Chapter 253.1: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 253.1: Who Approaches?
Li Yi was riding at full speed under the protection of his personal guards.
In his life, he had never ridden a horse this fast—every jolt seemed to shake his internal organs—but he kept cracking the whip, urging the horse faster and faster.
The winter wind howled past his ears, but sweat poured down his face, dripping from the sides.
He had no idea how far he had ridden, or how long it would take to meet Yu Zai, who was coming to rendezvous with him—he only knew he had to ride faster.
Suddenly, he heard a shriek behind him, mixed with the sound of fresh hooves.
Li Yi looked back in alarm.
One of his advisors had fallen behind, struck by an arrow, already tumbling from his horse!
Looking further behind the fallen advisor, Li Yi’s heart sank—pursuers were closing in.
How had they caught up so quickly?
He was incredulous, fear spiking even higher, forcing himself to urge the horse onward.
He didn’t want to stop, but soon he had no choice.
Riding at top speed left him unable to guard his rear; his personal guards were struck down one after another by arrows—over a dozen already—and he was forced to fight defensively.
The enemy came swiftly, and the two sides clashed.
Li Yi had brought a hundred guards, while Chang Suining had only thirty, including Deputy Commander Jin and A Dian. Yet the latter pressed on relentlessly, unstoppable, each a master in their own right. For example, Ah Dian alone could easily dispatch Li Yi’s hundred men if unrestricted.
It was not hard to imagine that more pursuers would follow soon enough.
Thinking this, Li Yi’s panic intensified.
“…Commander, follow me quickly!”
The advisor’s voice rang in Li Yi’s ears. Seizing the moment as Chang Suining and her companions were engaged by his personal guards, the two of them dashed toward a thicket beside a narrow path.
The forest was dense, filled with dried thorns and tangled undergrowth, no clear path in sight. Seeing that horses could not pass, the advisor made a snap decision:
“Commander, abandon the horses—into the forest!”
There was no choice left; a head-on fight would fail, and escape on the open road was unlikely. If they could hide here, there might still be a chance.
Li Yi, utterly out of options, obeyed and dismounted hastily.
The advisor whipped the horses along the path. They bolted, neighing loudly, to confuse any pursuers.
Li Yi and the advisor plunged into the wild undergrowth, the dense forest scratching and tearing their clothes and armor.
Not far in, Li Yi suddenly heard the sound of hooves outside. He froze, holding his breath instinctively.
They wouldn’t come… would they? They should be following the hoofprints!
He muttered silently, wishing he could kneel and pray for divine protection.
Soon, the hoofbeats faded, then disappeared entirely.
Li Yi exhaled in relief, clutching the advisor’s arm: “…Did you hear that? They’re gone?!”
The advisor nodded, slightly eased.
But the next moment, rustling came from behind.
Then came footsteps on the dry leaves.
Li Yi’s face hardened, his heart sinking again—someone was coming!
Could it be his allies?
He desperately hoped so, but dared not test it, and the advisor quickly pulled him aside.
Though the winter forest was full of dead undergrowth, the uneven terrain and half-height dried grasses offered some cover.
The two crouched, trying not to even breathe audibly.
Soon, they heard a voice, innocent in tone:
“Xiao Ah Li… could they really be hiding here?”
“Not sure, but let’s look,” Chang Suining said, scanning the surroundings as she moved forward.
Ah Dian went ahead, slicing away obstructing thorns with his sword, eyes sparkling with excitement: “Xiao Ah Li, how did you know I love hide-and-seek the most!”
Hearing this childish remark, Li Yi nearly cried—he hated hide-and-seek, especially the kind where being caught meant death!
From the earlier distant hooves, it seemed the pursuers had split: one party following the hoofprints, the other searching the forest… perhaps even three groups, judging by the distant sounds of battle from those still resisting.
Li Yi only hoped he would not be found, or that his allies would reach him soon to rescue him.
His advisor merely hoped Li Yi would stop trembling so violently, making even the brush quiver.
Thanks to the wind, their small noises were masked.
Li Yi peered through the bushes, confirming that only two people had entered the forest.
One large, one small, moving ahead.
Li Yi held his breath as they neared the edge of his vision. Suddenly, the smaller one stopped.
“Xiao Ah Li, what’s wrong?” A Dian asked: “Have you found them?”
“Not yet, but I’m certain—they must be hiding in this forest,” Chang Suining said, looking forward. “This forest is too large; it could take us forever. You should go fetch more people to help search.”
Ah Dian, though eager to continue the game, obediently nodded: “Okay, I’ll go get them!”
He paused to warn her: “Xiao Ah Li, your skills aren’t strong; be careful!”
In his eyes, Chang Suining could not yet beat him physically—shorter, smaller, weaker—but she had agility on her side.
Chang Suining smiled: “Mm, hurry and return quickly.”
Ah Dian ran off.
Chang Suining’s gaze softened briefly, then hardened again. She resumed her search, moving deliberately.
The forest was vast, visibility limited—searching this way would waste too much time.
She needed another method, perhaps a lure.
Seeing the figure in the distance, Li Yi’s heart raced: “Who is she? Why is there such a young girl in Chang Kuo’s army?”
She had sent someone to fetch reinforcements—soon there would be too many people, and she would find him!
Considering her previous act of reading the imperial decree aloud, he began to suspect her identity. If she truly was the person he guessed, perhaps he could seize her now… a potential lifeline.
Though he might falter before others, here stood only a small girl.
His advisor whispered: “This must be Chang Kuo’s daughter, that’s what I’ve heard…”
Before he could finish, Li Yi suddenly sprang up, knife in hand, dashing toward her.
The advisor’s eyes widened—heard she had killed Ge Zong!
He hadn’t even finished speaking when Li Yi, eyes gleaming with determination, charged.
He had heard of Chang Kuo’s daughter slaying Ge Zong, but did not truly believe it. Chang Kuo doted on his daughter; what lie couldn’t he fabricate?
A girl raised in a city mansion, killing Ge Zong? Laughable!
Even if true, likely Chang Kuo had restrained Ge Zong before his daughter, letting her strike to make a name for herself.
Li Yi, skilled in martial arts himself and physically superior, underestimated her.
The girl seemed unaware of his approach, walking calmly.
Li Yi pressed forward, knife raised.
He did not intend to strike her vital points—she was to become his bargaining chip, a hostage to aid his escape.
Just as his knife neared her shoulder, she suddenly halted, spun, and leapt, sweeping her right leg to strike his jaw and neck. Darkness clouded his vision as he staggered, the knife flying from his grasp.
Before he could react, she pinned him to the ground.
No comments: