We galloped into the woods on the mountain where dense leaves and branches shaded us against sunshine and the path was winding and bumpy.

The twenty members of Henlan's squad dashed inside. They divided themselves into small groups and dispersed southwards.

Helan Zhen fled ahead. Instead of running southwards, he galloped up on the winding path into depth of forest.

The bearded man and other two underlings rode behind him for protection.

No troops blockaded them, nor chased. Xiao Qi indeed kept his promise.

Paths on the mountain meandered and criss-crossed. He was very familiar with the way. It was apparent that he had explored this area and arranged escape routine.

“Young master, the bastard reached the cross path down there, and suddenly was gone.” The bearded man spurred to him.

Helan Zhen reined abruptly and looked back. Dense trees spread widely and cliffs fell deep. Nobody was seen and only wind whistled.

It froze in my heart. Did not Xiao Qi chase us? The idea emerged to make me sweat cold. I was flustered.

“Did the bastard feel hard and return?”Another underling guessed.

I bit my lips to make myself composed. I deserted all sad ideas. In such a situation, even I did not fear death, letting alone panic.

However, really it did not panic me? Clearly I was so sad... as if the moment of the wedding recurred.

On that day when my father saw me in wedding dress walking out of home gate and later alone to leave for Huizhou, he said no word to keep me stay.

Today I was forced to flee and I would die anytime, but Xiao Qi did not chase me.

They had same attitude to me -- giving me up and seeing me fall in abyss.

What made me panic was neither death nor marriage, but the feeling of being deserted. To be deserted by families.

In vain I struggled for them. It had been long that I was just a deserted pawn.

I suddenly woke up to it and felt desperate.

“Young Master...” The bearded man tried to say something but Helan Zhen raised a hand to hush him and attended to listening.

Wind whistled beside ears and overwhelmed other sounds.

Helan Zhen looked very serious. “Xiao Qi has various tricks. Beware and guard.”

The bearded man answered, “Young master, don't be worry. Ahead are Eagle Beak Valley and Flying Cloud Slope. We pass them and reach the rope bridge on high cliff. Our people are already under the bridge to meet us. The river under the bridge is rapid. We float downstream and pass the border soon.”

“Great! The others divert the chasing troops to south. The bastard can't expect that we take boat on river.” Helan Zhen said smugly.

I felt sad as his people were desperate to fight for him while he fleed by them diverting chasing troops.

He spurred and whipped his horse. When he and his underlings galloped ahead, the path became steeper.

Strong wind scraped my face and blew my hair to straggle.

I was wrapped closely with his cloak in his arms. His breath spread around my ears and neck.

“If you fear, hold me tight.” Suddenly he whispered beside my ear.

His voice was low but it confused me. I had a sense of deja vu.

In Shanglin Garden, the spring had witnessed me, my brother and Zidanrode riding side by side, so intimate.

Also, the teenage in white had ever whispered beside me, “If you fear, hold me tight.”

In confusion, I felt bitter.

As the path turned, my sight suddenly became open and clear. A bridge straddled between cliffs.

Below sound of water smashing bank was heard. It was a rapid river.

The bearded man spurred to explore the bridge. Looking back with delight, he said, “It is here! Rope is ready. I go under firstly and meet you there.”

Helan Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. “Nice. Be careful.”

Seeing the man dismounting to check the rope, I could not restrain body trembling. From here I would leave my kingdom and family. Would I be forced really to go to Helan's land? Would I be trapped in his den and lose my freedom?

If so, I preferred death in my land!

Helan Zhen's laughter sounded beside my ears. “It is so nice. Anyway your man abandoned you and you followed me to my land.”

What he said was unintended but my tears welled up.

He always penetrated my biggest defense in my heart and made me miserable.

My hatred flared up from heart bottom.

“Some day I will kill you personally.” Clenching my teeth, I uttered each word from my heart.

Helan Zhen roared with long laughter.

A thrill whistle cut in his laughter.

Strong wind, painful cry and blood splashing came in a row.

“Look out, young master!” The bearded man shouted. He jumped onto horse and galloped fast back. He protected Helan Zhen by standing behind him.

Meantime Helan Zhen turned his horse and bent to press me down.

Behind him, one of his guardians on brown horse fell down and rolled on ground.

An arrow with white feather at its end pierced his neck. The feather still quivered.

Blood gushed from his nose and mouth.

His dying face distorted with eyes widened round.

Helan Zhen pulled his sabers quickly and shouted, “Southeast!”

The bearded man responded to pull out an arrow. He drew bow at the direction.

I suddenly raised head and shouted, “Watch out!”

An arrow was shot into trees. No sound.

To southeast a path ran out from a slope, enshrouded by low bushes.

“He is behind the tree!”Another guardian leapt out and shot three successive sleeve arrows to there.

Helan Zhen called him back.

Before he finished his order, another whistle came at.

The arrow rammed the guardian on horse down. He fell down and knocked his head on ground. He died -- an arrow with white feather piercing his neck.

This attack, which even I could see clearly, was that instead of from the path behind the bushes, the arrow was shot from slope.

As I looked up at there, long neigh sound through cloud.

A black steed galloped from the slope down to here, stirring up dust.

On the steed, Xiao Qi held his sword, armor gleaming and cloak billowing like eagle's wings.

The steed swooped like thunder and the general rode on the thunder.

Their murderous ferocity came before the steed and the man reach here.

“Yong Master leaves first.” The bearded man spurred and turned to Xiao Qi. Pulling out his nine-ring saber, he shouted, “Bastard, come on!”

Helan Zhen spurred and leapt out to the narrow path which allowed one horse to run. He headed for the bridge.

At this moment, Xiao Qi already fought against the bearded man.

The sword slashed, sounding like dragon cry, and the saber rings clanged aloud. They clashed and sparked.

On the narrow path, two horses tangled up. Each wielding and slashing was quick and deadly. The fight was ferocious. A show of blood splashed out. I did not know who bled.

I felt horrible as the sword and the saber glittered before me, while Helan Zhen loosed me.

He reined and stood. He drew bow at Xiao Qi's back.

“No!” I shrieked.

When Xiao Qi fought with the man, his back was vulnerable.

Helan Zhen drew bowstring fully.

Sparing no strength, I bit his wrist.

His hand shook with pain and released the arrow. It missed the target.

The arrow skimmed Xiao Qi's face.

I tasted blood in month so strong that the blood seemed to rush to my forehead.

“Bitch!” Helan Zhen roared with rage and smacked my back.

My guts shocked and blood welled out. I blacked out.

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In this transience, Xiao Qi turned his horse and slashed down!

A rain of blood sprayed -- head of the bearded man flew upwards.

Xiao Qi's horse leapt through the blood rain. His white feather on helmet was stained red.

Seeing the bloody and terrible scene excited me and in faintness, I managed to raise my head and smile at him.

Hot and bloody liquid welled out through my throat. I could not hold it back to spit blood.

Helan Zhen retreated to the bridgehead. He jumped off horse, an arm holding me and saber in hand.

The bridgehead was narrow and commanding.

Buckling, I was hold by Helan Zhen.

“Don't you duel with me?” Xiao Qi jumped off horse and then raised sword slowly. He smiled with disdain.

Noon sun shone on the raised sword which reflected murderous and dazzling ray.

Soaked in blood, he radiated murderous intention. He was the sword, vice versa.

Helan Zhen clenched my shoulder, knuckles whitening, as if he did all effort to put down his hatred.

In their confrontation, the transient was the long.

Helan Zhen spoke with a carefree smile. “I changed my mind. We duel next time.”

He said half-heartedly as if talking about romantic affair. “Now, you want this woman or my life. You choose one.”

Xiao Qi stood still as a hill. In noon sunshine, his gaze and sword blade sparkled together.

“Both!” He spoke with one word.

With his finger tips pressing hard, Helan Zhen laughed loud.

In his laughter, the murderous air that diffused between them froze immediately.

Xiao Qi approached him step by step.

Helan Zhen's hand slipped to my waist and touched the button of the jade belt.

It appalled me. I shouted, “Stop!”

My shouting was ongoing while they were moving.

Slashes crossed and a blade skimmed my hair on temple.

The slashes of blades terrified me.

However, the more terrible was a click sounded on my waist. Giving a pretending slash, Helan Zhen moved me before him, so that he leapt back, pressing the button.

A silver thread ejected from the belt and was twisted around his hand.

I suddenly realized his trick: the poisonous fire that would explore in the belt could set fire on everything within range of three Zhang, and he would use the thread to trigger the explosion. After he jumped off the bridge, three Zhang away from me, his pulling of the thread would set off the explosion. Xiao Qi and I would be burned.

Turning immediately, I looked into his eyes that were ruthless and resolute.

“Wang Xuan, we meet in afterlife.” A mournful expression flickered in his eyes. He grasped the thread and jumped down.

“No!” I clenched my teeth to hold him with all strengths.

My body was falling and wind swept through my ears.

“Dear--”, Xiao Qi dashed near and grasped my sleeve halfway.

Sleeve was torn.

My body hung in the air right now as Helan Zhen hung under the bridge.

His face became pale and sweated heavily as he hung with an arm.

“My belt would explode with poisonous fire.” I looked up and smiled at Xiao Qi. “Leave me as soon.”

Face clouding over, Xiao Qi was shocked but he was determined to reach for me.

I shook head. “Leave now. I die with him.”

“Nice, a nice die-with-me...” Helan Zhen roared with eruptive laughter and waved his hand to pull the thread. “Xiao Qi, our feud is cleared. Join us to death!”

I look down at the thread being pulled, which appalled me.

Xiao Qi's half body leaned out, and he shout at me, “give me your hand!”

For his bravery and august, I could not declined his determinant decision. To be or not to be, I should not hesitate. I made my ruthless mind to all-out reach for him.

The thread from my belt was being pulled the minute a slash fell like a white cloth.

Bone broke, sounding as ceramics fell on ground.

Blood sprayed onto my face.

Helan Zhen’s shriek was so sad and panic as to sound unlike human's voice. The shriek faded out as he fell down.

The big hand that held me jerked me up into the air.

The jerking tumbled me and Xiao Qi.

I fell in strong and warm arms.

My belt was intact while the thread was still tied on a cut hand, which was Helan Zhen's.

Xiao Qi slashed off his hand that had pulled the thread.

“Well. You are safe...” A low and warm voice came in my ears as my belt was removed carefully.

Light-hearted, I want to see his face clearly but there was blood all over... A bloody world...

Fire, dark green, enshrouded my world; wind, whistling, blew beside my ears. A glitter slash of sword swept the world and blood flooded to overwhelm me. I scrambled and recovered myself but I could not open my eyes anyway.

It seemed as if I was in the dark green fire, which pained me all over.

Sinking into unconsciousness, I woke and fell in sleep times.

In my dream, there seemed longing eyes gazing me affectionately, warm hand often stroking my forehead, and a low voice whispering in my ears.

I could not get what he said but heard his voice, so I calmed down.

When I woke once more, I could open my eyes eventually.

Bed curtains hung around me and candles flickered. Smell of herbal medicine diffused in room.

Taking a deep breath, I touched a warm and soft quilt, and thus I didn't believe that I was in a dream.

The nightmare had been gone. It was truly safe that I was lying on bed with relaxation.

Just now, I dreamed sword slashing, blood splashing and wind blowing. Suddenly trembling, I recollected that blood had welled in my mouth; sword and sabers had clanged and glittered; blade had skimmed my hair; I fell off the bridge, hanging. I remembered the firm hands

At the moment, like a broken feather, I fell down to the dead abyss, but the slash of the sword cut off the hand of the dead. I was rescued and fell with warm and safe hug.

Shadows moved outside bed curtains.

The familiar and low voice was heard. “The consort ever woke up?”

“Your majesty, the consort's wound heals up. However she hasn't recover consciousness yet.”An old man replied to him.

“It has been three days.” Xiao Qi sounded worried and concerned. “She suffered inner wound. I am afraid that her inner passages of vitality were hurt.”

“Please don't worry. The palm hit on the key place of her passages, but its strength was weak and it could not hurt her heart and passages. But signals of her passages are faint. She long suffered physically and mentally. I should not treat her in quick way and with too much medicine, or it backfires on her.

Silence outside the curtain lasted for a long while and the smell of herb went on diffusing.

A heavy sigh. “If Helan Zhen's palm hit had been in full force, the consort would have died.”

“The consort is lucky. She must turn calamities into blessings.” Who was speaking? Neither the old man nor Xiao Qi.

“In this round I underestimate Helan. Review it and I still regret it now.” Xiao Qi sounded self-mockery. “Unexpectedly, though I had half-life military career and killed and bled, today I felt feared and regretful.”

“I just know that concern disturbs decision.”

Xiao Qi gave a smile.

“Your majesty, the Helan's reminders...”

“Discuss it tomorrow. Dismiss.”

“Yes.”

Outside was silence for a long moment.

I looked thought the curtains and saw a dim and tall shadow reflected on screen. His silhouette was sharp and craggy.

The silhouette stood still as if he gazed through the screen at the inside where I stayed.

Also, I was silent to gaze at him.

Concern disturbed decision making, which hovered in my mind and made me blush.