Chapter 105: I'll give my life for you, don't be mad at me, okay?

Everyone was stunned; the sword lights halted, and in the dense forest only heavy breathing and deathly silence remained.

Feng Liangce died.

Someone glanced at Shen Shuangning, instinctively blaming her again, and shouted "Trash!" before raising his blade to strike at her.

"Clang—" Qing Yun raised his blade just in time to block, the blades colliding and spraying bright sparks.

His shoulder was soaked in blood, the opponent's blade bore down with brute force, stopping just an inch from his face as his arm bones creaked.

Seeing this, Shen Shuangning also threw caution to the wind, gripping the last arrow in her hand, she stepped out from behind Qing Yun and drove the arrowhead hard into the man's neck, then wrenched it out.

Blood spurted out instantly, warm droplets splashing half her face.

"Fourth Miss!" Qing Yun's eyes widened and he cried out in shock.

The man collapsed straight, his blade clattering to the ground.

Shen Shuangning's legs gave way, she could barely stand; Qing Yun quickly reached out to steady her, his eyes full of alarm and concern.

"I—I'm fine," she said, her head buzzing and her voice light.

But when she saw Xiao Jingyuan struck by an arrow, a sudden surge of strength rose from somewhere, and she shoved aside the tall cultist in front of her, rushing straight to Xiao Jingyuan.

Perhaps the cultists had not yet recovered from Feng Liangce's death, and none paid her any heed.

Pei Zhi watched the slender figure dash out, his fingertips that were about to release the bowstring suddenly froze, and the nightmare of his past life surged forth like a tide—

It was under this same storm‑laden sky that the girl flung herself without hesitation before Xiao Jingyuan.

The arrow meant to pierce Xiao Jingyuan's heart instead went through her thin shoulder blade, staining her moon‑white skirt red like a plum blossom blooming in snow, the sight burning his eyes.

Pei Zhi closed his eyes, then opened them to find the arrowhead already redirected, striking true at the cultist silently reaching for Xiao Jingyuan.

The bowstring sang, three arrows flew in quick succession, cleanly clearing the cultists surrounding the two.

Before anyone could react, Pei Zhi suddenly raised his arm and loosed the final arrow, which tore through the air straight at the azure hawk perched on the branch.

Earlier, while everyone was fighting fiercely, even Xie Yan failed to notice a muffled whistle in the woods, which misled the raptor originally meant to patrol the surroundings.

Below, the battle raged, while the hawk rested on a tree, preening its feathers, heedless of the Imperial Guard gradually closing in.

Xie Yan saw where the arrow that killed Feng Liangce had come from, had already taken precautions, and those beside him immediately shielded him, fearing another hidden shot.

At this moment Xie Yan saw his own azure hawk struck down by an arrow, his expression turning cold in an instant; he turned his gaze to the woods on either side and discovered many more shadows lurking there.

"We're in trouble, retreat now!" Xie Yan said decisively.

The two aides at Xie Yan's side, upon his command, instantly swung onto their horses and rode off swiftly.

By the time the cultists realized they had been abandoned, the Imperial Guard had already closed in, numbering over a hundred.

Xie Yan spurred his horse to flee, when suddenly a chill ran down his back.

He instinctively looked back—an arrow was already pursuing him!

He was just a beat too slow; the arrow struck his left shoulder.

Xie Yan grunted, but did not avert his gaze, his eyes fixed on the petite figure.

Shen Shuangning also stared at him, her expression seeming angry.

Xie Yan's gaze grew colder.

I hadn't expected Xie Lin, my beloved, to be so capable. Next time, I will take your life.

Xie Yan withdrew his gaze.

Even struck by an arrow, he showed little expression; first, he was versed in medicine and knew the wound was not fatal, so he felt no worry; second, he was accustomed to burying all emotion beneath a mask.

Pei Zhi watched the three fleeing figures and at once ordered the Imperial Guard to pursue.

"No need to take prisoners," he said.

The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard received the order, immediately dispatched half the troops to give chase, while the rest surrounded the die‑hard rebels holding out.

The situation had already turned.

Only then did Pei Zhi walk over to Shen Shuangning, holding a neatly folded, clean silk handkerchief.

But before he could offer it, she turned and walked toward the wounded Xiao Jingyuan, as if she didn't see him.

Pei Zhi's hand stiffened, then clenched the handkerchief until his fingertips whitened; resentment welled up inside him, though his face gave nothing away.

At that moment, a mid‑rank Imperial Guard officer came up to flatter the Junior Preceptor.

"Junior Preceptor Pei truly leaves nothing to chance—these rebels are indeed here! I admire, I admire!"

"Unfailing foresight?"

Pei Zhi found those four words especially grating, a faint smirk curling his lips.

The Imperial Guard officer, oblivious to having patted the horse's leg, was about to lavish more praise when Pei Zhi cut him off coldly.

"Deputy General Yan, instead of chatting, you'd be better off lending a hand over there—the rebels are crafty; if anything else goes wrong now, we'll have no excuse."

The Imperial Guard has two Deputy Commanders, both present here.

Deputy General Yan saw Pei Zhi's expression suddenly turn cold, the smile on his face freezing, and he grew a little displeased.

But then he recalled how Pei Zhi had just cleanly slain several rebels, his demeanor unchanged... Is this what they call 'not skilled at archery'?

Thinking of this, Deputy General Yan felt wary, no longer daring to look down on this civil official; he swallowed the words on his throat, gave a dry chuckle, and walked away.

Turning away, he couldn't help muttering: 'Everyone says Junior Preceptor Pei is easy to talk to; now he's clearly about to achieve great merit, he should be pleased... What's wrong with him? He didn't even say anything wrong!'

Besides, the rebels look utterly finished; what trouble could they still cause?

Who would have thought, but Pei Zhi's prediction turned out true.

The besieged rebels, seeing no hope of breakout and already at their wits' end, suddenly a blood‑stained man raised his head and shouted: 'We will never submit to the court! Long live the Holy Cult!'

Before the words faded, he swung his short blade sideways and slit his own throat.

Seeing this, the remaining rebels, as if ignited by bloodlust, followed suit one after another.

In an instant, the dull thuds of blades cutting flesh rose and fell, blood spattered everywhere, and the previously eased situation was suddenly shrouded in a heavy stench of blood.

The Imperial Guard had been ordered to take prisoners, but they had not expected the rebels to be so resolute, even discarding their lives; everyone stood stunned, unable to react.

After they came to their senses, more than twenty corpses lay scattered before them, and only two timid ones remained, hesitating and not daring to act.

Deputy General Yan snapped to his senses, shocked and angry, and bellowed loudly: "Damn it! What are you all standing there for? Quickly stop them!"

The nearest few Imperial Guard soldiers finally came to, rushed forward in panic, seized the knives from those two men's hands, and pressed them firmly to the ground to subdue them.

You must know these rebels are worth more alive than dead—each is worth a thousand taels in reward silver, and bringing them back still earns merit; yet only two remain!!

Over ten thousand taels just flew away like that.

Deputy General Yan was so furious he jumped like thunder, and in a loss of composure he rushed forward and gave the two remaining captives a brutal beating.

If anyone had noticed Junior Tutor Pei's expression, they would have seen his face utterly calm, showing no joy or sorrow despite the horrific scene, as if he were detached from it all.

Shen Shuangning glanced once, then looked away; gazing at Xiao Jingyuan's handsome yet deathly pale face, her heart clenched.

She did not know whether Xiao Jingyuan would live or die.

Just as she was about to speak, Xiao Jingyuan smiled and said, "You're amazing—my teaching wasn't wasted. Are you scared?"

Although he tried hard to sound casual, Shen Shuangning could still hear the weakness he could not hide in his voice.

The arrow still lodged in his chest tugged at the wound with each word he spoke, drawing cold sweat.

Shen Shuangning shook her head and quickly said, "Don't talk."

Her eyes were red, as if she were about to cry again.

Xiao Jingyuan, however, inexplicably felt pleased, blinked, and said, "You're worried about me."

"Nonsense!" Shen Shuangning said, pressing her lips tightly together. After all, having shared life and death, how could she not worry?

Her heart is not made of stone.

Shen Shuangning crouched beside him, gently supporting his shoulder, afraid to look at the arrow in his chest.

Qing Yun also arrived; compared to Xiao Jingyuan, his injury was lighter, yet he dared not touch Xiao Jingyuan, fearing his contact would worsen the already dire situation.

Xiao Jingyuan looked at Shen Shuangning's snow‑white cheek streaked with blood, frowned, found it glaring, and grew unhappy.

He said nothing, raising his hand to wipe the blood from the woman's face.

It was his left hand, so close to the arrow wound in his chest; seeing this, Qing Yun's heart leapt to his throat, he opened his mouth but ultimately dared not speak.

Shen Shuangning dared not move, as if frozen in place.

His hand wasn't clean to begin with; rubbing back and forth didn't clean it but only smeared it further.

Xiao Jingyuan knitted his brows, feeling annoyed, helpless, perhaps even guilty, his thoughts surging like a tide.

His hand slowly lowered, quietly clenched, while his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

He gazed deeply at Shen Shuangning, her reflection the only thing in his deep eyes; the surrounding chaos seemed to fade away, all sounds hushed, leaving only the faint rustle of wind through the forest leaves.

"... I'm sorry," he said.

Shen Shuangning gave no reaction, only feeling something warm surge in her eyes as she stared blankly at a point in the air.

Xiao Jingyuan collapsed into her arms, his head resting on her shoulder, and she heard him speak in an extremely faint voice:

"I give my life for you—don't be angry with me, okay?"