The people coming from ahead were all masked in black — the sort that appeared to be wandering outlaws.

But in a place like this, to mobilize this many troops in an instant was simply not something an ordinary band of martial world wanderers could do.

“It is the lord of Nanmen City’s soldiers.” When Xue Gu returned, she handed a bundle to Qiao Mu.

“Everything in here is important. You guard Jiu’er and watch over these things. If anything goes wrong, you and Jiu Qing take Jiu’er and leave first.”

“Xue Gu!” Seeing that Xue Gu had finished her instructions and was about to head to the front, Feng Jiu’er swept back the carriage curtain and stepped out.

“Isn’t Yan staying behind?”

“I’m fine — Godmother has taught me quite a lot of martial arts lately. I can help too.”

Tuoba Keyan, with a bundle on his back, turned and flashed her a smile. “Everyone is here — nothing will go wrong. I’ll stay close to Godmother. Don’t worry.”

Qiao Mu’s gaze fell on the bundle on his back. In truth, both she and Xue Gu knew it contained the blood lingzhi the Ninth Prince had brought back.

Tuoba Keyan had endured tremendous hardship for the sake of that blood lingzhi. Had she not witnessed with her own eyes how he had nourished it with his own blood, she would never have known how deeply he cared for Jiu’er.

Back at the Heavenly Mechanism Hall, when Feng Yinan had been poisoned and nearly died, she had not said anything at the time — but just like Xiao Yingtao, she had harbored doubts about Tuoba Keyan.

Yet ever since they left the Heavenly Mechanism Hall and had been traveling together day and night, though they had not spoken much, she could see clearly that the present Tuoba Keyan was no longer the same person as that fierce and ruthless Crown Prince from before.

Perhaps Jiu’er had been right all along — this was truly Tuoba Keyan’s genuine nature.

Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan held position at the front. Jiu Qing, when faced with this sort of situation, never wasted words — but he would, without fail, remain at Feng Jiu’er’s side.

“Qiao Mu.” Jiu’er felt a pang of unease and looked back. Yanu was riding on horseback behind the carriage.

She looked at Qiao Mu and said, “There’s no need to guard me — I have Jiu Qing, I’m not afraid. Once things get chaotic in a moment, help me keep watch over Yanu.”

“I don’t need—”

“No! Yanu, don’t run off on your own. Stay with Qiao Mu, understood?”

He had no martial arts — in the face of danger, he was completely unable to protect himself.

Yanu’s lips moved as if to say something, but Qiao Mu said evenly, “It’s fine. I will protect you. If you follow Jiu’er, you’ll only become a burden to her.”

Yanu pressed his lips together, gave a nod, and said nothing more.

The commotion up ahead grew louder, and soon the clash of weapons rang out.

Qiao Mu’s hand landed on Yanu’s shoulder; with a single pull, she hauled him up onto her horse.

“Hold on to the reins tightly. In a moment, I may not have the energy to look after you — you’ll have to look after yourself.”

“Alright.” Yanu nodded and glanced back at Jiu’er.

Jiu’er said, “I have Jiu Qing with me; I’ll be fine. Qiao Mu, take him ahead. Everyone leaves trail markers along the way.”

“Understood!”

They had already agreed beforehand — if they truly ran into a large army, they would split into several groups and flee in different directions. Once they reached the next city, everyone would regroup and continue onward.

Tonight, Mu Mu had gone to Phoenix City; reinforcements would not arrive quickly.

Everyone would have to save themselves.

Qiao Mu and Yanu set off together on horseback, and in a short while they too were swallowed up by the battle.

Jiu Qing rode up to the front of Jiu’er’s carriage and extended his hand toward her.

After these few days together, Jiu’er had grown accustomed to Jiu Qing’s protection.

Mu Mu had asked Jiu Qing to come for the express purpose of protecting her — so when Jiu Qing extended his hand at that moment, she did not hesitate for even a fraction of a second, placing her hand in his palm.

Jiu Qing exerted only a slight effort, and Jiu’er soared up from the carriage, landing securely on his horse’s back.

“Hold on tight.” Jiu Qing said in a low, steady voice.

“Mm.”

Jiu’er reached out and wrapped her arms around his lean, taut waist.

Though being this helpless was far from what she wanted — always having to rely on someone else’s protection — in times like these, there was nothing to be done.

Once she found the secret technique and mastered supreme martial arts, she would definitely protect Jiu Qing well and repay this debt of gratitude.

Though even if she mastered the secret technique, she might not necessarily be capable of protecting him.

After all, given Jiu Qing’s level of inner energy, perhaps even if she learned divine arts, she still might not be able to best her.

A storm of blades and arrows arrived in an instant.

“We’ll go first. Wait for us at the next city once we’re past Yamu City.”

Qiao Mu, with Yanu, had gradually begun to feel the strain. She rode back to Feng Jiu’er and Jiu Qing’s side and called out loudly.

“Alright.” Jiu Qing’s voice was deep, but it always carried the presence of someone who commanded absolutely.

With one word of acknowledgment from him, Qiao Mu had no further hesitation. She pressed her heels into the horse’s flanks, and she and Yanu plunged into the depths of the forest.

Yanu looked back, fixing his gaze on Feng Jiu’er cradled in Jiu Qing’s arms, and tightened his fist.

But Jiu’er’s silhouette grew gradually more distant — until it could no longer be made out at all.

He clenched his teeth, keeping his fist balled tight, but not a single sound escaped him.

On the sleeve of his arm, a spreading stain of deep crimson had begun to bloom…

“Hold tight — we go ahead as well.” Jiu Qing glanced down at the girl in his arms.

“What about Xue Gu and the others?” Jiu’er was uneasy. The army sent by the lord of Nanmen City numbered in the thousands, yet their own side had only a few hundred.

Not to mention, there were likely many more lying in wait ahead.

“Each to their own fate.” He could not, by himself, protect everyone.

His one and only task was to guard the woman in his arms.

“Mu Mu will bring the great army from Phoenix City to meet us. So long as they can hold on long enough to meet Mu Mu’s people, they will not be in any danger.”

Jiu Qing answered no more of her questions, and in a low, commanding voice said, “Move!”

Zhui Feng had ridden at Jiu Qing’s side for so many years that it was very familiar with his commands.

At his single word of “move,” Zhui Feng immediately bolted toward the forest off to the side.

Zhui Yue needed no command at all — seeing Zhui Feng go, it swiftly followed.

Two people, two horses, broke away from the melee in no time.

“No good — Feng Jiu’er has escaped!”

Within the black-clad ranks, a large contingent immediately gave chase into the forest.

This main force was not their true target. They had come solely for Feng Jiu’er.

So long as Feng Jiu’er was captured alive, there would be no fear that the Ninth Prince would refuse to comply afterward!

Feng Jiu’er — absolutely could not be allowed to escape!

“You — follow me. Cut them off!”

Long Yi led several dozen men and immediately charged into the forest, intent on blocking the pursuing group of over a hundred ahead.

Long Eleven rode to Xue Gu’s side, drove back several black-clad opponents with one sword strike, then called to Xue Gu, “Phoenix City — regroup there.”

“Understood!”

Xue Gu sent out a palm strike, then turned and called back loudly, “Keyan — take one squad of men and head toward Phoenix City!”

“Godmother, do Jiu’er and the others know our plan?” Tuoba Keyan, who had only been studying martial arts for less than a month, had quite ordinary fighting skills at present.

He lost focus for just a moment and was nearly injured by one of the black-clad men.

“Never mind — follow Eleven and go first. I will hold the rear.”

“Godmother…”

“Young Master Tuoba, let’s go!” Long Eleven rode up to his side. “Senior Xue’s martial arts are peerless — she will be fine. Quickly!”