Bai Ruozhu, considering Master Puru’s situation, reluctantly set the brocade pouch aside and quietly placed it into the Space.
If Master Puru really cannot escape this disaster, Bai Ruozhu could only return the brocade pouch to the chanical Buddha statue, and hand it over to the next abbot of Zhaoti Temple.
Xiaomao could not hold on for long; Bai Ruozhu dared not delay and bid farewell to Master Puru with Jiang Yichun, leaving the room.
As everyone quietly began their retreat, just when Bai Ruozhu and her group had already disappeared into the shadows, suddenly a guard who had co to his senses shouted: "Who!"
"Retreat quickly!" Bai Ruozhu mouthed, watching the others leave first, knowing that she and Achun could hide into the Space once no one was there.
A sudden crisp sound broke the silence of the night. Yizi let out a nervous whimper.
She hadn’t expected to step on a dry branch, which made a sound.
"It’s a woman, over here!" Imdiately, a guard pointed in their direction and chased.
Yizi was so anxious she almost cried; she thought it was all her fault for not having good martial arts skills, otherwise the target wouldn’t have been exposed.
Thinking of this, she bit her lip and decided that even if she was captured, she could not let her master be discovered.
Suddenly, her shoulder tightened as Jianqi lifted her and proceeded forward, gesturing to Jianqi to let them go first. Though Jianqi felt it was inappropriate, he eventually complied with his master’s arrangent.
Jiang Yichun understood Bai Ruozhu’s intention, picked up two stones and flicked them away, creating noise in another direction. The two promptly flashed away, leading others to run in another direction.
After running for nearly a quarter of an hour, Bai Ruozhu thought that Jianqi and the others should have almost evacuated. Only then did she pull Jiang Yichun into the Space.
"How did they escape? Did you see who they were clearly?" The pursuers, unable to catch sight of anyone, could only stop and complain.
"It’s unclear, but there’s definitely a woman," another guard said.
The guards searched the area again but found nothing, so they had to report back to Shangfeng.
Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun rested for a while inside the Space, discussed their strategy, and then exited the Space, looping back to the Posthouse.
Upon entering the hall, they heard Yizi’s low sobs. Realizing they had returned, Yizi suddenly lifted her head, showing a look of surprise.
But quickly, her face fell again.
She got up and kneeled on the ground with a thud, "Master, I unintentionally implicated everyone, please punish ."
Bai Ruozhu hurriedly approached and pulled Yizi up, "Why kneel for such a minor issue? What punishnt?"
Yizi sniffed, "I caused Senior Master Healer to get hurt."
Bai Ruozhu quickly looked toward Gao Zhou, noticing a faint dicinal sll. His wound had been treated and bandaged, so she hadn’t slled blood upon entering.
"This girl is too nervous. It’s just a scratch, didn’t expect the Fusang ninja’s dart." Gao Zhou laughed cheerfully.
Jiang Yichun approached, his face cold, asking, "Where are you hurt? At your age, don’t be so reckless!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Zhou jumped up, "Brat, who are you calling old? It’s just a scratch; why are you making a fuss!"
Bai Ruozhu broke into a cold sweat; these two seed like enemies.
She stepped forward to stop Jiang Yichun, asking, "Is your shoulder hurt?"
Though Gao Zhou jumped up, his shoulder seed stiff, clearly injured.
"The girl has keen eyes, it’s really just a superficial wound, and the wound is all bandaged." Gao Zhou said seriously.
Bai Ruozhu, seeing his confidence, was relieved and turned to Yizi, saying, "It’s not your fault. If anyone’s to bla, it’s Achun and I for not arranging properly. You’re weak in martial arts; we should’ve arranged for you to retreat first. Let’s pay more attention next ti."
Yizi nodded vigorously, eyes reddening, "Master, I will be more careful in the future, and I’ll practice my martial skills diligently."
Bai Ruozhu patted Yizi’s head; she was like her little sister, sensible and obedient. Though there was a small slip-up today, to err is human. If one were to bla friends over minor issues, that wouldn’t be Bai Ruozhu’s style.
"Practicing martial skills is good, at least to strengthen your self-defense abilities. Combined with your formation skills, it’ll be safer in the future," Bai Ruozhu advised.
Others also chid in with encouragent, and Fo Lanying said comforting words to Yizi, lifting the mood.
It was already late; everyone dispersed to rest, knowing there’s a tough battle tomorrow.
The night passed without incident; the next morning, Bai Ruozhu only brought Fo Lanying, carrying the dicine box, headed to Zhaoti Temple.
Jiang Yichun intended to accompany her, but Bai Ruozhu feared it would be too conspicuous and instead had Jiang Yichun standby in the dark.
Upon reaching the small gate of Zhaoti Temple, a guard imdiately blocked their entrance.
"No idle visitors allowed. Please leave," the guard said in broken Chinese.
Bai Ruozhu frowned, "Why not allow entry? Master Puru’s injuries aren’t fully healed. What if treatnt is delayed? Are you under General Chisong’s command?"
The guard kept a stern face, "Zhaoti Temple was subject to malicious arson; I’m here on the Emperor’s orders. To ensure Master Puru’s safety, entry and exit are temporarily prohibited."
"How could the Emperor not let treat Master Puru? With such severe burns, what will happen if not treated promptly and his condition worsens? Could you bear responsibility for a death? Or are you just bluffing, not one of the Emperor’s n?" Bai Ruozhu said, her face darkening, as she moved to push inside.
"Sothing’s fishy; how would I know if you’re harming Master Puru? Why would the Emperor prevent from treating him?" Bai Ruozhu said angrily.
The commotion had already alerted the head guard inside, and soon the matter was reported to the Emperor.
"Emperor, Master Puru has been coughing all night, and today he looks very unwell," the servant quietly reminded beside the Emperor.
The Emperor showed a worried expression, "Why wasn’t I inford earlier?"
"Subordinates feared you’d worry excessively," the servant said cautiously.
The Emperor looked ashad; he was absorbed in the mourning of his son’s death, imrsed in sorrow, forgetting that Master Puru had suffered terribly, bearing severe burns. He also believed that Master Puru couldn’t be the murderer, so he couldn’t let an innocent die here.
"Invite Bai to treat Master Puru," the Emperor said, sowhat fatigued.
A nearby man dressed as a samurai suddenly spoke, "Master Puru is crucial. Will he disclose anything to the Zhongyuan people?"
The Emperor raised his hand to stop him, "Master Puru is prudent; he is one of us Fusang people."
The samurai snorted coldly, "As far as I know, his biological father is from Zhongyuan."
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