Battle cries shook the heavens across the hills and valleys. In moments, roaring flames sprang up throughout the Imperial Mausoleum construction site. A troop charged out of the command camp, their uniforms marking them as members of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard. At their head rode a burly man on a black horse. He drew his longbow into the perfect circle of a full moon, aimed at Jiang Shaoli, and loosed an arrow. This was Jia Anshuang, deputy commander of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard. No one had imagined he would turn against his own side.
Jiang Shaoli had only just extinguished the flames on his body. Burns covered him, the pain piercing his heart. Just then, Jia Anshuang's death-dealing arrow reached him. There was nowhere to dodge. He lamented inwardly, My life is over! To think that I, Jiang Shaoli, would die here without even knowing why, before I had the chance to accomplish anything great in this world.
The surrounding guards were still dazed by the explosion, and most were injured. They could barely fend for themselves, let alone protect him. At that critical instant, a short sword flew in from the side, striking the arrow's shaft and knocking the seemingly certain killing shot away. Murong Feiyan had saved Jiang Shaoli's life at the very brink of death. Although she refused to acknowledge him as her senior martial brother, she could not bear to watch him die like this. Despite her own injuries, she had thrown her short sword to save him.
Murong Feiyan's intervention drew all the rebels' attention. Jia Anshuang snorted coldly, squeezed his legs against the stirrups, and lifted the reins with his left hand. His horse broke into a gallop toward her. He hung his longbow on a bird-shaped hook and drew the Horse-Cleaving Saber from