"Is this painted person 'Ba Wang'?"
Liu Jin exclaimed, a thought striking her. She quickly moved to the other screens and examined them. Every person depicted was a man, and though their appearances varied, they shared a common trait—all were in the attire of a general!
The clothing was unmistakably the costume of Ba Wang on the opera stage!
Liu Jin's words were met with Xie Yun's agreement. While each individual's face was different, their demeanor was remarkably similar. Perhaps it wasn't the paintings' subjects who shared a similar aura, but rather that the artist had painted the same person repeatedly.
Perhaps, he could now roughly deduce the cause of death.
Just then, A Chen awoke.
"A Chen! A Chen! What did you say?"
The person carrying A Chen suddenly spoke, then gently placed him on the ground. Everyone crowded around, with Xie Yun and Liu Jin at the innermost circle.
"Hurry and save Minister Wei! They are inside!"
Suddenly, a heavy impact echoed from the direction A Chen pointed. A swooshing sound, like arrows being shot. There was a stone wall there, so how did they get in?
Now was not the time to ponder how they had entered, saving lives was paramount.
Xie Yun produced an explosive talisman. The only way to rescue the people in time was to blast through the stone wall. He scanned the surroundings, confirming that the explosion would not cause the entire cave to collapse, and quickly cast the spell.
The group retreated some distance. With a resounding boom, the stone wall crumbled, and dust billowed everywhere. After the dust settled, the scene within the cave became clear.
Wei Ting had been struck by arrows on his left arm and back, and was struggling to maintain a half-kneeling position. People lay scattered on the ground, interspersed with groans of pain.
"Brother!"
The other officers from different departments quickly moved forward to help those on the ground. Xie Yun and Liu Jin rushed to support Wei Ting. The tension in his body immediately eased upon seeing them, and he addressed Xie Yun and Liu Jin, "County Princess, Great Hero Xie!"
Then, as if remembering something, his expression became even more grave. He warned, "Be careful! There are traps inside!"
As if on cue, a deafening roar erupted. The adjacent wall suddenly opened and closed, revealing a multitude of mechanisms that unleashed a volley towards them. However, this time, with Xie Yun having already demolished the stone wall, Xie Yun and his companions used one hand to wield their swords for defense while the other supported their injured comrades.
Even in death, they would bring them back!
Liu Jin had not brought a sword, but her martial prowess allowed her to evade the attacks. Being a woman, Xie Yun was unaware of her formidable skills and had intended to shield her. To his surprise, Liu Jin snatched his sword and took the lead.
She skillfully deflected the arrows aimed at the three of them, protecting Xie Yun and Wei Ting behind her.
The group soon retreated, and the mechanisms fell silent.
Unexpectedly, the cave began to show signs of imminent collapse. The ground shook violently, and a cacophony of sounds filled their ears.
"This cave is going to collapse! Hurry!"
Everyone followed closely behind Liu Jin and Xie Yun, racing towards the cave entrance.
The stone cave was incredibly strange, as if controlled by someone.
The cave collapsed with alarming speed. Small and large rocks began to fall. While the smaller stones were manageable, the larger ones were capable of crushing a person beneath them, rendering them immobile.
Furthermore, each person was carrying an injured individual, making the escape even more arduous.
Soon, some were unable to evade the falling debris, and two people were trapped beneath the stones.
Screams echoed throughout the cave. Liu Jin looked back to see blood gushing from around those crushed by the rocks. Before they could even attempt a rescue, more stones plummeted down, burying them completely. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
The scene was truly horrific. Wei Ting, who usually shared drinks and hunted with these brothers, who he had personally trained, was now watching them die one by one under mysterious circumstances. He desperately wanted to save them, but his severe injuries prevented him from doing so and might even hinder Xie Yun.
He mustered his strength and said, "Great Hero Xie, please put me down!"
Xie Yun, of course, understood his intentions and had no intention of abandoning him. Without a word, he continued to run forward, dodging the falling rocks.
However, carrying someone significantly reduced his agility. Just as a large boulder was about to strike them, a force pushed him aside, sending him and Wei Ting tumbling to the ground.
Liu Jin cried out in pain as a sharp agony shot through her shoulder. Xie Yun realized she had pushed him to safety at the critical moment, while she herself had been unable to dodge, her right shoulder struck by a falling rock.
She immediately suppressed the intense pain, gritted her teeth, and helped Wei Ting up.
Xie Yun glanced at Liu Jin. Tears welled in her eyes, yet she did not cry out in pain. Even the tears born from her agony were held back. This woman truly commanded his admiration!
Without delay, Xie Yun, with Liu Jin's assistance, quickly hoisted Wei Ting onto his back, and the three of them successfully fled the cave.
Only the three of them emerged from the cave.
Liu Jin clutched her right shoulder, which was bleeding and immobile. However, the pain in her shoulder did not make her forget the people crushed to death in the cave, nor Jiu Jiu!
"Minister Wei, have you encountered Jiu Jiu?" Thinking that Wei Ting might not know Jiu Jiu, she added, "She's a cute little girl!"
Wei Ting shook his head. He had not seen any strangers since entering the cave, let alone a young girl.
Liu Jin, holding her shoulder, turned to look at the completely collapsed stone cave and said, "Could Jiu Jiu still be inside?"
Xie Yun's brow furrowed. His dark eyes gazed at the pile of rubble. Although he had known Jiu Jiu for a short time, their interactions had led him to regard her as his own sister.
She had been lively and spirited when they left Shangyang Town, enduring many hardships as she followed them. Now, she might have lost her life here, her remains possibly unfound.
Xie Yun felt a pang of sorrow, even a yearning to weep. Seeing Liu Jin clutching her wound, tears streaming down her face, he knew she was grieving for Jiu Jiu.
"County Princess, Minister Wei is severely wounded, and Jiu Jiu's whereabouts are unknown... We should return to the City Lord's mansion to make further plans!"
Mentioning Qin Jiu Jiu, both their expressions grew heavier, yet hope lingered in their hearts. Perhaps Jiu Jiu was not dead! Perhaps she had escaped long ago!
With a teleportation talisman, the three returned to the City Lord's mansion.