This was nighttime, many women were directly dragged from their beds, clothes in disarray.

A maid screamed too loudly and was decapitated with one strike, leaving the others too scared to utter a sound, holding back their sobs.

Xie Wanqing saw the two maids disguised as Pei Yuxuan and Pei Lin dragged out as well, under the blazing firelight, their faces were full of panic, delicate features drenched in tears, with swords placed against their necks.

The bandits knew these two were noblewomen from the Capital City. Instead of being rough like with the maids, they taunted them to undress themselves.

The two young women trembled uncontrollably, yet clutched their chests unwilling to undress. The bandits grew impatient, a palm as large as a fan struck them down forcefully, and the sound of tearing clothes echoed in the night sky.

Their trembling, exposed chests were caught in the moonlight, and the surrounding bandits laughed.

One of the girls lost her voice from screaming but was pressed to the ground, her dress torn to shreds, slim pale legs kicked constantly, yet cruelly spread apart.

The women’s despair, horror, struggle, helplessness; the men’s plunder, brutality, destruction, ruthlessness.

Xie Wanqing saw all this, rage blazing in her eyes, yet her mouth was gagged tight by Ming Feng.

"We need to leave."

The guard on this side had thoroughly slackened, making it the optimal time to leave.

Compared to Xie Wanqing’s mind-burning rage, Ming Feng remained calm and composed. He took one last glance at the horrific scene, excused himself, wrapped his arm around Xie Wanqing’s waist, and in a flash, silently left the treetop.

Crossing the wall wasn’t escaping to safety.

A dozen men in black stood not far away, their faces lit up upon seeing someone coming out.

Ming Feng’s gaze was cold, his speed barely slowing, a few leaps took him past them, and he whistled, faint sounds of hoofbeats arose.

He drew a sword from his waist to fend off the pursuing bandits, and produced a ring from his bosom, "Fifty miles northwest is the North Camp’s location, with this ring you can request reinforcements."

This was the token Lu Ziyuan had wanted to leave her before departing, initially rejected by her, now coming full circle before her.

With urgency pressing, Pei Yuxuan was still waiting for her rescue, Xie Wanqing didn’t hesitate, decisively took the ring and mounted the horse.

Her equestrian skills were not bad; even with an unfamiliar warhorse, she rode with ease.

The pursuers behind were held off by Ming Feng alone, Xie Wanqing knew of his extraordinary combat prowess, yet the Jin Dynasty’s men weren’t weak either, only about a dozen squatted by this breach, but once fighting starts, reinforcements would surely arrive.

Pei Er was likely doomed; may Ming Feng remain unharmed...

The warhorse beneath her ran swiftly, the sounds of battle faded, yet Xie Wanqing dared not relax, with many lives depending on her, she gripped the ring in one hand and clinched the reins tight with the other.

Suddenly, the racing horse’s leg was caught, its body pitched forward, and Xie Wanqing fell hard from the horseback...

At such speed, for a frail young lady with no hint of martial arts, a fall onto the ground could mean death or at least severe injury. But her waist was tightened, just before impact she was pulled into a cold embrace.

It was a young man with a leather hat, prominent nose bridge, deep-set eyes, dressed in alien clan attire, upon her glance he smiled faintly at her.

Xie Wanqing’s heart sank halfway.

A group of men appeared around from the forests, all dressed as Great Khan people, chatting jovially towards the man holding her.

The man listened, then spoke in rough Khan language, "Are you Lu Ziyuan’s wife?"

Xie Wanqing’s brows furrowed abruptly, "You’ve found the wrong person, my husband is someone else."

"No mistake," the man laughed aloud, "Madam doesn’t know, I’ve seen your portrait long ago."

Then his laughter rang louder, "You Great Khan people sure are clever, but too clever by half."

"Who sold me to you?" Xie Wanqing’s brows tightened, "Crown Prince?"

The fact that she was to visit Yin Yuan Temple today was known to only a few at home; coming to Hot Spring Villa was spur-of-the-moment.

But the man didn’t intend to enlighten her, only laughed, "Don’t speak so harshly, Madam. I only came at great risk to meet you because of your renowned beauty."

"You want to abduct me, to threaten Lu Ziyuan?" Xie Wanqing tugged at her lips, "Were you told, Lu Ziyuan loves me deeply, I’m enough to sway the Northern Border’s situation?"

The man laughed without answer.

Xie Wanqing said, "Were you also told, I abandoned Lu Ziyuan last year and remarried, he wishes for nothing more than my death."

The man laughed heartily, "Madam, save your breath. I am the Da Jin Crown Prince, without thoroughly understanding your grievances, how could I personally appear in Great Khan City!"

His laughter faded, his eyes turned sharp like ice blades, "Lu Ziyuan slaughtered over ten thousand of my people, such blood feud, Auntie should cooperate, come with me."

As his speech fell, the surrounding alien men closed in.

Xie Wanqing’s expression turned grim, recalling the scenes at the Hot Spring Villa, falling into these barbarians’ hands, what good outcome could she meet? By reason, she should unhesitatingly bite her tongue to commit suicide, but having lived anew, she cherished life more.

She didn’t want to die!

She wasn’t even eighteen, how could she willingly be tragically killed again by Lu Ziyuan’s involvement!

She couldn’t bear to leave her parents, her relatives, and Pei Yuqing...

Pei Yuqing hadn’t returned yet; she had a brother who promised to return to the Capital before the year’s end.

She hadn’t seen them face to face yet, she truly dared not die.

Xie Wanqing was about to speak more when the man before her frowned, his palm swung sharply, with a sudden pain in her neck, she lost consciousness completely.

The once lively forest valley fell silent at once.

The autumn breeze gently brushed the treetops, the east revealed a crimson hue, dawn reddened the dim woodland, where a jade green ring lay quietly on the forest’s path.

After who knows how long, hoofbeats sounded, blood-covered Ming Feng arrived, his gaze swept around, finding the ring amidst chaotic hoofprints, he dismounted hastily to pick it up.

......

A thousand miles away at the Northern Border, a tall young man stood with his hands behind his back on the city wall, his spine straight like a spear, emitting an unstoppable aura.

He slightly tilted his head skyward, "Has the Jin Dynasty Crown Prince’s movement been detected?"

Since he had speared the Jin Dynasty prince’s head two months ago, the Crown Prince, who only appeared in his previous life post-ascension, showed up at the border.

They’ve clashed several times, the opponent repeatedly suffered losses; in these past couple of weeks, he had vanished without trace.

The Crown Prince personally leading troops would certainly not flee before the fight, thus... where is he?

Behind him, Mingjian replied, "Scouts reported that after receiving a secret message, he picked a hundred men and vanished."