Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 121
Startled, Prince Anle dodged to the side, a flash of hatred in his narrow, almond-shaped eyes. He swiftly drew a folding fan from his waist and launched an attack.
The two of them had already made their move, so the rest of the group naturally wouldn't treat each other peacefully. Lou Shuo attacked Prince Anle, but Jin Yu wasn't about to give up and blocked Lou Shuo's killing move with his sword.
In an instant, chaos erupted on the high cliff, with torrential rain and the glint of swords.
Watching Prince Anle and Dugu Xihui exchange blows, Xiaobai felt a pang of worry. But when she saw Yuluo trembling in her arms, she suppressed her urge to help, instead holding Yuluo even tighter, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.
Zi Jin stood precariously in the torrential rain, her heart feeling as if it were being ripped apart, the pain piercing to the bone, chilling her to the bone.
A flicker of tenderness crossed Xiao Bai's eyes. He wanted to speak, but ultimately couldn't bear to see the person in his arms so distressed. So he cruelly turned his gaze away and looked at the fighting Prince Anle.
Amidst the torrential rain, the faint sound of rapid hoofbeats could be heard, and a cavalry of twenty riders appeared where the sky met the earth. The leader, dressed in a crimson robe, stood out conspicuously in the wind and rain.
Ignoring the two groups fighting, the large group of men spurred their horses and galloped up the cliff.
"Stop the cavalry!" Prince Anle, Dugu Xihui, was extremely shocked and shouted back.
The two groups each sent out a small team to block twenty riders, leaving only two riders who were unstoppable and charged toward the cliff.
Dugu Xihui had no intention of lingering in battle and wanted to rush to the cliff. With Sikou Xunxiang stationed there, Prince Anle had nothing to worry about. He held onto Dugu Xihui tightly, fearing that she might say something reckless once she reached the cliff.
Dugu Xihui and Prince Anle were evenly matched, so she couldn't get rid of Prince Anle's entanglement and could only fight to the death.
The two riders quietly stopped in front of Xiaobai and his two companions.
The man in red sat atop a tall horse, gazing at the little white dog tightly protecting Yu Luo, and smiled gently: "It's been many years."
Xiao Bai pressed his pink lips tightly together, his feather-like eyelashes trembling in the wind and rain. His dark eyes were fixed on the person on horseback, Yu Luo hidden behind his back, and he exuded a domineering murderous aura: "Seeing you is not what I wanted."
The young man beside the man in red frowned, dismounted, took off his cloak, placed it on Zi Jin's head, and whispered in her ear, "Jin."
A chill permeated the air, like an icebox, freezing her to the bone. A gentle warmth rose from her wrist, and Zi Jin turned her head blankly, only to see a scene straight out of a dream: "Jun... Chi..."
Jun Chi lowered his eyes, concealing the tears in them: "Jin, don't be afraid, I'll take you away."
Zi Jin moved the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace: "You brat..."
"Jin'er..." The red-clad man called softly, his voice trembling with suppressed longing.
Xiao Bai was startled and quickly looked at Zi Jin, only to see Zi Jin staring intently at the red-clad man on horseback.
"Jin'er... Father will take you home." Zi Yingfeng's eyes were full of caution, suppressing his emotions, afraid of startling the girl in the rain.
"Father...Father..." Whether it was rain or tears, they slid down her face.
Xiao Baiying's pink lips were tightly pursed, and a hint of mockery and hatred flashed across her jade-like face.
Zi Yingfeng dismounted and quickly walked to Zi Jin, stopping abruptly. He gently coaxed, "Jin'er, don't be afraid, Father will take you away now."
The person before her had deep, captivating eyes like black holes, a high, straight nose, and thin, sensual lips tinged with a faint red. Her sharply defined face was framed by long, thin, sword-like eyebrows that shot straight up to her temples. This was the person she had longed for day and night, the person who had made her harden her heart and leave. Zi Jin's lips moved, but she didn't know how to speak.
Zi Yingfeng carefully reached out and grasped Zi Jin's cold hand, smiling faintly, "Jin'er, I will never lie to you again. Come with me, okay?"
Zi Jin did not withdraw her hand. She glanced sideways at Xiao Bai, who was still tightly protecting Yu Luo behind her back, her eyes filled with lifelessness, and nodded gently.
"Brother! Keep the little mute girl here!" Not far away, Prince Anle shouted loudly when he saw that things were going badly.
Dugu Xihui's amber eyes were filled with murderous intent as he stared bloodthirstyly at Jun Chi, who stood beside Zi Jin.
Xiao Bai raised his eyes again, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He patted Yu Luo lightly and whispered in her ear, "You wait for me in the car."
Yu Luo took the oil-paper umbrella, lowered her eyes, and silently leaned to the side.
A hint of tenderness flickered in Xiaobai's otherwise icy eyes. He sighed softly, unable and unwilling to force her.
A lifetime of love and hate, hard to understand, reincarnation begins again. The bamboo grows without heart, how long can a reflection in a mirror or the moon in the water last? (Part 7)
How long can a mirage last? (Part 7) Zi Yinfeng untied his cloak, intending to tie it around Zi Jin's body. Unexpectedly, a murderous aura rushed towards them, and Jun Chi protected Zi Jin, taking several steps back.
Zi Yingfeng's deep eyes were filled with turmoil, and he had no intention of fighting: "Sikou Xunxiang, what do you want!"
Si Kou Xunxiang's dark, jade-like eyes flashed with coldness, a hint of pain in them: "Your daughter is not worthy of this name." His voice was icy cold.
"Third Prince, take Jin'er away!" Zi Yingfeng called out as he turned around.
Si Kou Xun Xiang quickly tore off the silk from the four edges of the carriage and slapped Jun Chi and Zi Jin's clenched hands. Jun Chi was shocked and, fearing to hurt Zi Jin, had no choice but to release his grip.
Si Kou Xunxiang's silk ribbon was aimed directly at Jun Chi, brimming with murderous intent. Zi Yinfeng frowned, dodged Si Kou Xunxiang's killing move, and said coldly, "Si Kou Xunxiang, this is a feud between you and me, why hurt the innocent!"
Si Kou Xunxiang's eyes were filled with frost as he glanced at Zi Jin: "If I had known she was from the Zi clan, I wouldn't... be so reluctant, I shouldn't... have saved her life." His voice was extremely cold and murderous, and it was unclear whether this rebuttal was meant for others or to convince himself.
Those words pierced her heart like a sharp blade. Zi Jin's breath caught in her throat, and she couldn't help but take a step back, pressing her left fist tightly against her chest, her eyes filled with pain.
Zi Yingfeng's face was filled with rage, and a deep killing intent had arisen in his deep eyes: "People say that Sikou Xunxiang is as gentle and refined as jade, but he is nothing more than this!"
Jun Chi's exquisite eyes were now filled with murderous intent. He angrily drew his sword from his waist and joined the battle.
As Yu Guang passed over Zi Jin, whose face was filled with pain, Si Kou Xun Xiang's heart was in turmoil. However, he smiled mockingly and twirled the silk in his hand to its fullest extent. It was both soft and hard, offensive and defensive, and he even gained a slight advantage.
Dugu Xihui seemed to have grown weary of the protracted battle with Prince Anle. His sword strikes were menacing, each aimed straight for vital points, forcing Prince Anle into a retreating retreat. Taking advantage of Prince Anle's momentary distraction, Dugu Xihui rose and instantly flew to the edge of the cliff, embracing Zi Jin's waist. He leaned against her shoulder with a faint smile, his dimples brimming with sweetness, and murmured softly, as if in a dream, "I'm sorry."
Anle Wang's eyes flashed with cold light. He no longer cared about Zi Jin's safety and thrust his sword at the two of them. Dugu Xihui was shocked. She pushed Zi Jin aside, reached out and took the jade pendant that had slipped from Zi Jin's waist, and drew her sword to block it, each strike aimed at killing.
Zi Yingfeng and Jun Chi, worried about Zi Jin's safety, had already sustained several minor injuries. At this moment, Sikou Xunxiang was like a divine weapon drawn from its sheath, dazzling in its brilliance and exuding a chilling killing intent.
On the edge of the cliff, the two stood facing each other. They had once been the closest of friends, the ones who depended on each other, the ones who stood together through thick and thin.