Marrying a treacherous official

Li Xiuji rode his horse up the hilltop and looked down at the fire surrounding Lingshan Temple.

Thick black smoke billowed upwards, and the surrounding wildfires, centered on Lingshan Temple, burned into a sea of ​​flames, all converging on the temple.

The best course of action now is to create a firebreak before the wildfire engulfs Lingshan Temple and try to rush in to rescue people.

Where are the scouts?

"Your subordinate is here."

Which direction around Lingshan Temple has the least fire?

"Northeast."

The scout, standing on his horse, shouted back:

"This humble general dares to suggest that, given the current southwest wind, the fire in the northeast is the least intense. However, fire moves with the wind, and if it rushes into the pine forest against the wind, the soldiers are extremely vulnerable to being set ablaze!"

As Li Xiuji watched the wildfire rapidly approach Lingshan Temple, he tightened the reins in his hands.

"Report—!"

The vanguard soldiers spurred their horses and charged up the hill, leaping off their steeds to report directly to their superiors:

"A team of thirty people managed to break through the fire from the direction of Lingshan Temple's mountain gate. All of them were forced back by the fire, but no one died. Seventeen people were burned by the fire. The entire team has now retreated to the front line and is awaiting further orders from Deputy General Li."

Li Xiu knew that if he delayed any longer, the First Madam's situation would only become more dire.

But he didn't even know where the First Madam was, and he couldn't even fight his way out to rescue her. How could he face General Cui?

"Li Xiuji—!"

Huo Xi rode his horse up the hillside, grabbed the reins, turned the horse around, and charged straight downhill. "Come with me."

Without further hesitation, Li Xiuji spurred his horse and followed him, quickly leaving the mountain.

Huo Xi led Li Xiuji to another mountain ridge, holding a riding whip in his hand, pointing to a charred forest path that stretched out from the mountain temple:

"Someone set fire to the temple by taking advantage of the wind direction, burning an escape route outward from Lingshan Temple. When the two wildfires merged, this was the only way for us to rush into the temple."

"This is the passageway that the First Madam burned down."

Li Xiuji said with absolute certainty, "It was the location that the First Madam marked out amidst the raging flames."

Huo Xi felt the same way. He kept looking for a breakthrough in the wildfire, rushing up the mountain again and again to check the fire, and diving down again and again to circle around the wildfire, until he saw the fire band burning from the inside out.

At that moment, he thought of the possibility that Chunxuan might survive, and he came back to life from the brink of death.

They are now just waiting for the fires inside and outside the mountains to converge so they can rush in and rescue the people.

The pine forests on both sides were still burning fiercely.

The group ran quickly forward against the scorching heat, surrounded by blazing red flames. The only way out was the scorched black earth beneath their feet.

Aunt Du tripped over her skirt, lost her footing, and fell onto the scorched earth.

"Auntie, are you hurt?"

"Madam, I'm fine, I can still run."

With the help of Chunxuan and Cui Shuhua, Aunt Du got up. Yunji covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief to prevent the black smoke from entering her lungs.

"We've already traveled halfway up the mountain road, and we'll soon be in the heart of the region."

Yunji comforted her, saying, "Once we get through this thick black smoke and break out of the fire zone, we'll be saved."

After resting for a while and calming her breathing a little, Aunt Du was choked by the black smoke and couldn't speak, so she could only nod repeatedly.

"Chunxuan and Huachao, you two help your aunt run forward."

Yunji gave the instructions, "Second Miss, come with me. Don't leave anyone behind."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Ling suddenly turned around and heard rapid, drum-like footsteps coming from the direction of the wind.

"The two of you stay behind to cover our retreat. Madam, quickly follow me!"

In an instant, a dozen or so dark figures descended like ghosts, charging out of the crimson wildfire. The guards parried with their swords, their blows sparking with a clang, each move aimed at taking the other's life.

Despite their desperate resistance, the three men in black managed to break through first.

Shi Ling led the six women straight ahead, but they were quickly caught up by the men in black.

The guards who had fallen behind turned back and attacked, catching the man in black completely off guard. They were overwhelmed by the attacks and forced to retreat several steps.

Only one person seized the opportunity to pursue. Shi Ling flipped backward in the air and slashed at the opponent's forehead with his sword. The sword was blocked by the horizontal blade. After a thunderous sound, just a breath later, they exchanged another fierce blow and the two were locked in a fierce battle.

"Protect the First Madam, get out of here!"

Shi Ling's shout, which echoed through the mountains and forests, made the remaining guard disregard everything else and lead the six women straight ahead.

Aunt Du was both shocked and frightened. She ran away all the way, but she could no longer hold on. Her pace slowed down until she could no longer keep up.

Yunji turned around and looked in horror at a black-clad assassin who rushed out from behind her and was slashing at Aunt Du and the other two with a knife.

"Get out of the way—!!"

Upon hearing this, Chunxuan trembled with fear. She shoved Aunt Du and Hua Chao aside and fell to the side. She herself was pushed to the other side, and the cleaver slashed down sharply, falling straight into the scorched earth.

The remaining guard leaped into the air and kicked the black-clad assassin away. He drew his sword, stood in front of the women, and shouted:

"Madam, let's go quickly!"

Yunji and Cui Shuhua rushed back, helped Aunt Du up from the ground, and led her away.

Aunt Du had only taken about ten steps when she heard a devastating sound coming from above.

Perhaps Yunji and Cui Shuhua were so focused on pulling her forward that they didn't notice the unusual movement. She looked up slightly and saw a towering tree engulfed in flames, burning down on them.

Before Aunt Du could think of anything, and with a burst of strength she didn't know where she had borrowed from, she shoved Yunji and Cui Shuhua forward, and the tree trunk crashed down on top of her.

Yunji collapsed onto the scorched black earth, the world spinning around her, her nostrils filled with the smell of cigarette ash.

Her head throbbed with pain, and she fought off waves of nausea, forcing herself to her feet. Through the crimson flames, she heard Cui Shuhua's heart-wrenching screams of agony:

"Mother—, waah waah waah, save my mother, someone please save my mother!"

Yunji stumbled back, only to see in despair that more assassins in black were rushing towards her, while Aunt Du was being pinned down by a huge tree trunk, the flames spreading along the trunk and already engulfing her body.

With her tear-filled eyes and her bleeding mouth opening and closing, Yunji could still make out what she was saying, even though she wasn't uttering any words.

"Take Hua'er away."