan's azure eyes narrowed, he dared not meet the attack head-on. His body slid sideways on his horse in a strange way, and the uniquely shaped scimitar in his hand drew a strange arc, avoiding the spear and slashing towards Mu Cenlin's neck!
"clang!"
The first clash of spear and sword produced a piercing clang, sparks flying everywhere! Both men staggered, then launched an even more ferocious attack and defense. Mu Cenlin's spear technique was wide and powerful, each strike like a mountain crashing down. The two men entangled in combat on horseback, their figures intertwined.
Just as the two were locked in fierce combat, an unexpected change occurred!
In the Western Regions army formation, a seemingly ordinary cavalryman's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he quietly drew his bow and nocked an arrow. The arrowhead gleamed with a ghostly blue light in the twilight, clearly coated with deadly poison! He was aiming at Mu Cenlin!
"Brother-in-law, watch out for the cold arrow!" Li Yu had been keeping a close eye on the battlefield, and out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of that cold glint. Without thinking, he blurted out a cry of alarm, and at the same time his body instinctively rushed forward, wanting to use his own body to block it!
His momentary lapse in concentration and exclamation put him in danger! A Western Region general nearby had already noticed the young man with the conspicuous red headband who seemed to be of high status. Seeing that his attention was diverted, he immediately seized the opportunity and thrust his long sword fiercely towards Li Yu's ribs!
"Pfft!"
Li Yu was still inexperienced and caught off guard. Despite his best efforts to dodge, he was still pierced in the left shoulder by the spear. The force of the spear sent him flying off his horse and crashing heavily onto the yellow sand. Blood from his shoulder instantly stained his silver armor and the glaring red.
"Ah Yu!!" Mu Cenlin was startled when he heard Li Yu's exclamation and the sound of her falling off her horse. He turned around abruptly.
If Li Yu were to die on the battlefield, Bao'er would be heartbroken!
"Protect the young master!" Yuan Ting roared, and he and his personal guards immediately formed a circle, protecting Li Yu, who had fallen to the ground, in the center and blocking subsequent attacks.
Because of this momentary lapse in concentration, Mu Cenlin was caught off guard by Helian Xiyuan's scimitar, which slashed towards his arm! Mu Cenlin's eyes flashed, and he neither dodged nor evaded, but instead used his arm guard to deflect the slash. Amidst the sparks flying, he grabbed Helian Jue's wrist holding the scimitar with his left hand, and with the force of his turn, his right hand wielded the spear and swept it fiercely towards Helian Jue's chest with unstoppable force!
"Bang!"
This shot, fired in fury, carried immense force! Helian Jue felt a tremendous force surge through him, his chest heaving, a sweet taste rising in his throat, and he was swept off his horse, crashing heavily to the ground. His golden armor was dented, clearly indicating a serious injury!
"Second Prince!" The Western Region general was shocked and rushed forward to help.
Helian Jue struggled to lift his head, knowing that the situation was hopeless. He endured the excruciating pain and hoarsely ordered, "Retreat! The entire army retreats!"
The sound of retreat was heard in a panic, and the Western Regions allied forces quickly retreated.
Mu Cenlin didn't pursue. He turned his horse around and rushed to Li Yu's side, dismounting nimbly. Seeing the boy on his shoulder, he quickly took off his cloak and placed it under Li Yu. He then sternly ordered Yuan Ting and the other guards, "Carry him carefully! Return to camp immediately! Summon the army doctor!"
On the other side, there was a small border town dozens of miles away from the military camp.
The war had not yet fully reached this area, but a tense atmosphere had already permeated the air. Using her modern medical skills and the private money she had "extorted" from Li Yu, Li Bao'er temporarily requisitioned an abandoned courtyard in the city and set up a simple medical shed and school. She treated the people and taught some homeless children to read and write, doing what she could to help.
That day, after finishing her lesson with the children and giving them a few words of advice, she took Linglong and Miaoqing and rode back to the military camp as usual.
To save time, they took a shortcut through a small patch of poplar forest.
As the sun sets, it paints the forest in a golden hue, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
However… “Hmm.”
Linglong, who was following behind Li Bao'er, suddenly let out a muffled groan, her body swayed, and she actually fell softly off the horse!
"Linglong!" Li Bao'er exclaimed in surprise, quickly reining in her horse and about to dismount to check on her when Miao Qing on the other side also silently slid off the horse and fell unconscious.
"Miao Qing!"
Alarm bells rang in Li Bao'er's mind, and she immediately realized something was wrong! She looked up sharply and scanned her surroundings.
The forest was silent except for the rustling of the wind through the leaves of the poplar trees.
However, under a poplar tree not far away, a figure was leaning against it at some unknown time.
The man was dressed in a striking golden outfit, completely different from the Western Region soldiers. He stood tall and straight, with a metal mask covering half of his face, revealing only his eyes that were staring intently at her.
Despite the mask on, and despite his aura being even colder and more somber than she remembered, Li Bao'er recognized those eyes at a glance!
Those once clear and stubborn emerald green eyes are now filled with complex emotions that she can't understand!
It's Ling Jin!
Li Bao'er stared intently at the figure, her knuckles turning white from gripping the reins so tightly.
She opened her mouth, wanting to call out that familiar name, but her throat felt blocked, and she couldn't make a sound.
He disappeared for so long, followed Xi Yuan back to the Western Regions, and now he's appeared on the border where the two armies are fighting. What is he planning to do?!
Bao'er stared intently at the figure under the tree, and questioned sharply:
"Ling Jin! What did you do to Linglong and Miao Qing?!"
Her gaze swept over the two maids lying motionless on the ground, her heart burning with anxiety.
Ling Jin's figure stiffened almost imperceptibly. His emerald green eyes, visible outside his mask, lowered slightly, avoiding Li Bao'er's sharp gaze: "Don't worry... they've only been drugged with sleeping powder and will be unconscious for a moment. Their lives are not in danger."
For a moment, Li Bao'er panicked. It wasn't Miss, it was you. Did he really not want to come back?
"Then why are you here? What is your identity as standing before me now? A confidant of the Second Prince of the Western Regions? Or..." Bao'er paused, "or is Ling Jin, whom I know?"
Ling Jin did not answer.
Why is he here?
He followed Xi Yuan back to the ruthless Western Region royal court, and with Xi Yuan's support, they joined forces to massacre the corrupt royal family and eliminate all obstacles in a short period of time.
Now, he is no longer Ling Jin, the guard who needed to hide under the protection of the Prime Minister's mansion, but Helian Jin, the rightful crown prince of the Western Regions!
He climbed to a position where he could control his own destiny, and he was fed up with only being able to silently protect her and watch Li Bao'er marry someone else! He was fed up with having to hide his wildly growing love because of his lowly status!
Now that he has power and status, why can't he fight for it? What Mu Cenlin could give her, he can give her now too! Even more!
Taking advantage of the fact that Mu Cenlin and Li Yu were both at the front line and the military camp was relatively undefended, he risked sneaking in to take her away!
"Identity?" Ling Jin finally spoke, his voice coming through the mask with a long-suppressed, almost obsessive tone. "Who I am now is not important."
Ling Jin suddenly raised his head, his emerald eyes fixed on Li Bao'er, a possessiveness that he could no longer conceal surging within them: "The important thing is, Bao'er, I don't want to hide it anymore!"
"Come with me! Leave Mu Cenlin, leave Da Lin! I can give you everything! The Crown Princess of the Western Regions, the future Queen—all of these are yours if you just nod!"
Li Bao'er was startled by the naked emotion and madness in his eyes. She subconsciously took a step back and looked at him in disbelief: "Ling Jin! Are you crazy?!"
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