Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 140 Don't be afraid, I'll take care of everything

Wu Tao took a deep breath and stepped into the familiar peach forest again. The scene before her remained the same, but things and people had changed. She was no longer the ignorant girl. This time, she shouldered a heavy responsibility, and her heart was filled with anxiety about the unknown and a desire for the truth.

Hu Bugui held her hand, his eyes firm and gentle: "Don't be afraid, I'll take care of everything."

Wu Tao smiled back, and the two stood facing each other, without saying much, they understood each other. Following the clues provided by Professor Li, they overcame all obstacles and finally found the secret base of Tianji Pavilion hidden deep in Zhongnan Mountain.

At the entrance of the base, a huge stone tablet was engraved with the words "Heaven's secret cannot be revealed", exuding a mysterious and solemn atmosphere. Wu Tao's heartbeat accelerated involuntarily. She felt vaguely that she was getting closer to the truth step by step, but at the same time, she also had a premonition that a greater danger was approaching.

The two entered the base carefully, but the scene in front of them surprised them. The base was full of hidden secrets, like a maze. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui did not dare to be careless. With their extraordinary wisdom and tacit understanding, they cracked the secrets step by step and finally found the secret room where the Phoenix Order was stored.

The door of the secret room slowly opened, and an ancient and mysterious atmosphere came in. However, just as they were about to enter the secret room, a shrill alarm suddenly sounded, breaking the tranquility of the mountains.

"Oh no, we've been discovered!" Hu Bugui's face changed and he quickly protected Wu Tao behind him.

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of men in black rushed in from all directions and surrounded them. These men in black were all highly skilled in martial arts and had sharp eyes. It was obvious at a glance that they were well-trained killers.

"Protect the princess!" The leading man in black gave an order, and a life-and-death struggle broke out instantly.

Hu Bugui drew his sword, the sword light was sharp, like a dancing silver snake, and he repelled the approaching men in black one by one. However, the other side had a large number of people, and each of them was fearless, so Hu Bugui gradually felt exhausted.

"Tao'er, hurry up and go! I'll hold them back!" Hu Bugui shouted to Wu Tao anxiously while struggling to resist the enemy's attack.

"No, I won't go! Let's go together!" Wu Tao held Hu Bugui's hand tightly, unwilling to escape alone.

At this moment, a sharp sword pierced Hu Bugui's left arm, and blood instantly stained his clothes red. Wu Tao screamed, and his eyes suddenly turned red.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!" Wu Tao exclaimed, her eyes suddenly reddened, she hurriedly tore off the hem of her skirt, trying to bandage Hu Bugui's wound. However, Hu Bugui endured the pain, backhanded her behind him, turned his sword, and forced back several black-clothed men who took the opportunity to attack.

"Tao'er, don't be afraid. I won't let them hurt you." Hu Bugui's voice was weak but still firm and powerful. He knew that today was a dangerous day, but he would never abandon Wu Tao and escape alone.

"We have to find a way to break out!" Wu Tao forced himself to calm down, looked around, and tried to find a way to escape. The base had a complex structure and many traps, and with these well-trained men in black, it was almost impossible to escape.

"It's useless. Our people have blocked all the exits. You can't escape even if you have wings!" The leading man in black spoke in a cold tone with a hint of mockery.

Is there really no escape today? Wu Tao was filled with despair, but she was unwilling to give up. She tried hard to recall the knowledge she had learned in modern times, trying to find a glimmer of hope. However, modern technology was useless here. Facing these ancient killers with powerful martial arts, all her knowledge seemed pale and powerless.

Just when Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were in dire straits, a familiar figure suddenly dropped from the sky, and his martial arts skills were so high that everyone present was stunned.

"It's you?!" Wu Tao looked at the mysterious visitor who suddenly appeared in front of her with surprise. It turned out to be the old man who had helped her in Chang'an City before.

The old man smiled slightly, nodded slightly to Wu Tao, and then turned to face the men in black. His tone was calm but with unquestionable majesty: "Stop, they are not people you can touch."

The leading black-clad man was obviously afraid of the old man, but he did not immediately order a retreat. Instead, he asked tentatively, "Why did you intervene in this matter, senior? Do you want to be an enemy of our organization?"

The old man chuckled and asked, "Who ordered you to do harm to the prince?"

The leader of the men in black had a slightly changed expression when he heard this, but he still refused to reveal the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes. He just said in a tough tone: "If you insist on stopping us, don't blame us for being rude!"

The two sides were on the verge of a fight, but the old man suddenly changed the subject and said to Wu Tao and Hu Bugui: "I can help you leave here, but you need to agree to one condition."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other, their hearts filled with doubt and vigilance. Who was the old man? Why did he want to help them? What conditions did he want them to agree to?

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were full of doubts. Was this mysterious old man a friend or an enemy? Why did he want to help? What were the "conditions"? They exchanged glances and saw the same doubts and uneasiness in each other's eyes. However, the situation was critical and did not give them much time to think.

At this moment, a steady and majestic voice came from the entrance of the secret passage: "Stop!" The crowd of people in black automatically parted, and a middle-aged man in gorgeous clothes and extraordinary demeanor slowly walked over. He glanced at the whole scene with sharp eyes, and finally set his eyes on Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "What? Are the prince and princess planning to elope?"

The man who came was the leader of the organization. His tone was full of undisguised sarcasm, and he had obviously seen through all their actions. He walked up to the old man, bowed slightly, and spoke in a respectful but chilling tone: "Elder, why do you want to intervene in this matter? Are you trying to be an enemy of our organization?"

The elder looked indifferent and said calmly: "I am just passing by here, and I cannot bear to see people killing innocent people. Moreover," he paused and looked at Wu Tao and Hu Bugui meaningfully, "these two people are related to the safety of our dynasty, and I cannot sit idly by."

Upon hearing this, the leader frowned slightly, and a trace of fear flashed in his eyes. He knew that the elder had a high status in the organization and was unfathomable in strength, and was definitely not someone who could be easily offended. He was silent for a moment, and said in a cold tone: "I appreciate the elder's kindness. But this matter is of great importance, so please don't interfere, otherwise, don't blame us for being rude!"

The elder chuckled and asked, "Why? You want to attack me? Aren't you afraid that I will report this to..."

"No need." Wu Tao suddenly interrupted the elder. She took a deep breath and said with a firm look in her eyes, "We agree to your conditions!" At this point, she had no choice. Instead of sitting and waiting to die, she might as well give it a try.

Hu Bugui held her hand tightly and gave her a firm look, expressing his unconditional support.

The elder nodded with satisfaction, turned to the leader and said, "I have got the things, you can let them go." He took out a letter from his sleeve, which was the evidence collected by Wu Tao and Hu Bugui about the organization colluding with foreign enemies and intending to rebel. They originally planned to hand this evidence to the emperor, but now it seems that they can only put their hopes on this mysterious elder.

The leader took the letter, checked it carefully, and after confirming that it was correct, he waved his hand, signaling his men to make way.

The mysterious elder put away the letter, turned to face Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Follow me." His voice was low and powerful, with an unquestionable majesty.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other. Although they were full of doubts, they had no choice but to believe in this mysterious elder. They followed the elder through a series of intricate secret passages, surrounded by cold stone walls and dim lights. The air was filled with a damp and moldy smell, which made them feel depressed.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a ray of light finally appeared before his eyes. The elder pushed open a heavy stone door, and a gust of fresh air blew in his face, and his eyes suddenly opened up.

"If you get out of here, you can escape the organization's pursuit." The elder pointed to the front and said, "I can only help you up to this point. The rest of the way, you have to rely on yourselves."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui bowed deeply to the elder to express their heartfelt gratitude. "Thank you for saving my life, elder. If there is a chance in the future, I will definitely repay you!"

The elder waved his hand, signaling them not to say anything more. "Go, I hope you will take care of yourself."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui did not dare to delay. They quickly passed through the exit of the secret passage and disappeared into the night.

However, what they didn't know was that shortly after they left, several men in black appeared silently at the entrance of the secret passage. They had cold eyes and exuded a strong murderous aura.

"Elder, should we chase after them?" one of the men in black asked in a low voice.

The elder shook his head, a complicated look flashing in his eyes. "No need, don't chase after a desperate enemy. Besides," he paused, his tone meaningful, "we have more important things to do."

The man in black took the order and quickly disappeared into the night. The elder looked at the direction where Wu Tao and Hu Bugui disappeared, with an intriguing smile on his face.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui ran all the way until they were far away from the gloomy mansion. They dared to stop and breathe heavily. Although they escaped from the clutches of the organization, they did not feel relieved at all, but even more heavy.

"What should we do now?" Wu Tao looked at the vast night sky, his heart filled with confusion and anxiety.

Hu Bugui patted her shoulder gently and gave her a comforting look. "Don't worry, we'll be fine."

They found a secluded place to hide and planned to wait until daybreak. However, at this moment, Wu Tao suddenly felt a chill coming from behind. She turned back suddenly and saw a black shadow flash by and disappear into the darkness.

"What's wrong?" Hu Bugui noticed her abnormality and asked in a low voice.

Wu Tao's face turned pale, his eyes filled with fear. "I seem to be... being followed."