Lin Shishu saw the woman in front leading her out of the encirclement.
The hand that pulled her was warm, making her heart less cold.
Xue Zining looked at the endless sea of people, thinking to herself, when would Yan Jin Chao and the others arrive?
"Take one more step, and I'll kill him."
The Great Leader's voice carried over.
Xue Zining turned and looked at the Second Leader, held captive in the Great Leader's arm, a flash of light in her eyes.
"Don't... don't mind me, go..." the Second Leader managed to utter these words with difficulty.
The Great Leader's gaze turned fierce, and he dislocated the Second Leader's jaw, rendering him unable to speak further.
"Miss Shu, what should we do?" Lin Shishu asked.
"Go..." Even with his jaw dislocated, the Second Leader forcefully uttered the word.
Xue Zining hardened her heart, grabbed Lin Shishu's hand, and said coldly, "Go..."
The Great Leader flung the Second Leader aside and flew towards them.
Lin Shishu had been paying close attention to everything happening there. Seeing the Great Leader approaching, she urgently said, "Miss Shu, be careful..."
Xue Zining dodged the Great Leader's sneak attack.
The Great Leader blocked her path, sneering, "Do you think you can get away?"
"How will we know if we don't try?" Xue Zining replied indifferently.
The Great Leader took the saber handed to him by his subordinate and said coldly, "Then let me see the true strength of the Third Leader!"
Xue Zining frowned, her hand gripping the saber tightly. The Great Leader suddenly attacked, and Xue Zining moved to block him. The Great Leader applied immense pressure with both hands, making it difficult for her with one hand.
Lin Shishu knew that if she weren't here to hold them back, Miss Shu could have escaped with ease.
She released her grip on Miss Shu. Xue Zining was startled, and in that moment, the Great Leader freed one hand and struck at her shoulder.
Although Xue Zining dodged, she was a moment too slow and was hit by the palm strike. She felt a metallic taste in her throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Miss Shu..." Lin Shishu stepped forward to help her up, only to be grabbed.
"Let go of me..." she struggled, but was startled by a cold voice, "Don't move..."
Lin Shishu trembled all over and slowly turned her head. A familiar face appeared before her. "Murong Bo..." she exclaimed in surprise.
"No one move, or I'll kill her..." Murong Bo shouted, pressing a dagger to Lin Shishu's throat, threatening to slit it with the slightest movement.
"Good, you've done well." Xu Yangshuo was so pleased he could have slapped his thigh.
Xue Zining frowned, looking at Murong Bo, and said coldly, "You are holding a defenseless woman hostage. Is this the sage learning you have acquired?"
Murong Bo trembled all over, gritting his teeth, "Sage learning? Can sage learning teach me to escape in times of danger? Can sage learning teach me how to turn danger into safety? No, none of it can. So, what use do I have for sage learning?"
"This is your own problem, do not blame sage learning, because sage learning never taught you to be ungrateful."
"Shut up..." Murong Bo was furious, and the dagger in his hand moved closer to Lin Shishu.
"Your current embarrassment and anger already prove that you yourself understand, understand that what you are doing is repaid kindness with enmity."
Murong Bo's face turned ashen. Just then, Xue Zining drew the silver whip from her waist and lashed out towards Lin Shishu. The silver whip coiled around Lin Shishu's waist, and Lin Shishu felt a tremendous force pull her away from Murong Bo's grasp in an instant.
By the time Murong Bo realized, it was too late. Lin Shishu was lifted off the ground, flying towards Xue Zining.
Xue Zining leaped into the air, caught Lin Shishu, and landed slowly. Lin Shishu was stunned, not expecting to be safe in the blink of an eye.
"Absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, and fused with silver stone using extremely yin iron, it was forged into an unparalleled silver whip, capable of cutting through sharp blades and shattering iron. There is likely only one such whip in this world, and it is said to belong to the long-reigning Empress Xue Zining."
The Great Leader spoke slowly, word by word.
"I didn't expect the Great Leader to be so knowledgeable about the silver whip."
"Hahaha..." The Great Leader roared with laughter. "It's truly like wearing out iron shoes to search for something, only to find it without effort. I was still thinking about how to enter the capital, but now it seems unnecessary. The person has been delivered to me. Empress, do you have any last words?"
Lin Shishu could hardly believe it, staring blankly at Xue Zining, "You... you are really..."
"Whether I am or not, it is merely a title. Is it that important?" Xue Zining asked faintly.
Lin Shishu paused upon hearing this, then smiled, "It's not important. You are still Miss Shu."
The silver whip whistled, pointing directly at the Great Leader Xu Yangshuo. "Since you know my identity, you still dare to speak such reckless words. Xu Yangshuo, are you truly not afraid of death?"
"What is there to fear in death? The moment I took this position, I ceased to fear it. If I can kill you here today, then the kingdom of Chang Jiu will be under my control."
"Deluded ambition." Xue Zining rebuked.
The Great Leader shouted, "Come, seize the Empress, and you will be handsomely rewarded."
Xue Zining scanned the surroundings and coldly shouted, "Do you know that assassinating me is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your clan?"
Xu Yangshuo sneered, "Everyone here has no fathers, daughters, wives, or children, so your 'extermination of nine generations' won't reach them."
Xue Zining's gaze turned cold, and she said chillingly, "Isn't it good to be alive? Why do you insist on seeking death?"
"Empress, you don't need to try to persuade my men here. They won't listen to you. Seize the Empress, and from now on, we will all be your loyal subjects."
"Who is that person?" Xue Zining asked.
Xu Yangshuo sneered, "You will never know."
Xu Yangshuo flew up and attacked Xue Zining. Xue Zining pulled Lin Shishu back. Lin Shishu worriedly asked, "What do we do?"
"Delay..." Xue Zining uttered only this word.
Lin Shishu understood upon seeing this. The Empress had been waiting for reinforcements, and now it was just her and the Empress fighting side by side.
"Your Majesty, I..."
"What is it?" Xue Zining asked.
Lin Shishu gritted her teeth, "Your Majesty, I... I'll go talk to him..."
Xue Zining was startled, looking at Lin Shishu. She didn't know what Lin Shishu intended to say, but the information she received last night could have been used to stall for time, yet she didn't want to do it. Lin Shishu was a good girl, and she couldn't bear to.
Lin Shishu stepped forward, looking at Xu Yangshuo, and asked softly, "Xu Shu, do you still remember?"
Xu Yangshuo trembled all over, frowning coldly, "Who are you?"
Lin Shishu gave a bitter smile and untied the jade pendant from her waist, throwing it over. "Look at this!"
Xu Yangshuo caught it with one hand, and upon seeing the jade pendant, his whole body trembled. "You... you are A Shu's..."
"She is my mother..." Lin Shishu said, grinding her teeth word by word.