Chapter 10: The Soul Snatcher

I cannot see the face beneath that armored visor, yet that gaze is deeply etched into my heart

My heart is about to leap out of my chest, struggling desperately, wishing I could shout out loud

People are startled, horses neigh, and the wind rustles

The bearded man said with a voice full of resentment, "The current situation is unfavorable, I earnestly request the young master to withdraw the troops and retreat quickly"

The two individuals lunged at Xiao Qi from either side, with a iron spear sweeping across and a Fang Tianji wielding the wind approaching, aiming to stab Xiao Qi from his horse.

The guards shouted in unison, their shields clashing, the blades gleaming fiercely, forming a siege-like momentum as they engaged in combat with the assassin

With a single strike missing its target, the six assassins immediately changed formation to break through.

Fool! Helan Zhen's calm indifference was beyond my expectations

Xiao Qi raised his hand, and the three armies fell silent.

I am a piece of such importance, merely a piece... Therefore, life or death, injury or disability, is not so significant

Xiao Qi sheathed his sword and spurred his horse forward

But upon hearing a piercing long laugh, "I am incompetent, young master, take care of yourself"

"It has been a long time since we parted, does the prince not recognize me anymore?" Helan Zhen's laughter was cold as she reached out to pinch my chin

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Hold on!" A man with a long beard stepped forward, saying, "Young master, that scoundrel is already on guard; I fear someone may have leaked information!"

Xiao Qi gave a cold smile, "Is that all?"

No, Xiao Qi, that is not me

His voice was calm, filled with a sense of solemnity and severity

In that moment, I sadly recalled that Xiao Qi did not even recognize me, nor had he ever cast a glance at my appearance

Your Highness! The silver-armored general exclaimed, just as he was about to speak, but was halted by Xiao Qi raising his hand

At this very moment, a mutation has occurred again

Outside the South Gate lies a steep mountainous forest; once a person escapes into it, it becomes exceedingly difficult to pursue them.

Fake princess, true trap, clearly a bait, a poisonous bait

I smiled, he was nervous, at this moment he has only me as his sole bargaining chip—he is already afraid, which means he has lost half the battle

I could no longer contain myself and exclaimed, "Do not—"

In an instant, a sudden change occurred, with smoke and dust swirling in the air beneath the stage, rendering the situation indistinguishable. The sounds of shouting voices and the neighing of startled horses blended into a chaotic cacophony.

As the sound of grinding fades, the camp gate rises

Firstly, open the southern gate and allow my people to leave, and the three armies must not pursue. " Helan Zhen continued to smile, his expression filled with immense joy and delight. "Secondly, if you wish to reclaim your woman, then face me in single combat. If you can take her away, I will not harm her in the slightest.

The false princess was forced to retreat to the center of the high platform, and her captor shouted sternly, "The princess is in my hands, Xiao Qi, if you dare to..."

"A word is a promise!" Helan Zhen snorted coldly, shook the reins, and retreated a few steps on horseback, tightening his grip on me once more

Just as I was about to sway and drop the books, unsteady on my feet, I saw amidst the smoke of battle, a black flag with golden embroidery raised high from the right wing of the army

I was stunned by that loud noise, and suddenly came to my senses, exclaiming in surprise, "Yuzhang Wang—"

Upon reflecting on this, my heart instead becomes calm and hazy, devoid of fear

"Order the troops, initiate the assassination!" Helan Zhen coldly snorted and turned around to issue the command.

I suddenly opened my mouth, unable to make a sound, a cry of surprise caught in my throat

"He Lan Zhen has never known the word 'retreat' in his life." He Lan Zhen laughed loudly and said fiercely, "Xiao Qi, today I will burn both jade and stone with you!"

The last word was abruptly cut off, and Xiao Ye fell silent, as if she had taken her own life on the spot

At this moment, the sound of a horn suddenly echoed in the arena, accompanied by a low and mournful wailing.

Crossing over millions, traversing the abyss of life and death, his blazing gaze finally met mine

In a moment of thought, it becomes his choice, my life and death

Ambush, confrontation, breakout, decisive kill, the assassin strikes—only in an instant

Behind me, Helan Zhen suddenly held her breath and tightly gripped my throat

Three years later, our true first meeting unexpectedly occurred in such a time and under such circumstances

I bit my lip and fixed my gaze on Xiao Qi, wanting to observe him closely, but suddenly a mist of tears welled up before my eyes

The handsome flag flutters in the wind, as a majestic stallion, entirely black, leaps forward with its hooves raised.

A flash of blade appeared, and a dark shadow leaped into the air, showering a cloud of white powdery rain down upon Xiao Qi. The sky was filled with a thick layer of lime powder, enveloping everything. The two individuals rolled to the ground in front of the horse, and the blade swept horizontally at the horse's hooves.

Five heavily armored guards suddenly emerged from the chaos of the battlefield, their movements swift as lightning. As they drew their long swords, their black iron heavy shields clashed together, forming a wall. In a moment of critical urgency, they positioned themselves in front of Xiao Qi's horse, creating an impenetrable barrier that thwarted the first wave of attacks.

Before I could further assess the situation in the arena, I felt my body tighten, and in an instant, I was lifted up, unexpectedly being dragged onto the horse's back by Helan Zhen, firmly restrained in front of him

Suddenly, the arena was illuminated by a flash of lightning, a cold light surged forth, creating a dazzling brilliance that was blinding to the eyes

No one was able to see clearly how death descended at that moment

"Wang of Yuzhang, I hope you have been well since we last met." Helan Zhen smiled gracefully.

The place where General Xu Shou stood with his horse has been blown into a deep pit

The guards on both sides surged forward, forcing the false princess played by Xiao Ye back three paces, with spears and halberds descending in unison

He suddenly twisted his wrist, pressing a chilling dagger against my neck

I bite my lip, unwilling to cry out in pain

As he brandished his weapon, the archers behind Xiao Qi swiftly drew their bowstrings taut

Helan Zhen's cold hand gently brushed against my cheek as she smiled at Xiao Qi, saying, "Look who I brought to see you"

At this moment, the lime has not yet completely settled, and the white, misty powder, mixed with a scarlet hue, continues to swirl in the wind, landing in a patchwork of red and white.

The person on the stage shouted sternly, "Xiao Qi, the dog thief, if you want the princess to live, then you must face me alone in battle to determine the victor"

The scene from many years ago suddenly emerges before my eyes, the moment when I first met the army, so vividly reminiscent of that distant glance, the figure in black helmet and white feathers, majestic and striking, is still fresh in my memory... Today and the past intertwine at this very moment 5

I suddenly closed my eyes, unable to look any longer

I locked eyes with Xiao Qi, as if there were a thousand words to say, yet we remained silent in our gaze... This greatly angered Helan Zhen

The military formation before us suddenly closed in, with heavy shields of the infantry and cavalry at the rear, and spears and halberds at the front, all letting out a unified roar, encircling us completely

All the assassins of Helan have been executed

I do not want him to be deceived, nor do I want him to save that false princess, yet upon hearing that he went to rescue someone... a bittersweet warmth surged within my heart

Before my eyes, everything is blurred and painful, and I can barely hold back the tears. At this moment, I see the formation shifting; soldiers raise the ladders from both sides, while bows and arrows are shot from all directions. Elite troops on the left and right wield short knives as they ascend the ladders to attack, moving with skill and speed, all seasoned warriors who have faced countless battles. On the high platform, the loyal defenders of Helan fight desperately to hold their ground, retreating step by step, each one falling before the enemy.

The soldiers had already drawn their swords, and upon hearing this sound, an uproar immediately ensued, with the eyes of the multitude turning in unison towards Xiao Qi

"Unfortunately, your life or death is of no concern to him..." He Lan Zhen said through gritted teeth, yet with a malicious smile, forcefully turning my face to make me look ahead. "Clearly indifferent, yet unable to refrain from saving you, after all, you are merely a pawn in his game to win over the powerful. You are still quite useful, someone he is reluctant to discard, so do not worry!"

The cold blade pressed tightly against my neck, I turned my gaze back, and my eyes deeply intertwined with Xiao Qi's... My heart raced, at this moment of life and death, I unexpectedly realized a trace of softness within me... In a hurried glance before leaving, I did not have time to discern the expression in his eyes, He Lan Zhen had already turned his horse's head, galloping out of the camp, leading the way, heading straight for the mountain path.

Xiao Qi was stationed at the horse, and the princess trembled as she broke free from those around her, walking towards him, her garments and hair fluttering in the wind

At this moment, the soldiers had surged in like a tide, surrounding the beacon tower completely, leaving a passage directly to Xiao Qi's horse.

However, faster than all of this is a wall—a shield wall, a coldly gleaming black iron shield wall, as if divine soldiers had descended from the heavens, suddenly appearing with a resounding clang

Xiao Qi's dignified and steady voice penetrated the chaos, echoing across the parade ground, "Bandits have attempted to assassinate the imperial envoy, disrupting our borders; they deserve the death penalty!" As his words spread, the soldiers on the field immediately calmed down and stood in solemnity

However, Xiao Qi suddenly reined in his horse and let out a sharp cry, "Take action!"

After a strike as swift as lightning, Xiao Qi leaped over with both horse and rider, his cloak billowing and his long sword gleaming like snow

This sound startled my heart, causing it to tremble violently and resonate endlessly, both for the resolute power of this sound and for its cold ruthlessness

Look, he really went to save you..." Helan's voice echoed in the ear like a ghostly whisper

The gravel flew up dangerously, and the "princess" was deeply trapped within, unaware of her fate... He ultimately took action.

A furious horse let out a long neigh, the white steed beneath him raised its hooves, charging down the concealed gentle hills, heading straight for the training ground ahead—towards the direction where Xiao Qi was located

I closed my eyes, as if truly scorched by the sunlight, and sighed with a smile

A cacophony of killing sounds erupted, as swords and blades were drawn in unison

What do you want to say? He leaned close to my ear and said, "Don't want anything, don't want to save her? Unfortunately, you are here, and even if you scream at the top of your lungs, he won't hear you."

My vision darkened, a metallic taste of blood surged in my mouth, I lost my balance and fell, being tightly held in Helan Qiang's embrace

The outer black-armored infantry are protected by heavy shields. Although there are injured individuals lying on the ground, the casualties appear to be minimal. However, Xu Shou, along with his trusted guards surrounding him, is right in the center of the deep pit, and it is feared that he has been utterly crushed, leaving no trace of flesh or blood.

"So what?" Helan Zhen's hand gripping my shoulder suddenly tightened, and a sharp pain shot through my shoulder.

Suddenly, a loud shout echoed, shaking the entire venue, and it came from the beacon tower located to the south of the training ground

I could no longer hold back my tears, lowering my gaze, my eyelashes became wet

At this moment, how will he see me, as a princess, as a wife, or as a pawn... Perhaps, none of these are important anymore

His words were cut off

The three armies cheered like thunder as the soldier who led the charge up the high platform carefully brought down the "princess".

Two assassins let out a fierce howl and leaped into pursuit, while the remaining assassins sacrificed their lives, engaging in close combat with relentless attacks that would destroy both themselves and their enemies. They forcefully entangled a group of guards, creating a bloody path for the two assassins to advance.

His gaze clearly showed extreme disdain for Helan Zhen, completely disregarding her.

What a king of Yuzhang, what a good man, better to be shattered like jade than to be coerced by external enemies in the slightest... But what if it were truly me? If I were on that high platform, would you still be so heartless?

A flicker of firelight accompanied by a sharp, urgent sound suddenly struck before Xiao Qi's horse. Xiao Qi hastily retreated on horseback, and the firelight exploded upon hitting the ground, resembling a thunderous fireball, with shattered stones flying in all directions. Almost simultaneously, several shadowy figures darted out from among the surrounding soldiers.

Leave a living witness! Xiao Qi arrived on horseback and asked in a deep voice, "Where is the princess?"

The sword's light dazzles my eyes

The warriors behind him spoke in unison, "We pledge to advance and retreat together with the young master!"

"The Princess of Yuzhang is here; who dares to act recklessly"

After a moment of solemnity, the entire audience shouted in unison, "Killーー"

At the place where they just fought, a shower of blood was falling in torrents, and the two assassins were shockingly decapitated, their bodies lying on the ground.

Helan Zhen brandished his sword, holding me in front of him, and gradually retreated on horseback, withdrawing to the south gate along with the remaining Helan forces.

I close my eyes, and a faint pain rises in my chest

This time, he had no guards, no attendants, only a deputy general following closely behind

With a furious neigh, the horse let out a long cry, its sound splitting the clouds, as Xiao Qi charged out of the encirclement on horseback

Xiao Qi sat upright on his horse, drew his sword from its sheath, and the cold light flashed like a startled lightning bolt, cutting through the vast sky

Five rows of shield-bearing soldiers stacked to form a five-layer shield wall in front of Xiao Qi. Four massive stones simultaneously soared from the formation, hurtling towards the four corners of the beacon tower. Wherever they passed, they shattered stones and columns, and cries of despair filled the air. It was evident that catapults had already been set up within the army formation, indicating that Xiao Qi had long been aware of their plans, laying a trap and waiting for them to take the bait. The archers and crossbowmen hidden at the corners were struck by the flying debris, tumbling from the high platform, landing either dead or injured, and were further met with a barrage of spears and halberds, reducing them to a pulp.

The soldier assisting the "Princess" has brought her to within about ten feet of Xiao Qi's horse

That is all; life and death are determined by fate, but I seek to face them with composure, so as not to bring shame upon my surname

Xiao Qi, alone on horseback, has already galloped towards the base of the beacon tower, where the assassins on the tower have all aimed their bows and crossbows at him

Xiao Qi's smile was faint, and her gaze gradually became cold and piercing

With a thunderous roar, the earth trembled, dust soared, and a thick cloud of smoke and flames erupted in the center of the parade ground

In the midst of the lime haze, weapons and blades glimmer with a cold light, intertwining like threads, stirring up a furious wind and raging waves, directly assaulting Xiao Qi, who stands with his sword drawn on horseback.

He chuckled softly, "However, I am quite curious to see whether he would be willing to risk his life to save 'you'"

Then, Xiao Qi stood with his sword drawn, commanding loudly, "The three armies heed my orders, seal off the four corners, and when encountering bandits, kill without mercy!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he was abruptly seized by Helan Zhen, who firmly grasped his chin, rendering him unable to speak further

The one who shot that arrow stood proudly on horseback, the iron string of the bow still trembling.

The words of Helan Zhen pierce my heart like poisoned needles, yet I understand that what he says is all true

Suddenly, a roar shook the heavens from the military formations on both sides

"What do you want?" Xiao Qi spoke淡淡, but to my ears, it sounded like a thunderclap

He slowly raised his right hand and commanded in a deep voice, "Open the southern gate"

The burly man stood rigidly, locking eyes with Helan Zhen for a moment, and ultimately let out a long sigh, bending down while pressing his sword, "I shall follow you to death, my subordinate."

As commanded! The attendant departed in obedience

The assassin's sword spills blood three feet high; the general's sword, however, shines coldly across fourteen provinces

The long winds howl, tousling my hair, as if stirring a vague and indescribable emotion deep within my heart

The tumult that has never existed within my heart suddenly overwhelms me

Xiao Qilema stood still, raised his head with a smile, and said, "Release the princess, and I will leave you with a complete corpse"

The morning light shines upon the armored troops, with weapons standing in solemn array, a tide of black iron stretches before the eyes

"She is not a princess!" the silver-armored general exclaimed in anger, leaning back to evade the sleeve arrow, and thrusting a spear towards her throat with his other hand

I was struck by that palm, leaving me dizzy and faint, my vision still shrouded in darkness, yet my heart was a tumult of indistinguishable sorrow and joy

The person on the stage laughed maniacally and said, "If you wish to kill me, you must first kill your wife!"

Upon being asked in this manner, he accepted Helan Zhen's coercion and was willing to negotiate with him

Xiao Qi's arrow, a hundred steps to pierce the willow, a single arrow seals the throat

She raised her head, her arms lifted high

Everything happened in an instant

He was in pain and retaliated with a backhanded slap.

Just a moment ago, they were a living person, and then they vanished before my eyes

He Lan Zhen laughed wildly, "Good, what a pair of heroes and beauties!"

Xiao Qi drew his sword and pointed it towards the high platform, shouting fiercely, "Attack! Spare no one!"

I could only hear a deafening roar in my ears, my mind was blank, and a wave of fear and shock surged in my chest, cold sweat soaking through my clothes

A jolt ran through my heart as a fleeting image of the little girl in palace attire before my departure crossed my mind. I turned in a daze towards the beacon tower and indeed saw a woman in red bound atop the high platform, with two men holding swords against her neck behind her.

"Young Master Helan, it has been a long time." Xiao Qi laughed heartily, his gaze coldly sweeping over Helan before resting on my face

Thousands of bows and arrows are aimed at me and Helan Zhen from different directions—arrows are nocked, swords are drawn, and the sharp edges of metal reflect a dazzling cold light; in an instant, these two individuals could be reduced to a pulp.

In the midst of the tide, the figure of Xiao Qiying, as majestic as a deity, approaches me ever closer against the morning light

The hand of Helan Zhen grips my throat, trembling at this moment, seeping with a slight sweat, and tightening its hold on me with a slight exertion

He was struck by a wolf-tooth white feather arrow, the arrowhead piercing through his throat

Xiao Qi's gaze was profound, yet it gave me a strange illusion—much like the scorching sunlight of a summer noon shining on one's face, making it impossible to open one's eyes, accompanied by a refreshing sense of exhilaration and submission

At almost the same time, the silver-armored general, who had been silently following by Xiao Qi's side, leaped forward on his horse, sweeping his red-tasselled iron spear. In mid-air, silver light intertwined, and with a resounding clash, something was knocked away. The frail "princess" leaped into the air, moving like a startled rabbit, and another beam of cold light shot out from her sleeve.

In the current state of the three armies, under the gaze of countless eyes, Xiao Qi rides out to battle, adorned in a black helmet and white feathers, his great cloak billowing in the wind.

I sharply turned my head and bit down on Helan Zhen's hand