Chapter 194 - A Trap in the Swamp. A Fairy Descends at a Critical Moment [1]
Chapter 194 - A Trap in the Swamp. A Fairy Descends at a Critical Moment [1]
Chapter 194 A Trap in the Swamp. A Fairy Descends at a Critical Moment [1]
She enjoyed him carefully and considerately putting food in her mouth. When they finished eating, Shangguan LingRan was less than skillful as he stuffed the dishes into the food box. He frowned because he was irritated that he couldn’t put the lid on because the dishes were placed inside incorrectly......
A blossoming smile appeared on Zi You’s face, like a spring breeze blowing on the south banks and brought splendor with it.
Shangguan LingRan’s father died around this time in her previous life. When his grandfather resigned, Shangguan LingRan had disappeared.
In this life, even she had to fight against the heavens, she had to be with Shangguan LingRan and work together to live a hard-won happy life.
When she thought that they would live together and that she would become his wife, Zi You’s mouth curved sweetly. Her eyes were mellow like osmanthus wine under the moon. Her whole face exuded brilliance.
Zi You and Shangguan LingRan rushed the whole journey. They arrived in Nanjiang just as Old General Mu, Mu YingYi, and their army were in danger.
This life was different from the previous life. In the previous life, Old General Mu and Mu YingYi were killed because Darong Ka had posed as a guide and followed the army. He had waited for the opportunity to place a gu on Old General Mu and Mu YingYi.
In fact, the anti-gu medicines that Dier had left had been changed by Wang Yiping. That was why even if they didn’t die because of the gu, they had died because of the miasma. It was impossible for them to escape.
And in this life, Zi You and Dier had both left them anti-gu and anti-miasma medicines. The female medical team was closely protected, so Wang Yiping failed to switch out the medicines. Hence, Darong Ka could not use his gu. Finally, he had no other choice but to first lead the army under Mu YingYi’s command into the trap laid out by the rebels.
The 20,000 men were trapped in the jungle and couldn’t escape. There were swamps and poisonous snakes and insects there. There were heavy casualties among the 20,000 soldiers.
Old General Mu saw that his son had gone into the mountains for so many days and didn’t even send a message. He was just feeling anxious when Darong Ka, who cut a sorry figure, ran back to tell him, “It’s bad, Old General Mu. Young General is captured by the enemy.”
“What?”Old General Mu was anxious as soon as he heard. “What happened? How did they get captured?”
Darong Ka pretended to be sad as he shed tears. “I don’t know. I led them through a shortcut, but there was an ambush there. Young General wanted to save people and was captured.”
Old General Mu didn’t suspect him. Darong Ka was a guide recommended by the Emperor. Old General Mu didn’t think that there was a conspiracy here and that he actually wanted to kill him.
Old General Mu was impatient to save his son and hurriedly brought the remaining 20,000 soldiers to follow Darong Ka into the mountains and jungle again. Old General Mu lost his calm in the emergency. He didn’t think that the Emperor had given him 80,000 soldiers the previous two times to pacify rebellions in Nanjiang. But this time, he had only given him the 40,000 soldiers who went to Mount Yunmeng last time. This was out of the ordinary.
Xuanwu Emperor knew that this army of 40,000 soldiers was Old General Mu’s confidants. So, he didn’t agree when Old General Mu proposed to change the garrison.
As a result, 20,000 people went into the mountains and jungles that were like a bottomless abyss. They couldn’t see the way out. And Darong Ka had already run away.
Zi You and Shangguan LingRan arrived at the camp where the 40,000 soldiers were camping. They saw that there were only 40 or 50 soldiers left to guard the camp. There were also more than a dozen or so female medical team members, led by third-rank General Xue Zichao. Everyone was like lost geese away from their flock. They were anxiously waiting for Old General Mu and the army and couldn’t calm down.
They saw Zi You and the disguised Shangguan LingRan and even a seven-foot tall man started crying. “Xiaojie, it’s great that you’re still alive! Hurry and think of a way to save Old General Mu and Young General. Young General has been in the mountains for more than a dozen days. Old General Mu has left for three days. There haven’t been any messages. How is this good?”
Although Zi You was very anxious, she still looked calmly at him. “Don’t panic. Get ready to leave. Bring more drinkable water and come with me into the mountains to save them. Grandfather left you here to let you report to the capital, right?”
Xue Zichao nodded. “Yes! Your mother led us the first two times. But this time, the Emperor recommended some awful guide. He led Young General to get captured by rebels. I don’t know what Young General’s situation is right now.”
“Commander.” The third captain of the female medical team Luo Weicheng immediately saluted Zi You. “It’s good that you’re back. Think of a way to save Old General Mu.”
Zi You pondered and said to Shangguan LingRan, “Master, I will take them into the mountains. You fly in the air. We will approach them in two directions.”
Shangguan LingRan was afraid that Zi You would be in danger in the jungles and immediately shook his head. “I’ll take them into the mountains. You search in the air.”
Zi You’s intelligent eyes shone vividly. “Don’t worry. Blackwater Pool is more dangerous than here, but I survived it. Don’t argue. Time waits for no one. Let’s hurry.”
She waved her hand and ordered, “General Xue, bring the soldiers along and come with me.”
General Xue was thirty-four years old this year. His rank was also higher than Zi You’s. But he saw how calm she was without any trace of panic. He involuntarily believed her and blindly followed her instructions.
Zi You led people into the jungle like this. Shangguan LingRan took Feiyun and Lightning, flew around in the sky above the jungle, and kept looking down at the jungle.
Zi You entered the jungle and immediately focused. A warm spiritual Qi flowed along her meridians and concentrated in her eyes. Her vision was immediately strengthened a few hundreds of times. She could see several hundreds of miles around the jungle. She used her spiritual power and effortlessly carried out a simple search of this deep jungle.
Shangguan LingRan had flown around for more than two hours before he finally found traces left by Old General Mu and the army that he led. He immediately informed Zi You, “YouYou, I found grandfather.”
“I see him too.” Zi You said, “They fell into a large swamp. I’ll go ahead and save them. You follow along with General Xue.”
She flashed and rose into the air. She soon disappeared.
General Xue was so scared that his mouth was opened wide. It seemed that Xiaojie and this expert weren’t mortal anymore. Could they still be mortals if they could fly?
Zi You rushed to the place where her grandfather was. The situation was really dangerous. The soldiers didn’t know where the swamps were. They could only use sticks to explore their path forward. As such, soldiers would fall into swamps from time to time. Not only that, but there were lots of poisonous snakes and insects. There were also countless leeches.
A small soldier was dragged out from the swamp. He felt uncomfortable and took off his clothing. His body was speckled with leeches. It was an expanse of black and very terrifying.
Old General Mu was troubled. Dier had led the way the previous two times. They had never came this direction nor encountered this unfortunate swampy areas. At this time, Old General Mu finally realized that there was something wrong with Darong Ka. But it was already too late.
This time, he and his son would probably die here. But he couldn’t see his granddaughter before he died. He was really unreconciled!
Old General Mu was thinking about his granddaughter when he heard a beautiful voice in the air. “Don’t be scared, grandfather. I’m coming to save you!”
Old General Mu looked up. He saw a girl wearing a white cloud brocade and blue lined embroidered moiré riding outfit. Her wavy and long hair draped behind her with a blue ribbon in it. She had a delicate and perfect goose egg face. Her skin was like snow and creamy like water. Her pair of purple eyes was more crystal clear than the most dazzling amethyst. She fell down from the sky and quickly landed on the swampy area.
However, she was as light as a swallow and similar to a crane. She landed with one foot in the swamp, but her pair of white boots wasn’t even dirty.
Although this girl was taller than the original Zi You by a head and although this girl was more beautiful than his granddaughter, Old General Mu could recognize her with one glance. His precious You’er was back.
Old General Mu’s tears almost immediately flowed out. He wanted to happily call her over, but he thought of their current desperate situation. He couldn’t let his granddaughter be in danger again.
Thus, his face was cold as he snapped, “You’er, hurry and leave. It’s too dangerous here. You shouldn’t have come.”
Old General Mu was anxious, so he didn’t think about why his granddaughter’s clothing was intact and not even dirty. If she didn’t have some ability, how could she traverse through the jungle and arrive where he was?
Zi You saw that her grandfather was still concerned about her even when his life was in danger. Intense affection immediately surged. But she didn’t have time to tell him that she missed him or explain anything when a python as thick as a baby’s waist quietly slithered near her grandfather. It was about to open its mouth to devour him.
“Don’t move, grandfather!” Zi You shouted. Her Qi flowed through her meridians and gathered in her right hand. A purple ray shot out from her index finger towards the python.
The python’s tail swept around and soon stopped moving. The python stayed immobile on the ground. Then a burnt smell wafted.
Old General Mu looked back. The python’s head had been burnt into black charcoal.
He hadn’t reacted yet when Zi You flashed over to him. “Don’t worry, grandfather. I’ll go save them.”
Her body rose and flew into the air again. All of her spiritual power was focused on her hands. She pushed her palms out and a purple ball of light appeared.
The ball of light gradually expanded into waves and covered the entire swamp. At this time, the soldiers who had fallen into the swamp felt a powerful force that pulled them out from the quagmire. The wounded soldiers were miraculously healed. The soldiers covered in leeches saw the leeches fall off and turn into burnt charcoal. The soldiers who were poisoned, on the verge of death, or had even died not long ago all miraculously woke up. Even the smelly and terrifying swamp turned into a fragrant grassy area. The poisonous snakes and insects were all dead.
They looked at Zi You floating down from the air like a fairy. Her white riding outfit made her look even more refined and elegant, like a fairy descending to the mortal world.
“Grandfather.” Zi You landed next to Old General Mu and said, “Rest with the solders here. Set up camp when General Xue and the others arrive. Wait for me to come back. I’m going to save uncle right now.”
His granddaughter’s shocking arrival and her shocking way of saving people had already shocked Old General Mu into a petrified state.
Zi You shook his arm again. “Be careful, grandfather! Remember. Don’t go anywhere until I come back.”
He then reacted. He grabbed his granddaughter and said, “Be careful, You’er!”
Although she was very powerful now, Old General Mu still wasn’t assured as he spoke to her before she flew into the air again.
Wei Mingchao and Rong Qiyan were with Old General Mu. They saw this and reacted first. They shouted excitedly, “It’s great! It’s Xiaojie. Xiaojie came back from the heavens to rescue us. We’re saved!”
“The Commander...... The Commander is back, sisters. The Commander didn’t die. She’s back!”
20,000 soldiers, even those who had fallen into the swamp and weren’t pronounced brain dead, were all alive. After the initial excitement, their gratitude and worship towards Zi You had reached the peak.
At this time, no one would betray Zi You. Some of these people were part of the army who had gone to Mount Emei. Old General Mu had been worried that they would leak out the news that Zi You had spiritual power and An Wang Shizi’s feelings for her.
However, after experiencing Zi You becoming seriously injured after saving more than 500 soldiers in danger and her saving them this time again, the soldiers weren’t stupid. They knew that the person whom they secretly called their fairy was a real fairy. They also knew that Xiaojie’s matters couldn’t be known by outsiders. Otherwise, it would inevitably cause a disaster.
She’s a fairy. Who wouldn’t want to obtain her?
Hence, when Old General Mu ordered everyone to keep what happened today a secret, everyone shouted in unison, “We vow allegiance to Old General Mu and Xiaojie.”
In addition, Zi You rose into the air and immediately took out anti-insect drugs to sprinkle around the army. With these powders, no poisonous creatures would get close to her grandfather and the soldiers. That way, she could be assured to go rescue the other people.
Afterwards, she immediately focused her spiritual power on her eyes. She glanced around the jungle, but she didn’t see her uncle.
Zi You thought of the Empress’ cunning and ruthlessness. She informed Shangguan LingRan, “Grandfather is resting in the southwest swamp. Go meet up with him. I’ll go find uncle. Don’t come find me. Go protect grandfather.” She flew to another part of the jungle to search.
Mu YingYi led 20,000 soldiers and had experienced danger like they never had before. They were brought by Darong Ka to another swamp known as “Land of Death.”
This swamp was bigger than the one Old General Mu encountered. There were also much more poisonous creatures here. The leeches were thicker than the big toe of an adult man. The pythons were also terrifyingly large. There were also many poisonous insects that they had never seen before hidden in the grass. It was dangerous in the swampy areas, but it was even more dangerous in the areas without a swamp.