"It seems we succeeded."
Upon seeing the long-lost light, Jiaoqiu felt a unique sense of emotion.
"Sunlight... even for someone like me, a member of the underworld, is a rare sight."
Xueyi tilted her head back, shielding her eyes from the sunlight with her hand. But she stopped just before stepping out the door.
"What's wrong, Ms. Xueyi Robe?"
After stepping out the door, Jiaoqiu turned back and looked at Xueyi standing at the door with some curiosity.
"My mission was to protect you within the Prison of Deep Seclusion. And now, that mission is over."
Xueyi's voice flashed with determination:
"My second task was to maintain prison security and suppress rebellions."
"Lady Xueyi, you are risking your life!"
Jiaoqiu opened her eyes, her gaze filled with seriousness.
"It doesn't matter, I've already died countless times."
Xueyi paused in her speech:
"Every minute of delay gives reinforcements and civilians an extra minute to react."
A complex look flashed across Jiaoqiu's eyes, then he nodded heavily:
"I will summon the general as soon as possible. The rest is up to you."
"Goodbye, Jiaoqiu."
Xueyi waved her hand, and the massive steel door slowly closed. Xueyi turned around, her weapon already firmly in her hand.
"What follows is a desperate struggle, like a cornered beast."
At this moment, Hoolay was already close to the gate and had knocked down the guards.
"A Rraaa--" Hoolay let out a joyful roar:
"Such... such familiar memories! Those memories of chasing, gnawing, tearing... they're back, they're all back! They've all come back!"
"Sir, we're only one step away from freedom. Once we cross the gate, no one can stop us."
Modu's voice was also greatly encouraged; looking at that tall figure, his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"War Chief! War Chief!" A stumbling voice came from afar:
"I found it! Here is the list of people imprisoned in the Prison of Deep Seclusion!"
Despite his joy, he still kept a safe distance from Hoolay and handed the list to Modu.
"Mirror... Jingliu?"
Modu's eyes first showed surprise, then turned to fear, and he immediately put the list in his hand into his pocket.
"What's wrong, strategist? What did you see?" Hoolay's voice was icy. "The message from that pawn was for me, not for you."
"N-nothing... just some insignificant scum."
Modu glanced around, her eyes filled with barely concealed panic.
"Really? I think I just heard the words ' Jingliu '?"
Hoolay's voice was even colder, as if he were conducting an interrogation.
"That's... not important, escaping is the priority!"
Modu was clearly flustered, but he still forced himself to speak.
Hoolay let out a long breath, as if confirming Modu's loyalty:
" Modu, we must stay here for a while. But you don't need to be afraid. From the moment you stepped out of prison, it is the Xianzhou native who should be afraid. Because I will make them understand what true disaster is."
He paused for a moment, then spoke again:
"Now, Du Lan, follow me!"
At this time, Qiong and her group had caught up with Hoolay's group and killed some of the Bu Li Borisin.
"They're jailers! Stop them! For Hoolay, we'd die a thousand deaths!"
The surrounding Borisin slowly gathered, but were then broken through by the four and continued to rush forward, leaving behind the accompanying shrieks and howls of wolves.
At this moment, Hoolay stood before the massive gate, which was tightly locked. His tall, thin figure in Xueyi stood alone before the gate.
" Hoolay, long time no see."
"Pawn, you think you can stop me?"
Hoolay's voice was filled with mocking coldness, and the scimitar had already appeared in his hand.
Even if I'm all alone, I'll lock you up again.
Xueyi's voice was unprecedentedly resolute, Hoolay's enormous body seemed tiny in comparison.
"And aren't you the one in an even more predicament now?"
Hoolay looked back and saw Xueyi blocking his path in front, Qiong and her group closing in from behind, a monster below that seemed to have regained its powers and was watching him menacingly, and the Xianzhou General might be waiting for him outside... It was indeed a considerable problem.
"Sister... Sister?"
Hanya saw the figure at the far end, its eyes widened in undisguised surprise:
How did she get here?
"It seems she ultimately chose to sacrifice herself to hold them off."
Dan Heng's voice was full of admiration, but he increased his speed even further:
"Hurry up and get there, don't let her fight alone!"
As they spoke, Qiong Yi's baseball bat slammed the last Bu Liren blocking her path, slamming Borisin against the wall and creating a huge dent, clearing a clear line of sight between him and Hoolay.
" Hoolay, stop right there!"
Hoolay's gaze was fixed on the door and the small figure in front of him, and he exhaled a breath of stale air:
"You lowly beast... I hope you'll still look at me with such arrogance when my claws tear your throat."
Hoolay drew his sword from his waist, the sheath flashing with a dazzling light, foreshadowing the outbreak of a battle.
At this moment, Hanxing slowly awoke from Firefly's embrace. Her wounds had not yet healed, but her eyes already flashed with a shrewd blue light. Her wounds healed rapidly and slowly disappeared without a trace.
"Liu... Firefly, where am I?"
As I slowly opened my eyes, the person I had been longing for came into view, and I felt no regrets.
" Hanxing? You're finally awake!"
Firefly hugged Hanxing's hand tightly, as if confirming that everything was real, afraid of losing her again.
Hanxing processing her Remembrance from before she fell unconscious, Hanxing roughly recalled what had happened. She then tried to mobilize her power again.
Good news: The power is back.
Bad news: Only Star Eyes returned.
"My strength has returned... not much, but enough."
However, before issuing a pre-war declaration, let's savor the warmth of this moment first.
Hanxing's hand embraced Firefly's body, and he patted her back.
"It's okay, I'm back, I definitely won't leave again."
"Yeah, I'd be a puppy if I lied--"
Hanxing could feel something cold seeping through his clothes and touching his shoulder. He dared not look at the figure on that shoulder, dared not gaze at that tear.
"I'm a dog if I lie."
Firefly slowly loosened her grip. A hint of heartache flashed in Hanxing's eyes, followed by complete confidence:
"Next, that guy up there should pay for this in blood!"