The rain poured down in torrents, wild winds howled, and the world was shrouded in desolation. The cold wind cut to the bone, sending chills down one’s spine. The lonely firmament loomed overhead, and the oppressive, low, howling rain madly washed away everything in the world like roaring magical beasts. The blade edges reflected fiery red light, carrying a bloodthirsty desolation, coldly illuminating those different faces.

Mo’er’s voice had gone hoarse. The child had gone mad, desperately pounding on Zhuge Yue’s back. This child who had lost his family finally tore away his childish innocence. Like a small beast driven to desperate straits, he stared with bloodshot eyes and howled in despair.

“Xingxing! Xingxing!”

The child shouted desperately, tears streaming down his face. His voice was like that of a wolf cub abandoned by its mother. He stretched out his hand toward the little girl lying limply on the ground, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. The pouring rain beat down on his face, his eyes, his body. Everything was crimson red. The winding fresh blood pooled into a red whirlpool on the ground. The rain continuously washed it away, but the bloody smell lingered in the air, permeating the tumultuous cold wind.

At that moment, Chu Qiao gripped the knife in her hand tightly. Lightning after lightning exploded in the sky, illuminating her face with a stark white light. She breathed deeply but still couldn’t control her body’s trembling. Her face was ashen, her lips bloodless, but her eyes were black and bright. She suddenly remembered the timid look on the child’s face when she left, her pure smile with a hint of careful ingratiation. She had said, “Sister, I’m leaving now, I’ll come back tomorrow.”

I’ll come back tomorrow… I’ll come back tomorrow… I’ll come back tomorrow…

A surge of grief and anger rose to her throat. She slowly raised her head, then jumped off the horse, discarded the scabbard, and held the war blade high above her head with both hands. Her gaze was so cold as she stared at the golden-yellow large tent.

“Bad people! Bad people!”

The child was still crying out. Zhuge Yue also jumped off the horse. The man was very calm. He patted the child on his back and said in a deep voice, “Kid, save your strength. Showing tears to your enemies is the behavior of a coward.”

Ouyang Mo reached out his small hand and wiped away the tears on his face, but in his eyes, there was no longer any trace of childish innocence and naivety.

Little Xingxing’s body had been casually thrown into a ditch in front of the large tent. There was only one fatal knife wound on her body, which had already been bleached white by the rain. Her eyes were wide open, but there was no hatred in them, only panic, fear, terror, and disbelieving worry. Her body was so small, and she wasn’t wearing shoes. Her pale little feet were exposed outside her small skirt, along with a section of thin little legs.

And in her hand, she was still holding a dagger.

It was the one Chu Qiao had given her at their parting.

Two middle-aged people lay beside her, a man and a woman, presumably Xingxing’s parents.

The cold wind blew, lifting Chu Qiao’s lake-green robe. The luxurious dress was already soaked through, clinging tightly to her body. She raised her head, took a deep breath, then suddenly stepped forward. In an instant, her eyes showed no hesitation or sadness, only courage and persistence that pressed forward without retreat, and a belief and fierce energy that could destroy everything!

At that moment, the bright blade light and terrible killing intent instantly filled the entire area. Chu Qiao leaped up, a bright white blade light cutting through the darkness, fiercely chopping down, slaughtering all questioning voices and gazes with her war blade.

Ah!

A sharp scream broke the silence of the rainy night. The wounded soldier let out a beast-like cry of pain. The young woman cast aside all feminine weakness. At this moment, she was a warrior, a cold-blooded, fearless killing machine. Her knife was lodged in the soldier’s chest. She exerted force with her feet, suddenly moving forward, the blade pressed relentlessly against the soldier’s body as she ran forward rapidly.

“Surround them! Protect the master!”

In the chaos, someone shouted. Everyone’s gaze instantly became frenzied. Now that they were like fish in a jar, if they could kill these intruders, it would be a great achievement.

But this frenzy only lasted for a moment. In the next second, people were horrified to find how ridiculous their thoughts were, because, during their hasty defense, the opponents had already begun a mad slaughter!

From beginning to end, they had never thought of escaping!

An elegant blade light cut through the void. The two soldiers charging at the front both screamed and retreated, one of them even had a leg cut off. Blood sprayed, and screams arose. A soldier sneaked up from behind, intending to ambush. Chu Qiao didn’t even look back, she stabbed backward with her knife, fiercely piercing the man’s heart. The young woman stood slightly hunched in the pouring rain, her figure frozen. Then she suddenly pulled out the knife, and a jet of blood instantly gushed out, completely splashing onto her.

She didn’t even frown. Her gaze, like that of an eagle, coldly surveyed the surroundings, causing terror wherever it fell. She slowly straightened up, and then, dragging her war blade, walked forward slowly.

“Catch her!”

A guard leader shouted again. Zhuge Yue snorted coldly, swung his arm, and with a whooshing sound through the air, the scabbard of his Breaking Moon sword suddenly whistled through the air, and then, terrifyingly, fiercely pierced through the guard’s stomach!

“Uncle, kill them!”

The child showed no fear at all; instead, he shouted with red eyes.

After the cruel massacre, even a young child had lost his original compassion and kindness. He waved his little fists, shouting and roaring, like a war-crazy person who had been through many battles.

“The young master orders, whoever can take the heads of these three people will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!”

An attendant walked out from the large tent and ordered everyone, but before he could finish speaking, Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue instantly charged forward, leaping into the crowd. In a moment, large numbers of men and horses surged from all directions. Countless hands, feet, and war blades struck at them. However, screams instantly rose to the sky. Almost in an instant, countless howls echoed through heaven and earth. Broken limbs and fresh blood shot outward. People fell to the ground like wheat, the cruel massacre making hands and feet tremble. No longer concerned about money, the crowd fled in all directions. Many people fled almost crawling and rolling. In a cleared area, only Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao stood side by side, looking at the dark crowd with contemptuous eyes.

The man was bathed in blood. He calmly asked, “Still alive?”

“Not dead yet.”

Chu Qiao coldly looked at the crowd in front, saying slowly and firmly, “You hold these people back, I’ll enter the tent.”

Zhuge Yue frowned, just about to object, when he saw Chu Qiao’s figure instantly shoot out like an arrow released from a bow.

Another round of brutal fighting ensued. Zhuge Yue cursed under his breath but still took a few steps to catch up and clear a brief opening for her.

…

In the spacious large tent, Yan Xun frowned as he leaned against the warm couch. Only A Jing, who had retained his original appearance, stood nearby with a knife, listening to the commotion outside. He said in a deep voice, “Master, let the Yan guards take action. These two people’s kung fu is very strong.”

Yan Xun gently rubbed his temples with his hand and said coldly, “No need, these minions of the Liu family, it’s good to leave them here.”

“But,” A Jing frowned and said, “We can’t have a single local person from the Liu family. This way it will be difficult for us to operate in Bian Tang.”

Yan Xun waved his hand and said indifferently, “Wait a little longer.”

…

At this point, Chu Qiao had charged to the front of the large tent. Blocking her way were only five personal guards of the Liu family. But she just looked at them coldly, then slowly licked the fresh blood on her cheek. That casual attitude and arrogance that placed nothing in her eyes instantly destroyed these few people’s confidence.

Then, she once again raised her blade, showing no mercy, the most perfect killing machine of the cold weapon era.

There was dead silence inside the large tent, with only the constant sounds of fighting coming from outside. A Jing’s forehead was slightly sweaty, and he finally couldn’t help asking again, “Young master…”

Yan Xun’s brows were tightly knitted. For some reason, a trace of annoyance rose from the bottom of his heart. It seemed like he had forgotten something, like a voice was frantically shouting in his heart, but he couldn’t hear clearly what the voice was saying. The killing sounds outside were so loud, making him recall many memories he didn’t want to recall. Finally, he lightly waved his hand and said, “Go ahead.”

A Jing took a deep breath, just about to speak.

But at this moment, a voice as cold as snow suddenly rang out, instantly like a long sword cutting through the void, breaking this deathly silent night, casting a terrifying sharp light across the world!

“Liu Xi! Come out here!!!”

On the day he fled from Zhen Huang City, standing under the vast black sky, Yan Xun had told himself that he would never fear anyone again, would never fear anything again. All forces that stood in his way would be mercilessly torn apart by him. He would use his knife, his fists, and his strength to announce to the whole world: The king of Yan Bei has returned, and all the crimes and humiliations that had been inflicted upon him, he would repay tenfold a hundredfold.

However, at this moment, he was afraid. He hadn’t even put on his shoes but jumped off the warm couch suddenly, and then, staggering forward, he rushed toward the door like a madman who cared about nothing.

“Young master!”

The guards inside the large tent were shocked and all rushed forward. A Jing grabbed Yan Xun, not having heard that voice clearly, but simply thinking his master was angry and wanted to rush out to fight the enemy head-on.

“Master! Don’t be impulsive! That kind of person isn’t worth your intervention!”

The sounds of weapons clashing rang out, the sharp sounds of metal colliding. Chu Qiao’s voice once again echoed in their ears: “Liu Xi! Come out!”

And this time, even A Jing froze in place.

The strong wind blew, and a breaking sound came. The curtain of the large tent was cut open with a knife. Lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, exploding behind the woman. The world was a sheet of white, and her blood-soaked figure was so upright at that moment.

She stood at the door, her brow showing faint disdain. She proudly held up her war blade, the blade pointing directly at Yan Xun, coldly snorting, “Liu Xi, you didn’t expect it was me, did you?”

Indeed, unexpected, how could he have expected?

The candlelight in the large tent was blown out by the wind and rain outside. The dim light shone on the woman’s pale face. At this moment, language was insufficient to express Yan Xun’s feelings. He stood there like a wooden statue, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say, only frowning deeply, looking at her deeply, yet unable to utter a single word.

Chu Qiao looked at him coldly, her tone neither humble nor overbearing, without any emotional fluctuation. She simply pointed her blade at him: “Betraying Yan Bei, betraying Da Tong, slaughtering your kind. Tell me, should you die or not?”

At this moment, the Yan guards who had been hiding outside the large tent all moved at once. These soldiers who had experienced countless battles were naturally incomparable to the Liu family’s guards. Everyone was dressed in black, their heads and faces wrapped, holding sharp weapons as they rushed out from the two adjacent tents, immediately surrounding Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao tightly. The archers had already prepared, but when they saw the woman standing in the middle, everyone was shocked and forgot to attack.

Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao naturally couldn’t see this. The Liu family’s guards had already retreated, and the camp was dead silent.

“Xing’er!” Zhuge Yue rushed forward, holding his sword in front of her, his other hand blocking her, afraid she would impulsively rush out to fight to the death. Just a simple posture, but the protective meaning needed no words.

Chu Qiao looked at Liu Xi in the darkness, saying slowly and firmly, “Liu Xi, I represent the Da Tong Guild to take your life.”

Chu Qiao coldly pointed at him, her expression very calm: “Even if I can’t kill you today, someday Yan Xun will avenge me! Betrayers will be slaughtered, with no way to survive!”

With a “boom,” lightning flashed across the sky. The white-clothed man in the large tent suddenly smiled lightly. He raised his head to look at the pouring rain outside, the chaotic shadows, the black sky, his smile full of mockery and bitterness.

Should he be grateful? She finally stood safely before him, and still completely trusted him.

But how could he face this chaotic situation before him?

Heaven had never seemed to favor him!

Chu Qiao was slightly stunned. His expression, his demeanor, seemed so familiar, but after such a slaughter, her mind was somewhat rigid. Some things, she simply wouldn’t think about or doubt.

She just frowned at the man in the darkness, then, holding her knife, slowly, slowly took a step forward.

With a “swoosh,” the Yan guards all stepped forward.

At this moment, the man suddenly extended his hand and lightly waved to the left and right.

Instantly, everyone was shocked, because that gesture meant to let them go!

“Young master!”

The steward of the Liu family anxiously stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “How can you…”

The man’s gaze was instantly as sharp as ice and snow, coldly staring at the steward. With anger, disgust, and even frenzied killing intent.

Steward Lin’s spine went cold, and he quickly followed his instructions, turning to Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue, saying, “The young master has agreed to let you go.”

Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue were stunned, with no joy in their eyes, but rather looking at the man strangely, as if looking at a monster.

Steward Lin impatiently cursed, “Get out quick! Do you want us to escort you out?”

“Xing’er, let’s go.”

Chu Qiao frowned, still looking puzzled at the dark large tent. Zhuge Yue grabbed her arm and said in a deep voice, “Come with me!”

Attacking the central tent earlier was just for tactical reasons. Since they now agreed to let them go, regardless of the reason, there was no reason to hesitate.

Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao mounted two masterless warhorses. Zhuge Yue looked back at the dark large tent and said in a deep voice, “Liu Xi, if you fall into my hands someday, I’ll also give you one chance to live.”

There was no sound in the darkness. Just as Chu Qiao was about to ride away, a sigh suddenly sounded softly, so tired, so helpless, as if all the strength in his body had been expelled.

The man said quietly, “Be careful.”

The sound was so small, so faint, but Chu Qiao still heard it. Her body immediately trembled, and then, she suddenly turned her head.

Dense soldiers stood between them, hiding the man’s figure. All she could hear was the sound of pouring rain. Thunder followed thunder, echoing across the vast land.

The cold wind blew her cold, wet hair, which still had a thick smell of fresh blood, so pungent, so unpleasant.

“Go!”

Zhuge Yue shouted coldly, riding away at a gallop.

Chu Qiao’s brows were tightly knit. Finally, she turned her head and followed behind Zhuge Yue, treading through the mud and silt, galloping toward the outside of the camp.

The wind and rain grew heavier. Everywhere there was heavy breathing. The soldiers looked at each other, watching the enemy just leave like that. For a moment, everyone was briefly stunned.

“Young master!”

A Jing turned around and anxiously called out, “That was the young lady! How could you let the young lady go with Zhuge Yue?”

“What else could I do?” Yan Xun turned around, smiling bitterly. “Should I take off my mask and tell A Chu that everything was done by me?”

The clouds were black, and the rain was continuous. The sun was dim yellow at the horizon. This long, cold night was finally coming to an end.