[Ambush at Tiandao Ridge]
Before dawn, morning mist choked the mountain paths of Tiandao Ridge. The Yao-驳 (Carriage) rolled slowly until Li Yan suddenly drew his shield. "Movement!"
Arrows rained from the slopes. Gu Xingyu was pulled inside as Luo Ye deflected a bolt. "Who dares touch us?!"
Lin Lie leapt out, his staff transforming with a mechanical click. "Not bandits—trained assassins." The Five Yao instantly took their positions.
Lin Lie: His "Ratchet Split-Blades" whirred with golden light, dicing through enemies with precision. "Want to touch Xingyu? You'll have to get through my gears first!"
Luo Ye: His twin rings erupted in flames, a fire dragon sweeping across the field. "Burn to ashes!"
Sang Qi: A green whip lashed out, dragging enemies into clouds of toxic dust. "Inhaling a little won't kill you... it'll just make you wish you were dead."
Cang Yuan: Fluid as a water snake, his blade severed tendons in a blur. "So many quiet types. No rhythm to this fight at all."
Li Yan: His heavy shield slammed into the earth, creating stone barriers that halted the charge. "I'll hold the front. Kill the rest!"
[The Unseen Protector]
The enemies were split: those from the West (Moheng's men) fought to stall, avoiding vitals; but the East (Yirou's death-seekers) aimed straight for Xingyu's life.
As a black-clad assassin lunged at the carriage, a silver-masked figure intercepted the blade. Si Moheng, dressed in midnight black, stood before Xingyu. "Are you alright?"
Xingyu's heart skipped a beat as she watched him bleed for her. Before she could speak, a silver spear tore through the woods—Si Chengxun arrived with his iron cavalry, crushing the Emperor's death-seekers like a thunderbolt. "Retreat? Too late!"
With the combined force of the Five Yao, the two Princes, and the cavalry, the forest was cleared in a storm of Yao-energy.
[The Silent Parting]
As the dust settled, Moheng stood at a distance, wiping blood from his blade. He didn't approach, but his gaze was heavy with an unsaid truth: If anything happened to you, I would regret it for a lifetime.
"You're hurt..." Xingyu whispered. "Go, before it gets worse. How can I face this chaos if you fall?"
Moheng turned away, his voice caught in the wind: "Go. Enter the Capital. Don't let her win."
[The Jealous Protectors]
The carriage resumed its journey. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of battle and... sour grapes.
Luo Ye leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Trying to play the hero to win her heart? In his dreams! As if we'd let her get a scratch." He grumbled, yet his hand reached out to gently brush a speck of dust off Xingyu's shoulder.
Sang Qi grinned while bandaging his own arm. "I wish the assassins had surrounded him instead. Let's see how 'poetic' he looks then."
Cang Yuan faked a sob, leaning dramatically on the railing. "Oh, our little Star is being led away by a bad man... Old Sang, give me some incense to soothe my broken heart!"
"I'll give you a sleeping pill so you'll stay quiet until we reach the Capital," Sang Qi rolled his eyes. The others joined in, with Li Yan considering hitting Cang Yuan with his shield just to shut him up.
Xingyu couldn't help but laugh. "You guys... are so noisy."
Lin Lie remained quiet, but he handed Xingyu a crumpled flower. "Your Mist-Flower... it fell during the fight. I picked it up for you."
"Thank you, Lin Lie," Xingyu said softly. She turned to Li Yan, who was silently polishing his shield. "Li Yan, are you hurt?"
He looked up, his eyes steady as a mountain. "I'm fine. As long as you are safe."
Looking at this group of men—who fought for her, bickered over her, and guarded her life with their own—Xingyu felt a warmth that eclipsed her fear. In this chaotic world, she was the luckiest person alive.