Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 167 Just Passing By

Wu Tao looked closely and found that the person who came was Li Xiaoyao! Why was he here? Before she could think about it, Li Xiaoyao was already fighting with the men in black. He was agile, swift and fierce, and soon knocked several men in black to the ground.

"Let's go!" Li Xiaoyao shouted in a low voice, and ran away pulling Wu Tao and the maid.

The three of them turned many corners and finally escaped from the alley. Wu Tao asked breathlessly, "Brother Li, why are you here?"

Li Xiaoyao observed his surroundings vigilantly and said, "I happened to be passing by and came to see what was happening when I heard the cry for help. I didn't expect it was you guys. Luckily I caught up with you."

"Thank you, Brother Li, for saving my life!" Wu Tao said gratefully.

Li Xiaoyao waved his hand and said, "You're welcome. But who are those men in black? Why are they chasing you?"

Wu Tao hesitated for a moment, but still told Li Xiaoyao what he had just heard. After listening, Li Xiaoyao frowned, thought for a moment and said, "It seems that these people are here for the things left by the Prime Minister. But why do they think that the things are in your hands?"

Wu Tao shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

Li Xiaoyao pondered and said, "This matter is strange. I always feel that it is not that simple. How about this, I will send you back first, and then investigate this matter carefully."

Wu Tao and the maid felt that what Li Xiaoyao said made sense, so they followed him back to the palace.

However, there was a tense atmosphere in the palace. As soon as Wu Tao stepped into the palace, she saw the housekeeper rushing to greet her, and said in a panic: "Princess, you are finally back! The prince sent someone back to deliver a message saying that you..."

Before the housekeeper could finish, he was interrupted by a guard, "Princess, the prince asked you to pack your things as soon as possible and prepare to leave."

"Depart? Where to?" Wu Tao had a bad feeling in his heart.

"Go to the border." The guard said in a heavy tone.

Border? Wu Tao was shocked. Could something have happened at the front? Before she could ask in detail, she was surrounded by guards and maids and returned to the room.

Along the way, she learned from the maid that the prime minister's old subordinates had somehow learned of her relationship with Hu Bugui and kidnapped her to the border in order to threaten Hu Bugui.

Wu Tao's heart sank immediately. She knew that she was really in trouble this time!

Hu Bugui, who was far away at the border, was immediately anxious after receiving the news. He stood up suddenly, slammed the map in his hand on the table, and said with gritted teeth: "What a good trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain! Come on, prepare the horses, I want to rush back to Chang'an immediately!"

"Your Highness, no!" The general at the side tried to dissuade him. "The enemy is approaching now, you must not leave the barracks! Moreover, this may be a trick of the enemy, in order to lure you back and harm you!"

Hu Bugui knew very well the interests involved, but when he thought of Wu Tao in danger, his heart ached, so how could he care about anything else?

"My king has made up his mind. No need to persuade me anymore!" Hu Bugui said in a firm tone, leaving no room for doubt.

At this moment, Li Xiaoyao and the general walked into the tent together, looking solemn. Li Xiaoyao cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have found out the whereabouts of the princess, and I am willing to lead people to rescue her!"

As soon as Li Xiaoyao finished speaking, the general who had been silent all this time took a step forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I am willing to go with Young Master Li to save the princess from danger!"

Hu Bugui looked at the two people in front of him, and his heart was deeply moved. He knew that Li Xiaoyao was a martial arts expert and extremely intelligent, and the general was his confidant who had followed him for many years and was loyal and brave. With the two of them working together, Wu Tao would definitely be able to turn danger into safety.

"Okay! Then I'll leave it to you two! Make sure to bring the princess back safely!" Hu Bugui solemnly handed a token to Li Xiaoyao, "With this token, I can mobilize troops at all the checkpoints along the way to help you."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will definitely fulfill our mission!" Li Xiaoyao and the general took the token and said in unison. After that, the two of them turned around and left the tent, gathered their men and horses, and headed straight for the place where Wu Tao was trapped.

After galloping all the way, Li Xiaoyao and the team led by the general soon arrived at their destination - an abandoned temple deep in the border mountains. According to the spy's report, Wu Tao was imprisoned here.

Looking at the dilapidated temple in front of him, Li Xiaoyao felt a little uneasy. He dismounted and said to the general beside him: "General, this place is difficult to defend and difficult to attack. I'm afraid the enemy has already set an ambush. We need to be cautious."

The general nodded in agreement. "Young Master Li is right. How about this? We split our forces into two groups. You lead one group to launch a feint attack from the front to attract the enemy's attention. I lead the other group to sneak into the temple from the back mountain path and wait for an opportunity to rescue the princess."

Li Xiaoyao hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I'll do as the general says."

The plan was decided, and the two immediately split up. Li Xiaoyao led a group of people and marched towards the main gate of the temple, while the general led another group of people and quietly went around to the back mountain, preparing to attack from behind.

As soon as Li Xiaoyao and his companions approached the temple, they were attacked fiercely by the enemy. Arrows were shot out from the temple like raindrops. Li Xiaoyao and his companions were well prepared and dodged or blocked with weapons. For a while, shouts of killing shook the sky, arrows flew everywhere, and the scene was very chaotic.

While Li Xiaoyao and his men were fighting fiercely with the enemy, the team led by the general had successfully circled to the back mountain of the temple. However, to their surprise, an ambush had been set up in the back mountain, and there were a large number of people, obviously well prepared.

"Oh no, we've fallen into a trap!" The general thought to himself that this was not good, but it was too late to retreat, so he could only bite the bullet and fight.

"Kill!" The general gave an order and led his soldiers to fight hard. The two sides immediately started a desperate battle.

However, the enemy was outnumbered, and the general and his men gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. The situation was extremely critical...

The sound of fighting in the mountain behind the temple alarmed Hu Bugui, who was dozens of miles away. He was so anxious that he wished he could grow wings and fly to Wu Tao immediately. He spurred his horse and galloped towards the temple regardless of everything.

"Gee! Gee!" The sound of horse hooves was like a death warrant, beating at Hu Bugui's anxious heart.

Finally, he saw from afar the thick smoke rising from the hill behind the temple, as well as the faint sound of shouting and killing. He knew that he was too late, and Li Xiaoyao and the general had already engaged the enemy.

"Charge! Saving lives is the most important thing!" Hu Bugui roared and led his personal guards. Like a sharp arrow, he broke through the enemy troops outside the temple and headed straight for the battlefield in the back mountain.

At this time, the general and Li Xiaoyao and others were surrounded and outnumbered, and the situation was precarious. Li Xiaoyao fought and retreated, but he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure being held hostage by the enemy generals. It was Wu Tao!

"Tao'er!" Li Xiaoyao exclaimed, but was entangled by the enemy and unable to escape.

"Hahaha! Want to save her? Dream on!" The enemy general laughed arrogantly, put the long sword against Wu Tao's neck, and threatened, "If you don't want her to die, put down your weapons and surrender!"

Wu Tao's face was pale, but she tried to remain calm. She knew that the more it was at this moment, the more she couldn't panic, otherwise it would only distract Hu Bugui and the others.

At this critical moment, a deafening roar resounded through the valley: "Stop! Let her go!"

Hu Bugui rushed into the encirclement like a god descending from heaven with a raging rage. The long sword in his hand was like a gust of wind and rain, and wherever he went, the enemy fell one after another, and no one could stop his sharp edge.

"Your Highness!" When Li Xiaoyao and the generals saw the reinforcements arriving, their morale was immediately boosted and they fought bravely against the enemy.

Hu Bugui cut a bloody path and headed straight for Wu Tao. The rage in his eyes seemed to burn the enemy general to ashes.

"Who are you? How dare you ruin my business!" The enemy general was shocked when he saw that the newcomer had ill intentions, but he still shouted in a timid manner.

"Who am I? I'm the one who wants to kill you!" Hu Bugui roared, and the long sword in his hand stabbed out like lightning, straight at the face of the enemy general.

The enemy general was caught off guard and raised his sword to block, but was knocked back several steps by Hu Bugui's sword. He knew he was facing a tough opponent and did not dare to fight. He turned around and fled with Wu Tao held hostage.

"Want to escape? That's not that easy!" Hu Bugui chased after him relentlessly, and started a life-and-death chase with the enemy general on the chaotic battlefield...

 Peach blossoms shine brightly in Chang'an

 Chapter 167: Dangers lurking around

Hu Bugui's swordsmanship was extremely sharp, and each of his moves was aimed at the enemy's vital points. The enemy's martial arts were not as good as Hu Bugui's, and he was also afraid, so he was defeated. The two men's swords flashed with cold light and murderous intent.

"You thief, why don't you let Tao'er go!" Hu Bugui roared, his voice full of anxiety and worry.

"Hmph, you want me to let them go? Dream on!" The enemy general appeared to be powerful but was actually weak. He held Wu Tao hostage tightly, trying to use her to threaten Hu Bugui.

Wu Tao was tightly strangled by the enemy and had difficulty breathing, but she suppressed her fear and discomfort and did not ask for help, because she knew that her weakness would only distract Hu Bugui. She tried to keep herself calm and looked at Hu Bugui firmly, hoping that he could rescue her safely.

Seeing Wu Tao suffering, Hu Bugui became even more anxious and more ruthless. He seized a flaw in the enemy general and stabbed him in the arm with a sword. The enemy general screamed, and the long sword in his hand fell to the ground. Wu Tao also took the opportunity to break free from his control and stumbled into Hu Bugui's arms.

"Tao'er, are you okay?" Hu Bugui hugged Wu Tao tightly and looked her up and down, fearing that she was injured.

"I'm fine..." Wu Tao shook his head, his voice a little hoarse, but his tone was unusually firm, "Let's get out of here!"

Hu Bugui nodded. He knew that this was not the time to be affectionate. The most urgent thing was to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible. He took Wu Tao's hand and joined Li Xiaoyao, the general and others to prepare for a breakout.

However, just as they were about to evacuate, a large number of enemy troops suddenly emerged from the woods on both sides of the valley and surrounded them. These enemy troops were well-equipped and well-trained, and were obviously well prepared.

"Oh no! We've fallen into a trap!" The general's face changed drastically, realizing that they had fallen into the enemy's trap.

"Hahaha, you just realized it now, it's too late!" A cold voice came from behind the enemy army, and a man in black armor and a ghost mask on his head rode a tall horse and walked out slowly.

"Who are you? Why do you want to be our enemy?" Hu Bugui stared at the newcomer coldly with a sharp gaze and asked in a deep voice.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that I will take your lives today!" The man in black said in a grim tone, with a bloodthirsty light flashing in his eyes.

A more brutal battle is about to begin...