"Bai Chuxiao, if you surrender and follow me now, I might consider sparing you," Chu Tianling said loudly.
Keep dreaming.
Chu Tianling snorted coldly, "You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences. Since that's the case, then you won't be leaving alive tonight."
Immediately, he gave an order, and another group of men in black appeared behind him: "Fire arrows at me, dead or alive!"
Bai Chuxiao's eyes were filled with murderous intent. She shook off those around her and immediately leaped forward to block the arrows. She was exhausted after fighting for so long, and her clothes were stained with blood. She caught a long arrow and threw it back at Chu Tianling. Just as it was about to hit, a man in black robes suddenly blocked Chu Tianling's path.
Just then, a burst of firelight erupted from the foot of the mountain, and the sound of footsteps drew ever closer. Hearing this, Chu Tianling narrowed his eyes, realizing that his seventh brother had arrived. Damn it, so many men tonight, and they still hadn't managed to capture Bai Chuxiao.
Seeing this, the man in black robes asked, "Master, shall we leave now?"
Chu Tianling said in a deep voice, "Kill her."
Upon hearing this, the man in black immediately shot the long arrow in his hand towards Bai Chuxiao's direction.
The sound of something cutting through the air startled Bai Chuxiao. This man in black robes was clearly a master no less skilled than herself. She couldn't help but curse inwardly; she feared she would have little chance of blocking this arrow.
In a flash, a loud bang was heard, and the long arrow was cut in two. Chu Tianze had arrived just in time, and Bai Chuxiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon seeing this, the man in black immediately led Chu Tianling away through the secret passage. Bai Chuxiao alone was already difficult to deal with; now that the Prince of Yan had arrived, tonight's operation was naturally doomed to fail.
Chu Tianling was also furious. Those people outside were going to suffer a complete loss tonight. He knew they were experts he'd hired at great expense, and he'd painstakingly trained his bodyguards. The losses today were considerable. If he hadn't taken precautions and secretly brought the black-robed man to protect them, they would likely have fallen into Bai Chuxiao's trap again tonight.
Chu Tianze's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he looked at Bai Chuxiao, who was covered in blood. He leaped forward to block her path, saying, "Xiaoxiao, step back and leave it to me."
Bai Chuxiao smiled upon hearing this and obediently stepped back, as she was indeed quite tired from fighting. Then, she saw Murong Xuan, Mo Yan, and Mo Wen, who were following behind the Prince of Yan, leading a group of soldiers in black armor, also come up.
Murong Xuan looked at Bai Chuxiao and felt a pang of heartache. "Little Sister Xiao, are you alright? What happened? Who ordered you to kill him?" He had arrived a little late and hadn't seen Chu Tianling yet.
Bai Chuxiao was also somewhat surprised to see him here. "Second Brother, what are you doing here? I'm fine, but you looked frightening; it was all other people's blood."
Murong Xuan said irritably, "You have the nerve to say that? I just returned to the capital today and heard that you were kidnapped. Father and Mother are at home frantic with worry."
A warm feeling flashed through Bai Chuxiao's heart. "I'm sorry to have worried you, Uncle and Aunt, but I'm really fine. Don't you believe me? These people are no match for me."
With the addition of the Black Armor Guards, the situation naturally turned one-sided; the men Chu Tianling had left outside were all killed in moments.
Chu Tianze immediately rushed to her side, still a little shaken. "Xiaoxiao, it's all my fault. I'm late. Are you hurt? Are you really alright?"
If he had arrived a moment later, the arrow would have struck her. He had naturally seen Chu Tianling and the skilled man in black robes. A murderous intent rose in his heart towards his sixth brother. So close…so close…he would have lost sight of his Xiaoxiao.
Bai Chuxiao chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm really fine. It's just some minor scratches, nothing serious. I can go back and rest. You've come at the perfect time."
Chu Tianze was still filled with self-reproach, but also somewhat helpless. "Xiaoxiao, don't take risks next time. The power dynamics in the capital are complex, and there are quite a few hidden experts. You got lucky this time, but what about next time?"
Seeing his worried expression, Bai Chuxiao felt a softening in her heart. After a moment's thought, she took his hand and smiled, "Chu Tianze, this was just an accident. I didn't expect Prince Qi to be so crazy, but he didn't get away with it this time either."
Chu Tianze felt the warmth from her hand and unconsciously tightened his grip on it.
Murong Xuan was surprised to hear this and asked, "Xiao Xiao, you're saying the person behind this is Prince Qi? What exactly happened? You haven't been back in the capital for long, what grudge did you fall for that he's going to do this to you?"
"Second Brother, this is a long story, and it's getting late. Let's head back first. But today I've really fallen out with Prince Qi, so you all better watch out for him. Who knows what he might do next?"
Chu Tianze suddenly ordered, "Mo Yan, Mo Wen, you stay behind to clean up the mess. Xiao Xiao, we're leaving first."
After saying that, he grabbed Bai Chuxiao's hand and flew down the mountain, leaving Murong Xuan completely bewildered.
As she sat on the horse left at the foot of the mountain, feeling the warmth from behind, Bai Chuxiao couldn't help but blush. "Chu Tianze, what are you doing?"
Chu Tianze said softly, "Xiaoxiao, do you know, when I saw that arrow shot at you just now, my heart was pounding. I was afraid... afraid of losing you."
"I'm fine, aren't I? Even if that arrow had hit me, I wouldn't have died. Aren't you worrying too much...?"
"But you'll get hurt, and I don't want to see you hurt. I just want you to be okay every time I see you. I want you to live freely, happily, and unrestrainedly, not..."
"Chu Tianze, since I am now in the Left Prime Minister's residence, it is destined that I will find it difficult to act recklessly throughout my life..."
"But if it weren't for me, if it weren't for my mother arranging this marriage for me, you might have been able to live a happy life in Dingzhou, lovingly cared for by General Murong's family, instead of getting caught up in the troubles of the capital. Xiaoxiao, do you blame me at all...?"
"Chu Tianze, I'm not one to worry unnecessarily. Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. At first, I really didn't want to come back, but I can't run away forever. I was born in the capital, and my mother died in the capital. Even without you, I was destined to return to this place. But meeting you, I actually feel quite good... as if I have someone else by my side."
"Xiaoxiao, hearing you say that makes me so happy. If you're willing, I can stay with you for the rest of my life and accompany you to do whatever you want... But, being born into the royal family, and with my identity as the Prince of Yan, I'm destined to be surrounded by constant strife, just like tonight... I'm afraid... I'm afraid I can't protect you."
"Chu Tianze, what I, Bai Chuxiao, am looking for is someone to walk alongside me, not someone to live under someone's protection. Before returning to the capital, my maternal grandfather and the others asked me this question. Now that I've made up my mind, I won't hesitate any longer."
"Xiaoxiao, do you think I'm the one you want to walk alongside?"
Bai Chuxiao snorted coldly, "It's barely passable. We'll have to see how you perform in the future."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com