Chapter 397: When will I be able to grow up?

The captain of the Wang Fu army, watching the woman straining to run, her all‑white attire in this dim stone cavern, suddenly felt his eyes dazzle, as if a flash of white light.

Fifty meters……

The distance kept closing in, the stone ball getting nearer as well, "huff… huff…"

Sweat had soaked her eyes, but she dared not blink; her breathing was ragged, she dared not steady it, her legs had become pure instinct, her mind holding only one thought: run!

She still had a daughter, a son, so many relatives, and her mother waiting for her to be saved—she could not die.

No!

Ah——

With a roar, Jiang Yunchu's speed surged.

But even with her legs pumping faster, the stone ball, despite her increased speed, kept drawing ever closer.

Run!

Accelerate.

Everyone watched, eyes fixed on that person racing against death.

Ning Hanmo gripped the hilt of his steel sword tightly—this was the last time, the last time; he had to grow up fast, for only when he grew would he be able to take on such desperate deeds.

He never wanted to see his mother risking her life ahead of him again—never again.

Jiang Yunchu felt pain in her chest and abdomen; her ragged breathing, which she dared not steady, sent a tearing sensation through her chest, yet she remained oblivious.

"Boom—boom—boom—" the stone ball kept rolling, spinning without cease, as if it would never stop.

Twenty meters……

Not only Jiang Yunchu was counting; at that moment everyone was counting.

Twenty meters, another twenty and we'd be safe.

The fierce pain, together with the rumble of the stone ball behind her, seemed to spark Jiang Yunchu's speed; her head swam, her vision blurred, yet she dared not move.

Ten meters……

The final ten meters were upon her, and the stone ball hovered right behind…

Everyone wanted to reach out and grab that woman.

But…

"Don't come out!" she bellowed, yet that shout made her foot falter for an instant—the stone ball was already at her heels.

Everyone's eyes widened, "……" a silent cry.

Five meters……

But the stone ball was already at her back; she would not give up, not until it crushed her.

Ah!

All her strength kept bursting forth, yet the stone ball seemed like a demon unwilling to let her go.

She felt the wind kicked up by the stone ball, its rolling sound ringing in her ears, yet at this moment she felt oddly calm—this life was hers to earn.

But…

One by one, the faces of her loved ones flashed before her eyes.

"Mother!" Ning Hanmo could no longer hold back and shouted.

Bai Zhi covered her mouth, tears blurring her vision.

Others could not bear to watch, yet they could not look away.

Everyone waited, waited for a miracle.

Just then…

A huge stone blocked the way, and the stone ball suddenly stalled…

Jiang Yunchu, whose back was nearly touched and whose life hung by a thread, did not stop her steps.

One meter……

Now who cares about propriety between men and women?

The Wang Fu army captain reached out, seized Jiang Yunchu's swinging arm, and with a mighty heave flung her into the safe zone.

At that very moment, the stone ball rolled past her from behind…

Jiang Yunchu sat on the ground, gulping air, roughly wiping her eyes with her sleeve; the sweat‑soaked eyes finally cleared.

"Why are you crying? Your mother isn't dead yet—no need for mourning!" Jiang Yunchu looked at Ning Hanmo's bloodshot eyes and couldn't help laughing.

Ning Hanmo stepped forward, then knelt before Jiang Yunchu: "Mother, this is the last time."

"My son will grow up quickly; afterwards, Mother, let him go."

He never wanted to see his mother suffer or be hurt again; each time she shielded them from danger, leaving him feeling powerless.

Mother…

When will I be able to grow up?

Jiang Yunchu smiled, then opened both arms; Ning Hanmo slowly walked forward on his knees a few steps, then embraced her shoulders, letting her lean against him.

"Mother, I want to grow up; Mother, is there any way to make me grow faster?"

The youth dried his eyes, though tears still lingered, he stubbornly refused to let them fall.

"Xiao Mo, Mother isn't that fragile; Mother has you both—how could she die so easily?" She gently patted his back, letting him witness what had just happened, which was also her reluctant choice.

"A man's tears are not lightly shed. All right, we must press on." Jiang Yunchu waited until his emotions steadied before releasing Ning Hanmo.

Ning Hanmo hurriedly rose, felt a twinge in his knees, merely frowned, then reached out and took his mother's hand.

In the eyes of every Wang Fu soldier lay respect and solemnity; their gaze toward Jiang Yunchu carried a tone of reverence.

They honored the strong, they revered the Princess Consort.

"Let's move on, everyone be careful." She said softly, then led the unit forward.

When they reached those places like speed bumps, everyone's expressions had already ceased to change.

Is it cruel?

Being merciful to the enemy is actually cruelty toward oneself; these mechanisms were all laid by the enemy, so these corpses……

It could be said they dug their own pit and buried themselves.

The group detoured, not giving it another glance……

Everyone reached the earlier position; the stone gate had opened. Looking inside, it was pitch black, with no light whatsoever.

"This stone cave cannot have any more lamps taken; we must retreat to the previous position." Ning Hanmo looked; when the stone ball had just arrived, mother threw many lamps to slow down, and the lamps in this stone path have already been halved. The danger ahead is unknown; we must plan for the future.

Jiang Yunchu walked into the dark stone passage; vaguely, there were lamps on the stone walls, but they were not lit.

"Bring over a lamp." she called out.

Soon, a Wang Fu soldier took down a lamp from the wall and handed it to Jiang Yunchu.

Jiang Yunchu drew nearer and saw that the oil in the wall lamps was full, whereas the oil in the lamp she held had already burned halfway.

"The person who just broke this mechanism should stay outside waiting; everyone else enter the stone passage." She left one person behind as a precaution, not knowing whether this mechanism would later close; the remaining lamp oil inside and outside differs greatly—could it be that the inside is in an oxygen‑deficient state?

When there is no oxygen at all, will the lamps inside go out completely?

"Yes!" that person immediately retreated to the side.

The others, hearing the order, entered the stone cave.