*pant* *pant*

It took two days for Wei Liuying to reach Village K and buried Shi Mo's body in his house just beside Princess Ji Xiaoli's grave. The grave was crude, but it was all that Wei Liuying could do in her current condition.

'Should I stay here or return back?'

Wei Liuying looked to the south as the sky turned bright. She could guess that the battle had already started ever since some time ago. It would be impossible for her to join into the battle if they found out that she was not in the city.

Sneaking into that fortress city would be difficult unless she was ready to be persecuted because of trespassing.

'What should I do?'

As Wei Liuying stuffed some dried bread that she bought, Wei Liuying chose to head over to the river to wash her clothes. She had been pacing the horse nonstop to reach Village K because she wanted to bury Shi Mo in this place along with evading the chase from Xiong Tribe's soldiers.

Splash!

The water was cold, yet Wei Liuying didn't have a change in her expression.

She had the option either to wait here until the battle was over or to rush in and help them. However, Wei Liuying highly doubted that she would be able to help them in her current condition. Her body was weary from the long journey and there were many wounds all over her body.

She felt tired.

Washing her face on the river, Wei Liuying felt a bit better. She wiped her face and then looked down at her dress. It was still the same dress that she wore a few days ago. There was no chance for her to take a bath and changed it over the past few days because she was rushing back.

If she was any other young ladies, she might have long screamed, asking for bath and all.

It was good that she had gotten used to this situation.

'There are people coming.'

Wei Liuying stood up and looked into a distance. There were several people riding horses who were coming from the south. The war shouldn't have ended yet and their number was a bit too many for messengers.

'Did they found out about me?'

She dressed up as a girl, but it was inevitable that there was only one person with small frame that they knew would be able to accomplish something such as destroying the enemy's base effortlessly. In addition, her swordsmanship skill would be hard to believe if one didn't see it with their own eyes.

In other words, she had to escape.

Wei Liuying rushed to her horse and jumped onto the horseback. Her eyes were looking into a distance as she furrowed her brows. There was not much option for her to leave. The next village was either at the west or east, but they were half a day's journey. Leaving at this time would make her land there after it was night time.

She would die during the journey if she were to be exposed to the night wind.

There was no other option.

"Giddy up!"

Ordering the horse to gallop, Wei Liuying chose the right side without any hesitation. She was not totally sure about the distance, but it didn't matter right now. She didn't want to get captured and possibly be used to threaten Prince Ji Sheng and Yang Xian.

Considering his personality, would he waver?

Wei Liuying didn't know, and she didn't want to try it. Besides, if she ever got captured, there was only one ending she could think for herself.

Death.

"It should be her!"

"That girl is Strategist Liu?"

"He's dressing up as a girl based on the information. GET HIM!"

The sound of horse galloping on the dry lands came closer to her. Wei Liuying noticed that they were catching up as her horse was slower than them. After rushing through the dry lands for a long time, her horse was already tired.

'I should have changed horse before I come here.'

However, Wei Liuying couldn't possibly see any villagers with her appearance. It was already weird enough for a young girl to travel by herself. Even more so for a young girl with blood stained dress.

Suddenly, Wei Liuying felt sudden danger and controlled her horse to the side.

Swish!

An arrow bypassed her side. Her heart dropped to the bottom as she realized that if they couldn't capture her alive, they would just try to kill her.

"We have to catch him alive, idiot!"

"Just a wound will not kill him!"

The yell came closer. Wei Liuying knew that they would catch up to her soon. Her small fingers pulled the rein of her horse and made it stop abruptly. At the same time, she brandished her sword and slashed it to the soldiers chasing after her.

Slash!

Thud!

Two soldiers fell off their horses. On the other hand, Wei Liuying controlled her horse with her left hand and rushed to the next soldier. Since she couldn't escae from them, the only option left for her to win would be to strike first.

Clang!

"Careful! He's an expert at swordsmanship!"

Slash!

Wei Liuying ignored their yell and rushed over. Bypassing the soldiers' side, her sword directly cut through the soldier's stomach as he fell down the horse once more. There were more than ten soldiers and only three were dead. From a distance away, she could see several more soldiers were coming over here.

Prince Lian was determined to catch her.

"Watch out!"

Slash!

As if she was playing in the battlefield, Wei Liuying controlled her horse and rushed to the next soldier. Her sword perfectly cut of the next soldier as he fell down his horse.

For a distance, it looked as if she was simply controlling her horse, evading the blow, and swung her sword carelessly. Yet for the soldiers near her, it was nothing more than nightmare. All they saw was a glint of light and they found themselves lying on the ground, breathing their last.

"You…"

Slash!

The last soldier was killed when Wei Liuying sensed sudden danger. She swiftly tried to move from her position, yet her horse neighed suddenly. It raised its front leg, creating sudden force that throw her to the back.

'An arrow?'

That was the only thought within Wei Liuying's mind as her body crashed on the ground.