Chapter 110: Take Me Hostage!

The mist in front of them grew thinner and thinner, until a gentle breeze swept it away entirely. As the fog dispersed, several figures were revealed. First to appear were two fine horses, accompanied by a calm and handsome face wearing a mocking smile. Kaiming let out a bitter laugh; had she truly been saved by Dai Yuheng?

Looking closer, she saw another man beside him with a fierce and imposing face, his expression full of indignation. He held a bow in his left hand, his right hand positioned as if ready to release an arrow. Only upon seeing him did she finally feel at ease—thank goodness, the one drawing the bow was Chang Geng.

As the phantom smoke cleared, the two men pulled the white cloths wrapped around their noses and mouths away, taking deep breaths.

Yinghuo sneered, "A clever plan you two have. Is this how you intend to counter my phantom smoke?"

Dai Yuheng smiled faintly, "By avoiding inhalation as much as possible and keeping cloths dampened over our mouths and noses. Though it may look unsightly, it is fortunate that we could see the Prince again, and thus not fail in our mission."

Chang Geng snorted, "Enough talk! Now that the smoke is gone, you have no more tricks!"

"Who says?" Yinghuo laughed heartily. "You are on my turf. Do you know what a Gu-master is? Look, if I just blow this..." His fingers moved, and from somewhere, he produced a bone flute less than an inch long. "This is a bone flute. Do you know what happens if I blow it?"

Kaiming stared at him blankly. Blowing the bone flute—it was like a scene from a horror movie. Would it summon countless insects, or perhaps even more terrifying, ferocious beasts? She shivered, unable to imagine what would happen next.

Chang Geng said stiffly, "Who are you trying to bluff!" He pulled out a long arrow, aiming the tip at Yinghuo’s throat. "If you dare to blow that, I will kill you on the spot!"

Yinghuo watched Chang Geng calmly and placed the flute to his lips, making as if to blow. Chang Geng glared at him without fear, his arrow drawn to its fullest extent. Dai Yuheng also wore a somber expression. Behind them, the Central Palace soldiers were gathering, their rhythmic footsteps sounding deafening.

"Yinghuo!" Kaiming shouted. His gaze stalled, and he turned to her.

"I agree! I will go with you!" Kaiming declared, her face flushed. "But you must let everyone from the Central Palace go! Except for Dai Yuheng!"

Chang Geng and Yinghuo both wore expressions of disbelief. Dai Yuheng, however, was both ashamed and furious; even in this critical moment, she still wanted him dead.

Yinghuo glanced at Chang Geng’s furious face, then looked back at Kaiming. "What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

"I said I will go with you!" she shouted. This time, not only did Chang Geng hear it clearly, but the soldiers surrounding them heard it as well.

"You’re insane, Kaiming!" Chang Geng roared.

A mocking smile appeared on Yinghuo’s face, and he reached out to her. "Come here."

She grabbed his hand without hesitation. He yanked her over, shielding himself with her body, and sneered at Chang Geng, "Now, do you still dare to fire your arrow?"

Chang Geng froze on the spot, his taut fingers trembling.

Behind Yinghuo, Yingshi carefully poked his head out and whispered, "My Lord..."

"Speak!"

"The raid on the grain supplies failed. The Central Palace has reclaimed the main camp, and our three outposts have also been surrendered to them. Look..."

"Are you saying we lost this battle?"

"...Of course, though the Central Palace also suffered significant casualties..."

"Is the commander of the Central Palace not in our hands?" Yinghuo sneered, "How about we trade the commander for the palace territory?"

"Don't be stupid." Kaiming spoke up from in front of him. "Trading my worthless life for the Central Palace's land is pure fantasy. I have a suggestion: hold me hostage so you can escape safely. As the saying goes, as long as the green hills remain, there is no need to worry about firewood..."

"Shut up!" Yinghuo snapped.

Yingshi hesitated, "My Lord, the commander’s suggestion is very sound. Currently, this seems like the most feasible plan..."

Yinghuo tightened his arm around her neck and lowered his voice, "You know it’s a dead end, so why are you willing to go with me?"

"Didn't you say we were friends?" She nudged his arm, panting, "Easier, easier! If you strangle me, I won't be of any use to you."

"You are willing to be used by me? Just because I said we were friends?" Yinghuo asked coldly. "Do you remember how many times I’ve lied to you? Tricking you into eating Gu-insects time and again, and this battle, tricking you into my phantom smoke and nearly killing you—and you still claim we are friends?"

Kaiming gasped for air, speaking with difficulty, "But... didn't you save me?"

Yinghuo was momentarily stunned, "That was... that was just curiosity about your identity..."

"Although you are a scoundrel," she felt his grip tighten and hastily changed her tone, "you did show me some mercy. I don't want to see the two palaces suffer in blood. Take my life as a bargain and just leave quickly!"

"You really are noble," Yinghuo sneered. "Aren't you afraid that once I’m done using you, I’ll just slit your throat?"

"You won't," she said flatly.

Yinghuo’s eyes flickered as he watched her side profile from behind. His thoughts were in chaos, unable to process anything.

Yingshi gathered more and more of the retreating soldiers behind him. "My Lord..."

"Let's go!" Yinghuo sighed suddenly and retreated while holding her hostage.

Chang Geng’s arrow tip followed their every movement, and Dai Yuheng continued to look grim. The Central Palace soldiers slowly formed a perimeter, moving toward them cautiously.

"No one is allowed to come closer!" Kaiming suddenly shouted sternly. "Anyone who acts rashly and causes your commander to lose her life will be dealt with according to military law!"

Upon hearing her words, the Central Palace soldiers stopped in their tracks.

Yinghuo’s expression became even more complex. They retreated further, and Chang Geng’s hand shook even more violently.

"Chang Geng!" Kaiming called out to him. "Put down your bow! I’m fine! I won't die!" At the end, she offered him a warm smile. Chang Geng took a deep breath and silently lowered his ready arrow.

The Northern Palace soldiers began to retreat, and Yingshi brought over two warhorses. "My Lord, we can go now!"

Yinghuo did not let go; one arm remained around her neck, though he loosened his grip.

"My Lord?"

Ignoring Yingshi behind him, Yinghuo leaned toward her ear and whispered, "Come with me, will you?"

Kaiming felt her body stiffen slightly. He spoke so softly and with such earnestness that it sounded like a lover’s whisper.

She tugged at the corner of her mouth, suppressing the urge to itch, and chuckled, "I appreciate the Prince's kindness, but it would be truly unseemly for the Central Palace’s commander to be carried off like this. Cough—for the sake of the two palaces, the Prince should probably let go."

Yinghuo smiled faintly, his lips almost brushing her earlobe, and whispered, "I did give you a chance..." Unexpectedly, he planted a kiss on her ear.

It felt as if a powerful electric current had touched her ear, numbing half of her face. She stood there like a fool, unable to move.

While kissing her ear, Yinghuo flipped his wrist, and a round object slid into her pocket. He said with a double meaning, "See for yourself what to do!"

He gave her a push, and she stumbled forward, finally regaining her senses. She covered her ear, still feeling the lingering sensation, and raised her eyebrows to glare at him.

Yinghuo mounted his horse and laughed loudly at her, "Kaiming, I will spare you this time. But what Yinghuo has set his eyes on, he will eventually return to claim!" Amidst his laughter, the two riders galloped away, kicking up dust.

Kaiming angrily spat at his retreating back—a defeated general, still boasting even while fleeing. It was hateful that she had let him take advantage of her for nothing.

As she rubbed her ear, she looked up and saw the two people on horseback opposite her: Chang Geng and Dai Yuheng. They were so shocked by what they had just witnessed that their mouths and eyes were wide open, unable to recover.

Unprepared to have such a shameful moment witnessed by them, she awkwardly said, "Ah, you two—when did you follow me here?"

Chang Geng leaped off his horse and walked quickly toward her, his face full of anger. "Did he molest you?"

Could this be called molesting? She didn't even have time to think before Chang Geng roared, "I’m going to chase him down and kill him!"

"Hey, don't be impulsive!" She hurriedly grabbed him. "It’s not what you think!"

Chang Geng turned back to glare at her, "Then how do you explain it?"

She grumbled to herself, *Explain what? You’re not my husband; this doesn't count as cheating on you!*

Dai Yuheng finally found a chance to vent his frustration, saying snidely, "Could it be that Commander Kaiming and Prince Yinghuo were already close? Oh, right, didn't they live in the same room while the Prince was a hostage? Perhaps they developed feelings for each other back then, which is why the Commander was so 'righteous' in insisting on letting the Northern Palace Prince go."

"What nonsense are you spouting?!" she snapped. This guy was pinning all sorts of crimes on her; if she wasn't careful, he’d turn the tables on her. "You have eyes, didn't you see me being held hostage?"

Dai Yuheng sneered, "I just don't know if it was a voluntary hostage situation or a forced one."

"You lived in the same room with Yinghuo?" Chang Geng pressed in on her like a husband interrogating a cheating wife. "You were actually that close to him?"

"I said it’s not like that! Do you have a brain?" Driven to anger, she nearly jumped, "At a time like this, are you trying to team up with that man surnamed Dai to deal with me?"

"I am not with him..." Chang Geng suddenly realized something and hurriedly distanced himself from Dai Yuheng. "Fine, you can explain it clearly to me when there’s a chance. I won't ask now."

*Explain it clearly to you when there’s a chance?* Kaiming sighed inwardly. *Big Brother Chang Geng, you really think you're someone special to me.*

"Kaiming, are you hurt?" He only just noticed the wound on her hand, his pupils dilating. "What happened? When did you get this injury?"

"It’s nothing, just an accident when I was in the phantom smoke," she said dismissively, turning over her palm.

Chang Geng sighed, extended his right arm, and wrapped it around her shoulders without hesitation, leading her forward. "Don't waste any more time here. Let’s go back!"