"Your Majesty, please step back!" Feng Jiu stepped forward, shielding Xue Zi Ning behind him.
But this time, Xue Zi Ning did not wish to hide behind Feng Jiu. "Feng Jiu, I've always been protected by you all. Now, let us fight side by side!"
Feng Jiu trembled, looking up at her, his gaze flickering.
"Now that Feng Yin only has you left, I don't want to lose you, Feng Jiu."
Feng Jiu turned his face away. "Your Majesty, we exist to protect you."
"No, you have your own life to live. I am not your only choice."
"Your Majesty..."
"I don't know if we can break through today, but if we can get out, Feng Jiu will go and choose the life he desires."
Feng Jiu paused, looking at Xue Chang An ahead. "Your Majesty, Feng Jiu's life mission is to protect you, and I have never thought of anything else. It was not so before, and it will not be so in the future."
As he spoke, he charged towards the people surrounding them.
"Xue Zi Ning, your mere five hundred men want to deal with my thousands. It's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Why not surrender and cease all resistance? I might still show leniency for our past kinship and not make things too difficult for you," Xue Chang An said triumphantly.
Xue Zi Ning held her long sword and sneered, "Xue Chang An, our kinship long ago vanished like smoke in our past life. In this life, all I have with you is deep hatred."
Hearing this, Xue Chang An sighed, "Since that is the case, I cannot afford to go easy on you."
Saying that, she waved her hand. "Capture Xue Zi Ning alive, and I shall reward you handsomely."
Xue Zi Ning dodged the attackers, and after a few exchanges, she realized these were not the Imperial Guards, but skilled martial artists from the jianghu.
Soon, the five hundred men behind her dwindled significantly.
She saw blood flowing everywhere, even beneath her feet.
Seeing that Xue Zi Ning could not be captured alive after a long time, Xue Chang An summoned someone beside her. "Go and bring Li Chen Xuan here."
In the end, fewer than ten men remained from the original five hundred.
Xue Zi Ning saw that the remaining men were covered in blood, unsure if it was their own or the enemy's.
"Xue Zi Ning, look who this is!"
Xue Zi Ning looked up, and a person was kneeling before Xue Chang An.
Xue Chang An grabbed the man's hair with one hand. The man was forced to lift his head. His handsome face was contorted with hatred. Upon seeing her, he tried to turn his head away.
But Xue Chang An would not allow him his way, forcing him to look at her.
"Xue Chang An, our grievances should not involve others," she said angrily.
Xue Chang An sneered, "Xue Zi Ning, why the rush? This is just the beginning."
As she spoke, she removed the man's outer garment with one hand.
She held some medicine and offered it to him. He shook his head, refusing to take it, but Xue Chang An pinched his jaw, forcing him to swallow.
"Xue Chang An, let him go..." Xue Zi Ning was utterly enraged.
In her memory, Li Chen Xuan, though not overly arrogant, could not endure such humiliation.
"Xue Zi Ning, do you want to know how your man pleasured himself under me?"
Xue Zi Ning trembled, her face filled with anger. "Xue Chang An, let him go."
"Very well, as long as you surrender..." Xue Chang An laughed with unrestrained wildness.
"No... I can't..." Li Chen Xuan gritted his teeth and spat out these words.
Xue Chang An chuckled softly and reached out, tying a noose around Li Chen Xuan's neck and pulling it tight.
"Xue Chang An..." Xue Zi Ning said word by word.
Xue Chang An looked at her, smiling. "See, the medicine is taking effect. Believe it or not, he will do whatever I tell him to."
Saying that, she whispered something in Li Chen Xuan's ear.
Li Chen Xuan trembled all over. He bit his lower lip hard, trying not to show his fear to her.
But he could not control himself.
Xue Chang An extended a foot, smiling. "Lick it."
To Xue Zi Ning's astonishment, Li Chen Xuan prostrated himself on the ground and licked Xue Chang An's foot.
"Li Chen Xuan..." Xue Zi Ning could not believe it.
Hearing that familiar voice, Li Chen Xuan wished he could die at that moment.
Xue Chang An burst into laughter. "Xue Zi Ning, do you see? The one who was once loyal to you is now licking my foot."
Xue Zi Ning looked up, her eyes filled with immense anger. "Xue Chang An, you only find happiness in hurting others, don't you?"
Hearing this, Xue Chang An's brow furrowed.
Xue Zi Ning continued, "What you're doing now not only insults Chen Xuan but also insults yourself."
"Xue Zi Ning, shut up."
"Xue Chang An, look how pathetic you are. You need drugs to do these things, not because they are willing."
"Can you?" Xue Chang An sneered.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Yes."
"I don't believe you."
Xue Zi Ning chuckled softly. "What makes you think I can't?"
Xue Chang An's gaze intensified. She kicked Li Chen Xuan down and stepped on his face, asking angrily, "Will you be willing?"
"Yes," Li Chen Xuan answered without hesitation.
Xue Chang An became furious. "Why? Why? You are being humiliated in the same way..."
Li Chen Xuan chuckled softly, his face flushed due to the drug. "Because..." Because she was the person he liked!
"I don't believe you, I don't believe you. Li Chen Xuan, tell me, you are just deceiving me..."
"I am not deceiving you. If it can bring back her safety, I am willing to die." Li Chen Xuan slowly closed his eyes, saying no more.
Xue Chang An took two steps back, disbelieving. At that moment, a gust of palm wind approached. "Your Majesty, be careful..." A nearby guard stepped forward to shield Xue Chang An.
Xue Chang An pushed the guard away and saw Xue Zi Ning retreating with Li Chen Xuan.
"Your Majesty, you go first, I'll cover the rear," Feng Jiu said.
Those around tried to approach, but Feng Jiu struck them all down.
A guard beside her asked, "Your Majesty, should we pursue?"
Xue Chang An shook her head. "Forget it, no need. They can't escape far. Besides..."
Her expression carried a hint of cunning. "Xue Zi Ning will regret saving him."
Xue Zi Ning found her family's medical clinic, but they dared not open their doors.
With no other choice, she brought Li Chen Xuan to a dilapidated temple.
"Chen Xuan, how are you feeling?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Li Chen Xuan bit his lower lip. His whole body felt as if it were burning on a fire, incredibly hot. Inside, he felt a void, wanting something to fill it.
Suddenly, a hand touched his forehead, bringing him a long-lost coolness.
However, after a moment, the hand seemed to be pulling away. He reached out to grasp it, wanting to keep it there.
Xue Zi Ning was startled. Li Chen Xuan's hand gripped hers tightly.
"Chen Xuan..." she called out.
Li Chen Xuan showed no reaction. This wouldn't do at all.
"Your... Your Majesty..." Li Chen Xuan began to murmur.