The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 442: If anything happens to her, he won’t want to live either (second update)

Chapter 442: If anything happens to her, he won’t want to live either (second update)

The crowd heard the earth-shaking sound of powerful hooves and strained their necks to see in the distance.

They saw their Khan, majestic in his might, glorious in battle, wise and valiant as if changed, riding as if mad, spurring his horse in a frenzied dash toward them.

Leading the charge, he left his Ironclad Army far behind.

Numberless and invincible, the Ironclad Army raised rolling clouds of dust, advancing in an overwhelming tide that covered the sky and earth.

Though far away, the crowd could see clearly that their Khan was unharmed, showing no signs of injury.

It turned out to be a ploy by the villain to lure the tiger away from the mountain; fortunately, the queen had seen through it, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Yelu Yan arrived like a sudden gust of wind, sweeping up to them in an instant.

Before his horse had even stopped, Yelu Yan’s tall and burly figure leaped down from the saddle.

He stared directly at Li Xianyun, who was being held hostage, a lump in his throat so tight he could barely breathe, his chest as if crushed by a weight of thousands of pounds, leaving him gasping for air.

Yelu Yan’s gaze fell upon Li Xianyun’s swan-like neck, white as snow, where a shocking red bruise marked her skin, a bead of blood oozing from its edge, glaringly red.

She was injured.

How dare Ji Xueyuan?! How dare he hurt his woman?!!

Yelu Yan’s eyebrows furrowed in anger, his eyes reddened with rage, his jaw clenched tightly, his face dark as the ice of winter, exuding a terrifying malice, like a hellish Rakshasa one dares not look at twice.

Ji Xueyuan was utterly frightened by Yelu Yan’s fury.

Yelu Yan was deep and inscrutable, and Ji Xueyuan had never been able to see through him.

He had always viewed him with reverence.

Seeing Yelu Yan react this way, Ji Xueyuan knew he had thoroughly enraged him.

If he couldn’t escape, he would surely be torn to pieces by Yelu Yan.

Yelu Yan, indeed, loved that detestable woman of the Han Ethnic Group to the depths of his soul.

Yelu Yan glanced coldly at Ji Xueyuan and said in a chilling voice, "Let her go, and I’ll spare your life."

"Do you think I would believe you now?" Ji Xueyuan said with forced calm, "Leave the horses, you and your men stay back, and once we have escaped, your beloved will naturally be released. If you refuse, be prepared to never see her again, alive or dead."

"Fine, I agree," said Yelu Yan with a cold voice.

While they talked, the Ironclad Army also arrived in force.

Yelu Yan, his gaze fixed on Li Xianyun, commanded the Ironclad Army behind him, "Leave the horses and step aside!"

The Ironclad Army had been personally trained by Yelu Yan, known for their absolute obedience.

No sooner had Yelu Yan spoken than the resounding reply of the Ironclad Army echoed, "Yes!"

Li Xianyun looked at Yelu Yan with a tinge of sadness and said, "Khan, I truly regret that the other day when you said you wanted to teach me archery, I didn’t learn. If I could go back, I would cherish the days spent with you."

Yelu Yan quickly caught the cryptic message in Li Xianyun’s words.

Li Xianyun was adept at crafting weapons and equally skilled in their use.

Her sleeve arrows and repeating crossbow were unparalleled, never missing their mark; obviously, she needed no lessons in archery from him.

Moreover, he had never offered to teach her archery.

Li Xianyun’s words were surely hinting at her intention to use the bow and arrow.

Yelu Yan watched the fluid movement in Li Xianyun’s eyes.

As their gazes met, they understood each other perfectly.

Ji Xueyuan, seeing the Ironclad Army step back with their horses, glanced coldly at Yelu Yan and said, "Khan, please step aside. Blades have no eyes, and it would be unfortunate if the favored concubine were harmed."

Yelu Yan moved aside as instructed, and from inside his sleeve, he slightly extended his hand, a sharp hidden weapon falling into his palm.

Yelu Yan clenched it, ready to launch at any moment.

"Back off more," Ji Xueyuan ordered coldly.

Yelu Yan complied.

Ji Xueyuan, believing Yelu Yan had withdrawn far enough, felt a little relieved and began moving forward with Li Xianyun as his hostage.

Seizing a moment when his guard was down, Li Xianyun quickly pressed a point on Ji Xueyuan’s arm, causing him to lose sensation in half of his body instantly, the dagger clattering from his hand.

At that moment, Yelu Yan leapt forward, throwing the hidden weapon in his hand straight into Ji Xueyuan’s throat.

His movements were agile and swift, so quick that before one could see how he acted, Ji Xueyuan’s eyes widened, voiceless before falling heavily backward.

Yelu Yan wrapped one arm tightly around Li Xianyun, protecting her head with his other hand, pressing her into his embrace for safekeeping.

His head leaned close against Li Xianyun’s, as he closed his eyes tightly.

It was only at this moment that he dared to breathe normally, as if his heart finally started to beat.

However, even with Li Xianyun in his arms, Yelu Yan still felt it to be so unreal.

It was as if he had just experienced a dream—a nightmare that had nearly cost him his life.

While he was at the hunting grounds, leading the Ironclad Army to personally slay those assassins, he received a message claiming someone wanted to lured Li Xianyun out by faking his injury.

Yelu Yan, fearing Li Xianyun would encounter danger, had rushed over with his men at full speed.

Upon seeing Li Xianyun held hostage by Ji Xueyuan, his mind raced through numerous thoughts:

How to rescue her, what if Xianxian is hurt? What if the rescue failed?

While various ideas filled his mind, a voice inside grew firmer: if anything happened to his Xianxian, he no longer wanted to live.

Before meeting Li Xianyun, Yelu Yan had always looked down on those infatuated men and lovelorn women.

A true man should make his mark on the world, not let romantic entanglements hinder his steps, or hold him back.

But after meeting Li Xianyun, Yelu Yan realized how sweet yet bitter love could be. Without her by his side, life would be meaningless, and he would rather be dead.

Caught up in this romance, he wandered further and further, sinking deeper and deeper, yet he relished it.

Yelu Yan looked down at Li Xianyun and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Li Xianyun looked up at him and smiled, "I’m not injured, it doesn’t hurt."

Yelu Yan, however, found no smile in himself.

He gently lifted Li Xianyun’s chin, bending down to look at her neck, "You’re bleeding, how can it not hurt?"

Li Xianyun reached up to touch it, winced at the sharp pain, and involuntarily furrowed her brow with a light hiss.

The cut had hurt at first, but then her thoughts were preoccupied elsewhere, and she had paid no attention to the minor wound, forgetting about it for the time being.

Yelu Yan frowned and said, "Don’t touch it, we’ll apply medicine back at the palace."

"Will it leave a scar?"

She still cared greatly about her beauty.

"Yes," Yelu Yan said irritably.

Although he didn’t know exactly what had happened, he was aware that Li Xianyun was adept with hidden weapons and poisons. Ji Xueyuan couldn’t possibly have captured her unless she allowed it, surely because she was trying to save someone, getting herself into danger.

How could he not be angry when she took such little care for herself? If anything happened to her, how would he live on?

Li Xianyun, who knew best how to use softness to overcome strength, puckered her lips and said with an aggrieved tone, "Husband, I’ve just had a scare, and you’re being harsh with me."

Her clear, lively eyes and sweet, gentle voice made her look pitiful and lovely.

Yelu Yan could hardly keep any temper, embracing her tightly, looking down and cooing, "I’m not being harsh with you, I’m just worried about you."

Their heads leaned together, whispering tenderly, lost in their affection, oblivious to the world around them.

Princess Jinyu watched with envy, thinking to herself: Li Xianyun really had a charmed life—why hadn’t she died?

Just moments ago, she had been praying for Li Xianyun’s death.

The Ironclad Army formed a protective circle around Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun, keeping them safe within. Outside the circle, the Ironclad warriors struck decisively, each blow fatal.

The Rebel Army’s cries of agony rose and fell rapidly, with the traitors swiftly dispatched or captured.

Once everything had settled down, Jinwu knelt down and saluted, "Reporting to Khan, apart from a few captives from the Rebel Army, the rest have been executed by the Ironclad Army on the spot."

Yelu Yan responded with an indifferent "Hmm."

Peace and tranquility returned to the hunting grounds.

The crowd knelt, saluting, "We pay our respects to Khan!"

Li Xianyun tried to leave Yelu Yan’s embrace.

But how could Yelu Yan easily let her go?

Yelu Yan wrapped his arm around Li Xianyun’s slender waist, pulling her tightly to his chest, not allowing her to escape.

"Rise," Yelu Yan said in a calm voice.