Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the silent valley, gently rustling the leaves behind Liang Yuzhou.
A dark shadow seemed to descend from the sky and landed steadily in front of Xu Mufeng.
A chill ran through Xu Mufeng's heart as a sharp blade pressed against his chest.
He was so frightened that his heart skipped a beat. He looked up at the man in front of him.
Tall and upright, with broad shoulders and powerful arms.
He recognized this face.
At the martial arts exam arena a year ago, this man had lost to Liang Yuzhou by just one move.
Liang Yuzhou's expression remained unchanged. He casually curled the corner of his mouth and said, "You're just coming now?"
Shi Luohan had entered the valley alone in search. It was not until he saw the red signal flare in the sky that he knew the Crown Prince's cavalry had found the two of them. But he didn't stop.
Wan Chu had fallen from such a high cliff. Was she safe at this moment?
He couldn't bear the torment of waiting and the unknown. He rushed non - stop towards the place where the signal was sent.
It was not until this moment that Song Wan Chu finally felt truly safe with Liang Yuzhou. Her tense nerves suddenly relaxed. Her nose turned sour, and she threw herself into Shi Luohan's arms.
"Brother!"
This single cry conveyed all her grievances.
The killing intent in Shi Luohan's eyes had not yet dissipated, but his tone softened. He stroked Song Wan Chu's head and said, "It's okay, Wan Chu. It's all over."
The situation completely reversed with Shi Luohan's arrival.
Xu Mufeng was stunned and stood there in a daze for a long time.
Why was he so unlucky to encounter both the first and the second - ranked martial artists in the exam?
If there had been a glimmer of hope for him to win by taking risks just now, now he didn't even have a chance to make a move.
Thirty cavalrymen might not even be a match for the blind Liang Yuzhou, let alone with the addition of another man of comparable martial strength?
The way Xu Mufeng looked at Song Wan Chu changed. It was filled with even deeper fear.
This little woman was so charming that the most powerful and capable men in the world were all around her, protecting her.
Liang Yuzhou disdained to threaten Xu Mufeng anymore. He pushed him away with a mocking smile still on his lips.
"Still want to fight? For the sake of fairness, you can send a signal and call all your remaining two hundred subordinates here. Otherwise, someone might say later that we're bullying you with our numbers."
These words were a great humiliation to Xu Mufeng!
They were the ones with more people, but Liang Yuzhou made it sound like three people were bullying thirty.
It was clear that Liang Yuzhou didn't take him seriously!
But he dared not show his anger.
The situation remained stalemated. No one dared to make a move. The cavalrymen were gripping their knife handles so tightly that their knuckles turned white.
Shi Luohan made an even more insulting gesture. He sheathed his sword.
It seemed that the threat of thirty men with knives was nothing in front of him.
Liang Yuzhou coughed violently a few times and staggered. Song Wan Chu quickly supported his arm.
The fire was dim, but she clearly saw that his front clothes were covered in large patches of blood.
"Liang Yuzhou, how are you?"
Shi Luohan frowned tightly. "How did you get yourself into this state?"
Liang Yuzhou tilted his ear in Shi Luohan's direction. Before he could say a word, his head drooped.
His tall body crashed to the ground.
"Liang Yuzhou? Liang Yuzhou!"
Song Wan Chu's legs went weak, and she sat on the ground. Liang Yuzhou's head hung in her arms. His face was as pale as frost, devoid of any vitality.
The confrontation just now had exhausted his body to the limit!
He was like a fully drawn bow that could no longer bear any more force. The bowstring suddenly snapped.
Shi Luohan didn't know medicine, but he knew that Liang Yuzhou couldn't be delayed any longer.
He turned his head and fixed his sharp eyes on Xu Mufeng. "The Crown Prince wanted you to atone for your sins, but you disgracefully attacked Liang Yuzhou by surprise. It's subordinates like you stupid pigs who ruin the Crown Prince's reputation!"
This was a serious accusation. Xu Mufeng was too ashamed to look into Shi Luohan's eyes. He was already panicking.
Ruining the Crown Prince's reputation was a capital crime. How could he bear such a responsibility?
He came from a humble background and was promoted by the Crown Prince because of his decent horse - riding and archery skills. If the Crown Prince decided that he had ruined the royal family's reputation, even being sliced to death would not be enough to atone for his crime!
He finally realized how stupid he had been!
"Miss Song, please calm down. I and my brothers will send the Reverend Qingzhou to be treated immediately!"
Xu Mufeng ordered his men to make a simple stretcher out of the oilcloth of the tent.
Liang Yuzhou was carried onto the stretcher.
Shi Luohan carried Song Wan Chu on his back.
The group walked towards the exit of the valley under the illumination of torches.
Song Wan Chu's gaze was always on Liang Yuzhou's unconscious face. Her hands unconsciously tightened on Shi Luohan's shoulders.
Feeling her anxiety and tension, Shi Luohan comforted her in a soft voice, "He's got a tough life. Even the eight bandit leaders combined couldn't kill him. He's even more powerful now than he was six years ago."
Song Wan Chu bit her lips and remained silent.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She hated herself for not knowing medicine.
Seeing that she didn't say a word, Shi Luohan continued, "It's just a few coughs. It's not a life - threatening illness. He'll hold on because he has you in his heart."
"Brother, thank you."
It was really not easy for Shi Luohan to say such words.
"Don't think too much. Your well - being is the greatest comfort and support for him."
Song Wan Chu blinked her eyes, suppressing the sourness and wetness in her eyes.
Brother was right. She had to be strong.
The group walked out of the valley at dawn and onto the official road.
They had not gone two li when they met the Crown Prince and his cavalry head - on.
Before his horse came to a complete stop, the Crown Prince jumped off and rushed straight towards Song Wan Chu.
Xu Mufeng was eager to claim credit. "Your Highness, I have fulfilled my mission and safely brought back Miss Song..."
But the Crown Prince didn't even glance at him. He whole - heartedly cared about Song Wan Chu. "Are you injured?"
When she saw the Crown Prince again, a storm of emotions welled up in Song Wan Chu's heart. There was anger, resentment, and helplessness.
They were all tangled up in a complex mess.
So when she saw the Crown Prince's affectionate look, she felt annoyed.
But she just said indifferently, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I just sprained my ankle. It's nothing serious."
The Crown Prince's hanging heart finally settled down. "Thank goodness you're okay!"
When Wan Chu fell off the cliff, he had been so anxious and agitated that he had lost the ability to act. He was forcibly dragged back to the post station by Shi Minglang to rest.
When he learned that Xu Mufeng's team had found Wan Chu, he couldn't sleep at all. Before dawn, he led his cavalry towards the valley.
But he knew that his concern was nothing compared to Liang Yuzhou's desperate jump.
He was well aware that no matter what he did, he could never surpass Liang Yuzhou's position in Wan Chu's heart.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Song Wan Chu get off Shi Luohan's back. She limped towards him and knelt down.
"Wan Chu, what are you doing..."
"Liang Yuzhou is seriously injured and unconscious. Please allow this commoner girl to take him back to the city for treatment, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince felt a lump in his throat and a sourness in his heart. "Wan Chu, do you really think I'm such a narrow - minded person?"