# Chapter Eighty-Five
On the barren plains, Qi Xiao led the troops south in a fierce onslaught. In the chaos of battle, Qi Xiao charged straight for Bai Ren with his elite squad.
Regardless of what He Hongluo was thinking, Qi Xiao was still the Crown Prince. Fearing someone might injure Qi Xiao and cause trouble for himself, He Hongluo kept ordering men to support Qi Xiao during the battle. Gradually, a considerable number of soldiers gathered behind Qi Xiao. Without the slightest mercy, Qi Xiao struck down every enemy in his path, his blade hunting for lives with savage precision. The Lingnan soldiers instinctively fell back before his ferocity. With so many men at his side helping him breach the enemy lines, it took only the time for a cup of tea before Qi Xiao charged right up to Bai Ren. On the battlefield, the two stood a hundred paces apart, facing each other from afar.
Bai Ren pulled hard on his reins, turning to cleave through an Imperial Guard who had charged at him, then withdrew his blade. Blood dripped steadily from the tip. His expression utterly blank, Bai Ren gazed at the man before him, his heart feeling as though it were being sliced apart.
Qi Xiao spoke coldly: "No one else is to make a move. This prince will personally capture the young prince alive."
Before his words even finished, Qi Xiao spurred his horse forward. Bai Ren instinctively tried to retreat. Qi Xiao barked fiercely: "What are you running from?! You have not a shred of courage. How do you intend to take the throne?! You can't even bring yourself to kill the pursuers—how will you kill the Lingnan people in the capital? How will you kill your own kin?!"
Qi Xiao raised his blade and struck. Bai Ren hastily parried. Qi Xiao fought with all his strength, holding nothing back. The two blades clashed, sparking with each desperate contact. Bai Ren's palm was cracked open by the force, blood seeping down slowly.
Qi Xiao's eyes burned crimson. He drew back his blade, wiped it, then used the flat of the sword to shove Bai Ren back several steps. Before Bai Ren could catch his breath, Qi Xiao was already cutting in again. Bai Ren twisted aside, barely dodging the strike. Qi Xiao's wrist flicked, bringing the hilt around to slam into Bai Ren's ribs. Bai Ren cried out in pain and staggered back. Qi Xiao gave him not a moment's respite, advancing relentlessly: "Not fighting back? Are you waiting to let me hack you to death?!"
Bai Ren raised his head and looked at Qi Xiao. That single deep gaze struck Qi Xiao like countless blades cleaving into his heart.
That year, he had tricked Bai Ren into coming to his residence, telling him he didn't have to marry Roujia. Bai Ren had been so delighted, kowtowing to thank him. And he... had pulled the man into his arms and told the terrified Bai Ren that he would have to pay the debt himself. Back then... Bai Ren had looked at him exactly like this.
Tears welled in Qi Xiao's eyes. He laughed coldly: "A whole year... and still you haven't learned your lesson. Did you really think I was a good person?"
Qi Xiao swung his blade. Bai Ren couldn't block in time. Qi Xiao spotted an opening, shoved Bai Ren off his horse. Bai Ren rolled with the fall, dodging a good half a zhang away. But Qi Xiao gave him not a moment to breathe—dismounting and pressing forward immediately. Bai Ren raised his blade to defend himself, but Qi Xiao was faster, stamping down hard on Bai Ren's hand. The wound on Bai Ren's palm tore open, and he couldn't help but release his grip. The blade clattered to the ground.
Bai Ren looked up at Qi Xiao, and finally, the tears he had been holding back came spilling down. Though he had a thousand words to say, from beginning to end, Bai Ren uttered not a single one.
What was there to say? That his mother was somewhere three hundred li away, her life uncertain? The pain of having no mother, Qi Xiao understood better than him. Or perhaps: kill me, take my head back to the Emperor for reward? The helplessness of having no power, Qi Xiao grasped better than him.
The moment Qi Xiao had volunteered for this mission, he had already driven Bai Ren into this impossible corner.
Qi Xiao knelt half-down, grabbing Bai Ren's collar and pulling him close. He lowered his gaze and murmured quietly: "The life charm. Where is it?"
Bai Ren stared at Qi Xiao, silent. Qi Xiao's heart felt as though it were being carved apart. His lips trembled as he rasped: "Did you think you would die? Did you think I would kill you?"
"Last winter... I used you to harm Qi Hua, using you as bait so that Qi Hua's carriage driver would crash into you..." Qi Xiao lowered his head, looking at Bai Ren. Tears dropped from his eyes, falling precisely onto Bai Ren's face. "After that, I changed my mind. I lifted you down from the carriage myself... I told you... that I would never again place you in danger. I know you never believed me, but I... what I say, I do."
Bai Ren was shocked, gazing at Qi Xiao in confusion. Qi Xiao smiled tenderly: "Don't be afraid. Your husband was just teasing you. How could I bear to let you die... Today, consider this a lesson. In the future..."
A flash of reluctance crossed Qi Xiao's eyes. His voice caught, rough with emotion: "In the future, when you are alone, never lightly trust another person again!"
Qi Xiao pulled Bai Ren to his feet, then shoved him forcefully into the arms of Shunzi, who was rushing over. He spun around, his great blade sweeping aside a swath of Imperial Guards behind him. Then his voice rang out, deep and commanding: "All personal guards, hear my order! Defend the southern border! Let no one pass this point! With all your strength... escort the young prince back to the Lingnan capital!"
Bai Ren, I once said that when I become emperor, the throne of the Lingnan prince will surely be yours.
At the time, I thought that counted as deep affection. Only now do I understand—when truly smitten, it doesn't matter whether I can ascend the throne; I will ensure you sit on the Lingnan throne. When truly devoted, it doesn't matter whether I can survive; I will not let you die.
Bai Ren, Qi Xiao has lived a cold, detached life. This is probably the most unhinged thing I have ever done.
Qi Xiao lost both parents while still in swaddling clothes. Twenty years, he had walked this path alone. His heart held only himself. But somewhere along the way, another person had taken root there.
Qi Xiao had always done everything for his own sake. No matter the circumstances, no matter who he faced, Qi Xiao could convince himself that sacrificing anyone for his own benefit was justified. To achieve his goals, he could use any means, abandon anyone. Qi Xiao was forever clear-headed, forever calm.
But this time, Qi Xiao couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.
His heart overflowed with words he couldn't speak. He turned, shoving the Imperial Guard aside, drew his blade in a sweeping cut. His heart gave a quiet laugh—after all, in the end... he just couldn't bear to lose you.
Qi Xiao closed his eyes briefly, then turned sharply: "Did you not hear my order?!"
Qi Xiao gripped his bloodied blade, standing before Bai Ren. His personal guards responded instantly. The palace army instantly split into two factions. Qi Xiao's personal guards turned to face the Lingnan army, shielding them. With flesh and blood, they erected a continuous line of defense stretching several li across the Kuer Mo wasteland for Bai Ren!
Bai Ren stood stunned. It took him a long moment to realize what Qi Xiao was doing. He almost thought he was dreaming. Was Qi Xiao... defying orders to let him escape?
Bai Ren suddenly cried out: "If you do this... how will you face the Emperor?!"
Qi Xiao didn't turn around. He casually lifted his hem to wipe the blood splatter from his face, then coldly regarded the thousand Imperial Guards before him.
The change came too quickly. Qi Xiao's personal guards had prepared, but He Hongluo's Imperial Guards were completely caught off guard. Their own comrades had turned against them, and the guards were thrown into chaos. He Hongluo was half a li away from Qi Xiao, and it took him a while to realize something was wrong. He whipped his horse forward. When he saw Qi Xiao standing guard before Bai Ren, he panicked immediately, shouting: "Your Highness! What is the meaning of this?!"
Qi Xiao laughed coldly: "Haven't you figured it out?"
He Hongluo was left speechless. His horse shifted restlessly beneath him. He yanked the reins hard, demanding in a ragged voice: "If you intended to let him go from the start, why fight your way here?! Your Highness... have you gone mad?!"
Qi Xiao smiled mockingly: "If I had turned traitor the moment I left the capital, you would have immediately sent someone back to report to the Emperor, correct? Then the Emperor would have dispatched troops at once. How could he possibly have escaped then?"
But now... five hundred men, three hundred li. That would be enough for him to fight his way back.
All this time, Qi Xiao had pressed forward day and night, pursuing relentlessly. He Hongluo thought Qi Xiao was simply eager for merit, to clear his name of any friendship with Bai Ren. Who could have guessed, who could have guessed...
He Hongluo's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. He howled: "Your Highness! Have you rebelled as well?!"
Qi Xiao laughed coldly, then roared: "Enough nonsense! If you dare to act, then fight me fair and square! Am I afraid of you?! If you dare not to act, then stay right where you are! When we reach the capital, your Emperor will be the one to judge you!"
He Hongluo froze. His saber clattered to the ground. He looked around in bewilderment. The soldiers nearby all shrank back as if facing a natural predator, trembling with fear. Even He Hongluo himself felt suffocated by the overwhelming imperial aura emanating from Qi Xiao. He Hongluo couldn't understand. He had more men, he was in the right...
He Hongluo didn't understand. Even far from the capital, standing on this barren plain, with only a few hundred soldiers—Qi Xiao was still the direct bloodline descendant of the founding emperor. He was still the legitimate prince. He was still the heaven-ordained, rightful Crown Prince!
Qi Xiao, covered in blood, smiled defiantly at He Hongluo: "What can you whelp do to me?!"
Bai Ren's tears streamed down his face. He knew it. He knew it all along...
Back then, when disaster struck, his father the prince abandoned him. Later, when fate dealt him cruel blows, Cen Chaoge abandoned him. He thought no one in this world could be trusted. But now... at this moment of life and death, Qi Xiao had not abandoned him. Qi Xiao had not abandoned him.
Bai Ren gritted his teeth hard, wiping furiously at his tears. He swung onto his horse, then turned to shout hoarsely at his personal guards: "While the Crown Prince's men still hold the line—move! Move now!"
The Lingnan soldiers could hardly react. They were... saved?
Shunzi stared at Bai Ren, torn with hesitation: "If we leave, the Crown Prince—he..."
"If we don't leave, what are we waiting for?! Do you think they'll forget what he just said?!" Bai Ren fought desperately to hold back his tears. He wheeled his horse around and bellowed: "Didn't you hear me?! Go!! Go!!!"
The Lingnan soldiers spurred their horses with a war cry, following Bai Ren south at full gallop.
From beginning to end, Qi Xiao never looked back.
In the distance, the voices of Qi Xiao's personal guards rang out continuously: Defend the southern border; those who pass shall die. Defend the southern border; those who pass shall die.
Qi Xiao gripped his blade tightly.
Defend the southern border, defend the southern border...
If I guard this southern border, then I am guarding you.