In the deep and cold secret passage, only the hurried footsteps and heavy breathing of three people echoed.
The air was turbid and filled with a damp and musty smell.
There was a tiny air vent at regular intervals on the wall, letting in a faint ray of sunlight, barely illuminating the slippery steps under my feet.
Yin Zhao followed Xiao Wuying, taking one step forward and one step back. The hem of his dragon robe had already been soaked with mud and water, becoming extremely heavy.
The emperor's dignity was completely destroyed during his escape, leaving only the instinct for survival and a huge sense of humiliation.
Cao Chunfeng was in an even more miserable state, practically rolling and crawling, nearly falling down several times, tears streaming down his face, and he kept muttering: "Your Majesty...slow down...wait for this servant..."
Xiao Wuying was like a civet cat in the dark night, his steps were light and precise, and he was extremely familiar with this secret passage.
He didn't know when a small glass lamp appeared in his hand, emitting a faint green light, barely illuminating the distance a few steps ahead.
"Where does this secret passage lead to?"
Yin Zhao asked breathlessly, his voice sounding unusually hollow in the narrow space.
"Your Majesty, the exit is at a deserted mountain temple thirty miles west of the capital."
Xiao Wuying's voice remained steady, "The Longcha Division has a secret base there, equipped with horses and dry food."
"Longchasi...my father...has always kept you..." Yin Zhao's voice was filled with complicated emotions.
"The Dragon Inspection Division is only loyal to Emperor Dayin."
Xiao Wuying's answer was concise and cold. "After the abdication of the Emperor, we retreated into the shadows. Firstly, to protect the Emperor's safety, and secondly... to monitor the movements of the government and the people, in case of emergency."
He paused and added, "Including...finding the true whereabouts of General Zhao Muyun."
Yin Zhao was shocked and was about to ask again when he suddenly heard a slight mechanical sound from the front of the secret passage.
"careful!"
Xiao Wuying suddenly pulled Yin Zhao back, and the glass lamp in his hand went out instantly.
In the darkness, there were only a few "whoosh" sounds, and several crossbow arrows flew past their previous position and were deeply embedded in the earth wall behind them.
Cao Chunfeng was so frightened that he let out a cry and collapsed to the ground.
"Did...did someone discover us?"
Yin Zhao was still in shock and asked in a low voice.
"no."
Xiao Wuying turned on the light again, and under the light, several small holes appeared on the walls on both sides of the passage ahead.
"It's the secret passage's own defense mechanism. It's been tripped due to years of disrepair. It seems no one has been here for a long time."
His tone was calm, as if he had just dodged a few drops of rain.
After this scare, Yin Zhao didn't dare to ask any more questions, but just followed Xiao Wuying more carefully.
The secret passage is not a straight line, but has many forks, like a maze.
Xiao Wuying never hesitated and always chose the right path.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, just when Yin Zhao felt his legs were as heavy as lead and he could hardly support himself, Xiao Wuying finally stopped.
Ahead is a seemingly ordinary stone wall.
Xiao Wuying knocked rhythmically on several inconspicuous places on the wall.
"Zazaza!"
The stone wall slowly opened inwards, and a biting cold wind mixed with snow rushed in. Outside was a dark forest.
"Your Majesty, we're here." Xiao Wuying stepped aside.
Yin Zhao staggered out of the secret passage, greedily breathing in the cold air of freedom.
He looked back and saw flames rising into the sky in the direction of the capital in the distance, dyeing half of the night sky a terrifying red.
Even though they were dozens of miles apart, the faint screams and cries still lingered in my ears like a nightmare.
His capital, his empire, is burning and being destroyed!
A heart-wrenching pain and feeling of powerlessness instantly gripped him, and he almost fell to his knees.
"Your Majesty, we should not stay here for long."
Xiao Wuying's voice brought him back to reality. "The Di cavalry will soon search this area. We must immediately head to the stronghold, obtain horses, and leave as quickly as possible."
At this moment, more than a dozen figures, also wearing black clothes and masks, walked out silently from the shadows of the nearby woods.
They appeared like ghosts, kneeling on one knee in front of Xiao Wuying, their movements in unison and silently.
"Commander!"
Cao Chunfeng was so frightened that he shuddered again and hid tightly behind Yin Zhao.
Yin Zhao looked at the group of Longchasi secret guards who seemed to have emerged from the ground, and felt a little relieved, but a chill rose in his heart.
This force has been lurking in the dark, and as the emperor, he knew nothing about it.
"Are the horses ready?" Xiao Wuying asked.
"Everything is ready, inside the temple. According to the latest intelligence, the best route to Shuozhou has been planned, but there are Di people groups active along the way, so we must be careful to avoid them."
The leading secret guard reported in a low voice.
"Very good." Xiao Wuying nodded and turned to Yin Zhao, "Your Majesty, please follow me."
The mountain temple was in a dilapidated state, but in the cellar behind the statue, there were indeed more than ten strong horses tied up, as well as sufficient dry food, clean water and even several sets of ordinary people's clothes.
"Your Majesty, please change your clothes. The emperor's attire is too conspicuous." Xiao Wuying handed over a coarse cotton robe.
Yin Zhao looked at the rough clothes, his fingers trembling, but he finally gritted his teeth and took it.
When he took off his mud-stained dragon robe and put on his musty cotton jacket, the immense sense of humiliation almost suffocated him.
Cao Chunfeng also changed into the servant's clothes with a sad face.
"Your Majesty, we need to split our forces into two groups."
Xiao Wuying quickly deployed, "A team of troops, led by me, will escort Your Majesty to the northwest, and try to establish contact with the surrounding Dayin army along the way."
"Another team, led by Deputy Commander Yin, will carry the Emperor's blood edict and His Majesty's token and head north to Shuozhou to search for General Zhao Muyun and convey His Majesty's will and the crisis in the capital!"
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