allonlinenovel Chapter 339: I swear I will not rest until I avenge this grudge.
Chapter 339: I swear I will not rest until I avenge this grudge.
Pei Yan accepted the jade pendant and silver with both hands, as if they weighed a ton.
The prefect's breathing grew weaker and weaker, and finally, his raised hand fell limply, and the breath of life completely vanished.
Pei Yan hugged his mentor's gradually cooling body tightly, tilted his head back, and let out a heart-wrenching wail.
The wailing echoed in the cramped cell, striking the damp walls, yet unable to dispel the endless darkness and pain. The torchlight flickered on his face, illuminating his desperate yet resolute expression.
Pei Yan lay on his mentor's body, feeling as if he were being swallowed by endless darkness, overwhelmed by a surging tide of grief.
His shoulders trembled violently, tears flowed like a burst dam, and painful sobs escaped his throat.
"Master, if I don't avenge this, I, Pei Yan, swear I will not be a man!" His eyes were bloodshot and filled with hatred, burning like a raging fire. His teeth were clenched as if he wanted to devour the Flower Monk alive.
Meanwhile, Fang Xiaoxiao was leading two soldiers to quietly sneak into Dounan County to search for medicinal herbs.
Fang Xiaoxiao's expression was tense, her eyes sharp as an eagle's, alert to every slight movement. She crouched low, her steps light yet extremely cautious, like a nimble cat.
Suddenly, a series of chaotic footsteps and the unrestrained shouts of bandits came from ahead.
Fang Xiao's heart tightened, and she abruptly stopped, quickly waving her hand to signal the two soldiers behind her to stop.
The three of them froze on the spot like statues, not daring to breathe.
Fang Xiaoxiao turned slightly to the side and peered in the direction from which the sound came. She saw a group of bandits, armed with weapons, swaggering over without any order whatsoever.
Her brow furrowed, her mind racing as she considered a solution. After a moment, she lowered her voice and said to the two soldiers, "Follow me, and be quiet."
After saying that, she turned and walked towards a narrow alley. The alley was dark and damp, with an unpleasant smell, and the ground was littered with debris and sewage.
Fang Xiao carefully avoided the puddles, tiptoeing lightly to make as little noise as possible. Sometimes she would sidestep the protruding wall, and sometimes she would duck to avoid the bamboo poles hanging overhead.
Two soldiers followed closely behind, imitating Fang Xiaoxiao, and moved forward quietly.
Reaching the end of the alley, Fang Xiaoxiao stopped, pressed her ear against the wall, and listened to the sounds outside. After confirming it was safe, she slowly pushed open a dilapidated wooden door. The hinges creaked slightly, making her heart leap into her throat.
The three continued on their way, passing through an abandoned courtyard and around a mountain of firewood.
Finally, they successfully evaded the bandits' patrol. Fang Xiaoxiao let out a soft breath, her tense nerves relaxing slightly, and continued to lead the two soldiers cautiously towards the pharmacy.
Fang Xiaoxiao and two soldiers were slowly advancing, holding their breath. The surrounding streets and alleys seemed to be shrouded in a layer of gloom, so oppressive that it was almost impossible to breathe.
Suddenly, a violent kicking sound came from not far away, and three burly bandits with fierce faces barged into a cloth shop.
In an instant, the store was filled with a woman's heart-wrenching cries and screams, followed by a man's angry roars and fierce resistance. However, the resistance was abruptly cut off by a dull thud, as if the strings of life had been ruthlessly snapped.
Upon hearing this extremely tragic commotion, Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes widened instantly, her anger flaring up. Without hesitation, she raised her foot to rush towards the shop.
But as soon as she took a step, she was grabbed tightly by the hands of two soldiers, which were like iron clamps.
"Young lady, you mustn't act rashly!" A soldier looked panicked, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, his voice urgent and trembling. "We are on a mission to find medicinal herbs. If we act rashly now and our whereabouts are exposed, not only will we lose hope of finding the herbs, but we might also lose our own lives, let alone save anyone!"
"Yes, young lady, it's better to avoid trouble. Don't act impulsively!"
Another soldier anxiously tried to dissuade him, his eyes filled with fear and anxiety, “This city is full of bandits. We are outnumbered and outmatched and have no chance of fighting them head-on.”
Fang Xiaoxiao struggled fiercely, her eyes blazing with fury, her teeth grinding together. "Are we just going to stand by and watch them harm innocent people? How can you live with yourselves?"
Her voice was hoarse with extreme anger, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.
"Young lady, we understand your anger, but the situation is critical. If we are not careful, we will lose everything!" The soldiers held Fang Xiaoxiao tightly, not daring to relax their grip for a moment.
Fang Xiaoxiao felt as if a raging fire was burning in her heart, on one hand, she felt grief and indignation at the suffering of innocent people, and on the other hand, she struggled helplessly against reality.
Her chest heaved violently, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
Just then, as if a curtain had been torn open, a man covered in blood suddenly rushed out of the silk shop.
His clothes were tattered, and the once beautiful silk was now soaked in blood, its color unrecognizable. It clung tightly to his body, and blood continued to gush from his wounds, dripping down the hem of his clothes to the ground.
His face was covered in blood and grime, his hair was disheveled and stuck to his forehead, his eyes were wide open, filled with extreme fear and despair, and he staggered but ran wildly toward Fang Xiaoxiao.
Behind him followed a vicious bandit. The bandit was burly, with a face full of scars, and held a long knife with bloodstains on the blade, which gleamed menacingly in the dim sunlight.
His face was contorted with rage, and he spat out vicious curses: "Don't run! You damned bastard, I'll tear you to pieces today!"
Upon seeing this, a resolute and ruthless glint flashed in Fang Xiaoxiao's beautiful eyes.
Her movements were as fast as lightning. Her right hand swiftly drew a sharp long knife from her waist, and she sped out like a ghost.
Her clothes fluttered in the wind, her hair flew, and she exuded a sharp and imposing aura.
A flash of cold light appeared, followed by a shrill scream. Before the bandit could even see Fang Xiaoxiao's movements, blood gushed from his neck, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Fang Xiaoxiao gripped the dripping blood knife tightly, the blood droplets on the blade slowly sliding down and dripping onto the ground, splashing up a small patch of dust.
Her chest heaved violently, her breath came in short gasps, and her eyes were filled with a resolute and unyielding anger.
Upon seeing this, the blood-covered man's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, gasping for breath, each breath seemingly a struggle.
His eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and endless gratitude for Fang Xiaoxiao. His lips trembled as he tried to say something, but he could only utter muffled sobs.