Chapter 698

Moreover, Zhao Tan is Zhao Quan's subordinate, so saving Zhao Tan should earn him some kind of gesture from Zhao Quan, right?

If he ran into the Resistance Army and couldn't escape easily, it wouldn't be too late to abandon her then.

His mind was made up.

Zhao Chi ran at full speed.

He didn't know how long had passed.

Zhao Chi felt his legs sore and numb, his arms exhausted, his stamina spent.

But the village of Creekstream should be just ahead, and he forced himself on by sheer will.

But as he walked, he suddenly heard a faint woman's voice.

Was Zhao Tan awake?

Just as Zhao Chi was about to stop and check, a blinding burst of firelight flared behind his head.

Whoosh~

A wave of heat rolled over him.

What!?

Zhao Chi tossed Zhao Tan aside and rolled forward.

He felt half his head had been burned.

Zhao Chi had once again become half a bald man.

But he paid no attention to his own condition, searching for the enemy at once.

There was no one nearby.

It was Zhao Tan's hand that was still burning.

She was half-opening her eyes, her gaze unfocused, yet glaring at Zhao Chi with hatred:

"Damn it… Resistance Army, don't think you can take me alive—burn to death!"

Resistance Army?

Me?

Zhao Chi immediately growled low: "Zhao Tan, it's Zhao Chi, calm down. You've burned me twice today…"

"…Zhao Chi?"

Hearing this, the flame in Zhao Tan's hand went out.

The breath she'd been holding in her chest loosened, and Zhao Tan collapsed to the ground once more.

Darkness fell over the surroundings again.

Zhao Chi let out a breath of relief, pulled out a high-grade Life Pill, and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Life Pill, eat it quick."

Zhao Tan: "…"

The faint sound of chewing.

A moment later, Zhao Tan gave a soft sigh and pushed herself up.

"How did you end up here? What's the situation?"

Zhao Chi briefly told her what he had seen, and finished:

"Zhao Quan… uh… His Highness Zhao Quan is fine, he headed north. Zhao Mu is dead."

Zhao Tan: "…Is that so? Zhao Mu is dead…"

It was very dark around them; he couldn't see her expression.

But from her tone, she still seemed somewhat grieved.

Then he heard her give another soft sigh: "So long as His Highness Zhao Quan is safe… thank you. I should be going too—be careful."

Zhao Chi nodded: "You'd better take a detour back. I feel the Resistance Army's scale today is bigger than I imagined."

Zhao Tan sighed: "I know. I'm afraid this matter isn't simple. You be very careful. I need to hurry and rejoin His Highness Zhao Quan. Goodbye."

"Goodbye…"

Light footsteps sounded in the darkness, then quickly faded.

This woman—sure enough, she didn't give him a thing.

Forget it, no time to fuss over that.

After that, the road ahead was flat and open.

What should have been a little over an hour's journey, Zhao Chi had taken a full two hours to run.

After passing through a stretch of woods, he finally saw Creekstream Village ahead.

Creekstream Village was ablaze with lights.

All manner of torches stretched far into the distance.

Zhao Chi couldn't help slowing his pace.

This was different from before.

Before, there had been torches in Creekstream Village at night too, but never this many.

Looking closely, he saw people standing guard on every building.

And there were others patrolling the perimeter with torches.

Those people were all villagers, not Resistance Army.

Zhao Chi breathed a sigh of relief, but still approached cautiously.