Chapter 83: Besieging the City

  Nalan Xixi's face turned deathly pale. The pain and suffering she had endured just now suddenly burst forth at this moment. She suddenly collapsed to the ground.

  "Master." He Xian and Huo hastily supported her.

  Save him, save him... what's the use... All meridians are broken, helpless, can only watch him die in pain but unable to do anything... Nalan Xinnuo's body trembled uncontrollably, suddenly his mind went blank, unable to say a word.

  "Prince..." Empress Murong heard Nangong Jin come out and ran over this way.

  She looked at Nan Gong Jin's face, which was completely different and covered in blood. Suddenly, she couldn't even cry out loud.

  She stretched out her hand wanting to hold his hand, wanting to touch his face. But she didn't know where to start. There were wounds everywhere.

  Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide, grabbed Huo Zhe and trembled as she said "Shangguan Qinyue... Shangguan Qinyue..."

  Huo Zhi was perplexed by his words. The Shangguan family was the number one aristocratic family on the Luotian Continent thousands of years ago.

  The legend of the Ling Beast Master who unified the continent originated from that time. It is said that the ancestors of the Shangguan family were beast tamers in ancient times, skilled in the art of taming beasts, and had several giant Ling Beasts as large as mountains, which unified the mainland.

  Later on, for some reason, the Ling Beast and the Shangguan family suddenly disappeared. Without the Ling Beast to suppress them, the world fell into chaos. This led to the formation of the Thirteen Kingdoms. The independence of the Thirteen Kingdoms lasted for several hundred years before they were unified by Nan Gong Jin.

  From the time of the mysterious disappearance of the Shangguan family thousands of years ago until now, there has been no news about the Shangguan family.

  The Empress Dowager suddenly mentioned Shangguan, and who is this Shangguan Qinyue anyway?

  Nalan Xixi was taken aback by his words. She suddenly straightened up and exclaimed: "Shangguan Qinyin..."

  Murong Taohou's tears kept flowing as she nodded repeatedly. "Only she can save the prince... only she..."

  Huò suddenly remembered that the last time Xue Linglong's prescription was also given to him by the Empress Dowager, who insisted that he go and prepare it. She believed so much in this Shangguan Qinyin, firmly believing that she could save Nángōng Jǐn. Could it be... that the prescription was also given by her?

  "Empress Dowager... That Blood Lotus..."

  "It's... Xue Linglong. It's her. She gave me the prescription for Xue Linglong's medicine. It's her..." The Empress Dowager is already incoherent.

  Huo was overjoyed and said, "Master, if the Blood Lingzhu's prescription is indeed from Wang Xiangyue, then Master Wang can be saved! The effect of this Concentrated Heart Dan can last for half a month. As long as we can send Master Wang over within half a month, he will be saved!"

  "Nalan Xixi's heart was racing. 'Empress Dowager, where is the Upper Official Guqin you mentioned? I'll send someone to find her.'"

  Murong Taohou waved her hand repeatedly. "No... you can't go. Only I can see her. I'll take the king with me. Only I can find her. Only me, she will see..."

  Nalan Xixi nodded after thinking for half a second. "Alright then. We shouldn't delay. Let's set off now."

  At this time, a horseshoe sound came. Nalan Xianuo's heart sank. How could she forget that there was still an unresolved matter with Huangfu Ling?

  She thought that the three hundred disguised eunuchs were his hidden troops, preparing for the grand ceremony. However, it turned out that those three hundred fake eunuchs all carried explosives with them, in order to set up an ambush in the Empress Dowager's palace.

  She underestimated him and fell into his trap.

  He went to such great lengths to entrap them in such a desperate situation, how could he bear to give up now?

  "Master..." The silver armor knight was covered in blood and fell off his horse. In his hand, he held a scroll tied with red silk, a battle report.

  Hong Zou... Na Lan regretted it in her heart and felt a slight chill. At this critical moment, Huangfu Ling would not give her any way out.

  He took the battle report and handed it over to Nalan Xiong. Nalan Xiong opened the battle report, his face heavy with a tremble.

  "Master, the coalition forces of five nations have brought a large army of 500,000 to our city gates. We can't hold on much longer..." The silver armor knight still had an arrow shaft stuck in his shoulder, and blood was flowing continuously.

  Nalan Xixi put away the battle report, clenched her fists. "How many troops are left in the city?"

  He Xian's voice trembled slightly. "Ten thousand..."

  One hundred thousand... The other side fifty million. For a moment. The air around seemed to freeze.

  Nalan Xixi turned his head, looking at Nan Gongjin who had already fainted. His face was covered in bloodstains, and on his pale complexion, a faint smile still lingered. That was the smile she left behind when she carried him through the sea of flames.

  She stretched out her hand, gently stroking the icy corners of his lips. His face had another layer of blood on it. She only just realized that her own hands were already stained with blood and flesh. She trembled lightly, withdrew her hand, and whispered softly, as if to herself, yet as if he could hear her.

  "Don't worry, I'm here. Neither you nor this land will be coveted by anyone."

  The people around heard such resolute words and were all shocked.

  In such a desperate situation, she was fearless. It was just his wounds all over his body that made her heart ache and tremble. She had also been battered and bruised all over, but she seemed to be taking it in stride. Because no matter how much pain there was, it couldn't compare to the pain in her heart.

  She gazed deeply at him, as if she wanted to carve his image into her heart. "Huo Zhi, He Xian, you and the Tian Lang Guards escort the Empress Dowager and the King to find Shang Guan Qin Yu."

  "Roger that." The voice came from mid-air. Five people responded in unison with a firm tone.

  They failed. They were the strongest dark guards in this world, yet they also left their master covered in scars during their first mission. They had long been prepared to die as atonement.

  However, she didn't have a shred of doubt because she had said that from then on, they would be as one, roaming the world together.

  At such a moment, there is no right or wrong, only one breath left, fight to the death.

  Nalan Xixi stood up, her petite figure standing firm in the stormy rain. Under the dark clouds, she seemed like a goddess overlooking everything. Neither heaven nor earth, life nor death could sway her.

  Huang Pu Ling, you think your victory is at hand.

  Unfortunately, in Nalan Xingde's dictionary, there has never been a word for "defeat".

  The capital is in shambles.

  Red wedding decorations are scattered all over the streets. The stalls of small vendors are recklessly abandoned on the streets. Wine shops and stores are all closed. Dogs in residential areas keep barking non-stop. On the main street, apart from a few beggars who have nowhere to hide, there is no one else.

  A horse's hooves came galloping from the street corner.

  Nalan Xixi couldn't even change her clothes, her whole body covered in blood. On her normally calm and unremarkable face was a last-ditch coldness and ruthlessness driven by desperation.

  Behind him, two teams of silver armor knights followed closely, their silver armor stained with blood, as if they were the army of hell, cold and ruthless.

  At the rear of the team, He Xian drove a horse-drawn carriage, and Huo Zhi and the Empress Dowager were in the carriage taking care of Nan Gongyu who was still unconscious. On the rooftop beside them, five black figures moved like ghosts in the wind.

  Suddenly, a little beggar boy darted out and fled in panic from their faces. But the little beggar's footsteps were no match for the dozen or so military horses. In an instant, the little beggar boy fell to the ground. Nalan Xingde's horse was now within inches of him.

  Xiao Jiaohua's eyes widened in terror. The whites of his eyes were extremely prominent on his dark face.

  "Ah..." Suddenly, there was another person in front of him. Nalan Xixi's heart skipped a beat. He tightened the reins.

  The horse was suddenly reined in. Its front hooves were raised. A loud and frightened whinny.

  "Looking for death." A silver-armored knight drew his sword and approached, his eyes blazing with anger.

  "Stop." Nalan Xinxin coldly interrupted.

  Xiao Jiaohua's eyes showed a hint of fear, but she didn't make a sound. Seeing the Silver Armor Knight put away his sword, her expression returned to normal.

  Nalan Xixi narrowed her eyes and observed him. The little beggar got up, patted the dirt off his body, and looked at Nalan Xixi.

  Nalan Xingde was taken aback by the straightforward gaze of the little beggar girl.

  "You're the Queen Mother." Little Beggar asked.

  Nalan Xixi nodded slightly.

  "Xiaojiao continued: 'Where is Wang? I want to see him.'"

  The silver armor behind him heard this and angrily said: "How dare you, a small beggar, to speak such arrogant words? Do you think the king is someone you can see just because you want to? Get out of the way quickly, or I'll take care of you."

  It's probably because Nalan Xixi is backing him up. Xiao Jiaohua doesn't care about him at all. Looking at Nalan Xixi waiting for her response.

  Nalan Xixi waved her hand and let him retreat. "What business do you have with Wang?"

  Xiaojiao raised his head and said seriously, "I want to tell Wang that there is an army at the city gate, they are about to break in quickly. Xu Lao San, the steamed bun seller, doesn't dare to go out. He promised me two steamed buns today. So I think we should ask Wang to postpone the wedding first and hurry up to drive them away."

  Nalan Xixi's heart skipped a beat. The surroundings were silent.

  This is his people, confident, optimistic and fearless. Because they know that no matter how dangerous the situation they face, as long as their king is there, it's nothing to worry about.

  They can stay at home in peace and wait for their king to defeat the enemy. The little beggar can wait in peace for his two steamed buns. Because their king is Luo Tian Da Di, who is invincible and undefeated.

  Nalan Xixi smiled slightly. "You can go tell Xu Lao San, the steamed bun seller. Don't worry, I'll keep my promise and give you two steamed buns. Wang will be leading his troops into battle soon."

  Xiao Jiaohua smiled upon hearing this. "That's great, thank you Queen Wang."

  He turned around and ran towards Xu Lao San's home. He had to bring this news to everyone in the city.

  Nalan Xixi's smile gradually turned cold and detached. Ten thousand enemies, fifty million...

  Even if their king can still put on armor and go out of the city to meet the enemy, he will not be able to win. This is no longer a predicament, but a desperate situation with no way out. It's a battle that will never end in victory, a fight to the death.

  But they won't know. She can't deprive them of their love for this world in the last moments of their lives.

  Not everyone's life can have such a faith, to have such unwavering trust in oneself, one's country, one's king, and even this world.

  Trust brings happiness to people. Not everyone dares to believe. So, not everyone will be happy.

  The fresh blood of both hands soaked the reins. The piercing pain made Nalan Xianuo frown involuntarily. She tore a piece from her clothes and wrapped it around her still bleeding hands.

  A pair of cold eyes, without a hint of fear or hesitation.

  She said it long ago.

  No matter whether it's a wolf or a tiger waiting for her ahead, no matter what kind of desperate situation.

  From the moment she fell in love with that man, she chose to face it head-on.

  As long as I still have breath, I will fight until death.