Hearing Yi Qing say this, Ping Xinian seemed to have heard a joke and laughed mockingly.
"What does their life and death matter to me?" Ping Xinian said indifferently. "People die all the time in this world. It's just a matter of who dies and why. The result is the same."
For a moment, Yi Qing didn't want to talk to Ping Xinian anymore. At this point, it was just a matter of life and death between them.
"I didn't expect someone as extreme as you to say such things. If you don't even care about life and death, why should you care about human love and worldly possessions like gold and silver? In the end, you just don't care about others' lives, but won't allow others to touch a single hair on you."
Ping Xinian didn't evade at all. "I have the ability to do so."
"So you treat the people who came with you today the same way. They are just tools for you to achieve your goals. Maybe you promised them a lot of silver, but they have to be alive to spend it. Moreover..." Yi Qing scanned the people behind Ping Xinian. "Even if they don't die here today, when the court pursues the matter later, it will be a serious crime that will implicate their families."
Ping Xinian laughed. "Yi Qing, you're still trying such tricks when you're on the verge of death. Since they followed me for the silver, didn't they think this through?"
"Who knows? Wealth can tempt people. Maybe they didn't think it through." Yi Qing wasn't angry either. "I'll give you another chance now. Think it over carefully. You're collaborating with the Japanese and chasing after the God of War of the Great Jin. This is treason and will result in the extermination of nine generations of your family. If you leave now, I can ask the emperor not to pursue those who leave."
Some of the people behind heard what Yi Qing said and were a little tempted. Some of them had just come on a whim because the silver promised was too much.
"Do you think she'll leave here alive?" Ping Xinian looked at Yi Qing with interest. "She can't leave here alive. What difference does it make whether you leave or not?"
Yi Qing smiled helplessly. "Miss Ping, one should be more modest. Otherwise, it will hurt too much when the time comes."
"I don't need to be modest in front of you." Ping Xinian would never bow her head in front of Yi Qing.
"So you're pushing the Ping family into an abyss of no return just because you can't have Xiao Jinghan's love." Yi Qing changed the topic.
People risk their lives for wealth just as birds die for food. She didn't expect to succeed in sowing discord. She was just stalling for time.
"You still have the nerve to say that I'm pushing the Ping family into an abyss of no return. Do you think you'll spare the Ping family if I don't do this?"
"We can discuss it."
Ping Xinian had no intention of discussing with Yi Qing. "You dared to compete with me for a man. You should be prepared for this."
Ping Xinian talked about the past. She didn't mean to reminisce. She just wanted Yi Qing to understand why she was going to die.
The sky was gradually getting dark. The charcoal in the small red - clay stove made the bottom of the kettle glow red. The water was boiling, just the right time to make tea.
Yi Qing sat by the fire looking leisurely, as if the people in front of her were old friends coming to visit her instead of those who wanted her life.
"Shoot the arrows!" Ping Xinian estimated the time.
Actually, she knew that Yi Qing was trying to stall for time, but so what? Xiao Jinghan couldn't escape far.
Yi Qing turned around and hid in the crevice behind the huge rock. The arrows flew by and she wasn't hurt at all.
At this time, a large number of bats flew over. There were even more than before. Some people panicked and fell off their horses and started to fight the bats.
Rustling sounds came from around, and all kinds of insects crawled out.
"Are you okay?" Wu Min helped Yi Qing up.
"I'm fine." Yi Qing looked at the insects around.
"Take Lady Xiao and hide. Leave this to me." Lu Tianxun ordered.
As he was speaking, the sound of horses' hooves came from behind. They thought the people who were coming to pick them up had arrived. When they looked back, they saw Qiao Ye, and the carriage that was trying to take Xiao Jinghan away was also forced back.
"Qiao Ye?" Yi Qing looked at Qiao Ye.
"Lady Xiao, long time no see. You and General Xiao left without saying goodbye last time. It really worried me." Qiao Ye said with a smile.
"General Xiao is here. I order you to protect General Xiao's safety." Yi Qing knew that Qiao Ye was here to kill them, but she wouldn't say such words directly. She wanted Qiao Ye to refuse on his own.
"Lady Xiao, I'm sorry. I'm leading the imperial guards of the court. I only listen to the emperor's orders. Without the emperor's order, if I move my men, I might be accused of treason." Qiao Ye said with a smile.
While Ping Xinian was chasing after Xiao Jinghan and the others, Qiao Ye had already been waiting in Zhuyin Valley. He thought that Ping Xinian was no match for Yi Qing and her group. After all, they had Lu Tianxun with them.
He had no acquaintance with Lu Tianxun, but Lu Tianxun's reputation was too great. He had to be on guard.
Yi Qing looked at Qiao Ye. Before, she had guessed that Qiao Ye wouldn't take action personally. This time, she guessed wrong.
Thinking about it, if they really died in Southern Fujian, the emperor would lose a capable subordinate. He wouldn't be as unrestrained as before. And it wasn't worth causing a rebellion in Southern Fujian for a dead person.
So even if the emperor wanted to avenge Xiao Jinghan, it would be after he had stabilized the situation. Who knew what would happen during this period?
"So Lord Qiao is here to watch the fun?" Yi Qing sneered.
"Just passing by." Qiao Ye ordered his men to block Zhuyin Valley. There was nowhere for Yi Qing and the others to escape.
"Lord Qiao not only passes by but also blocks the way." Yi Qing saw Xiao Jinghan's carriage come back. She directly jumped onto the carriage. When she got off, she was holding a box. "Poison the weapons. It should be fatal on contact with blood."
Lu Tianxun thought for a while and took the box. There were twelve bottles in it. It seemed that Yi Qing had prepared this long ago.
The black bottles were passed from one person to another. A strange fragrance filled the valley.
Ping Xinian watched Yi Qing's final struggle quietly, as if admiring her own achievement.
Then she slightly raised her head and squinted at Qiao Ye on the opposite side.
It was very dark under the cliff. She couldn't see Qiao Ye clearly, but her eyes were icy cold. Since everyone was here, it was time to end everything.
Lu Tianxun wiped his sword and turned to look at Wu Min. "I'll cover you and let you leave later."
"What about you?" Wu Min looked at Lu Tianxun nervously.
Lu Tianxun pulled Wu Min into his arms. "If I can survive today, I'll definitely marry you from the Southern Border to the Great Jin in a grand wedding with eight sedan - chairs and a ten - mile red bridal procession. If I'm gone, you can use the Gu worms to forget about me."
"No." Wu Min said firmly.
Seeing this, Yi Qing turned to Ping Xinian. "You want to kill me. There's no need to hurt the innocent."
"Now you want to be a good person?" Ping Xinian mocked. "Who here is innocent? If it weren't for them, you would have died long ago. Attack!"
Weapons clashed, and the sound of the fight echoed in the valley. Wu Min tried to control the insects to disperse Qiao Ye's men and horses and break out a way, but there were too many fires, and it was difficult to control the insects.
Yi Qing guarded one side of the carriage. Before, it was always Xiao Jinghan who protected her. This time, it was her turn to protect Xiao Jinghan. She didn't know how long she could protect him, but she would protect him until the last moment.