Three jet-black armored vehicles sped from the distance, their streamlined surfaces covered in sophisticated sensors and communication equipment.
The purple insignia on the vehicles’ bodies gleamed in the sunlight — the emblem of the Nightfall Guards.
“Stay here,” Ye Lan said, turning to Mu Xi.
A look of grim resolve shone in her phoenix eyes.
“Wait for me to deal with them.”
Mu Xi, however, grabbed Ye Lan’s wrist with a strength that surprised even the other woman.
“I can’t just be the one being protected anymore.” Her voice no longer trembled, and a determination Ye Lan had never seen before flared in her eyes.
“I’m going with you.”
Ye Lan’s expression shifted through a complex array of emotions — surprise, worry, and hesitation — before finally settling into a faint, bitter smile.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there?”
“I know.” Mu Xi nodded, her silver hair swaying gently with the movement.
“But I know even better that if I continue to be the weakling hiding behind others, I will never escape the shadow of being manipulated.”
Gunfire had already broken out as the Nightfall Guards engaged Luoyuan’s men, bullets carving deadly arcs through the air.
Ye Lan looked deeply at Mu Xi for a moment before drawing a Dagger from her waist and handing it to her.
“Take this. Use it only as a last resort. Stay behind me, and do not leave my sight.” Ye Lan’s voice was firm, yet it held a trace of imperceptible softness.
Following behind Ye Lan, Mu Xi felt a sense of peace unlike anything she had ever known.
The battle outside had reached a fever pitch.
The Nightfall Guards held a temporary advantage, and the two sides were locked in a stalemate.
Ye Lan observed for a few seconds, found the right moment, and dashed toward the nearest armored vehicle belonging to her guards.
Mu Xi followed close behind.
Her heart pounded like thunder, yet she felt a sense of clarity she had never experienced.
She was no longer the puppet controlled by Luoyuan, nor was she the weakling in need of Ye Lan’s protection.
In this moment, she was a warrior fighting for her own Destiny.
One enemy suddenly appeared from the side, raising a gun to aim at Ye Lan’s back.
Ye Lan spun around quickly, her shot hitting the enemy’s shoulder.
They successfully reached the side of the armored vehicle, where a female Imperial Guard in a purple uniform saluted Ye Lan, “Master, we rushed here immediately after receiving the signal.”
“What’s the situation?” Ye Lan asked quickly, shielding Mu Xi behind her.
“We’ve set up an ambush point 3 kilometers away, but Luoyuan’s main force will arrive in at least 20 minutes.”
The Imperial Guard reported, her gaze lingering on Mu Xi for 1 second before she regained her professional composure.
Ye Lan nodded and made a swift decision, “Split into two groups. One will cover our retreat, and the other will stay behind to stall them.”
“By your command!” The guards immediately began to execute The Order.
Mu Xi noticed one of Luoyuan’s men quietly flanking them from behind.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a stone from the ground and hurled it with all her might.
The stone struck the man’s wrist, and his weapon fell to the ground with a sharp “clang”.
Hearing the sound, Ye Lan turned and finished the enemy with a single shot.
She then looked at Mu Xi in surprise.
“Your reactions are getting faster.”
Mu Xi didn’t answer.
She simply gripped the Dagger tightly, her eyes alertly scanning the surroundings.
She felt something awakening within her body — a long-suppressed instinct, a primal combat intuition she had been born with.
The battle gradually tilted in favor of the Nightfall Guards, and Luoyuan’s men began to retreat.
Just then, Mu Xi noticed an enemy hiding behind a vehicle, aiming something at Ye Lan.
“GRENADE!” Mu Xi screamed, throwing herself at Ye Lan without a second thought.
Ye Lan was knocked to the ground by Mu Xi’s impact, and the two of them rolled behind a large rock.
The explosion was deafening, and shrapnel flew in every direction, but the rock provided them with sufficient cover.
“Are you crazy?” Ye Lan grabbed Mu Xi by the shoulders, her eyes filled with both anger and worry.
“You could have died!”
Mu Xi laughed, and though her face was covered in dust and blood, her smile was breathtakingly bright.
“I won’t be that girl who only hides behind others anymore.” She looked directly into Ye Lan’s eyes, her voice steady and clear, “If you can face death for me, I can do the same for you.”
Ye Lan’s expression froze.
So many complex emotions flashed through her phoenix eyes, eventually melting into a tenderness that was almost reverent.
She gently caressed Mu Xi’s cheek, wiping away a streak of blood.
Mu Xi held that hand, feeling the strength and warmth within it.
“Let’s go.” Ye Lan stood up and reached out to Mu Xi, “We’re leaving here together.”
“Together.” Mu Xi gripped Ye Lan’s hand, determination shining in her eyes.
“I don’t care where we go.”
***
The bullets stopped whistling, and the air was thick with the scent of gunpowder and blood.
Luoyuan’s men were routed, scattering like stray dogs.
Ye Lan coldly ordered the Nightfall Guards to show no mercy, shooting down those who tried to escape.
Gunfire rang out again, each shot announcing the end of a life, until The Desert returned to a deathly silence, save for the wailing of the wind and sand.
The Nightfall Guards quickly closed in, their purple uniforms appearing solemn and cold in the dim light.
Their expressions were heavy with guilt, their voices urgent, “Master, we arrived late and put you in grave danger. Please punish us!”
Ye Lan’s eyes swept over them, her sharp aura making the Imperial Guards hold their breath.
“Punish you? Do you have any idea how late you were? If I hadn’t fought back in time, we would be the ones lying on the ground right now!”
Her voice was icy and laced with fury, yet it held an underlying trace of relief at having survived.
The captain of the guards took a step forward, her tone pained, “It was our failure. We underestimated the enemy’s speed. Please, Master, grant us our punishment!”
Ye Lan took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her chest.
“I will let it go this time, but never let it happen again. Remember, my orders stand above all else. Any delay is inexcusable.”
She paused, her tone softening slightly, “However, you did arrive in time to be of use, so consider your service an offset to your failure. Stand up.”
The members of the Nightfall Guards finally breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, though their faces still carried a look of shame.
Ye Lan waved her hand, signaling for them not to dwell on it, and commanded, “Follow me. Check the RV and see what exactly went wrong and why it won’t start.”
She led the way toward the black off-road RV, her pace steady and swift.
Several guards followed immediately, skillfully fanning out to begin inspecting various parts of the vehicle.
Mu Xi was settled alone into another off-road vehicle.
The door closed behind her, sealing out the wind, sand, and noise of the outside world.
The car was empty, featuring only a soft beige interior and the faint scent of leather, which offered a small sense of safety and tranquility.
She leaned back against the plush seat and closed her eyes wearily.
The battle just now felt like a Dream.
The sounds of gunfire, explosions, and screams still echoed in her ears.
Her heart was still thumping wildly, reminding her of the life-and-death moment she had just endured.
Slowly, her breathing steadied, and her heartbeat returned to a normal rhythm.
Mu Xi opened her eyes and looked through the reinforced glass window at the busy figures outside.
Ye Lan was standing by the RV, speaking in low tones with the guards, occasionally frowning or pointing as she gave instructions, her expression focused and serious.
The wind and sand grew stronger, yellow grains battering against the car window with a dense, rhythmic sound.
Ye Lan’s long hair whipped in the wind, her purple uniform clinging to her tall, straight figure, making her look even more heroic and formidable.
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