"It won’t do any good even if they come back, not unless they bring the men from the Border Region with them."

Guo Wei knew that Zhuoyi and Du Juan had only gone to fetch arrest warrants and legal writs. Even with official standing, that wouldn’t be enough to stop Xie Xiaohuan’s murderous intent.

Their only chance was to retreat early, meet up with Zhuoyi’s group before they went too deep into Turkic territory, and have them persuade the Border Region guards to dispatch reinforcements. Only then could the three of them escape.

"Hmph. They’re catching up. Our horses can’t outrun theirs. You two, keep running for the National Border. I’ll lead them away."

Just then, Guo Wei spotted the pursuers behind them.

"Master, if we’re going, we go together."

Chu Lingguang didn’t want Guo Wei to put himself in harm’s way.

"Good apprentice, now is not the time for sentimentality. Your only hope is to quickly rendezvous with Zhuo and have him bring reinforcements from the Border Region. Only then can I escape," Guo Wei said.

"But Master, you’ll be all alone..."

Hei Hu said, worried.

"I can only fight without restraint if I’m alone! GO!"

Time was short. Guo Wei wasted no more words with the two of them. He unleashed a terrifying aura, frightening Chu Lingguang’s Little Red Horse and Hei Hu’s Mountain Pass Peak so badly that they bolted frantically toward the National Border.

"NEIGH!"

Guo Wei’s mount, Red Boy, let out a sharp cry.

Watching Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu ride off into the distance, he spurred Red Boy toward the Thousand-Mile Plain. This way, Xie Xiaohuan’s men would be able to see him and would chase after him.

"Senior Brother, let’s go!"

Chu Lingguang had no choice but to race toward the National Border, hoping to meet Zhuoyi’s group as soon as possible. He knew that he and Hei Hu weren’t skilled enough to fight alongside Guo Wei. Rushing back would only make them a burden to their master.

Only by quickly finding Zhuoyi and the others and having Zhuo call in the Border Region guards could they save Guo Wei.

And so, the master and his two apprentices split into two groups.

The apprentices charged straight for the National Border, while Guo Wei deliberately took a long detour, attempting to draw Xie Xiaohuan’s men toward him.

"SCREECH!"

An eagle followed close behind Guo Wei, circling high in the sky far in the distance.

It was a scouting eagle of the Turkic Royal Family.

It could track the movements of Chu Lingguang’s party of three from a great distance.

"Hamu, Guo Wei is trying to lead us away."

Zamuhai could understand the eagle’s cries. He looked toward the Thousand-Mile Plain and soon spotted a figure galloping across it—it was Guo Wei.

"We can’t let Guo Wei or Chu Lingguang get away. Guo Wei is powerful, and Chu Lingguang has limitless potential. Leaving either of them alive would be a disaster," Hamu said.

"They say Guo Wei was the one who gave Elder Ma that internal injury. Months have passed, and it still hasn’t healed. If we split up, we won’t stand a chance against Guo Wei," Zamuhai stated.

Hamu thought for a moment, then said, "Bamo, take twenty men and chase after Chu Lingguang. No matter what, you cannot let him make it back into Great Yuan Territory alive."

"Yes, sir! I swear I’ll bring back Chu Lingguang’s head to show my loyalty to Prince Andre and to avenge Samba!"

Bamo was a twenty-eight-year-old man with chapped cheeks and a powerful build, exuding a bestial aura.

"You are a warrior from the Aika Tribe. If you can kill Chu Lingguang, your entire tribe will be proud of you," Hamu said encouragingly.

"I understand."

Bamo was filled with ambition, vowing to kill Chu Lingguang.

In the end, a group of twenty-one riders broke off from the massive pursuing force and chased after Chu Lingguang and his companion.

’Come on, then. I’m waiting for you... Hmm... No, this is bad. They didn’t let Lin Guang go.’

Guo Wei galloped across the plain.

The field of view was wide open. He didn’t need a scouting eagle’s help to see the riders behind him. He watched with his own eyes as they split off a smaller team and sent it straight for the National Border.

A sense of dread washed over him.

Although Chu Lingguang had made good progress recently, he had never been in a true life-or-death battle. If that group caught up to him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But it was too late to turn back to Chu Lingguang’s side. Besides, if all three of them were surrounded, it was likely none of them would survive.

Rage burned within Guo Wei, but all he could do was pray that Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu would reach the National Border first, or run into Zhuoyi’s group along the way.

"YAH!"

A hundred li. It wasn’t a long distance, but it wasn’t short, either.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu both had decent Riding Skill, but unfortunately, Little Red Horse and Mountain Pass Peak were no match for the warhorses of the Turkic Kingdom.

The two martial brothers soon noticed the pursuers behind them.

They even saw the eagle circling behind them.

"Senior Brother, Master’s plan to lure the tiger from the mountain didn’t work," Chu Lingguang pointed out.

"Dammit, they won’t even let a couple of small fry like us go. How despicable," Hei Hu said, looking dejected.

Chu Lingguang’s expression froze. ’Small fry,’ he thought, and then he understood. The pursuers were mainly after him.

He was the top ranker of South City, the one who had killed Samba, and he had even trained in the Northern Territory Trial Ground. They might let Hei Hu go, but they would never let him escape.

Thinking of this, Chu Lingguang glanced around, his eyes landing on the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

The Hundred Thousand Mountains were a natural barrier between Great Yuan and the Turkic Kingdom.

It lay like a colossal, hideous scar across the lands of Great Yuan and the Turkic Kingdom. Demon Beasts ran rampant within, and neither Great Yuan nor the Turkic Kingdom had ever managed to completely conquer it.

"Senior Brother, they’re after me! I’ll lead them away. You go find Brother Zhuo! Don’t forget to save Master and me!"

Chu Lingguang steeled his resolve, spun his horse around, and galloped toward the Hundred Thousand Mountains. At the same time, he used his Lightning Spear to smack the rump of Hei Hu’s Mountain Pass Peak.

"Agh, Junior Brother!"

Mountain Pass Peak cried out in pain, and Hei Hu was nearly thrown from the saddle.

Watching Chu Lingguang head for the Hundred Thousand Mountains, he gripped the reins tightly and rode toward the National Border, tears streaming down his face.

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