The two of them walked out of the cave and crouched in the bushes at the cave entrance. After observing for a while, Qin Huaiqiu supported Sikong Ting and rushed across the shoal at the fastest speed they could manage. To ensure speed, Qin Huaiqiu practically carried half of Sikong Ting's weight. Once they entered the forest, Qin Huaiqiu still wasn't at ease. He carried and dragged Sikong Ting for some distance before slowing down.
Both of them were gasping for breath. Sikong Ting was a bit surprised by Qin Huaiqiu's strength, but this wasn't the time to think about such things. He checked the direction, frowned and said, "It's still a long way to the camp. We either have to walk through this forest or go in the opposite direction to find our horses."
"Don't bother looking for the horses. Let's just walk back," Qin Huaiqiu said.
Sikong Ting nodded. Those people would surely guess that he was disabled and in need of a horse. If they went looking for the horses now, it would be like walking straight into a trap.
"This Liu Zhen is really slow," Qin Huaiqiu complained. He was still supporting Sikong Ting, and due to Sikong Ting's injury, he slightly slowed down.
Sikong Ting said, "Fengquan Hot Spring is quite large. It takes time for the imperial guards to search."
"Nonsense," Qin Huaiqiu spat. "As the commander of the imperial guards and the brave cavalry general of Dacheng, in such a sensitive event as the spring hunt, ensuring the emperor's safety should be the top priority. Such troop deployments should be planned from the start, divided into areas and blocks. Once there's an emergency, they can search according to the designated areas in groups. At this rate of his, it's very likely that he just stationed the troops around Fengquan Hot Spring or in the camp without any specific area deployment at all." The angrier Qin Huaiqiu got as he spoke. After all, this Liu Zhen was taught by his father back then. Qin Feng had traveled all the way from the Protectorate General to the capital to train the troops. But the brave cavalry general he trained turned out to be like this, completely forgetting everything his father had taught him.
Surprise and admiration flashed in Sikong Ting's eyes. He smiled and said, "The Noble Consort De is truly the daughter of General Qin. Did your father teach you all these things?"
Qin Huaiqiu thought for a while and said, "My father taught me some. The rest I learned from military books or actual battlefield experience."
Sikong Ting was stunned. "You've been on the battlefield?"
Qin Huaiqiu said, "Yes." Come on. Both he and Qin Huailian had been on the battlefield. But Qin Feng only allowed Qin Huailian to shoot arrows on the city wall, while he was able to ride a horse and kill enemies with Qin Lan and Nie Rong after he turned fourteen.
Qin Feng never agreed with the view that women should only stay at home and be good wives. Since his first wife had once been a female general on the battlefield, Qin Feng didn't restrict Qin Huailian either. He taught her martial arts and swordplay. Maybe it was because Qin Feng had raised Qin Huailian like a son back then that led to her increasingly rebellious character later.
Sikong Ting frowned and asked, "How many times have you been on the battlefield? Was there anyone to protect you?" Just thinking about the Noble Consort De having been in such a dangerous place as the battlefield made his heart sink.
"Yes," Qin Huaiqiu answered honestly.
"Who protected you? Your elder brother?" Sikong Ting asked.
Qin Huaiqiu hesitated. "Ah... yes."
Sikong Ting thought for a while and said, "How is your elder brother in leading troops in battles?"
Qin Huaiqiu thought for a while. He had once gone on a campaign with Qin Feng. He led a small team of brothers into the Loulan military camp and burned their supplies. That was two years ago. Although there had been no war between the Xiongnu and the Central Plains for almost ten years, there had been constant frictions between Loulan and Dacheng, mainly because of the Silk Road. But actually, everyone knew that a small country like Loulan didn't have the ability to harass Dacheng's border. It was just that the Xiongnu were envious of the goods on the Silk Road and sent the Loulan people to be their pawns. When fighting, there were quite a few Xiongnu among the so - called "Loulan soldiers" who were killed. It was just that Chanyu Huhanye always refused to admit it.
The combat ability of the Xiongnu was on a different level from that of Loulan. So, since his elder brother had fought against the Xiongnu, it meant that his ability to lead troops in battles was quite good, right?
Thinking of this, Qin Huaiqiu said rather complacently, "He's quite good! He has learned the true essence from my father."
Sikong Ting thought for a while and asked again, "How old is your elder brother this year?"
Qin Huaiqiu said, "The same as me, sixteen years old."
Sikong Ting sighed and said, "A young man of great promise. He's truly the son of General Qin."
Qin Huaiqiu's nose almost tilted up to the sky. "Of course. After all, he's my elder brother." He, as the elder brother, had never been praised like this by his sister. Unexpectedly, by some strange turn of events, he now had the chance to hear "his sister praising her elder brother". Qin Huaiqiu felt like he was floating.
Sikong Ting stopped asking. He lowered his head, as if thinking about something.
Qin Huaiqiu glanced at him and kept walking. He said, "Why does Your Majesty suddenly think of asking this?"
Sikong Ting sighed and said, "The military generals in the court are withering away. The new generation needs to shoulder the future of Dacheng. Your elder brother might be a rare military general for Dacheng in the future." He looked at Qin Huaiqiu with a smile in his eyes and said, "Do you want your elder brother to be remembered in history?"
Qin Huaiqiu was stunned. Being remembered in history was something he had never even dared to think about. Although he was Qin Feng's son and it was his inevitable life path to take over Qin Feng's position, for a military general to be remembered in history, how great a feat did he need to achieve? And it was the lifelong pursuit of many military leaders.
Ten years ago, Qin Feng had single - handedly swept through Loulan. The war had lasted for more than a year before the Silk Road was reopened, ensuring Dacheng's external economic lifeline. At that time, the whole country had celebrated, and the former emperor had even named Qin Feng the Martial King of Zhenbei of the Border Protectorate General. But in the history books, it was just briefly mentioned as "The King of Zhenbei attacked Loulan. After three years, he won, and the Silk Road was reopened."
Qin Huaiqiu's body trembled with excitement. He didn't know what Sikong Ting meant by this, but he couldn't deny that an infinite amount of longing and expectation had risen from the bottom of his heart.
"Yes!" Qin Huaiqiu answered, his eyes shining.
Sikong Ting smiled and said, "Good. I promise you."
The two walked westward. They walked from noon until sunset and were still some distance away from the camp.
Sikong Ting's injury was very serious. His breathing began to be unstable. He hardly spoke in the end. His face was extremely pale, and he could hardly move without Qin Huaiqiu's support. Qin Huaiqiu was worried about Sikong Ting's injury and didn't dare to walk anymore. He found a hidden place and laid Sikong Ting down.
They didn't dare to make a fire for fear of attracting attention. Qin Huaiqiu had to open Sikong Ting's bandage slowly by the moonlight.
Due to the lack of enough medicine in the wild and the humid environment of Fengquan Hot Spring, Sikong Ting's injury had begun to worsen. The arrow had pierced through his abdomen. The already serious wound was now oozing blood again.
Sikong Ting leaned against the tree trunk. All his strength seemed to have been drained. Due to the long - term blood loss, he was now having some difficulty breathing, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
"Sikong Ting, Sikong Ting," Qin Huaiqiu patted his face and said anxiously, "Don't fall asleep."
Sikong Ting looked at him and nodded with some difficulty.
Qin Huaiqiu didn't expect Sikong Ting's injury to worsen so seriously. But this couldn't go on. According to Sikong Ting's current injury, even if they could make it back to the camp, the imperial doctor would basically be powerless.
Qin Huaiqiu gritted his teeth. Without thinking twice, he took out a fire starter from his bosom, lit a small bunch of dead branches, then took out a short knife from his waist and put the blade on the fire to burn.
In the dark night, the fire was very likely to attract attention. But compared with being discovered, he was more worried about whether Sikong Ting's injury could last through the night. And all he could do now was to treat Sikong Ting's injury as soon as possible, then put out the fire and move to another place.
The blade gradually turned red. Qin Huaiqiu looked at Sikong Ting, who was leaning against the tree and gasping for breath with his head tilted. He gritted his teeth and walked over.
He tightly held Sikong Ting's hand, stared into his eyes, opened his lips but couldn't say a single word.
Sikong Ting knew what he was going to do, but he had completely lost his strength. He slightly twitched the corner of his mouth and gently scratched Qin Huaiqiu's palm with his finger.
"Don't worry," Qin Huaiqiu bit his lower lip and looked at him firmly. This was not only said to Sikong Ting but also to himself. Whether he was the Noble Consort De or the young master of the Qin Mansion, and no matter what Sikong Ting had done to him before, Sikong Ting was the emperor of Dacheng, the emperor that the Qin family swore to serve. Just for this reason, Qin Huaiqiu could sacrifice his life to protect Sikong Ting.
Qin Huaiqiu looked at Sikong Ting's bleeding wound. With a determined heart, he quickly stabbed the red - hot blade into the necrotic muscle.
Sikong Ting's whole body trembled violently. He let out a groan and bit his lower lip tightly.
The sound of "hissing" came from the place where the blade and the muscle touched. The sound was creepy in the dark night, but Qin Huaiqiu didn't dare to stop. Sikong Ting was shaking violently, and his lower lip was already bleeding.
Qin Huaiqiu's forehead was sweating. By the firelight, he quickly dug out the necrotic muscle at the wound, then sprinkled the medicine powder again, took out the herbs he had picked on the way, chewed them in his mouth, then applied them to Sikong Ting's wound, and then re - bandaged it.
After all this was done, Sikong Ting had fainted from the pain. Qin Huaiqiu quickly put out the fire. Without saying a word, he squatted in front of Sikong Ting. Using all his strength, he carried Sikong Ting on his back and quickly walked in the direction of the camp.
Sikong Ting was a whole head taller than Qin Huaiqiu. Although Qin Huaiqiu had practiced martial arts all year round, carrying such a big guy was very strenuous. He gradually began to run out of strength, but he didn't dare to stop at all.
Just then, he heard a faint sound coming from around.
Someone was chasing after them!
In the blink of an eye, Qin Huaiqiu was like a leopard that had unleashed its instinct. He carried Sikong Ting and took a sudden step forward. Immediately, with a "ding" sound, a black dart accurately stuck into the tree trunk he had just passed by.
"Damn it!" Qin Huaiqiu cursed and ran forward with all his might.
"Go," a ghost - like order came from behind. Almost in an instant, a series of black shadows rushed in front of Qin Huaiqiu. Qin Huaiqiu was startled. He turned his ankle and spun around in place at an incredible speed, then ran in another direction.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" There were several more sounds of breaking through the air. Qin Huaiqiu was very agile. He dodged left and right in the jungle and actually managed to avoid them.
The pursuer seemed to be angry. He gave the order, "Kill them."
The people behind rushed forward. No matter how agile Qin Huaiqiu was, carrying a person had already consumed a lot of his strength. He jumped over a dead tree trunk, but didn't notice something under his feet. Both of them fell to the ground.
Sikong Ting lost his support and fell to the ground along the inertia. He lay motionless, still in a coma.
The pursuers behind came quickly. Qin Huaiqiu drew out his short knife from his waist. Without thinking, he did a backflip from the ground, rushed to Sikong Ting's side with hands and feet, looked back at the several black shadows rushing towards him, and blocked in front of Sikong Ting with his own body.
The young young master's eyes were blood - red. His face was ferocious. A roar erupted from the bottom of his heart, "Roar—!"