Shi Ziran carefully observed the situation outside.

A procession had just passed by.

“Your Highness, we can go now.”

“Mm.”

Shi Ziran led the way, while Jingrong pulled Ji Yunshu along, following closely behind.

Unexpectedly—

Just as they emerged, a sharp arrow came flying.

Its target was Jingrong!

In that instant, Jingrong’s body shifted to the side. His hand shot up, catching the arrow firmly. He immediately hurled it forcefully in one direction, and the arrow drove deeply into a wooden post.

Seeing this, Shi Ziran immediately assumed a defensive stance.

At the same time, many Yuedan soldiers rushed out wielding swords and blades.

They surrounded the three of them completely.

Jingrong immediately shielded Ji Yunshu behind him, still not releasing her hand.

He turned his head and instructed her softly, “Stay with me.”

She pressed her pale lips together and nodded.

As long as this man was by her side, she felt completely secure.

Even though they were now heavily surrounded by the Yuedan soldiers before them, even with those sharp, massive blades pointed directly at them, even while in this dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.

As long as Jingrong was there, she wasn’t afraid.

“How interesting!”

From within the crowd, one person stepped forward.

Huhe Hao!

The corners of his mouth bore a jackal-like smile, as if once he bared his teeth, one could see those blood-stained wolf fangs. His gaze swept from Jingrong to Ji Yunshu, then met Jingrong’s cold, frost-like stare once more.

Jingrong knew him—this person was Huhe Hao.

An extremely ambitious man!

When the late emperor was alive, court officials had mentioned in memorials many times that this man was a bloodthirsty mastiff on the grasslands, a figure who struck terror into people’s hearts. They had thought he was merely a local threat, but unexpectedly this malignant tumor had grown larger and larger, spreading across almost the entire grassland.

Huhe Hao strode forward several steps in his iron boots, carrying an intimidating presence. He looked down at the three lambs before him, clapped his hands, and laughed.

“Entering my military camp is easy, but wanting to leave—that’s difficult.”

Jingrong’s eyes darkened. His cold gaze swept around in a circle. The Yuedan soldiers surrounded them in layer upon layer, like copper walls and iron ramparts. Clearly the situation was dire. Attempting to force their way through was obviously impossible. His thin, cold lips curved up slightly as he looked at Huhe Hao’s sinister face.

“You’d better let us through immediately.” His tone was not only cold but carried a commanding warning.

Huhe Hao was shaken by his presence!

He laughed coldly. “You can beg me.”

Heh.

“It should be you begging me.”

“What?”

Jingrong said, “You Yuedan people are far away in the western grasslands. You should have stayed there peacefully. Now you’ve brought troops to station here—your intentions are obvious. But have you considered that ahead of you lies not only the Houliao you want to annex, but also Great Lin!”

Uh!

Huhe Hao trembled.

He understood Jingrong’s meaning. If Yuedan annexed Houliao, they would inevitably face a battle with the Central Plains in the future. Great Lin was a powerful nation—a mere Yuedan would be no match. This was… a warning to him to stop while he could.

It was also a reminder.

Huhe Hao had ridden across the grasslands for so many years—he still had the ability to judge people. He could sense that the man before him was definitely no junior.

He asked, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I’m telling you that originally, Yuedan dominated the west and was already great, but…” His eyes sharpened with severity. “You absolutely should not, must not have harbored thoughts of annexing Houliao and fighting into the Central Plains, and you especially should not have taken my woman.”

He could touch anything else, but not his woman.

Anyone who touched her, he would never forgive!

Huhe Hao could feel his powerful presence bearing down on him.

He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

Jingrong continued, “Huhe Hao, the empire your father couldn’t conquer back then, you cannot conquer today either. If you don’t want Yuedan to be destroyed in your hands, immediately order your men to stand aside. Don’t make me remind you again.”

What needed to be said, he had said.

Hmph! Huhe Hao was thoroughly enraged. He gritted his teeth, his face full of ferocity. “The world belongs to those with ambition. What my father couldn’t accomplish, I will! The empire he couldn’t take, I will take! I don’t care who you are or how you know these things. In any case, today, having entered my territory, wanting to leave is not so easy.”

The Yuedan soldiers glared, and at his words, each raised the large blade in their hands and moved forward.

Just waiting for the command!

“Jingrong.” Ji Yunshu gripped his hand tightly, pressing her body close to his, and said quietly, “Huhe Hao is ruthless and merciless. We can’t fight head-on right now. We need to find an opportunity to leave.”

Jingrong looked back at her. “Trust me.”

Two simple words!

The concerns and worries in her heart were almost completely swept away.

She nodded, her hands gripping Jingrong’s hand even tighter.

Huhe Hao saw not a trace of fear on them, which seemed quite disappointing and made him very dissatisfied.

He was a pervert who enjoyed seeing fear and terror in others’ eyes!

Just when those Yuedan soldiers were waiting for his kill order, he suddenly had another idea. He stepped forward, revealing an extremely sinister expression. “However, we Yuedan have another rule—if you want to obtain a woman, you must rely on your ability. Whoever wins gets the woman.”

Suddenly—

“This woman was seized by me.”

A voice came.

The crowd parted to make way.

Bai Yin!

His face remained cold and harsh as always. He walked to Huhe Hao’s side, glanced at Ji Yunshu, then stared at Jingrong, his eyes carrying a fierce, hostile air. “I’ll fight you. If you win, the woman is yours. Otherwise, no one is taking her away today.”

Utterly resolute, absolutely unyielding!

What?

“That night in the forest, it was you?” Jingrong asked.

“That’s right. I was the one who took her from the hot spring pool and brought her here, so this woman is mine. If you want to take her away, you must defeat me.”

In that moment, a bloodthirsty killing intent suddenly burst forth from Jingrong’s eyes.

He had been worried about not finding whoever had taken Ji Yunshu that night, and now that person had jumped out himself. Excellent!

That life—he would have it!

In that moment, Ji Yunshu could feel him gripping her hand very forcefully.

Huhe Hao laughed loudly several times, patted Bai Yin on the shoulder, and said, “Bai Yin, didn’t you always want this woman? Fine then! As long as you can defeat him, from this day forward, this woman will be yours.”

Fanning the flames.

Bai Yin directly drew the short blade from his waist, pointing it at Jingrong, and said, “Draw your sword.”

A provocation!

That short blade was incomparably sharp!

Reflecting the flickering firelight around them, it still radiated cold light in all directions.

Jingrong was undaunted. He simply turned to the side and looked at Ji Yunshu.

With just this one look, she already understood his meaning.

“Jingrong…”

“He must pay the price.” These words from his mouth were filled with killing intent.

She knew she couldn’t hold him back.

It was Bai Yin who had brought her here. How could Jingrong let him go? Most likely… killing him was possible!