Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Fighting

Sang Yan chose to turn a blind eye to the Puluo King’s fear.

At this point, the only option was to take a final stand.

“As the King of Puluo Country, it is your mission to protect your people. Can you bear to see them die miserably in the chaos of war?”

Her voice was sonorous, piercing the heavens.

But it wasn’t enough.

Sang Yan, pointing at Qi Wuya, whose face was ashen, said, “The Mr. Jiu whom you all revere as a deity is nothing more than a destitute Prince of Beiqi! The benefits he offers you, how can they compare with those from Emperor Da He?”

He Ying, upon hearing this, also chimed in, “That’s the logic. Not to mention whether you’ll side with Beiqi, given that Beiqi’s battles are being lost one after another and their power is already waning, why would you forsake the light for the dark, becoming Wuya’s henchmen?”

Across the crowd, Sang Yan and He Ying both gazed directly at the Puluo King, employing a soft approach.

Sang Yan continued to persuade, “Your Majesty, your love for the queen is deep. When the city walls are breached, would you bear to see her suffer the pain of a nation’s fall and family ruin?”

To the Puluo King, the queen was a dependence and a pillar.

She could only hope that this ineffectual Puluo King would, for once, show bravery for his queen.

Unfortunately–

“Shut up!”

The Puluo King, seeing her looking at him again, quickly scolded her in fear.

He was terrified that Qi Wuya would vent his anger on him, suspecting him of harboring other intentions.

Hastily taking the queen’s hand, he asserted with a firm gaze, “Nayun, don’t be afraid, Mr. Jiu will protect us, trust me!”

The queen managed a weak smile, stroking the Puluo King’s head as if looking at her own child, and whispered softly, “Your Majesty, Nayun naturally trusts you.”

“That’s good…”

The Puluo King sighed with relief, pressing the queen’s hand against his face.

“It’ll be fine. It must be.”

He muttered, not sure if he was reassuring the queen or comforting himself.

The queen smiled sadly, her eyes dark and inscrutable.

“You woman, stop causing trouble here!”

Han Chen was even angrier than Qi Wuya.

With a face full of rage, he pointed his sword at Sang Yan, wishing he could kill her immediately.

But he was stopped by Qi Wuya.

Qi Wuya burst into laughter at Sang Yan’s divisive words, applauding, “Sang Yan, you always surprise me so, facing death and still scheming against the Puluo King. But do you think who is in charge of Puluo Country?”

He suddenly turned his words, his eyes sparking with a fierce intent to kill, “It is I, Wuya! Fire the arrows!”

He had seen enough of her risking her life for Da He!

At his command.

A torrential rain of arrows descended.

He had always been a madman at his wit’s end.

Even in death, he would drag her down with him!

“Be careful!”

Sang Yan cried out in alarm to warn.

Now, she had no time to look at Wuya.

A barrage of arrows was loosed!

He Ying moved swiftly to shield Sang Yan, his long sword dancing wildly, a sight that terrified her.

So many arrows.

How could they fend them off with so few people!

In the blink of an eye, two men were hit by arrows and died.

“Xinyuan, be careful–”

She didn’t dare to call him by his name, only by his style name.

“Don’t be afraid.”

He Ying spoke softly to soothe her, and taking advantage of a lull in the assault, he pulled Sang Yan a bit further behind him.

His tall and lean frame completely shielded her slender body.

Not allowing her to be harmed in any way.

“You take her and leave first.”

Tan Yunjian, seeing the archers readying their arrows, bellowed commands.

Struggling against the attacks, He Ying stole a glance at Tan Yunjian.

The imperial robe on Tan Yunjian was torn by arrow shots, and his body was dotted with bloody stains, a pitiful sight.

But his eyes were bloodshot, attempting time and again to reach Wuya.

If looks could kill, Wuya would have already died countless times.

“Let’s go.”

He Ying, recognizing Tan Yunjian’s intention, pulled Sang Yan to retreat.

“You think you can leave?”

Wuya’s gaze fell on the hand He Ying had wrapped around Sang Yan, shouting furiously, “Chop off his hand for me! Whoever strikes him with a sword, I’ll reward with ten thousand gold!”

This woman.

Even if he couldn’t have her, no one else would.

Hearing the bounty, the guards went berserk, all drawing their swords and slashing towards He Ying.

Even the archers aimed at him.

Sang Yan was protected by He Ying, retreating while fighting.

But there were just too many enemies.

One wave passed.

And more surged forward.

What was she to do?

Sang Yan had never been so flustered.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw He Ying grow pale, his swordplay slowing.

There were too many!

He was already utterly exhausted.

With a thud,

from the right corridor, unnoticed guards appeared, thrusting their long swords into He Ying’s shoulder.

The moment the long sword was drawn out, blood sprayed onto Sang Yan’s face.

He Ying could no longer feel pain, only a heavy numbness in his arms, dizziness in his head, and his body swayed a few times. He relied solely on his sword propped on the ground to prevent himself from falling.

Sang Yan seemed unable to hear anything, her face deathly pale, trying to use her hands to stop the bleeding from the wound on his shoulder.

“You’re hurt, don’t move… please…”

But the blood wouldn’t stop.

And he was still fighting desperately.

All to protect her life.

“Be careful!”

Sang Yan saw more and more blood flowing from him, she screamed uncontrollably, and then, as if risking her life, she stood in front of him.

Qi Wuya had already followed.

He held a sword in his hand, looking down at Sang Yan from his vantage point.

His posture was that of a victor.

“Qi Wuya.”

Sang Yan called his name in a low voice.

Her face was smeared with blood, looking ragged but heartbreakingly beautiful.

Those blood-red eyes shone bright and terrifying.

She said, “Let them go, and I’m yours.”

She had finally lost.

The people of Puluo Country had become Qi Wuya’s puppets.

“Ah Yan–”

He Ying caught her arm in shock, heartache overwhelming him, coughing up another mouthful of black blood.

“Let them go?”

Qi Wuya looked at her gently and with pity, “Ah Yan, if he were not He Ying, I could indeed let them go. But he is He Ying, how could I let him go?”

He had planned everything just to kill him!

In this world, the only one who could be his rival was him.

Without heirs, once He Ying died, Da He would descend into chaos, and then, who would compete for the world?

“You, you… you knew?”

Sang Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

He Ying remained composed, not showing any sign of panic, and once again pulled Sang Yan behind him.

He did not respond to Qi Wuya but carefully wiped the blood from Sang Yan’s face.

The gesture was tender and cautious.

His gaze was warm and smiling, as if reassuring her.

Watching his movements, Qi Wuya’s jealousy flared, and he said scornfully, “He Ying, do you see? You’re nothing but a disgrace! In the end, your woman still has to beg me!”

He should have realized it earlier!

How could He Ying not come?

And Sang Yan, a woman he found repulsive to even touch, how could she willingly hold hands with a guard, with such a deep look of love?

Sang Yan was not a promiscuous woman.

Initially, he just guessed that the identity of this guard was extraordinary.

Perhaps an old friend of Sang Yan’s.

Not until he saw her step forward in weakness because he was hurt, did his guess become certain.

How interesting.

These He Country people, do they treat me, Qi Wuya, as a fool to be played with!

“He Ying, you can be considered deeply affectionate, willing to brave danger for a woman.”

Qi Wuya laughed furiously.

He Ying’s gaze remained heavy as he looked at him.

Though he was clearly wounded, the pride in his eyes and the biting chill still forced Qi Wuya to not take him lightly.

He had heard of Emperor Da He, He Ying’s striking appearance and extraordinary demeanor.

Having seen him today, they did not seem to be lies.

He really should have thought of him as the Emperor of Da He!

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been fooled by that impostor!

The poison spread through He Ying’s body.

He couldn’t help but cough up another mouthful of black blood.

“He Ying, how are you?”

As Sang Yan watched him cough up black blood, her voice trembled, “How could you, how did you get poisoned?”

Qi Wuya laughed, “Let me tell you, this poison is my masterpiece.”

Before he went to sea, guessing that He Ying would come to Quanzhou, he left twenty assassins and a bottle of Cicada Heart.

Before breaking out of the ground, the cicada must lay dormant underground for years.

The poison was just like that, not meant to take a life right away, but to lurk in the wound, prevent it from healing, causing constant suffering from rotting flesh and blood.

“If I’m not mistaken, your wound still hasn’t healed.”

At the time, he thought if he couldn’t kill him, he would make his life worse than death.

Unexpectedly, he had endured until now.

Still carrying the toxic wound, he had come to rescue them personally.

“Despicable!”

Sang Yan opened He Ying’s clothes and saw the wound on his left chest, as big as a fist, surrounded by a circle of black, putrid flesh, horrifying to behold.

She felt heartbroken watching this, tears welling up, “Qi Wuya, I hate you… you, give me the antidote…”

She covered her eyes, tears dripping through her fingers.

It hurt too much.

She was in so much pain she couldn’t straighten her back.

He Ying helped her up, gently smiling, “Ah Yan, don’t worry. I’m fine. This wound just looks terrible. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

His tone was light, as if this moment were not a matter of life and death, but as though he was idly chatting and admiring the moon with her.

“How can it not hurt? How can it not? It’s all my fault. I’m the one who hurt you.”

Sang Yan cried, hitting herself, “I’ve also hurt Jiang Ke. I have a husband-killing fate.”

“Don’t say that. It has nothing to do with you. He wanted to kill me, and even without you, for the sake of the world, he would still kill me.”

He Ying wiped her tears and after consoling her, he turned to Qi Wuya with a smile, “Why must we kill each other? Qi Wuya, your foundation in Beiqi is not deep, even if you kill me, you’re just preparing the bridal attire for your brother. So, why not cooperate with me? Let’s take down Beiqi first, shall we?”