On the barren plains, Qi Xiao led his troops southward in a fierce battle. Amidst the chaotic fighting, Qi Xiao brought his elite squad to directly attack Bairen!

Regardless of what He Hongluo was thinking, Qi Xiao was the crown prince. Fearing that someone might injure Qi Xiao and he wouldn't be able to explain upon returning, He Hongluo kept sending people to support Qi Xiao during the melee.

Gradually, quite a few soldiers gathered behind Qi Xiao. Showing no mercy, Qi Xiao's blade took lives with every strike. His fierce killing made the Lingnan people instinctively retreat. With so many people beside him helping to charge straight in, in just the time to drink a cup of tea, Qi Xiao had already rushed to Bairen's front. On the battlefield, the two men faced each other from a hundred paces away.

Bairen reined in his horse, turned back and with one slash killed an attacking imperial guard. Drawing out his long blade, fresh blood dripped down. Bairen looked at the person before him expressionlessly, his heart twisting like a knife.

Qi Xiao said indifferently: "No one else is allowed to make a move. I want to personally capture the young prince alive."

Before he finished speaking, Qi Xiao had already spurred his horse forward. Bairen instinctively drove his horse back to dodge. Qi Xiao angrily rebuked: "What are you hiding for?! Without an ounce of courage, you still want to inherit 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 tribesmen?!"

Qi Xiao raised his blade and chopped down. Bairen hurriedly lifted his blade to block. Qi Xiao went all out, not holding back in the slightest. As the two blades clashed, sparks flew with a hiss. The force split open the tiger's mouth on Bairen's palm, blood slowly flowing out.

Qi Xiao's eyes were blood red. Withdrawing his blade, he used the back of it to push Bairen back a few steps. Not giving Bairen a chance to catch his breath, Qi Xiao chopped at him again. Bairen twisted his body, barely dodging.

Qi Xiao flicked his wrist, reversing his grip to strike Bairen's ribs with the hilt. Bairen reeled in pain, flashing back to retreat. Qi Xiao gave him no quarter, pressing forward with a cold laugh: "Not fighting back, are you waiting for me to hack you to death?!"

Bairen looked up at Qi Xiao. Just from this deep gaze alone, Qi Xiao felt like countless blades were carving into his heart.

That year, he had tricked Bairen to his manor, telling him he didn't have to marry Roujia. Bairen had been overjoyed, kowtowing to express his gratitude. While he...had pulled Bairen into his arms and told the horrified man that he had to compensate with his own body. At that time...Bairen had looked at him the same way.

Qi Xiao's eyes brimmed with tears as he sneered coldly: "It's been a year...and you still haven't learned your lesson. Do you really think I'm a good person?"

Qi Xiao swung his blade down. Bairen couldn't block it. Qi Xiao spotted an opening and shoved Bairen off his horse. Bairen rolled away half a zhang upon hitting the ground.

But Qi Xiao didn't give him a moment to breathe, dismounting to press his attack. Bairen raised his blade to block, but Qi Xiao stepped on his hand first. The wound on Bairen's hand tore open. He couldn't help loosening his grip and the long blade fell to the ground...

Bairen looked up at Qi Xiao, tears finally spilling from his eyes. Despite a thousand words in his heart, from beginning to end, Bairen didn't say a single one.

What was there to say? That his mother's life and death was unknown three hundred li away? Qi Xiao understood the pain of not having a mother better than him. Or should he say "kill me and take my head back to gain the Emperor's favor"? Qi Xiao was clearer than him about the helplessness of lacking power and influence.

From the moment Qi Xiao volunteered for this mission, he had already forced Bairen into this dilemma between two bad choices.

Qi Xiao half-knelt down and grabbed Bairen's collar. Glancing down, he asked in a low voice: "Where's the life token?"

Bairen stared fixedly at Qi Xiao without a word. Qi Xiao's heart felt like it was being sliced. His lips trembled slightly as he said hoarsely: "You think you will die? You think I will kill you?"

"Last winter...I used you to harm Qi Hua, making you the bait and having Qi Hua's carriage driver run into you..." Tears fell from Qi Xiao's eyes, landing right on Bairen's face. "Afterwards, I changed my mind and lifted you out of the carriage...I told you...that I would never again put you in danger. I know you never believed it, but I...I say what I mean and I do what I say."

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao in shock and trepidation.

Qi Xiao smiled gently: "Don't be afraid, I'm just teasing you. How could I bear to let you die...This time, just consider it a lesson. In the future..."

A hint of unwillingness flashed through Qi Xiao's eyes. He choked out harshly: "In the future when you're alone, don't easily trust others!"

Qi Xiao pulled Bairen up and pushed him into the arms of Shunzi who had fought his way over. Turning around, Qi Xiao swept his blade, clearing away a swath of imperial guards behind him. He suddenly commanded in a deep voice: "All my personal guards, listen up! Strictly guard the southern border, not allowing a single person to pass! Use full strength...to escort the prince back to the Lingnan capital!"

Bairen, I once said, in the future, if I become Emperor, the position of King of Lingnan will definitely be yours.

Back then, I thought I was being deeply affectionate. Only now do I realize, when feelings are real, regardless of whether I can ascend the throne or not, I will make you the King of Lingnan. When the devotion is sincere, regardless of whether I live or die, I won't let you perish.

Bairen, Qi Xiao has been cold-hearted all his life. This is probably the most outrageous thing I've ever done.

Qi Xiao lost his parents as an infant. For twenty years, he walked alone. His heart held only himself. But at some unknown point, there was room for one more person.

Qi Xiao had always done everything only for himself. No matter the situation, no matter who he faced, Qi Xiao could convince himself that sacrificing anyone for his own sake was justified. To achieve his goals, he could use any means. He could give up everyone. Qi Xiao was always clear-headed, always calm and collected.

But this time, Qi Xiao couldn't harden his heart.

A thousand words could not express what was in his heart. Turning around, he shoved the imperial soldiers aside with a sweep of his blade. He smiled faintly to himself - in the end...he couldn't bear to hurt Bairen.

Qi Xiao closed his eyes briefly, then turned his head and shouted harshly: "Didn't you hear my order?!"

Qi Xiao held up his blood-stained long blade, blocking Bairen behind him. Qi Xiao's personal guards took their positions. The imperial army instantly split into two groups. Qi Xiao's guards turned to hold off the Lingnan army, using their flesh and blood to draw a defensive line stretching for several li across the Kuer Mo wastelands for Bairen's sake!

Bairen was dazed. It took a while before he understood what Qi Xiao intended to do. Bairen almost thought he was dreaming. Was Qi Xiao...going to disobey orders and let him go?

Bairen blurted out: "If you do this...how will you explain to the Emperor when you return?!"

Qi Xiao didn't look back. He casually lifted the hem of his robe to wipe away the blood splattered on his face. His gaze was indifferent as he looked at the thousand imperial soldiers before him.

The sudden change caught He Hongluo's army completely off guard, as the soldiers beside them abruptly turned on them. The imperial army suffered heavy casualties. He Hongluo, separated from Qi Xiao by half a li, took a while to notice something was wrong.

Spurring his horse, he rushed over, blade in hand. Seeing Qi Xiao blocking Bairen, He Hongluo panicked and shouted urgently: "Crown Prince! What is going on?!"

Qi Xiao laughed coldly, "You figured it out, didn't you?"

He Hongluo was speechless. The horse beneath him paced back and forth restlessly. He Hongluo yanked hard on the reins and roared in confusion, "If you planned to let him go from the beginning, why pursue him all this way?! Your Highness... have you gone mad?!"

Qi Xiao gave a mocking laugh, "If I had turned against the Emperor as soon as I left the capital, you would have immediately sent someone back to report it, right? Then the Emperor would have dispatched troops at once, and how could he have escaped?"

But now... five hundred men, three hundred miles, enough for him to fight his way back.

Qi Xiao had rushed day and night on this journey, hunting relentlessly. He Hongluo had only thought Qi Xiao was eager to establish merit to clear himself of suspicion of associating with Bairen. Who would have thought, who would have thought...

He Hongluo's eyes bulged with rage as he hissed, "Your Highness! Have you turned traitor too?!"

Qi Xiao sneered coldly and angrily rebuked, "Enough nonsense! If you dare make a move, let's have a good fight! You think I'm afraid of you?! If you don't dare, then stay put! When we reach the imperial city, your Emperor will deal with you!"

He Hongluo was stunned. His saber clattered to the ground. He looked around in panic, only to see the soldiers on all sides retreating in fear like beasts before a natural enemy.

He Hongluo himself was so overwhelmed by this imposing imperial aura that he could barely breathe. He Hongluo couldn't understand. He clearly had more men, he clearly had justice on his side...

He Hongluo didn't understand that even far from the imperial city, even on this desolate plain with just a few hundred soldiers, Qi Xiao was still of the direct bloodline of the Great Ancestor, still the legitimate imperial prince, still bearing the Mandate of Heaven, still the rightful Crown Prince!

Qi Xiao, drenched in blood, smiled proudly at He, "What can the likes of you do to me?!"

Bairen wept uncontrollably. He knew, he knew...

Back then, when great calamity struck, his father king had abandoned him. Later, when his path was fraught with hardship, Cen Chaoge had abandoned him. He thought there was no one left in this world he could trust. But now... at this critical juncture between life and death, Qi Xiao had not abandoned him. Qi Xiao had not abandoned him.

Bairen gritted his teeth fiercely, wiped away his tears, leaped onto his horse and hoarsely ordered his guards, "While the Crown Prince's troops can still hold them off, quickly! Go!"

The Lingnan soldiers could barely react. Was this... salvation?

Shunzi looked at Bairen in a daze, hesitating, "If we leave, the Crown Prince, he..."

"What are you waiting for if not leaving?! If we stay, will they forget what he just said?!" Bairen struggled to hold back his tears and wheeled his horse around, roaring, "Didn't you hear me?! Go!! Go!!!"

At this, the Lingnan troops spurred their horses and galloped south following Bairen.

From beginning to end, Qi Xiao never looked back.

In the distance, the shouts of Qi Xiao's guards echoed on and on: Defend the southern border to the death, trespassers shall perish. Defend the southern border to the death, trespassers shall perish.

Qi Xiao gripped his saber tightly.

Defend the southern border to the death, defend the southern border to the death...

I guard this southern frontier, and in doing so, I guard you.