Chapter 115: A Moment of Life and Death

Not far away, Mo Fan watched the few remaining survivors struggling in their final moments, each nearing their limit. A sense of indescribable triumph and delight swelled within him.

Once Mo Yan was dead, he would have his men clean up the scene and replace the two hundred Imperial Guards with pre-arranged substitutes. He would then return to report to the Emperor that Mo Yan had taken Jin'er and wandered away from the group, only to be ambushed by bandits and killed due to being outnumbered. Tsk, tsk, tsk... what a meticulous plan.

Even if the Emperor were to harbor suspicions, he was the Crown Prince, the only remaining heir of the royal bloodline; he was certain the matter would eventually be swept under the rug. Then, no one would be left to contest the throne with him, and no one would be left to compete for the woman he desired. Hahahaha!

Just as Mo Fan’s calculations were clicking perfectly into place, a chorus of screams erupted from the two rows of archers on his left, throwing them into chaos.

Mo Fan and Wang Lin stared in shock as a dark figure swept through like a gale. Wherever the shadow passed, archers fell in droves. Those who remained were thrown into disarray, and the dense hail of arrows raining down upon Mo Yan and his group instantly thinned to a trickle.

"Damn it! What is happening?! Kill them! Kill them now!" Mo Fan, frantic and furious, lunged forward to snatch a bow and quiver from a corpse on the ground, firing desperately at Mo Yan.

Seeing the sudden turn of events, a flicker of hope reignited in Jin'er’s eyes. Yet, even in her excitement, she caught a glimpse of Mo Yan swaying before dropping to one knee, using his sword to prop up his failing body. He looked as though he could no longer hold on.

"Mo Yan!" Jin'er cried out in alarm. Seeing two sharp arrows flying toward him, she lunged forward, catching the arrows just a fist’s distance from his chest, letting out a breath of relief.

However, while she had stopped those two, she was powerless against the several others that followed.

"Jin'er!" Seeing her about to be struck, Mo Yan’s heart tightened. Gathering his last ounce of strength, he pulled her into an embrace and turned his body, shielding her back with his own.

"No!!!" Jin'er’s eyes widened, a shrill, piercing cry escaping her lips. A sense of heart-wrenching agony rippled through her entire being.

In the blink of an eye, Shi Yuan flashed over, his sword swinging wildly as the sharp clang of steel hitting steel rang out.

Seeing the tall figure standing before her, Jin'er’s heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally settled. She suppressed the rising tears, and without a moment’s hesitation, stood beside Shi Yuan to guard Mo Yan behind them.

The arrows firing toward them had slowed to a trickle, and cries of agony echoed from behind the bushes on the opposite side; the situation seemed to be in total chaos.

"Stay here. I’m going to help at the front." Shi Yuan’s cold voice reached her. Before she could respond, he had already surged forward.

Jin'er looked at him and suddenly noticed that he had been struck by an arrow in his arm at some point. The shaft remained embedded in his flesh, and blood flowed continuously, running down his arm and dripping from his fingertips.

Jin'er knitted her brows, realizing it must have happened when he shielded her and Mo Yan. A wave of distress washed over her. "Shi, be careful!" she shouted after his retreating back.

Although he was already some distance away, Shi Yuan heard her, and a hint of warmth flickered in his icy eyes.

Because the reinforcements Mo Fan had brought were almost exclusively archers, they were at a severe disadvantage when ambushed from behind. Coupled with the incredible speed and lethal skill of the newcomer, they were decimated in moments. With Shi Yuan and two other skilled Imperial Guards joining the fray, the remaining enemies, despite their numbers, had no way to resist.

"Your Highness! We must flee!" Seeing the mysterious expert—who moved with such ruthless, fatal precision—Wang Lin felt a chill run down his spine. This was an expert among experts. They had no powerful subordinates left to defend them; they were defenseless.

"Our men are being slaughtered! If we don't leave now, it will be too late!" Wang Lin grabbed Mo Fan, who was still trying to nock another arrow, intending to drag him away by force. But Mo Fan shoved him aside, unwilling to let his grand scheme fail so close to victory.

Just as Wang Lin was about to plead with him again, a wave of overwhelming pressure descended. Sensing disaster, before he could even call out a warning, the dark shadow was upon them.

Mo Fan was stunned and hurriedly joined Wang Lin in the fight. His own combat skills were mediocre, but he possessed the Flame Spirit, and Wang Lin was the most formidable of his shadow guards; he believed they could handle this intruder.

However, the stranger's combat skills were far beyond his imagination. More importantly, the man seemed entirely unfazed by his Flame Spirit. Even though Mo Fan’s fire was not as potent as Mo Yan’s, it was still something an ordinary person would fear to touch.

Yet, this man skirted the very edges of his flaming palm strikes, fighting with an indifferent expression. His sleeves, brushed by the flames, showed no sign of scorching. Could it be that he was...

As Mo Fan pondered this, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, followed by a chill at his throat. He opened his eyes wide, frozen in place.

"Your Highness!" Wang Lin, who had been struck and sent flying while coughing up blood, struggled to rise, only to see Mo Fan captured by the stranger. He panicked.

"How dare you! Do you know who you are holding?!" Wang Lin forced himself to remain calm and roared, but upon meeting the stranger's icy gaze, he felt an inexplicable sense of weakness.

The man was clad in black robes, his figure robust and his bearing extraordinary, his face handsome beyond compare. Yet, he was cold as frost, his deep, dark eyes filled with frigid killing intent. One look was enough to chill the soul, even for a seasoned shadow guard like himself.

"You fool! Go back and report this!" Mo Fan knew Wang Lin was no match for the man behind him and could only order him to flee and tell his mother to find a way to save him.

Hearing this, Wang Lin snapped out of his daze, swallowed hard, and turned to flee using his light-foot technique, vanishing as quickly as he could.

With Mo Fan captured, the remaining remnants of his forces abandoned their resistance and fled in terror.

The vicious battle finally ended, and the surroundings grew quiet at last.

Little Die and Fu Sheng, who had been trembling beneath the carriage, finally emerged after the sounds of fighting ceased. Seeing Jin'er and Mo Yan, they scrambled toward them.

"Your Highness!"

"My Lady!"

Little Die ran over, weeping. Seeing Mo Yan sitting on the ground, his face deathly pale, she could not stop her tears. Was all of this real? It was simply too terrifying!

"Go to my carriage and get the medical kit and some clothing." Seeing that Little Die was alive, Jin'er felt a surge of relief, but she knew she had to stop Mo Yan’s bleeding immediately, or he would be in mortal danger from blood loss.

"Jin'er..." Mo Yan frowned, his vision blurring. He couldn't see clearly, so he groped blindly until he found her hand.

"I’m here, I’m here. It’s alright, it’s all over now." Jin'er squeezed his hand, whispering soft words of comfort.

Though the shift in events was sudden and unfathomable, she was simply grateful to be alive.

Just then, she heard footsteps and the angry cursing of the Crown Prince behind her. She turned, wondering who had saved them at such a critical moment.

However, when her gaze moved past Shi Yuan and the Prince to land on the black-robed man standing behind them, with his cold, perfect features, Jin'er gasped in shock.

"It’s you???" How could it be him? Why would he be here?

Seeing Jin'er’s astonishment and the complex look in her eyes, Shi Yuan deduced that they were acquainted. He couldn't help but glance at the man behind him—a man even colder than himself—and had to admit that the stranger possessed an aloof, otherworldly elegance.

"My Lady, I’ve brought the supplies." Little Die, her eyes red from crying, ran over with the items.

Jin'er eventually composed her expression. After giving Liu Ye a deep look, she turned to tend to Mo Yan’s wounds.

She carefully peeled back his garments and unwound the blood-soaked bandages. The mangled, raw wounds made her heart ache. After cleaning the area, she applied medicine and wrapped him up. By the time she finished, Mo Yan had fallen into a deep faint.

Jin'er instructed two of the Imperial Guards to carefully lift him into the carriage, then pulled Shi Yuan aside to sit down.

"Thank you." Jin'er looked up at his firm, cold face and said it from the bottom of her heart.

If not for him, Mo Yan would likely have... The thought of that horrific outcome made her heart ache.

"No need." The response was cold and detached, lacking any ripple of emotion, as if he hadn't just survived a brush with death.

Jin'er bit her lip and said nothing more. She looked down at his wound, frowned, and helped him pull out the arrowhead.

Shi Yuan barely winced, his face remaining expressionless, but his eyes stayed fixed on Jin'er. As he watched her diligently dressing his wound, he suddenly felt that taking this arrow was worth it.

The silent, cold Liu Ye stood nearby, watching Jin'er as she busied herself. He had clearly seen the pain and tenderness in her eyes as she tended to the man in silver robes. In that instant, he felt as if his own heart had been slashed by a blade.

Why was she here? And why was she with the people of the Fire Kingdom’s royal family? Liu Ye frowned, his mind filled with questions.

After a long while, Jin'er finished tending to everyone's injuries. She rose and turned, hesitating before facing Liu Ye.

Just days ago, she had been thinking of finding him for revenge once the seal was broken. Yet now, he had appeared to save her life and the lives of everyone here. How could she not be conflicted and troubled?

Their eyes met, each carrying their own secrets, yet both reflecting a hint of the same hidden emotion...

After a long pause, Jin'er averted her gaze from his deep, dark eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Passing through." Two short, cold words escaped his charming, thin lips. His eyes remained fixed on her.

Months had passed, and she had grown even more beautiful—so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

"Thank you." After struggling for a long time, Jin'er finally said the words. If he had only saved her, she might have been able to cling to her hatred and accept his help without a word of thanks. But he had saved Mo Yan, Shi, Little Die, and the others as well.

Liu Ye had not expected her to thank him. A myriad of emotions surged within him, and his gaze softened involuntarily.

Seeing him stare at her in silence, Jin'er bit her lip, feeling awkward. "Where are you heading?"

"The Imperial Capital."

He remained as sparing with his words as the first time they met. Yet, compared to that first encounter, there seemed to be a touch of softness and warmth in his brow. Others might not see it, but she could.

If not for the tragedy at the Liu estate, she would surely have loved this version of him. But the world was unpredictable and difficult to control.

"We are too." With that, Jin'er didn't know what else to say. She glanced toward the carriage, seeing that everyone was ready and waiting. She bit her lip and looked back at him, struggling with how to continue. Liu Ye took the initiative.

"I will accompany you."

Jin'er froze, never expecting that a man who preferred solitude would offer to travel with them.

However, after a moment's thought, she realized that since he had saved them, she couldn't refuse. Secondly, with Mo Yan severely injured, having such a powerful helper would provide protection against potential dangers on the road.

Jin'er nodded slightly, brushed past him, and headed toward the carriage.

As they passed, Liu Ye’s hands, hidden in his sleeves, tightened into fists, as if he were struggling to control himself. Only after she had passed did he slowly relax his grip. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them, turned, and silently followed.

The group boarded the two carriages and departed quickly. Liu Ye rode a horse alone, staying beside the carriage carrying Jin'er.

Inside, Mo Yan remained unconscious. His long, fire-red hair was spread across the soft cushions, contrasting with his pale, handsome face, making him look hauntingly, bewitchingly beautiful.

Jin'er sat beside him, gently smoothing his hair. Looking at his bloodless face, her heart ached.

Her slender fingers brushed his pale cheek, her thumb gently caressing his skin. She sighed and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his colorless, thin lips.

*Mo Yan, you must get better soon.*

She sat up straight, moved to the side window, and leaned against the wall, staring blankly at Mo Yan.

Recalling the critical moment that morning—the way he had resolutely hugged her, spending his last ounce of strength to turn and shield her—the heart-stopping scene still lingered, leaving her shaken.

At that moment, she truly thought she was about to lose him forever. The feeling of absolute heartbreak still made it hard for her to breathe.

It was in that life-or-death moment that she realized how deeply she loved him and how deeply he loved her. Seeing him act so foolishly, using his own body to block the arrows, she couldn't find the words to describe her feelings.

If promises could be true or false, then how could she possibly doubt his heart after he had risked his life for her?

She let out a soft sigh and pulled back the carriage curtain to look outside. As she raised her eyes, she was startled to find herself locking gazes with Liu Ye.

The wheels turned, the hooves thundered, and the trees retreated, but the two gazes remained locked, unchanging.

Her heart tightened and then inexplicably began to race. Countless memories surged forward, her emotions shifting with each one—anticipation, pain, longing, despair, and conflict. She suddenly realized how deep and clear he was in her memories.

She looked away, feeling uncomfortable, and let the curtain fall. She leaned her head against the window, closing her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart. She breathed deeply, but a voice echoed in her mind: *If he were standing right in front of you now, could you kill him with your sword? Could you do it?*

Her heart trembled, and another voice shouted: *Of course I could! I could overlook the others at the Liu estate, but he killed the Nanny! He killed Ying'er! I must have my revenge!*

*Can you really do it? If so, why have you had so many chances before and never struck? Why does your heart race when you see him? Why do you keep finding excuses to delay your revenge? Why...*

*Stop it! I didn't! I didn't...*

Her chest heaved. With her eyes closed, her face was a mask of conflict and agony. Finally, she shook her head violently, trying to banish the two arguing voices from her mind.

She opened her eyes, gasping for air, her heart in turmoil. *Damn it, have I gone mad? Arguing with myself in broad daylight?*

Though she was annoyed with herself, Jin'er understood that these were her most honest thoughts; she had simply been avoiding acknowledging some of them.

What frustrated her even more was that even now, having recognized her true feelings, she still did not know what to do.

They traveled without stopping for the entire day. As night fell, the group halted to camp in a mountain forest.

Mo Fan had been kept under a pressure-point seal the entire way. He sat stiffly on the ground, enduring the hateful, vengeful glares of Little Die and Fu Sheng. Shi Yuan and the others went to fetch water, gather firewood, and hunt for game.

Before the sky turned completely dark, they had finished their tasks and lit a fire to roast their food. Jin'er took a damp cloth and climbed into the carriage to wipe Mo Yan’s face.

Seeing his lips were dry, she grabbed the water skin and carefully tried to feed him. However, the water wouldn't pass his lips, instead tricking down to his neck.

Jin'er wiped it away with her sleeve. After staring at his lips for a long moment, she took a sip from the water skin herself, held it in her mouth, and leaned down to kiss him, parting his teeth to slowly trickle the water into his mouth.

Hearing him swallow, she finally let out a sigh of relief, repeating the process several times until he had taken enough.

She capped the water skin and turned, only to find Mo Yan watching her with a faint, knowing smile.