With the force of that step, Hu Xiaotian soared into the air again, swooping like a giant bird toward Long Tingzhen and the others fleeing ahead.
Long Tingzhen snorted, seized Long Xuan'en, and hurled him at Hu Xiaotian. "Take him back!" he snarled.
Seeing the Old Emperor thrown at him like a ball, Hu Xiaotian hastily reached out, caught him in midair, and slowly descended to the ground. Long Xuan'en was covered in blood. Long Tingzhen had crushed the bones in both his arms, leaving him in such agony that he wished he were dead.
Long Xuan'en clutched Hu Xiaotian's wrist. "My loyal minister... save me..."
Hu Xiaotian sighed. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I'll do my best to save you." In truth, he could not have cared less whether Long Xuan'en lived or died, but the Old Emperor still seemed to be of some use in his hands. He looked up and saw that Long Tingzhen and his companions had already fled into the Hall of Heavenly Harmony.
Thousands of Imperial Guards were now approaching from the distance to provide support. The man at their head shouted, "Hu Xiaotian, you traitor! How dare you plot rebellion and take His Majesty hostage!"
Hu Xiaotian looked toward the voice and saw that the man leading them was Murong Zhan. He knew at once that things had taken a bad turn. He said to Long Xuan'en, "Say something!"
Supported by Hu Xiaotian, Long Xuan'en barely managed to stand. He shouted with all his strength, "Listen to me, all of you! Hu Xiaotian is utterly loyal. He... saved me... come and protect your emperor..." Seeing Murong Zhan arrive with the Imperial Guards, he thought he could finally be rescued.
The Imperial Guards' archers had already formed ranks, nocked their arrows, and drawn their bows,