The young general froze for a moment, then gently nodded: “Rest assured.”
He leaped forward, the cold gleam of his long blade flashing.
Qiao Zhao only managed to catch a glimpse of blood-red before Chen Guang pulled her into the room.
Her heart felt somewhat uneasy.
Even if Shao Mingyuan was the legendary God of War, invincible in attack and undefeated in battle, he was ultimately still a man of flesh and blood.
She had seen him act foolishly, seen his thick-skinned shamelessness, and had even seen his eyes moisten with tears.
As long as one was human, injury was always possible.
Those personal guards were indeed formidable, but after the battle with that group of black-clothed men, outnumbered as they were, their stamina had been greatly depleted. How could they face nearly a thousand officers and soldiers?
Shao Mingyuan, what is your backup plan? Did Chi Can go to bring reinforcements?
Qiao Zhao had long noticed that Chi Can had been nowhere to be seen since nightfall. Since Shao Mingyuan hadn’t mentioned it, she hadn’t asked.
But at this moment, she couldn’t help but resent that man.
Couldn’t he avoid being so mysterious?
The battle outside was extremely fierce.
Shao Mingyuan’s guards were all masters, and though none had fallen yet, each bore wounds.
“Tingquan, we can’t hold on much longer!” Yang Houcheng led over ten Imperial Guards defending the courtyard gate, responsible for dealing with any stragglers who broke through the personal guards’ defense line.
But these stragglers were becoming increasingly numerous. Yang Houcheng was managing relatively well, but the other Imperial Guards were merely showy fighters, now in complete disarray and facing crisis at every turn.
Some of the more timid ones couldn’t help but cry out in complaint: “Captain, when we originally came south, we were told it would be like sightseeing, not that we’d be risking our lives—”
“Shut up! What’s the point of saying this now? Let me tell you that maniacal Governor Li dared to attack even the Jinlin Guards – do you think he’ll spare us? Today we only have two paths: either live or die. Brothers, decide for yourselves!” Yang Houcheng barked sternly.
“Hold on a little longer.” Shao Mingyuan kicked away an officer, his peripheral vision catching several officers simultaneously lunging at Yang Houcheng. He spun around, sweeping those men off their feet with his legs while dodging to the side.
Yang Houcheng’s eyes widened suddenly as he shouted: “Tingquan, watch out!”
His voice was loud, and Qiao Zhao heard it clearly from inside the room. Her expression changed as she suddenly stood up: “Chen Guang, is General Shao injured?”
Chen Guang looked troubled: “He’s bound to get injured – seven or eight hundred people surrounding the General and his few dozen men. The General isn’t made of iron.”
As he spoke, he stole glances at the expression on Qiao Zhao’s face.
Qiao Zhao’s face was pale as paper. She reached into her pouch and pulled out a porcelain box, took a deep breath, and said: “Chen Guang, go out and see how General Shao is doing. If he’s injured, tell him to quickly apply this ointment to his wounds before continuing to fight.”
Chen Guang didn’t take the porcelain box Qiao Zhao offered: “The General ordered this subordinate to protect you. I cannot go.”
Fearing Qiao Zhao might say more, he added: “Besides, in battlefield situations, change in an instant – where would there be time to apply medicine?”
Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but grip the porcelain box tightly in her hand.
She naturally understood these principles.
Chen Guang glanced at Qiao Zhao and sighed: “Third Miss, what would we do if something happened to our General?”
Qiao Zhao frowned as she looked at Chen Guang.
She had never found the little coachman’s crow mouth so detestable before.
How could anything happen to Shao Mingyuan? Hadn’t he said he would ensure nothing happened to them? The first thing he needed to guarantee was his safety.
But even with the most comprehensive preparations, there could still be accidents, right?
Governor Li was determined to take Shao Mingyuan’s life, and so many people were targeting him. Even if he were divine, two fists couldn’t defeat four hands. What if—
Qiao Zhao’s heart tightened, unwilling to think further.
Seeing Qiao Zhao like this, Chen Guang secretly cheered.
He had always watched their General chasing after Miss Li, while Miss Li always maintained a cold and distant demeanor. He had thought it was a case of unrequited love, but now he realized Miss Li did care about their General.
Look, Miss Li appeared ready to cry.
“Sigh, our General is pitiful. He’s already over twenty years old and has never even held a young lady’s hand. If something happened to him, it would truly be a wasted life…” Chen Guang began sighing deeply.
Hearing this, Qiao Zhao’s expression became subtle.
Never held a young lady’s hand? Who said that? Didn’t she count as a young lady?
That man had done more than just hold a young lady’s hand…
Thinking of what came after, Qiao Zhao calmed down and gracefully sat back in her chair.
“Third Miss?” Chen Guang blinked.
Miss Li’s reaction didn’t seem quite right. Did she not care about their General?
“I suddenly feel that General Shao couldn’t possibly come to harm. I’m tired and want to rest my eyes. You guard the door.”
She had truly been letting care lead to chaos. As Shao Mingyuan’s guard, if Chen Guang still had the leisure to chat nonsense with her, it showed that Shao Mingyuan wouldn’t come to harm.
Right, that fool definitely wouldn’t come to harm.
Qiao Zhao leaned back against the chair and gently closed her eyes, but her mind flashed with that man’s clean, warm smile.
The hand Qiao Zhao had placed on the chair’s armrest trembled slightly.
Shao Mingyuan, you wouldn’t let me die before you again, would you?
If that happened, even if they met again in the underworld, she wouldn’t give that fool so much as a glance.
The moon had somehow emerged from behind the clouds and was gradually moving westward.
The usually peaceful and tranquil small mountain village was now permeated with the smell of blood, and the sound of clashing metal grew increasingly intense.
The battle had become increasingly fierce.
With Shao Mingyuan and Jiang Wu as centers, two separate encirclement circles had formed, with bodies piling higher and higher outside each circle.
Governor Li’s eyes had turned red: “Kill them all! A hundred taels of silver for killing one person, five hundred taels for wounding the Marquis Guanjun, and ten thousand taels of silver for taking the Marquis Guanjun’s life!”
Shao Mingyuan’s azure robes had been soaked through with blood, yet his expression remained composed. Hearing this, he laughed heartily: “I never expected that in Governor Li’s heart, this Marquis is only worth ten thousand taels of silver.”
In the moonlight, the young general raised his eyebrows and smiled: “This Marquis offers ten thousand taels of silver – who is willing to shut Governor Li’s mouth? Ha, this bounty applies to both enemy and allied forces.”
As soon as Shao Mingyuan spoke these words, Governor Li distinctly felt an eerie moment of silence in the atmosphere. He even sensed that the gazes of the officers and soldiers protecting him had suddenly become fervent.
Governor Li was so angry he nearly fell backward, raging: “You bunch of fools, you believe such words? Even if the Marquis Guanjun produced ten thousand taels of silver, who would have the life to spend it?”
In his rage and desperation, the air of certain victory he had built up earlier was shattered by Shao Mingyuan’s casual remark.
Jiang Wu looked at Shao Mingyuan with admiration flashing in his eyes, finally sighing: “My Lord, today we Jinlin Guards will probably have to accompany you in death.”
Meeting these people, he had truly had the worst luck in eight lifetimes!
Shao Mingyuan pointed with his hand: “Commander Jiang speaks incorrectly – look over there.”
Following the direction of his finger, many people looked over.
Hoofbeats thundered and footsteps rumbled as masses of armored soldiers poured in from all directions, their bows and arrows gleaming coldly as they aimed at Governor Li and his men.