Chapter 32

Ye Baixiao felt an unprecedented sense of emptiness and helplessness. Even though he had long known that in the other person’s heart, he could never compare to that person’s loyal dog.

The clearer this realization became, the more powerless he felt.

But regardless of anything, he would never allow Xie Fuyi to leave.

“Want to go? Only if you’re a corpse.” Ye Baixiao’s pitch-black eyes fixed heavily on Qing He, and the redness at the corners of his eyes resembled a fierce beast.

After comforting Xie Fuyi, Qing He turned and slowly faced Ye Baixiao. His words were icy to the bone, “Then we’ll see who dies here first today.”

As he finished speaking, a flash of silver appeared in his hands. Two sharp daggers were drawn, and the hem of his green robe cut a cold arc through the night.

“Qing He, be careful!…”

Xie Fuyi silently stared at the battlefield, nervously clenching his fingers.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ye Baixiao saw that Xie Fuyi’s full attention was on Qing He, causing a knot in his heart.

When his powerful palm wind clashed with the daggers, it produced a resonant clang.

Ye Baixiao moved with incredible speed, seemingly fueled by endless rage. Qing He was equally unyielding, his movements ghostly and filled with killing intent.

Both men had not rested; Qing He had traveled a long distance without stopping, and Ye Baixiao had not slept for several nights.

They exchanged dozens of moves, and for a time, it was impossible to determine who had the upper hand.

However, Ye Baixiao’s attacks were fierce and stable, with deeper inner strength, while Qing He relied on lethal techniques. If his strikes failed, he would eventually fall into a disadvantage.

Qing He clearly understood this. He suddenly unleashed a burst of powerful inner strength and lunged forward. As the fierce wind of Ye Baixiao’s palm cut through, Qing He neither dodged nor avoided it, directly attacking instead, forcing Ye Baixiao to concentrate all his efforts on countering and not daring to be distracted.

Just as Qing He entangled Ye Baixiao, Xie Fuyi suddenly felt himself being lifted. A death guard from behind picked him up and leaped onto the roof, using lightness skill to the extreme, flying several meters outside the palace in the blink of an eye.

“Huh?”

Xie Fuyi was startled, realizing that Qing He intended to hold off Ye Baixiao, allowing them to escape first.

But he didn’t want to leave, and it wasn’t the right time to leave!

Xie Fuyi’s face showed worry for Qing He, and in a moment of urgent panic, he desperately uttered a hoarse shout, “Qing He!”

Although his voice was broken and unclear, it instantly drew Ye Baixiao’s attention—Xie Fuyi was being taken away!

Ye Baixiao’s expression changed, and he could no longer care about entangling with the person in front of him. He intended to shake off Qing He and give chase.

Qing He continued his fierce attacks, one of his daggers dancing in a feigned assault, while the other, infused with a significant amount of inner strength, aimed at Ye Baixiao’s heart from a strange angle.

The dagger, carrying powerful inner strength, moved extremely fast. Yet, although Ye Baixiao could have retreated to avoid this attack, he advanced instead of retreating.

In the next second, the sharp blade mercilessly pierced through Ye Baixiao’s chest.

Xie Fuyi stood not far away, dumbfounded by the scene—Ye Baixiao was stabbed?

Qing He was also taken aback, not expecting to actually hit the target. However, this didn’t stop him from immediately gripping the dagger and twisting it inside Ye Baixiao’s body.

The excruciating pain made Ye Baixiao’s face turn pale, veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat appeared, yet his speed did not decrease.

The next second, Qing He was sent flying by a powerful palm strike from Ye Baixiao.

The force of the palm hit him like a thousand-pound boulder, causing his chest to feel tight and painful, and a metallic taste of blood surged up to his throat. His body rolled off the rooftop, barely managing to half-kneel to support himself.

Within a few swift movements, Ye Baixiao had already reached the death guard behind him. He twisted his wrist, easily grabbing the black-clad guard’s vital point, ending his life instantly. Then he grasped Xie Fuyi’s waist, pulling him back into his arms.

Only when Ye Baixiao felt the familiar soft body in his embrace did his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settle.

He couldn’t retreat; if he took even one step back, Xie Fuyi might be taken away and disappear.

Seemingly oblivious to his pain and injuries, he only knew that he would never let Xie Fuyi leave.

Now that he was holding Xie Fuyi, Ye Baixiao’s tense nerves relaxed slightly. Only then did he realize there was a gaping wound in his chest, with blood already soaking his clothes. The inner turmoil in his chest caused intense pain, making his complexion worsen.

Holding Xie Fuyi, Ye Baixiao endured the pain and stepped onto the rooftop, but due to excessive blood loss, he felt dizzy and lost his balance, falling from the rooftop.

As he fell, Ye Baixiao twisted his body to land on his back, tightly protecting Xie Fuyi in his arms.

He crashed to the ground, his hairpin shattered, black hair scattered, and his left chest a bloody mess. His face was as pale as a sheet, and the taste of blood in his throat intensified. The person in his arms, however, was securely protected.

Xie Fuyi, wrapped in a blanket and held by Ye Baixiao, felt dizzy for a moment when they hit the ground but was otherwise unharmed. However, Ye Baixiao’s chest had likely been crushed, causing him to cough up blood, his face as white as paper.

“Protect the Emperor! Protect the Regent King!”

The commotion finally brought the guards who had been tracking them. In an instant, the surroundings were illuminated by torches, and a clamor ensued as the guards surrounded Qing He and the others.

“Release the arrows, don’t let the assassins escape!”

In no time, the sound of bows being drawn filled the air, followed by a rain of arrows shooting toward them like meteors.

Qing He, suppressing his internal injuries, deftly deflected countless arrows with his daggers, but a few still pierced through, stabbing into his flesh. His face turned pale instantly, and the intense pain made him groan. He didn’t hesitate to break off the arrow shafts.

But another volley of arrows was already nocked and ready.

At that moment, a hoarse, broken voice shouted—

“Stop!”

Due to the wound on his tongue, Xie Fuyi’s words were not very clear, but after he spoke, no one dared to make any sudden moves.

Ye Baixiao, despite his severe injuries, raised his hand to stop the archers, his face pale with panic as he looked at Xie Fuyi. “What are you doing? Put down the knife!”

Xie Fuyi’s face was also pale. Taking advantage of Ye Baixiao’s moment of incapacitation, he had snatched a guard’s knife and held it to his own neck.

“Let them go,” Xie Fuyi coldly commanded, pressing the blade closer to his neck.

The sight of the cold steel against his skin made Ye Baixiao’s heart clench. He reacted without thinking, urgently saying, “I’ll agree to anything, just don’t hurt yourself. Put the knife down first!”

Xie Fuyi did not lower the knife. Ignoring Ye Baixiao, he ordered Qing He, “Qing He, go quickly!”

Qing He’s face showed a mix of pain and heartache. “Your Majesty, let me take you with me…”

Xie Fuyi angrily retorted, “Fool! How do you plan to leave with me? If you try, neither of us will escape!”

Qing He’s lips tightened. He knew Xie Fuyi was right. If he were alone, leaving wouldn’t be difficult. But with the Emperor, evading Ye Baixiao and the guards would be nearly impossible…

However, abandoning Xie Fuyi and escaping alone felt worse than dying.

Seeing Qing He hesitate, Xie Fuyi yelled, “Qing He! Do you want to see me die in front of you?”

He pressed the blade harder, the delicate skin of his neck already cut and bleeding, making everyone’s hearts clench.

You would go this far for him? Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for him?

Ye Baixiao’s face was drained of color, the pain in his chest feeling like it would explode. He gripped his hands tightly, the pain of the wound keeping him barely rational.

He worried that Xie Fuyi might actually do something drastic, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Qing He. “Get lost now!”

【Ye Baixiao’s Heartbreak Value: 15/100】

“Your Majesty! Don’t do anything foolish!” Qing He’s heart was also in anguish, hating his own powerlessness. How could he need the Emperor to save him?

After a moment, he finally spoke, forcing a bitter, yet resolute voice from his throat. “Your Majesty, wait for me. I will definitely come back for you.”

【Qing He’s Heartbreak Value: 80/100】

Xie Fuyi’s cold expression softened a bit, and he said gently, “I will wait for your return.”

Only after Qing He’s figure disappeared did Xie Fuyi let out a sigh of relief. His grip on the dagger loosened, and as it fell, his body started to collapse.

Ye Baixiao immediately stepped forward to catch him.

His own face was now whiter than snow, blood soaking almost his entire robe. He staggered but still managed to catch Xie Fuyi steadily. “Call the imperial physician immediately!”

He carried Xie Fuyi in large strides toward the sleeping quarters.

The guards exchanged glances, looking at the blood-covered Ye Baixiao: …Your Highness, shouldn’t you take care of yourself first?

The unharmed Xie Fuyi had actually fainted before Ye Baixiao, who had a gaping wound!