Chapter 18: Just Stay Still and Behave

Jin'er felt her heart tighten, and before she could even scream, her body was caught in a firm embrace. With a loud bang, she shut her eyes, convinced she had been flung out of the carriage.

The fierce wind howled all around, and the sounds of clashing swords and battle cries instantly echoed through the mountains. Jin'er opened her eyes to see no fewer than forty men in black fiercely fighting with Nangong Che’s subordinates. A dense mass of figures, so many that it chilled her to the core.

With a swift motion, Nangong Che, holding Jin’er securely, drew his sword and turned to face several black-clad attackers rushing at him.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and suddenly, the sword in his hand shone with a burst of golden light. With a gentle wave, the swords of the attackers were sliced cleanly in two, leaving them stunned and speechless.

Immediately after, Jin’er felt the world spin around her, accompanied by the whirling golden light. She heard screams pierce the air and saw blood splatter; three men lay motionless on the ground, while two others, though they managed to dodge in time, were still severely wounded.

Jin’er’s mouth hung open in shock at this sudden turn of events, her heart overwhelmed with astonishment. What technique was this? His sword hadn’t even touched them, and where did that golden light come from?

Heavens! This was even more formidable than the martial arts moves described in novels.

Before she could recover, several more black-clad men landed beside them, one of whom wore a black mask, his features completely concealed.

Though unskilled in martial arts, Jin’er could now sense the oppressive aura of the enemy. It reminded her of the time in the imperial court when the general approached her, though now the feeling was even stronger.

“Put me down,” Jin’er said nervously, turning to Nangong Che.

She guessed the masked man was the leader of the black-clad group, and naturally, such a leader was no ordinary person. With Nangong Che now facing so many opponents alone, she worried she might become his burden if he kept holding her.

“Just stay still and don’t move,” Nangong Che replied calmly, not looking at her but raising the corners of his lips, his demeanor utterly composed.

Though she could sense his extraordinary skill and apparent confidence, Jin’er couldn’t help but feel a strange surge of emotion. He hadn’t resented her for being a burden.

She knew saying more would be futile, so she obediently closed her mouth and wrapped her arms around his waist, trying her best to lighten his load.

Sword energy swept across the air, golden light flashed, and among the black-clad men, two attacked normally while the other three wielded swords glowing with green light. The masked leader’s sword shone particularly bright, its emerald glow vivid and striking, almost matching the brilliance of Nangong Che’s golden light.

Jin’er stared wide-eyed, her body tensed as she followed Nangong Che’s movements, shifting left and right, up and down. Sword energy zipped past her face, making her heart race with fear. The collision of golden and green lights left her dizzy and dazzled, unable to make sense of the situation.

Suddenly, countless dried leaves were swept up by the wind, spinning rapidly around them as if each leaf had become a razor, trying to slice them into pieces. At the same time, serpent-like tree roots emerged from the ground, attempting to entangle them.

Jin’er felt a chill deep in her soul, cold sweat breaking out on her back. She instinctively swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look any longer. Whatever happened—life or death—it was out of her hands now; every extra day she survived was a gift.

The fight raged on, and though Jin’er didn’t watch, her hearing became unusually acute. The sound of leaves slicing through the air, swords clashing, and the collision of powerful energies—all entered her ears, leaving her body taut with tension.