Chapter 65: The Gathering Storm 5

  He Xian was shocked by what he heard. In less than half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, she had already taken care of five people just from a few words they exchanged!

  Looking back at the dark guards who returned, they were all miserable and had suffered injuries to several vital parts. This was also because Nalan Xianyu spared their lives; otherwise, they would have been dead for sure.

  Huò's unintentional curl of his lip also brought a proud smile to Quán Lóng's face, as if he was the one who was so formidable.

  After a long time, Nalan Xiong flew over.

  He looked back at her and saw that the few people who were left behind had not caught up yet.

  He Xian also looked around and didn't see anyone else, puzzled: "Aren't there five more people?"

  Before long, a group of people came from afar, carrying stretchers in their hands. On the stretchers were the five men who had not returned, lying unconscious and unresponsive.

  The five of them secretly rejoiced at the sight, thinking they would be eliminated first. Now it seems they can stay and become part of Luo Tian's most glorious and elite group.

  "You can go back now." Nalan Xianyu suddenly spoke coldly.

  Several people were stunned and looked at each other in confusion, they didn't know what Nalan Xixi was saying. At this time, not far away, Huo Zhiwei opened the acupoints of several people on the stretcher.

  Quan Long understood Nalan Xinnuo's meaning and waved his hand to signal the five people in front of him to leave.

  "What... does this mean?!"

  As soon as the words fell, he met Nalan Xinnuo's gaze, and he couldn't help but tremble. That gaze was cold to the bone, like a ghostly slash, with a thick murderous intent that made people breathe heavily.

  However, Nalan Xiong did not hesitate to explain. "In the previous test, your skills were almost identical, but you focused on fighting me and trying to gain the upper hand, while they prioritized protecting the hostages. Although they might be slightly inferior due to divided attention, that's exactly what I'm looking for in a person."

  Five people were clearly dissatisfied, and Nalan Xianyu continued: "Winning one move, losing one move, is not important, because these things can be improved through the accumulation of years and personal effort. What's most important is the heart, your understanding of your own responsibilities."

  As they heard this, the expressions of the five people gradually became serious, and they had not expected this.

  Nalan Xixiao smiled slightly. "What I want is for you to protect the hostages, not defeat me. They are protecting the hostages while fighting me, whereas you are fighting me while protecting the hostages. Although it's the same thing, it has a completely different meaning."

  The five of them lowered their heads in shame. Indeed, this was just a drill; if it were an ordinary day, they would have made a big mistake by doing so.

  He Xianyuan, Long and Huo showed a look of reverence on their faces. But for Nalan Xinnuo, it was just reliving the past team life, from the moment she understood things, she had been surviving or being eliminated in one elimination after another.

  From then on, nothing could defeat her, nothing could eliminate her. At that time, it was the most brilliant moment in her life, the number one mercenary, the youngest female lieutenant general.

  The five eliminated people left Kirin Mountain. The remaining five stood in front of Nalan Xinnuo.

  At this time, a few people carried over a stove from a distance, and there was an electric iron on the stove.

  The autumn wind was bleak, and the smoke in the stove danced with the wind. The firelight was a deep red, and it looked eerie in the dimly lit cold autumn morning. Nalan Xinnuo walked over, picked up the branding iron, and saw that on its surface was engraved a ferocious and cunning wolf head, which had been burned to a bright red.

  The red glow of the fire reflected on Nalan Xiong's face, her expression was calm and collected, but in her eyes, there was still an unwavering determination.

  "This is the final test, and the choice is in your hands. You are the strongest people under heaven, and you will surely be invincible, sweeping away all obstacles. However, think carefully before embarking on this path, for once you start, there will be no turning back, only life or death awaits. Perhaps you will face a perilous situation where one must fight against hundreds, or perhaps an absolute deadlock where one must fight against thousands. But regardless of whether what lies ahead is ferocious wolves or vicious tigers, the moment you choose to stay here, you have also chosen to charge forward head-on."

  Nalan Xixia smiled calmly, "I believe in your loyalty because I know you are all proud men who have chosen a path and will not turn back even if it means death. However, I still hope you can consider carefully. If you do not wish to stay, that is human nature, you can leave now. If you are willing to stay, then let us seal this wolf mark together, from now on, we will be as one, roaming the world, bound by life and death!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, Nalan Xianuo pulled open his collar and raised his hand to press the branding iron onto his left shoulder. Everyone was shocked!

  Suddenly, the sizzling sound of scorching hot iron seared into the air, sweat drenched her clothes, but Nalan Xinnuo didn't even furrow a brow. Her body trembled in pain, yet she casually tossed the iron into the furnace. On her left shoulder, a crimson patch appeared, with the concave wolf head imprint seeming to come alive under the moonlight, sending shivers down one's spine.

  Nalan Xixi stood tall against the wind, her cold eyes gleaming with determination.

  At this time, He Xian walked to the stove, opened his collar, and without hesitation, pressed the branding iron onto his left shoulder. Next was Huo Zhi, followed by Quan Long. They were resolute, determined, and decisive.

  The remaining five people, without any hesitation in their eyes, came forward one after another, and on their left shoulder, on their heart, they imprinted a lifelong promise.

  As Yu Nalan Xizuo said, from the moment they decided to stay, from the moment they picked up the branding iron and left an indelible mark, no matter whether it was a wolf or a tiger waiting ahead, they had already chosen to charge forward.

  Dark night wolf, lurking in darkness, hiding in the night sky, invincible under heaven, wherever it goes, it triumphs.

  Back at the Luli Palace, Nangong Jin had not returned yet. There was still a month to go before the grand ceremony of enthronement. Every day, the memorials on his desk piled up like mountains. He was exhausted from handling them all by himself, and the Empress Dowager added insult to injury.

  Just after changing clothes, before he could sit down, Quan Long rushed into the palace. Seeing Nalan Xianyu, Quan Long hurried over, his expression serious. Nalan Xianyu saw this and let all the palace maids go down.

  Quan Long saw that there was no one around, and reported in a low voice. "The person sent to investigate Zhao Song has returned. The person who went said that it seems like someone is intentionally blocking them in secret, and after several days, they couldn't find anything concrete."

  Nalan Xixi slightly furrowed her brow and walked to the window, gazing at the distant sunrise slowly rising. "What did you find out?"

  Guī Long nodded his head. "Zhao Song was originally... a person of Shèng Jīn Country."

  What?! People of Sheng Jin Guo?! People of Dugu Family?!

  Nalan Xixi's heart was greatly shocked, but her face showed no expression. Her brain was racing rapidly, and a terrifying thought suddenly emerged, startling her to tremble slightly.

  "Got it, don't spread this around and don't let Jin know." Nalan Xianyu whispered.

  Quan Long nodded and backed out.

  Nalan Xixi clenched her fists, according to the Empress Dowager's words, Zhao Song was someone she brought from her maiden home and had followed her for decades, but Zhao Song himself was a person of Sheng Jin country.

  He was a eunuch since childhood, and only the imperial palace would have eunuchs.

  He had the empress dowager's secret in his hands, and the empress dowager was caught by him, not only did she not kill him, but instead protected him with her life.

  What is his relationship with the Dugu family? What is the Empress Dowager's relationship with him?

  Suddenly, a heat in her waist, Nalan Xianyu woke up with a start, and she drew out a short sword from her sleeve to stab backwards. Nan Gongyin quickly grabbed her hand, seeing that it was Nan Gongyin, Nalan Xianyu let out a breath of relief and put away the short sword.

  "What's wrong?" Nangong Jin looked at her pale face with some concern.

  Nalan Xixi shook her head. "I was thinking of something and didn't hear you come in."

  "What are you thinking about?" Nangong Jin gently wrapped his arms around her from behind.

  Nalan Xixi shook her head and didn't speak. Nangong Jin noticed her abnormality, pinched her shoulder and turned her towards him.

  "Ah......" Nalan Xixi's brow suddenly furrowed, her right hand covering her left shoulder, her face deathly pale.

  Nangong Jin was shocked, hastily pulling down her hand and tearing open her collar. On her left shoulder, the skin was charred and there were still bloodstains at the wound. The crimson wolf head looked particularly frightening.

  Nan Gong Yu's expression changed, and a layer of cold air instantly enveloped his face. "What's going on?!"

  Nalan Xixi smiled slightly, pulled up her clothes, "It doesn't matter, just sleep for now, you've been busy all night, aren't you tired? Hurry and rest, there's still court to attend later."

  After speaking, she headed towards the bedroom, Nangong Jin turned around and said in a cold tone: "Nalan Xianuo."

  Nalan Xixi was taken aback and stopped in her tracks.

  "Don't ever do that again." Nangong Jin's voice was icy, chilling to the bone. "I've never asked you to do anything for me, you're my woman, you don't have the right to be so reckless with yourself, don't let me see you get hurt again."

  Nalan Xixiao's nose turned sour and her eyes reddened, but she endured with great effort, the wound throbbing in pain.

  Nangong Jin looked at her slightly trembling body and walked up to carefully wrap his arms around her. His voice was still cold.

  "Did you hear that? You're not allowed to get hurt again. You're my woman, you're Nan Gong Jin's woman. Your injuries all over your body are my shame, they're a punishment for me." Nan Gong Jin's eyes were red-rimmed.

  Some things he didn't say.

  He didn't say that on those nights when she was fast asleep, he held her and felt the deep or shallow scars, each one like a wound to his heart, painful to the point of being unbearable.

  He had wept silently on her neck while she was asleep. He was an emperor, he was invincible. He was a man, who shed blood but not tears. But looking at her scars all over her body and thinking of those moments when she almost died for him, he feared falling asleep.

  He was always afraid that when he woke up, she would be gone again, just like in those days.

  He once wanted to tie her to his side, not leaving for a moment, he wanted to keep a close eye on her, controlling her within his line of sight, not giving anyone a chance to take advantage of her. He was afraid to leave her, even for a second. He feared that after one second, when he saw her again, she would have another wound.

  This is the greatest punishment for him.

  Tears fell, and Nalan Xinnuo nodded gently.

  She reached out her hand and gently cupped the icy yet handsome face, lightly kissing the corner of his lips. "I know, it won't happen again, I won't let you worry."