What exactly was the relationship between this Yan Country’s Ninth Prince and Great Zhou’s Emperor, as well as this Bai Qingyu?

A ridiculous thought arose in Li Tianjiao’s mind—surely it couldn’t be… that this Yan Country’s Ninth Prince, like the former Rong Di Ghost-Faced Prince, was also a son of the Bai family!

Throughout Yun Jing City, fires blazed everywhere, flying stones blotted out the sky, chaos reigned in every corner. Thick smoke billowed and flames shot skyward everywhere, fierce battles raged in all directions—the entire scene was in complete disarray. Yet at this moment, nothing was more chaotic than Li Tianjiao’s heart.

The shadow guard squad leader saw that Bai Qingyu had already vomited blood, while Xiao Rongyan was now entangled with other shadow guards. His gaze fell upon Bai Qingyu as he raised his sword and charged toward him.

Yue Shi had already led men through the entrance. Seeing Bai Qingyu clutching his chest, then looking at the shadow guard squad leader rushing toward Bai Qingyu, his eyes widened as he charged rapidly in Bai Qingyu’s direction: “Fifth Young Master, be careful!”

The Bai Family Army, following closely behind, rushed toward their commander: “Fifth Young Master!”

Bai Qingyu raised his head, his pitch-black eyes fixed intently on the shadow guard squad leader striking at him with his sword. He suddenly rose and used his sword to block the squad leader’s full-force attack, his back slamming against the pillar once more. His reaction was extremely quick—relying on the round pillar, he kicked the shadow guard squad leader in the chest, sending him staggering back several steps.

“Go capture Li Tianjiao!” Bai Qingyu coldly turned his head, shouting to Yue Shi and the Bai Family Army charging toward him, his overwhelming killing intent pressing upon them.

Hearing the command, the Bai Family Army immediately turned toward Li Tianjiao’s direction. Yue Shi gritted his teeth and also turned to capture Li Tianjiao.

Li Tianjiao had two shadow guards protecting her, so the shadow guard squad leader wasn’t worried. His mission today was to take Bai Qingyu’s life. He raised his sword again, sacrificing his life to attack Bai Qingyu.

Bai Qingyu stood with sword in hand, the blood-stained precious sword in his grip, gleaming with cold light.

Metal clashed against metal, sparks flew, and cold light shuttled between the two men.

Li Tianjiao gripped her sword tightly, simultaneously resisting the attacks from the Bai Family Army and Yue Shi while retreating straight back under the protection of two shadow guards.

Suddenly, soldiers wearing Western Liang armor charged out from the rear hall of the great hall…

They engaged in fierce combat with the Bai Family Army and Yue Shi who had rushed into the great hall, protecting Li Tianjiao among them. The general leading the troops shouted while fighting with his sword raised: “This general arrives late to rescue! We have alarmed Your Majesty!”

“Warriors! General Cui Shanzhong has ordered us to escort Your Majesty to retreat at all costs! Kill!”

Hearing General Cui Shanzhong’s name, Li Tianjiao finally felt somewhat reassured. She raised her eyes to look in Bai Qingyu’s direction and suddenly widened them…

Li Tianjiao witnessed with her own eyes as Bai Qingyu bare-handedly grabbed her shadow guard squad leader’s long sword, piercing through her squad leader’s throat with one thrust. With a twist of his wrist, blood mist sprayed forth as her shadow guard squad leader collapsed to his knees.

Bai Qingyu gripped the long sword with both hands, raising it high before striking down. As her shadow guard squad leader’s head rolled away, fresh blood sprayed several feet high.

Li Tianjiao felt surges of blood rushing to her head. That shadow guard squad leader had been personally selected for her by her father emperor—it could be said that aside from Western Liang itself, that squad leader was the only thing her father emperor, had left her!

Li Tianjiao lost her composure, raising her sword to charge out and fight Bai Qingyu to the death.

“Your Majesty!” The wounded shadow guard protecting Li Tianjiao grabbed her arm. “Now is not the time for Your Majesty to sacrifice your life in battle! We will escort Your Majesty to the rear hall, where Old General Cui Shanzhong is leading troops waiting for Your Majesty! It’s not the final moment yet!”

These shadow guards hadn’t all died yet, the Imperial Guards hadn’t all died yet! Western Liang’s army hadn’t fought to the last man, and the people of Western Liang hadn’t all perished! When would it be their emperor’s turn to take the battlefield?!

Seeing Li Tianjiao’s eyes blazing with intense hatred, remaining motionless.

“Your Majesty! Great Zhou’s main commander, Bai Qingqi, has already led men inside! More and more people from Yan Country and Great Zhou are charging in! We must go!” For the first time, that shadow guard boldly pushed their emperor backward, then immediately joined the battle.

The sounds of killing outside grew even more intense, suddenly reaching a deafening crescendo.

Bai Qingqi’s resonant voice rang out: “The Bai Family Army has entered the palace! All Western Liang soldiers, surrender your weapons, and you won’t be killed! Those who resist stubbornly… their entire clans will be spared nothing!”

“Your Majesty, leave quickly!” The general who had led troops shouted to Li Tianjiao upon hearing Bai Qingqi’s voice.

Currently in the great hall, with their superior numbers, they could still handle the people from Yan Country and Great Zhou with ease, but Bai Qingqi had already arrived with the Bai Family Army!

Their Western Liang Emperor didn’t know the current situation outside—how many Western Liang soldiers, seeing the Great Zhou and Yan allied forces attack, felt that Western Liang’s cause was lost and immediately surrendered by laying down their weapons.

During great battles, what was most taboo was having people surrender among one’s soldiers. Once one person set the precedent, it was like floodwaters bursting through a dam—difficult to stop, as the soldiers’ fear of death would all be triggered, leading them to surrender without fighting.

Li Tianjiao was escorted by the soldiers toward the rear hall. Xiao Rongyan, Bai Qingyu, the Bai Family Army, and Yue Shi slaughtered the remaining Western Liang forces who stayed to resist. Just as the Bai Family Army and Yue Shi were about to give chase, Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyu spoke in unison.

“No need to pursue!”

“No need to pursue!”

Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyu looked at each other. The completely soaked Xiao Rongyan walked toward Bai Qingyu, who was clutching his chest tightly: “Are you alright?”

Bai Qingyu shook his head. The fresh blood on his hands continuously dripped down along his sword tip, touching the ground.

“Master! Why aren’t we pursuing?! If we let the Western Liang Emperor escape through the secret passage, we’ll have to send people out of the city to chase her!” Yue Shi said anxiously.

“She can’t escape!” Bai Qingyu spoke calmly, his gaze falling on the headless Western Liang shadow guard squad leader he had beheaded. “The secret passage is in this very palace! We need to send people to fight their way out… and control the palace’s north gate or east gate!”

Just now, when the squad leader told Li Tianjiao to leave first, Li Tianjiao had hesitated before saying she wouldn’t go.

At that moment, Bai Qingyu already knew that the secret passage in Western Liang’s palace, known only to the emperor, was likely in this very palace.

With Yun Jing City fallen and strong enemies attacking outside the palace’s main south gate, if Xiao Rongyan’s men and the Bai Family Army could find a way to open the palace’s north or east gates and let Great Zhou or Yan forces in, then Western Liang’s defeat would be sealed.

“Rest assured, thanks to the maps sent by the Great Zhou, Yan forces have already gone to open the palace’s north and east gates at this time. Perhaps… your elder sister’s milk brother has also led men to open the palace gates.” Xiao Rongyan said to Bai Qingyu. “Otherwise, if we rashly entered the palace, wouldn’t we be in the predicament of being surrounded at any moment?”

Originally, Bai Qingqi was going to personally lead men in to rescue Bai Qingyu, but Xiao Rongyan took on the task of rescuing Bai Qingyu, saying that since Yan Country had made the error, Yan Country must return Bai Qingyu completely intact.

Since they were rescuing someone, Xiao Rongyan naturally had to arrange everything properly.

Hearing Xiao Rongyan say this, Bai Qingyu nodded with relief.