Chapter 4: Kill them all, except me

The wind howled past her face, sharp leaves of the bushes in the forest cutting at Li Mianyu’s legs relentlessly.

The pain made her gasp repeatedly, tears shimmering in her eyes as her face was drenched in sweat.

She opened her eyes wide, but couldn’t see a thing.

Yet, she dared not stop.

The barking sounded as if it was right behind her.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the sole of her foot.

Unable to bear it any longer, her ankle twisted, and she tumbled forward.

Panting and whimpering, she helplessly called out, “Yan Shi…Yan Shi!”

But there was no response from behind.

The dog lunged at her again. Terrified, Li Mianyu stumbled backward and kicked at it.

The dog yelped wildly and bit onto the corner of her garment.

“Go away! Go away!” she shouted, her hand brushing against a stone.

She quickly grabbed it and threw it toward the dog.

The dog loosened its grip slightly, but more dogs were closing in from behind.

Fear left her no room to think of the pain.

She scrambled to her feet and turned to run.

After only a few steps, a figure suddenly leapt out from the side, hoisting her up in one swift motion and sprinting away.

Li Mianyu, used to being carried by Yan Shi, immediately relaxed, believing it was him.

Tears finally burst free as she cried out, “Why did you take so long!”

“Princess!”

But at the same time, tense voices from her Dark Guards came from several paces behind.

Her body instantly stiffened; she dared not move.

The one carrying her was not Yan Shi!

She panicked, disoriented, then struggled violently.

The man holding her was even taller and bulkier than Yan Shi, pressing her legs down so tightly she couldn’t move an inch.

“Yan Shi!”

Her voice trembled.

Yan Shi had fought his way through, having just killed two Dark Guards before falling behind slightly.

He quickly surveyed the area, then leapt onto a nearby tree.

With nimble toes, he flipped and chased after them, his soft sword flashing through the air, stabbing toward the Dark Guard carrying Li Mianyu.

The Dark Guard reacted swiftly, dodging sideways, but Yan Shi’s movements were unpredictable and lightning-fast.

Entwining himself around the enemy, he still held the Princess on his shoulder.

A sword suddenly stabbed into Yan Shi’s shoulder.

Enraged, he ignored the pain and launched a fierce series of attacks, pushing forward with brute strength.

Though outmatched in strength, Yan Shi was agile.

He bent low, sweeping his sword across the Dark Guard’s legs.

The Dark Guard dodged hastily, but in that moment, Yan Shi had already risen and thrust his sword toward the man’s throat.

In panic, the Dark Guard instinctively pulled Li Mianyu in front to block the blade.

Yan Shi seemed to have anticipated this.

His sword veered aside while his other hand reached out, disarming the Dark Guard and snatching Li Mianyu over.

In the blink of an eye, Yan Shi stabbed again.

The Dark Guard blocked with his sword, swinging his arm to strike Yan Shi’s shoulder.

Both were cut by the sword.

But Yan Shi, reckless and fierce, charged forward, the sword tip nearly piercing the Dark Guard’s neck.

The Dark Guard stepped back just in time.

At that moment, Yan Shi soared like a great roc, leapt, and with Li Mianyu in his arms, he advanced instead of retreating.

One sword thrust later, the Dark Guard’s throat was pierced.

Yan Shi held Li Mianyu in a single-armed embrace.

Her hands gripped his neck tightly, but suddenly her face was splattered with a few drops of hot blood.

She didn’t know if it was Yan Shi’s or the bandit’s, and her heart fluttered with anxiety as she cried out, “Yan Shi!”

“Here,” Yan Shi gasped, answering.

He swiftly hoisted Li Mianyu back onto his shoulders and turned deeper into the forest.

Yan Shi’s lightness skill was exceptional; in the darkness, he vanished instantly.

Li Mianyu’s heart pounded with tension.

Though she couldn’t see, she smelled the metallic scent of blood on Yan Shi.

Fear and worry churned inside her as she bit her lip, struggling to hold back her emotions.

Yan Shi seemed tireless, bounding through the mountain forest with her in his arms.

But Li Mianyu lacked his resolve.

She didn’t know how long they had left the creek behind, but a heavy weight settled in her abdomen… she needed to relieve herself.

She gritted her teeth and endured, but with each leap, her abdomen bumped lightly against his back, making her feel as though her dignity might be lost at any moment.

After one more leap, Li Mianyu’s voice trembled softly, “I want to change clothes…”

Yan Shi paused, glancing left and right before bringing her to a tree.

He stopped only after carefully listening to the surrounding sounds, then gently set her down.

Her feet were injured, and the instant she touched the ground, pain nearly made her collapse.

She barely managed to steady herself by holding onto Yan Shi.

Then, blushing, she pushed him away, whispering shyly, “Please step a little further.”

Yan Shi obeyed, taking a few steps back and turning his back.

But the moment Li Mianyu heard something scurry nearby, she gasped, “Yan Shi! You—please come a little closer!”

Yan Shi didn’t reply but took two steps back, tapping his sword on the ground to make a sound so she could locate him.

After hesitating, Li Mianyu could no longer hold her discomfort.

Her face flushed bright red as she lifted her hem—supporting herself against the tree, she slowly crouched down.

In the night’s quiet, the babbling creek sounded unusually clear.

Li Mianyu thought of the Dark Guards nearby.

Tears of embarrassment filled her eyes again.

She buried her face in her knees, staying still for a moment but dared not rest too long.

For the first time, she stood without washing.

After the bathing incident before, she no longer dared ask to stop at the creek to wash or change clothes, fearing it would waste time.

“All done,” she whispered softly.

Yan Shi returned beside her and crouched down.

Putting aside her shame, Li Mianyu closed her eyes and leaned forward.

Then they were off again, fleeing.

At last, when dawn was breaking, they exited the forest, and a road appeared before them.

Li Mianyu could finally see again.

She noticed Yan Shi’s clothes were soaked through with blood, and her heart fluttered anxiously.

“Yan…Yan Shi…are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” the boy’s voice was a little hoarse but still calm.

Li Mianyu didn’t believe it.

So much blood—how could he be fine?

She was terrified Yan Shi might die.

If he died, what would she do?

“I can see now. I see the blood on you, Yan Shi. You’re not going to die, right?” Li Mianyu’s voice choked with sobs.

“No,” the boy answered simply and firmly.

But he only said two words, refusing to say more.

Li Mianyu felt both anxious and afraid.

She hugged the Dark Guard’s neck tighter.

“So…where are we going?”

Yan Shi was silent for a moment.

“By the Emperor’s order, we are to take the Princess to a safe place to hide.”

But with the Rebels after her, where was truly safe?

Li Mianyu felt lost.

The surrounding silence deepened her unease.

Suddenly, she remembered that last night she was naked, seen by so many soldiers.

Now, under her outer garment, she was still empty—wearing nothing underneath, carried by that bandit.

The crushing despair from the night before surged again.

Tears spilled down as she sobbed quietly, overwhelmed by shame.

Warmth and moisture spread across Yan Shi’s neck.

He said nothing, only glancing around to see if anyone was near and figuring out where they could go safely now.

“We’ll go to Southern Pure Temple,” he decided quickly.

Li Mianyu had never heard of Southern Pure Temple.

She only knew Great Ci’an Temple, the royal temple she had visited to pray for her father and mother.

Sobbing, she whispered, “I don’t want to go too far from the Capital. Maybe Imperial Grandfather will soon regain control of the situation. Maybe Imperial Grandfather will come looking for me.”

Her voice was faint and fragile, unlike the stubbornness she showed when refusing to get into the vegetable basket yesterday.

Yan Shi steadily made his way along the narrow mountain path, panting slightly but still calm.

“Southern Pure Temple isn’t far. It’s convenient there to gather information about the Capital’s situation.”

Li Mianyu said nothing, but the moisture on Yan Shi’s neck grew, mixing with his sweat and trickling down.

After a moment, he said, “I killed all the soldiers who saw us.”

Li Mianyu stopped crying for a moment and slowly lifted her head from his neck.

“We killed them all?”

“All of them,” Yan Shi said solemnly, “Except me.”

Li Mianyu went silent.

She remembered how Yan Shi had shielded her at the last moment, wrapping her in his clothes.

Tears and snot bubbled out again.

If anyone knew clearly, it was her Dark Guard.

But this Dark Guard was given to her by Imperial Grandfather; he was her man.

He wouldn’t tell anyone…and with Yan Shi’s strength and martial skill, she couldn’t handle him now.

Choking on her words, she said, “Forget it!”

The boy answered quickly, “Already forgotten.”

Li Mianyu was struck dumb.

Did the Dark Guard have such a poor memory?

Or was she a block of wood in Yan Shi’s eyes, unworthy of remembering?

She glared at the back of his head for a moment, then wiped her eyes and said no more.

In times like this, she didn’t want anyone to remember anything!

Yan Shi seemed very familiar with Southern Pure Temple.

By full daylight, he was already carrying Li Mianyu up a low hill where a small temple sat on the mountainside.

Compared to Great Ci’an Temple, this temple was small and shabby.

The paint outside had long since peeled.

Li Mianyu thought Yan Shi would knock and enter, but instead, he carried her and leapt straight through the back door.

Landing lightly, he led her to a small monk’s quarters at the rear.

The door was unlocked.

Inside, everything they needed was there.

Yan Shi gently set Li Mianyu down by a bamboo bed and tidied her slightly.

Her slender legs, bare beneath the hem, were covered in scratches; the soles of her feet were bloody.

She looked down, dull pain blossoming again.

Her eyes welled with tears, and her legs stiffened in fear of moving.

Yan Shi squatted beside the bed, looking down.

“It hurts so much,” Li Mianyu said through tears, glancing at him.

Her eyes fell on Yan Shi’s bloodstained clothes, then to his pale face.

She couldn’t voice more pain but gripped his sleeve tightly.

Yan Shi shook his head and said again, “No, I won’t die.”

He stood and said, “Princess, wait here.”

Without further words, he turned to leave.

Li Mianyu sat on the bed, head lowered, tears streaming over her injured feet.

Her gaze suddenly froze on her chest, face flushing hot.

The garment she had used to wipe her body last night was a pale moon-white outer robe, very sheer.

She hadn’t worn a dudou, so faint shapes could be seen through.

Yan Shi’s footsteps approached, and she panicked, hugging her chest and looking up.

His eyes met hers—dark and clear, calm as a deep abyss.

She suddenly realized her Dark Guard was incredibly handsome.

His nose was well-shaped, sharp and elegant like a lithe, graceful cat in the wilderness.

His looks rivaled those of Cui Yunqi.

Li Mianyu thought of how she had lain on his back all night, separated by only a thin layer of soft satin.

Embarrassment dawned belatedly, but the more ashamed she felt, the more spirited she became.

She glared at Yan Shi.

Yan Shi showed no reaction.

He brought a basin of water in and seemed to notice her watching, lifting his eyes to meet hers.

Yan Shi took from his pocket a small tightly wrapped cloth bundle and opened it.

Inside was a roll of gauze and a bottle of medicine.

He tore off a piece of gauze, moistened it with water, and looked at Li Mianyu.

His eyes asked silently.

She understood.

Only the two of them were here.

Blushing deeply, Li Mianyu said, “Just wipe the wounds. Don’t touch anywhere else, alright?”

Yan Shi nodded and lowered his head.

His rough fingers gently held her ankle and placed it on his leg.

He lifted her hem slightly.

Only then did Li Mianyu remember she was wearing nothing underneath, her face flushed deeper.

She tried to pull her leg back, but Yan Shi held her knee firmly.

“Don’t move.”

She opened her mouth to scold him, but the gauze dampened with water began wiping her wounds.

The pain took away her strength to speak sharply.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she whimpered, yet still scolded, “Be gentle!”

Her tone was sharp but more like a teasing complaint.

Yan Shi thought he was too rough and softened his touch.

But Li Mianyu continued to whimper and grumble, dissatisfied and irritable.

Thus, what should have been a quick job took much longer.

When Yan Shi finished, he exhaled deeply, lifted the water, and stood.

“Princess, I’m going out now.”

Li Mianyu also exhaled deeply, lowered her head, and nodded immediately.

Then, hesitant, she looked up and asked, “Is there no one else in the temple?”

“Only one Host Abbot. He travels from time to time and often leaves the temple empty for days, sometimes going on alms rounds.”

Yan Shi explained.

Seeing no further questions from Li Mianyu, he turned to leave.

But as he turned, his body wavered slightly, though his steps quickly regained their steadiness.

Once the door shut, Li Mianyu immediately bent down and opened the bundle by the bed.

She pulled out clothes and quickly took off the outer robe.

Piece by piece, she put on her dudou and inner garments.

Only after dressing properly did she finally relax.

She found a hair tie and loosely bound her hair.

Lying back down, exhaustion overwhelmed her.

Hungry and tired, she rubbed her stomach.

Unable to summon the strength to call Yan Shi, she closed her eyes to try and rest.

But sleep would not come.

Closing her eyes, she thought of Chuiling Nanny, of Imperial Grandfather, and of Cui Yunqi.

Would he worry and come searching for her after discovering she was missing?

He was such a kind and gentle person; he would surely be anxious.

Frowning, Li Mianyu turned over.

Suddenly, a loud bang outside startled her awake.

She opened her eyes and sat up, calling out anxiously, “Yan Shi?”

No response.

She called again, but Yan Shi did not answer.

Her heart tightened.

She swung her legs off the bed to stand but the pain in her foot made her stagger and fall back onto the bed.

Biting her lip, she rummaged through her bundle and found a pair of shoes.

Carefully slipping them on, she braced the pain and slowly got up.

Li Mianyu struggled to the door, pulled it open, and saw Yan Shi lying unconscious by the well, shirtless.

Beside him were the blood-soaked clothes tossed carelessly.