Arrow after arrow flew toward Hua Zhi — clearly, Jia Yang had not yet managed to deal with the archers in so short a time. She dodged in desperate straits, and to make matters worse, people were already pouring out from the alley ahead, charging straight toward her in a dense swarming mass — more than thirty of them.

Shen Qi, who had been watching the situation outside from inside the silver jewelry shop all along, rushed out in a panic. Hua Zhi rolled aside to dodge an arrow and shouted, “Get back inside!”

She did not pause either, and kept running toward the jewelry shop. Half-rolling, half-stumbling, she pushed Shen Qi back through the door with her and closed it shut behind them. She pulled out the token that granted her free passage in and out of the imperial palace and pressed it firmly into his hands, speaking rapidly, “Go to the palace at once and tell the Crown Prince that the Chaoli Tribe’s target is the capital.”

Sounds reached them from outside. Hua Zhi peered through a crack in the door and — relieved to see that Yu Mu had arrived — turned back and added a few more words. “The Commandant King’s consort is very likely a remnant of the Chaoli Tribe. Request that the Crown Prince immediately dispatch men to apprehend everyone in the Commandant King’s residence, including the Commandant King himself. If in the end my judgment proves to be wrong, I submit to whatever punishment the Commandant King sees fit to impose.”

Shen Qi gripped the token tightly and nodded without the slightest hesitation. By now he had thought it through clearly: his staying would serve no purpose, whereas Hua Zhi was the target — wherever she moved, they would follow. Rather than waste time tangled in such a fight, it was better for him to move ahead quickly and bring help.

“Also — see if you can find a trustworthy person to send word to the Grand Tutor. Ask him to enter the palace immediately. I am worried His Highness will not be able to hold steady.”

“I will see to it, without fail.”

“Go.” Hua Zhi allowed no more delay. The moment she finished speaking, she gripped her dagger and pulled the door open, charging toward the crowd. Yu Mu was already contending with more than he could manage alone — there were several wounds on him by now.

Shen Qi took one last look at the Elder Miss — cold of expression, merciless in her strikes — then turned and ran quickly toward the back entrance. The more he came to understand her, the more he felt himself unworthy. In this moment, he found he held no regret. He simply thought: if he could stand at her side in battle, that would already be something very fine.

Having driven off the first wave, Hua Zhi and Yu Mu stood back to back in defense, both their breaths coming slightly fast. Hua Zhi had already confirmed her earlier suspicion — these people were members of the Chaoli Tribe.

Yu Mu said in a low voice, “Hold on a little longer.”

Hua Zhi understood — before arriving, Yu Mu must have found a way to alert the Shizi residence’s people.

The enemy launched another fierce assault. Fortunately, Jia Yang had also finished dealing with the archers on his end and came flying back — before he even arrived, the long whip had already shot out and coiled around one of the outermost enemies, flinging the man hard. His arrival relieved some of the pressure on the two of them. Jia Yang’s whip, Yu Mu’s sword, and Hua Zhi’s dagger — together they wove a seamless barrier that gave the enemy not a single opening, while the enemy’s losses mounted steadily.

The enemy clearly had no intention of continuing this kind of grinding standoff. Three of them suddenly surged forward with reckless force — the whip lashing down on them could not drive them back, the sword piercing their bodies could not stop them. They pressed on through sheer brute endurance, simple and savage, yet brutally effective. In breaking through the three’s defense, they exposed the weakest link: Hua Zhi. Several enemies rushed her at once, every weapon in their hands striking toward her from every direction.

“Elder Miss!”

The other two were alarmed and immediately moved to come to her aid — but the enemy had anticipated this, and yet more men rushed forward to engage them, holding them off no matter how grievous their own injuries, not yielding an inch. Even at the cost of their own lives, they would see Hua Zhi killed!

“Ah—!”

A cry of pain rang out. The several enemies at the front suddenly clapped their hands over their eyes and staggered back in retreat, inadvertently carrying those behind them back as well. Hua Zhi seized the opening and pressed forward, flinging another handful of medicinal powder. She was grateful for her own habit — ever since being injured that last time, she had always carried a few pills prepared by Shao Yao as a precaution. And now, here was the occasion to use them.

“Jia Yang!” Hua Zhi flung one pill up into the air. Jia Yang understood at once and swung the whip — it struck the outer casing, shattering it, and the medicinal powder scattered in all directions. The Chaoli Tribe members who had been quick enough dove away in time, but still half of them were caught in it.

These were medicines Shao Yao had prepared for Hua Hua’s self-defense. Even the Chaoli warriors, famed for their physical strength, writhed on the ground in agony. The three were about to move in and finish them off, but those who had managed to avoid the powder paid no mind to their suffering comrades and pressed their attack on Hua Zhi with unrelenting ferocity.

What fierce resolve they had to take her life!

Hua Zhi retreated behind Yu Mu and Jia Yang, her chest heaving rapidly. She could not fight a prolonged battle, and yet there was no way to bring this to a quick end either — all they could do was hold on until reinforcements arrived. She could only hope those reinforcements were not the enemy’s.

Just as she was thinking this, the sound of footsteps rose from the far end of the road. Her heart leaped with hope as she looked up — but the breath of relief had not yet left her before her heart seized even higher in her chest. Good omens bring nothing; bad ones come true. It was the enemy’s reinforcements that had arrived first.

Jia Yang stepped in front of Hua Zhi. “Elder Miss, run!”

“I cannot.” Hua Zhi looked back — the same uniformed figures had appeared in her line of sight from the other direction. Both roads were blocked. Having planned to such a degree, their own awaited reinforcements might not make it through at all.

And the Hua household…

Hua Zhi looked in the direction of home. She could not go there — she could not lead these people there. And the Shizi residence — that road might not be open either.

“Into the jewelry shop. Head for the palace.”

“Yes.”

Covering each other in turn, the three fought their way back toward the jewelry shop step by step. Hua Zhi crushed the last pill between her fingers and hurled it. The Chaoli Tribe, having learned to dread its effects, immediately fell back. Yu Mu seized the moment to slam the door shut. Jia Yang dragged several heavy objects over to block it. They shielded Hua Zhi and sprinted toward the back entrance.

This part of town was near the main street, and the alley behind was wide and uncomplicated — easy enough to navigate on an ordinary day, yet now it worked against Hua Zhi’s side. “Do you know these lanes? Take the smaller alleyways.”

“I know the way.” Yu Mu moved ahead of them. Aware of Hua Zhi’s physical condition, he did not dare set too fast a pace. Hua Zhi ran while regulating her breathing, and found herself, in this moment, grateful that she had not stopped exercising during all these days — it had done some good after all, at least a little.

The sounds of the enemy were always at their backs.

Jia Yang said quietly, “Let me lead them away.”

“Useless.” Hua Zhi said between breaths. “Their target is me — you cannot draw them off. Splitting up would only weaken our fighting strength. How much farther?”

“Still some distance.”

“Move faster. Do not hold back on my account.”

Yu Mu looked back at her with worry in his eyes, but in the end quickened the pace somewhat.

Yet however fast they moved, how could they outpace the Chaoli warriors — let alone with Hua Zhi slowing them down?

The sharp sound of an arrow cutting through the air announced the pursuers were upon them. Jia Yang beat the arrow from the air with his whip. “Yu Mu — get the Elder Miss out of here.”

Yu Mu hesitated for a moment and began to speak. He knew this was not the time to argue, but he held back, ready to push her forward.

Hua Zhi sidestepped away. “Jia Yang cannot hold them off alone — that would only give them the chance to pick us off one by one. Jia Yang, give the bow and arrows to Yu Mu. Yu Mu, get to the rooftop and deal with their archers first.”

Jia Yang without a word tossed the bow and quiver he had taken from the enemy to Yu Mu. Yu Mu caught them and leaped up to the rooftop in an instant. Hua Zhi sheltered in Jia Yang’s shadow, holding her dagger and ready to act at any moment. This commotion could not escape notice — the Crown Prince would surely send people to rescue her, provided she remained alive.

And she had to remain alive. For whatever reason, she simply had to.