The Chance to Survive

On the pristine white snow.

Princess Anle’s jet-black hair and her vivid red palace gown spread out like blooming flowers. As she spoke, three questions instinctively surfaced in Yang An’s mind.

Soft, fragrant, and holding her felt incredibly comfortable.

Especially her snow-white, flawless neck, as smooth as creamy jade. When grasped, it was tender and warm, as if a slight squeeze could snap it clean off!

He could twist her head right off!

Yet Princess Anle showed not a trace of fear.

Instead, she lifted her face with a defiant glare!

“You really think I don’t dare to kill you?” Yang An pressed the faintly glowing dagger directly against Qin Guo’er’s throat. “I’ll say this one last time! Let me go, or don’t blame me for what happens!”

The cold blade pressed against her throat.

A faint mark appeared on her snow-like skin. Still, Princess Anle’s exquisitely delicate face showed no hint of fear.

On the contrary, the smile on her lips deepened.

A flicker of blood-red malice shimmered in her eyes.

“You reckless bastard, do you even know what the punishment is for assassinating a princess?”

“Extermination of the entire nine clans.”

“Not only will you die, but your whole family, young and old, will be wiped out. Even if you kill me, your family will still be doomed.”

“So what will you do?”

Family.

Yang An’s expression changed drastically.

He could fight to the death with this ruthless woman, but he could not drag his sister and brother-in-law into this. Once his family was involved, his resolve weakened. “I killed Lin Hao. I would never betray the princess. Let me go, and we’ll pretend this never happened!”

Seeing the change on his face, Princess Anle smiled even more brightly. She tilted her delicate head and lay more comfortably on the snow, giggling softly: “Regretting offending me, are you? But it’s too late.”

“I never give anyone the chance to regret~”

“But I do fancy you.”

“So I can offer you a favor. If you obediently kneel at my feet and kowtow a few times, I won’t kill your entire nine clans—only three. How about that? Isn’t that merciful of me?”

Merciful!?

There’s no one more venomous than you!

No one more vile!

Yang An gritted his teeth, suppressing the rage about to explode: “Is there really no way out? I’m just a commoner wanting a peaceful life, and yet you’re forcing me to my death?”

“How pitiful. But there’s nothing I can do. You’re just unlucky enough to have met me.”

Pushed into a dead end by Qin Guo’er.

Yang An was like a wild beast trapped in a cage, his boiling fury impossible to contain any longer.

“Then I’ll kill you first!!!”

With a roar,

Yang An recklessly lunged with his dagger. Empowered by tenfold battle strength, the blade shot forward like a meteor streaking through the night, aimed straight at Qin Guo’er’s smooth neck!

Clang!

The sharp clash of metal rang out between them.

A searing pain shot through Yang An’s right hand. The strike he’d poured all his strength into didn’t feel like it had pierced the delicate neck of a beauty, but rather struck an immovable iron mountain!

A blade sharp enough to easily sever a head.

Yet it hadn’t cut through even a fraction of Qin Guo’er’s skin. Instead, it vibrated back, causing his hand to bleed and his entire arm to go numb.

The sharp clang echoed and spread.

A cold wind blew, scattering a few strands of broken snow from the branches.

The atmosphere around fell into a heavy silence.

Under the faint gazes of Princess Anle, her personal maid Manman, and eight other female attendants.

Yang An was silent for a moment.

Then, he threw away the dagger in his hand and silently climbed down from Princess Anle.

Afterward, like a servant, he carefully helped Qin Guo'er, who was lying on the snowy ground, to her feet. He covered her face with the crimson gauze and slipped it back into her hand. Finally, he respectfully helped Princess Anle straighten the disheveled folds of her skirt.

There was no way to run anymore.

Yang An took a deep breath and bowed ninety degrees to Qin Guo'er, saying, "Your Highness, I apologize for my earlier attitude."

“Gigglegiggle~”

“Gigglegiggle~”

He had never seen anyone so amusing.

Qin Guo'er laughed until tears welled up in her eyes, completely disregarding her dignity as she clutched her belly. The luxurious palace gown trembled with her laughter.

Yang An hated her so much right now.

In his heart, he cursed her profusely.

“Damn woman! A princess of a great nation, the most beautiful woman under heaven! Why bother practicing martial arts? Are you just bored with nothing better to do...”

Bang!

Before Yang An could finish his curse, a sudden, sharp pain exploded in his abdomen.

In an instant, his whole body was sent flying like a soaring cloud!

Qin Guo'er kicked him out three or four yards away. His back slammed into a large tree, and he tumbled several times in the snow before lying on his back, blood streaming from his mouth and nose.

Qin Guo'er’s martial arts cultivation was no joke.

With just one kick, she had nearly crippled Yang An, who had just activated his tenfold "Martial God State" power.

Half of his body felt shattered.

Before Yang An could struggle to get up, a flash of red light streaked past—Qin Guo'er had already dashed over! Her foot, clad in phoenix-embroidered shoes, pressed down on his chest.

Her other foot crushed his neck, pinning his head back into the snow just as he tried to lift it.

"You actually dared to try to kill me!"

"Interesting. You really are a fascinating dog!"

“Gigglegiggle.” Qin Guo'er laughed coquettishly, looking at Yang An’s face, swollen red from suffocation, and teased, “What should I do if I really can’t bear to kill you~”

Despite her words,

the foot pressing on Yang An’s throat didn’t loosen in the slightest—in fact, it pressed down even harder.

Before long,

Yang An’s face swelled a deep purple from lack of air. He painfully gripped Qin Guo'er’s ankle beneath her skirt, desperately trying to pry her leg away—but it was impossible!

Her delicate ankle was caught in his hand.

Though separated by undergarments,

he could still feel the warmth and roughness of his palm. Qin Guo'er’s pretty face flushed slightly, her eyes burning with fury. “You damn dog, you really like to offend me, don’t you!”

Suddenly, the pressure underfoot increased.

Yang An felt as if his throat was about to be crushed.

His neck cracked ominously under Qin Guo'er’s brutal weight. Tortured by suffocation and pain, his consciousness began to fade. In that haze, he seemed to see his long-deceased parents standing on the opposite side of a bridge, beckoning him.

It’s over... I’m really going to die.

If I die, what will happen to my sister and brother-in-law?

Wang Gou'er was so ruthless; he would definitely come back. Without the Black Jade Lotus, how could they survive?

They had been struggling to live!

They had never bullied anyone! Never done a single bad thing!

This shouldn’t be how it ends!

Yang An endured the pain that was about to rob him of consciousness, loosening his grip on Princess Anle’s ankle. He reached into his bosom and, trembling, handed her the Black Jade Lotus.

Qin Guo'er sneered, “What’s this? Trying to bribe me with a worthless weed? Begging me to spare your life?”

His throat felt like it was being crushed.

Yang An pushed himself to force out a few words but couldn’t. Luckily, the snow beside him was soft and cold. Using his finger, he awkwardly scratched out three characters in the snow.

“Please, give, family.”

Qin Guo'er, sharp as ever, immediately guessed his intention and said in surprise, “You want me to deliver this to your family?”

Yang An blinked painfully.

His eyes filled with desperate pleading as he looked at her.

The wild smile on Qin Guo'er’s face vanished. Just as Yang An’s throat was about to be stomped into oblivion, she suddenly eased her pressure, giving him a brief breath of fresh air.

“What do you mean? Speak clearly.”

Qin Guo'er’s voice was cold and sharp.

Gasping for breath, Yang An steadied himself and begged Princess Anle, “My brother-in-law is bedridden. Without this medicine, my whole family is doomed.”

“I have committed a grave offense against the princess and deserve death. Whatever punishment you choose, I accept willingly. I only ask that you help me deliver this medicine to my family. In the next life, I will repay your great kindness with utmost loyalty!”

Qin Guo'er was incredulous.

“A man like you still cares about family?”

“You’re about to die by my hand, and you’re still worried about your sister and brother-in-law?!” She couldn’t believe there were such foolish people in the world.

Yang An lay on the snow, forcing a bitter smile. “My sister and brother-in-law have treated me so well. Over the years, they’ve sacrificed so much for me. I owe them more than I can say. I beg you, princess, please grant this.”

“Hmph!”

She didn’t believe a word of it.

Qin Guo'er sneered coldly, “So, you’re saying you’d be willing to die for your sister and brother-in-law?”

Yang An hesitated for a moment.

Then nodded firmly, “As long as they can live, I’m willing.”

Qin Guo'er: ….

She looked at Yang An deeply, amusement flickering in her eyes.

Suddenly, a smirk curved her lips. “Fine, I’ll give you a chance!” She lifted her foot from Yang An’s chest. “Go deliver the medicine to your brother-in-law.”

Huh?

Was she letting him go?

He hadn’t expected such sudden fortune.

This wicked woman was actually sparing him just like that.

Yang An was overjoyed and about to express his gratitude.

“Thank you, princess…”

“Don’t be so quick to thank me,” Princess Anle interrupted, smiling sweetly. “Remember to come to the princess’s mansion to accept your death before the hour of Chen tomorrow.”

Accept my death?

In the end, he still couldn’t escape death?

Yang An’s face froze.

A gentle breeze brushed his face, carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance. Instinctively, he looked up and saw Qin Guo'er leaning over him like a sorceress toying with hearts.

So close.

He could even feel the warm, sweet breath she exhaled as she spoke.

“Of course, running away is an option.”

“I won’t send anyone to hunt you down, but your sister and brother-in-law will be the scapegoats.”

“Such an amusing little mutt.”

“Whether you live or die, you’d better think carefully before you decide.”

“Don’t you dare disappoint me~”