Xie Xiao brought a large number of people this time, but the priority was to rescue people. After picking up the people, they fought and retreated towards the city gate.

Song Zhijing followed closely behind, and the two groups inevitably clashed. Just as the battle was reaching a stalemate, suddenly—

"It's terrible, sir! Your residence is on fire, and the Prince of Runan's residence is also on fire!" The second constable ran over.

"Damn it, how can a fire start when it's raining?" Song Zhijing looked and, sure enough, there was a fire! Thick smoke was billowing from the sky above the Prefect's house and the Prince of Runan's house!

The second constable said, "It's tung oil. The arsonist used tung oil."

"Tung oil?" Song Zhijing stared at Xie Xiao. "It's you again!"

Xie Xiao: "...It's me, it's me, it's all me, are you satisfied now?"

We have plenty of pots, so one more won't make a difference.

Li Ruo and he exchanged a glance. From their eyes, it was clear that neither of them was the other's doing, meaning someone had helped them.

Well placed!

Song Zhijing was unwilling to let them go so easily, but with enemies on both sides, he had no choice but to kick his horse hard and say, "Let's go back and put out the fire first."

If it were burned again, not even an empty shell would remain. Furthermore, Zhang Shu'er, who was in a coma, was taken back to the mansion. If she were to die in the fire at this point, there would be no way to explain it to the Prince of Runan.

The city gates are already closed, and Xie Xiao will fall into his hands sooner or later, as will that woman!

As for the people from the Prince of Runan's mansion, they had already helped the unconscious Zhang Fei back home.

"The flood is coming soon, we need to evacuate quickly," Li Ruo said to Xie Xiao.

"Get out of here!" Xie Xiao glared at her. "Didn't I tell you to go with Er Gou first? Why are you still here!"

Li Ruo: ...Did you eat gunpowder?

She didn't have time to argue with him, so she turned her horse around and rode away. The wind was getting stronger and stronger, and her hair was straightened. The situation was more urgent than she had expected.

She and her brothers from Black Wind Stronghold raced against the heavens, heading towards the city gate at breakneck speed.

What about Liao Fusheng? Are we really just going to abandon him? May Laozi protect him, Amitabha.

What's even more troublesome is that the city gates are indeed closed.

"What should we do, boss?" Sun Ergou asked, looking at the soldiers guarding the city wall.

Commander Zhao, who was guarding the city, was waiting there with a group of men. He was over forty years old and, unfortunately, was a loyal subject.

For over twenty years, he guarded the city, and no one had ever managed to leave the city gates alive.

The rain was getting heavier.

Splash!

Everyone was soaked to the bone, staring at each other, the tension palpable, just waiting for the order to turn even the drenched chickens into fighting cocks.

Suddenly, Xie Xiao smiled and lowered his long crescent halberd by two inches. "General Zhao, you're on this city wall every day, you should be able to see things better than anyone else. Look at the rain in the sky, look at the water on the ground. I told you last time that a great flood was coming, didn't you believe me?"

Commander Zhao was taken aback, and he withdrew his broadsword an inch. "You were the one who wrote me the letter?"

“That’s right.” Xie Xiao flicked his bangs. “Right now, you should take your brothers back to prepare some food and clothing, and preferably a boat, and take your family to higher ground for refuge, instead of guarding this decaying city.”

The soldiers behind Commander Zhao exchanged glances, for they knew that today was no ordinary day.

Bats attacked the people, rats scurried through the streets, ants swarmed up the city walls, and eagles circled and cried out in the sky. Before dusk, it was already dark.

All of these are ominous signs.

Xie Xiao continued, "General Zhao, you have elderly parents and young children at home, and your brothers are the same. Do you really want them all to perish at the bottom of the water?"

Commander Zhao was slightly moved, but still said, "What you say may not be true, and I cannot let you bandits go."

Xie Xiao was still smiling as he hoisted the long moon halberd onto his shoulder. "Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll stay here and watch the storm with you. If the flood really comes, then you can let us go."

"Boss, this won't be long, that guy surnamed Song—"

Before Sun Ergou could finish speaking, Xie Xiao interrupted him, "It won't be long."

Commander Zhao stared at him. He had read the man's letter no less than ten times. It was full of typos, and although he didn't quite believe it, he still had his family prepare some food.

So, "Fine, I'll give you one chance. I'll wait with you for an hour, and I won't touch you during that hour."

Xie Xiao smiled and said, "Thank you."

Li Ruo glanced at him. Was he so sure that a flood would come within an hour? And if a flood really came, it would be difficult to leave then.

Just then, two carriages arrived in the rain, accompanied by several men.

The curtains of the two carriages were lifted, and a woman anxiously poked half her body out, "Da Niu!"

Commander Zhao was startled, "Cuihua!"

Just as they were about to pass, they were blocked by the people of Black Wind Stronghold.

"Xie Xiao, you—"

"General Zhao, don't be anxious," Xie Xiao said calmly.

Sister Cuihua shouted, "Da Niu, our house was about to be flooded. They led us out, along with Deputy General Ma's family."

On the other carriage were the wife and children of Ma Erliang, the deputy general guarding the city. They cried out to Ma Erliang, "Husband, the water is almost up to my thighs!"

They all lived in low-lying areas, while the city gate was to the north, which was higher, so the water only reached their calves.

"Lie down, it's already up to the calves!" Everyone looked down; the hollows were already above the horse's knees.

"Oh dear, time is of the essence, we'll be late if we don't leave now, Lao Zhao, what are you dawdling for?" Sun Ergou said anxiously.

Ma Erliang's wife cried even more bitterly, "My Erzhu has also been separated from us, and we don't know if he's alive or dead."

"What did you say!" Ma Erliang's eyes widened, his grip on the knife thudding. "Erzhu—"

As they were talking, suddenly, loud wailing came from not far away.

The most surprised was Li Ruo, who saw Liao Fusheng running over carrying a child. "Oh dear, I don't know how parents these days raise their children. They left their child in the water and didn't care. If I hadn't been passing by—"

He was startled, "Master Xie, Miss Li!"

Ma Erliang had already thrown down his weapon and rushed over, picking up the child. "Erzhu! It's Erzhu!"

Liao Fusheng was dumbfounded.

Ma Erliang tried to get closer to the carriage, but two men immediately blocked his way.

Commander Zhao laughed and said, "Well done, Xie Xiao, you've got guts." He not only threatened him with his family, but also with the family of his deputy, Ma Erliang.

Because everyone knows that Old Zhao has an unyielding temper. He might sacrifice his family for loyalty, but he has to take care of the families of his soldiers.

Now everyone could see clearly that Chief Xie was indeed not going to wait obediently for an hour.

But it wasn't just a threat; it was also a gesture of goodwill.

"You may leave." Old Zhao waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to open the city gate.

He opened it willingly, not someone else forced it open, so Old Zhao's reputation remains intact.

"Thank you, General Zhao. Until we meet again!" Xie Xiao said.

The brothers from Black Wind Stronghold followed on horseback.

Li Ruo is also one of them.

Master Liao ran after them, calling out, "Hey, wait a minute..."