Chapter 31: Mei Xi (Thirty-one) Jie's death
Xia Jie's roar, like that of a demon from hell, was still echoing in his ears: "Follow me! Go to hell--!!!" The blood-stained bronze giant sword in his hand, with the madness of destroying everything and the morbid possessiveness, tore through the air and chopped down at Lin Jiaojiao's head. Before the sword arrived, the strong wind mixed with blood and violence had already stung Lin Jiaojiao's cheek and caused pain.
The shadow of death, like a giant cold hand, instantly grabbed her heart. Time seemed to freeze at this moment. She could clearly see the crazy fire burning in Xia Jie's eyes, the twisted muscles on his face, and the knotted blue veins on his arms.
It was over! The overwhelming despair was like ice water pouring over her head, and she didn't even have time to close her eyes.
However, at this critical moment.
[Core Individual (Xia Jie) Threat: Absolute Death! Emotional Core: Reject Host Death! Execute Final Agreement! Energy Core: Overload! Forced Takeover!] The system's notification tone was no longer a cold electronic tone, but instead carried an unprecedented shriek, like the cracking of metal, and... a frantic determination!
An irresistible, cold and violent force, like a flood bursting through a dam, instantly destroyed all of Lin Jiaojiao's consciousness. Her body... no longer belonged to her.
It was as if time had been slowed down.
Lin Jiaojiao's pupils suddenly contracted, and her originally clear eyes instantly lost all emotion, becoming as cold, empty, and lifeless as ten thousand years of ice, as if her soul had been instantly extracted, leaving only a perfect body.
Her body slid sideways half a step like a ghost at an incredible angle and speed. Her movements were precise and swift, without any lag or hesitation that a human would have. Xia Jie's huge sword, which was determined to win, made a shrill sound of breaking through the air, and chopped down fiercely, brushing against her temples. The sharp blade even cut off a few strands of her flying hair.
The madness on Xia Jie's face froze instantly and turned into an expression of disbelief and astonishment.
Lin Jiaojiao was also stunned. She? Hidden...hidden?!
At the moment when his old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated, "Lin Jiaojiao" moved!
Her right hand stretched out like lightning, without any unnecessary movement, precise and ruthless, like the most sophisticated killing machine, and her target was Xia Jie's unprotected waist and ribs, which were exposed by swinging the sword.
Her fingertips, at some point, had grasped the sharp flint dagger inlaid with gems on Xia Jie's waist. The movement was so fast that it was beyond the limit of human vision.
"Jiaojiao, close your eyes." The cold voice seemed to ring in Lin Jiaojiao's mind, making her close her eyes involuntarily.
Next second.
“Puff!”
There was a dull and teeth-grinding sound of a sharp blade entering flesh.
The sharp dagger, like a hot knife cutting through butter, penetrated Xia Jie's heart with incredible precision and without any hindrance. The position was so precise and the force was so fierce, as if it had been practiced thousands of times.
Time...seems to have really stood still.
The shock on Xia Jie's face froze in an instant. He slowly lowered his head, staring in disbelief at the jewel-encrusted dagger hilt, only a short section visible, on his chest. Blood gushed out like a fountain, instantly staining his tattered royal robes red. He opened his mouth, as if about to say something, but only a "ho... ho..." sound came out, like a leaking bellows.
His crimson eyes were fixed on "Lin Jiaojiao" who was so close to him. Those eyes... those eyes... were empty, cold, and without any emotion, like... the gaze of death.
"You...you..." Xia Jie squeezed out a few broken syllables from his throat, his eyes filled with extreme shock, unwillingness, anger, and... a hint of indescribable fear?! His burly body swayed, as if all the strength had been drained away.
"Lin Jiaojiao" had no expression on her face, and she twisted her wrist violently, causing the dagger to stir violently in her heart.
"Ah!" Xia Jie let out a short and extremely shrill howl. The light in his eyes dimmed instantly, and his body fell backwards like a fallen tree, hitting the cold ground heavily, splashing up a cloud of dust.
The pair of crimson eyes that once burned with violence and madness were now wide open, staring intently at the gray sky, filled with unbelievable... dead silence!
The tyrant...King Jie of Xia...died.
[Objective (kill Xia Jie) achieved! Threat eliminated! Energy core: exhausted! Forced hibernation activated! Emotional simulation unit: ...severely damaged... Logic module: ...operation terminated...] The system's notification tone was accompanied by intermittent noise and...a kind of relieved silence, then completely fell silent.
The cold and violent power receded in an instant like the tide. Lin Jiaojiao felt a black screen before her eyes, and her body felt as if all the bones were sucked out. She fell backwards softly, and her consciousness was like a kite with a broken string, instantly falling into the endless darkness. Before she completely lost consciousness, she only saw Xia Jie's eyes that were still open, and... the chaos and screams exploding in her ears like a landslide and tsunami.
“Your Majesty——!!!”
"ah--!!"
"Kill her! Kill that witch!!"
"Revenge for the King——!!!"
Xia Jie's personal guards and blood wolf guards went crazy instantly. They witnessed with their own eyes that Princess "Mei Xi" assassinated their king. The raging anger and murderous intent erupted like a volcano. Countless pairs of blood-red eyes instantly locked onto the fallen Lin Jiaojiao. The clanging sound of swords being unsheathed was like the grin of the god of death.
"Protect the concubine--!!!" Shi Hu's roar was like thunder. His eyes were bloodshot and he pounced on her like a mad tiger. Behind him, the dozen or so remaining soldiers also rushed over with roars. They used their bodies to form a human wall, blocking Lin Jiaojiao.
“Ding! Ding! Ding!”
“Puff!”
"ah--!"
The sounds of weapons clashing, screams, and roars instantly intertwined together, blood and flesh flew everywhere, Shi Hu and the soldiers were like moths to a flame, using their flesh and blood to resist the crazy enemies that were surging like a tide. They knew that this was the only way to survive, and they would risk their lives to fight for a glimmer of hope for the concubine.
"My Lady! My Lady!" Chun cried and rushed to Lin Jiaojiao, shaking her desperately.
"Hurry! Let's go!" Lady Wan screamed, and together with Lady Yan, they frantically tried to help the unconscious Lin Jiaojiao up.
Asan brought some palace slaves and rushed up to help regardless of everything. The scene was in extreme chaos.
"Go! This way!" Shi Hu, covered in blood, killed two bodyguards like a bloody man and roared. He pointed to a relatively weak gap at the back of the camp, where miscellaneous items and wounded soldiers were piled up. It was in chaos at the moment.
Chun, Asan, Wanyan and some palace slaves hurriedly lifted up the unconscious Lin Jiaojiao, and under the protection of Shi Hu and the few remaining soldiers, almost all of whom were injured and fighting to the death, they fled towards the gap.
Behind him were deafening shouts of killing and the howling of the dying. The Blood Wolf Guards and Xia Jie's personal guards were like leeches on the heel, chasing him relentlessly.
"Stop them! Don't let that witch get away!"
"Kill! Kill them all! Avenge the king!"
Arrows flew in like locusts. A palace slave who was carrying Lin Jiaojiao screamed and was shot in the back, falling to the ground. Lin Jiaojiao's body fell heavily. Beauty Chun Hewan screamed and rushed over, desperately lifting her up again.
Shi Hu roared and brandished the bronze sword he had seized, trying to chopped off several arrows, but he was hit hard on the back. He groaned and staggered, but still stood in front of the pursuers.
"Go away--!" He roared hoarsely, his voice filled with the tragic heroism of a desperate struggle.
At this critical moment of life and death, they finally broke out of the chaotic camp gap. In front of them was a relatively open slope covered with rugged rocks and low shrubs. Further down was the siege position of the Shang army.
"Run down the mountain! Charge into the Shang army's position!" Shi Hu roared! This was the only way to survive. The Shang army was also an enemy, but it was better than these crazy avengers behind him! At least... Yi Yin had made a promise.
Everyone was like a lost dog, tumbling and crawling down the mountain. Behind them, the Blood Wolf Guards and the Royal Guards were chasing them closely, and arrows kept whistling past their ears.
"Stop! Traitor, don't run away!"
"Shoot! Shoot them to death!"
As the pursuers were getting closer, a cold arrow with a shrill scream shot straight towards the unconscious Lin Jiaojiao who was being held by the beauties Chun Hewan.
"Sister——!" Beautiful Yan screamed in despair.
At this critical moment.
"call out--!"
“Puff!”
Another arrow shot from the front side like lightning, accurately knocking the arrow aimed at Lin Jiaojiao away in mid-air.
Everyone looked up in astonishment.
Behind a huge rock not far ahead, there were several soldiers wearing Shang army leather armor and holding bows and arrows. The leader was a young sergeant with a dark face and sharp eyes. He had obviously witnessed the thrilling scene in the camp just now - Princess Yuan assassinated King Jie of Xia.
At this moment, he and his soldiers were looking at this group of people who were fleeing for their lives with complicated and indescribable expressions. In those eyes, there was vigilance, surprise, and... a barely perceptible... hesitation?
"Shang Jun! It's Shang Jun!"
Shi Hu's heart sank as well. He tightly gripped the bloody bronze sword, ready to make a final desperate effort.
However, to everyone's surprise,
The young sergeant of the Shang army's army lingered for a moment on Lin Jiaojiao's face, which was still breathtakingly beautiful even though she was unconscious, but was now as pale as paper.
He saw the blood oozing from her shoulder, and the palace maids around her, equally disheveled, filled with fear and despair... A complex emotion flashed in his eyes—amazement? Pity? Or... a hint of hesitation in the legend of "the source of disaster"?
He suddenly raised his hand and shouted at the Blood Wolf Guards and Xia Jie's personal guards who were chasing him closely: "Shoot! Stop them!" pointing at the pursuers.
"Swish, swish, swish!" Several Shang soldiers behind him drew their bows and shot arrows without hesitation, and the arrows shot towards the pursuers like raindrops.
"Ah--!" The Blood Wolf Guards chasing in the front were caught off guard and were shot down instantly.
"Shang Jun! It's Shang Jun!"
"They...they are in the same group!"
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"
The sudden attack threw the pursuers into chaos. They thought that the Shang army had picked up Lin Jiaojiao. In addition, Xia Jie was dead and they were leaderless. Their frenzy of revenge was instantly overwhelmed by the fear of death. They turned around and fled in a panic towards the camp.
Shi Hu and the others were stunned, staring at the scene in disbelief. The Shang army... is helping us?!
The young sergeant put away his bow and arrow, and glanced at the unconscious Lin Jiaojiao again with a complicated look in his eyes.
He was silent for a moment, and finally, he made an extremely simple but significant gesture to Shi Hu and others - he turned sideways to make way, and at the same time, he tilted his head slightly towards the direction of the main formation of the Shang army at the foot of the mountain.
The meaning is obvious - go!
No words! No questions! Just this one silent movement!
Shi Hu understood instantly, his eyes lit up with ecstasy, and he clasped his fists tightly towards the squad leader, which was a silent expression of gratitude.
"Go! Go quickly!" Shi Hu roared, his voice filled with excitement of surviving a disaster.
Chun, Asan, Wanyan and others woke up as if from a dream. Without thinking too much, they lifted up Lin Jiaojiao, supported their injured companion, and under the protection of Shi Hu and the remaining soldiers, they stumbled down the slope and ran for their lives towards the edge of the Shang army's siege position at the foot of the mountain.
The young Shang army sergeant and his soldiers stood silently in place, watching them disappear among the rocks and bushes. They did not pursue them, nor did they give any warning. They were like silent reefs, making way for this group of desperate fugitives.
It was not until the figures of Lin Jiaojiao and her group completely disappeared from his sight that the sergeant slowly withdrew his gaze.
He looked down at the bow and arrow in his hand, then looked up at the Nanchao camp on the top of the mountain which was still in chaos and ablaze, and sighed softly. He might not understand why he let the "troublemaker" Yuan Fei go, but at that moment, looking at that pale, beautiful, unconscious face, and those women who were like frightened birds, the iron-blooded soldier in his heart was finally touched by an indescribable... reluctance.
Let's go, survive, he muttered to himself, turned around and took his soldiers and hid among the rocks again, as if nothing had happened.
Lin Jiaojiao regained a faint sense of consciousness amidst the bumpy ride. She felt like she was being carried and running wildly on the rugged mountain road. In her ears were the whistling wind, heavy breathing, and... the shouts and flames that gradually faded away in the distance?
I... am still alive? She struggled to open her heavy eyelids, and in her blurry vision was the beautiful Chun Hewan's face covered in sweat and tears.
"Sister! Sister, you're awake!" Chun's surprised voice came with a tearful tone.
Lin Jiaojiao tried to speak, but no sound came out. She felt only excruciating pain all over her body, especially her right shoulder, which felt like it was burning. Her consciousness was like shattered glass, difficult to piece together. She only remembered Xia Jie's frantic eyes... the huge sword that slashed down... and then... darkness and coldness...
Is Xia Jie...dead? A thought flashed through her mind. She seemed to...succeed?
She fell into a coma again, but this time, the coma was no longer filled with cold despair, but... a faint trace of hope, like a candle in the wind?
After an unknown amount of time, the shaking finally stopped. Lin Jiaojiao felt herself being gently placed on the cold, dewy grass beneath her. She struggled to open her eyes again.
It’s almost dawn.
A faint pale light appeared in the eastern sky, and the dim morning light dispelled the deep darkness.
She found herself in an unfamiliar mountain forest, surrounded by dense trees and low shrubs.
Shi Hu was covered in blood, leaning against a big tree, gasping for breath, and bandaging a deep wound on his arm that could be seen to the bone with a cloth strip. Asan and several palace slaves were busy collecting morning dew with leaves. Chun and Wanyan, two girls, surrounded her, their little faces full of fatigue and fear, but also a hint of relief at having survived the disaster.
"My Lady...you're awake..." Chun's voice was filled with tears and joy.
Lin Jiaojiao opened her mouth, but her throat was so dry that she couldn't make a sound. She moved her eyes with difficulty and looked in the direction of Nanchao.
There, shouts and screams could be heard faintly, but they had become distant and blurred.
It’s over, Lin Jiaojiao thought silently in her heart, Xia Jie is dead, Nanchao is finished, the Xia Dynasty... is destroyed.
An indescribable wave of mixed emotions washed over me—relief? Sadness? Bewilderment? And... a heavy feeling... freedom?
She withdrew her gaze and looked at the people around her who were equally miserable but still alive - Shi Hu, Ku Ding, Asan, Chun, the two girls Wanyan... and the few surviving palace slaves.
We survived. This thought, like the rising sun, instantly dispelled all the haze in our hearts.
She struggled to sit up, but Chun gently held her down: "My Lady, please don't touch the wound."
Lin Jiaojiao looked at Chun's worried little face, then at the equally concerned eyes of Wanyan and the other two girls, and then at Shi Hu's tired but still resolute face, and a warm current slowly flowed through her heart.
She gently held Chun's hand, feeling its genuine warmth. She looked towards the east—there, the morning star had already disappeared, and the pale sky at the edge of the sky was gradually tinged with a faint golden hue.
Dawn... has finally arrived.
[Host Consciousness: Recovering (weak). Physiological State: Severely Injured (Weak). External Environment: Out of the Battlefield (Safe). Core Mission: Survival (Continued). Emotional Simulation Unit: ...dormant... Logic Module: ...standby... Energy Core: ...exhausted...] The system's notification tone was faint and intermittent, like a candle in the wind.
But Lin Jiaojiao no longer cared. She watched the increasingly bright golden hue in the sky, felt the cool breeze on her cheeks, and listened to the clear chirping of birds in the forest. She knew that a new era of exile, one filled with uncertainty yet also with hope, had begun.
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