Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 208 "Brink of Life and Death"

The lair of the "Shadow" was hidden in a secluded valley outside the city. If it weren't for the detailed route map in the anonymous letter, no one would have thought that this beautiful place was actually a place of filth and dirt. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui disguised themselves and mixed in with the merchants and travelers entering the mountain. They moved forward cautiously all the way and finally arrived at the entrance of the valley at sunset.

"Taozi, be careful." Hu Bugui held Wu Tao's hand, his eyes filled with unconcealable worry.

Wu Tao smiled back and nodded gently. The two looked at each other in silence, but their words were more than a thousand words. They knew that this journey was extremely dangerous and that they would be doomed if they were not careful, but for the sake of the people of the world, they had no choice.

The valley was quiet, with only a few bird calls echoing in the mountains. The air was filled with a faint smell of blood, which made people shudder.

"It seems that we have been discovered." Hu Bugui said in a low voice, with a hint of solemnity in his tone.

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of men in black rushed out of the dense forest and surrounded them.

"Kill!" The leader of the men in black gave an order, and a bloody battle broke out instantly.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui stood back to back, brandishing their weapons and engaging in a desperate fight with the men in black. With swords flashing and blood flying everywhere, the originally quiet valley instantly turned into a hell on earth.

"Prince, Princess, hurry up! I'll stop them!" A chivalrous hero fought his way out of a bloody situation and stood in front of Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, his face filled with a determination to face death.

"No!" Wu Tao wanted to stop him, but was held back by Hu Bugui.

"We can't let his sacrifice go to waste!" Hu Bugui, with red eyes, pulled Wu Tao out of the encirclement.

However, the men in black continued to pursue them, and Wu Tao and Hu Bugui fought and retreated, gradually becoming exhausted.

"Taozi, be careful!" Hu Bugui suddenly shouted and pushed Wu Tao away.

A sharp arrow pierced Hu Bugui's shoulder with a sound of breaking through the air, and blood instantly dyed his clothes red.

"Bugui!" Wu Tao exclaimed and rushed towards Hu Bugui desperately.

"Haha, you can't escape!" The leader of the men in black laughed hideously and slowly approached.

Wu Tao hugged Hu Bugui tightly, his eyes filled with despair: "Are we really going to die here today?"

The black-clad leader's hideous laughter echoed in the valley, like a note of death, beating on the hearts of Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. Hu Bugui groaned and tried to stand up, but fell again due to excessive blood loss, and his bloody palm left a shocking mark on the ground.

"Bugui!" Wu Tao's tears burst out, and she hugged Hu Bugui tightly, as if she wanted to rub him into her body and use her body temperature to warm his cold body.

"Don't be afraid, Taozi, I won't let them hurt you..." Hu Bugui's voice was as weak as a candle in the wind, but he still tried to raise his hand and wanted to touch Wu Tao's face.

The leader of the men in black slowly approached with a cruel light in his eyes. He grabbed Wu Tao's hair and dragged her away from Hu Bugui.

"Ah!" Wu Tao screamed in pain. She struggled desperately and wanted to return to Hu Bugui, but was picked up by the leader of the men in black like a chicken.

"Let her go!" Hu Bugui's eyes were bloodshot. He struggled to stand up, but to no avail. He could only watch Wu Tao being taken away.

"Want to save her? Then just follow me obediently!" The leader of the men in black threw Wu Tao to his men behind him, and then stepped on Hu Bugui's wound. The severe pain almost made Hu Bugui faint.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were imprisoned in a dark and damp dungeon. The air was filled with a nauseating smell of decay. Hu Bugui was seriously injured. He was pale and his lips were chapped due to excessive blood loss. Wu Tao looked at him distressedly and wiped the blood off his face with the corner of her clothes.

"Taozi, I'm sorry for getting you into trouble." Hu Bugui's voice was hoarse and weak.

"What nonsense are you talking about? We are husband and wife, and we want to die together." Wu Tao held Hu Bugui's hand, tears in her eyes flowing uncontrollably.

"Taozi, do you believe me?" Hu Bugui suddenly asked.

"Of course I believe you. I always believe in you." Wu Tao answered without hesitation.

"If, I say if, we really can't escape, you promise me that you must live well." Hu Bugui's eyes were full of determination and reluctance.

"No, I don't want to..." Wu Tao shook her head desperately. She couldn't imagine a life without Hu Bugui. She would rather die with him than live alone.

"Taozi, be obedient and promise me." Hu Bugui's tone left no room for doubt.

Wu Tao looked at Hu Bugui's determined eyes, and tears blurred her eyes. She knew that Hu Bugui was worried about her, and he was willing to do anything for her.

"Okay, I promise you." Wu Tao said with a sob.

The door of the dungeon was opened, and a man in black came in, holding a bowl of medicine in his hand. He walked up to Hu Bugui and said coldly: "This is medicine for healing. Drink it."

Hu Bugui looked at the bowl of black medicine, then looked at the cold eyes of the man in black, and suddenly a glimmer of hope rose in his heart. Perhaps, this bowl of medicine was their chance to escape...

 On the brink of life and death

Hu Bugui took the medicine bowl and hesitated for a moment, but did not drink it. Instead, he looked up at the man in black and asked, "What kind of medicine is this?"

The man in black sneered: "Why? Are you afraid that I'll poison the medicine?"

"I just want to know why you arrested us?" Hu Bugui's eyes were as sharp as a knife, trying to find a hint of truth from the man in black.

"Hmph, you want to know? Wait until you get to the Yama Palace, then go ask the King of Hell!" The man in black waved his hand impatiently, signaling his men to hold Hu Bugui down and force-feed him medicine.

“Stop!” Wu Tao rushed forward desperately upon seeing this, standing in front of Hu Bugui and glaring at the man in black. “Come to me if you have anything to say. Let him go!”

The leader of the men in black walked over slowly, looking at Wu Tao with interest, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes: "It seems that you care about him a lot?"

"He is my husband. I don't care about him, so who should I care about?" Wu Tao met the gaze of the leader of the men in black without flinching, her tone firm and resolute.

"What a loyal and righteous woman!" The leader of the men in black clapped his hands, but there was no admiration in his tone. "In that case, I'll give you a chance." He paused, and glanced at the two of them with a hint of coldness. "Tell me the formula for the antidote, and I can consider releasing one of you."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other and both understood what the "antidote" the leader of the men in black was referring to - it was a prescription that Wu Tao obtained by chance that could cure all kinds of poisons, and it was also the reason why they were targeted by the mysterious organization this time.

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Wu Tao turned his face away and refused coldly.

"If you don't accept my toast, you will be punished!" The face of the leader of the men in black darkened. He waved his sleeves violently and a strong palm wind attacked Wu Tao.

Seeing this, Hu Bugui's eyes were bloodshot. Regardless of the pain in his body, he struggled to break free from his men's grip, protected Wu Tao in his arms, and endured the blow head-on.

"Puff——" a mouthful of blood gushed out, staining the collar of Hu Bugui's shirt red.

"Bugui!" Wu Tao exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. She hugged Hu Bugui tightly, as if she wanted to rub him into her body, "How are you? Don't scare me..."

Hu Bugui endured the severe pain and forced a bitter smile: "I'm fine, Taozi, don't worry..."

The leader of the men in black looked at the scene in front of him, a trace of impatience flashed in his eyes. He snorted coldly and ordered his men: "Search!"

The men in black immediately began searching the dungeon, and Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were powerless to stop them. They could only watch as they turned the dungeon upside down.

Just when they were almost in despair, Hu Bugui suddenly discovered that the color of a brick on the wall of the dungeon seemed slightly different from that of other places. He was moved, endured the pain, moved his body, and pressed hard on the brick with his palm.

With a slight "click" sound, the brick actually sank, revealing a pitch-black hole.

Wu Tao's eyes lit up immediately when she saw this. She looked at Hu Bugui in surprise and asked in a low voice, "This is..."

"Perhaps, this is our only chance of survival..." Hu Bugui smiled weakly, but his eyes were full of hope...

Hu Bugui endured the severe pain and whispered to Wu Tao: "Quick, let's escape from here!"

Wu Tao did not dare to delay, and supported Hu Bugui, and the two of them entered the cave one after the other. The cave entrance was very narrow, and they could only bend over and grope their way forward. After an unknown amount of time, they finally saw a ray of light ahead.

"Taozi, be careful!" Hu Bugui suddenly grabbed Wu Tao and protected her behind him.

Before Wu Tao could react, they heard a few "whoosh" sounds and several sharp arrows flew past their ears and hit the wall in front of them.

The two looked at each other and saw fear in each other's eyes - they were exposed!

Without time to think, Hu Bugui pulled Wu Tao and ran forward. The men in black were chasing them closely, and the shouts of killing were deafening.

"This way!" Hu Bugui identified the direction with the faint light and led Wu Tao through the intricate passages.

They fled all the way, their wounds continued to ooze blood, and their physical strength gradually declined. But the pursuers behind them were like sharks that smelled blood, and they kept chasing them.

Finally, they escaped to a dead end.

"What should we do?" Wu Tao looked at Hu Bugui in despair, his eyes full of fear and helplessness.

Hu Buyui took a deep breath, protected Wu Tao behind him, and said firmly: "Taozi, don't be afraid, I will protect you even if it costs my life!"

“Hahaha, this is really touching!” The voice of the leader of the men in black came from the cave entrance, with a hint of sarcasm and pride, “It’s a pity that none of you can escape today!”

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of men in black rushed into the dead end and surrounded the two men. They all held sharp blades and were murderous.

"Taozi, it looks like we can't escape today..." Hu Bugui held Wu Tao's hand, his eyes full of reluctance and attachment.

Wu Tao couldn't hold back her tears any longer and burst out: "No, I don't want you to die, I don't want..."

Just as the two were preparing to fight to the death with the pursuers, an old but loud voice suddenly came from the cave entrance: "Stop!"