Chapter 629

Outside the capital, in a small grove.

Mei Mei Qinghe and You Zi'ang ran in great haste.

"Are we not going back?"

You Zi'ang did not slow his pace, but he turned his head to glance back.

At the first sound of the massive explosion, the two had already received orders from Zhu Zai to exit the city. Afterward, the roars and flashes of fire grew increasingly dense. With their hearing, they could naturally distinguish the situation from the sounds—the Zhengyang Gate had been shattered, the enemy had entered the inner city, and at the same time, fighting had already broken out within the Forbidden City.

This was undoubtedly an extremely critical situation, yet Mei Mei Qinghe did not stop in the slightest, as if nothing had happened. She even picked up her pace, not even bothering to look back.

"You and I cannot influence the overall situation."

She said coldly.

"The old Guard Commander told us to find the Guard Commander."

"But—"

You Zi'ang frowned, instinctively wanting to retort.

But immediately, he understood.

Mei Mei Qinghe was right.

The enemy chose to strike at this moment, clearly to avoid Li Miao. Listening to the dense commotion coming from the direction of the capital, it was obvious the enemy had been planning this for a long time. The single explosion that blew open the Zhengyang Gate was almost comparable to the blast at Wang Wang Gongchang three years ago. Since Mei Mei Qinghe and he were both public figures, it was impossible for the enemy not to have made preparations—the two of them truly could not influence the overall situation.

If Zhu Zai could hold out, he didn't need them.

If Zhu Zai could not hold out, Li Miao was the only hope.

Thinking of this, You Zi'ang tilted his head to look at Mei Mei Qinghe.

They had been taken under Li Miao’s command at nearly the same time; he had watched Mei Mei Qinghe grow bit by bit. The once naive girl had become increasingly cold, increasingly sharp, and increasingly like a keen sword.

Especially after practicing the Nature Art and achieving the Profound Observation, Mei Mei Qinghe’s greatest weakness—a lack of deliberation—had been compensated for by an instinct that was sharp, direct, and pointed straight to the core of a problem. The current Mei Mei Qinghe was the sharpest sword among the Embroidered Uniform Guard, second only to Zheng Yi.

Not to mention her Profound Observation divine ability, which was so simple it was chilling.

By comparison... he was merely an errand boy.

In official rank, Wu Gong, and mental acuity, he had fallen behind Mei Mei Qinghe in every aspect. Even though only a few days separated the time they were taken under Li Miao’s command, the gap had grown wider and wider, leaving him unable to catch up... What right did he have to question her decision?

You Zi'ang withdrew his gaze and stopped speaking.

Pushing his light-body technique to the limit, he followed behind Mei Mei Qinghe, speeding forward in a straight line.

The decision was made; there was no more hesitation.

There was also no need for any guilt about deserting the battle... one could guess with their knees that the two of them would certainly not have a peaceful journey.

Sure enough, the moment You Zi'ang’s thought fell!

"Lower your head!"

Mei Mei Qinghe, in front, let out a sharp cry!

You Zi'ang instinctively ducked his head, and then he saw a large clump of hair drift down from above. At the same time, his scalp felt cold then hot, and a sharp pain followed.

A piece of skin and flesh had been sliced off the back of his head.

If he had been a fraction of a second slower, it would have been his neck that was severed.

You Zi'ang had no time to hesitate; he dodged and retreated several steps, looking up.

Under the moonlight, Mei Mei Qinghe stood in silence, her long sword already unsheathed, pointing diagonally at the ground.

"Go."

She said coldly.

You Zi'ang was stunned.

Was she telling him... to abandon her and flee for his life?

The two had long anticipated that they would encounter resistance on this journey.

But this was only the first enemy!

How could this make Mei Mei Qinghe decide to let him flee for his life!

But he was naturally not a fool who would ask why at such a time. Without the slightest hesitation, he employed his light-body technique and dashed sideways. In that brief instant, he looked back and understood the reason Mei Mei Qinghe told him to flee.

On Mei Mei Qinghe’s sword edge, there was a new notch the size of a grain of rice.

Just now, the enemy had slashed at them, aiming for their waists. Mei Mei Qinghe had swung her sword to deflect it, raising the enemy’s blade by a foot, which was why You Zi'ang only had the skin on the back of his head sliced off—just by blocking once, Mei Mei Qinghe’s sword had been damaged!

The person who came was a swordsman stronger than Mei Mei Qinghe.

You Zi'ang’s heart sank, and he pushed his light-body technique to the limit, running for his life.

He would not be stupid enough to hesitate.

If he couldn't help, he had to leave immediately. If Mei Mei Qinghe could win, she would flee on her own; if Mei Mei Qinghe lost... at least he couldn't let her die in vain!

With You Zi'ang’s light-body technique, he covered dozens of zhang in an instant, and seeing he was about to dive into the dense forest.

But just then—a chill struck his heart.

How could the enemy have blocked them here?

The two had climbed over the wall to leave the city immediately after receiving the order, without passing through any city gate, and no one had seen them. Given their speed, the enemy would have missed them if they were even a few seconds late... Therefore, either the enemy had been following them the whole time, or the enemy had known of their movements long ago and blocked them here in advance.

Whether it was the former or the latter, the enemy could not have been unaware that there were two of them.

Then... the enemy could not be just one person.

You Zi'ang stopped abruptly, his toes tapping to negate his momentum, and he suddenly turned back!