This is called giving you face, but you refuse to take it... Fine, now even Mr. Bennett probably has no reason to blame you.

Clang!

Edward Harris strode forward. Without any visible movement of his arm, the long saber at his side suddenly flashed from its sheath, moving in sync with his body—man and blade as one—slicing out in a brilliant arc, as he shouted fiercely, “Henry Clark, you’re courting death!”

Henry Clark struck first, and Edward Harris followed with his move.

There had originally been more than ten paces between the two, but after Henry Clark made his move, the distance grew even greater.

Henry Clark held William Thompson with one arm, wielding his staff with the other, knocking down several people, and was about to break through the encirclement. But at that moment, Edward Harris’s saber was already upon him. The blade flashed coldly, carrying a chilling saber energy, slashing toward Henry Clark’s back. After smashing down a local soldier with his staff, Henry Clark couldn’t look back, but he could feel Edward Harris’s saber closing in.

Not good... This guy can actually condense his saber energy into internal force!

Henry Clark cursed inwardly. The staff spun in his hand, the tail becoming the head, and he braced it against his back.

This move was called “Su Qin Carrying the Sword on His Back.”

A loud clang rang out as the saber struck the staff, and through the staff, a sharp force surged into his body.

Henry Clark spat out a mouthful of blood, but his body, propelled by the saber’s force, flipped twice in the air and was thrown seven or eight meters away. As soon as his feet touched the ground, a local soldier lunged at him from the side. Henry Clark took a deep breath, spun nimbly in place to dodge, snatched the saber from the soldier, then stepped forward and rammed sideways.

This was no ordinary collision.

He gathered the strength of his waist and hips, and with a thud, sent the soldier flying.

At this moment, Edward Harris’s saber missed, and he was momentarily stunned. Just as he was about to charge forward and strike again, he saw the soldier knocked away by Henry Clark flying straight toward him. These soldiers had followed Edward Harris from Qinzhou and were considered his trusted men.

He quickly reached out to catch the soldier, bent his elbow to absorb the impact, and steadied him on the ground. Taking advantage of this moment, Henry Clark swung the saber, knocked down two more soldiers, and rushed to a warhorse. He hoisted William Thompson onto the horse’s back, grabbed the reins, mounted in one swift motion, and struck the horse’s rump with the blade. The horse neighed in pain and bolted madly. Some soldiers tried to block the way, but were knocked aside by the charging horse.

Edward Harris was so furious he was jumping with rage.

“After him, chase him down... Don’t let that rebel escape!”

But giving chase wasn’t so easy.

Earlier, during the fighting in the village, the horses had scattered. Trying to gather them again in a hurry was no simple task.

Edward Harris managed to round up just over ten horses.

Without further delay, he mounted up himself. “Follow me in pursuit... The rest of you, wipe out the remaining rebels in the village—don’t let a single one escape.”

A dozen or so soldiers mounted up with Edward Harris, while the remaining dozens responded in unison.

...

Henry Clark held William Thompson in his arms, galloping at full speed.

Blood kept pouring from his mouth and nose, drop by drop falling onto William Thompson’s face.

That saber strike from Edward Harris had clearly injured his internal organs. If Henry Clark weren’t so robust and burly, he probably wouldn’t even have the strength to ride now. He raced for over half an hour before he could go no further.

Henry Clark knew that Edward Harris was acting under imperial orders this time.

If he didn’t catch him, he wouldn’t give up.

He himself was gravely wounded; if caught, he would surely die. He didn’t care about his own life, but this child...

This was the child of his beloved little sister—he absolutely could not let anything happen to him.

Thinking of this, Henry Clark reined in the horse and looked around. Not far away, he spotted a huge boulder with what looked like a crevice. He quickly dismounted with William Thompson and hurried to the boulder.

“Baby, it’s not that uncle wants to leave you behind, but following me is just too dangerous.

Be good and hide here for now... Once uncle shakes off Edward Harris, I’ll come back for you... Do you hear me?”

As Henry Clark spoke, he placed William Thompson in the crevice of the boulder, forcing a smile onto his dark face.

William Thompson stared wide-eyed, making babbling sounds. Of course he didn’t want to be separated from Henry Clark, but he also understood that, for now, this was the best option.

This was to save his life!

Besides, even if he objected, Henry Clark wouldn’t know.

Henry Clark pressed his face to William Thompson’s, then used vines beside the boulder to cover the crevice.

Lying on the ground, he listened and could faintly hear the sound of hooves. He knew that Edward Harris and his men were closing in!

Though he felt reluctant, he knew this was no time for sentimentality.

Gritting his teeth, he leapt onto the horse and galloped away down the main road. William Thompson hid in the crevice of the boulder, and before long, he heard the sound of hooves approaching, then receding, and finally fading into silence...

From the moment he woke up until now, it had only been an hour or two.

But for William Thompson, this hour or so had undoubtedly been the most thrilling of his life.