Chapter 68

Yes, reinforcements finally arrived!

Boss Peng and his group were experts in disguise and stealth. They had been operating in the northern region for decades, blending seamlessly with ordinary people, making them hard to identify. Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao had great difficulties tracking down Boss Peng’s group.

While Su Ci was trying to escape, she didn’t know that Yang Yanzong had personally led a team to the vicinity of the earthen temple. However, they didn’t dare to act rashly because Su Ci and Mrs. Ren were still in the hands of Boss Peng and his men. If they got too close and were detected, the hostages’ lives could be in danger. Caught in a dilemma, Yang Yanzong was anxious but didn’t dare to move lightly.

They had chased half the night and hid in the long grass on a hillside about a hundred yards from the temple. After observing for a while, Ji Yuanhao suggested, “Why not wait until tomorrow, when they enter the city, to make a move?”

Ahead was Feng Chuan, with four cities and thirty-six towns, densely populated. There was no more wilderness. Acting in an inn in the town, with the second batch of reinforcements arriving, would be much safer for the hostages than in the open countryside.

—This safety, of course, was for the hostages.

Yang Yanzong was silent. He knew this was the best plan but didn’t want to wait. Every extra day meant more suffering for Su Ci. Being so close yet unable to act was unbearable.

“Let’s wait a bit longer.” His voice was hoarse from days of little rest and sleep. Ji Yuanhao nodded, having no objections. They couldn’t go back now, and rest was impossible.

Just as Ji Yuanhao was about to instruct the preparations for the town ahead, an unexpected situation occurred. They heard the sound of hoofbeats. A dozen fast horses galloped towards the half-collapsed temple, and Boss Peng and his men quickly emerged. The two sides seemed to be talking, and the conversation was tense.

Yang Yanzong suddenly stood up, “We can’t wait any longer!”

The masked men who had suddenly appeared were clearly top-level experts, judging by their movements and stance. They didn’t know what they were discussing with Boss Peng and his men, possibly negotiating the fate of Su Ci and Ren.

They couldn’t take the risk!

Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao stood up decisively, “Go!”

---

The leading masked man suddenly tilted his head in the dark wilderness amidst cold smiles and the sound of swords being drawn. He seemed to hear something unusual from the back of the earthen temple and sneered, “If I were you, I’d send someone to check the back.”

Boss Peng’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned around. Several of his men quickly went behind the curtain. Moments later, a shout: “Not good, those two women have escaped again!”

There was also the sound of someone jumping out of a window in pursuit. Damn!

Boss Peng and his men were shocked and immediately sent seven or eight people to chase after them!

The masked man was about to sneer when a gust of wind blew through the drafty temple, causing the fire to crackle. Suddenly, he sensed the sound of grass being trampled in the distance, and he felt a sudden sense of danger.

This mutual sensing among top experts, with their keen sense of blood and killing intent, made the masked leader shudder. “Who!!!” He shouted, drawing his long sword with a “clang!”

Yang Yanzong charged in like a whirlwind, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. With a sweep of his sword, the tattered curtain split in two, revealing the bodies behind it!

A fierce battle erupted!!!

The masked men, who had been at odds with Boss Peng, immediately joined forces with him when Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao’s group appeared. Yang Yanzong’s long sword clashed with the masked leader’s, the fire scattering in all directions.

Taking advantage of Yang Yanzong’s brief opening, A Kang led his men into the back. They searched but couldn’t find Su Ci and Ren. Instead, they found a body on the ground and an empty back window. Looking out, they saw several figures running into the wilderness. The last few turned and charged back, intercepting Ah Kang and his men!

A Kang shouted, “Not good! Madam and the others have fled east, and they have pursuers!!!”

Yang Yanzong shouted, “Split up and chase! Quickly!!!”

Yang Yanzong, Ji Yuanhao, and their group were engaged in a fierce battle. Yang Yanzong’s sharp eyes scanned the scene, noticing those at the back who hadn’t yet joined the fight. Hearing the call, they immediately turned and retreated!

Among them were Su Yan, Yang Yanzhen, and A Zhao, but A Zhao was tightly engaged with a masked man and a Northern Rong fighter, unable to break free.

Su Yan and Yang Yanzhen, breaking free from the fight, quickly pursued east!

Ji Chengtian, who was less skilled, was at the back and hadn’t joined the fight. Hearing the call, he immediately ran after Su Yan.

Su Yan and Yang Yanzhen quickly reached the riverbank with their excellent lightness skills, catching up with the Northern Rong men searching for a boat. The latter turned, and the two sides clashed instantly.

“Boat, find a boat quickly. A Ci and the others have gone to the water!” Su Yan, smelling blood, panicked and shouted. She swung her sword, but the Northern Rong man blocked it, and she couldn’t break free. She was furious but had to deal with the Northern Rong men with Yang Yanzhen first.

Ji Chengtian, on the other hand, looked like a weak scholar with poor lightness skills. He was already out of breath after running for a while. The Northern Rong men didn’t pay him any attention, focusing entirely on the difficult Su Yan and Yang Yanzhen, making him the one who slipped through.

Ji Chengtian scrambled and ran into the tall grass and reeds. After running several hundred meters, he didn’t find a second boat. Unsure if the Northern Rong men had taken it or if there was none to begin with, he gritted his teeth and ran along the riverbank in the direction of the current!

---

Meanwhile, on Su Ci’s side. Mrs. Ren had placed Su Ci on the boat and, using all her strength, pushed it from the shore. The small boat wobbled and floated away, quickly carried downstream by the swift river.

Su Ci lay flat, asking Mrs. Ren to prop up her head and feet.

Mrs. Ren hurriedly took off her outer clothes and skirt, folding them to make a cushion. The hole in the boat, made by the dagger, was leaking water. Mrs. Ren quickly used her hand to plug it, then tore strips of cloth to stuff and press, finally stopping the leak.

Her knife wounds were deep, and she was bleeding heavily. Su Ci quickly instructed her on how to bind and bandage the wounds to stop the bleeding.

Mrs. Ren followed the instructions, hastily treating her wounds. The bleeding slowed, but she was more worried about Su Ci: “What about you? What should we do for you?!”

In the cold wind, the small boat without oars drifted on the river. What could they do? What should they do?!

Su Ci shook her head, “For now, this is it.”

They had done all they could. The dagger couldn’t be removed. She estimated the wound’s location and found no vital organs were hit. She could probably hold on for half a day.

She thought to herself, “I hope I don’t die here.” After surviving so many dangers, was she going to fail in this small ditch? Well, it wasn’t really a small ditch. It felt more like the saying, “If you walk by the river often, your shoes will get wet.”

Su Ci, ever the optimist, finished her internal rant and told Mrs. Ren, “If we can meet up with Yang Yanzong and the others quickly, they’ll be able to save us.”

She was happy she hadn’t kept her surgical knowledge to herself. She had trained several people in surgical procedures, even demonstrating and explaining abdominal surgery. Two of them had learned well and had even performed abdominal surgery without damaging vital organs. They were all Yang Yanzong’s men. If nothing unexpected happened, he should have brought Zhang Xin and the others, right? At least there was still a glimmer of hope, though faint.

“Oh, oh, then let’s hurry back!” Mrs. Ren held Su Ci’s hand, nodding desperately. She was a gentle but strong woman, but at this moment, she couldn’t help but nod and cry, not caring how she, an unarmed and injured woman, would get Su Ci into the city.

But Mrs. Ren quickly had no time to talk to Su Ci because the sound of the water didn’t seem right. It suddenly grew louder and more urgent ahead. Mrs. Ren looked up in shock and saw, under the moonlight, a chaotic rocky shoal about seventy or eighty yards ahead!

Jagged rocks rose from the riverbed, causing the water to become turbulent and narrow, with white waves crashing. Worse, from this angle, the river before the rocky shoal showed many circular ripples, indicating undercurrents. Not knowing what lay beneath, but clearly, there were undercurrents and whirlpools!

Cold sweat broke out on Mrs. Ren. She quickly leaned over the side of the boat, paddling with her hands! Using both hands, she was drenched in sweat despite the cold, her survival instinct kicking in. Fortunately, she managed to steer the boat close to the shore just before it reached the undercurrent.

About five or six meters from the sandy shore, Mrs. Ren jumped into the water, luckily finding footing. She dragged the boat, stumbling and crawling towards the shore. Breathing heavily, her lungs felt like they were on fire. She clung to the boat, too exhausted to drag it further. After a brief rest, she was about to continue when she heard the sound of someone swimming! Startled, she saw a pair of hands gripping the other side of the boat. A Northern Rong man emerged, having swum all the way!

Mrs. Ren cried out in despair as he drew a dagger and lunged at her. She grabbed a black stick from the edge of the sand and fought back desperately, “Die, just die already!”

The Northern Rong man, exhausted from swimming, was struck on the head by Mrs. Ren’s sudden attack, blood spurting as he screamed and clutched his eye!

The stick’s protrusion had pierced his eye!

Blood immediately stained the river, and they struggled fiercely. Mrs. Ren fought desperately, and at that moment, Ji Chengtian arrived. He had been running along the riverbank, falling countless times. Turning a corner, he saw his sister-in-law being attacked by the Northern Rong man. With a roar, he jumped into the river, swimming towards them with all his might. He made it just in time, plunging a dagger into the Northern Rong man’s back, driving it in deep.

The Northern Rong man froze and then was flipped into the water by Ji Chengtian.

Mrs. Ren lay half in the sand and water, her face covered in blood—whether hers or the Northern Rong man’s, she couldn’t tell. She hoarsely shouted, “Second Brother, Second Brother! Go save Sister Su!!”

During Mrs. Ren’s struggle with the Northern Rong man, they couldn’t hold onto the boat. Their movements had knocked it loose, sending it straight towards the undercurrent and rocky shoal!

Alarmed, Su Ci tried to sit up, but before she could lift her upper body, she felt the boat’s erratic, rapid shaking. Realizing they had reached the undercurrent area, she immediately stopped moving and held her breath.

Fortunately, the boat, though it brushed the edges of the undercurrent several times, narrowly avoided being sucked in. It managed to stumble through the turbulent stretch.

When Ji Chengtian looked up, the boat had already passed the undercurrent zone. Luckily, it had not been pulled underwater, but now it was speeding towards the rocky shoal!

Mrs. Ren’s shout had been spontaneous, forgetting the undercurrent. Ji Chengtian saw it but, disregarding everything, jumped into the water, desperately swimming after the boat!

Mrs. Ren cried out in despair.

Meanwhile, the Northern Rong man, who had been struggling, wasn’t dead. Ji Chengtian’s dagger hadn’t hit his heart. After a moment of cold shock, he stood up, blood streaming from his back. He was about to die, but his bloodshot eyes held a beast-like determination to take someone with him. This man had a strong will. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have pursued the boat by swimming underwater without hesitation!

Water splashed over Mrs. Ren’s face. She turned and met his bloodshot eyes, screaming. But Mrs. Ren reacted quickly, scrambling to her feet and running towards the shore. In the dark night, her figure quickly disappeared into the tall grass.

The Northern Rong man hesitated, then chose the visible targets, diving into the water and lunging at them!

In the pitch-black night, Su Ci clung to the boat’s edge, her nerves so tense she didn’t hear the commotion on the shore. Suddenly, the boat’s speed increased. Alarmed, she tried to get up, but with a loud “bang,” the boat’s bow crashed into a rock. Her head snapped back, hitting the boat’s edge, and she blacked out.

Fortunately, Ji Chengtian arrived just in time. As the swift current carried the boat towards the second and third large rocks, he lunged, grabbing the boat tightly, and pushed off the rock, pulling the boat out of the rocky area.

Though the current was strong and the suction powerful, they were no longer heading towards the rocks. The rocks split the current, sending one part rushing towards the shore.

Ji Chengtian pushed the boat towards the shore but was attacked by the Northern Rong man. The dying man, with immense strength, grabbed the boat and Ji Chengtian’s neck, choking him and biting his ear.

Ji Chengtian’s ear bled profusely, and he struggled to breathe. He had used all his strength to escape the rocky area but now fought with unprecedented determination.

Holding onto the boat with one hand, he was quickly overpowered by the fierce Northern Rong man. Just as his face turned purple and his lungs felt like they would burst, Su Yan arrived!

Su Yan quickly dealt with the Northern Rong man she was fighting and handed the scene over to Yang Yanzhen. She then hurried downstream.

With a splash, Su Yan jumped into the water. Ji Chengtian was overjoyed, “Here, here!”

Su Yan, an excellent swimmer and skilled fighter, quickly found her target. Like a water monkey, she pounced on the Northern Rong man’s back and slit his throat with a dagger. She then pulled the boat and Ji Chengtian to shore.

“You…” Su Yan threw Ji Chengtian onto the shore and turned to check on her sister. Feeling Su Ci’s pulse, she was slightly relieved. She noticed the dark bruises around Ji Chengtian’s neck, and her expression became complicated.

Ji Chengtian quickly said, “I’m fine!” After a pause, he added softly, “You don’t need to tell her.” He glanced at Su Ci in Su Yan’s arms, his voice hoarse and eyes filled with suppressed emotions but clearer than before. “I know. I won’t look for her again.” He hesitated, then couldn’t help but ask, “How is she? Is she okay?”

Feeling extremely conflicted, Su Yan replied hastily, “She’s fine, of course.” But she was also thinking about her own sister. She could be very cold-hearted, “You need to go now. They’re almost here!”

Yes, Ji Chengtian had risked his life to save her sister, but that was what he owed her. At most, they were even now. She wouldn’t allow him to meet Yang Yanzong!

Su Yan looked up, “Did you hear me? Go quickly.”

Ji Chengtian took one last look at Su Ci, nodded hastily, and stood up. By then, the sound of hoofbeats was already audible. He quickly dove into the grass.

Su Yan shouted, “Quick, over here!!!”

A thunderous sound of galloping horses approached. Yang Yanzong, covered in blood, had killed eighteen people, including six or seven masked experts. He had beheaded Boss Peng with a single stroke. He then mounted his horse and rushed over. Blood still dripped from him. Seeing Su Ci, his eyes widened in shock. He knelt, taking her into his arms, “Ci’er, Ci’er!” He quickly checked her pulse.

Su Yan urgently said, “Her pulse is still stable, but she’s been stabbed in the abdomen. She needs immediate medical attention!” Otherwise, her condition could deteriorate rapidly.

Being moved around, Su Ci gradually regained consciousness. She opened her eyes and saw Yang Yanzong’s anxious face, feeling a surge of joy, “You… you came?”

You finally came, big brother! She was so happy she cried.

Yang Yanzong didn’t have time to talk to her. He turned and shouted, “Zhang Xin! Where’s Zhang Xin? Hurry, get Zhang Xin here, quickly!!!”

He picked up Su Ci and rushed back.

Zhang Xin and the others were the medics, not part of the main attack force. They arrived a step later, carried by A Zhao. Yang Yanzong, covered in blood and with a fierce look in his eyes, made everyone nervous, but he quickly said, “Get on the boat, quickly!”

There were no conditions for surgery here!

Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao had prepared both land and water routes, and the boat was equipped with full medical facilities to prevent injuries during the rescue.

Yang Yanzhen immediately fired a signal arrow, and the large boat began sailing towards them. Yang Yanzong, holding Su Ci, quickly flew towards the boat. Seeing the boat, he leaped aboard without waiting for it to anchor. He placed Su Ci on a large bed and grabbed Zhang Xin by the collar, “Quick, save her!”

He looked fierce and wanted to stay and assist, but Zhang Xin had to muster the courage to say, “Master, it would be better if you washed up first.”

The fewer people in the operating room, the cleaner it would be.

Yang Yanzong hesitated, then rushed out like the wind. When he returned, the surgery had already begun. Before drinking the anesthetic, Su Ci had given Zhang Xin specific instructions: “Steady, precise. This area has no vital organs. If the intestines are severely damaged, trim and suture, clean the wound, and drain fluids, just like you’ve done before. Don’t panic; it’ll be fine. Remember to administer the medicine first.”

When Yang Yanzong returned, thoroughly cleaned and in fresh clothes, the dagger had already been removed. Blood had splattered everywhere, a shocking sight. He didn’t faint at the sight of blood, but he couldn’t help closing his eyes for a moment. After a while, he forced himself to open his eyes and stepped forward, holding her hand.

Zhang Xin was experienced. He had performed this surgery many times at Gaobian. Su Ci’s case was relatively simple. Though the dagger had penetrated deeply, it had luckily lodged between two intestines, only cutting the edge. He only needed to suture two or three centimeters.

There was a lot of blood, and Zhang Xin’s hemostatic technique with golden needles wasn’t very practiced. He had to adjust once before it improved. After placing a drainage tube and cleaning the wound, the surgery was completed in about half an hour.

For those inside and outside the room, it felt like an eternity, but fortunately, the result was good. The surgery was successful, and with proper medication and post-operative care, she would fully recover without any lasting effects.

A blessing in disguise.

At eighteen, Su Ci faced a major ordeal. Despite some setbacks, she ultimately overcame it. Both she and Mrs. Ren were safely rescued.

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In the cabin, the drip was ticking. When Su Ci woke up, she saw a shadow above her. Opening her eyes, she saw Yang Yanzong sitting by her bedside, looking exhausted, with stubble on his chin. She blinked and tentatively called, “Husband?”

He turned his head slightly, not looking at her. But Su Ci, pitifully, called again. He paused, then gruffly responded, “Hmm.”

But Su Ci quickly forgot about him because the pain was intense. Anyone who has been injured knows that the pain isn’t very strong during the injury or before surgery. You might not even realize how severe the injury is without looking.

The real pain comes after the surgery when the anesthesia wears off. It’s an excruciating pain that surpasses human endurance, constantly tormenting the nerves. The worst part was that she had no painkillers. Given the limited conditions, Su Ci, though with minimal intestinal damage, had to eat and drink sparingly, with no pain-relief medication available.

She looked pained, and Yang Yanzong immediately turned to shout for Zhang Xin, but Zhang Xin could only gently explain the reason.

After that, Yang Yanzong fell silent, his face dark. Zhang Xin and the others didn’t dare to breathe loudly and quietly left.

Su Ci was in pain all day and couldn’t sleep at night. Yang Yanzong stayed with her the whole time, not sleeping either. By the next day, after another day had passed, the worst of the pain subsided, and she was exhausted from the ordeal. When night fell, Su Ci finally fell asleep.

When she slept, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

A Zhao whispered, “Master, you should rest too. Let someone change your bandages first.”

Yang Yanzong had been tracking and searching without a whole night’s sleep for more than two hours. He was exhausted and had some minor injuries but nothing serious. He had barely eaten while staying with Su Ci for two days and nights.

Yang Yanzong nodded. After changing his bandages, eating a little, and cleaning up, he returned to Su Ci’s recovery room. Standing by the large bed for a moment, he carefully moved her slightly and lay down beside her.

The familiar faint scent of clean and fresh grass, though tinged with a hint of blood, reassured him that she was safe. All his anxiety finally settled. After a long pause, he closed his eyes.

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With everyone rescued, it was time to deal with some matters. The Northern Rong, the Huang family, the Shi family, and the traces of the Kun family?

Huang Dewei had been in Feng Chuan, clearing out the remnants of the Four Kings and searching for Ji Lin. He had provided significant support earlier and, upon hearing that the two ladies were rescued but injured, took time to visit.

For the ladies, a visit meant the men entertained him.

After inquiring about their condition and learning they were safe but needed rest, Huang Dewei nodded, “That’s good.”

The three men stood on the ship’s deck. He frowned, “These rebel remnants will stop at nothing!”

Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao smiled faintly, “Indeed.”

After the customary inquiries, Huang Dewei, busy with official duties, left quickly.

Ji Yuanhao and Yang Yanzong watched him leave and exchanged glances. They still held a cautious attitude toward the Kun family.

Ji Yuanhao said, “Let’s finish the interrogations first.”

The old emperor had always been benevolent, but perhaps because they were used to scheming, they felt uneasy.

Yang Yanzong quickly returned to the cabin. Su Ci, hearing the real-time updates, felt better as the pain became bearable. She felt it wasn’t too bad. Walking by the river often, one would get wet shoes. Even Yang Yanzong, strong and capable, had old battlefield injuries. Though injured, she felt it was still within the realm of safety.

Bored, Su Ci saw Yang Yanzong and beckoned, “I remembered something to tell you.”

When Yang Yanzong sat down, she whispered, “I feel like the two groups of masked men are the same.” She had no evidence, just a hunch. “At the Yongji River, they had the same goal as the Northern Rong, but later at the temple, it felt different.”

It was subtle. When facing the masked men at the temple, Boss Peng and his men were tense and had no sense of alliance. “Did we capture any Northern Rong? Should we interrogate them?”

Yang Yanzong glanced at her, her face still pale and thin, yet she was meddling. He sternly tucked her back into bed, gruffly saying, “Don’t worry about it. Just rest.”

He snorted softly. He trusted his judgment and investigation. It was too early to draw conclusions. He would handle these matters. As for her, she should rest and recover!