The mountains beyond the pass were outlined like a stroke of ink, thick fog swirled in the forests, and a cold wind brushed against their faces, bringing a chill.
The horse, its coat entirely black and glossy, galloped northward like an arrow released from a bow.
Chu Changning sat on the violently heaving horse, glancing at the young man behind him out of the corner of his eye, his eyes slightly darkening.
She touched the scar on her shoulder, her thoughts drifting away.
Helian Ye and Yan Beimo are enemies. If he sends her back to Yan Beimo for his own benefit, given Yan Beimo's ruthlessness, he will kill her if she tries to escape on her own.
Moreover, along the way, the assassins of Yandu and the killers of the capital city gave her no way out. Even if she escaped from Helian Ye's side, she would not be able to reach Penglai.
The thought flashed through Chu Changning's mind, and his eyes turned cold.
If he could trick Helian Ye into making him and Yan Beimo fight like dogs, wouldn't that be a way to avenge the broken bone and escape while they were fighting amongst themselves?
Thinking of this, she asked feignedly, "Where does the young master want to take me?"
Helian Ye lowered his eyes, and the girl Yingying glanced at him. Her profile was stunningly beautiful. Her hair, which was held up with a simple white jade hairpin, was stirred by the strong wind, like a wild fox with tentacles dancing on his face.
He suddenly felt his mouth dry, and the white light flowed across his devilishly handsome face, carrying a hint of lust.
"The Southern Desert Royal Court"
"Is the young master planning to use me to force Yan Beimo to withdraw his troops?"
The person behind her remained silent, their gaze growing increasingly dim as they stared at her.
Chu Changning felt uncomfortable under his gaze and said calmly.
"You know that Yan Beimo murdered his father and brother. How could such a treacherous and ruthless person back down because of me? Why don't we make a deal?"
"A trade?" Helian Ye chuckled, his tone languid. "What kind of trade do you want?"
The vast wilderness stretches to the horizon, the cold wind blows like a knife, and the desolation of the northern desert is palpable, with a chilling atmosphere permeating the air as if a storm is brewing.
The horse slowly came down.
The two walked through the dense forest, followed by a large number of soldiers.
Chu Changning glanced at him sideways.
The young master of the Western Regions had a pair of crystal-clear peach blossom eyes with naturally upturned corners. His braided hair was tied high, giving him an extremely dashing appearance. He looked quite young, with a touch of arrogant youthful spirit.
"If I can help you kill Yan Beimo, please spare my life."
The boy behind him burst into laughter.
"Yan Beimo dared to come to Mo Nan in person for your sake, yet you want his life. Interesting, truly interesting."
Chu Changning paused slightly, a hint of unease flashing across his face.
But when she recalled the torment she suffered when she first arrived in Yandu, her heart hardened.
"Young Master, don't forget that the Great Desert has fallen apart. The northern desert has submitted to Yanbei Desert, and the northern lords have a close relationship with him. What makes you think that you can kill him once he comes to the southern desert?"
"Then what gave you the right to kill him?"
He leaned closer, and a strange fragrance suddenly wafted into his nostrils.
Chu Changning leaned forward slightly and spoke softly.
"There will be an earthquake in the north in August."
She remembered that in the original book, Helian Ye injured his left leg because of this sudden disaster, and Yan Beimo took the opportunity to go north and seize Youzhou.
"oh?"
"Why don't you change your route to Youzhou, young master, and catch them off guard?"
An earthquake struck in August, bringing catastrophe to the world.
But this disturbance was orchestrated by Yan Beimo himself.
Helian Ye knew the plan in advance; it was a dog-eat-dog operation, and she could take advantage of the chaos to leave.
And three thousand li west of Youzhou lies Penglai.
Helian Ye looked down at her, seemingly considering whether what she said was true or false.
"Now the Central Plains are in a state of strife and fragmentation. Yan Beimo is the most powerful in the north. Youzhou is an important military strategic base. If it is taken by Yan Beimo, how will the young master go south?"
How did you find out?
Chu Changning said softly, "If Young Master doesn't believe me, then so be it."
"---"
Helian Ye chuckled after being rebuked by her.
"Still a thorny little fox."
Once the funeral of the Yan family patriarch was over, Yan Rong, under the orders of Yan Bei Mo, led his troops north. Now, wars are frequent in the north, and there are refugees everywhere, especially in the border area.
The fact that the aristocratic families sent troops to the Western Regions caused an uproar throughout the Nine Provinces. The world was already in turmoil and unrest, and the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions had hoped to end the war. With this military action, the Nine Provinces were bound to be reshuffled.
After dealing with matters in Yandu, Yan Beimo rushed back to Chaoge.
Inside the main hall.
He stood in the high hall, dressed in a snow-white robe.
"So, you mean he's not going to Mobei?"
Below the main hall, on the left is the general He Xing, and on the right is the retainer and strategist Zhong Yuan.
Those below exchanged glances upon hearing this inscrutable voice.
He Xing stepped forward and spoke, "My investigation revealed that he and his wife headed west—"
Before he could finish speaking, the golden cup on the imperial table crashed down upon him.
Everyone was terrified and immediately knelt down.
"My lord, please calm your anger."
Yan Beimo's expression was sinister, and his voice could not hide his anger.
"After so many days of no progress, are you all being kept in the north as a bunch of useless people? How were the people from the Western Regions able to take her away from Zhongdu? Are all the generals in Zhongdu dead?"
Inside the main hall, all was silent; everyone lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to utter a word.
At this moment, Zhong Yuan stood up and spoke.
"My lord, please calm down. Helian Ye took the lady away to keep her in check and will not harm her."
Yan Beimo always treated his guests with courtesy, so he forcefully suppressed his fierceness and asked in a calm voice.
"What are your thoughts, sir?"
Zhong Yuan spoke up, "He is heading west and will pass through Beiyou. We can bring forward our plan and rescue the lady."
The fragrance of ambergris rose gently from inside the hall.
Yan Beimo leaned back in his seat, glancing indifferently at the people below him. "He suddenly changed his plans. What do you think his intentions are, sir?"
"My lord is wise. Our plan may have some oversights. We can ask someone to go in your place."
As soon as he finished speaking, another strategist stepped forward and said, "Yan Rong went to the Western Regions and secretly colluded with the kings of the North to try to harm our lord. If he finds out about the matter of the family head, he will surely retaliate. We urge our lord to make a decision."
Yan Beimo tapped the table lightly with one hand, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"Pass on my order, have him come to Youzhou."
"yes."
"All of you, step back."
The palace doors were closed, and the dimly lit and gloomy palace was instantly empty.
Yan Beimo leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. A beam of silver light shone down from the lavish hall above, reflecting off his face and giving it a cool glow.
The cold wind howled outside, and a few sharp whistles echoed from the northern sky.
He rubbed the coolness between his fingertips and opened his eyes.
Li Bei Chaoge is a border city. The Xin Palace is surrounded by long corridors, with magnificent halls and pavilions. A soaring eagle flies through the flying rocks and flowing springs, swooping down and landing by the window.
Yan Beimo walked to the window, his bony fingers stroking the eagle's sharp beak, and took the letter from its talons.
He glanced at it a few times, and his cold, stern eyes suddenly took on a more menacing look.
"How dare you put him in a difficult position."
Yan Beimo tossed the letter into the golden basin, raised his hand to release the eagle, and a hint of madness flashed in his cold and lonely eyes.
Catch her.
He wanted to catch her with his own hands.
Torn to pieces.
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