The night was pitch black, and a cold wind, sharp as a knife, lashed at the surroundings with icy rain. A large number of soldiers left in an instant.
Inside the room, Chu Changning heard the commotion outside, breathed a sigh of relief, and stood up, supporting himself on the table.
The rain grew heavier and heavier, pelting against the doors and windows like beans, occasionally drifting in.
Chu Changning glanced outside a few times, but the dense forest was shrouded in mist, making everything hazy and indistinct, and he couldn't see clearly.
She pursed her lips slightly and looked up at the top of the simple wooden house.
The house was supported by only a few pillars, and a lot of rain seeped in through the gaps in the roof, making the ground extremely slippery.
The wooden windows and walls around the house were extremely dilapidated, and the wind and rain poured in through the windows.
She wasn't paying attention and got her back drenched, becoming completely soaked.
The chill made her shiver and move to the side.
The room wasn't very safe. Chu Changning was exhausted, but she didn't dare to sleep. She took a stool and sat by the door to doze off.
She couldn't help but recall what she had just done, and took a deep breath.
Fortunately, Yan Beimo didn't get so angry that he strangled her to death like he used to.
She made the right bet.
This young master from a prominent family in Yandu was concerned about his reputation, and he couldn't stand being humiliated by a woman who accused him of harassment.
Given his temperament, he probably won't look for her again as long as she stays far away from him and never appears in front of him again.
Thinking of this, Chu Changning couldn't help but think of Ayu again. She wondered if that guy had believed her words. She absolutely couldn't let him know about Ayu's existence.
He's powerful and influential; if he tries to take her away from him, she'll never win.
Lost in thought, a deafening roar of thunder and lightning erupted outside, and arrows shot in from all directions, whistling past her skirt and flying straight into the house.
Chu Changning woke up with a start and looked outside. She saw dark shadows darting around her, some of which were moving very fast and heading straight for her.
She instinctively thought that assassins from Mo Nan had caught up with her, so she immediately closed the door, broke the window, and ran into the dense forest behind her.
It had rained in the mountains, making the ground slippery. Chu Changning couldn't see which way to go, so he ran westward.
On the other end, Ye San led his guards into the room, and seeing the person run out of the window, he raised an eyebrow.
"Now we shouldn't have to suffer in the eighteenth level of hell."
Along the way, the lord's face was frighteningly grim, and the troops remained stationary at the foot of the mountain, with everyone holding their breath.
Not long after, Night Hawk ordered them to do this despicable thing.
"How dare you, Madam? Look how angry you've made His Majesty. This is the first time I've ever seen His Majesty so angry that he's swearing."
"That's right, I don't know what the lady said, so I didn't dare to use my internal energy to listen."
"Haha, you dared to eavesdrop? His Majesty discovered you, you're going to die."
The people behind him kept chattering, so Ye San simply waved his hand.
"Alright, stop gossiping, let's go."
The rain was so heavy that Chu Changning was soaked to the bone. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm as she made her way out of the dense forest and down the mountain.
The official road was flat and wide. She hadn't walked far when she saw a large, dark army ahead, all dressed in black oilcloths and riding horses.
Oiled raincoats are made of thin silk or light silk fabric, coated with a layer of tung oil. They are expensive to make, yet they are used by the military.
Chu Changning thought of the refugees and fleeing people he encountered along the way when he fell off the cliff and left, and curled his lip.
In this turbulent era of war, the upper-class families indulged in extravagance, while the common people couldn't even afford to eat.
At this end, Night Hawk rode forward and, through the thin crepe, looked at his lord, who had changed his clothes inside the carriage, and spoke.
"Your Majesty, the Lady is behind us."
Yan Beimo's expression was gloomy as he leaned against the small couch. Upon hearing this, his hand holding the teacup paused slightly.
He lifted the carriage curtain and glanced back.
Amidst the gloomy clouds and misty rain, her plain clothes, soaked and clung to her body by the rain, accentuated her exquisite curves.
Rain streamed down her cheeks, the water seeping into her clothes, revealing her fair and radiant skin.
The wilderness was quiet, and the rain was gradually intensifying.
Chu Changning noticed the gaze and looked directly at it, only to see a hand with jade-like, well-defined joints lower the heavy crepe and retract it.
She didn't look around much, thinking that she should be close to the village soon, so she quickened her pace.
However, the army in front almost occupied the entire official road, all riding fast horses but moving very slowly, blocking the way ahead.
Chu Changning frowned slightly and could only look around to see if there were any side paths.
This is the Kashgar mountain region. Further ahead lies the Yinshan Mountains of Daqi. The land is vast and expansive, offering panoramic views in all directions, and is serene and tranquil.
She let out a sigh of relief and resignedly followed behind.
But the cavalry in front suddenly stopped.
Chu Changning was freezing from being soaked in the rain and couldn't help but sneeze.
She crossed her arms and peered out, but there was no sign of anything moving in front of her.
She rolled her eyes in anger, then ignored it and walked straight past the army from the side.
Nighthawk spotted the person, coughed lightly, and rode his horse slowly.
Chu Changning had already walked along the path at the foot of the mountain, but he still blocked her way. She kept a sullen face and waited for him to go first.
Nighthawk dared not look at her, nor did he move.
Everyone had their heads down, and even when riding a horse, they moved at a snail's pace, as if they were riding in an oxcart.
Chu Changning paused slightly, then turned around.
At that moment, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a man's gentle voice came from inside.
"Chu Changning, did I say that if I see you again, I will kill you every time I see you?"
Chu Changning, "---"
She pursed her lips and didn't say anything. She wanted to leave, but the army behind her moved forward and blocked her way back.
She was completely surrounded by a dark mass of soldiers.
This is the northern frontier, where the cold wind howls like a knife.
She was soaked to the bone and had walked for so long that she couldn't help but cover her mouth and sneeze.
Suddenly, a white cloak was thrown out from the carriage beside her, landing on her with a thud and covering her from head to toe.
"Come up."
A cold voice came from inside the car.
Chu Changning quickly wrapped herself in her cloak and looked up at him.
But the carriage was covered by crepe fabric all around, so she couldn't see the figure inside.
"No need, thank you."
After saying that, she patted Nighthawk's horse, signaling him to move forward.
Nighthawk, "---"
Noticing the terrifying gaze behind him, he quickly pulled on the reins and bent down.
"Madam, you should go up first. There are bandits and refugees ahead. You're all alone, and you'll get hurt."
The local vagrants and bandits were rampant. When they saw a young woman, they would treat her like a piece of meat, and they wouldn't be satisfied until they had thoroughly ravaged her.
Chu Changning replied indifferently, "It's nothing, thank you for your concern."
Night Hawk felt like he was going to die from the gaze fixed on him from behind, so he didn't dare say anything and straightened up.
Suddenly, a long whip lashed out from inside the carriage with lightning speed.
Before Chu Changning could react, his waist was suddenly pulled up, and he was instantly lifted into the air, arcing through the air before being pulled into the car.
With a thud, he was placed on the table, and the car door was slammed shut instantly.
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