Looking at Ye Qianlong's clear eyes, pure smile, and cheeks slightly flushed from his eagerness to explain, Shen Lixue felt a pang of heartache. He was just a big boy, clear-headed, innocent, and naive to the ways of the world. How could she bring herself to dig out his heart?
"Li Xue, it's getting windy. Come in and sit down. I'll pour you some tea!" Ye Qianlong chuckled softly, preparing to step past Shen Li Xue and push open the door.
"Qianlong!" Shen Lixue reached out and stopped Ye Qianlong. Under his puzzled gaze, she said, word by word, "Go back to Xiliang. Leave now!"
Ye Qianlong was taken aback, a hint of surprise appearing in her clear eyes. She then lowered her head and whispered, "Have I caused you any trouble?"
"No." Shen Lixue shook her head, forcing a smile. "You've been away from Xiliang for a long time. You must miss home. Go back and see your parents and family soon!"
"Third brother, sixth sister came to Qingyan to pick me up, but we haven't arrived in the capital yet!" Ye Qianlong's voice grew softer and softer.
"You leave the capital first and meet them on the way!" Shen Lixue said, pushing Ye Qianlong quickly outside: "The carriage is outside, you leave now!"
"I...I don't know the way back to Xiliang!" Ye Qianlong turned around and looked at Shen Lixue apologetically.
"It's alright, I'll send someone to escort you!" Dongfang Xun glared at him menacingly, determined to tear Ye Qianlong's heart away. Even if he knew the way, Shen Lixue would send someone to escort him back to Xiliang.
After leaving the inn, Shen Lixue first helped Ye Qianlong into the carriage. She stood on the street, carefully looking around. It was mealtime, and the place was deserted, with not a single person in sight.
"Li Xue!" Ye Qianlong lifted the curtain and called softly.
"Coming right away!" Shen Lixue glanced at the post station, turned around, and slowly stepped onto the carriage using a stool.
The moment the carriage set off, a barely audible whooshing sound rang out outside.
Shen Lixue smiled faintly. She knew that Dongfang Xun would have people near the post station to monitor Ye Qianlong's every move and find the most suitable time to strike. She would not give him the chance to dig out his heart: "Go to the West Gate!" The main road outside the West Gate leads to Xiliang.
"Yes!" the coachman replied, cracking his whip and speeding the carriage toward the west gate.
"Li Xue, is something wrong?" Ye Qianlong sat on the soft blanket, looking at Ye Mingzhu beside him, and asked cautiously.
Shen Lixue looked at Ye Qianlong's lowered eyelids and smiled, "It's nothing!" She didn't intend to let Dongfang Heng know that he needed her heart.
"Then why did you make me go back to Xiliang tonight? And why were you in such a hurry to leave?" Ye Qianlong asked, puzzled.
“In the afternoon, I went to see Qin Ruoyan. She was actually raising Gu worms on people. People in the Southern Frontier like those strange insects. If you continue to stay at the post station, you will definitely be in danger!” Shen Lixue’s eyes darted around as she gave a reasonably acceptable reason.
“I’ve never spoken to Qin Ruoyan, so she shouldn’t harm me!” Ye Qianlong raised an eyebrow at Shen Lixue.
Shen Lixue smiled gently: "I just wanted to take precautions. Qin Ruoyan is very fond of Gu. What if she has no one around to raise Gu and then sets her sights on you? Her Gu are extremely evil."
"I'm not afraid of Qin Ruoyan!" Ye Qianlong muttered softly.
Just as Shen Lixue was about to speak, she heard a sharp "Crack!" and the fast-moving carriage suddenly stopped, causing her slender body to lurch forward.
"Li Xue!" Ye Qianlong reacted quickly, reaching out to grab her arm and steady her.
"Thank you!" A cold glint flashed in Shen Lixue's clear eyes as she lifted the curtain and looked out of the carriage: "What happened?"
The coachman's frustrated voice came from beside the carriage: "Your Highness, the wheel is cracked and we can no longer drive!"
"How could the wheels suddenly break?" Shen Lixue recalled Dongfang Xun's resolute gaze, and her eyes suddenly deepened. He must have broken the wheels to prevent her from sending Ye Qianlong away from Qingyan.
Looking around warily, the carriage was parked in a very secluded alley. It was quiet and dark all around, perfect for an ambush.
A series of whooshing sounds rang out, and dozens of men in black with grim faces and long swords in hand appeared in Shen Lixue's line of sight. A mocking smile appeared on her lips; there was indeed an ambush.
"Secret Guards!" Shen Lixue called out, and seven or eight secret guards instantly appeared, meeting the menacing men in black. The sounds of fierce clashes of weapons echoed throughout most of the alley.
Shen Lixue looked around carefully, but only the men in black attacked. There was no sign of Dongfang Xun. His martial arts were unfathomable, and Shen Lixue couldn't handle him at all. If she waited for him to arrive, given his stubbornness, Ye Qianlong would really be unable to leave.
The carriage was broken and could no longer be driven; they had to find a different vehicle.
"Qianlong, get off the carriage!" Shen Lixue jumped off the carriage, her dagger flashing in two graceful arcs as she cut the ropes binding the horses. There were two horses pulling the carriage, one for her and one for Ye Qianlong. She tossed a rein to Ye Qianlong: "Qianlong, let's ride out of the city!"
Ye Qianlong glanced at the reins in his hand, then at the fiercely fighting guards and men in black. His eyes flickered, and he moved slowly, not mounting his horse.
"Qianlong, don't just stand there, get on your horse!" Shen Lixue urged urgently as she watched the fierce battle from her horseback.
The men in black came for Ye Qianlong. Once Ye Qianlong leaves, they will retreat without causing trouble for the Zhan Wang Mansion's guards or suffering serious injuries.
"Alright!" Ye Qianlong withdrew his gaze, nodded slightly, and nimbly mounted his horse.
Shen Lixue flicked the reins, about to urge her horse to gallop, when a man in black flew over quickly, his long sword gleaming coldly, and thrust it fiercely at Ye Qianlong on horseback.
"Qianlong, be careful!" Shen Lixue's eyes turned cold, and with a flick of her wrist, the cyan whip, like a startled swan, lashed out at the wrist of the man in black with a sharp gust of wind.
The man in black, his eyelids visible beneath his black mask, lowered slightly. He dodged Shen Lixue's long whip and thrust at Ye Qianlong once more.
Shen Lixue soared into the air, wielding her long whip, and attacked the man in black. The man in black's eyes turned cold, and his sharp sword moves met Shen Lixue's whip. In an instant, purple and black figures intertwined, and the cyan whip shadow and silver sword shadow exchanged positions, tightly entangled.
The man in black moved swiftly and mercilessly, while Shen Lixue's whip was sharp and relentless.
Suddenly, a guard from the War King's mansion was stabbed in the chest, staggered a few steps, and fell to the ground.
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened. These men in black should all be elites of the Holy King's Mansion, not much worse than the secret guards of the War King's Mansion. Their numbers were several times that of the secret guards. The secret guards could withstand their attacks for a short time, but over time, they would be at a disadvantage and be surrounded or even killed.
Dongfang Xun clearly and plainly told her that he would stop at nothing to win Ye Qianlong's heart. Although Shen Lixue felt sorry for the Zhanwang Mansion's secret guards who died at the hands of the Shengwang Mansion's guards, she would not blame Dongfang Xun. She had thought of this outcome the moment she decided to help Ye Qianlong.
She and Dongfang Xun are enemies, and they might fight to the death for Ye Qianlong.
"Swish, swish, swish!" The death of that guard spurred the other guards of the War King's Mansion. Their moves became faster and more ruthless without them even realizing it. In a short while, several men in black were stabbed in vital areas and fell to the ground dead.
Shen Lixue made a gesture towards the air, and more than ten guards jumped down from the high wall to join the battle. Looking at the battle circle, the number of black-clad men from the Holy King's Mansion and guards from the War King's Mansion was about the same, and who would win or lose depended entirely on their abilities.
As Shen Lixue fought fiercely with the man in black, she caught a glimpse of a figure in green robes gracefully approaching from the end of the alley. The handsome face and ethereal demeanor were none other than Dongfang Xun. Her dark eyes narrowed sharply: "Qianlong, run!"
Dongfang Xun is extremely skilled in martial arts and must have had secret guards with him. Shen Lixue and the guards of the Zhanwang Mansion were all tied down and unable to help. Ye Qianlong might not be able to win against him. If he loses, his heart will be ripped out.