Qing Xia got a clear look at the man’s appearance. She saw that this officer was about forty years old, with a full beard, and a pair of large copper-bell eyes, looking extremely fierce. Having identified this person’s appearance, she needn’t fear him mixing back into Chu camp. Qing Xia suddenly threw out her war blade with a loud crash, knocking down a row of sharp arrows the enemy had shot while quickly changing position upon hearing the sound.

Xi Lin Yuqiao received the signal and also quickly darted up, running rapidly southward under cover of darkness. Soon she met up with Qing Xia. Hearing the heavy footsteps pursuing behind them, both exerted their full strength and ran frantically.

As an elite special agent among special forces, Qing Xia was accustomed to wilderness raids. Xi Lin Yuqiao, with her exceptional martial arts, had naturally undergone rigorous training as well. The two bounded up and down, gradually widening the distance from the pursuing forces behind them. Just as they were about to approach Chu camp, suddenly a blinding red light shot up into the sky behind them. Both were stunned. Looking back, Qing Xia’s heart turned cold as she said in a deep voice, “Not good, they’re calling for reinforcements!”

As soon as her words fell, as if confirming her statement, chaotic footsteps suddenly rang out ahead. With no time to hide, bright white cold gleams enveloped both women’s entire bodies.

“Get down!” Qing Xia grabbed Xi Lin Yuqiao’s body and both tumbled awkwardly into the grass. A piercing pain flared up hotly in Qing Xia’s arm. Crying out that this was bad, she grabbed Xi Lin Yuqiao’s long spear and danced it frantically in front of them to block the rain of arrows, as they ran toward the distance.

“Ah! You’re hit by an arrow!” Xi Lin Yuqiao was shocked and grabbed Qing Xia, saying in panic.

Qing Xia frowned, pulled out the dagger from her boot, cut off the arrow’s tail, and without even glancing at the wound continuously gushing blood, said to Xi Lin Yuqiao in a deep voice, “It looks like the southern camp gate has been blocked by the bandits to prevent anyone from going back to report. You quickly go to the eastern gate—that’s guarded by the Imperial Guards and won’t be so easily breached. I’ll hold them off here.”

“No! You’re already wounded. You should run first, I’ll cover the rear!” Xi Lin Yuqiao said hurriedly.

“No!” Qing Xia raised an eyebrow, saying in a deep voice, “Do you think I’m telling you to flee for your life? These bandits didn’t flee after killing people, but instead want to return to camp—they must have some conspiracy. If you can’t get back to report, Southern Chu’s destruction is imminent. By then, not only will Chu Li die without a burial place, your elder brother won’t have a complete corpse either. Go back quickly!”

Xi Lin Yuqiao was stunned, thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Brother Li isn’t dead?”

Qing Xia frowned, saying with frustration, “Fool! If Chu Li were dead, why wouldn’t those people have mentioned it earlier? He must have been rescued when the camp was raided, otherwise why would the central command tent be unguarded? If you go back now, there’s still a chance in the future.”

Mentioning Chu Li, Xi Lin Yuqiao’s eyebrows trembled slightly as she said slowly, “You should go back instead. Brother Li’s beloved is you.”

“Idiot!” Time was pressing, yet this person was still entangled in such matters. Qing Xia flew into a rage, shouting sternly, “What time is it to be dwelling on romantic feelings! Can you withstand their attack if you stay? Neither of us will survive!”

She shoved the spear shaft into Xi Lin Yuqiao’s hands and pushed hard on her shoulder.

Xi Lin Yuqiao stumbled from Qing Xia’s push and sat down hard on the ground. Feeling the enemy forces carefully approaching and knowing time was urgent, she stared tightly at Qing Xia’s green leather armor covered in blood, tears finally flowing uncontrollably.

“You, you be careful!” Biting her lip, she said in a deep voice. Xi Lin Yuqiao suddenly turned around and ran toward the distance. After taking just two steps, she turned back again and said, “Wait for me, I’ll definitely bring people back to save you!”

Watching Xi Lin Yuqiao’s figure gradually disappear into the distance, Qing Xia frowned tightly. She could only do her utmost to buy time for her now, hoping it would be enough to warn Chu Li.

In many such moments, Qing Xia had no time to consider her own safety. Just like when carrying out missions, everything served the purpose of completing the task.

Having no suitable weapons left, Qing Xia drew her small dagger, holding it horizontally in front of her, half-crouched, waiting for the enemy to tentatively approach.

Suddenly, a huge fireball crashed down from above. Qing Xia’s heart instantly turned cold. At this moment, she knew that defeating them one by one was impossible. The fireball instantly exposed her position. Strike first to gain advantage, strike later to be controlled by others. With the mentality of killing as many as possible, Qing Xia instantly leaped into the air. Her body was like an agile cat, like a soaring goose, gripping the bloodthirsty dagger tightly as she landed on a guard, the bloodthirsty dagger plunging into a soldier’s neck, bright red blood instantly spurting out, covering her head and face. Qing Xia paid no mind, turning to deliver another cold gleam that pierced another soldier’s heart. With swift movements, two lives were instantly ended.

“Swoosh!”

In the cold wind, the icy blade cut through a person’s windpipe, slicing rough skin. This wasn’t the first time doing such things—it was as simple and ordinary as eating or drinking. When dealing with enemies, Qing Xia had always lacked mercy. Looking coldly at the corpses on the ground, the woman in green leather armor slightly relaxed her brow.

Since death was hard to escape anyway, she might as well kill to her heart’s content. Her life was originally heaven’s gift; even if she died now, it wouldn’t be a loss. She only hoped Xi Lin Yuqiao wouldn’t disappoint her expectations and wouldn’t be intercepted.

Countless cold arrowheads aimed at Qing Xia’s body. Those close-combat guards carefully retreated, no longer willing to approach this woman filled with Asura’s ghostly aura.

Looking at the cold bows and arrows across from her, Qing Xia knew that once the enemy leader gave the command, even with the greatest abilities, she’d find it hard to escape alive. Looking coldly at the mass of people across from her, Qing Xia put down her dagger, knowing there was no way to escape.

However, after waiting a long time without seeing the enemy give the order to shoot, Qing Xia frowned tightly and slowly raised her eyebrows.

Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded behind her. Qing Xia was startled and about to turn around when cold arrows suddenly shot from across, but none were aimed at Qing Xia—they were all shooting toward the direction behind her. Countless sharp arrows grazed past Qing Xia’s body without harming her in the slightest. Screams rang out behind her. Those merciless arrows struck Qing Xia’s heart like they’d been shot into it. Her entire body turned cold as if falling into an icy abyss. No longer caring about the wolf-like soldiers behind her, she stumbled forward.

A long deathly silence, as if the entire sky was bleeding.

A low voice suddenly rang out from the enemy ranks. With a command to retreat, all the soldiers instantly receded like a tide.

“Are you crazy?” Qing Xia could no longer care about others, crying out miserably to the girl lying in a pool of blood, “Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why did you come back? Why?”

Countless sharp arrows had pinned Xi Lin Yuqiao’s body firmly to the ground, piercing through her chest, abdomen, arms, and thighs like a sieve. Bright red blood continuously poured from Xi Lin Yuqiao’s mouth. Her body trembled slightly, wanting to speak but unable to utter a word, her face pale as death, hair disheveled, her snow-white martial arts uniform already completely blood-red.

Qing Xia covered her mouth and nose with her hand, standing before her, clenching her fists tightly, at a loss. She crouched down wanting to help up the pale girl but didn’t know where to start.

“Fool! Are you a fool?” Her eyes moist, Qing Xia’s heart felt pressed by a thousand-ton boulder. She breathed heavily, reaching out wanting to touch Xi Lin Yuqiao’s cheek, but after circling around all the arrows covering her body, her hand trembled uncontrollably. Speaking incoherently, she murmured, “Why did you come back? Why did you come back?”

“Mmm…” A muffled groan suddenly sounded. Qing Xia was startled and hurriedly looked at Xi Lin Yuqiao, seeing her slowly raise a hand that wasn’t pinned down. The hand still gripped the silver spear, slowly, laboriously extending it toward Qing Xia.

Qing Xia was instantly frozen in place, all her blood seeming to congeal instantly. She stared blankly at Xi Lin Yuqiao, finally slowly reaching out to take the spear, her voice choked as she said, “You came back because you were afraid I had no weapon, wanting to give me the spear?”

She no longer had strength to nod. Large mouthfuls of fresh blood spurted out as Xi Lin Yuqiao stared tightly at Qing Xia, her gaze becoming increasingly unfocused.

Tears she’d held back for so long finally poured down, falling drop by drop on Xi Lin Yuqiao’s pale cheek. Qing Xia collapsed on her small body, unable to suppress her wailing any longer.

Like a final burst of energy before death, Xi Lin Yuqiao suddenly hummed a few words as soft as mosquitoes. Qing Xia looked through tear-blurred eyes at this originally bright and stubborn girl, her voice choked as she said, “What are you saying? What are you saying?”

“Name… mmm… name…”

Mouthful after mouthful of fresh blood gushed urgently from her mouth. Qing Xia cradled her head in her hands, her heart aching beyond words. Looking into Xi Lin Yuqiao’s eyes, she finally said hurriedly, “I’m Zhuang Qing Xia. My name is Zhuang Qing Xia.”

“Zhuang?” Xi Lin Yuqiao’s eyes instantly widened. After a long time, as if understanding everything, she showed a tragic smile. She slowly extended her blood-covered hand to grasp Qing Xia’s hand. Her hand was ice-cold, life rapidly draining from her body as Qing Xia tightly gripped her palm in return.

“Qing Xia.” Her head tilted to one side, and the white-clothed girl’s hand immediately lost strength and drooped down. Qing Xia knelt blankly on the vast wilderness. After a long time, she finally raised her head, tears streaming like rain.

“Who’s there!” A low shout suddenly rang out. Qing Xia raised her hand, and a cold gleam instantly shot forward like a projectile, with a thud embedding itself in that person’s neck. The woman in the darkness sprang up, and in a few bounds had reached that person’s side. She pulled out the dagger from his neck cavity, a line of blood spurting out. Qing Xia acted as if she hadn’t seen it, throwing down his corpse with a thud and running forward. The Southern Chu camp was now in ruins, countless tents burned, everywhere bearing traces of war fire. Large numbers of corpses had been cleaned up, but dark red blood still remained on the ground, blood and mud mixed together in chaos.