Chapter 43: Fugitive's Night of Terror (Part 1)

  I was the only one left in the tent, so I immediately got up with a start and looked around for something to defend myself. A gust of wind blew strangely on my neck, and the lamp in the tent suddenly went out, plunging me into darkness. As I turned back hastily, a white shadow flashed before my eyes, and a familiar white mask flickered across my vision. Just as I was wondering what it was, the sound of clashing swords came from outside the tent. I stealthily lifted up the curtain to take a look, and in the distance, flames were shooting up into the sky. The soldiers of Nanzhao were in disarray, shouting that the granary was on fire and calling for people to go put out the fire.

  Retribution comes so quickly!

  What a relief! What a relief!

  Then I thought about how important the grain depot is to an army on a expedition, it must be someone secretly sabotaging, could it be that there are traitors among the Yu family's troops, if so, perhaps tonight big brother's reinforcements will arrive.

  My heart was thrilled, I found a short knife, and secretly lifted the thick curtain. Hmm! It's strange, the two soldiers guarding the door are nowhere to be seen, maybe they went to put out the fire.

  I plucked up my courage and slipped out, flashing into the darkness, aiming at a hastily passing soldier, and with great force struck his head. Unexpectedly, he swayed twice, turned around to stare at me as if nothing had happened. Just as I was about to strike again, another Nanzhao soldier floated in from behind him.

  I secretly called out "not good", not wanting the silver light to flash in the hand of the Nan Zhao soldier behind, and the little soldier in front had already fallen softly to the ground. I was surprised, and the Nan Zhao soldier who made the move took off his helmet, revealing a pair of dimples, and said to me in a low voice: "Miss, don't be afraid, it's me."

  I stared and found it was actually the scattered Qi Fang, my heart suddenly filled with great joy. Qi Fang quickly and neatly stripped off the small soldier's uniform: "Miss, hurry up and put on this uniform, something big has happened in Nanzhao, Guangyi Wang is currently investigating Yu Gang's rebellion, Yu Gang's son is involved, the imperial envoy has just arrived, it's a good opportunity to change the commander at the front line. I set fire to the granary, taking advantage of the chaos to rescue you, Miss."

  I nodded and asked: "Xiao Fang, where were you hiding? How did you find out?"

  "The little man couldn't find the young lady in Xi'an, and when he returned to Xifengyuan, there was no one there. He immediately set off for Luoyang that night, originally planning to wait for Master An's comfort, saying that you and his daughter were safely hiding in a secret villa, and would soon be able to return to Luoyang safely. I then turned back to find Big Brother and head to Luoyang together, but he and the Fuju Inn had both disappeared without a trace. We met a teacher surnamed Dai, and together with the brothers from Dongying, we hid outside the city at Lanling Slope. Duan Yuerong came to kill the brothers from Dongying, and that's when I found out that the young lady had actually taken the place of Yuan Feiyan, and hadn't escaped from Xi'an after all."

  As I recall the tragic deaths of Dai Binghai and Song Mingkui, my nose involuntarily turns sour. I hastily change into my armor, holding my sword upright as we charge forward. We rush towards Xilin, but before we arrive, we see that the area is brightly lit, with a sea of black-clad Nanman soldiers densely packed in front of us. The thick snow has almost been trampled flat by the Nanman army, and the hot air exhaled from the mouths of the layered men seems to be melting the snowy ground. The Nanman soldiers are divided into two factions, facing off against each other - one side is led by Duan Yuerong, while the other side is led by the burly Hu Yong.

  I and Qi Fang hid in the dark, only to hear Hu Yong shouting: "The king has already descended with the tiger tally to change the commander, Duan Yue Rong you still don't abandon your sword and surrender, follow the imperial envoy's prisoner cart back to Dali to accept punishment?"

  Duan Yue's face was cold as she sneered, "Hu Yong, you resent me for taking away your military power. You can go back to Nanzhao and complain to my father the king. However, my father has not treated you poorly. I didn't think you would lose all sense of righteousness and help Guangyi Wang come harm me."

  Hu Yong sneered: "Duan Yu Rong, old Wang Ye is not bad to me, but unfortunately he's old and muddled. He's so muddled that he lets a young whippersnapper like you take command of the expedition to Xi'an, and even wants to betray Guangyi Da Wang for your sake?"

  "I have an elderly mother above me, and a wife and numerous children below me. Even if I were to surrender to you, King Guangyi, once you ascend to the throne, you would still exterminate my entire family. It's all because of you that things have turned out this way - it's your father who raised a monster like you with purple eyes. Now that your father has been imprisoned, the king has ordered that anyone who wants to see him must do so in person, whether he is alive or dead. If you know what's good for you, I might still be able to spare your life."

  Duan Yue's eyes flashed with danger as she shouted loudly: "The soldiers of Yu Gang's household, if you want to save your lives, quickly kill the rebel general Hu Yong and follow me in escaping."

  Both sides of the Nanzhao army engaged in a fierce battle, with flames illuminating the cries of slaughter. Young lives were trampled upon each other; those who had reveled in pleasure and conquest just yesterday now lay blood-soaked and lifeless, their souls lost in a foreign land!

  Zi Fang protected me as I quietly bypassed the battlefield, I turned my head to look back, Duan Yue Rong's helmet was knocked off, her hair scattered on the blood-red black armor, Zi Tong's eyes were cold and fierce in the dark night, like a malevolent spirit craving blood, no one dared to approach, his large knife swept past, opening up paths of blood, his purple pupils flashed, suddenly dashing towards me, his gaze was gloomy beyond compare, he shouted loudly: "Hua Mu Jin."

  This shout was drowned out by the soldiers' battle cries, but it clearly entered my mind. I sneered and, separated by the crowd, raised a middle finger high to him, provokingly staring at him from afar: Go die, you demon!

  I didn't expect his face to be even darker, and he actually swung the Yasaka knife towards me in a frenzy, my sweat flowed down in vain, what is he going to do?

  I quickened my pace, keeping up with Qi Fang, and gradually the crowd disappeared from our line of sight.

  The fear that those cold, purple eyes brought me disappeared in the thrill of regaining our freedom. We ventured deeper into the Western Forest, where snowflakes danced around us. I suddenly stopped in my tracks: "Xiao Fang, Chu Hua and Zhen Zhu are still in the Purple Garden, what will happen to them?"

  Qī put it in front and stopped, solemnly saying: "Miss, don't be distressed, as long as Miss can safely escape the clutches of Nanzhao, White San will immediately attack the city."

  My heart leapt with joy: "Are Third Master's troops outside the city?"

  "Indeed, the troops and horses of the Third Master have been secretly led by the Young Master to arrive at Xi'an City today. I have already arranged with Wei Hu to meet in Xi'an City. The reason why Guangyi Wang imprisoned Yu Gang is entirely due to the arrangements of the Third Master. Miss, do you remember that the Yuan family sent ten beauties to Guangyi Wang, including one named Xiangxiang, who has won the favor of Guangyi Wang's harem? The Third Master has secretly instructed her to persuade Guangyi Wang, and presented evidence of Yu Gang secretly manufacturing weapons and privately recruiting brave warriors to Guangyi Wang. That is why Guangyi Wang was enraged and determined to reduce the power of the vassals within the country."

  I nodded, thinking that if I could see Fei Bai earlier, Pearl and Chu Hua would also be rescued earlier. Besides, Nanzhao is currently in internal strife, with Pearl's calmness, she must be able to protect herself and retreat safely.

  Just as they were about to proceed, a thin fog and heavy snow came down in front of them. Qi Fang's expression turned serious, "Miss, stay close to me, don't get lost."

  I ran with Qi Fang, I didn't know how long we had been running, but Qi Fang never let go of my hand. However, the snow fog around us slowly thickened with a strange fragrance.

  "It's not right," I panted to Qi Fang, "we should have left Xilin long ago, why is there still no sign of them."

  Zi Fang also stopped and looked serious, looking around: "Miss, this is not an ordinary fog, we have entered someone else's formation."

  The bubbles of hope I just raised are popping one by one.

  I wish I had just entered a terrible nightmare, and when I opened my eyes again, it was a bright sunny day. Fen Jiao was shouting at Mu Ya Tou, Bai Leng was coldly facing Han Xiuzhu pointing at the mountains and rivers, San Niang was scolding Su Hui, Bi Ying was playing the Yue people's song, Yu Fei Yan and Song Ming Pei were competing in drinking, and I was counting the red plum blossoms of Xifeng Wan with Jinxiu by the brook, the fragrance of makeup floated in the purple garden, and the music and dance rose to a peaceful state.

  "Xiao Fang, was it you who killed the Nan Zhao soldiers guarding outside my account?"

  Zi Fang shook his head: "I only had time to set fire to the granary, wanting to lure away Duan Yue Rong, in order to enter his tent and rescue Miss, but unexpectedly met Miss halfway, why is Miss asking?"

  My heart is getting scared, suddenly I thought of the dark god mentioned by Pearl, could it be that the dark god has come? But then I think of White Mask, damn it, will White Mask come to kill me in chaos?

  I was just about to speak when two dark shadows floated in from the air, and in the darkness, a soldier's blade flashed with silver light as it flew towards us with a sharp gust of wind. Qi Fang swung his sword and struck down one of them, while the other branch narrowly missed my eye, leaving a trail of blood and fragrance in its wake. I looked down and saw, by the silver light of Qi Fang's dancing sword, that it was a willow leaf.

  I was secretly shocked, whose martial arts were so powerful that they could turn the flexible willow leaves into hidden weapons and fly them out. A burst of giggles came from afar, quickly approaching, showcasing exceptional lightness skills.

  "Little Dragon, you've really gotten old, can't even block two kids." A young beautiful woman walked out of the big fog, her chest open, revealing half of her milky breasts, extremely seductive.

  "Don't spout nonsense there, you should know that this is indeed the closed-door disciple of Jin Gu Zhen Ren. If he were an ordinary person, would he have let us two make a move?" In the darkness, another tall and majestic man emerged, with sharp facial features and piercing eyes like a flying eagle, staring at Qi Fang and me as if we were prey.

  Qipu stepped forward with one hand shielding me: "May I ask the two esteemed gentlemen, what instructions do you have and why did you harm me and my young mistress?"

  The beautiful woman was about to speak, but the man opened his mouth and said: "May I ask if these two are Mr. Qi Fang and Miss Hua Muxin?" The beauty pouted her mouth in displeasure and gave the man a sideways glance, but he remained expressionless.

  Qī Fàng said coldly: "What if it is?"

  The beauty was about to speak, but the man hastily bowed and said: "There is a refined person in Kyoto who has long admired Miss Huamulan, and would like to invite Miss Hua to Jinwang City for a chat." The beauty's face twitched slightly.

  Jin Guan City? Isn't this the Dou family's territory?

  Before I could even open my mouth, Qi Fang had already coldly said: "If Fang hasn't guessed wrong, these two must be Yun Conglong and Feng Suihu, the top killers from Northern Chu?"

  "Mistake, it's the first kill of Chuanbei, Feng Sui Hu, Yun Cong Long." The sexy beauty said proudly, and the man glanced at her lightly, but didn't say anything.

  She swapped the rankings of the two people, and both Qi Fang and I were stunned. What's the difference?

  "I dare to ask, Wind and Cloud, when did you two become the running dogs of the Dugu family?" I felt Qi Fang's muscles tense up all over his body, it seems that these two people are quite formidable.

  Feng Sui Hu covered his mouth and chuckled, saying: "Hey, young man, you've got a lot of fire in your belly! What's all this nonsense about pigs and dogs? I don't understand it, nor does Little Dragon. We only know about XXXX, that's all. As for the Dou family or the Cai family, we never get involved."

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