I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 347: We Can't Rest for Too Long

Fang Xiaoxiao and the others dared not stop and continued running forward. Only when they were sure they had shaken off the bandits did they stop, panting heavily.

"How is everyone?" Fang Xiaoxiao asked with concern.

"We can still hold on!" his companions replied in unison.

“Okay, we can’t rest for too long. We must find Pei Yan as soon as possible,” Fang Xiaoxiao said.

The group nodded, rallied their spirits, and continued their journey through the perilous government office.

In the maze-like complex of the prefectural government office, Fang Xiaoxiao and her group walked with heavy, hurried steps in the dim light, each step accompanied by tense breathing and a pounding heart.

The air was thick with the smell of decay and decay, mixed with the scent of their sweat, creating a depressing atmosphere.

Fang Xiaoxiao walked at the front, her eyes focused and anxious, her hand tightly gripping the blood-stained short sword, the blade reflecting a cold light in the dim light.

Her clothes were tattered, her hair was disheveled, and her face was covered in dust and blood, but her gaze remained steadfast as she searched ahead.

"Everyone, search carefully, it must be nearby." Her voice was hoarse, but full of strength.

The companions behind them also looked tense, their eyes scanning every closed door and every dark corner, not letting go of any possible clue.

Time seemed to stand still, each passing second weighing heavier on their hearts. They searched room by room, their hopes rising only to be dashed again and again.

A soldier accidentally kicked a loose stone slab, making a loud "clang" that sounded particularly jarring in the quiet environment.

Everyone's hearts jumped into their throats. They all stopped in their tracks and cautiously observed their surroundings, fearing that the noise would attract more bandits.

After a while, once they were sure there was nothing wrong, they continued on their way.

Just when they were almost in despair, Fang Xiaoxiao suddenly discovered a narrow passage with an inconspicuous little door at the end.

"Perhaps this is the place we've been looking for." Fang Xiaoxiao's voice carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement.

They cautiously approached the door, which was tightly shut with no windows, making it impossible to see inside.

Fang Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and gently pushed the door, but it didn't budge, clearly locked from the inside.

"Pei Yan, are you inside?" Fang Xiaoxiao called softly.

After a moment of silence, a weak but familiar voice came from inside: "Is that Xiao Xiao? I'm here."

Upon hearing this voice, Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She knew that they had finally found Pei Yan's cell.

"Everyone, break down the door!" she shouted.

With everyone working together, they repeatedly rammed the sturdy door. Finally, through their efforts, the door was broken open.

A pungent smell wafted over, and the room was dark and damp, with moldy straw piled up in the corner.

Pei Yan sat on the pile of straw, his hands and feet were chained with heavy iron chains, his clothes were tattered, his hair was messy, and his face was covered with dirt and scars, making him look haggard.

But when he raised his head and looked at the crowd, his eyes still shone with a firm light, a light that seemed like a beacon in the darkness, illuminating the hope in everyone's hearts.

"Pei Yan!" Fang Xiaoxiao rushed over and knelt in front of him.

Pei Yan smiled slightly and said in a hoarse voice, "Xiao Xiao, you've arrived."

Fang Xiaoxiao grasped his hand, tears welling up in her eyes: "I'm sorry, I've made you suffer."

Pei Yan gently shook his head: "I'm fine. As long as I can wait for you, it's all worth it."

Fang Xiaoxiao carefully examined Pei Yan's injuries. She saw that his body was covered with whip marks and bruises, with new and old wounds piled up together, which was shocking to see.

"These beasts!" a soldier cursed angrily.

Pei Yan said calmly, "They want to use torture to break me, but they are wrong. My beliefs will not be shaken by this little bit of pain."

Fang Xiaoxiao wiped away her tears and said firmly, "We'll get you out of here right away."

She and her companions began searching for the key to open the chains, but they couldn't find it after searching the entire cell.

"It seems the only option is to forcibly break these chains," one of the soldiers said.

They found a rock and smashed it against the chain with all their might. Once, twice, and finally the chain broke with their efforts.

Pei Yan stood up, his steps a little unsteady, but his eyes remained firm.

"Let's hurry up and leave, the bandits might find us at any moment," Fang Xiaoxiao said.

Pei Yan nodded and, with the help of others, slowly walked out of the cell.

As he left the cell, Pei Yan glanced back at the place that had tormented him, his eyes filled with determination: "One day, we will restore justice and peace to this place."

With Pei Yan by their side, the group continued searching for a way out of the treacherous government office, knowing that the real challenges lay ahead.

Fang Xiaoxiao and the others hurriedly pulled out various tools from their bodies, eagerly trying to open the rusty lock on the prison door.

Their breathing was rapid, and their heartbeats were exceptionally clear in the small space.

"Hurry, hurry up!" Fang Xiaoxiao's voice was full of anxiety, and beads of sweat kept rolling down her forehead, dripping onto the cold ground.

A soldier held the keys seized from the bandits and tried them one by one. Each sound of the key being inserted into the lock seemed like a question from fate.

Finally, with a crisp "click," the cell door slowly opened.

"Pei Yan, let's go!" Fang Xiaoxiao reached out and grabbed the weak Pei Yan.

Pei Yan stood up, his steps unsteady, but his eyes were filled with a longing for freedom. The crowd surrounded him, hurrying towards the exit.

However, when they reached the exit, the sight before them made their hearts sink to the bottom.

The bandits were already on high alert, their torches illuminating the surroundings and completely blocking their escape route.

"Hmph, trying to run? Not so easy!" The bandit leader stood in the crowd, sneering smugly.

Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes instantly turned sharp. She gripped the short sword tightly and gritted her teeth, saying, "Even if it costs me my life, I will break through!"

Everyone responded enthusiastically, and morale soared.

"Charge!" Fang Xiaoxiao gave the order and charged towards the bandits first.

Her figure moved like a ghost, weaving through the bandits. The short sword gleamed coldly in the firelight, each swing sending up a shower of blood.

A bandit attempted to attack her from the side, but Fang Xiaoxiao dodged to the side and stabbed the bandit in the throat with her sword.

Pei Yan was not to be outdone. Despite his weak physical condition, he managed to snatch a knife from a dead bandit and join the fight with his strong will.

Although his movements were slightly slow, every move was full of determination.