Before dawn, rain suddenly began to fall outside. Dark clouds pressed down from above, strong winds howled, torrential rain poured, and thunder rolled across the sky.

The forests on both sides of the valley shook violently in the downpour, making rustling sounds. Yellow mud covered the ground, and the world was illuminated by flashes of white.

Chu Qiao’s brows furrowed as she immediately opened her eyes. A hand suddenly covered her mouth, and she looked up to see Zhuge Yue kneeling on the ground with a grim expression. He held his long sword in hand, tilting his ear outward, seemingly listening carefully for something.

Under the cover of the pouring rain, muffled hoofbeats could be heard. Large numbers of footsteps rustled, gradually approaching the small tent.

“Someone’s coming,” Zhuge Yue said in a deep voice, then turned around and quickly prepared a small bundle, packing some gold and food. He asked Chu Qiao, “How are you? Can you walk?”

Chu Qiao nodded. “I can.”

Drawing his dagger, Zhuge Yue tore open the blanket in a few moves. Not caring that the child was still asleep, he picked him up and carried him on his back, binding him securely in place.

The child woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes with his small hands, and asked in confusion, “Uncle, where are we going?”

“Kid, the people who want to capture you have come,” Zhuge Yue said calmly, his expression unchanged.

“What?” The child was startled and instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around Zhuge Yue’s neck.

The torrential rain howled as the hoofbeats outside rapidly approached like a gale. The child trembled slightly on Zhuge Yue’s back but forced himself not to shake too violently.

“Kid, are you scared?”

The child’s face had turned pale with fear, but he still gritted his teeth and said loudly, “I’m not afraid!”

“Haha!” Zhuge Yue laughed heartily, his laughter containing a unique self-confidence and pride. “Good boy. Remember, those people outside don’t have what it takes to make us afraid.”

In the darkness, pine oil torches were lit, remaining unextinguished despite the wind and rain. Someone shouted in a gruff voice, “Hand over the person and we’ll spare your lives!”

In the darkness, the man turned his head, his eyes so bright, his eyebrows slanting upward to his temples, his handsome face like a sculpture. His lips were red as if he had drunk blood-red wine. He looked at Chu Qiao, his gaze very calm as he asked in a deep voice, “Can you manage?”

Time flowed, passing urgently between them. She seemed to see once more that evening many years ago when he sat high on his horse, lowering his head, asking her the same question: “Can you manage?”

The path had been rough, filled with swords and blades. They had drawn weapons against each other, been at odds several times, and nearly lost their lives to each other’s brilliance. Yet amid life-and-death struggles, the bright red blood had not blinded their eyes. After countless experiences, they still hesitated to deliver that final killing blow. In their hesitation and indecision, there was even unwilling heartache and uncertainty. On countless deep nights, they questioned themselves, yet still chose to fight side by side on such a night as this.

Not questioning the future, not questioning the past, not questioning the two people’s political views and positions.

There was only one reason: they could not die. Neither of them could die here.

Chu Qiao drew a short knife and smiled lightly. “I won’t hold you back.”

Zhuge Yue smiled, his smile sliding into his eyes. This was the first time Chu Qiao had seen him smile like this, and she was somewhat dazed.

“Stay behind me.”

His expression was gentle, but his words were very serious. Chu Qiao nodded and said, “Be careful.”

Suddenly, several sharp sounds rang out. Zhuge Yue frowned and immediately stood up. The child on his back, seeing him stand up so carelessly, was afraid he would hit his head on the low tent and reached out with both hands to cover his head.

But with a whooshing sound, a violent wind suddenly blew in. Chu Qiao’s long hair was immediately scattered, dancing wildly like black butterflies.

The child opened his eyes and saw that the large tent had already been dismantled with hooks. The three of them stood in the open wilderness. In front were more than thirty war horses surrounding them. The men on horseback wore brown martial attire, all of them fierce warriors.

“Put down the child,” the leading man holding a spear said coldly, staring at the three of them as if they were already his captives. He said to Zhuge Yue in a deep voice, “Don’t put up pointless resistance.”

But what answered him was a cold, sharp glint. A sharp sound rang out in the pouring rain. The man was quite agile and dodged in an instant, but his warhorse didn’t have such good qualities. The horse was startled and suddenly reared up. The sharp dagger plunged into the horse’s neck with a swoosh. The warhorse immediately let out a shrill neigh, and fresh blood sprayed out, splashing a misty rain of blood!

The man was thrown from the horse’s back, landing heavily on the ground. But before he could get up, the frightened horse stomped hard on his stomach.

In an instant, agonizing screams echoed through heaven and earth!

But before his subordinates could rescue him, the warhorse let out a pitiful neigh and collapsed on top of the man with a rumbling sound.

The sound of crushing bones and flesh was audible in the heavy rain. The crowd could even imagine the terrible state of the man beneath the horse. However, they had no time to think about these things, because during this brief incident, the man opposite them had instantly risen like a leopard, fiercely charging forward.

A sword gleam suddenly emerged from its scabbard, and suddenly, it seemed to let out a dragon-like roar!

Lightning split the sky, followed immediately by rolling thunder. Bright red blood splashed across the ground.

Sword qi and cold light instantly came from all directions. Zhuge Yue surged with overwhelming spirit, coldly snorting in disdain. He opened his stance and attacked fiercely, his momentum sharp, his techniques fierce.

Chu Qiao had originally found it difficult even to walk, but she knew this was a matter of life and death, and there was no room for retreat. She had initially thought these were merchants from Xianyang, expecting some fraternal feelings from the trading guild. But now that Liu Xi had rebelled and killed the elders and relatives of other families, if she revealed her identity, she would likely invite even more deadly attacks. So she staked everything on one throw, mustering her strength. Her nimble figure suddenly charged into the crowd, fresh blood howling and spraying. The woman in lake-green finery had a sharp gaze and a frost-like pretty face, like a rakshasa demon. Her methods were ruthless, each move aimed at the enemy’s vital points!

After a clash of weapons, Zhuge Yue forced back three guards with his sword, but both sides were bloodied. The opponent had one dead and two wounded, while Zhuge Yue’s chest had been slashed open by a war blade, blood flowing freely.

“Uncle!” the child cried out in fear. “You’re bleeding!”

Hearing this, Chu Qiao forced back a guard with her knife, leaped up, and with a sideway flying kick, her foot struck a guard squarely in the chest. The man staggered back and fell to the ground with a thud.

“How are you?” Chu Qiao grabbed Zhuge Yue’s arm. The opponents knew his prowess, which was why most of their attacks had been directed at him. Now she could see that Zhuge Yue had injuries on his chest, arm, and calf.

Zhuge Yue spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, and shook his head, his gaze gloomy, his face cold. His already red lips became even more vividly red. He licked the blood on his lips with his tongue and said in a deep voice, “I won’t die.”

Suddenly, the sound of a weapon cutting through the air came from behind. Zhuge Yue wielded his sword and turned around, fiercely chopping down on the opponent’s war blade.

The rain was now pouring down, everything a blinding white, making it hard to see even with eyes open. Chu Qiao simultaneously spun forward, her petite body passing under Zhuge Yue’s arm. Her knife struck straight into the opponent’s heart, piercing it, then dragging across and finally flicking upward!

A fatal move—they could almost see the opponent’s beating heart in that instant.

Thunder rolled. The group hadn’t expected these two to be so difficult to deal with. They hadn’t brought many people, and already more than ten were dead or wounded at first encounter. Everyone was shocked. Amid loud shouts, they could hear a large group of cavalry approaching from the distance!

And on the outer side of the camp, more guards stood like steel in the darkness, blocking their escape route.

“Xing’er, we can’t escape.”

Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly, and surprisingly, there was a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth as she calmly asked, “What should we do then? Surrender?”

“Haha!” Zhuge Yue laughed loudly. The guards who had been circling, waiting to rush forward and deliver a fatal blow, were suddenly terrified as if their courage had been broken.

“What do you think?”

Then, the two turned their heads together, their gazes like lightning bolts shooting toward the huge tent hidden in the thick darkness!

There was the central camp of the Liu family, and inside lived Liu Xi, the new head of the Liu family who had orchestrated this massacre!

Capture the leader first—their thinking was always unexpectedly in sync!

“Kid,” Zhuge Yue smiled carelessly, “are you afraid?”

The child on his back had lost his initial fear. He seemed to recall the bloody turmoil of last night, when his parents died before his eyes, and all the relatives who had once smiled kindly at him had turned into cold corpses. Uncle Meng had carried him out of the encirclement, but so many swords had cut into his body, and the blood that sprayed out was like scalding oil. The child gritted his teeth, his eyes reddening. He stretched out his tender little finger, pointing at the people opposite them, his voice carrying a hint of intense hatred.

“Uncle, it’s them!”

The child said slowly, emphasizing each word, “It was they who killed Mo’er’s father and mother, who killed Mo’er’s sister. It was them!”

“The Liu family of Xianyang?” Zhuge Yue snorted coldly. “They’re not worthy of my attention.”

He reached into his robe and took out an exquisitely crafted small firework, then opened the hook. A brilliant light instantly shot up into the black night sky, exploding into a golden blaze.

The attackers were suddenly alarmed, thinking he was summoning reinforcements.

But Zhuge Yue turned to Chu Qiao and said, “Even if we die here today, someone will surely avenge us.”

Chu Qiao shook her head and smiled. “We won’t die here.”

Zhuge Yue was startled, then laughed loudly, saying, “Good, then let’s fight our way out together!”

“Xing’er! Take a horse!”

The two instantly switched from defense to offense, repeatedly striking outward, seizing horses, and swiftly mounting them.

Both warhorses neighed. Zhuge Yue’s precious sword was piercing a man’s neck. Nearby, another man, seizing the opportunity, attacked the child on his back. Zhuge Yue snorted coldly and cursed, “Despicable!” He swung his scabbard with his other hand, and with a bang, struck the attacker’s head.

The sound of a skull shattering suddenly came. Zhuge Yue shouted fiercely, kicked away a soldier who was closely following, and called out, “Xing’er, follow me!”

Then he kicked the horse’s flank hard. The warhorse neighed, like a bloodthirsty, wild tiger, instantly breaking through the encirclement.

The encirclement formed by these guards’ flesh and blood was as fragile as a sheet of paper under his sword. Zhuge Yue rode forward, leaving a bloody storm wherever he went. The strong wind danced wildly, the world was dark yellow, and everywhere was filled with earth-shaking roars and war cries!

“Protect the main camp!”

A series of urgent shouts suddenly rang out, and some people ran in panic toward the central camp.

“Protect the young master!”

“His target is the young master. Kill him! Take down his horse!”

“Archers! Archers prepare!”

Everywhere was filled with battle cries, with panicked shouts. One might think they were being ambushed by a large army, but they knew their enemies numbered only three—or more accurately, just two.

Blood gushed wildly, rain poured down. Chu Qiao followed behind Zhuge Yue, protecting the child on his back, her agile figure wielding weapons. Most of the attacks were blocked by the man in front. At this moment, she had not received even the slightest injury. This night seemed unusually long, and even now showed no sign of passing. The strong wind blew and howled. They approached the silent large tent little by little. The night wind whistled, blowing up the tent’s curtains. She could even see the white fur carpet inside, and there was still the pleasant scent of golden-winged incense in the night, so luxurious, making one drowsy.

In the darkness, the treacherous laughter of the heavens spread across the entire earth amid the thunder.

Heaven and earth formed a furnace, all things were fuel, and thousands of common people suffered in boiling oil, their flesh separated from their bones, fathers separated from sons. The nobility was like heaven, the common people like dirt, and slaves like weeds, with no justice to speak of.

In the thick fog, a belief suddenly rose in her mind like a bright lamp. Chu Qiao gritted her teeth. Seeing they were getting closer and closer to the large tent, a burning heat suddenly rose in her heart.

Overthrow everything, and afterward, someone would uphold a clear sky, returning peace to the world.

“Slash!”

A knife cut into a guard’s arm. Chu Qiao fearlessly pressed forward.

Half a lifetime of wandering in storms, yet she remained steadfast as ever!

“Boom!”

A thunderclap exploded on level ground. Everyone’s scalps tingled. Fluttering torches were lit, and the smell of pine oil filled the entire area.

At this moment, the child lying on Zhuge Yue’s back suddenly cried out. Chu Qiao looked up and instantly felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. Her entire body went cold, her face instantly turned pale, her brows tightly knit, unable to utter a single word. Her hand gripping the knife grew tighter and tighter.

All calmness suddenly collapsed. At that moment, hatred, like a huge wave breaking through a dam, came surging like an avalanche.