"Hurry up!" Xu Yuehuai urged the guards. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. The group quickened their pace, but they soon discovered that the situation was worse than they had imagined.
When Xu Yuehuai arrived at the palace with her guards, she was met with a scene of carnage. The palace buildings were engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowed, and flames soared into the sky.
The air was thick with the smell of burning, mingled with the stench of blood, making it suffocating. A flicker of shock crossed Xu Yuehuai's eyes; she couldn't fathom what had happened.
Could it be that the young Emperor Qi Hanlin is in danger right here?
A wave of panic washed over her; she couldn't bear to imagine what would happen.
"Where is the Emperor?" Xu Yuehuai hurriedly asked some of the other soldiers around her, her voice trembling slightly.
But no one knew the answer; they had just arrived and hadn't had time to find out what was going on.
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She knew this was not the time to panic; she had to find Qi Hanlin as soon as possible.
She quickly scanned her surroundings, searching for Qi Hanlin, but the palace was in chaos, with people fleeing everywhere.
Without hesitation, she knew that finding Qi Hanlin was the most important thing right now. "Spread out and search for the young emperor!" Xu Yuehuai shouted to the guards, her voice firm and powerful.
The guards sprang into action immediately, knowing that time was of the essence.
Xu Yuehuai walked alone through the palace complex, her heart filled with worry and anxiety. She proceeded cautiously with every step, her heart pounding at every turn.
"Watch out—!" Suddenly, a guard shouted and lunged at Xu Yuehuai, shoving her aside.
Almost simultaneously, a flash of cold light appeared, and an assassin's knife struck the guard. Xu Yuehuai's eyes widened in horror as she watched the guard's body tumble through the air a few times before crashing heavily to the ground.
His face turned pale instantly, but his eyes were filled with determination and fearlessness.
"Are you alright?" Xu Yuehuai asked hurriedly, her voice trembling slightly.
But the guard did not answer her; his eyes had lost their light. A surge of grief and anger welled up in Xu Yuehuai's heart; she knew that her mistake had led to the guard's death.
She bit her lower lip tightly, trying to keep herself calm.
She immediately drew her dagger and attacked. Her movements were agile and her skills were adept, but the black-clad assassin in front of her was even more terrifying.
His swordsmanship was unpredictable and swift, clearly that of a top-tier assassin. Xu Yuehuai's heart tightened; she knew this enemy was no ordinary foe. She gripped the dagger in her hand tightly; it was her only weapon.
The assassin suddenly let out a sharp laugh, as piercing as an owl's cry, and then slashed at Xu Yuehuai with his knife.
Xu Yuehuai dodged to the side, but was still injured by the sword energy, leaving a deep gash on his clothes.
The assassin seemed to have had enough and launched another fierce attack. Although Xu Yuehuai was agile, the prolonged fighting had exhausted her stamina.
She felt dizzy and her body swayed precariously. The assassin saw her weakness and slashed her shoulder with his knife, blood splattering everywhere.
At this critical moment, a dark figure descended from the sky. It was a man dressed in black robes, holding a long sword, exuding an imposing aura; he was Qi Hanlin.
In the dim light of the night, Qi Hanlin moved like lightning, instantly shattering the silence. He uttered no unnecessary words; every movement was precise and decisive, directly joining the life-or-death struggle.
A heavy, chilling atmosphere filled the air, and with each clash of swords, one could almost hear the clanging sound of metal striking metal.
Qi Hanlin's swordsmanship was incredibly fierce, each strike carrying the force of a thunderbolt. His sword light flashed, sometimes like a raging storm, sometimes like a needle hidden in cotton, engaging in fierce battles with the assassin.
Each clash of swords sparks a burst of light, like a brief but dazzling flash in the darkness.
That assassin was also a formidable opponent. Faced with Qi Hanlin's fierce attack, he did not back down but instead countered with an even more aggressive offensive.
Xu Yuehuai stood aside, watching the thrilling battle intently. Her heart was filled with gratitude, and her gaze was fixed on Qi Hanlin.
In this time of crisis, Qi Hanlin stood like a towering mountain, shielding her from all the storms. The admiration and trust in her eyes grew stronger, and Qi Hanlin's figure became increasingly towering in her heart.
The little boy from back then has finally grown up and can stand on his own.
Qi Hanlin's heart pounded, and a surge of heat rushed to his head. He felt every cell in his body cheering for this battle.
His breathing was rapid, each strike of his sword accompanied by heavy panting. Sweat streamed down his forehead, blurring his vision, but it could not shake his unwavering gaze.
He knew this was a battle of life and death, and he could not afford to relax in the slightest.
The fight between the two sides grew increasingly fierce, swords flashing and energy surging. The assassin's martial arts were exceptionally powerful; each attack seemed to tear through the air.
However, Qi Hanlin, with his extraordinary perseverance and superb swordsmanship, withstood the assassin's onslaught. He seized the opportunity and plunged his sword fiercely into the assassin's heart.
The assassin's expression of shock froze on his face before he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
After a fierce battle, Qi Hanlin finally defeated the assassin. He was panting heavily, his muscles trembling slightly. However, his face was filled with the joy and pride of victory.
But he did not let his guard down, because there might be more enemies in the palace.
He helped the injured Xu Yuehuai up and asked softly, "Are you alright?"
Xu Yuehua nodded through gritted teeth, "I'm fine."
"Come with me!" Qi Hanlin didn't say much; he understood that the palace was no longer safe.
Qi Hanlin led her to a very secluded path, and with the token, he opened the door to the secret passage.
They quickly entered the secret passage, and Qi Hanlin slammed the door shut. Once the door closed, they were plunged into darkness.
Qi Hanlin groped along the wall, trying to find something to provide light.
Xu Yuehuai also looked around nervously, her hand gripping the dagger tightly.
After a while, Qi Hanlin finally found a torch and lit it. The faint light illuminated the surrounding environment.
They found themselves in a narrow, dark passage, barely wide enough for the two of them. Water droplets dripping from the ceiling fell on their heads, sending a chill through them.
Qi Hanlin led the way, with Xu Yuehuai following closely behind.
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