I put my arm around the strong man's slender waist

Chapter 31

My heart suddenly tightened, and I abruptly stood up.

“Young lady…” Miao Shou looked at me.

As I watched the flickering flames outside the hall about to burst in, I lifted my robe, knelt on one knee, and bowed to Miaoshou, saying, "Sir, I entrust Yan Shu to you. Please, no matter what, do not stop."

I got up and picked out a large medicine-cutting knife that was somewhat suitable for my hand from the pile of tools. I heard Miao Shou ask me from behind, "Why bother, girl? He's no good. Why did you risk your life to save him?"

The palace doors were pushed open with a rumble, and as I watched the moonlight and lamplight gradually unfold before my eyes, I smiled and said, "Who knows... Maybe it's just because I want to, and I'm willing to."

Heavy guards drew their swords, while the Queen and Ruan Bicheng stood together at the palace gate, their backs to the lamplight, their gazes fixed on me in the soft moonlight.

A beast is a beast. It's so easy to explain, and they even came back to kill each other. It's a pity that my meager martial arts skills from my past life are no match for Su Xie's internal energy...

"Su Xie..." The alliance leader looked at me through the flashing swords.

I grinned and said, "What a coincidence, Alliance Leader."

"A coincidence?" The Queen sneered, then asked me sharply, "Did you take Baoze out? Where is Jinglian?"

"It was me," I answered frankly. "I drugged Jinglian and disguised myself to lure Baoze out."

"Where is he?" the queen asked aggressively.

I gripped the hilt of my knife and said, "Can we make a deal? You let me and Yan Shu go, and I'll return Prince Baoze to you unharmed, how about it?"

"Don't even think about it!" The Queen pointed at me with her slender hand. "Even if I search the entire city for Baoze, I won't let you live until tomorrow! Miaoshou! Bring Yan Shu here now!"

"Senior brother! You helped me get in and saved the high priest. Su Xie is truly grateful." I stared at the queen and smiled, "We'll die together. Don't think the queen will let you go after she's used you."

The queen shouted, "Execute Su Xie on the spot, without mercy!" She waved her hand, signaling the guards to surround and attack.

The alliance leader quickly stopped her, saying, "Your Majesty, I will capture Su Xie. I will find Prince Baoze and bring Su Xie to Licheng forever."

The queen frowned. "What if I say no?"

The alliance leader narrowed his eyes slightly, "The lives of others are none of my concern, but I must take Su Xie away, no matter what method I have to use."

The Queen stared at him for a moment, then her gaze fell on the curtained area and she ordered, "Bring Yan Shu and Miao Shou out to me."

A large number of soldiers swarmed in. I brandished my sword to stop them, but Ruan Bicheng instantly appeared in front of me, grabbed my wrist, and said, "Come with me."

I suddenly twisted my wrist, and the broadsword slashed across his face. He narrowly dodged it, took several steps back, looked at his torn clothes, and then looked at me. "I'll say it again, come with me."

I lunged forward, brandishing my sword to block one of them, deflecting the sword with a clang, and laughed, "Ruan Bicheng, is it any of your business how I behave?"

Thirty-six

"Ruan Bicheng, is it any of your business how I conduct myself?"

I swung my sword to clear one of the men and quickly retreated several steps to block the guards beside me. Ruan Bicheng suddenly lunged forward, grabbed my shoulder, and with a forceful pull on my wrist, the broadsword in my hand clattered to the ground.

Before I could react, the guard blocking my way turned around and slashed down with his sword.

"Su Xie!" Ruan Bicheng reached out to pull me, but I dodged him. I raised my hand and grabbed the knife that had struck my skull. Blood gushed from my palm instantly, and I broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. I gripped the blade, bent down, picked up the large knife at my feet, and stabbed the guard in the chest with a backhand stroke. Hot blood spurted onto my face. I rolled on the ground, bracing myself against the knife, cold sweat pouring down my face.

Ruan Bicheng stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Su Xie! You..."

"Shut up!" I snapped, turning around abruptly and yelling at him, blood streaming down my face. "I don't need your help."

The guards leaped over me, swords drawn, and rushed into the tent. I jumped up, sword in hand, and quickly chased after them. Just as I was about to rush in, I heard a series of screams. Blood splattered onto the gray tent, and several guards crashed onto the tent and fell out.

With a whoosh, the curtains were torn from top to bottom and rolled to my feet.

I saw Yan Shu standing by the warm fire outside the swaying curtains, his head bowed, his right hand gripping the guard's neck. He looked down, his wet hair, which had fallen over his shoulders, obscuring his eyes and brows, so I couldn't see his expression.

The skilled hand fell to the side.

“Yan Shu…” I hurried over, but he seemed not to hear me. He stared at the guard’s neck on his right, reached out his left hand, grabbed the guard’s head, and twisted it sharply.

I heard a cracking sound of bones breaking, and the guard's blood sprayed all over Yan Shu. Yan Shu pulled hard, tearing flesh and blood apart, red and white, and splattering blood and brain matter onto my foot. I saw the blood bubbling in the throat, and hurriedly turned my head. My stomach churned, and I grabbed Yan Shu's arm, "Yan Shu!"

He seemed to hear me, stopped what he was doing, and turned to look at me. Through his thick, wet hair, I could see his bloodshot eyes staring at me with a dazed look.

"You..." I was about to speak when he threw aside the guard's corpse and grabbed my throat, forcing me back several steps. I stumbled and crashed into the blazing furnace, the red-hot copper searing my back with a hissing sound. I trembled all over, grabbing his arm that was gripping my throat, my face covered in cold sweat as I looked at him. "Yan Shu, I am Su Xie..."

He stared at me with bloodshot, vacant eyes, his fingers tightening their grip, making it hard for me to breathe.

Ruan Bicheng strode over, and I took a deep breath and said, "My affairs are none of your business, Ruan Bicheng!"

He froze on the spot, staring at me intently.

I grabbed Yan Shu's wrists with both hands. My palms were a bloody mess, burning hot, making me tremble. I looked into his eyes and said, "Yan Shu, I hate being misunderstood... Whether we live or die today, listen carefully: I didn't lead the troops to arrest you, and I didn't notify Ruan Bicheng. Even if I wanted you dead, I wouldn't use such despicable means..."

He tilted his head to look at me, his eyes crinkling with bloodshot veins like a spiderweb.

"There has never been any betrayal between us..." I loosened my grip slightly, reaching for the dagger in my sleeve as I said, "If you insist on interpreting it that way, then remember, I have never betrayed you."

I had just drawn my dagger when his grip suddenly loosened, and I stumbled and fell to my knees. My back throbbed with pain from the burn, and my vision blurred. I heard him calling my name in confusion above me, "Su... Xie?"

I looked up and saw a glimmer of clarity in his bloodshot eyes as he looked at me. He grinned and said, "It's me."

The guards behind him were too frightened to step forward, while the queen shouted from outside the palace: "If they escape today, your hearts and lungs will be used as the medicine!"

The guards, driven to their wits' end, all drew their swords and surged forward once more.

"Watch out behind you!" I hurriedly called out to warn them.

Yan Shu raised his hand and pushed me aside. He gripped the large medicine furnace with both hands, let out a low shout, and swung his arm to smash the bronze medicine furnace. There was a loud clanging sound, sparks flew everywhere, and the soldiers retreated hastily amidst the white smoke.

The flickering embers scattered, and the curtains, herbs, books, letters, and a room full of dry embers burst into flames like wildfire.

Flames splashed onto the beams of the canopy above my head. Just as I was about to dodge, I heard someone outside the palace report: "Your Majesty! A large force of the Sala Cult has gathered outside the palace gates! They demand that you hand over the hostages. His Majesty requests that you go there immediately!"

I was overjoyed; it was just in time! I had Changhuan secretly send a message to the Left Protector via carrier pigeon, urging him to come to Licheng Palace to rescue the people. The Queen wanted to kill someone to win his heart—I mean, to win the young master's heart, otherwise the Left Protector wouldn't have arrived so quickly!

I think he will definitely bring his men to Licheng Palace to demand people, so I had Changhuan take the young master to hide.

As the fire grew larger, I asked Yan Shu amidst the flames, "Can we break through?"

He didn't answer, but simply reached out his hand to me and said, "Come here."

I got up and was about to go over when the Queen suddenly ordered from outside, "Fire the arrows! I only want the heart!"

A column of archers surged outside the palace in an instant, drew their bows, and with a few whooshes, my head and sides were riddled with arrows.

I rolled to the ground, and just as I was about to pull Yan Shu up, I heard a cracking sound above my head. I looked up and saw the wooden frame, engulfed in flames, crashing down on me.

In that instant, I barely had time to react. A white figure pounced on me, pressing down on me until I could barely breathe. The wooden frame crashed down with a dull thud, and flames flickered on the man's back. He let out a soft groan, and through the raging fire, I saw Ruan Bicheng's deep eyes. "Ruan Bicheng..."

Arrows flew in with a whoosh, and he rolled to the side with me in his arms, then suddenly pushed me to Yan Shu, saying in a deep voice, "Go!"

Yan Shu grabbed me, put one arm around my waist, and with the other hand holding a knife, rolled up the burning curtain and rushed out.

The fire was roaring in the main hall, and the white smoke choked me so much that I couldn't open my eyes. I couldn't see Ruan Bicheng, but I could see the soldiers lying at Yan Shu's feet. He was leading me out with great difficulty.

The arrow whizzed past my ear, and Yan Shu suddenly groaned and knelt down. My hand slipped, and I fell to my knees. I saw him holding the sword with one hand and pulling the arrow that had shot into his thigh with the other.

I looked up and saw the menacing swords and the Queen outside the palace, just a few steps away. I asked Yan Shu, "Can you still hold on?"

He struggled to his feet, but stumbled and fell to his knees.

Just when I thought we would perish in the sea of fire and the forest of arrows, I heard someone outside the hall shout: "Stop!"

The queen turned around, surprised, and said, "Your Majesty? What happened to you...?"

The King of Licheng shouted from outside the palace, "Hurry up and release the young master of the Saluo Sect!"

"Young Master of the Saluo Sect?" the Queen said coldly. "I think the Left Protector has misunderstood. I captured the traitor who kidnapped Baoze."

Left Protector? The thick white smoke and the imposing military guards blocked my view of the outside world. I glanced at Yan Shu, then abruptly stood up and ran towards the outside of the hall. I had only taken a few steps when I heard Yan Shu call out to me, "Su Xie!"

I turned my head and saw his bloodshot eyes. I turned and rushed out of the hall, shouting, "The young master of the Left Protector is here!"

An arrow whizzed towards me, and at the same instant, the Left Protector ordered, "Save the young master!"

When the people of the Salo sect rushed in, I almost collapsed to the ground because my legs went weak. I turned around and ran to Yan Shu's side to help him up. He suddenly grabbed my wrist and said, word by word, "Su Xie, you'd better not have betrayed me!"

I looked at him with some confusion, and the next moment the people from the Salo Cult saw us and asked in surprise, "Priest?"

Yan Shu helped me out of the hall. I hesitated for a moment and looked back. I couldn't find Ruan Bicheng's figure in the raging fire. Yan Shu suddenly said in a low voice, "Who are you looking for?"

"No..." I hurriedly denied it. Ruan Bicheng would definitely be alright, but the thought of Yan Shu's presence...

I helped Yan Shu out of the main hall. The King of Licheng, the Queen, and the Left Protector all looked over. The Left Protector came over first, looking into the main hall as he asked, "Where is the young master?"

I tugged at his sleeve and whispered in his ear, "The young master is in a very safe place. I'll take you to meet him once we leave the palace."

"Su Xie!" The Left Protector frowned and glared at me. "Just who are you...?"

“He’s with Protector Leng,” I interrupted him.

Seeing his expression gradually soften, he ordered, "Escort the priest and Su Xie out of the palace."

Just as the people of the Salo sect came to help, the queen suddenly shouted, "Halt! You can't just barge into the Licheng Palace as you please! Leave Yan Shu here!"

The Left Protector turned to look at her, but sneered at the King of Licheng, "Your Majesty, shouldn't you give an explanation to the entire Saluo Sect for the Queen's private imprisonment of our sect's young master?"

With a gloomy face, the King of Licheng turned around and slapped the Queen across the face. The sound was crisp and clear. He ordered, "Take the Queen away. She is not allowed to leave the palace without my order!"

"Your Majesty!" The Queen looked up and glared at me fiercely, "What about the news that Baoze was captured by Su Xie of the Sala Cult? What should be done about it?"

King Licheng and the Left Protector both looked at me. Just as I was about to reply, a guard came running up to King Licheng and reported: "Your Majesty, a man claiming to be the young master of the Saluo Sect has brought Prince Baoze back."

"Young Master?" The Left Protector's expression hardened.

I relaxed completely, collapsing into the arm of the person supporting me. I grinned at the Queen and said, "Your Majesty, what should we do about your baseless accusation that the Salak sect kidnapped the little prince?"

The queen's face darkened, and the King of Licheng shouted, "Take her away now!"

The guards stepped forward and seized the queen. I heard her struggling and calling out, "Jiu'er! Ajiu!" even after she had walked away.

I turned my head to look at Yan Shu. His face remained stiff, dazed, and expressionless.

King Licheng apologized to the Left Protector and promised to give the Sala sect an explanation, personally escorting us out of the palace.

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Before I knew it, it started raining again in Licheng.

I saw Ruan Lianhua and Chang Huan standing under the red wall with umbrellas outside the palace gate, and they smiled at me from afar.

"Young Master!" The Left Protector pounced over like an old bird, grabbing the young master and looking him over anxiously, asking, "Are you injured anywhere? Are you feeling unwell?"

Ruan Lianhua smiled at him and said, "I'm fine." Then she winked at me and added, "Thanks to Su Su."

Good boy, even at a time like this you still remember to speak well of me.

Changhuan came over and helped me up, lowering her eyes and asking, "Are you alright, Miss?"