Chapter 162 - 160: Let’s Go Out Together (First Update)

Chapter 162: Chapter 160: Let’s Go Out Together (First Update)

Xu Jing looked at Nanny Zhou in disbelief.

There’s a fire? You should know, in order to intimidate those outside, Mrs. Yu previously poured oil all around the estate! Once a fire starts, the consequences are unimaginable!

Who started the fire?! It’s impossible for those outside to force their way in, and Mrs. Yu’s people wouldn’t start a fire without reason!

But now is clearly not the time to think about this. Looking at Nanny Zhou’s expression, it’s obvious the situation is not optimistic.

Xiao Yi immediately looked at Xu Jing and, without a word, stepped forward and grabbed her hand. On the other side, Nanny Zhou quickly ran to Mrs. Yu and, without a care, pulled her up.

Ma Ming, who was lying on the ground, was still heaving his chest violently, obviously still breathing, but no one had the heart to care about him anymore.

This wing room was right next to the pond. As soon as they stepped out, they saw the open area where everyone had gathered before, and the flames quickly climbing up the estate walls, their tongues lashing out vigorously.

At this moment, only Zhao Shao Hua was left on the open ground. Seeing Xu Jing and Xiao Yi, she immediately ran over and said, "Yanci, Doctor Xu, we need to get out quickly! The fire is spreading fast! Just now, a servant from the kitchen said that the kitchen has caught fire. The kitchen connects to the corridors leading everywhere, and it spreads quickly!

The others have already run out!"

She stayed because she was worried about Xiao Yi and Xu Jing, refusing to leave no matter what.

Due to the urgency and Xiao Yi’s sleeve obstructing her view, she didn’t see Xiao Yi holding Xu Jing’s hand.

Xiao Yi’s face darkened, and he tightened his grip on Xu Jing’s wrist, saying, "Head to the main entrance!"

The entire estate had only the front and back entrances to exit from. The back entrance was near the kitchen, and according to Zhao Shao Hua, it was definitely impassable.

The front entrance was surrounded by a large number of court officials and family members. Even if a fire broke out there, those outside would certainly try to put it out, leaving them a way out.

No one objected, and they quickly headed toward the front entrance. Just then, Mrs. Yu, who was being half-supported and half-dragged by Nanny Zhou, suddenly screamed "Zhen’er!"

and started struggling desperately.

Xu Jing turned her head and her face turned serious as she saw that the flames, originally burning only outside the walls, had suddenly spread to a large tree inside the estate, quickly engulfing the area. The area around the pond had quickly become a sea of fire.

In the middle of the fire was the waterside wing room where Wang Wuniang’s corpse was placed!

Although Mrs. Yu never intended to live through this, her choosing to die was one thing, but whether they could stand by and watch her die was another.

Just as Nanny Zhou was getting anxious, Zhao Shao Hua suddenly rushed forward, knocked Mrs. Yu out with a hand chop, and promptly carried her on her back, shouting sharply, "Move!"

The fire outside was already spreading in, and it wouldn’t be long before it reached their side.

Nanny Zhou couldn’t help but shed tears of gratitude, but she knew now wasn’t the time to speak of it, so she quickly held back her emotions and followed them.

As they expected, the fire spread quickly, almost chasing after them all the way.

Xu Jing ran, her brows furrowing involuntarily.

Although her sprained ankle had mostly healed, it wasn’t yet at its best condition. On usual days, if she walked too fast, it would still throb slightly.

However, in this life-and-death moment, she couldn’t afford to be delicate and had to endure the discomfort in her ankle and move quickly forward.

Suddenly, Xiao Yi, who was ahead, halted abruptly, his brow furrowed tightly.

Ahead was the main entrance of the estate, but the flames around the door were fierce. Only the center of the main entrance had slightly weaker flames, but it was still surrounded by vicious flames, with only a small gap in the middle for them to dash through.

Through the gap, they could see countless people standing outside, with several quickly pouring buckets of clear water onto the raging flames. But in the face of the gigantic fire, these buckets of water were like an ant trying to shake a tree, having very limited effects.

Those outside clearly saw them, with various urgent voices calling out in succession—

"Yanci, hurry! Rush out before the door collapses!"

"Shao Hua! My God! Is there any way to weaken the flames a little more? In this situation, even if they rush out, they’ll surely get injured!"

Xu Jing quickly scanned around and said in a deep voice, "There’s a koi pond nearby. Take off your outer garments, soak them in the water, and cover yourselves when you run out!"

Xiao Yi immediately turned as Xu Jing said and saw a koi pond beside the pavilion not far away. Without a second thought, he took off his outer garment and said in a low voice, "Wait for me here."

Then he swiftly ran over.

Xu Jing knew he intended to cover both of them with one garment as they ran out, so she didn’t argue and stood silently in place.

Though they could run out one by one, given the severity of the fire, the main entrance clearly wouldn’t hold for long. Running out one by one would take too much time; it was best for several to dash out simultaneously.

Zhao Shao Hua evidently thought the same, directing Nanny Zhou to soak a garment.

She planned to hold the garment over the three of them and rush out together.

Considering Zhao Shao Hua’s group had more people, including an elderly woman who couldn’t move quickly, Xiao Yi and Xu Jing stood aside, letting them go first.

Zhao Shao Hua didn’t waste time in arguments over this, giving Xu Jing and Xiao Yi a grateful glance before rushing out with Nanny Zhou.

However, just as they rushed out, there was a foreboding "crack" sound at the entrance. A crossbeam engulfed in flames dropped to the ground before them.

Xu Jing’s face paled, and in the next instant, she felt the man beside her gripping her hand tightly, covering them with the soaked garment, and he muttered, "It’s okay, hold onto the other side of the garment, we’re going out now."

Xu Jing glanced at him, nodded, tightened her grip on the garment’s other side, and with Xiao Yi, charged into the roaring sea of flames.

Just when they were about to make it out, a sudden cry came from not far away, "Watch out!"

Before the cry, Xu Jing’s peripheral vision had already caught a glimpse of a wooden column wrapped in flames collapsing straight towards her. Her heart felt a mixture of resignation rather than fear.

This damned heavens, can’t they let her live in peace for a few days!

She instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for the impending pain. But suddenly, a frustrated shout echoed in her ears, "Yanci! What do you think you’re doing!"

In the next moment, she felt Xiao Yi release her hand, pulling her shoulder to bring her into his embrace, and simultaneously, she heard a barely audible grunt from the man.

Before Xu Jing could react, people rushed forward with anxious expressions, led by Zhao Jingming with a stern face, who yanked Xiao Yi beside her and gritted his teeth, shouting, "Are you insane!"

Zhao Jingming, being the youngest, was far less mature than Xiao Yi and Xiao He, and always acted like a younger brother in their presence. It was rare to see him speak so forcefully to Xiao Yi.

Xu Jing realized something, quickly turned her head, and saw Xiao Yi’s left hand hanging unnaturally as he looked at the formidable Zhao Jingming with a composed expression, saying, "I know my limits."

"If you knew your limits, you wouldn’t ignore everyone’s advice and go in anyway! You know you just..."

He suddenly seemed to recall something, glanced at Xu Jing with an unpleasant expression, didn’t continue his sentence, and led Xiao Yi by the right hand, "There’s a doctor over there, come with me and get checked out now!"

What had Xiao Yi just done?

Xu Jing couldn’t possibly be not concerned and was about to follow them to see the situation when Zhao Shao Hua’s voice, tinged with lingering fear, rang out from behind, "Doctor Xu, you’re alright, thank goodness!"