Chapter 6: What to Do Next

Ji Youde's expression changed drastically upon hearing the words. Before he could ask further, Zixu anxiously inquired, "Where did you encounter the obstruction?"

"Three miles to the south," Ji Youde urged his horse forward, his reins trembling. "The elite of the Imperial Guard—there were tens of thousands of them. Just this one charge cost us over two hundred men."

Once Ji Youde finished speaking, Zixu immediately recounted what he had seen upon entering the city, giving only a brief summary.

Hearing Zixu's account, Ji Youde's nostrils flared with anger. "As soon as I saw the Imperial Guard blocking the road, I knew this was linked to Xia Hong. This man dared to collude with the priests, murder the emperor, and usurp the throne. My hatred for him can only be sated by his thousand-fold punishment."

"Stop talking nonsense," Si Qingshan said in a low voice, "Right now, we are surrounded by enemies both ahead and behind. We might not survive this."

Zixu spoke seriously, "We can die, but the young master cannot. He is the last remaining heir of the prince. Even if it costs our lives, we must get him out of here."

"You are wrong," Ji Youde shouted. "The child in your arms is not the young master—he is the current Emperor of Xia!" Ji Youde's voice grew louder. "You've all seen the imperial edict. It clearly says 'when the elder brother dies, the younger brother succeeds,' meaning once the Emperor of Xia passes, the throne will pass to the prince's line. If the prince is dead, this child will become the Emperor of Xia."

After Ji Youde finished speaking, both Zixu and Si Qingshan fell silent. Ji Youde's words were reasonable, but right now, the rebel forces were blocking them from all sides, and with fewer than a hundred men left, the hope of rescuing the child seemed slim.

The official road south of the imperial city was not a straight path; it wound around several bends. As they rounded one of these corners, they saw a large group of Imperial Guards ahead. The enemy's formation was disorganized due to the recent clash with the heavily armored Dragon Horse Cavalry. As they saw the cavalry turn back, the officers in charge quickly shouted orders to regroup.

"Formation, take shape!" Ji Youde commanded loudly.

The formation they adopted was the "V" formation, commonly used by cavalry. As they charged, the cavalry lined up in a shape resembling a flying wild goose—narrow at the front and wide at the back, with more soldiers in the front and fewer in the rear. This time, Ji Youde used this formation instead of the previous arrow-shaped one to better protect Zixu and Si Qingshan.

The Dragon Horse Cavalry, which had joined with the others to return to the city, was one of the elite heavy cavalry units under Ji Youde's command. Not only were their riders armored, but their horses were as well, making them a force to be reckoned with.

In the blink of an eye, the cavalry collided with the enemy, charging headlong through the ranks, cutting down everything in their path.

Although the Dragon Horse Cavalry was well-suited for charging, they were at a disadvantage this time, for the rebels had anticipated their presence and chosen a narrow mountain pass to block them. This narrow formation severely diminished the cavalry's impact, and it was the main reason they had lost over two hundred men in the previous charge.

The enemy's formation stretched for hundreds of yards. By the time they reached fifty yards, only thirty of the Dragon Horse Cavalry remained.

At this moment, more enemy cavalry appeared from behind, but due to the large number of Imperial Guards blocking their path, they were unable to advance.

As the distance between the two sides grew wider, the officers leading the cavalry began shouting for the others to clear the way as they drew their bows.

After dodging a passing arrow, Si Qingshan quickly shielded the bamboo basket on his back, holding it tightly against his chest.

Forty yards, thirty yards, twenty yards. With each passing yard, the Dragon Horse Cavalry's lives were being traded for every inch they advanced. As the distance stretched, their numbers continued to dwindle.

When they reached the final ten yards, all of the armored warriors had fallen, and Si Qingshan had been struck by several arrows.

Ji Youde and Zixu flanked Si Qingshan, continuing to charge forward. When it seemed the three would break through, the enemy's pursuers, no longer concerned about accidentally injuring their own men, opened fire again with a volley of arrows.

Hearing the sound of the arrows slicing through the air, Ji Youde and Si Qingshan hurriedly raised their blades to block, while Zixu, holding the child, could only sidestep to avoid the incoming barrage.

The sudden storm of arrows injured all three of them. Si Qingshan was hit with three arrows: one to the neck, two to his back. Zixu took two arrows, one to his right ribs and the other to his back. Ji Youde was struck in the left leg.

The barrage of arrows wounded them heavily, but it also broke the siege, scattering the soldiers around them. With no more obstacles in their way, the three of them spurred their horses forward, galloping away.

The enemy, realizing the arrows had failed to kill the three, immediately prepared to shoot again, but the Dragon Horses were faster than the arrows could fly. The second volley of arrows fell short, missing their mark entirely.

Due to the large number of Imperial Guards blocking the path, the pursuers were unable to follow closely, shouting curses as they fell further behind.

The three riders took advantage of the moment, riding several miles and then turning a corner to temporarily evade the enemy's sight.

It was only then that Ji Youde and Zixu had time to assess their injuries. Si Qingshan, however, was struggling to stay conscious, his injuries fatal. He had been mortally wounded before the last arrow pierced his neck. Knowing his time was short, he only hoped to hold on long enough to help the two of them escape.

Not long ago, the three had passed along this route and knew the area well. After running five miles, they reached a fork in the road heading west. At this point, Si Qingshan could no longer speak, his eyes growing unfocused. With great effort, he raised his hand, signaling the others to turn west, then forced himself to keep moving south.

The situation was dire, and Zixu and Ji Youde, unable to afford grief, exchanged one last look at Si Qingshan before turning their horses towards the western path.

At this moment, Ji Youde realized Zixu's injuries were far worse than he had thought, especially the arrow lodged deep in his back, which had penetrated more than two inches.

Before Ji Youde could speak, Zixu opened his mouth first. "They're not idiots. They'll split their forces to follow us once they see the fork. My injuries are too severe, so you must take care of the young master. Afterward, leave the horse behind and hide with him. I'll lead them away."

Ji Youde, stunned, frowned. "What? I don't know how to care for a child."

Zixu hastily opened his clothes and took out the child hidden beneath them. "Once you're safe, remember to release his acupoint."

When Ji Youde didn't respond, Zixu turned to him with a puzzled expression but found Ji Youde staring at his chest.

Seeing this, Zixu sighed helplessly. "You're incorrigible. Always so lecherous, even at a time like this. Stop staring and take the child."

Hearing Zixu's words, Ji Youde snapped back to his senses and quickly took the child from his hands.

Zixu adjusted his clothes. "The arrow wound in my back is deep, and I don't know how much longer I can last, but I'll hold on as long as I can. The farther the Dragon Horse goes, the safer you'll be."

The child suddenly became uncomfortable and urinated in Ji Youde's arms, causing him to panic. "Oh no, I really don't know how to take care of a child. Maybe I should just give him back to you."

Zixu didn't respond but instead handed over a bamboo tube containing the imperial edict. "This is the only proof of the young master's claim to the throne. Keep it safe, no matter what."

When Ji Youde saw the blood starting to trickle from the corner of Zixu's mouth, he knew that he could not avoid this responsibility any longer. Reluctantly, he took the child and the bamboo tube.

The path they were following was winding, and because of its many twists, the pursuers couldn't immediately follow. However, the Dragon Horses left clear hoofprints on the ground, so they dared not slow down. They galloped westward.

After passing a mountainous area with a stream, Zixu urged Ji Youde to dismount. "Take care of yourself."

With parting near, Ji Youde spoke with a heavy heart, "There's something I've never told you, and if I don't say it now, I may never get the chance. I've liked you for a long time."

Zixu shook his head helplessly. "If I'm not mistaken, you've said the same thing to the army cook, Zhang, and to the widow Liu."

"What? I said that?" Ji Youde scratched his head awkwardly.

The pursuers were getting closer, and Zixu didn't want to waste time talking. With a frown, he urged his horse forward.

As the Dragon Horse galloped ahead, Ji Youde finally snapped back to reality. "Wait, does the child have a name?"

"His name is Xuan," Zixu answered as he continued riding.

As Zixu sped off into the distance, Ji Youde hurriedly hid with the child in a nearby thicket.

Before long, a group of riders galloped by in pursuit.

Once the enemy had passed, Ji Youde, following Zixu's instructions, released the child's acupoint. To his surprise, the child did not cry.

Ji Youde removed his outer clothing and wrapped the child up. Then he gritted his teeth and pulled the arrow out of his leg, quickly bandaging the wound.

But still, the child remained silent. Ji Youde began to feel uneasy, muttering to himself, "Please don't be mute from being sealed for too long."

Fearing that his words might become true, Ji Youde pinched the child's bottom, and the baby cried loudly.

"Thank goodness," Ji Youde sighed in relief.

By now, the sun had risen, casting light across the land, but Ji Youde's heart was heavy. Holding the child, he looked around in confusion. "The imperial city no longer has a place for you. I can't go back to the army either. The world is vast, but where should we go from here…?"