The Emperor Xian did not fear. To be praised as an emperor by the world, he would not be frightened by the scene before him. He coldly commanded, "Prepare to meet the enemy."
"Yes, Master."
Everyone retreated in an orderly fashion. Emperor Xian pulled Mu Qingyao's hand and quickly noticed she had no internal energy at all. His expression turned grim as he spoke, "Yao'er, your internal energy?"
"I was drugged, most likely with a pill that dissolves internal energy. Your Majesty, please don't worry about me and focus on facing the enemy."
At this moment, it was more important to deal with the villains outside. As for her internal energy, they could research it later.
"Damn it," Emperor Xian cursed coldly, extending his large hand to clasp Mu Qingyao's delicate one. "Let's go."
In the dark night, countless torches illuminated half the sky, illuminating this usually quiet little village.
At this moment, it was shrouded in a human-devouring bloodiness. The air was suffocating and heavy. Branches swayed. Under the light of every torch stood several figures in black. These figures in black were enveloped in the aura of death, staring at them with expressionless faces, their pupils devoid of light.
Mu Qingyao stood beside Emperor Xian, observing them coldly. After a single glance, she slowly spoke:
"It's those death warriors again. It seems they are determined to kill us tonight, which is why so many people have been deployed." Mu Qingyao and Murong Liu Zun estimated there were over two hundred people, neatly surrounding the entire small courtyard, so tightly that not even a fly could escape.
They were to kill everyone here at all costs; that was their mission for the night.
Prince Nan'an, who had been standing at the front, retreated to the sides and calmly said, "Your Majesty, you must be careful."
"Fight them. Kill them all, leave none alive." Even if these death warriors were spared, they would commit suicide if they failed their mission. In any case, they wouldn't be able to extract any information from these people, so there was no need to hold back.
With the Emperor's command, everyone accepted their orders, daring not to be careless. These death warriors were bloodthirsty wolves, so they had to exert all their strength to have a chance at victory. Showing mercy to the enemy was akin to being cruel to oneself, and could very well lead to becoming a casualty.
"Attack."
Amidst the soaring flames, the figures charged forward like tigers descending from a mountain, bloodthirsty and ferocious. Instantly, roars like thunder echoed in the dark night.
Glinting blades and flashing swords, severed limbs, and gushing blood.
None of this could adequately describe the scene of this bloodthirsty assassination.
Screams, the sounds of slaughter, the dull thud of swords cutting through flesh, all merged together, earth-shattering. The people in the small village had long been awakened.
However, everyone lay hidden in their homes, afraid to move, afraid to shout, afraid to make even a sound. Some timid children began to cry, and their parents quickly covered their mouths, preventing them from making any noise, lest misfortune befall them and they suffer the consequences.
Some were injured, some died. In short, chaos ensued, and it was impossible to distinguish who was who; they just fought with all their might.
Emperor Xian, while fighting the people around him, also took care of Mu Qingyao. He even had the leisure to ask her, "Yao'er, who brought you to this place?"
Mu Qingyao rolled her eyes. A sword thrust towards her face. The man waved his hand, and a powerful surge of qi erupted, sending the assailant flying. He extended his large hand, embraced her, and spun around, placing her steadily on the other side.
Mu Qingyao did not answer his question. At such a moment, he was still asking? They should fight first. She raised her eyes and assessed the situation. It seemed both sides had suffered heavy casualties, with many injured and quite a few dead. Her heart sank. It didn't matter if these death warriors died, but she couldn't afford to lose all her people.
"Your Majesty, if this continues, it won't work. I fear both sides will be nearly wiped out?"
The usually calm and restrained Mu Qingyao became somewhat anxious, her eyes darkening, her lips pursed tightly.
As the two were speaking, Prince Nan'an, leading Mochou and Moyou, retreated. Prince Nan'an, Murong Liuzhao, calmly said, "Your Majesty, you and the Empress should leave first. This humble brother will cover your retreat."
After speaking, he ordered Mochou and Moyou, "You two protect His Majesty and the Empress as they leave."
"Yes, Your Highness," Mochou and Moyou accepted the order.
Protecting His Majesty and the Empress was the most important thing. Mu Qingyao raised her dark eyes to look at Prince Nan'an. In the dark night, his face was like carved ice, exceptionally cold, but his dark pupils flickered with warm concern as he issued his calm commands.
"Your Majesty, Empress, let us break through from this side."
Mochou and Moyou respectfully spoke, clearing the path for their masters in front. Prince Nan'an covered their rear. When the black-clad figures saw their movement, they went mad and surged forward, attacking like rabid dogs. It was impossible to break through.
As they were about to be surrounded again, suddenly, from a small path on the other side, over twenty figures, also dressed in black, flashed out. These figures joined the fray without hesitation.
Mu Qingyao and Murong Liu Zun initially thought they were in league with the death warriors. However, when these figures appeared, they actually helped them fight the black-clad assailants, and the situation in the battle immediately changed.
Prince Nan'an, seeing the situation, no longer urged the Emperor and Empress to leave. He led Mochou and Moyou back into the fray.
This battle lasted the entire night.
A pale light leaked from the horizon, enveloping the entire misty village. The morning mist lingered in the air.
All the death warriors were killed, and the twenty-odd figures in black who appeared later flashed away without waiting for thanks.
Only when they came to their senses did they realize that the black-clad figures who had been guarding Mu Qingyao earlier had also disappeared.
It turned out that the group that appeared later were the ones who had kidnapped the Empress. Since they had kidnapped the Empress, why did they then help them kill the death warriors?
Everyone was perplexed. After fighting all night, they were all tired. They sat on the ground to rest for a while before descending the mountain.
Murong Liu Zun and Mu Qingyao sat apart, with Prince Nan'an standing beside them. "Brother, look here?"
"Arrange for some men to clear this place. The others will descend the mountain. If they were our men, bury them."
"Yes," Prince Nan'an received the order and turned to assign tasks.
Mu Qingyao sat on a large rock, and Murong Liu Zun sat beside her. His deep, dark eyes gazed at her, but she looked towards the distant mountains. The morning in the mountains was very foggy, making it impossible to see any scenery clearly; everything was hazy.
Her gaze was thoughtful, as if pondering something. Murong Liu Zun's gentle voice sounded.
"Yao'er, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about this incident. It seems those death warriors are indeed related to Yuejue Temple. Perhaps their hiding place is Yuejue Temple. We must return as soon as possible and send people to raid Yuejue Temple, capturing them all, leaving none alive. I wonder what role Abbot Liao Kong of Yuejue Temple played in all of this?"