Feng Suige followed his gaze upward, feeling his blood rush from his heart to his feet. In the howling wind, a slender figure was clinging to the nearly vertical cliff face, moving downward without pause. Her clothes fluttered in the wind, making her appear like a butterfly.

It was none other than Yi Xiao.

Xia Jingshi stood nearby, suddenly smiling. She was still the same as always—once she decided on something, she would pursue it recklessly.

“She’s truly gone mad…” Feng Suige cursed, cold sweat gradually appearing on his forehead. He didn’t dare blink. “At a time like this, she’s still so willful and reckless…”

“No,” Xia Jingshi softly interrupted him. “She’s not someone who doesn’t know what’s important. If it weren’t for something major, she wouldn’t choose this route down the mountain.” Before he finished speaking, Yi Xiao stepped on a weathered rock that crumbled beneath her. She slid down with the falling debris before finally stabilizing herself.

The one falling grimaced in pain, while those watching broke out in a cold sweat.

Feng Suige was so anxious he began to hop from foot to foot, lifting his robes to climb up. Xia Jingshi grabbed him, saying, “Don’t go. Don’t distract her.”

It was a close call, but in just a moment, Yi Xiao had nearly reached them. As Feng Suige prepared to go forward to meet her, she suddenly leaped, landing on the uneven slope. She stumbled a few steps before Feng Suige steadied her. Before he could scold her, Yi Xiao collapsed to the ground, exhausted. “The pursuers from the Holy City are coming…”

In the distance, as birds took flight in alarm, Xiao Weiran, standing at the rear of the battlefield, sensed something was amiss. Suppressing the bad feeling in his heart, he clenched his fists tightly, swallowing the order to sound the retreat several times.

His Highness should have taken action by now. Just hold on a little longer, just a bit more, if only they could break through…

Suddenly, a clear horn blast echoed through the air. The drum beats from both sides, meant to boost morale, faltered for a moment. Those amid battle were also stunned.

This momentary silence was enough for everyone to hear the thunderous hoofbeats of an alarming number of horses approaching rapidly from the side. The Holy Emperor heard it too, involuntarily rising to his feet.

The trembling of the earth transmitted from the soles of their feet into their bodies. Xiao Weiran smiled bitterly—it was too late.

In the blink of an eye, golden military flags embroidered with the Brocade Empire’s totem billowed like a sea. The sound of hoofbeats mixed with the thick, heavy clanging of armor surged forward like an avalanche. A vast army of mighty soldiers and generals appeared in their field of vision.

“Heh heh heh… Hahaha…” Triumphant laughter spilled from the Holy Emperor’s mouth, growing louder and louder. He laughed so hard he nearly fell over, causing the nearby Yulin General to reach out in panic to support him. “Your Majesty…” The Holy Emperor violently shook off his hand, turning to face the mountaintop with a fierce expression. “Xia Jingshi, I’d like to see where you can escape to now!!!”

The Brocade Empire’s army, like an unsheathed blade, cut straight into the formation. In just a moment, they had separated the two opposing forces. The Holy Emperor rushed forward a few steps, pointing at the Cavalry General who had just leaped down from his horse and shouted harshly, “You’ve arrived just in time. I command you to quickly annihilate these rebels, and then—”

Unexpectedly, not only did the Cavalry General not bow after dismounting, but he called out loudly, “Where is Commander Fan of the Yulin Guard? I request a word with you!” The purple-robed general accompanying the Holy Emperor was stunned and rebuked, “The Emperor is present! How dare you be so disrespectful!”

At that moment, there was a commotion from behind. The Holy Emperor turned to look and saw a small cavalry unit emerging from the side of the mountain. However, they weren’t wearing the purple armor of the Yulin Guard. Without time to think, he immediately ordered loudly, “Stop them!”

As the Yulin Guard began to move, the Cavalry General merely waved his hand lightly. Immediately, a unit of cavalry waiting behind sprang into action, and the infantry following had also caught up, effectively blocking the Yulin Guard’s path.

“How dare you! Are you rebelling too?” The Holy Emperor finally sensed something was amiss. His face turned pale as he retreated several steps. The Yulin Guard immediately gathered around him, forming a protective circle.

“We wouldn’t dare,” seeing his distress, the Cavalry General’s lips curled into a cold smile. “The old Prime Minister ordered us to lead the army here to protect Your Majesty and escort you back to the capital to manage the situation.” “I command you to capture all the rebels!” the Holy Emperor roared, his heart slightly steadying but still unable to contain his fury. “What are you standing around for? Go!”

This was the second time they rode together. Yi Xiao, exhausted, wrapped her arms around Feng Suige’s waist, burying her face in his chest.

If he hadn’t met her if he hadn’t married her if he hadn’t accompanied her to the Brocade Empire…

“Silly woman…” Yi Xiao vaguely heard Feng Suige murmur. She instinctively raised her head—yes, he was speaking.

Amidst the violent jolting, Feng Suige’s voice broke into fragments as it entered her ears. “Your reckless behavior doesn’t help matters. Wouldn’t it have been safer to stay on the mountain? Perhaps you could have escaped…” “If we must die…” Yi Xiao painfully shifted her body, trying to look back at the situation behind them. “I’d rather die on the battlefield—can we break through?”

“It’s difficult—tell me, do you think they’ll bury us together?” Feng Suige chuckled softly, then suddenly exclaimed, “What is the Holy Emperor up to?”

“What’s happening?” Yi Xiao struggled to turn her body to look, but suddenly slipped, falling towards the ground. “Yi Xiao!” Feng Suige cried out, but his hand couldn’t reach her in time. He could only watch helplessly as she tumbled down. The military officer following closely behind was startled and pulled hard on the reins, trying to stop the galloping horse, but the tremendous momentum of their full-speed charge carried the horse forward.

Amidst the cries of alarm from everyone, Xia Jingshi, who was half a horse-length behind Feng Suige, leaped from his horse. He caught Yi Xiao, who was dazed from the fall, in his arms and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the horse’s hooves.

She’s alright, she’s not hurt…

Xia Jingshi let out a long sigh of relief and softly asked, “Are you okay?”

Hearing his question, Yi Xiao instinctively looked up, meeting his gentle, concerned gaze. She was momentarily stunned. At the same time, Feng Suige had already reined in his horse and turned back. He leaped down from the saddle and ran over anxiously. “How is she? Is she injured?”

Xia Jingshi’s body tensed, and he released his hold.

Yi Xiao had just struggled to her feet when Feng Suige pulled her tightly into his embrace. “You nearly scared me to death…” “My hands were weak from climbing earlier, that’s why I couldn’t hold on and fell,” Yi Xiao mumbled, stealing a glance at Xia Jingshi nearby. He was taking the reins from a returning military officer. Yi Xiao blinked and gave an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, we were supposed to break through, but now everyone has stopped because of me…”

“If I had known earlier that you’d move around so much, I would have been happy to tie you to me with a rope. But—” Feng Suige said, lifting his chin to indicate she should look behind them, “now it seems they don’t have time to deal with us…”