In the afterglow of the setting sun, Xu Yuehuai, Qi Guze's family, and their loyal guards busily packed their bags, preparing to embark on their journey home and return to the bustling imperial city.
"This land holds countless stories," Qi Guze murmured, gazing at the tranquil village bathed in the setting sun.
He turned to look at Xu Yuehuai beside him, and saw her gently stroking the child's face, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats broke the silence, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.
Everyone looked up and saw a group of men in black rushing out of the woods like ghosts. Their faces were cold and stern, they held sharp blades and exuded a chilling murderous aura.
"Protect the Princess and the young master!" Qi Guze gripped his longsword tightly, shouted loudly, and charged towards the man in black like a tiger descending a mountain.
The guards followed closely behind, swords drawn, ready for battle.
Xu Yuehuai knew that these men in black were definitely after their family. "Aze, be careful."
She whispered her words of advice, her voice low but full of trust and encouragement.
The men in black quickly surrounded the group. The leader of the men in black sneered, his voice hoarse and grating: "Xu Yuehuai, Qi Guze, you won't leave here alive today!" As soon as he finished speaking, the men in black launched a fierce attack.
Although the guards were incredibly brave, the men in black were numerous and well-trained, and a fierce battle ensued. Swords flashed, blades flew, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.
Xu Yuehua anxiously observed the battle situation. She knew that if they did not break through the encirclement as soon as possible, everyone might perish here today.
She glanced at Qi Guze beside her, then at Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng, who were dodging attacks from men in black not far away, and made a decision in her heart.
"Aze, you take the child and go first. I'll stay behind to cover the rear," Xu Yuehuai said to Qi Guze in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, Qi Guze's face darkened and his brows furrowed: "No, I can't leave you here alone."
“Aze, listen to me. The children are still young, and I must ensure their safety. You all go quickly, I have a way to get away.”
Qi Guze knew she wasn't joking and understood how important the child was to her. He took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. But be careful, I'll come back to you as soon as possible."
After saying that, he turned and rushed towards the man in black, trying to get to Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng's side as quickly as possible.
Under Qi Guze's leadership, the guards were incredibly brave and quickly forced the men in black back a distance.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qi Guze quickly turned around and rushed towards the direction where Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng were. He picked up the two children and ran towards the village entrance.
The guards followed closely behind, protecting them as they left the battlefield.
Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at Qi Guze and the children as they walked away, then turned to face the man in black.
She knew she had to stall for time, giving Qi Guze and the children enough time to escape.
So she took a deep breath and unleashed her ultimate technique—Return of Ten Thousand Snows to the Source!
Her swordsmanship was light and sharp, each strike carrying a fierce sword aura, forcing the man in black to retreat repeatedly.
However, the men in black were also skilled in martial arts, and Xu Yuehuai quickly felt the pressure. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but she still gritted her teeth and persevered.
Just as she was about to give up, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side and blocked her way.
Xu Yuehuai looked up and saw a middle-aged man holding a long sword, fighting fiercely with the man in black.
"Miss Xu, I'm here to help you!" the middle-aged man shouted, his long sword flashing like a dragon emerging from the sea, forcing the man in black to retreat repeatedly.
Xu Yuehuai was overjoyed. She knew that this middle-aged man was the village's guardian and also her friend. With his help, she finally had a chance to escape.
So she joined forces with the middle-aged man to fight the enemy, but the men in black did not give up and continued to launch a fierce attack.
Although Xu Yuehuai and the middle-aged man were incredibly brave, they eventually grew tired.
Their movements began to slow, and their swordplay lost its former sharpness. However, they persevered through gritted teeth, knowing that giving up meant defeat and death.
Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar. Xu Yuehuai looked up and saw Qi Guze leading a group of men charging towards them.
It turned out that Qi Guze had not gone far after fleeing the battlefield, but had found a nearby patrol team to come to his rescue.
The arrival of the patrol put pressure on the men in black, and they began to panic.
Xu Yuehuai and the middle-aged man seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack and quickly repelled the men in black. Seeing that the situation was not good, the men in black scattered and fled, but Xu Yuehuai and the middle-aged man did not give up the pursuit and chased after them all the way.
But the man in black was extremely fast and quickly disappeared into the woods.
Left with no other option, the two abandoned the pursuit and returned to the village. Back in the village, Xu Yuehuai reunited with Qi Guze's family and the guards.
“It seems we’ll have to take another, more discreet route,” Xu Yuehuai suggested while checking the children for injuries.
“That’s right.” Qi Guze visualized a map in his mind and carefully identified a safe route.
The setting sun, like blood, bathed the country lanes on their way home. Xu Yuehuai, Qi Guze, and the others stood at the village entrance, their eyes filled with reluctance and gratitude. They bowed deeply to the guardians of the village.
"Thank you for your care and guidance during this time. We will always remember your kindness and repay you in the future." Xu Yuehuai's voice was full of sincerity.
The man smiled and nodded: "You must be careful, the outside world is much more complicated than this place. I will increase patrols in the village, and if there is any news about the man in black, I will notify the authorities immediately."
The setting sun cast long shadows of them as Xu Yuehuai and the others embarked on their journey home once more.
This time, they chose a more secluded route, hoping to avoid unnecessary trouble.
On the road, Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng rode their horses, chasing each other and racing to see who was faster.
Xu Yuehuai looked at them, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes: "Be careful, the area around here is very unsafe."
"Understood, Grandma!" the two replied in unison, but their speed did not slow down.
A month later, the gates of the imperial city slowly opened before Xu Yuehuai and the others. The familiar street scenes and familiar atmosphere stirred a strange excitement in their hearts.
Qi Guze went to the palace alone to report to Qi Hanlin on the investigation into the falling red star. Xu Yuehuai, on the other hand, took Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng back to the Regent's Palace.
Inside the Regent's Palace, Zhou Wan had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Tie Chunsheng, she immediately stepped forward and hugged him tightly: "Chunsheng, you've only been away from home for a few months, but I didn't expect you to have grown so much taller and stronger. You look more and more like your father."
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