Xiao Changying knew these were His Majesty’s men and wouldn’t leave any survivors, as that would expose his secret trip to the Northwest. He must have had Xiao Changqin covering for him in the capital to dare stay away so long, so he absolutely couldn’t reveal he wasn’t in the capital.
As a precaution, Xiao Huayong left the Haiedong eagle behind – if Xiao Changying found himself outmatched, the eagle could provide some assistance.
They first headed uphill, gaining a clearer view of the fighting below. The clash between the two forces resembled a bloody battlefield.
Shen Xihe whipped her horse harder, quickly crossing over the mountain and descending, leaving the troubled area behind. Just as they were nearing the plains, where ambushes would become nearly impossible, an arrow emerged from nowhere. Wrapped in roaring flames, it streaked past their vision and struck a tree, igniting it instantly.
As one tree caught fire, the flames spread fiercely, quickly engulfing four more trees in all directions. In the blink of an eye, they were surrounded by a forest of fire.
The burning leaves fell, carrying flames to the ground covered in dry foliage. In the arid conditions, tongues of fire sprang up easily.
“His Majesty has no shortage of clever people,” Xiao Huayong looked up, spotting an extremely thin wire crisscrossing between the treetops. The fire spread so quickly because of this iron wire guide, and the dry Northwestern trees caught flame easily.
About a li’s distance ahead had become a bridge of fire, with them trapped beneath. The flames grew increasingly fierce. Whatever had been done to the leaves made them drip like wax as they fell burning.
It truly became a rain of fire. A drop on one’s skin would at least burn away flesh. But losing a layer of flesh would be the least of their worries – Shen Xihe hadn’t noticed it earlier, but as the fire spread, a distinctive scent wafted through the air.
“The scent of qilin horn…” Shen Xihe furrowed her brow and said softly.
The black horse grew very restless, and Shen Xihe struggled to control it.
“Qilin horn?” Even the widely knowledgeable Xiao Huayong hadn’t heard of it.
“It’s a plant from Tianzhu. Its sap is as poisonous as Angel’s Tears, but more aggressive – it can burn the skin and allow the toxin to spread into the body through the wounds,” Shen Xihe explained to Xiao Huayong.
With no maritime restrictions in this dynasty, Shen Xihe often had merchants bring back exotic plants from their ocean voyages. She took particular interest in poisonous specimens and had been fortunate enough to obtain qilin horn before, conducting many tests to thoroughly understand its properties.
Before them, flames wrapped in leaves fell drop by drop, creating a dazzling rain of fire that sparkled like crystal beads strung through the forest. When caught in sunlight, it was extraordinarily brilliant and bewitchingly beautiful – yet a single touch could be lethal.
“Should we… find another path?” Shen Xihe knew she couldn’t solve this predicament.
Those who set this trap must have anticipated this would be their only viable exit. They had prepared this deadly trap for Xiao Huayong’s group, planning to surround them from behind and prevent their escape.
But they had underestimated Xiao Huayong – his men had not only blocked Pei Zhan but had completely prevented any pursuit.
There were only a few escape routes – they could return to the battle, but other paths likely held venomous snakes or unknown dangers lying in wait.
Xiao Huayong gave a soft laugh. His bright black eyes scanned the trees up and down, then glanced at a nearby guard before leaping up: “Your sword!”
As he soared upward, Shen Xihe’s guard instinctively threw his sword. Xiao Huayong caught the blade in mid-air, gripping it with both hands. His technique was swift as the wind – even Shen Xihe couldn’t follow it. As he landed, he swept the blade horizontally. Though the sword’s edge was three to five steps from the nearest tree, its powerful force manifested as a frost-white energy that rippled out like water. A crack rang out in the silence, like a dried branch snapping.
Xiao Huayong maintained his sword stance, not yet standing straight, when rapid cracking sounds erupted. The two trees nearest him fell, followed by two more behind them. Even the third row of trees showed cracks and swayed precariously.
Shen Xihe had never been so astonished. Her obsidian pupils couldn’t help but dilate, and even Mo Yu and Mo Yuan felt their hearts tighten.
Such martial arts they had only heard of in stories. As martial artists themselves, they could precisely gauge such abilities. They had thought these skills existed only in tales, never expecting to witness them firsthand.
As the trees fell backward, the flaming leaves stopped falling. The ground was still burning, and Shen Xihe ordered Mo Yu: “Cover the horses’ hooves.”
Having grown up in the Northwest facing constant warfare, they were prepared for various harsh conditions. They instinctively carried necessities like hoof coverings.
As the cold blade continued felling trees one by one, the ground fires grew stronger. Xiao Huayong turned to Shen Xihe and the others: “Go first.”
If they didn’t leave soon, the great fire would become impassable.
Just as Shen Xihe’s group finished covering the horses’ hooves, she turned to instruct Mo Yuan: “You go ahead.”
She had to stay with Xiao Huayong – when the fire grew stronger, having horses would allow a quicker escape.
“Crown Princess, let this servant stay. Crown Princess should go first with Mo Yu,” Mo Yuan called out loudly.
How could he let the Crown Princess risk herself here? And with these flames… The distance was so great, and as more trees fell, the fire would become increasingly difficult to extinguish. Yet if the trees weren’t cut down, the poisoned burning leaves falling from above would allow toxins to enter their bodies.
Mo Yuan only regretted his insufficient skill. If he had Xiao Huayong’s profound ability to cut thick tree trunks from afar, Xiao Huayong wouldn’t need to stay behind.
“I require obedience,” Shen Xihe said coldly.
“Crown Princess…”
“Everyone out,” Xiao Huayong commanded in a deep voice after another slash that cut through several trees in two rows, steadying himself.
His wide sleeves fell back, revealing his sword hand trembling slightly. Cutting so many trees had truly drained his energy. The growing flames and choking smoke in his nostrils made him uncomfortable. Having Shen Xihe stay would only distract him – only once she was safe could he focus completely.