"What your father said is true."
Qin Huailian was struck like by a thunderbolt. It seemed as if a white light flashed before her eyes, rooting her to the spot and making it impossible for her to move an inch.
"Back then, those damned Huns ambushed Gu Hanfang - your mother, and then pinned the blame on us, the people of Loulan. As a result, your father was so enraged that he charged straight into the capital of Loulan..." Yazebu suddenly coughed a few times and spat out several mouthfuls of blood. He cast a cold glance at Qin Feng, a fierce look flashing in his eyes for a moment. Then he stopped looking at him and turned back to Qin Huailian, pointing at his wounds and saying, "See? I went to settle the score with Huyelu. These wounds are all his doing."
"Wh...what..." Qin Huailian's mind exploded. She involuntarily took a step back.
The Huns... It was the Huns who did all those things?
All of a sudden, all the clues that she had always overlooked were suddenly connected by Yazebu's words. If all this was a scheme by the Huns, looking back at the whole process, they indeed had enough motives to do so!
It's impossible!!! If it was really the case, if her mother's death was not because of Sikong Ting but because of the Huns... Then what were the things she had done during this period? And what was the purpose of all this?
Qin Huailian trembled all over. She covered her face with both hands, her face full of panic. Her lips trembled, and she could only utter some meaningless words. She looked as if she had gone mad.
Qin Huaiqiu was startled when he saw this. He quickly called out loudly and was about to step forward to check on Qin Huailian's situation. But Yazebu was quicker. With a sweep of his arm, he pulled Qin Huailian into his arms. Then he placed one hand on her shoulder, seemingly using her as a human crutch to support his own tottering body as he struggled to stand up straight. "I advise you to run quickly. Huyelu's crazy bodyguards should be chasing me soon. Oh... right." Yazebu then turned to Qin Huaiqiu and said, "While you were unconscious, I set off the signal flare in your arms."
Qin Huaiqiu was stunned. He quickly reached into his bosom and found it empty. He couldn't help but grit his teeth and say, "Damn you..."
"Didn't Keze'er already communicate with you? What difference does it make whether you set off the signal or I do?" Although Yazebu was in great pain all over, he still maintained his nonchalant look. He even winked at Qin Huaiqiu and continued, "So, here's a piece of advice for you. Run quickly."
"What's going on?" Qin Feng asked in a deep voice.
"Qin Lan and Nie Rong will come to support us," Qin Huaiqiu replied concisely.
Keze'er glanced at Qin Huaiqiu and Qin Feng and didn't say much. He rushed to Yazebu's side first, slung the badly - bleeding Yazebu onto his shoulder, and tucked Qin Huailian under his arm. Amid the roars of Qin Huaiqiu and Qin Feng, he dashed out of the prison cell and disappeared around the corner in a flash.
Not far behind Zhucheng, the armies of Qin Lan and Nie Rong were speeding towards the city from two directions and had already engaged in a fierce battle with the Hun soldiers on the snow - covered plain.
The Loulan soldiers in the city had received Yazebu's order early on. They all left the city through the side gate specially arranged by Yazebu and joined the remaining Loulan army that had confronted Qin Huaiqiu before, preparing to detour back to Loulan.
Yazebu's military maneuvers had actually been planned for a long time. This was not only because he intended to force Qin Huaiqiu to cooperate with him, but also because at the beginning, when the allied forces were discussing how to fight against Qin Huaiqiu's army, Huyelu thought Qin Huaiqiu was hard to deal with and was afraid of heavy casualties, so he was reluctant to send the Hun soldiers to the front line. This actually suited Yazebu's purpose. He took advantage of the situation and led most of the Loulan soldiers in the city out early. This was also the reason why when Qin Huaiqiu arrived, he found that Keze'er didn't choose to defend the city but instead closed the city gates and faced him head - on - because they never intended to return to the city.
But this was bad news for Huyelu's soldiers. With the Loulan army retreating, the few remaining Hun soldiers in the city had to resist the elite troops of Qin Lan and Nie Rong from two directions at the same time, and they gradually began to struggle. Huyelu was also in the city at this time. There was Qin Huaiqiu's army blocking the way in front, and Qin Lan and Nie Rong's forces pressing from behind. He was trapped in Zhucheng for a while and couldn't get in or out.
Huyelu kicked open the prison door. He thought he could use Qin Feng as a hostage to threaten the Qin family army, but when the door opened, he only saw an empty cell. He stood there stunned for a while, and then suddenly went crazy, slashing his sword wildly and roaring in anger.
A little earlier, not far from Zhucheng, at the mouth of the Ji River, Sikong Ting was dressed in black armor and riding on a horse. A faint glint of fire flashed in his eyes, which was the signal coming from the direction of Zhucheng.
Sikong Ting's eyes darkened slightly, and then he drew his sword.
The howling north wind messed up his high - tied ponytail. With a loud shout, his 50,000 - strong army set off with a battle cry. The iron horses trampled on the ten - thousand - mile ice, sending ice shards flying and faintly carrying a blood - thirsty sound.
-
Yazebu was seriously injured. Keze'er rushed him to the army as fast as he could. His face, which usually wore a joking or nonchalant expression, was now wrinkled in pain. The Loulan official in the entourage quickly stepped forward to take Yazebu over and began to bandage his wounds.
Keze'er stood aside and watched. After seeing that Yazebu's wounds were basically under control, he then turned to look at Qin Huailian standing beside him.
Qin Huailian stood there like a statue, allowing the rustling north wind to blow on her fair cheeks. They were already some distance away from Zhucheng. Without the city to block the wind, the north wind seemed even more raging, cutting painfully against people's skin.
Keze'er had never had a good impression of Qin Huailian. Moreover, Qin Huailian's position was very awkward at this time. No one knew which side she was really on. So Keze'er's first reaction was to drive her away, but just as he was about to speak, the words on his lips were held back by Yazebu's look.
He was stunned for a moment, then changed his tone and asked politely, "Do you want to stay here or go back?"
Qin Huailian was shocked all over when she heard this. She lowered her head, and her messy hair bun had come loose, making her look extremely down - and - out.
Yazebu glared at Keze'er and then said nothing. He endured the pain and looked at Qin Huailian, seemingly waiting for her answer.
"Tell me..." Qin Huailian's voice was trembling badly. She was almost hoarse as she said, "Tell me all the ins and outs! Every single detail!"
She suddenly raised her head. Her eyes were blood - shot, and there was a faint trace of blood on her lower lip that was being bitten by her teeth.
Yazebu looked into her eyes for a while, then finally let out a heavy sigh and said softly, "Okay, I'll tell you everything. Then you can decide whether to stay or go."