Bai Xianyu sharpened her gaze and stood ready to face the opponent in front of her.
The night wind blew fiercely, carrying the scent of damp earth and the lingering traces of blood on her clothes.
Before them, the man in the golden robe stood casually, as if he had known they would arrive.
"Prince Zhao Renshu, I've been waiting for you."
Zhao Renshu frowned.
"And who are you?"
Bai Xianyu didn't miss a single movement from the man. Her eyes were filled with suspicion and curiosity. She scanned him from head to toe.his upright posture, his gaze filled with contempt, and his overly confident demeanor…
He didn't seem like an ordinary man.
Suddenly, the man chuckled.
"So, you truly don't remember me, Prince?"
His eyes gleamed coldly as he continued,
"Good. That means you won't expect who will stab you in the back."
Bai Xianyu immediately drew her sword.
"Who are you really?" she demanded.
The man lifted his chin slightly.
"My name is Qin Feng."
He stepped forward, his golden robe billowing in the wind.
"And I am your half-brother, Prince."
"WHAT?!"
Zhao Renshu widened his eyes and gasped at the man's words. Stepbrother? Since when did he have a half-brother? He didn't even know he had another sibling. He took a step back, his breath hitching.
"A half-brother? That's impossible!"
His mind raced. He had never heard of another sibling before, only Zhao Mingze, the emperor.
Bai Xianyu's grip tightened on her sword. She exchanged a glance with Zhao Renshu, equally startled. If this was true, then why had no one ever mentioned it?
Qin Feng let out a bitter chuckle.
"Surprising, isn't it? I spent years living in the shadows, forgotten… and now, here I am."
Zhao Renshu clenched his fists, trying to make sense of it all.
"I don't understand… Who is your mother?"
Qin Feng's face hardened. His jaw tightened as his expression darkened.
"My mother? That's none of your concern."
Qin Feng slowly drew his sword.
"The only thing you need to know is… I came to end you."
Bai Xianyu immediately stepped in front of Zhao Renshu, raising her sword.
"You have to go through me first."
Qin Feng let out a cold laugh.
"I was hoping you'd say that, General Bai."
BAM!
Suddenly, the sound of a signal flare echoed in the sky. The sky turned bright red.
And within seconds…
Countless shadows emerged from the darkness. Soldiers in black uniforms. There were dozens of them.
Bai Xianyu was shocked.
"We've been trapped."
Zhao Renshu swallowed hard.
"Not just trapped… It looks like we're really in big trouble. I was hoping to see birds tomorrow."
Bai Xianyu shot a sharp glare at the prince.
"This is not the time to miss birds!! Please wake up!!" Bai Xianyu screamed in her mind, feeling like she wanted to cry.
She could smell the scent of battle in the darkness.
Qin Feng waved his hand.
"Take them alive."
BAM!
The sound of a signal flare marked the first soldier's attack.
Bai Xianyu moved swiftly.
Her sword flashed through the air. One strike. Two strikes. Three enemies fell in an instant.
Zhao Renshu stepped back, trying to find an escape route. But there was nowhere to run.
Enemy soldiers surrounded them so tightly that even an ant wouldn't be able to crawl through their ranks.
And Bai Xianyu was the only one protecting one person against all of them.
"PRINCE, WATCH OUT,BEHIND YOU!!"
Too late.
A soldier managed to ambush Zhao Renshu from behind, grabbing his collar.
Bai Xianyu rushed toward the prince, but before she could strike…
Qin Feng was already in front of her, pointing his sword straight at her face.
"Don't try anything foolish, General Bai."
Then, he slowly shifted the tip of his sword to Zhao Renshu's neck.
"Or I'll slit my dear little brother's throat right in front of you."
Bai Xianyu clenched her jaw.
Her hands trembled on the hilt of her sword.
How did this happen?
They were completely trapped.
But before Qin Feng could continue his threat…
"You're all too slow," Zhao Renshu said.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Zhao Renshu was smiling lazily.
And within seconds…
BAM!
The soldier holding him was suddenly sent flying, crashing into a tree and a pile of rocks.
Blood splattered against the stones and the ground.
And Zhao Renshu…
Was holding a small dagger, gleaming under the moonlight.
Bai Xianyu was stunned.
"Prince…? How? Since when could you use a dagger and fight?"
Zhao Renshu winked.
"Since I knew people in the palace wanted to kill me since I was a child," he answered in a serious tone.
Qin Feng clenched his teeth.
"Damn… So you're smarter than I thought."
Zhao Renshu smirked.
"Of course. I wouldn't have survived this long by relying on luck alone."
However, even though they had taken down some enemies, they were still outnumbered.
Bai Xianyu had to make a decision.
"We have to run now!"
But before they could move…
AN ARROW SHOT TOWARD THEM.
SREEET!
Bai Xianyu immediately pulled Zhao Renshu, trying to dodge the attack.
But the arrow was too fast.
And…
Zhao Renshu staggered backward as the arrow pierced his shoulder. Blood began to seep from the wound.
Bai Xianyu's eyes widened.
"PRINCE!!!"
Zhao Renshu fell to his knees.
Qin Feng stepped forward, raising his sword to Zhao Renshu's face.
"This is over. You can't move anymore, Prince."
Bai Xianyu tried to stand, but her body weakened. The poison from the previous arrow had begun spreading through her arm, and she grimaced in pain.
She couldn't protect the Prince…
"No..." Bai Xianyu screamed.
But before Qin Feng's sword could reach Zhao Renshu's neck…
A voice echoed through the air.
"ENOUGH! Stop this right now!"
From behind the trees, a group of soldiers in silver armor appeared, imperial banners waving behind them.
Everyone turned.
And there…
Stood a man in a blue-white robe, holding the imperial seal.
"BY ORDER OF THE EMPEROR, EVERYONE CEASE THIS FIGHT IMMEDIATELY!"
Bai Xianyu was stunned.
In front of them stood a dignified man clad in blue-white robes embroidered with golden dragons.
When Zhao Renshu saw him, his eyes widened.
"Brother?"
Bai Xianyu held her breath—the Emperor had arrived.
The Emperor stepped forward, his gaze sharp and piercing.
"Zhao Renshu, what are you doing here?" he asked.
Qin Feng smirked.
"Oh… Emperor Zhao Mingze. You arrived sooner than I expected."
Bai Xianyu felt something was off.
Why did the Emperor appear at a time like this?
Was it a coincidence…
Or part of a bigger plan?