Yaoying listened carefully. There were several muffled sounds from the courtyard as people, one after another fell to the ground. Xie Chong yelled but was interrupted by someone, and the shouting stopped abruptly.
The sound of many footsteps came from the long corridor, and people's shadows shifted on her window.
Yaoying's heart pounded. She groped for her dagger in the dark, got up from bed, and, barefoot, tiptoed behind the door.
With a creak, the latch was flicked open from the outside. A pair of hands pushed the door open, and several black shadows slipped into the room, making a beeline toward the bed.
"Princess!"
Xie Qing and Xie Peng's explosive shouts came, and the courtyard was filled with flashing swords and shadows. While the personal soldiers yelled and tangled with people dressed in night clothes, the long corridor was filled with people inside and outside.
Yaoying hid behind the door, clutching her dagger in her hand.
The black shadows ran to the long couch and lifted the thin blanket. Not seeing Yaoying, they immediately turned around and searched the room.
One of the black shadows narrowed his eyes and turned around, his body flashing. In the blink of an eye, his tall and powerful body was already in front of Yaoying. His muscular and long arms reached out, and his large hands firmly clutched her wrists and exerted slight force.
Both of Yaoying's hands immediately trembled. With a clack, the dagger in hand fell to the ground.
Behind the man's hideous mask came several low laughs. The laughter was full of wildness and unrestrainedness: "Princess Wenzhao, you always like to hide in such places such as behind the door."
The blood throughout Yaoying's went cold. Her eyes widened as she met those sharp, pale golden eyes: Haidu Aling!
Haidu Aling snickered. His rough fingers pinched Yaoying's chin, and he said contemptuously, "I told you, you can't escape from my hands."
Yaoying's teeth chattered. She struggled to free herself from his arms, but her arms and legs were stiff and she couldn't even move.
Haidu Aling laughed and leaned down to pick her up, his golden eyes filled with the desire to conquer his prey: "Princess, you've had enough fun outside. It's time to go back."
He carried Yaoying out of the long corridor. In a few steps, he leaped up the courtyard wall. His figure rose and fell several times, his movements agile. In the blink of an eye, he had flitted over a row of roofs.
Xie Qing and the others looked on helplessly as Yaoying was taken away. Eyes filled with passion, they chased with raised blades but were entangled by other masked people in a difficult fight. When they looked up again, there was a silver moon in front of them. Where was there a trace of Yaoying?
"Princess!"
Xie Chong shouted anxiously.
Yaoying was taken out of the palace, long unable to hear the urgent shouts of her personal soldiers. The only sound in her ears was the whirring wind and the calm, slow breathing of Haidu Aling. His strong, muscular arms held her tightly, like iron bands, binding her unable to move.
She shivered gently. Seeing that she was getting farther and farther away from the palace, she gathered all her strength and bit down on Haidu Aling's neck.
Haidu Aling laughed lightly and deftly avoided it. He caught her chin and his warm breath touched her nose: "I haven't seen you for a few days. How come the princess has learned to bite?"
At that moment, a splendid golden arc of light suddenly flashed under the cold moonlight.
Haidu Aling keenly sensed the danger. Pupils fiercely shrinking, he tightened his hold on Yaoying and leaped.
The arc of light was faster than his movements. It caught up with him in an instant, its stretched-out body thrown onto his back, sharp claws scratching down.
The hard and flexible leather armor was cut open, and his clothes underneath were torn.
Haidu Aling muffled his grunt. His long arm muscles twisted, his palm raised in the air and pulled, shaking off the black shadow. He jumped to the edge of a roof and turned back to stare coldly at the black shadow.
Yaoying followed his line of sight and looked over.
A spotted leopard slowly strode out of the darkness, its figure powerful. It had a lithe and graceful stance and yellow pupils flashing with a strange phosphorescent light.
Haidu Aling uncovered his face, his expression fierce. Putting down Yaoying, he unsheathed his sword, his eyes cold: "Sultan Gu, I have long wanted to meet you!"
A few roof tiles shook lightly. The leopard lifted its tail and ran towards the east.
The moonlight was clear, the nighttime wind whistling. In the shimmering moonlight, a tall, thin figure stood on a roof, carrying a long knife in his hand. Dressed from head to toe in black, quiet and indifferent, his features were frightening. He seemed to be one with the boundless silence of the night.
Like an evil spirit, an Asura: cold and harsh, fierce and unfeeling.
Haidu Aling looked at him coldly and raised his long knife.
Sultan Gu stood facing the wind, unmoving, his black clothes fluttering and flying, outlining a strong, lean figure. His body appeared slim but contained undeniable strength, full of tough and masculine tension.
Yaoying looked at him in a daze.
Haidu Aling advanced with a light rebuke, and his body flew forward. His attention fixedly on the motionless Sultan Gu, he suddenly drew his sword and rose, his figure rising like a rabbit and falling like a falcon. Swords flashed, the two strong figures tangled together.
Yaoying stood on the ridge of the roof, swaying left and right from the wind. Her heart beat wildly, unable to take her eyes off the two people.
Haidu Aling was agile and fierce, coming forward to attack, his blade came with violent strength.
Sultan Gu was forceful and vicious, vaguely majestic. Each strike of the sword was ruthless, unforgiving. Each turn and movement carried a kind of strict and highly ancient calmness and steadiness, with a vague sense of compassion.
The two people traded more than a hundred moves, neither appearing to have the upper hand. The two forces surged and collision. Roof tiles cracked, dust falling.
Haidu Aling was impatient. In this long fight without success, he went angry, forcing Sultan Gu back to the corner. With a shout, all his muscles bulged with strength. He raised the long knife and slashed at Sultan Gu.
This strike wielded his full momentum, like a mountain caving in, carrying murderous intent!
Yaoying held her breath nervously.
Sultan Gu's tall body did not move. His face calm, he held the long blade in his left hand horizontally, his strength was like a wave, with a surging overwhelming power, and he countered Haidu Aling's attack!
Haidu Aling recoiled back and let out another muffled grunt, with blood spilling out of the corner of his mouth.
He swept a glance behind him and found that his men had not caught up. His gaze gloomy, he suddenly took a few steps back, landing by Yaoying's side. He wrapped a hand around her waist and turned around to flee.
"Sultan Gu, when we meet on the battlefield in the future, we will compete again!"
Yaoying did not have time to call for help when a fierce attack whooshed past. His robes fluttering, Sultan Gu caught up with several leaps. His figure like a monster, his blade cut down on Haidu Aling's right arm.
Haidu Aling's heart jumped at this imminent danger, and he dodged the blade. Sultan Gu flew forward, grabbed Yaoying's shoulder, and pulled her to him.
Yaoying felt a cold tip flashing in the corner of her eyes and said loudly, "Watch out!"
A short knife came out of Haidu Aling's sleeve and flew straight at Sultan Gu!
Sultan Gu did not say a word, his tall figure swooping forward. Like a hawk seizing a rabbit, his right hand encircled Yaoying's waist. Haidu Aling staggered, and Sultan Gu's left hand struck at him, impossible to resist.
Haidu Aling's eyes narrowed slightly, put away the short knife, and he jumped straight back.
Yaoying's heart palpitated, her entire body in a cold sweat. Panicked, she grabbed Sultan Gu's neck, clinging against his chest, trembling slightly.
Sultan Gu swept across the roofs quickly with her in his embrace. Stopping at a courtyard wall, he turned around, looking at Haidu Aling.
"Princess Wenzhao is the king's Mordenga Maiden. If there is a next time, my hands will not show mercy."
He said word by word, his voice rough.
Haidu Aling's face was as gloomy as water. Glancing at Yaoying who was shrinking in Sultan Gu's arms, the corners of his mouth twitched a few times. He turned around and walked off.