The assault was too swift, too fierce for the assembled crowd to withstand, forcing them to retreat into Moonbright Palace.
Flames flickered and died behind the thick wooden doors, causing Luo Qingyi's brow to furrow deeply. The current situation indicated that the Emperor of Yue had clearly been privy to their plan all along; news of tonight's events had been leaked.
The intense hail of arrows outside ceased, and the night returned to its profound, silent darkness. After a moment of deliberation, Luo Qingyi dispatched several men to charge out of Moonbright Palace from different directions. His personal guards, those closest to him, were all skilled warriors. Yet, the moment they showed themselves, cold arrows rained down from all sides. Before they could even react, several had already fallen.
Seeing this, Feng Yinwan's eyes narrowed. They were surrounded, and the encirclement was absolute. Moonbright Palace occupied the most central position within the Yue imperial palace. No matter which direction they chose, escape from the palace through the blockade seemed impossible.
Luo Qingyi understood this even better than she did. Glancing at the sky, he ordered in a deep voice, "If the reinforcements do not arrive within half an hour, you will all charge out of the palace with me!" He believed in Le Mi's character and his loyalty to the late Prince Qi. However, the Emperor of Yue had clearly made arrangements tonight. If Le Mi was not seen within half an hour, it was likely... he had already perished.
Luo Qingyi let out a silent sigh, his gaze complex as it shifted to Feng Yinwan beside him. But in the next instant, her fiery bright eyes met his, her expression resolute.
Time ticked by, yet outside, only silence reigned, without a whisper of sound. Everyone understood the fate that awaited them, but not a single soul chose to waver. A rustling breeze swept past. Luo Qingyi rose, his hand on his saber. Without a word, everyone else immediately followed suit.
After roughly dividing their numbers, Luo Qingyi, with a solemn expression, stated, "A large group is too conspicuous. Wan'er, you and I will split paths. I will lead our men to break through the west gate, and you will take the east gate." They all knew the state of the palace; even an entire force would struggle to break through, let alone two separate groups. Luo Qingyi was clearly allocating more men and a greater chance of survival to her.
Feng Yinwan shook her head decisively. "Uncle, our manpower is already limited; we cannot be separated further."
"Wan'er!" Luo Qingyi interrupted, his face etched with uncharacteristic sternness. "This time, you must listen to me. Chenchen cannot be without his mother, and the Xuanmen cannot be without a successor!" He was well past thirty, yet had no sons or daughters. In his heart, he had long considered Feng Yinwan and Feng Jinchen his own daughter and grandson.
Feng Yinwan understood his concerns. Her eyelashes gently lowered as she replied, "Uncle, all the Xuanmen disciples are here. Besides, you know that even if I survive this, the day will not be too far off." Her tone was light, but Luo Qingyi's heart jolted. Seeing her look up at him again, she said firmly, "Uncle, let us fight for a chance at survival together. If we cannot, then coming into this world, I will have no regrets." She had given her all, and no matter the outcome, this would be the best conclusion.
Luo Qingyi, touched by the resolve in her eyes, finally seemed to make up his mind. "Good! You are indeed the niece of Luo Qingyi! We will charge out together this time and show them the fighting spirit of us Xuanmen disciples!"
The moment the moonlight was once again obscured by clouds, the great doors of Moonbright Palace burst open. Luo Qingyi led his men out at a furious pace, and almost instantly, the overwhelming barrage of arrows descended again. Unshielded, they could only parry with their sabers. Feng Yinwan fought alongside Luo Qingyi, seeing people fall around her, she dared not falter for a moment.
Reaching the next point of cover, their numbers had already dwindled by nearly half. At this distance, they could finally see the soldiers positioned tightly along the eaves. Their numbers far exceeded their expectations!
After a brief respite, Luo Qingyi ordered his men to collect arrows from the ground. They scoured their bodies, applying their meager remaining poison to the arrowheads. Then, under the cover of the deepening night, they collectively fired them towards the eaves. Feng Yinwan's silver needles were mixed amongst them.
As the arrows fell, soldiers on the rooftops dropped like flies. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, they charged forward again. Beyond this layer of defense lay soldiers standing ready, their heavy iron shields forming a barrier, rendering the arrows useless. This obstacle could only be overcome through direct combat.
Luo Qingyi commanded his men to close ranks, preventing them from being scattered. However, after encircling them, the enemy soldiers did not immediately attack. Feng Yinwan had prepared herself for battle, but two figures suddenly emerged from the enemy formation, instantly drawing a look of grimness to Luo Qingyi's face. Four formidable experts, and here were two of the most difficult ones. Even he could not guarantee victory against them.
His expression darkening, he drew his saber and commanded, "Jian Ye, protect the young lady." The instant these words were spoken, Luo Qingyi engaged the two opponents, and the surrounding soldiers moved in unison, quickly launching their assault.
The situation erupted into chaos in a flash. Feng Yinwan had no time to observe the fleeting shadows clashing in the air, only able to fight alongside her comrades against the attacking soldiers. The enemy was well-trained; with their iron shields, even when they huddled together, a gap was torn in their formation. Those who broke free were almost instantly swallowed by the enemy ranks.
Luo Qingyi was fighting two against one, struggling to defend himself. Seeing this, Feng Yinwan took it upon herself to issue commands. "Blades outward, backs inward, close ranks!" The moment this order was given, everyone moved swiftly. Feng Yinwan, however, broke from the formation, stomped on an iron shield, and shot several silver needles from her fingertips with practiced speed.
The needles were tiny, capable of passing through the gaps in the iron shields, and their penetrative power was extreme. One pierced the chest of a soldier in front and then the throat of the one behind. The potent poison on the needles remained undiminished, causing a large number of enemies to fall. The enemy's seemingly impenetrable wall crumbled in an instant. Jian Ye seized the opportunity and led his men forward to engage.
They had already resigned themselves to a suicidal charge, fighting with unparalleled ferocity. As the barrier before them gradually broke down, Feng Yinwan finally found a moment to glance at Luo Qingyi's situation. In the darkness, their movements were so swift that an outsider could barely distinguish their techniques, only seeing a few blurred afterimages. But even so, Feng Yinwan's heart was filled with worry. She had never fought against these four, but the fact that Luo Qingyi showed such caution meant their strength was undoubtedly immense. And in such a situation, she could not intervene.
While she was pondering with concern, those fleeting shadows quickly separated. Feng Yinwan looked up and saw Luo Qingyi plummeting from a height, pursued closely by the two figures whose blades were aimed directly at his heart.