Shen Mingyue’s soft sword clashed with the guard’s long spear. Sparks flew like falling stars, landing on her blood-stained lapel and instantly searing charred marks into the fabric, appearing like blossoming flowers of death. She sidestepped a blade thrust from behind with lightning speed, yet she still felt the sharp edge graze her hair, bringing a bone-chilling sting.
The cold spread across her scalp, making her shudder as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Gu Jinghong being backed into a corner by three guards; the blood seeping from the wound on his back had already matted his clothes to his skin, and with every swing of his sword, fresh stains bloomed in a hauntingly dark red under the moonlight. The air grew thick with the smell of blood, mingling with the lingering scent of agarwood in the Second Prince’s palace, creating a nauseating stench.
Shen Mingyue suppressed the rising bile, digging her fingernails deep into her palms. One thought burned in her mind: she must not fall here—not for the sake of the world, nor for the sake of Gu Jinghong, who was fighting blood-soaked by her side. "Break out toward the Cold Palace!"
Chapter 88