CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER

After everything inside the Punishment Hall ended, Mo Ying brought Lin Xu outside and helped her onto Bee, his horse. Then he climbed up behind her, his arm naturally wrapping around her waist as he held the reins.

"Let’s go somewhere quiet," he said softly near her ear.

Lin Xu nodded and leaned back against him. The night was cool, the sky dark, but the city lights in the distance made everything feel calmer.

For a while, neither of them talked. The sound of Bee’s hooves on the stone road filled the silence.

Then Lin Xu finally spoke.

"Our wedding is in two days..."

Mo Ying hummed. "Mm."

"...Aren’t you nervous?" she asked.

"Why would I be?" Mo Ying replied, sounding too calm. "You’re the one marrying me. I should be the one worrying."

Lin Xu turned her head a little. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means..." he said, tightening his arm slightly around her waist, "I’m afraid you’ll run away."

Lin Xu scoffed. "If I wanted to run, I would’ve done it when you kidnapped a princess."

Mo Ying chuckled low. "Fair point."

They passed through an empty road where the lanterns cast long, soft shadows. The city felt peaceful, as if nothing dangerous had happened earlier.

Lin Xu shifted lightly in the saddle.

"You know... I always thought the wedding would feel scary."

Mo Ying’s tone softened. "Does it still feel scary now?"

"...No." She looked down at her hands. "It feels... real. Like it’s actually happening."

"It is happening," he said. "In two days, you’ll be mine."

Lin Xu lightly elbowed him. "Don’t say it like that. I’m not something to take."

Mo Ying leaned forward slightly, his chin brushing her shoulder. "You’re right. You’re someone I’m lucky to keep."

Lin Xu’s face warmed up. "Stop saying things like that... We’re in public."

"No one can hear us up here," he teased.

She let out a small laugh she didn’t mean to show.

"Still."

They kept riding, Bee moving calmly as if he too enjoyed the peaceful night.

Soon, they reached the busy main street, still lit and lively. People walked around, vendors shouted, children laughed. Compared to the dark hall they came from, this place felt warm and alive.

Lin Xu leaned forward. "I want rice balls."

Mo Ying sighed. "Of course. After everything tonight, you think about food."

"I was hungry before the emperor’s eunuch showed up," she complained.

Mo Ying smirked and guided the horse to the side of the street.

He stopped near a food stall, then jumped down first.

"Come here," he said, reaching up.

Lin Xu held onto his shoulder as he helped her down. Her feet touched the ground, and she suddenly felt a bit cold.

Mo Ying noticed and took off his robe, placing it over her shoulders.

"Hold this. Stay with Bee. I’ll get your rice balls."

Lin Xu nodded and held the robe tighter. "Okay. Don’t take too long."

Mo Ying gave Bee a pat. "Watch her."

Bee snorted proudly, as if he understood.

Mo Ying walked toward the food stall, but on the way, a small shop caught his eye.

Inside, under a dim lantern, an emerald hairpin stood on a wooden stand.

He stopped.

It looked beautiful. Simple, but glowing.

Something that would look perfect in her hair.

Without thinking twice, he bought it.

As he walked back, he saw Lin Xu from afar... standing by Bee, wrapped in his robe, her hair blowing slightly in the wind. She looked peaceful... beautiful.

His chest felt warm.

He walked slower, admiring her quietly.

Bee leaned forward and nudged Mo Ying when he passed, and Mo Ying laughed softly.

"You’re too protective."

He brushed Bee’s mane and continued toward Lin Xu.

She noticed him walking back and smiled a little, her eyes soft.

But then...

A sharp sound cut through the air.

Fwish.

Mo Ying’s smile dropped instantly.

His eyes widened, turning toward the direction of the sound.

An arrow.

Flying straight at Lin Xu.

"LIN XU!" Mo Ying shouted, voice sharp with fear.

Lin Xu froze, her eyes confused.

Mo Ying dropped the rice balls and the hairpin as he charged toward her with all his strength.

The arrow sliced through the air...

Mo Ying reached her in time.

He grabbed her and pulled her hard against his chest, turning around so his back faced the arrow.

"Hold onto me!" he yelled.

THUD.

The arrow struck his back with full force.

Lin Xu gasped, her hands trembling as she felt him shudder from the pain.

Mo Ying didn’t loosen his grip.

Even as blood soaked through his clothes, he held her tighter, shielding her completely.

His voice was low, shaky, but still controlled.

"...You’re safe."

His legs gave way.

And slowly...

Mo Ying collapsed with her in his arms.

Lin Xu’s breath stopped.

Mo Ying collapsed with her in his arms, his weight heavy, his blood warm as it spread across her clothes.

"Mo Ying... Mo Ying!!" she cried, her voice breaking.

She didn’t know whether to scream or cry.

Her hands trembled as she held him, her whole body shaking.

His blood kept flowing... too fast... too much.

The street exploded into panic. People screamed, some ran, others froze in fear.

No one knew what to do.

No one dared to come close.

"Somebody help-!!" Lin Xu shouted, but her voice cracked.

These people... they weren’t soldiers.

They couldn’t stop the bleeding.

They couldn’t pull out an arrow.

"No... no no no..." she whispered, pressing her hand against his back, trying to stop the blood. "Mo Ying, stay with me... please...!"

And then...

A soft glow appeared in front of her.

"S-Susu...?" Lin Xu gasped.

But this time Susu didn’t appear as a tiny fox.

She appeared as a human girl, dressed in white, eyes wide with panic.

"Lin Xu!" she shouted. "This is bad... Mo Ying is losing too much blood!"

Lin Xu choked. "I don’t know what to do... I don’t... please tell me...!"

Susu grabbed her shoulders.

"Most warriors hide a warning firecracker inside their horse’s saddle! Bee should have one!"

Lin Xu’s eyes widened with desperate hope.

Immediately, she turned to Bee.

But the horse was going wild... stomping, snorting, panic in his eyes. He sensed his master was hurt.

"Bee-! Bee, please!" Lin Xu cried, reaching for him.

Bee jerked back, and one of his hooves struck her shoulder.

"A-ah!" Lin Xu fell to the ground, hissing in pain.

But Mo Ying lay bleeding behind her.

She pushed herself back up, teeth clenched, ignoring the throbbing pain.

She stood again.

This time, a few men nearby rushed to help hold Bee still.

"Miss, hurry!"

Lin Xu grabbed the saddle chest with shaking hands, opened it...

The firecracker was there.

She lit it with trembling fingers and raised it to the sky-

BOOM!!

A bright red flare exploded high above the street.

The sound shot across the night like thunder...

At the Mo residence,

Fuhan’s head snapped up.

"That’s General Mo’s warning signal-!!"

He didn’t even finish speaking before soldiers rushed out behind him.

Back on the street...

Lin Xu dropped the burnt firecracker and ran back to Mo Ying.

He was still bleeding.

Still losing color.

She knelt beside him, breathing fast as she tore the edge of her already blood-soaked sleeve and pressed it against the wound.

"Mo Ying... please... don’t sleep..."

Her tears fell onto his face.

She grabbed the broken shaft of the arrow still sticking out.

That was when she realized that it wasn’t just one arrow; it was up to four... four arrows on the back of her Mo Ying.

She had no strength to pull them all out...

But she broke the top part, leaving the rest inside so it wouldn’t move and cut deeper.

The small snap of wood echoed painfully.

"Stay with me..." Lin Xu whispered, her voice shaking violently.

She wrapped the cloth around his torso, her hands red and slippery with blood.

"You promised me we would get married..." she cried, her voice cracking. "Two days, Mo Ying... Only two days..."

Her tears wouldn’t stop.

"The kids, remember, they can’t wait to see us married, this can’t happen, not now!"

She pressed her forehead against his, sobbing.

"Don’t you dare leave me.

I’ll keep you safe. I’ll protect you. I’ll fight anyone... just don’t leave..."

Mo Ying’s eyes were half-open now, barely focused.

But he lifted his hand.

His cold, blood-stained fingers touched her cheek.

Lin Xu covered his hand with both of hers, crying harder.

"Why?" she whispered brokenly. "Why do you keep protecting me like this? Why...?"

Mo Ying looked at her, his breath unsteady.

"...Because..."

He swallowed hard, his voice faint but clear enough.

And he whispered the same words he once told her in the forest...

"...Better me... than you..."

His hand slipped.

And his eyes slowly closed.

"MO YING-!!" Lin Xu screamed, shaking him as fuhan and soldiers rushed toward them.

"GENERAL! GEENER!"

But Mo Ying didn’t answer.