Du Gu Luanyue held the reins tightly and galloped down the mountain alone. The two secret guards responsible for escorting her had already fallen.
But before she reached the foot of the mountain, her path was blocked.
Six black-clad men dropped from the sky and stood in front of her. They drew out their snow-white machetes, and the cold light flashed chillingly before her jade-like eyes.
Du Gu Luanyue's long eyes turned cold. With a "snap", she whipped the horse hard on the rump and galloped forward, ready to break through the blockade.
Unexpectedly, the black-clad men had strung up iron chains on both sides of the road ahead, intending to trip the horse. She would surely fall off the horse, spitting out fresh blood.
But by then, it was too late for her to pull the reins tight.
The horse's hooves were caught by the iron chains. The horse stumbled, and she flew out of the saddle, soaring into the air.
Just as she was about to crash to the ground, a powerful and steady arm wrapped around her waist.
Reacting instinctively, she hugged the person's waist, and they landed safely on the ground.
The dark clouds dispersed, and the moonlight poured down on every emerald bamboo leaf. The gentle breeze seemed to stand still. In the star - dotted moonlight, the bamboo forest was fraught with danger.
The tall and mighty man had gently pulled her into his arms with just one arm, using his body to shield her completely.
One of his hands took her cold jade-like hand and held it tightly.
Du Gu Luanyue raised her head. By the gentle and serene moonlight, she looked at Huo Wei's resolute chin, and her eyes trembled slightly.
He seemed to descend like a god from the night, rough and powerful, with the valiance of a beast.
Her panicked heart seemed to be soothed by him, and it finally settled a bit.
Huo Wei turned his head and looked down at her, raising his eyebrows. "I should have come a bit later. Wouldn't it be more fun to watch you fall flat on your face?"
Du Gu Luanyue said anxiously, "Be careful. They're coming!"
The men Huo Wei brought rushed forward. He held a long sword in his hand and gave Du Gu Luanyue a dagger. "Stay right here. Do you hear me?"
Although his tone was domineering and brooked no argument, there was a sense of reassurance in it.
In his deep, black pupils, there was a murderous glint in his smile, but when he looked at her, it was just a casual tease.
Du Gu Luanyue nodded slightly, looking at him with concern. "Okay. You be careful."
Huo Wei's long sword flashed cold light, and a fierce killing intent assailed.
If the black - clad men were masters, then Huo Wei was the King of Hell.
Only then did she realize that Huo Wei's martial arts were so sharp, domineering, and extremely powerful. Compared with Aunt Meijiang's whip, Huo Wei had knocked down three men in just a few moves, with ruthless means.
Huo Wei frowned tightly, his eyes like torches, and said coldly, "Leave no one alive."
Du Gu Luanyue's lips parted slightly. She was a bit puzzled as to why they should leave no one alive.
Before she could think deeply, she saw Huo Wei suddenly kneel on one knee. Her pupils dilated in shock.
"Huo Wei, don't be stubborn. Let's retreat first!"
Huo Wei didn't listen to her but said, "I've said, leave no one alive. Kill them!"
Du Gu Luanyue knew that Huo Wei was injured, and the wound was in his abdomen, a crucial part for a martial artist. He must be struggling to hold on.
When the machete was about to strike Huo Wei's chest, Du Gu Luanyue shouted, "The sixth hidden buckle on the silk belt. Press it!"
Huo Wei was kneeling on the ground, looking a bit dazed. In a daze, he followed Du Gu Luanyue's instructions.
Suddenly, hidden weapons flew out of the silk belt and killed the assassin.
Huo Wei let out a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground. "I was careless. I really thought it was just a belt and forgot it could shoot hidden weapons."
Du Gu Luanyue quickly put away the dagger and ran over. She picked up the blood - soaked Huo Wei. "Huo Wei, can you hold on? I'll take you back to the base camp."
Huo Wei's eyes opened and closed. "Yes."
She gritted her teeth. Judging from Huo Wei's state, he probably couldn't move anymore.
Du Gu Luanyue gave instructions to Huo Wei's trusted subordinate.
"I roughly know the location of the hidden supplies. You take my private seal as the queen and go straight to Hanshuang Town.
Tell the officials there to immediately dispatch troops up the mountain and send the missing supplies to Danyang City as soon as possible. Don't delay."
Huo Wei's deputy general, Wang Huyang, asked, "How will Your Majesty the Queen and His Highness the Prince return?"
Du Gu Luanyue looked down at the dying Huo Wei and said in a low voice, "I'll take the prince to Hanshuang Town and find an inn. We have to treat his wounds quickly."
Wang Huyang naturally trusted Du Gu Luanyue. This queen was steady and decisive in her actions, not affected or pretentious.
She didn't look down on them, a group of martial men, like those noble families in Northern Yan. When they were still in the base camp, she even cared about whether they could endure the hardships.
Wang Huyang nodded. "Okay. We'll split up and set off immediately."
Du Gu Luanyue seemed to remember something.
"Wait, Deputy General Wang. There's still a group of killers on the mountain. My Phoenix Feather Guards are trapped up there. You have to send someone to rescue them."
Wang Huyang nodded. "Okay."
So, one group of troops went up the mountain, and the other escorted Du Gu Luanyue and Huo Wei into the city and then went to the county yamen.
On the way, Du Gu Luanyue specifically instructed that there must be spies in the county yamen. Once discovered, they should be secretly executed.
Wang Huyang was shocked. He found that in some moments, the queen didn't seem like a woman at all but rather like their prince.
Du Gu Luanyue settled Huo Wei in an inn. There wasn't even a doctor in the middle of the night.
Looking at Huo Wei's continuously bleeding abdomen, she panicked.
"Huo Wei, are you trying to drive me crazy? I can't find a doctor now, and I don't have any hemostatic medicine. Do you know how crazy I'm going to be?"
Huo Wei slightly opened his pure - black eyes and glanced at her. He saw Du Gu Luanyue pacing back and forth in the room in a hurry. He rarely saw her so flustered.
Although his wound was painful, his heart was a bit sweet at the moment. He curled his lips. "So worried. Are you afraid I'll die? If I die, no one will attack your Southern Chu."
Du Gu Luanyue walked over and slapped his mouth. "Even if you die, there are still other Northern Yan generals. Do you really think you're Murong Min's one and only?"
Huo Wei looked up with a smile. "I'm definitely not Murong Min's one and only. But am I your one and only?"
Du Gu Luanyue composed herself and didn't answer. She turned her head away. "I'll go out to find some medicine for you. We can't wait any longer."
Only then did Huo Wei say, "Go ask the innkeeper for some liquor. There's medicine in my chest that Shen Guilan gave me. It can stop the bleeding."
Du Gu Luanyue stood there, stunned, at the head of his bed. "Why didn't you say so earlier? What do you mean by saying it now?"
Huo Wei smiled mischievously and reached out to grab her hand. "I just wanted to see how worried you'd be about me."
Du Gu Luanyue thought Huo Wei was crazy. He had already bled a pool of blood on the ground, yet he still wanted to see how worried she'd be.
She angrily tried to shake off Huo Wei's hand, but she couldn't.