His Rui

The dead shadow guard lied on the floor. Blood flowed out from his chest non-stop.

The scene was too horrifying for a person who had not seen anything like this before so Xi Ying unconsciously looked at Li Rui. 

However it seemed that she didn't need his worry at all.

With her calm eyes, she looked at the dead shadow guard as if she was looking on the ground casually.

When she raised her head and looked at him, he unconsciously nodded his head at her just like he did to his shadow guards when their work was done.

Li Rui did the same without minding his awkward behavior.       

"H..how …"

The stutters attracted the attention of both of them and Xi Ying saw An Si looking at Li Rui with pure confusion on his face.

He knew what his shadow guard was thinking. How did Li Rui who looked so thin in comparison to the dead shadow guard kill him?

An Si couldn't see but Xi Ying saw how Li Rui held the shadow guard's arm when he raised his hand to grab her and dug her nail deep inside his nerve.

Her nails…Xi Ying's gaze went to them.

Or perhaps Li Rui noticed his gaze as she explained without any hesitation.

"It was the drug that can make a person paralyzed for a few moments."

Xi Ying was startled because he never expected her to answer his question. The next moment, his eyes became warm and gentle as he looked at Li Rui.

From his sleeve, he took out his handkerchief and then hesitantly took Li Rui's hand. When she didn't resist, he wiped her nails carefully with it.

An Si also seemed to have understood what just happened and his eyes looking at Li Rui held admiration and respect.

Such a move …he had never expected Madam Xi to make such a move.   

A moment later, An Ping also stepped on the road and when Xi Ying looked at him, he nodded his head indicating that the work on the other side of the road was done.

The frown on Xi Ying's forehead settled.

"Young Miss …are you alright?"

Li Hua asked her mistress as Li Rui looked at the small wound on her neck. It was a small cut but since it was on the neck …it couldn't be taken lightly.

"I am fine, Li Hua"

Li Rui answered her maid calmly as she told him not to move her neck too much. The blood had stopped following but if the movement was made too much then the skin could peel again and then the blood could start to flow again.   

The next moment she turned around suddenly and looked towards the forest.

Her gaze then went to Xi Ying and she saw that he was also looking in the same direction with his deep black and cold eyes.

"Master"

An Si and An Ping called out to Xi Ying waiting for his next orders.

They had not expected more to come but as long as Li Rui and her maid could be taken away from there, killing others was just a piece of cake for them.

They saw Xi Ying closing his eyes and when he opened them, Xi Ying exhaled sharply.

"Around forty."

Xi Ying whispered in a low voice.

An Si, An Ping, and Li Rui had serious faces and Li Hua looked terrified.

"They are there…My Lady, let's run in that direction."

At this moment, Li Hua knew that the real target was her mistress so she just wanted to save Li Rui with whatever she could.

Xi Ying who heard the maid suddenly had a very conflicted mind.   

He couldn't send Li Rui alone or even with his shadow guards …because the shadow guards would follow her wherever she would go.

"We will go to Xi Manor."

Except for Xi Manor, no other place was safe at this time.

The attack only happened because they left Xi Manor today hence the enemies got a very good opportunity. 

Everyone present also understood Xi Ying's decision.

The next moment, Xi Ying held Li Rui by her waist, An Si lifted Li Hua and then with An Ping protecting them from behind, they flew towards Xi Manor.

However somehow and somewhere everyone knew that the journey would not be an easy one.

Because the shadow guards who attacked this time were very good archers of Zhao Wang Lei.

Behind them were almost forty very capable archers while they were only three with two women to protect.

Or that was what Xi Ying thought.

Just half a shichen later, the scene was very different from what Xi Ying had wanted.

Standing inside the forests with a wounded Li Hua in An Si's arms, Xi Ying, Li Rui, and An Ping looked at their surroundings.

The arrows started just when they flew away. For a long time, they managed to avoid or kill some of the hidden shadow guards but still, an arrow hit Li Hua on her shoulder.

"Young Miss"

Li Hua whispered suddenly attracting Li Rui's attention.

Li Rui was immediately by Li Hua's side.

"I am here, Li Hua"

Li Rui murmured as she stroked her maid's hair gently. However, what Li Hua said next froze Li Rui all over.

"Young Miss, if something happened to me …then promise Li Hua that you will not blame yourself."

"Nothing will happen to you."

Li Rui said immediately.

"You will be co…" completely fine.

She had wanted to say but when she saw Li Hua's blood soaking An Si's clothes, she was suddenly at loss.

The arrow hit the shoulder and hence if treated fast then it would not be much of a problem but the blood loss could also become the reason of death.

Li Rui's face went pale suddenly. 

She felt a sting in her eyes and she blinked them vigorously. Xi Ying knew what she was trying to do. His lips were pressed in a thin line as he looked at his pregnant wife and then at the injured Li Hua.

Xi Ying knew that he needed An Si at this moment but at this moment, he also knew that if something happened to Li Hua then he would lose Li Rui also.

Remembering how Li Rui looked when Li Hua had saved her last time, Xi Ying clenched his fists and said   

"An Si, take her away to Xi Manor and get her treated."

"Master."

An Si frowned knowing that he was needed here.

But Xi Ying shook his head and said

"They won't follow you so you can leave very easily. Go to Xi Manor and send An Ju, An Shing, and An Su here."

In the end, An Si could only obey his master. With time, Li Hua also lost her consciousness, and hence even if she wanted to protest she couldn't voice out anything. 

As he flew away with Li Hua, Li Rui looked at Xi Ying's back silently.