Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Why Not Have a One-on-One Duel

The standoff between the two sides remained unyielding. Despite the other party’s harsh stance, Hua Rong was certainly not about to risk herself and simply compromise. Instead, the more forcefully Jun Yeli pressed, the more frightened Hua Rong became, causing her to cling tighter to Zhuifeng’s arm, her grip unconsciously growing firmer.

Unable to help herself, she whispered, “What should we do now?”

It was unclear how many times she had asked this same question. Zhuifeng’s gaze caught sight of a broken branch wilting and dripping in the distance, leaves occasionally drifting down like snowflakes. Suddenly, inspiration struck him, and he whispered a warning: “When the time comes, act accordingly.”

“What do you mean?” Hua Rong asked, already sensing that something significant was about to happen whenever he spoke like this.

Sure enough, Zhuifeng’s eyes suddenly turned cold. He grabbed Hua Rong’s arm, pulling her behind him, then swept his leg in a swift arc. Leaves scattered wildly, falling like snowflakes, countless and fading.

“Master, be careful!” Two guards, thinking he was about to do something drastic, rushed to shield Jun Yeli, their anxiety unmistakable.

Seizing the moment as the leaves formed a natural screen, Zhuifeng wasted no words; gripping Hua Rong’s arm firmly, he leapt lightly and dashed toward a distant gap.

Hua Rong hadn’t even registered what was happening before terror seized her. She cried out, “Hey, hey, what are you doing?!”

“Are you seriously going to stay and wait to die?” Zhuifeng shot back with an eye roll. If he hadn’t been outmatched in fighting, they wouldn’t be in such a dire situation.

Speechless, Hua Rong let him drag her, scrambling and leaping across branches.

As the falling leaves finally settled gently on the ground, the two figures grew more distant. Jun Yeli’s face was clouded with frustration.

Facing the two obstructive men before him, he muttered angrily, “You two idiots—do you really think I can’t beat them? I had the upper hand just now, and now, look! The person I finally found is gone!”

The two looked awkward. Luckily, Cui Liu stepped forward to defuse the tension. “Sir, the people by Miss Hua’s side are incredibly cunning. These two gentlemen are only concerned about your safety.”

Suddenly aided by Cui Liu’s words, they nodded eagerly like chicks pecking at rice.

Jun Yeli rolled his eyes at them, feeling a headache creeping in and unsure how to deal with it.

Watching the lingering smoke in the air, he felt dazed. “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and chase after them!”

The group scrambled forward, unwilling to slacken for even a moment.

Zhuifeng was already nursing some internal injuries. Now, carrying Hua Rong—who wasn’t skilled in martial arts—while bounding through the forest left him utterly exhausted.

Their pursuers weren’t pressing too hard, so Zhuifeng reluctantly found a place to rest.

“Let’s stay here a while. I can’t hold you up anymore. How can you be so heavy?” he complained, casting a disdainful glance at Hua Rong. Though she was as slender as a willow, he still looked for some way to tease her.

Unamused by the baseless insult, Hua Rong retorted, “You wish! I’m light as a feather; it’s your poor stamina that’s the problem.”

No sooner had she spoken than Zhuifeng clutched his chest. Watching his ragged breaths, she noticed blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

This was serious. Rushing over, she steadied him, still somewhat bewildered. “What’s wrong? Don’t scare me like that!”

“Why worry about me? I’m not your husband,” he teased, though secretly pleased by her concern. She turned away with a stubborn pout, looking adorably irritable—almost begging for a smack.

“Not your husband, but your savior. Does that work better?” Hua Rong shot him a glare.

Looking him over, she saw no obvious wounds and was puzzled. “Could it be internal injuries? You were fine just a moment ago.”

“I’m holding on just fine. Your brain’s the problem—how can you be so clueless? No wonder you got dragged into this mess!” he grumbled.

“Hey! You’re the one who got dumped here and couldn’t find an exit. We’re even—no need to blame each other,” she fired back.

Their bickering was cut short by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. Zhuifeng’s body tensed instantly, alert. “No good. They must have followed us. They really won’t give up. We need to move, now!”

Without lingering, supported by Hua Rong, they pressed onward, though their pace slowed significantly. Unfamiliar with the terrain, they soon found themselves trapped.

Beneath a towering waterfall, two mountain ridges converged, pooling into a deep, dark basin whose depth was unknown, swallowing the endless flow of the rivers.

“Finished. This time, there’s truly no way out,” they exchanged glances, the atmosphere thick with awkward tension. Only the ceaseless roar of water filled the heavy silence, chilling their hearts.

Hua Rong swallowed hard, uncertain. “Should we jump into the water? It’s better than falling into their hands.”

“They have no intention of killing you,” Zhuifeng reminded her gently. He could not bear the thought of ending his two months of desperate searching for an escape trapped here in a tragic farewell with a woman.

The guards kept up their relentless pursuit, hands on hips, gasping for breath.

Seeing their foes cornered, one of the pursuers sneered arrogantly, “Run! If you’ve got the guts, keep running. Let’s see where you can take the lady!”

“Pah! Who do you think you’re calling ‘lady’? Shameless!” Hua Rong retorted sharply, hands on her hips as she sidled up, using Zhuifeng as a human shield—surely the classic case of a fox exploiting a tiger’s might.

The man’s face showed a hint of grievance. “She is our master’s lady. Don’t you remember?”

“Don’t try to fool me. You’re all in cahoots. Especially that wicked woman—she must be the one who ordered my kidnapping. Now you want to trick me? Am I really that foolish?” Hua Rong’s newfound sharpness was clear.

Meanwhile, Zhuifeng’s gaze remained fixed on Jun Yeli, the tension snapping back to its previous edge.

“Looks like we need to settle this between us. How about a duel?” Zhuifeng raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with provocation.

“Fine by me!”