Upon entering the mountain forest, the gnarled branches blotted out the sun, and the treacherous path wound hazardously.

The remaining twenty or so of Helan’s death-sworn riders charged into the forest, breaking into groups of three and five, scattering to flee southward.

Helan Zhen rode alone, swift as wind-blown dust — yet rather than fleeing south, he drove his horse up the winding mountain path, galloping deeper into the forest.

The curly-bearded man followed close at his side, while two other riders brought up the rear, guarding Helan Zhen as they drove deeper up the mountain road.

The entire way passed without obstruction, and not a single pursuer was seen. Xiao Qi had indeed kept his word.

The mountain road coiled and twisted, crossing back and forth in a labyrinth of paths, yet he navigated it with practiced ease — he had clearly scouted the terrain beforehand and arranged his escape route in advance.

“Young Master, that cur chased us to the fork at the base of the mountain, then suddenly vanished without a trace.” The curly-bearded man urged his horse forward.

Helan Zhen yanked hard on the reins and looked back. All he could see was a dense, wild forest and sheer, perilous cliff faces — not a single human silhouette in sight, only the endless howling of the mountain wind.

A chill instantly swept through my heart. Could it be that Xiao Qi had not given chase? The moment that thought surfaced, cold sweat broke out — I had, in fact, panicked.

“Could it be that cur knew he was outmatched and retreated?” another rider said coldly.

I bit down hard on my lip, straining with all my will to compose myself, suppressing the tangled thoughts swirling in my heart — at this point, life and death held no further terror. What else was there to fear?

And yet, was there truly no fear? The pain slicing through my heart was plain to feel… It was as if I had been transported back to the moment the imperial edict of marriage was decreed.

On that day, my father had watched me walk out of our home in my bridal crown and embroidered robes, had watched me journey alone and in solitude to Huizhou — and had not said a single word to hold me back.

Today, I had been abducted by Helan and forced to flee, my life hanging by a thread — and yet Xiao Qi had not come after me.

In the end, they were all the same. They had each let go in the end, abandoned me, watching with open eyes as I sank into the abyss.

What I feared was not death, nor marriage — only that feeling of being abandoned in a single moment… of being abandoned by those closest to me.

All that struggling had been in vain. All along, I was nothing more than someone who had already long been given up.

In that instant, a single thought pierced through, and all other thoughts turned to ash.

“Young Master…” The curly-bearded man had barely begun to speak when Helan Zhen raised a hand, signaling silence, and strained his ears to listen.

For a moment, the howling mountain wind swept past, drowning out all other sound.

Helan Zhen’s expression grew exceptionally grave. “Xiao Qi’s methods are unfathomable. Everyone stay on guard and do not let your vigilance slip.”

The curly-bearded man responded, “Young Master, rest assured. Ahead, once we pass Eagle-Beak Gorge and Soaring-Cloud Slope, we’ll reach the rope bridge over the cliff’s edge. Our men are already waiting below to receive us. The river current through that stretch is swift — going with the flow, we can cross the border in less than half an hour.”

“Very well. The others will draw the pursuit away from the south. That cur would never imagine we’d take this water route.” Helan Zhen gave a cold smile.

A chill crept through my heart — these men were risking their lives for him, yet he had already consigned them to their deaths without a second thought, trading their lives for his own escape.

Helan Zhen cracked his whip and spurred his horse, and the group drove forward at a gallop. The mountain road grew ever more treacherous.

The fierce wind cut like a blade, slicing hard across my face and sending my loose strands of hair dancing in wild disarray.

I was locked tightly against Helan Zhen’s chest, wrapped beneath his riding cloak, his breath surrounding my ears and the side of my neck from all sides.

“If you are afraid, hold tight to me.” He suddenly murmured close to my ear.

His voice was low and deep. Hearing it so near, I startled… In such a moment as this, a strange sense of familiarity crept over me.

In the spring breezes and flower-lit moonlight of the Imperial Garden, my brother, and Zidan… we had once ridden side by side like that too, close and carefree.

That young man in white-flowing robes had once leaned close to my ear and said, “Don’t be afraid — hold on to me.”

For a moment I drifted, and a dull ache rose in my heart.

The mountain road turned sharply, and the view before us suddenly opened wide — a plank bridge soared through the air, spanning the gap of a sheer cliff.

From the depths of the ravine below came the sound of water pounding against the banks, as if a fierce current surged and rushed.

The curly-bearded man urged his horse forward and surveyed the scene for a moment, then turned back with delight. “This is the place! The hanging rope is already prepared. I’ll go down first to receive you.”

Helan Zhen let out a long breath. “Good. Be careful.”

Watching as the curly-bearded man dismounted and went to inspect the hanging rope at the bridge’s edge, I could no longer hold back the trembling that seized my body — if we left now, crossing out of the country’s borders, would I truly be dragged by Helan Zhen out beyond the frontier? Would I spend the rest of my days trapped among enemies, with no freedom to speak of?

If it came to that, I would rather die on the soil of the Central Lands!

Suddenly I heard Helan Zhen lean down and laugh softly into my ear. “How fitting — your man doesn’t want you anyway. You might as well follow me to the frontier from here.”

Those words, tossed out so carelessly, made the tears burst from my eyes.

This man always managed to pierce straight to the deepest wound in my heart with a single phrase, leaving me bleeding raw.

A hatred fierce as raging fire surged up suddenly from the depths of my heart.

“One day, I will kill you with my own hands.” I said through gritted teeth, every word rising from the very core of my being.

Helan Zhen burst into loud, prolonged laughter.

The laughter had not yet faded when a sharp, violent sound tore through the air!

Fierce wind, a wretched cry, the unceasing sound of blood spattering!

“Young Master, look out!” The curly-bearded man shouted a warning at the top of his voice, flipped himself onto his horse with a leap, and came racing back like the wind, placing himself behind Helan Zhen as a shield.

Almost simultaneously, Helan Zhen wheeled his horse around and pressed low in the saddle, pinning me tightly beneath him.

On the chestnut-red horse behind them, the skilled archer among the guards pitched head-first from his saddle and rolled across the ground.

A wolf-tooth arrow with white feathers had pierced clean through his throat, its white-feathered tail still faintly trembling.

Crimson blood poured in great gushes from his mouth and nose.

On that dying face, the mouth and nose were twisted in agony, and both eyes stared wide as copper bells.

Helan Zhen drew his blade with a sharp metallic ring and roared in fury, “Southeast direction!”

The curly-bearded man heard the call and turned, drawing an arrow in reverse grip, nocking it to the string, and training it far toward the southeast.

I jerked my head up and shouted, “Watch out —”

The arrow was loosed from the string and disappeared into the dense forest, without a sound.

In the southeast, there was only a single narrow path slanting down from the hillside, its far end obscured by a stretch of low-lying brush.

“Someone is behind the trees!” Another guard charged out on horseback and unleashed three sleeve-arrows in rapid succession into the brush beyond.

Helan Zhen shouted in alarm, “Come back!”

Before his words had even faded, another sharp whistling of an arrow split the air!

The force of that single arrow was enough to send the man on horseback crashing backward and tumbling to the ground — his head and neck struck the earth, and he died on the spot — a wolf-tooth arrow with white feathers had passed clean through his neck from front to back.

This time, even I could see it plainly — the arrow had not come from the path behind the trees. It had been shot down from the high slope above.

Looking up in that instant, I heard a warhorse scream in fury, the sound splitting the clouds.

A magnificent warhorse, its coat black as ink all over, stood with commanding presence at the crest of the slope, its gaze sweeping downward from on high as it raised its hooves and plunged into a descent, churning up mud and flying dirt with every step.

On the horse’s back, Xiao Qi held a sword leveled across the saddle, his full armor gleaming cold, his battle-cloak unfurling and sweeping like an eagle spreading its wings.

The horse’s hooves struck the earth like rolling thunder; the man carried with him the force of wind and lightning.

Horse and rider together seemed a demon of a blood-soaked hell — the killing intent arrived before the man himself.

“Young Master, go first!” The curly-bearded man wheeled his horse around, drew his nine-ring saber, charged forward to meet the threat, and let out a thundering battle cry. “You cur — fight me!”

Helan Zhen spurred his horse and leapt forward, seizing the path along the plank-way — wide enough for only a single rider — and bolted straight toward the rope bridge.

At that very moment, Xiao Qi’s horse arrived at full speed, and he clashed head-on with the curly-bearded man.

The sword sang like a dragon; the saber-rings clanged and rang — the clash of steel on steel tore through the open air, and a flash of snow-white light erupted between them.

The mountain road was narrow and treacherous, and two riders fought locked together in its confines: in a clash at close quarters, it is the braver who prevails — with every exchange of sword and saber, each blow was a life-staking, desperate offensive, brutal and savage, fraught with peril at every turn! Then suddenly a spray of vivid crimson burst forth — it was impossible to tell whose blood had just been shed there.

Terror gripped my heart and soul. Before my eyes was nothing but the cold gleam of blades; and then, abruptly, the iron grip on my body went slack.

Helan Zhen released me, reined his horse to a halt, and in a single reverse motion, nocked an arrow — pointing it at Xiao Qi from behind.

“No —” I cried out in alarm.

Xiao Qi and the curly-bearded man were locked together in a crossing of sword and saber, his back completely exposed.

Helan Zhen had drawn the bowstring to a full moon, his aim fully charged.

I threw myself forward with my whole body, summoning every last ounce of strength, and sank my teeth into his wrist.

Helan Zhen jolted from the pain, and the arrow flew from his grasp off-course.

That arrow grazed past the side of Xiao Qi’s face and shot wide.

Between my teeth, I felt the sensation of flesh tearing open; a dense, iron taste of blood surged straight to my head.

“Wretched creature!” Helan Zhen exploded with rage, flipping his hand and striking me across the back with his palm.

I felt a violent shock through my lungs, a sweetness rising in my throat — a mouthful of blood spewed from my lips, and darkness suddenly swallowed my vision.

Yet in that split second — that flash of lightning — I saw Xiao Qi wheel his horse and spin around, the blade in his hand blazing with sudden, brilliant light, as a streak of cold radiance split the air and cleaved downward!

Blood rained down in a cascade like a shower of red blossoms — the curly-bearded man’s head soared skyward.

Xiao Qi leapt his horse through the air, passing through the torrent of blood raining from above, the white feathers on his helmet stained entirely red.

The sight before my eyes was one that seized the very soul — yet it sent a jolt of fierce clarity through me. Faint as I was, I summoned all my remaining strength to raise my head, and smiled at him.

Another surge of hot iron rose in my throat; I could not hold it back any longer, and choked out a mouthful of blood, scattering drops of vivid crimson across my clothes.

Helan Zhen had retreated to the edge of the rope bridge. He swung down from his horse, gripped me with one arm, and stood with his blade leveled.

He held the commanding position at the bridgehead, the plank-way allowing only one person to pass at a time.

I was already swaying on the verge of collapse. Held in place by Helan Zhen’s single arm, I had no strength left to stand on my own.

“Did you not say you would fight me?” Xiao Qi leapt down from his horse, lifted his sword slowly, and looked on with cold contempt. “Xiao Qi is right here — come at me if you dare.”

The noon sunlight fell upon his sword-blade, raised level before him — its killing intent was bone-deep and chilling, impossible to look upon directly.

His whole body was bathed in blood, and the boundless murderous intent radiating from him made the man himself seem like a blade’s edge — he and his sword were one.

Helan Zhen’s grip on my shoulder tightened, his knuckles whitening, as if he were straining with all his will to suppress his fury and hatred.

The two men faced each other in a standoff; even a single moment felt like an eternity.

Helan Zhen spoke — yet it was with a light, careless smile. “I’ve changed my mind. We’ll fight another day.”

He was utterly nonchalant, as if discussing the wind and the moon. “For now — it is a choice between this woman, and my life… yours to make.”

Xiao Qi stood still and immovable as a mountain, the noon sunlight quietly merging the sharp gleam in his eyes with the cold glint at the tip of his sword into a single, unbroken line.

“This Prince wants both.” He spoke, word by measured word.

The tips of Helan Zhen’s fingers suddenly tightened — then he threw back his head and laughed.

Within that laughter, the killing intent hovering between the two men seemed to freeze the surrounding air to ice in an instant.

Xiao Qi stepped forward, one step at a time.

Helan Zhen’s hand quietly slid to my waist and fastened around the jade clasp at my side.

I jolted with sudden dread and cried out before I could stop myself, “Do not come closer!”

The words had not yet left my lips before both figures moved simultaneously.

Cold light flashed and crossed; a blade edge grazed past my temple.

The sword force was like frost, pressing close enough to chill the very brows and lashes.

Yet none of that compared to the terror of the faint, soft click at my waist —

Helan Zhen feinted with his blade, placing me as a shield before him, then used the opening to sweep backward and out — and in the space of a breath, his fingers tripped the jade clasp at my waist.

A thread of silver wire shot out from within the jade clasp, its far end locked firmly in Helan Zhen’s hand.

In an instant I understood his arrangement — the jade belt contained phosphorus fire of terrible toxicity, capable of incinerating everything within three zhang. He was using the silver wire to trigger the mechanism: once he leapt from the rope bridge, placing himself beyond three zhang’s distance, the wire in his hand would snap on its own, setting off the phosphorus fire — and both Xiao Qi and I would be reduced to ash.

I spun my head sharply, and my gaze met Helan Zhen’s cold and absolute eyes.

“Wang Xuan — until the next life!” A flash of desolate and fierce light crossed his gaze; he seized the silver wire and leapt into the void.

“Not necessary!” I bit down and, summoning the very last of my strength, threw out my arms and seized him.

My body suddenly left the ground. Wind rushed past my ears.

“Princess Consort —” Xiao Qi darted to the edge of the bridge and caught my sleeve in midair.

A ripping of silk — the fabric tore.

In an instant, my entire body was suspended in the air — hanging from the rope below the bridge alongside Helan Zhen.

Helan Zhen’s face had gone deathly pale. He clung to the rope by a single arm, halting the plunge, sweat pouring from his brow like water.

“I have the phosphorus fire and its deadly toxin on my body.” I looked up at Xiao Qi and offered a faint smile. “Go quickly… leave now…”

Xiao Qi shook with a start. The color of his face shifted violently. With absolute resolve, he leaned over the edge and extended his hand. “Grab hold of me!”

I shook my head. “Go now! Let me perish together with him!”

“Good — very well, ‘perish together’…” Helan Zhen suddenly burst into loud laughter and raised his hand to tighten the silver wire. “Xiao Qi — this settles our grudge once and for all! Come with us on the road to the underworld!”

I was overcome with horror. Looking down, I watched the silver wire retracting rapidly.

Xiao Qi leaned half his body over the edge, and roared with sudden fury, “Give me your hand!”

His armor was bathed in blood, his presence commanding and terrible, and the absolute resolve at the depths of his eyes brooked no refusal — with life and death balanced on a single instant, I could hesitate no longer. With a great summoning of will, I wrenched myself free and seized his hand with all my strength!

The silver wire at my waist snapped taut — and in that very instant, a flash of light like a bolt of white silk slashed down!

The sound of breaking bone cracked sharp as shattering porcelain.

A spray of vivid crimson splashed across my face.

Helan Zhen’s scream was so wretched it no longer sounded human — growing farther and fainter, dropping with terrible speed toward the bottom of the chasm.

The great hand gripping me exerted a sudden, explosive force, wrenching me upward through the air.

That single pull sent both of us tumbling to the ground together.

I fell into a warm, powerful embrace.

The jade belt at my waist was intact — and the far end of the silver wire was attached, unmistakably, to a severed hand cut clean at the wrist. Helan Zhen’s hand.

With a single stroke of his sword, Xiao Qi had cut off the hand Helan Zhen had used to hold the silver wire.

“It’s all right — it’s over now…” A low, warm voice spoke close to my ear, while with careful hands he removed the jade belt from my waist.

I lifted my head in a daze, wanting to see his face clearly — yet all I could see was blood everywhere, on his body, on his hands… The whole world was a sheet of vivid red…

Fire — a hideous, pale-green fire — engulfed the heavens and the earth; the roaring of wind swept past my ears; then suddenly a flash of a sword cut upward, and everything between heaven and earth turned blood-red, and great torrents of blood surged forward like a flood tide, about to close over my head…

I struggled with all my might, and my consciousness gradually cleared — yet no matter how I tried, I could not open my eyes.

It was as if I were suspended within a dreadful pale-green blaze, my entire body racked with pain; the slightest movement sent a tearing, heart-rending agony shooting through my chest.

In the haze I surfaced to wakefulness again and again, only to sink back under again and again.

In the dream, it seemed there were a pair of deep and fathomless eyes, reflecting flickering firelight, piercing straight to the heart; and it seemed there was a pair of warm hands, resting from time to time upon my brow; in the dimness, whose was that voice, murmuring soft words to me?

I could not make out what he said — I could only hear his voice, and my heart would slowly, gradually grow calm.

When I woke once more, I was finally able to open my eyes.

The bed curtain hung low; the candlelight swayed; faintly pervading the air was the thick, heavy scent of medicinal herbs.

I drew a deep breath and felt the soft, warm quilt beneath my fingers — only then did I believe I was not still dreaming.

That dreadful nightmare had truly passed. At this moment I lay safely on the bed — I was truly safe at last.

In the dream just moments before, there had been blood and sword-shadows, the howling of wind… I shuddered suddenly — and remembered the iron taste of blood and raw flesh in my mouth; remembered sword-light criss-crossing, a blade edge sweeping past my temple; remembered the leap into the void, my body suspended in emptiness… and remembered those steadfast, powerful arms.

In that moment, I had been like a broken feather, already falling toward death’s abyss — yet it had been that single sword strike, sweeping through the air to cut the grip of death, that had snatched me back from the road to the underworld and brought me back to that warm and solid embrace.

A silhouette moved faintly beyond the hanging curtain.

A familiar voice came low and soft: “Has the Princess Consort awakened yet?”

“Reporting to Your Highness: the Princess Consort’s injuries have improved. Her mind has not yet fully cleared.” An elderly voice replied.

“It has already been three days.” Xiao Qi’s voice carried worry. “She sustained internal injuries — I fear her meridians may be damaged.”

“Your Highness, please do not be concerned. Although that palm strike landed on a vital area, less than three parts in ten of its force was used — it has not damaged the heart meridian. However, the Princess Consort’s pulse is weak; her injuries and ailments have been suppressed within for too long. We cannot be overly aggressive with the treatment — to do so would cause her further harm.”

Outside, there was a long silence, broken only by the dense fragrance of herbal medicine drifting through the air. I made a feeble effort to raise my hand, wanting to lift the hanging curtain, but found I had no strength at all.

Then I heard a deep, heavy sigh. “Had Helan Zhen used the full force of that palm strike, I fear she would no longer be with us.”

“The Princess Consort is blessed by fortune — she is certain to turn misfortune into safety.” That voice was unfamiliar — not the elderly man from a moment before, and not Xiao Qi.

“I was overconfident and careless this time. Even now, looking back, I still feel the fear of what might have been…” Xiao Qi’s voice carried a note of self-deprecating laughter. “I could never have imagined that I, who have spent half my life on the battlefield and walked through endless blood, would know fear this day.”

“This subordinate only knows that when one’s heart is involved, one’s judgment falters.”

Xiao Qi gave a low laugh.

“Your Highness, those remaining followers of Helan…”

“We will discuss that matter tomorrow. You are dismissed.”

“Yes.”

There were no more sounds outside. A long silence followed.

I looked out through the bed curtain and could faintly make out a tall, upright silhouette, its profile cast on the folding screen beyond — still and clear-cut as if carved by a blade.

That figure stood without moving, as though — separated by the screen — it was gazing steadily toward the inner chamber where I lay.

I too held my breath, watching that silhouette.

Concern clouds one’s judgment. Those four words drifted up into my thoughts, and both my cheeks slowly grew warm.