Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

10

When the group arrived, only Xu Chen stood there with a solemn expression, with Chu He standing beside him, looking completely bewildered.

"This humble general has arrived late to protect his lord!" Ma Chao dismounted and knelt on one knee.

Xu Chen waved his hand to indicate that it was alright—the arrival of these two groups of enemies tonight was suspicious. If it weren't for the presence of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, ordinary troops would only have suffered more casualties.

Sheathing his sword, Xu Chen turned to the still-standing girl: "Are you coming with me, or staying here to wait for the Five Elements Sect to clean house?"

"Huh?" Chu He's eyes widened. "I'm a disciple of the Water Element Sect, how could they...?"

"Silly girl."

Xu Chen couldn't help but sigh, "Didn't you understand what Uncle Jiang just said? The sect secretly arranged for someone to follow you, and now that person is dead, this blood debt will soon be pinned on your head."

"

As soon as Xu Chen finished speaking, Chu He stood there dumbfounded.

The series of bizarre encounters over the past two days had left her head spinning, and her thoughts were in complete disarray.

She murmured repeatedly, "You said Uncle Jiang... is a member of the Five Elements Sect? And that he deliberately framed me?"

The man in black robes on horseback did not answer, but simply nimbly mounted his horse.

He tightened the reins, his back to the woman, his voice carried on the night breeze: "Whether you stay or leave is up to you."

To me, you are of no value.

"

"The Five Elements Sect's decree will arrive soon."

As for Uncle Jiang's instigation—it just led those people into a trap.

The horse pawed at the ground restlessly. Xu Chen suddenly sneered, "When they come knocking on my door, someone will naturally answer my questions."

"

Before the words were even finished, the whip lashed down with a whooshing sound.

The warhorses neighed and charged into the night, the dust kicked up by the Xiliang cavalry instantly engulfing the figures.

When the dust settled, only Chu He's lonely figure remained on the open field.

She watched the banners disappear into the distance and suddenly shivered.

Was Xu Chen telling the truth? Was Uncle Jiang, who always seemed so cheerful, truly harboring malicious intentions? The night wind, carrying an unknown howl, swept across the wasteland. The girl hugged herself tightly, feeling a fear that penetrated to the bone for the first time.

Thirty miles away on the post road, Ma Chao finally couldn't contain himself: "My lord, three thousand elite soldiers of the Xiumi tribe have gone missing here, and wild beasts have been seen at night."

Miss Chu was left alone in the wilderness...

The silver-armored general's words were interrupted by Xu Chen's low chuckle.

The moonlight outlined the sharp profile of the King of Liang: "Mengqi, if we don't remove the pawns in the open, how will the demons and monsters lurking in the shadows reveal themselves?"

A glint of light flashed in Ma Chao's eyes, and his iron spear clanged against the saddle: "This subordinate understands! This is a plan to lure the snake out of its hole!"

"Only half of the guesses were correct."

Xu Chen suddenly reined in his warhorse, and the mournful cry of a night owl echoed from afar.

He gazed at the inky black night and said softly, "The real fish to catch are far more interesting than the Five Elements Sect."

"

---

"Chu He is still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. She's just a weak little girl, how could she possibly have made enemies?"

"What I'm after are those who plot against me!"

"This conspiracy against me began the moment the Hummus army disappeared."

"

"Although we don't know who orchestrated this, their methods must be highly sophisticated."

Whether it's me or the Five Elements Sect, we've all become pawns on his chessboard!

"They were all manipulated by this lurking, secretive trader!"

Ma Chao was shocked to hear this. Could there really be such a powerful person in the world?

"Your Highness, could it be an evil god causing trouble in the shadows?"

"An evil god?"

Xu Chen pulled on the reins, and the warhorse stopped immediately.

He gazed into the deep night, and after a long while, he said in a deep voice:

Whether it was the work of an evil god is still hard to say, but he is definitely involved!

"It's just unclear what role he plays in this game."

"

"If he is truly an evil god, then there is nothing to fear. After all, we have fought him many times and have figured out his methods to some extent."

"

"The most unsettling figure is that mysterious enemy—Taktu, the second ruler of the Kushan Empire. What will he do in this matter?"

Xu Chen pondered to himself that, in any case, Xiu Mi had the blood of the Kushan royal family flowing through his veins, and was ultimately a descendant of the empire.

Even if Taktu is utterly depraved, as the ruler of a country, he wouldn't lay a hand on his own bloodline, would he?

Since the bodies of Xiu Mi and the others have not been found so far, it at least proves that they are still alive!

Their whereabouts are unknown.

Xu Chen was suddenly jolted, as if sensing something, and turned around abruptly.

Upon seeing this, Ma Chao looked over, but only saw the inky darkness of the night.

Xu Chen's lips curled slightly as he whispered:

The fish has taken the bait.

Meng Qi led his troops to retreat to Jinchun City!

Before he finished speaking, he had already shot off like an arrow and disappeared into the darkness in an instant.

At this moment, Chu He had made up her mind that she would neither seek out Xu Chen nor return to the Five Elements Sect, and planned to go to Jin Chuncheng, the nearest city, to avoid trouble for the time being.

After all, she grew up in a teaching environment and still has many close friends.

We will make further plans after we have ascertained the situation within the sect.

No matter what, we must expose Uncle Jiang's true colors—he's a henchman of an evil god!

Just as she was about to set off, she suddenly felt a strong wind hit her face, and flying sand and stones blinded her.

As the sandstorm subsided, a burly man stood blocking their path, grinning broadly.

"Little girl, where are you going?"

Who are you?

Chu He stepped back alertly, her hand already on the sword at her waist.

The tall man in front of Chu He was none other than Ba ​​Tu, one of the nine generals under the Evil God!

After leaving the mysterious island, he had fully integrated the power of inheritance and was now a powerful evil general! He slowly raised his right hand and pressed it towards Chu He's head. With just this simple action, the surrounding air began to distort and deform.

Chu He struggled to breathe, feeling as if a massive boulder was pressing on her chest.

She wanted to escape, but her body was as if it were nailed to the ground and she couldn't move.

In her wide-eyed gaze, the hand drew ever closer, and the shadow of death had never felt so real—although Xu Chen's sword had previously made her feel the killing intent, this person's hand brought a truly palpable aura of death!

We must not die like this!

A fierce glint flashed in Chu He's eyes, and she bit her tongue hard.

The sharp pain brought her back to her senses, and just as Batu's palm was about to strike, a curtain of water suddenly unfolded in front of her.

"Splash!"

The seemingly weak water flow was shattered by Ba Tu's palm strike, and the splashing water droplets transformed into a misty fog.

With a "bang," a thick fog completely obscured Batu's vision.

"A trivial skill!"

Batu's chest heaved violently, and he suddenly exhaled a hurricane-like breath, instantly blowing away the water mist—and Chu He had already disappeared without a trace.

This was originally the "Water Mist Filling the Sky" escape technique, a secret technique passed down by the Water Element Sect, but Batu remained completely calm, instead revealing a smile like a cat playing with a mouse.

As one of the Nine Evil Gods known for his "rapid attacks," tracking his prey is his specialty.

I deliberately let the prey go, purely to enjoy the thrill of its dying struggle.

"What an intoxicating fragrance..."

Batu took a deep breath and suddenly let out an excited growl: "Little girl, I've come to find you!" His burly figure vanished without a trace in an instant.

Dozens of miles away, under an ancient tree, Chu He was leaning against the trunk, panting heavily.

Her pale face was covered in sweat, and her vision was blurring – this was the limit of her spiritual energy depletion.

"Why did you stop running?"

When the rough voice sounded from behind, Chu He felt as if her blood had frozen.

She mechanically turned her head and saw Batu's devilish figure. Finally, she completely broke down, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.

At that moment, she curled up, hugging her knees tightly, tears streaming down her face—rather than be tormented by this endless pursuit, it would be better to...

"Please...don't do this to me!"

Chu He's throat felt like it was blocked with cotton, and even her sobs trembled.

Who will save me!

"(Hahaha) Begging for mercy? You little brat, you know how to play the game!" Batu's canines gleamed coldly. "Since you've spoken..." His knuckles cracked, "I'll make your death even more enjoyable!"

In the instant the shadow of death loomed over her, Chu He suddenly smelled the scent of cedar.

Om-!

In the ripples of the exploding blue light, Batu's 200-pound body looked like a stack of building blocks overturned by a child.

As the ground trembled, tears still clung to Chu He's eyelashes, while a jewel shimmered with starlight hung above her head.

"Star Beads?!" Batu's nostrils twitched.

The girl curled up in the halo of light, like a firefly caught by the Milky Way.

Hope was shattered the moment it was lit.

The moment the blood-stained blade cleaved through the **, Chu He heard the crisp sound of glass shattering.

Batu's single eye drew near her pupil: "The game is over..."

"Those who harm my people of Beiliang—" The roar that exploded from the clouds shook maple leaves to their core, "Slay them!"

As a rain of swords wove a silver cage, Batu made the most decisive decision of his life.

The severed arm spun through the air, tracing a blood-red parabola, and Chu He's white dress instantly blossomed with red plum blossoms.

She stared at the twitching limbs on the ground, a metallic taste rising in her stomach.

"Xu...Xu Chen?" For the first time, fear showed in Batu's one eye. Blood bubbles gushed from the severed limb, scalding small pits in the dust.

[A ruthless and courageous man, cutting off his own arm in the process—truly a formidable character! Brilliant!]

The snow-white figure stood suspended in mid-air, the Tai'a sword in his hand gleaming coldly, his sword-like eyebrows exuding an arrogant disdain for all living beings.

With her robes fluttering, she seemed like a deity descending from the heavens, causing the entire world to bow down in her presence.

Chu He stared at the retreating figure, her pupils shrinking, and three words trembled uncontrollably from her throat: "Xu...Xu Chen..."

She never expected that the one who shattered the void to arrive at this moment would be the Lord of Liangzhou!

"What?" Xu Chen tilted his head, raising an eyebrow, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips. "Does Miss Chu not welcome me?"

The girl hurriedly shook her head, her black hair swaying like wind chimes in a sudden rainstorm.

When you escape death and are greeted by reinforcements, you can't even be happy enough.

"King Xu Chen of Liang!" Ba Tu's eyes were bloodshot, and his canine teeth were grinding together.

Countless brothers have fallen by this man's sword; this blood feud has burned a thousand times in his heart.

Since regaining his strength, fighting against this legendary king has become his most fervent obsession.

Unexpectedly, this fateful showdown will suddenly arrive at this moment.

"You want to ruin your plans?" Xu Chen suddenly burst into loud laughter, his voice carrying the chilling winds unique to the northern frontier. "You think you're worthy?"

The laughter abruptly ceased, and the Tai'a sword unleashed a three-zhang-long azure light: "Those who harm my people on the lands of Liang—" The sword's edge sliced ​​through the air with a dragon-like roar, "Kill!"

Instead of getting angry, Batu laughed, and suddenly a scarlet mist burst forth from his body.

The blood energy seemed to have a life of its own, enveloping the severed wrist and instantly sprouting white joints, which then covered the muscles and blood vessels.

In just three breaths, his intact right palm was already writhing with disgusting flesh.

"Come on! Let me see what kind of man the King of Liang is!" The newborn's five fingers suddenly spread open, and a crescent-shaped blade wreathed in blood mist appeared out of thin air. "Today, this thousand-mile-long Liangzhou will change hands!"

(Xu Chen's pupils contract slightly.)

The ability to regenerate severed limbs is no ordinary evil technique; the blood mist just now seemed both familiar and eerie.

This was the first time he had faced an evil general who had inherited power, and he couldn't fathom the extent of the opponent's abilities.

The scimitar was already at his face!

In a flash, Xu Chen flicked out a burst of energy with his left hand, forming a hand seal.

Chu He felt a gentle breeze envelop her, and she floated more than a hundred feet away.

When she came to her senses, the spot where she had stood had already been cleaved three zhang deep by the scarlet blade light—if it weren't for the protection of the Liang King, she would have been cut in two by now.

This act of saving the person caused Xu Chen to lose the initiative.

The curved blade, carrying a pungent stench of blood, slashed down, and the Tai'a sword hastily parried, sparks flying.

The vibration from the sword went straight to Xu Chen's wrist bone, and blood immediately streamed down his face.

A deep blue light instantly enveloped the sword!