His fingers pointed forward!

The bandits all around drew their bows even tighter. Arrow after arrow seemed coated with a silver glow, aimed directly at their prey.

Ji Yunshu suddenly stepped forward.

She urgently said, “Zhao Huai, why stake the entire Gaoshan Stronghold on this gamble?”

“You forced me to this.”

“Stand down, or it will truly be too late. Do you really want to watch the people outside die in vain?”

Zhao Huai hesitated!

At this moment, Muruo gradually moved closer to Jingrong, quietly reminding him, “You’re injured. Get into the house immediately when it starts. That jug of wine is inside—you know what to do, right?”

As he spoke, he pressed a fire striker into Jingrong’s hand.

Jingrong nodded and asked, “Can you hold them off?”

“I can manage for a while.”

“Good.”

The two spoke in code.

Zhao Huai also seemed to have made up his mind. With a ruthless expression, he pressed his hand forward and gave the order.

“Kill them!”

Thus—

Sharp arrows flew forth.

Jingrong immediately grabbed Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi’s hands. Protected by Muruo and Shi Ziran, they quickly entered the house and shut the door.

Outside, a massive rain of arrows formed, each one lethal.

Fortunately, the martial skills of Muruo and the Shi siblings were not to be underestimated—they could hold out for a while yet.

Inside the house!

Sharp arrows pierced through from outside, embedding in the door, the windows, or shooting directly through the window paper to lodge in the pillars inside.

Since the rooms in Gaoshan Stronghold had three walls and one door, this room could shelter them from the arrow rain but was also a dead end.

Wei Yi was terrified, not daring to breathe. Ji Yunshu held his trembling body, crouching in the corner with her head deeply bowed.

Jingrong found the wine jug containing sulfur powder. He opened the lid, pulled out an arrow embedded in a pillar, sprinkled sulfur powder on it, and lit it with the fire striker.

Flames immediately leapt up.

With a swing of his arm, the arrow flew out and lodged in the roof opposite, starting a fire.

Jingrong continued. As arrows shot in, he sent flaming arrows back out.

Soon, fires blazed outside.

The small courtyard filled with thick smoke, and the arrow rain ceased.

Muruo kicked open the door. Together with Jingrong, they brought Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi out, escaping the small courtyard amid the chaos.

Because Ji Yunshu had choked on smoke, her body was weak and supported by Jingrong.

Zhao Huai led his men in relentless pursuit.

They chased all the way to the stronghold gates.

The stronghold’s main gates were tightly shut.

Outside, sounds of battle rang out. One could imagine that the three thousand troops had already attacked the mountain.

Just as Jingrong’s group arrived, the gates were pushed open from outside.

The sounds of slaughter became even more deafening.

The Jingzhou troops forced the Gaoshan Stronghold people to retreat step by step, finally occupying the outer perimeter.

However, only about a thousand Jingzhou soldiers had made it up the mountain—most had died on the traps at the mountain’s base.

One could imagine what a bloody scene the bottom of Gaoshan Stronghold’s mountain must be at this moment.

Lang Bo led troops charging in from outside, joining up with Jingrong’s group.

“Your Highness.”

Drenched in sweat, his voice deep and powerful!

Jingrong was shocked and questioned Lang Bo, “Who ordered you to attack the mountain?”

“The Shanhuai County magistrate.”

“Absurd!”

He shouted reprimands.

Zhang Huanping, oh Zhang Huanping!

This prince will definitely remove that official’s cap from your head.

Of three thousand troops, barely a thousand remained. Of Gaoshan Stronghold’s six hundred-plus people, only the few dozen who had followed Zhao Huai in pursuit remained.

The outcome of this chess game was clearly already decided.

Zhao Huai couldn’t believe that in such a short time, all his people outside the stronghold had perished.

His heart ached terribly, yet he also felt bitter hatred.

He prepared to fight to the death.

Those eyes filled with bloodshot veins glared fiercely at Jingrong. “Even if Gaoshan Stronghold fights down to its last man, we will not surrender.”

“Both sides have already suffered losses. Don’t let more people die needlessly,” Jingrong said.

“Gaoshan Stronghold is my father’s life’s work. You’ve destroyed it—you’ve taken my life.”

He shouted through tears!

The few dozen bandits remaining beside him were also grief-stricken, yet they still clung to their last bit of strength, prepared to fight alongside Zhao Huai to the end. After all, to these people, Gaoshan Stronghold was their home. Once it was destroyed, their lives were forfeit.

“Chief, we all follow you. We’ll definitely fight to our last breath.”

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

Their morale surged.

Seeing this scene, Ji Yunshu’s eyes reddened. Because she had choked on thick smoke, her throat was uncomfortable and she couldn’t speak. She tightly gripped Jingrong’s arm, shaking her head.

With difficulty, she managed to say, “Don’t kill anymore.”

Jingrong nodded!

He said, “Zhao Huai, right now you’re merely struggling on death’s door. This prince orders a withdrawal—Gaoshan Stronghold can be preserved.”

“You’ve slaughtered hundreds of my brothers. If I, Zhao Huai, agreed to that, I’d be a coward.” He ordered, “Kill them.”

The next moment, Lang Bo led the Jingzhou troops charging from both sides, protecting Jingrong’s group behind them.

A brutal and bloody battle was about to unfold.

Just then—

“Stop.”

Zhao Qing came running over, directly positioning himself between the two opposing forces.

His eyes were bloodshot, his tall frame standing in the middle, truly conspicuous.

Zhao Huai said, “Zhao Qing, move aside.”

“Brother, I know everything now. I know all that has happened to me over these years. To protect me, you’ve all been hiding things from me. But now, aside from Father, you’re my only brother left. Stand down. No more deaths.”

“Zhao Qing…”

“Brother! I’m begging you.”

This stalwart man Zhao Huai cried for the first time until he was sobbing uncontrollably, his whole body trembling.

Finally, powerlessly, he collapsed.

He actually knelt on the ground.

Looking up, he said, “I, Zhao Huai, am incompetent. I cannot avenge my brothers, so I will repay them by severing my arm.”

What?

Everyone was greatly alarmed!

Unable to stop him in time, Zhao Huai raised the large blade in his hand, lifted his left arm, and chopped down.

Blood splattered everywhere!

The severed arm lay on the dusty ground, ghastly and terrifying.

“Brother!” Zhao Qing crouched before him.

The two brothers embraced and wept bitterly.

At this moment, Ji Yunshu finally could no longer hold on and fainted…

When she awoke, she was already in the county yamen of Shanhuai County.

Jingrong sat beside her bed. Seeing her wake, he asked worriedly, “How are you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

She shook her heavy-feeling head.

“How is Zhao Huai?”

“Muruo is with him.”

She nodded, but didn’t see Wei Yi. “Where’s Wei Yi?”

“He was terrified. I had someone take him to rest first.”

“That’s good.”

Jingrong had medicine brewed. After Ji Yunshu drank it, she was planning to rest a bit more when Ji Wanxin came in. With reddened eyes, she rushed to the bedside.

She began to cry.

Ji Yunshu stroked her head and glanced at Jingrong. “Your Highness, could you step out first? I have something I want to say to my second sister.”

Jingrong nodded, stood up, and went out.

Ji Yunshu also got out of bed and walked over to sit at the table.

“Yunshu, you’re unwell. You should still lie in bed.”

She picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea, pushing it toward Ji Wanxin.

Her expression became grave and calm as she said indifferently, “Second Sister, after you finish this cup of tea, I’ll have His Highness send people to escort you away. Return to Jinjiang as soon as possible.”

“Hm?”