Under the sloping bank were turbulent and surging currents, with foam-capped waves that looked foreboding.
Both bodies fell into the water, splashing up droplets, and the cold riverwater sent shivers through them.
Xuanyuan City tightly embraced her, blocking the impact of the water flow with his body, "Yáo ér, hold onto me tightly, don't let go."
Yao Yao knew the man was concerned about her, "Your Majesty, I'm not afraid as long as you're here."
The two struggled through the water.
Boluo led people to chase here, watched the method below the flowing water, the color of his face is heavy as water.
"All of you get down," he barked orders.
Hǎowùlè watched the surging and rapid water flow below, his heart palpitated, and he was at a loss: "Captain, we are all landlubbers, how do we swim?"
The Western Regions are in the desert area, it's difficult to drink water there even in normal days, let alone swimming.
"All of you are useless."
Bolto's face was ugly, thinking that he was also a landlubber, so he had to say, "Then shoot the arrows, I want you to shoot and kill them!"
"Yes, captain."
Hǎowùlè was relieved when he saw that the head was not forcing them to go into the water.
Following that, he led his men to draw their bows and nock arrows, sending a storm of arrows whistling down towards the bottom.
The arrows whizzed by like swarming locusts, cutting through the air and carrying away the wind.
Some arrows were shot on the water surface, splashing up blooming water flowers.
Some arrows struck the stones by the shore, sparking tiny sparks.
Xuanyuan City immediately and without hesitation led Yao Yao into the water to avoid the arrows.
He knew that Yao Yao was from the Western Regions and might not know how to swim, or how to hold his breath and avoid choking on water, so he initiated a kiss on her to transfer air underwater.
Yao Yao was bewildered. She understood the man's intentions and a smile flickered in her eyes, but she did not push him away and neither did she explain.
Instead, she allowed him to breathe for her.
The two hugged each other tightly, hiding in the water and struggling to hold their breaths, their hearts racing.
Xuanyuan City held her tightly, his arm as strong as an iron clamp, trying to give her the utmost sense of security.
The water flow collided with his body, struggling to maintain balance, and at the same time closely monitoring the woman in his arms.
Yao Yao was held in Xuanyuan City's arms, struggling to move her lips and signaling with her eyes that he needn't worry.
Xuanyuan City understood her meaning and replied with a look, telling her to hold on tightly.
Yao Yao nodded slightly, indicating with her eyes that she was okay.
The surface of the water was still covered with arrows.
The slope above.
Boluo saw that they had been shooting arrows for half an hour without hitting anyone, and their face turned ashen, their features twisted into anger. He bellowed orders: "All of you get down and search!"
Hǎowùlè was filled with terror, his voice trembling like fallen leaves in the wind: "Captain, we are all landlubbers..."
Bolto's eyes widened with fury, and he screamed, flustered: "A bunch of good-for-nothings!"
Hǎowùlè secretly rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, "And what about you, Captain? Can't you swim either?"
We are useless, so are you.
Of course, he dared not say that.
"Pass on my orders, Yao Yao has betrayed the court, and death is the penalty."
Boluo glared at the flowing water below and issued an inhuman order.
Hǎowùlè furrowed his brow, thinking about the fact that they had worked together for a while, and a twinge of mercy flickered in his eyes. "Captain, Yao Yao has taken poison and there is no antidote, she won't live much longer."
Boluo snorted coldly and did not say more, but he displayed a chilly and frosty expression as he left with his men.
However, just in case, he left one person here to monitor.
In the water, Xuanyuan City saw that the killers above seemed to have left, and he carefully brought Yao Yao to the surface of the water.
The two had just surfaced from the water when an icy arrow sped down towards them.
Yao Yao's senses were sharp, and she noticed it a step ahead.
Yao Yao's instinct was to lead Xuanyuan City to avoid, but she thought that as a Western Region's killer, her identity would eventually be exposed and Xuanyuan City might have already suspected her.
If she had saved his life and combined with Xuanyuan City's feelings for her, the man, even if he knew her identity, would probably not be able to kill her.
Thinking of this, she quickly pushed Xuanyuan City aside and used her own body to block the arrow.
Of course, she managed to avoid the vital spot.
"Sput"! The arrow struck her shoulder.
"Aah…"
The pain made her face pale and scream in agony, her garment stained with blood.
"Yao'er…"
Xuanyuan City shouted in alarm, his heart contracted suddenly, and he quickly wrapped her tightly to prevent her body from being swept away by the water.
Looking at her pale face and blood-stained body, he was heartbroken and said, "Yao'er, why are you so foolish?"
Yao Yao's face was pale, but she endured the pain and smiled through tears, "Your Majesty, I'm fine. And I don't regret..."
Yao Yao's breath was weak, and she had a satisfied smile on her face, as if she was willing to die.
"Such a foolish woman…"
Xuanyuan City shed tears of emotion, kissing her tenderly as he felt a deep pang of pain.
However, he quickly turned cold, with a chilly gaze and deep intentions of vengeance. He forcefully threw his long knife towards the slope.
The long knife flew out like lightning, accurately stabbing and killing the black-clad assassin left on the slope.
At this moment, Yao Yao felt not only pain in her shoulder, but also a gnawing pain in her abdomen.
Thinking that she was already pregnant, she panic-stricken, worried that something might go wrong.
Yao Yao seized the opportunity when Xuanyuan City wasn't looking, and secretly took a pill to preserve her baby.
After thinking for a moment, she took out another healing pill.
However, she only took half of it and kept the other half.
The reason for doing so was that she feared the healing pill would work too well, and if the wound healed instantly, it would be hard to explain.
Perhaps due to the healing pill, even though it was only half taken, the bleeding from her wound had stopped and was no longer oozing out.
However, the wound still looked very alarming.
Xuanyuan City led her ashore and hid in a nearby cave.
The cave was dark, damp, and had an air of coldness.
Xuanyuan City searched for a dry place in the cave and laid down some straws, gently placing her down.
Looking at her pale face and blood-stained shoulder, his heart seemed to be tightly clenched.
The howling wind outside mixed with the sounds of branches rustling, his eyes filled with red veins, his orbital area red, his hands trembling, urgently wanting to check her injuries.
"Yao'er, why are you so foolish, even blocking arrows for Your Highness?"
Yao Yao weakly watched him, raised her hand to comfort, but it became too weak to lower, "Your Majesty, I am very happy that I can protect you."
Xuanyuan City felt an overwhelming sense of regret and guilt in his heart. If he had brought more guards when he came out, she wouldn't have been injured and wouldn't have ended up in this situation.
Looking at the arrow that had pierced her shoulder, he felt heartbroken to the extreme.
He took a deep breath and said anxiously, "Your Highness will first help you pull out the arrow, you must endure it."
Yao Yao bit her lip and gently nodded.
Xuanyuan City carefully held the arrowhead, trying not to look at her, biting his teeth and pulling it out forcefully.
Yao Yao groaned in pain, beads of cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.
Xuanyuan City quickly tore off a piece of his robe, pressing it against the wound with one hand while wrapping it quickly with the other.
He was incredibly tense.
Yao Yao bit her lip to endure the pain, clutching the corner of her clothes, beads of cold sweat dropping, her face pale, "Your Majesty, this wound won't bother you."
Xuanyuan City glared at her, but his movements became even gentler, "Don't be stubborn, just take good care of yourself."
Yao Yao was trembling all over from the pain, her voice was extremely weak, but she still tried to act.
"Your Majesty, please don't worry. I would not regret it if I blocked this arrow for you."
After saying this, she gave Xuanyuan City a reassuring look.
It's such a good opportunity to win him over, and missing it would be a shame.
"You won't be in trouble, and neither will you. Your Highness will not let anything happen to you."
Xuanyuan City tightly held her hand, letting her place it against his face, and looked out of the cave with an anxious expression.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the cave, accompanied by the rustling of leaves.
Xuanyuan City's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly hid Yao Yao behind him, drawing a soft sword from his waist, his body tensed, and he moved hurriedly within the cave to find a suitable defensive position. He was in a state of high alert as if facing a fierce enemy.
Yao Yao sent out her awareness and saw that Dongfeng and Nanfeng were leading their men to search for them, and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, don't be so tense. It's possible that Dongfeng and Nanfeng have found us too."
She comforted him in a soft voice.
Xuanyuan City hesitated for a moment, looking at her, hoping that it was true, but he did not relax his vigilance.
