Seeing her in this much of a rush, it was obvious the enemies were very close!
Once the old horse had entered the forest, Xie Lin Lang first gave it a whip and then, holding onto Qin Jue, she stood up on the horse and grabbed onto a tree branch!
Agitated from the pain, the horse continued galloping off deeper into the woods without looking back. Hanging off the branch, Xie Lin Lang first helped Qin Jue climb onto the tree and then climbed up the tree herself. This way, the two of them wouldn’t leave any footprints behind.
In tacit understanding, they continued climbing higher up the tree. And when their bodies were completely covered by the leaves, they finally heard the sound of enemy horse galloping.
It was a group of cavalrymen wearing black armor, all appearing to be very well-trained and in large numbers. But no sound other than other than horses galloping was heard, clearly the work of rigid and strict military discipline.
At a single glance, Qin Jue already knew that these weren’t Mistress Hui’s people. She wasn’t capable of owning such a trained army.
It also wouldn’t have been any of the people hunting him down or the people that want him dead either. None of them have enough power to own a cavalry like this.
Thinking such, he glanced at Xie Lin Lang.
But Xie Lin Lang wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she waited until the people were completely gone then released a breath.
“No need to ask, those people are here for me.”
She could tell who those people were just from a glance because the training techniques that those people went through were all according to the methods that she provided…Used against her in a way like this, she really shot herself in the foot.
Qin Jue squinted his eyes, “The Imperial Preceptor?”
“Mhm.”
“I didn’t expect him to have a troop like this.”
Xie Lin Lang scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
“The aristocratic families are allowed to have their own troops within the number capacity. The Imperial Preceptor’s troops didn’t exceed the limit. It’s just…” It’s just that she worked within that capacity and slightly strengthened his troops.
Qin Jue looked down, deep into his thoughts…He had not expected that outside of making paper and ice, Xie Lin Lang was also proficient in military training?
But he didn’t pry any further. Just like how she never asked him why he suddenly turned back after escaping to the edge of Qin Nation a couple of months ago, everyone had their own secrets they would rather not disclose.
After some time passed and making sure the troops didn’t backtrack, the two hopped off the tree and found a secluded place to rest.
Xie Lin Lang hunted a rabbit and began roasting it, completely submerged in her thoughts.
After it finished cooking, she tore a leg off and handed it to Qin Jue then asked gloomily, “Hey, Qin Jue…if one day, the Imperial Preceptor’s people takes me away, what will you do?”
Qin Jue was taken aback, and only after a while did he accept the leg she offered him.
“If you left, I will still continue walking the rest of the path.”
He said it simply but his eyes were filled with resolution.
He had never planned for Xie Lin Lang to take part in his original plan. So even if she left, it didn’t seem to be that much of a loss.
But was it really not that big of a deal? Why was it that just thinking about it happening, made him feel as if he was about to be devoured by the darkness at any moment? He had clearly been walking in the darkness by himself this whole time. So when was it that Xie Lin Lang’s existence began bringing light into his universe?
His straightforwardness angered Xie Lin Lang so much that she jabbed him without holding back!
“All my efforts on you were wasted! If I was taken away, don’t you know that you have to come and find me?!”
Qin Jue was stunned. Go find her?
Seeing that he had never thought of that, Xie Lin Lang continued depressingly, “Alright…I finally see my place in your heart now. Your heart only contains hatred and not me.”
“I…”
“Don’t say anymore, you cheater!”
Qin Jue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. At the same time, he asked himself: would he go find her?
It was obvious that the reason why the Imperial Preceptor sent people traveling thousands of miles in order to get her was because he cared for her and wouldn’t let her ruin her future just to run away with him…
In order to accomplish his personal goals, would he drag the only person that has reached their hands out to him through the mud?
As he thought about this, he silently ripped off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. He suddenly paused.
Seeing him looking dazedly at the rabbit leg, Xie Lin Lang asked, “How is it? Does it taste bad?”
Qin Jue replied only after a while, shaking his head, “No.”
And then he continued eating.
The reason he was stunned earlier was that he unexpectedly felt his senses stop working. His sense of taste and smell were slowly fading away.
Seems like the accumulated wounds and the strength medicine he consumed finally had aftereffects on his body.
He was aware that he needed to find a place with safe shelter and an abundance of medicine, and to tend to his body before he collapsed…
Xie Lin Lang was unaware of the changes happening to his body. When it was time to rest, she made a bed using some dried grass and then lit a fire, prepared to sleep.
Because Qin Jue wasn’t feeling well, he went to sleep very early on.
Until suddenly, in the middle of the night, Xie Lin Lang was startled awake after hearing the galloping sounds of horses!
Qin Jue woke up almost as soon as she woke up and began coughing uncontrollably.
Xie Lin Lang went to cover his mouth subconsciously only to discover that his whole body was burning!
Strange, he should have been very warm sleeping next to the fire so why did he still have a fever?
“What’s wrong?” His voice sounded hoarse.
Seeing his sickly condition, Xie Lin Lang quickly bent over and carried him on her back.
“Someone’s coming. It’s not just a small amount either.”
Qin Jue struggled a bit. He originally wanted to walk on his own, yet the disease surging rapidly through his body caught him completely off guard!
At this time, his whole body burned as if knives were piercing through him! Under the feeling of immense pain, Qin Jue didn’t even have the strength to lift his hands.
Feeling his abnormally hot temperature, Xie Lin Lang frowned in concern.
“Don’t move, you’re sick. Very sick. I’ll get rid of them right now and take you to a doctor!”
Just when he was about to speak, he tasted iron coming from his throat and immediately pressed his lips tight, not making a sound.
Slowly, the sounds of horses galloping were heard and the glow of torchlight appeared through the darkness. Xie Lin Lang was like a wild black leopard in the woods, carrying Qin Jue while easily avoiding enemies’ line of sight on multiple occasions.
But their numbers were far too many and they were slowly forming an indistinct circle. No matter how fast Xie Lin Lang was, it was impossible to beat the speed of a horse while carrying a person on her back.
It can’t keep going like this!
Xie Lin Lang stopped, narrowing her eyes in thought.
These assassins were obviously the ones coming from WangJiang Prefecture. As they have caught up several times, even if she lost them this once, they will reappear again in the future.
So the only way to get rid of them for good––was to prevent them from being able to follow her again!
Seeing Xie Lin Lang stop, Qin Jue thought that she couldn’t run anymore.
Even as his consciousness was as dazed as it is, he still realized how dangerous the current situation was. Thinking to this point, he smiled sorrowfully.
“Lin Lang…let me down.”
“Hm?”
After her train of thoughts was suddenly interrupted, she gathered her thoughts and immediately let Qin Jue down underneath a tree.
She asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Was my running too bumpy?”
He closed his eyes and shook his head, “No…Just go. Don’t worry about me and escape by yourself.”
“What?”
Xie Lin Lang was confused, and Qin Jue coughed a few times, speaking with very great effort, “Without me dragging you down, you can escape very easily… but if you insist on bringing me along, both of us will die…”
He could see the situation clearly: there were large masses of enemies all with a murderous aura, clearly with him as the target.
Even more unfortunate was his disease being triggered suddenly. This seemed like heaven’s will, so there was no need to drag Xie Lin Lang to death with him as well.
Seeing how he was still thinking of her while he’s this sick, Xie Lin Lang paused for a moment and suddenly smiled, reaching a hand out to touch his forehead.
“Don’t worry, I already know what I need to do. I won’t let anything happen to myself, nor will anything happen to you.”
As she talked, she put a silver bracelet onto Qin Jue’s wrist, then quickly gave him instructions.
“You know how to use hidden blades right? When I impersonate you later on to distract those assassins, I will also be luring the Imperial Preceptor’s black-armored cavalry in this direction.
As it’s nighttime and the woods are dark, with us being similar height and build, those assassins will never be able to tell who’s who.
Moreover, black-armored cavalry leader Shen Shao Feng is an expert at golden needle acupuncture. As long as he sees you, he will definitely help you out. With him there, your fever will go down very fast.
After that, you just need to tell him that I’ve been caught and naturally, they will come ‘rescue’ me.
When the time comes, we can fight one power with the other. Using black-armored cavalry’s force to destroy the annoying assassins once and for all!
The only thing you need to do is to protect yourself well and come find me after meeting up with the black-armored cavalry!”