Cheng Hao's hand gripping the silver spear was covered in blood, and his fingertips were trembling slightly. Sweat poured down his head as he gritted his teeth and shouted at Jingzhe, "Brother Jingzhe! I've taken down 76 of them. How many have you got?"
Jingzhe's hand holding the soft sword was also a bit shaky. He hadn't been counting the number of enemies in his mind, but still gritted his teeth and replied, "You win! I haven't exceeded your count!"
Cheng Hao let out a hearty laugh. "I knew I couldn't be inferior to you in everything!" Just as he finished speaking, Cheng Hao was caught off guard by a sneak attack from behind. A knife slashed across his shoulder.
A sharp pain shot through him. Cheng Hao let out a wail, then thrust his spear backward into the attacker's heart.
Jingzhe quickly rushed over to protect him and asked anxiously, "How are you?"
Cheng Hao, with a flushed face, covered the wound and growled through gritted teeth, "I'm a man! This little injury means nothing!"
Wei Dongling, who had been wandering around the battlefield, saw Cheng Hao get injured and couldn't help but feel anxious. But since she couldn't really help in the fight, she followed Shangguan Yun's order and put reins on the horses. Then she managed to pull up Shangguan Yun's overturned carriage.
The secret guard of the prince's mansion rushed to Shangguan Yun and whispered, "My lord, a large number of enemy reinforcements are approaching! We have to retreat quickly."
What?
Shangguan Yun was startled. He immediately shouted at Jingzhe and the others, "Everyone, don't get entangled in the fight! Protect Miss Wei and retreat immediately!"
"Okay!" Cuihuan flashed forward to protect Cheng Hao, whose shoulder was injured, and covered Jingzhe as he led Cheng Hao away first.
Wei Dongling selected two strong horses and drove the carriage over. She picked up everyone one by one and then whipped the horses hard, racing desperately on the ice.
Pin Hao quickly rummaged out two bows and arrows from under the carriage seat. He and the secret guard leaned against the window on either side, drawing their bows and shooting arrows, killing the Xiliang soldiers who were chasing them one by one.
Cheng Hao gasped for breath, cold sweat pouring down his face. Jingzhe quickly went to check the injury on his shoulder. As soon as he untied Cheng Hao's clothes, he saw that the inner jacket was soaked in bright red blood. The wound on his shoulder was so deep that the bone was visible, and the blood gushed out like a spring and couldn't be stopped!
Cuihuan's eyes turned slightly red. Shangguan Yun rummaged out some wound medicine and clean cloth strips and quickly stepped forward to help Cheng Hao stop the bleeding.
Jingzhe saw that Shangguan Yun showed no arrogance of a royal heir and didn't care about his status as he bent down to treat Cheng Hao's wound. His heart warmed, and he said softly, "My lord, let me do it."
The wound on Cheng Hao's shoulder was deep and long. After a lot of medicine was applied, he grimaced in pain, but the bleeding still didn't stop. Shangguan Yun was so anxious that his hands were trembling. His eyes were slightly red as he gritted his teeth and said, "Go and relieve Miss Wei! She's been exposed to the cold wind. She might not be able to hold on. Leave this to me."
Seeing that Shangguan Yun was so insistent, Jingzhe didn't say much. He lifted the curtain and went to relieve Wei Dongling.
Seeing Cheng Hao so badly injured, Wei Dongling's eyes were filled with tears. Since Cheng Hao had followed her, his old wounds hadn't healed yet, and now he had new ones. It really pained her heart.
Cheng Hao's lips were completely bloodless. He gasped in pain but still comforted her, "Hey! It's no big deal! Miss Wei, don't worry."
Wei Dongling felt extremely bitter in her heart, but she changed the topic, "Last time, your mother mentioned to me during a chat that you're old enough and it's time to get married. How about I ask a matchmaker to find you a bride after we return to the capital this time?"
Hearing this, Cheng Hao sneered while enduring the pain, "That'd be great! I want a gentle and virtuous wife. It'd be best if she's a bit plump. She mustn't be as skinny as you and Cuihuan..." Cheng Hao was happily talking to himself and didn't notice the change in Wei Dongling's expression. He continued excitedly, "I'll be honest with you. Actually, we men like women with a bit of flesh on them! Women like you and Cuihuan don't feel good to hold..."
Before Cheng Hao could finish his words, Wei Dongling rolled up her sleeves angrily and punched him. Cheng Hao kept screaming, "Ah—I'm wrong! Ah—Miss Wei, don't hit my face!"
Hey! Am I doing this for nothing just to make Miss Wei smile? I'm a wounded man! How could you bear to hit me? Aren't you a sick person? Why do your punches hurt so much?
Shangguan Yun couldn't help but burst out laughing. Strangely enough, the bleeding from Cheng Hao's shoulder wound finally stopped. Shangguan Yun quickly applied the wound medicine and tightly wrapped the cloth around it. Shangguan Yun looked at Wei Dongling's angry face with a smile. He couldn't help but praise in his heart. This girl was always kind and amiable to her servants and got along with them like family. She was sincere and had a sparkle in her eyes. No wonder everyone was willing to follow her loyally.
Shangguan Yun thought to himself that no matter what, he wouldn't let her go this time. He had given Yu Zixi a chance once! He definitely wouldn't give him a second chance!
Pin Hao and the secret guard kept shooting arrows and wiped out all the pursuers. It suddenly became much quieter behind them.
The horses' hooves clattered on the frozen lake. Before they knew it, they had run a long way. After everyone had applied medicine to their wounds, they leaned against the carriage and took a short rest.
Wei Dongling swallowed the pills for the cold, picked up the water bag, and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls of cold water. Then she leaned on Cuihuan's arm and dozed off.
Outside the carriage, the snow was falling harder and harder. It swirled in the cold wind and fluttered everywhere, sprinkling on the frozen lake and forming ice flowers.
The two horses pulling the carriage had been running all night and were already out of breath. Fortunately, the sky was gradually getting brighter. The mountains on the other side of the lake were just around the corner. Jingzhe didn't dare to relax for a moment. He just wanted to speed up and take everyone back to the Tianchao territory as soon as possible.
Pin Hao looked back from time to time along the way. Suddenly, he saw a large group of cavalry charging towards them from behind! The sheer number of the Xiliang cavalry was terrifying. Pin Hao quickly turned back and shouted, "My lord! They've caught up!"
Everyone immediately woke up. Could it be that Zhao Chuanyi's reinforcements had chased them this far?
Shangguan Yun's face changed when he heard this. He leaned forward to take a look. Then he immediately got up and took out two long and narrow boxes from the secret compartment on top of the carriage. The boxes were filled with thunderbolts.
Seeing the large number of enemies, Shangguan Yun's face was as cold as ice. He knew that these two boxes of gunpowder were just a drop in the bucket. It seemed that they could only fight to the death today.
Pin Hao and the secret guard looked at each other. They gritted their teeth and took out their fire starters from their bosoms. Then they picked up the boxes filled with thunderbolts and waited for the right moment.
Shangguan Yun looked down at Wei Dongling, whose face was as white as a sheet. He gently held her hand and said softly, "Dongling, don't be afraid. When we return to the capital safely, will you marry me?"
Everyone: ...
Wei Dongling's eyes turned red. She bit her lower lip and choked with sobs for a long time before saying, "Is this the right time to talk about this?"
Shangguan Yun just smiled softly and didn't say a word. There were tens of thousands of Xiliang soldiers. In this fierce battle, it was uncertain whether everyone could survive. There were some things he was afraid he would never have the chance to say if he didn't say them now.