With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

As he applied the medicine, he couldn't help but mutter a complaint under his breath, "Is this some kind of place where you can just run around like this? You're just causing trouble for others. Your hands are all bruised up like this, and you didn't even say anything. You just know how to be tough."

He kept nagging and criticizing.

Yun Nian let him scold her, but her gaze couldn't help but drift to the dark-skinned figure who was resting with his eyes closed not far away.

Qin Jiuchen remained in the same posture as before, seemingly oblivious to the commotion.

A mountain breeze swept by, lifting a few strands of his dark hair, making his aloof profile appear even more distant.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for applying the medicine."

Yun Nian withdrew her gaze, turned to Qin Senyao, and spoke in a very soft voice.

She looked up, and the morning light shone through the gaps in the leaves onto her face.

Her large, watery eyes appeared exceptionally clear and bright, while her pale face and the teeth marks on her lips, which she had bitten herself, added to her pitiful charm.

Qin Senyao was applying the last bit of ointment to her wound when he heard this and looked up, only to meet those eyes.

He was suddenly startled, as if a feather had gently tickled his heart.

Only then did he realize that Yun Nian was actually very beautiful.

Like pear blossoms after the rain, they are delicate and beautiful, yet also fragile and endearing.

Especially seeing him like this now, his throat tightened, and his previous impatience and anger unconsciously dissipated by more than half.

As if possessed, he took her hand in his palm, his thumb unconsciously stroking the back of her hand gently, feeling its delicate and warm texture.

"You feel pain now?"

His voice softened unconsciously, "The road ahead is even more difficult. Swords have no eyes, so you need to be smart. If you encounter danger, don't rush forward foolishly. Remember to hide at the back of the group, understand?"

Yun Nian felt a strong aversion to his sudden closeness and touch.

But she showed no sign of it on her face. She simply lowered her eyelashes to hide the fleeting coldness in her eyes and nodded obediently, "Yes, Nian'er remembers."

In that moment of demure submission, a flash of inspiration struck her, and an idea quietly took shape.

-

After a short rest, Qin Jiuchen opened his eyes, got up and ordered the team to prepare to depart.

Yun Nian endured the pain in her legs and managed to stand up, her left leg noticeably limping as she walked.

As the guards mounted their horses one after another, she bit her lip and gently tugged at Qin Senyao, who was about to mount his horse.

"Your Highness..."

She looked up, her eyes filled with pleading and helplessness, "I rubbed my legs raw while riding the horse, it hurts so much. I'm afraid if I ride again, I'll delay everyone's journey..."

She paused, her eyes revealing admiration and dependence at the opportune moment. "I know that Your Highness is most skilled in horsemanship, your riding technique is superb. I wonder if you could help me?"

Qin Senyao was flattered by her soft words and the praise and flattery in her words, and a surge of heroic spirit to "save the beauty" welled up inside him.

He said with a touch of magnanimity, "What a hassle. Alright, I'll make an exception and give you a ride today. Get in."

With that, he mounted his white horse and reached out his hand to Yun Nian.

Yun Nian handed over her hand.

Qin Senyao pulled hard, dragging her onto the horse and placing her in front of him.

His arm immediately wrapped around her, grasped the reins, and half-encircled her in his embrace.

The two were very close, and Yun Nian could smell the faint scent of sweat and leather on him, which made her body stiffen and her brows furrow inwardly.

But she didn't turn around; instead, she secretly cast her gaze toward the front of the line.

Qin Jiuchen had already mounted his horse and sat upright on its back, not turning back to pay attention to the little incident behind him.

He ordered in a deep voice, "Let's go."

The team started moving again.

The mountain road was rugged, and the horses were jolted along.

Yun Nian was forced to lean against Qin Senyao's chest, and with the rise and fall of the horse, her back would occasionally bump against his solid chest.

Qin Senyao initially tried to maintain a distance out of consideration for etiquette.

But the mountain road was difficult to travel, and several times when he had to tighten his arms to steady her when he had to make sharp turns or jump over ditches, their bodies inevitably pressed closer together.

He could feel the softness and slenderness of the woman's body in front of him, and the faint fragrance of her hair lingered around his nose.

She seemed very nervous, her body tense, which only made her seem more vulnerable and helpless.

Qin Senyao unconsciously tightened his grip on her arm, and whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid, sit tight."

Yun Nian resisted the urge to push him away, only giving a vague "hmm," but her gaze remained fixed on the dark figure in front of her.

Qin Jiuchen rode his horse at the head of the procession, his back straight, like a proud pine tree on a cliff.

He never looked back once.

However, the guards around them inexplicably felt a low pressure spreading.

The air around the prince seemed even colder than the twilight in the forest.

Suddenly, as they passed a relatively flat, open area, Qin Jiuchen spurred his horse and shouted in a deep voice, "Giddy up!"

His black steed neighed and accelerated suddenly like an arrow released from a bow, instantly pulling the group behind him a short distance away.

Qin Senyao was taken aback by his father's sudden acceleration and quickly urged his horse to follow, but he was a little puzzled.

As Qin Jiuchen sped away, a glint flashed in Yun Nian's eyes, who was in his arms.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed rapidly in the twilight, shattering the silence of the mountain forest.

Qin Jiuchen took the lead, his black cloak fluttering behind him.

Qin Senyao followed closely behind with Yun Nian.

The mountain path became increasingly steep and treacherous, with dense forests and dim lighting, but the team's pace did not slow down at all.

After an unknown period of running, darkness completely enveloped the surrounding area. In the depths of the dense forest ahead, a simple stockade built against the mountain finally came into view.

A few dim lights flickered on the gate of the village, casting the three blurry characters "Tiger Roar Village".

The group stopped at a secluded spot some distance from the village gate.

Qin Senyao first dismounted and then helped Yun Nian down.

Her legs were chafed, and she couldn't help but gasp for breath when she landed.

Qin Jiuchen had already dismounted and was listening to several scouts quietly reporting the situation inside the stronghold.

Deployment is simple and quick.

He personally led his elite troops as the vanguard, taking advantage of the darkness to scale the weakest point of the defenses—the rear cliff—and open the gate of the stockade.

Qin Senyao led another team to launch a feint attack from the front to draw attention, and then immediately stormed in once the gates were opened.

The rest of the men guarded the key routes to prevent the bandits from escaping.

The order was given, and everyone prepared accordingly.

Yun Nian still hadn't seen Chen Sha and Qi Luo, and felt uneasy.

Qin Senyao adjusted his wrist guards and walked to her side. "When the fight breaks out, swords and spears will have no eyes. You stay behind me and don't run around, understand?"

Looking at her pale face, he added, "Don't worry, I will protect you."

Yun Nian raised her eyes, her gaze reflecting the firelight, revealing just the right amount of dependence and adoration. "Thank you, Your Highness. With Your Highness here, Nian'er is not afraid."

Her trusting demeanor greatly pleased Qin Senyao's vanity, and he unconsciously curled up his lips, patting her shoulder.

Not far away, Qin Jiuchen, who was adjusting his leather sleeves, paused for a moment.

A chill seemed to emanate from my body.