Chapter 655: Arriving in the Nick of Time
That was precisely the plan the elder had in mind. When the explosions had sounded outside earlier, he had sent someone to investigate and roughly understood the attack range of the object. Unfortunately, he hadn't known until now that the cause of the explosions was such a thing.
He secretly made a hand signal, and the person poised to strike retreated back into the shadows.
"Lady Hua, truly a woman surpassing men in valor."
By now, Hua Zhi’s back was drenched in sweat, beads of perspiration trickling down her neck. Carrying a bomb that could detonate at any moment, so close to death, she was terrified. Yet, this fear did not show on her face. Her steps remained steady, and the hand holding the fire starter did not tremble. She simply advanced step by step toward those people, determined to follow them wherever they went, denying them any opportunity to strike—this was her chance for survival...
Wait, something’s wrong!
Hua Zhi abruptly retreated, repositioning herself to shield the Empress Dowager. As she had advanced, the others had stepped back, as if unafraid of death. That wasn’t right!
The Wise Man’s importance to the Chao Li Tribe was akin to Little Six’s current significance to Da Qing. For Da Qing, anyone could die except Little Six; the same should hold true for the Chao Li Tribe. They shouldn’t be deliberately luring her farther away, like bait.
She whispered rapidly, "Your Highness, are there still others inside?"
"Yes."
Sweat rolled down Hua Zhi’s forehead as her mind raced to its limits. "Is there anything suspicious about the people inside?"
"I had already fainted before they entered. I only know Yu Xiang went in twice and heard voices speaking." The Empress Dowager reached up to wipe the sweat about to drip into Hua Zhi’s eyes. "Trust your judgment. You’ve always done well."
Hua Zhi steeled herself and whispered, "Stay close to me in a moment."
The Empress Dowager nodded, discreetly flexing her legs to ensure they weren’t numb. She wasn’t afraid to die here, but she couldn’t drag Hua Zhi down to death with her!
Handing the pouch containing the black powder to the Empress Dowager, Hua Zhi swiftly picked up one of the bombs, blew on the fire starter to ignite it, and hurled it backward. Even the explosion couldn’t drown out the cries of shock from the Chao Li Tribe. Confirming her suspicion, Hua Zhi wrapped an arm around the Empress Dowager and dashed toward a side room. Based on the palace’s layout, it led to a side hall. As long as she could hide, she trusted the Seven Constellation Bureau, waiting for their chance, would eliminate the enemies.
But clearly, the other side had anticipated this. Before the two could run far, an aged voice commanded, "Kill them now!"
This was the true Wise Man!
Hua Zhi had no time to ponder further. Clutching the Empress Dowager, she rolled to the ground, evading the curved blade thrown at them. She lit another black powder bomb and tossed it toward the attackers, seizing the moment they dodged to scramble forward again.
Her actions enraged the enemy, who began hurling their weapons. Hua Zhi didn’t know where she found the strength or speed, but she swiftly picked up another bomb, lit it, and threw it into the air. At the same moment, the roof shattered. Amid the blast wave, a long whip, agile as a spirit snake, deftly deflected the shattered weapons with skillful force. A few remnants, still carrying residual momentum, struck the two women, but their lives were spared.
Hua Zhi glanced back at the man who had descended like a god, and the strength she had been clinging to instantly drained away. Her arms and legs went weak, and she collapsed face-down on the ground, unable to move, her mind in a daze. She could no longer feel her own hands and feet.The members of the Seven Constellation Bureau followed closely behind. Gu Yanxi no longer paid attention to the other side, strode over, first helped his grandmother aside, and then carefully turned A Zhi over, cradling her in his arms. Hua Zhi could only move her head freely. She smiled and nodded approvingly. "You returned just in time."
Gu Yanxi’s heart ached so much he didn’t know what to do. He wanted to hold her tightly but was afraid of hurting her; holding her too lightly left him feeling unbearably empty. He desperately needed her presence to fill that void. So he bent down, pressing himself against A Zhi as much as possible. He couldn’t bear to imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t returned—even a moment later, no, even half a moment later...
"The one outside isn’t the Wise Man. He’s hiding inside. To be safe, have your so-called younger brother identify him."
"Leave the rest to me."
Gu Yanxi picked her up to find a doctor, but when he looked up, he remembered his grandmother was also injured.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand. "Hurry and take her to see a doctor. Grandmother is fine."
Gu Yanxi looked down at A Zhi, whose lips were so pale they almost matched her cheeks. He called for someone to escort the Empress Dowager, apologized briefly, and rushed out, running faster and faster.
The Crown Prince, who had been ordered to wait outside, was terrified when he saw the Grand Tutor being carried out. He ran over and asked repeatedly, "How is the Grand Tutor? How is she?"
"Is Miraculous Doctor Yu in the palace?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Lai Fu, Lai Fu, where is Miraculous Doctor Yu?"
"He’s in that vacant palace over there." Lai Fu bent over and trotted ahead to lead the way. Once Gu Yanxi knew the direction, he overtook him and ran with long strides. The Crown Prince instinctively wanted to follow, but the Grand Tutor immediately pulled him back and whispered a reminder, "Your Highness, it’s not appropriate."
The Crown Prince glanced at his grandmother, who was being helped out, pursed his lips tightly, and took one last look in the direction the Grand Tutor had gone. Gritting his teeth, he finally walked toward his grandmother. He knew that even if he went, the Grand Tutor would send him away.
Zhu Bowen quietly apologized to the Grand Tutor and followed. He needed to know if Zhi Er was alright, if her injuries weren’t too severe. When he heard the explosion inside earlier, he had thought...
As long as she was alive, that was all that mattered. As long as she was alive.
Under the intense gazes of the onlookers, Miraculous Doctor Yu withdrew his hand and let out a long sigh. He signaled Gu Yanxi to turn her over, then took scissors and cut open the clothing on her left shoulder, which was soaked dark red with blood. Unsurprisingly, the wound had reopened, and because it had torn after being stitched, it looked especially gruesome.
Gu Yanxi gasped sharply and instinctively held the person in his arms tighter. Sometimes he wished A Zhi weren’t so responsible, wished she were like ordinary women who would cry out in pain over the smallest cut as if the sky were falling, instead of enduring like this, worsening her injuries.
"Sew it up again," Hua Zhi said hoarsely, her eyes closed. She felt dizzy.
"Do you think this is a piece of pork? That you can sew it up however you want?" Yu Lao couldn’t bring himself to shout but was genuinely angry. He glared fiercely at Gu Yanxi. "Letting a woman in such a condition fight like this—what use are all of you men!"
Gu Yanxi silently accepted the rebuke. Yu Lao wasn’t wrong—it was his fault. He had failed to protect her."He's already blaming himself enough, and you're still scolding him." Hua Zhi opened her eyes to meet those filled with sorrow. "The remaining procedures probably won't require my assistance. Yu Lao, you can handle the suturing. I'd like to rest now."
Having witnessed the previous suturing procedure, Zhu Bowen knew what was needed and promptly said, "I'll go fetch the alcohol."
"Make sure it's strong."
Zhu Bowen acknowledged and quickly left.
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