"Xiao Yunlong, you are already severely injured. Why don't you surrender quickly!"
Outside the capital, eighteen peak Grandmasters stood with their robes fluttering and killing intent emanating from them.
In front of these eighteen Grandmasters, a thin and tall figure stood with difficulty. The heavy rain had soaked his clothes, and blood mixed with rainwater flowed down with a splash.
Although his face was as pale as paper and his breath was extremely weak, his back remained as straight as a spear, as if piercing the boundless night.
"Surrender?"
The man curved his lips slightly, "In my Xiao Yunlong's military career, there has never been the word 'surrender'!"
"Since you refuse to surrender, then offer your neck for execution. Considering you are the King of Zhenbei, we will give you the chance to end it yourself!"
The eighteen peak Grandmasters stood side by side with their hands behind their backs, their profound internal energy converging behind them to form a wall of energy, completely blocking Xiao Yunlong's path forward.
Ahead lay the ancient imperial capital!
Three months ago, the allied forces of the six Western nations invaded, attempting to destroy the Eastern Dragon Country. Xiao Yunlong, as the King of Zhenbei, led five hundred thousand soldiers from the northern frontier to meet the enemy.
Facing enemies several times his own number, Xiao Yunlong, with his long saber and horse, fought with unparalleled prowess, driving the six-nation allied forces into a desperate retreat. In the end, he even forced the six Western nations to pay reparations and surrender!
That battle shocked the world. Xiao Yunlong became famous, and the Dragon Country decided to confer upon him the title of Heavenly Strategy War God and appoint him to the Heavenly Strategy Mansion!
However, as he was returning to the capital to receive his conferment, he was ambushed outside the capital. His eight hundred soldiers were all tragically killed, their spilled blood dyeing the ground red, and the earth itself seemed to wail.
Pitiable were these soldiers who fought bravely; they did not die on the battlefield but under the butcher's knife of their own people!
Yet, the time and route of his return to the capital were classified. Only a few of his commanders knew. However, these individuals before him were able to accurately anticipate and set up an ambush. This indicated that there must be a traitor within the northern frontier!
Suddenly, lightning split the sky in the darkness. The silver electric light illuminated Xiao Yunlong's face, revealing his chiseled features and his eyes filled with boundless rage.
"It is said that great achievements can arouse suspicion. This place, the imperial capital, with its strategic importance, is no place for you. Since you insist on coming, then hand over your life!"
The eighteen peak Grandmasters attacked in unison. Their imposing aura surged like a tidal wave, churning the dark clouds in the sky.
In the previous battle, Xiao Yunlong had already killed nine Grandmasters of the Huajin realm, and he himself was heavily wounded. Facing the combined assault of these eighteen peak Grandmasters, he was quickly overwhelmed, and his battle saber was knocked away.
"Escape!" Xiao Yunlong leaped south, fleeing in a desperate rush.
The eighteen peak Huajin Grandmasters soared into the air, pursuing him relentlessly.
After a night of pursuit covering a thousand miles, dawn broke.
Xiao Yunlong suddenly stopped, gasping for breath. His internal energy was depleted, and he could no longer run.
Ahead was a sheer cliff face, with a mighty river rushing below!
Xiao Yunlong glanced back at the eighteen peak Grandmasters and grinned.
"Not good, he's going to jump into the river..."
"Stop him quickly!"
The Grandmasters reached out to grab him simultaneously, but they were a step too late. Xiao Yunlong fell like a kite with a broken string.
"Go back and tell your master that if I do not die today, I will return as a king one day!"
"All those involved in the ambush, every single one of you, I will make you pay a hundredfold!"
Xiao Yunlong's voice, mixed with the roar of the river, sounded like the earth roaring in fury...
After an unknown period, Xiao Yunlong slowly regained some consciousness. However, his eyelids were heavy, and he could not open them. His entire body was in tearing pain. In a daze, he heard someone speaking.
"My heavens, he's so badly injured and still alive. This is incredible!"
"Doctor, please save him quickly!" This was a young girl's voice, as sweet as a clear spring in a mountain valley.
"His injuries are too severe. Many of his bones are broken. I don't have much confidence!"
"It's alright, treat a dying horse as if it were alive. Just do your best to treat him."
"Alright then..."
The anesthetic took effect, and Xiao Yunlong fell into a deep sleep again. When he woke up again, he found a pair of large eyes with long eyelashes looking at him.
These eyes were lively and full of spirit, though there were still tears at the corners, indicating she had been crying not long ago.
"You're awake. That's great, thank heavens you're alive!" the girl exclaimed with joy.
The girl was about twenty years old, with a delicate and beautiful oval face, a straight nose, and lively eyes. Her features were very well-defined.
However, a faint cloud of sorrow hung between her brows, as if she had something on her mind!
"It was you... who saved me?" Xiao Yunlong spoke with difficulty.
"Yes, I saved you by the river. The doctor said you were about to die, but I didn't expect you to pull through. You have a strong will to live!"
"By the way, my name is Liu Ruyan!" She smiled, and a faint dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth when she smiled, making her look exceptionally charming.
"Thank you..."
"You're welcome. To tell you the truth, when I went to the river that day, I was also planning to commit suicide..."
Liu Ruyan said with a wry smile, "But I suddenly saw you, and I didn't expect there to be someone in the world more miserable than me, so I suddenly didn't want to die anymore!"
"Why do you want to commit suicide?" Xiao Yunlong asked slowly. His entire body was wrapped in white bandages like a zongzi, rendering him unable to move.
"Because..."
Liu Ruyan sighed before saying, "My parents were murdered. Not only could I not avenge them, but my company was also snatched away by my second uncle and aunt. Furthermore, my grandfather, who doted on me since childhood, is critically ill, and I can do nothing. I am truly useless, so..."
Xiao Yunlong sighed softly. Perhaps this was what it meant to be fellow sufferers on the road of life.
"By the way, what's your name, what's your background, and why are you so badly injured?" Liu Ruyan asked.
"Xiao Yunlong!" he said, then closed his mouth, clearly unwilling to discuss his background.
Liu Ruyan didn't ask further, but secretly observed him.
He was about twenty-four years old, not much older than her. His features were very upright. His wheat-colored complexion didn't make him handsome at first glance, but he was the type who became more attractive the more you looked at him.
Just then, the door to the room was suddenly kicked open with a bang!
A noblewoman, accompanied by several fierce servants, stormed in angrily.
"Liu Ruyan, you little slut! Have you grown a bear's heart and a leopard's gall to secretly bring back this kind of disreputable wild man? Are you ignoring my words? Don't forget, I am in charge of the Liu family now!"
The noblewoman pointed at Liu Ruyan and scolded her fiercely. She was Liu Ruyan's second aunt, Huang Tingting.
"I didn't... he was injured and fell into the river, I was just saving..."
Suddenly, with a crack, Huang Tingting slapped Liu Ruyan, causing her to stagger.
"You are truly outrageous, you dare to talk back!"
Huang Tingting put her hands on her hips and gritted her teeth, "I asked the doctor, and this person is likely to die. How unlucky would it be if he died at home? Also, what if he's a murderer? You really have no brains!"
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and throw him out!"
Several servants immediately rushed forward.
"You can't do this!" Liu Ruyan spread her arms to block Xiao Yunlong, "He's not a murderer, nor is he some wild man!"
"Not a wild man? Who else could he be to you?" Huang Tingting sneered.
Liu Ruyan looked back at Xiao Yunlong, who lay on the bed, unable to move. She bit her lip and said, "He... he is my man, my fiancé!"