The fight beside them had ended.
A dozen corpses lay on the ground, the scent of blood thick in the air. Liu Xing rushed over, reaching out to support Madam Ning, and solicitously asked his master.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, let's go."
Yun Xiao waved her hand. At this moment, Jing Yun had already fetched the carriage. The group quickly helped Madam Ning into the carriage, taking her back to the inn.
As the carriage gradually moved away, a man in a green shirt leaned against a tall tree. A cunning smile flickered in his deep, discerning black eyes. It was truly interesting to see her here. Did he know?
To avoid alarming the inn's occupants, Yun Xiao and Wan Wan entered through the front door. However, she instructed Liu Xing and Jing Yun to pull Madam Ning over the nearby arched bridge, and then onto the willow tree outside their room before entering.
Inside the room, lamplight flared. On the round wooden table, various items were neatly arranged: a medicine furnace, alcohol, pills, as well as silver needles and surgical knives.
Yun Xiao first gave Madam Ning pills to stop the bleeding, then opened her severed arm and carefully treated the wound to prevent inflammation and infection.
The stark white bone, stained with blood, looked terrifying and grotesque. Wan Wan had never seen such a sight before and, feeling nauseous, rushed to the side window to vomit.
Even the hidden guards, Liu Xing and Jing Yun, felt their scalps tingle and their hands and feet turn cold. However, looking at their master, her delicate features showed only concentration, meticulousness, and determination, with not a trace of fear or panic. Their master was truly extraordinary.
She was indeed the world-renowned divine physician.
Yun Xiao treated the wound, applied medicine, and bandaged it. She then used silver needles to stimulate acupoints, regulating Madam Ning's agitated nerves. Having lost too much blood, it was not advisable for her to be angry or resentful, as it would only worsen her condition.
Finally, she gave her pills to counteract poison. Besides the silver nail, Madam Ning had also been poisoned. Tonight, she had risked her life, likely with the determination to die.
With everything tidied up, Yun Xiao stood up, her face beaded with cool sweat.
Wan Wan, looking pale, walked over. Seeing that Madam Ning looked much more peaceful and her wound was bandaged, Wan Wan finally felt relieved. However, just thinking about it made her gasp for breath.
"You two stand guard outside the door."
Yun Xiao instructed Liu Xing and Jing Yun. After they left, she walked to the side to wash her hands, cleaned her blood-stained clothes, and turned to instruct Wan Wan, who had been standing stiffly by the bedside.
"Find a set of my clothes for Madam Ning to change into. Her current dress is covered in blood and smells terrible."
"Yes, Master," Wan Wan replied, snapping back to attention. She carefully went over to change Madam Ning's clothes while Yun Xiao changed into a different outfit herself.
Moonlight streamed through the half-open window, casting a pale glow on the floor. The hazy, gauze-like colors reflected on the river outside, where small boats could be vaguely seen navigating. Two lanterns on either side, like a pair of bright eyes, guided the vessels forward.
The room was quiet, with no sound except for the rustling as Wan Wan adjusted Madam Ning's body.
Suddenly, voices erupted from downstairs in the inn, and they were quite loud. Yun Xiao frowned, inwardly calling out "Bad!" She suspected it was Madam Ning's household, and wondered if Ning Haowen would truly pursue them relentlessly.
This man was worse than a beast. But now, they had to take Madam Ning away. If she fell into the hands of Ning's people again, she would surely die.
Yun Xiao and Wan Wan simultaneously looked towards the door. Liu Xing and Jing Yun pushed it open, their faces grim and solemn.
"Not good, someone has entered. They are clearly from Ning's household. What do we do now? We should take Madam Ning and leave Sicheng. We killed over a dozen of Ning's people, and staying here will likely cause trouble."
"Alright, let's take Madam Ning and go."
Wan Wan had already packed the medicine box. Liu Xing stepped forward to support Madam Ning, while Jing Yun reached out to take hold of the two women. They could only leave through the back window now.
Just as the group departed, the room door was kicked open. Over a dozen Ning household subordinates, wielding gleaming sabers, stormed in. Seeing that the room was empty, they turned to the innkeeper and spoke harshly.
"Didn't you say there were two guests? Where are they?"
"I don't know," the innkeeper replied, rolling his eyes inexplicably. The man in the lead kicked over the innkeeper. At this moment, subordinates were searching everywhere. Suddenly, someone saw figures gliding over the arched bridge in the distance through the open window and couldn't help but shout, "Quick, they've escaped! Chase them!"
As the words fell, he sprang out, followed closely by others who chased after them.
On the quiet street, moonlight followed like a shadow. After a light rain, the bluestone slabs were slippery and slick. With the slightest carelessness, one could fall. Wan Wan had already stumbled several times.
Yun Xiao turned her head to glance at the Ning household servants chasing closely behind, then quickly turned and instructed Liu Xing, who was supporting her, "You support Wan Wan, I'm fine."
Liu Xing took the command, reached out to support Wan Wan, and then hurried forward to support Yun Xiao. They fled swiftly.
Jing Yun, supporting Madam Ning, ran wildly, keeping close behind them, sprinting with all their might. However, the people from Ning's household were all skilled.
Liu Xing and Jing Yun were both carrying people, so they couldn't fully utilize their lightness skills. Thus, they watched as the figures behind them drew closer, and their carriage was still at the inn.
But fate had not completely sealed their path. Just as they thought they couldn't escape, a luxurious carriage suddenly sped past on the street. The carriage flashed by and stopped beside them in an instant. A person sat in the carriage, and a cold voice rang out, "Get up quickly."
Liu Xing, supporting Wan Wan and their master, leaped onto the carriage. Jing Yun also pulled Madam Ning aboard.
The group of brutish servants behind them continued to chase relentlessly. Suddenly, over a dozen masked figures descended from the tall trees on both sides of the street. With a wave of their hands, they engaged in a fierce attack, and screams occasionally echoed.
Wan Wan couldn't help but spit in disgust and cursed.
"Serves them right."
Yun Xiao, however, frowned. The events of the night were too peculiar. First, someone had helped them rescue Madam Ning. They had initially thought it was out of sympathy for Madam Ning.
But now, it seemed that was not the case at all. It was as if someone had intentionally helped them. But who could it be, and what were their intentions?
Was it true sympathy for Madam Ning, or was there a hidden agenda?
Yun Xiao couldn't understand. She only heard the carriage whistling past the street. She didn't know where it was heading. She raised her head questioningly to look at Liu Xing. Liu Xing lowered her gaze and whispered softly.
"It's fine, it seems we're heading out of the city."
Out of the city? Yun Xiao's brows furrowed. Leaving the city was not a bad idea.
Sicheng was the domain of martial artists, and the Ning family had many informants in Sicheng. If they stayed, the trouble would be even greater. It would be best to leave.
But who exactly had helped them? Was it to help Madam Ning or to help them? Logically, it should be someone helping Madam Ning.