Although Yu Mingyue practiced martial arts daily for self-defense, there was a difference between defending oneself and killing.
The brutal and bloody reality of the battlefield was beyond her imagination.
When the guard beside her was stabbed saving her, blood splattered her face, hot and viscous, still warm, but the person was already dead.
The life and death depicted in storybooks paled in comparison to the shock of watching someone die beside you with your own eyes.
"Miss, be careful." Zhu Yu pulled the stunned Yu Mingyue aside, dodging a rebel's sword.
More and more guards fell, and fewer people were left guarding the secret passage.
Han Dingxin had an arrow wound on her arm, her hair disheveled. Yu Mingyue was not much better, her face smeared with blood from sweat, creating a tragic sight.
Gu Tingyun was also injured in the shoulder, but along with the few remaining guards, he protected Yu Mingyue and Han Dingxin.
"Sixth Miss, I'm afraid we can't hold on much longer," Han Dingxin said, her eyes bloodshot.
"It's already very good that we've lasted this long, Sister Han. If we survive this, I will definitely design a more ingenious sleeve dart for you." Yu Mingyue looked down at Han Dingxin's sleeve dart.
Han Dingxin's eyes were red, "Sister Mingyue, you must keep your word."
Actually, she didn't like Yu Mingyue much before, thinking that as the daughter of a military official, she was incompetent and merely acted arrogantly relying on the Cui family.
She was willing to befriend the straightforward Gu Youyou but looked down on Yu Mingyue. However, today's events made her see Yu Mingyue in a new light.
"Don't worry."
As long as she could survive, she would definitely keep her word.
As they spoke, two more guards fell. Yu Mingyue saw a rebel's sword stabbing towards Zhu Yu's back and instinctively pushed Zhu Yu away, "Zhu Yu, be careful."
In the next instant, the rebel's sword was about to land on Yu Mingyue's chest.
"Miss!" Zhu Yu's voice was heart-wrenching.
"Sixth Miss!" Gu Tingyun turned to rush over, but it was too late.
At the critical moment between life and death, an arrow struck the rebel in the forehead, and he fell straight in front of Yu Mingyue with wide-open eyes.
Yu Mingyue was also shaken. Her pushing Zhu Yu away was a reflex action, she hadn't thought much about it. But when the sword was about to strike her, there was no time, and she thought she was going to die.
Yu Mingyue, still not having recovered her senses, looked back. Xie Jia'an rode over, still in his usual blue robe, but holding a bow and arrow, he looked like a god descending from the heavens.
"Brother Jia'an." Yu Mingyue's eyes suddenly lit up.
Brother Jia'an was here, he would surely have a way.
Gu Tingyun was also relieved to see Xie Jia'an arrive with reinforcements. They had come just in time; any later and they would not have been able to hold on.
Behind Xie Jia'an were Song Wei's Qianniu Guards, all of whom were Song Wei's trusted men and naturally not comparable to ordinary rebels.
He Jing had only brought a small squad to capture a group of defenseless young ladies. Now, surrounded by the Qianniu Guards in black armor, they were already overwhelmed by the sheer presence.
"Are you General He Jing?" Xie Jia'an asked from horseback, looking down.
He Jing was surprised that the other party knew his identity. Since he couldn't escape anyway, it didn't matter anymore.
"So what?"
"Then that's it. I heard that General He is highly valued by Prince Han, so I assume you will not surrender. Therefore, today is your death day." Xie Jia'an stopped wasting words and waved his hand. The arrows of the Qianniu Guards behind him were about to be shot at the rebels.
He Jing's eyes flickered, and a wicked plan formed. He wanted to take a few people down with him before he died. If he was lucky, he might even have a chance to survive.
As the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly stabbed the sword in his hand towards Han Dingxin, who was closest to him.
"Sister Han, be careful!" Yu Mingyue wanted to stop him, but it was too late.