Lin Qinglan pursed her lips: "I was kidnapped by bad guys and taken to Lin'an City. Sister Ning happened to pass by and rescued me."
The soldier glanced at the woman holding Lin Qinglan. The night was pitch black, and even with torches, he couldn't see her clearly.
Only a rough outline could be seen: four horses, five people, including Lin Qinglan, three men and one woman.
"May I ask who this young lady is?"
"I am Ning Yao. Your Lord Wen knows me." Ning Yao's cold voice was very imposing.
"Please open the city gates, I have important matters to discuss with Lord Wen."
The soldiers knew the name Ning Yao. She was the one who massacred Nanjiang City that day, sought justice for the people, and then left without a word!
"Greetings, Miss Ning! We have already informed Lord Wen that you are welcome to enter the city!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of horses' hooves approached from behind.
The leader looked anxious.
"Qinglan? Qinglan?"
Lin Qinglan's eyes lit up, and she quickly replied, "Uncle Wen, it's me! Sister Ning is back too!"
Wen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. Ning Yao's return was even more exciting than finding Lin Qinglan!
"Miss Ning, you've returned just in time! A sudden wildfire has broken out in Kunlun Ridge, and Qingyu has already led people into the mountains during the day!"
Hua Yan exclaimed, "What? How could a frail scholar like him dare to lead people into the mountains? Doesn't he know how dangerous the Kunlun Mountains are?"
Ning Yao's heart sank slightly: "What's going on with this wildfire?"
The little divine tree in the Thousand Illusions Secret Realm showed no reaction whatsoever, which suggests that the problem is not just a matter of wildfire!
"I suspect that the dry weather today makes it extremely easy for wildfires to break out. Coupled with the lack of rain in a long time, I fear this wildfire will be fierce!"
Ning Yao believed this was the reason for everything; the Kunlun Mountains were protected by the Youming Divine Tree.
The vegetation in the mountains is lush and abundant.
Moreover, how could a mere wildfire lead to the destruction of the Youming Sacred Tree?
"Qingyu said that he crossed the Kunlun Mountains with you and knew a safe route, so he led a group of people into the mountains!"
"Now that you're here, could you please help Qingyu and find a way to resolve this perilous situation at Kunlun Ridge?"
Ning Yao made a quick decision: "Qinglan is in your hands now. Take good care of her! If anything happens again, I won't let you off the hook!"
"Hua Yan, let's go into the mountains!"
"Sister Ning! Be careful, Qinglan is waiting for you at home!"
The only response she received was Ning Yao's departing figure.
Wen Yuan looked down at Lin Qinglan: "Let's go, let's go home with your uncle."
"Um!"
——
Lin Qingyu led his men into the mountains that morning, taking the same path they had taken down the mountain.
The person following him was Zhou Kui, the general who found the water source in Bailongling.
He has now been promoted by Wen Yuan to the position of Commander-in-Chief of Nanjiang City.
"Young master, we saw thick smoke rising from the mountains when we were at the foot of the mountain, but why is it not as choking as we expected once we entered the mountains?"
Lin Qingyu also looked puzzled: "Perhaps we haven't arrived at our destination yet."
"Everyone, please be careful and watch your step."
What Lin Qingyu didn't say was that they had gone down the mountain in two hours, but now they had been walking for a whole day and still hadn't reached the place they remembered, which was really strange.
The leaves of the sacred tree in his arms were faintly warm, and Lin Qingyu subconsciously touched his chest.
This is an unusual phenomenon that has been appearing for the past few days; the leaves have never behaved like this before.
Thinking of the giant tree deep in the heart of the Kunlun Mountains, Lin Qingyu felt very worried.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ze led his men into the mountains. None of them had ever set foot on the Kunlun Mountains before, so their progress was extremely slow.
Chen Sheng and his group traveled in simple clothes. Although they entered the mountain later than Zhao Ze and his group, their martial arts skills allowed them to move much faster.
Even with Chen Jingrong with him, they quickly caught up with Zhao Ze.
"Does that mean we go in from this side?" Chen Sheng asked.
Chen Jingrong nodded: "Liu Xu drew a map, and the road into the mountains is indeed outside Songyang City."
"Alright, let's go!"
As Chen Sheng and his group quickly overtook Zhao Ze and his party, Zhao Ze, without thinking, called out to them, "Who are you? What are you doing in the mountains?"
Chen Sheng's previous gloomy expression vanished, replaced by a warm smile: "I have some business in the mountains. Are you the garrison of Songyang City?"
Even in the pitch-black night, the clanging of armor as Zhao Ze and his group walked was still easily recognizable.
Zhao Ze did not hide anything and said, "I am Zhao Ze, the city lord of Songyang City. There is a sudden wildfire in Kunlun Ridge. It is very dangerous. You should not go into the mountains. If you want to go into the mountains, it is best to wait for a while."
How could Chen Sheng possibly listen to advice? He said, "What if there's a sudden wildfire?"
"Didn't you see the thick smoke rising from the mountain?"
Chen Sheng frowned. It was already night when they entered the mountain, so they couldn't see the thick smoke on the mountain.
Wildfire? Did the Tianyun Sect set the mountain on fire?
Chen Sheng looked unwell. Hadn't they said they had the goods?
Now that we've got it, why cause this unnecessary trouble?
But with Zhao Ze so captivating, he couldn't ask Chen Jingrong directly, so he could only say, "I didn't notice it during the day, but now that I do, I'll definitely help. I'll take my leave now!"
Chen Sheng decisively turned and left, ignoring Zhao Ze's shouts from behind.
"Who is this person? Why is he bringing people into the mountains so late at night?"
The subordinate standing nearby said, "Master, the Kunlun Ridge is a dangerous road. Why don't we follow them? We can lend a hand if either side is in trouble!"
Zhao Ze nodded: "Okay! I'll do as you say and go with them!"
Chen Sheng and his men were fast, and Zhao Ze and his men could barely keep up.
However, the deeper one went, the stronger the smell of smoke became.
"Sir, it seems we made the right choice!"
Zhao Ze's brow never relaxed. As a native of Songyang City, he didn't even know the terrain of Kunlun Ridge.
How could the person in front of me know so much? And even in the middle of the night?
Who exactly are they?
Chen Sheng was also very agitated. They were about to reach the location of the Tianyun Sect members. If they let the people behind them follow, it would inevitably expose their purpose.
However, before he could think of a solution, he heard a wail.
"Help!"
"Dad, help me!"
"Master, that sounds like the young master's voice!"
Zhao Ze naturally understood, and without caring why Zhao Heng was there, he immediately sent people to search everywhere.
They quickly located Zhao Heng's position.
"Master, we've found the young master! He's seriously injured!"
Zhao Ze saw his son in front of him. The torch wasn't very bright, but it was enough to make out his appearance.
His clothes were tattered, his face was covered in wounds and dried blood, and he looked utterly miserable.
Upon seeing Zhao Ze, Zhao Heng immediately became excited: "Father! You've finally come! If you hadn't come, your son would have been killed!"
Zhao Ze's face darkened: "What are you doing here?"
Zhao Ze paid no attention to his father's attitude and just kept complaining and venting.
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