C125 (1/2)

Jin Xiaolou was unable to move, she could only watch as Zhou Shuli held the candle and walked in circles around the house.

Since he could not find anyone, Zhou Shuli placed the candle on the shelf beside him. His expression was blank as he suddenly raised his head to look in Jin Xiaolou's direction.

Jin Xiaolou immediately became excited, and tried her best to blink her only moving eyelids, hoping that Zhou Shuli could see him.

Unexpectedly, the light in Zhou Shuli's eyes dimmed, and he took two steps forward before kneeling in front of Jin Xiaolou.

Jin Xiaolou was stunned, only then did she realise that there were two praying mats on the ground.

Only now did she realize that she was already in the Bogu Temple. From the looks of it, she should have been hidden in the statue of the Bodhisattva at the head of the hall.

”The benevolent Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva, if you can hear my words, I hope you can show your true spirit and protect Huang Guizhi. I am willing to use my life to exchange for her being safe and sound.”

Zhou Shuli knelt on the praying mat with his hands clasped together. After making his sincere wish, he bent down and kowtowed three times respectfully.

Before he could get up, the clamoring and crying of women could be heard from outside the hall.

The already swaying and decaying wooden door was kicked down by someone. A group of five armored soldiers broke through the door. From the looks of it, they were defeated soldiers who had been wandering around.

The war at the Wuli River was tight, and there were many defeats.

Some of the soldiers who were afraid of death would become deserters in order to preserve their lives. They would wander around with the rest of the deserters, often turning into bandits.

They killed and looted on the way, committing all sorts of crimes.

When the soldier at the front saw Zhou Shuli's scholarly look, he raised his sword and shouted fiercely: ”Scram.”

Zhou Shuli jumped in shock, the soldiers who managed to escape were all at the right time, it would be easy for them to kill and set fire to Yue Yang one day.

He couldn't afford to offend them.

Lowering his head, just as he was about to walk out, he bumped into a coward.

The man had no armor on, but he was holding a woman in his arms.

The woman rushed forward with her head facing outwards. Her waist was held by the head, and she was currently struggling with all her might.

Zhou Shuli did not even raise his head, to hear how familiar the woman's voice was. He raised his head in disbelief, and faced Gui Zhi with tears streaming down his face.

Thinking he was beaten before he was caught, Gui Qi's left cheek swelled up and was suffused with a dark green glow.

His eye sockets had also been ripped open as blood mixed with tears flowed down his face.

Zhou Shuli was startled, he was pained and angry, without even thinking, he raised his leg and kicked at the head. It was a pity that Zhou Shuli had always only danced with words and did not even use his hoe. Where did he get the strength from?

He turned his head and scolded Zhou Shuli in anger: ”Damn it, I think you must be tired of living!”

With that said, he threw the osmanthus in his hand into the hall, and took out his blade from his waist, and was about to slash at Zhou Shuli.

Zhou Shuli was in dire straits as he rolled back and forth on the ground in a sorry state. He was barely cut by the blade and had only cut off a large part of his robe.

Gui Zhi was so shocked that his face turned pale. He stood up and grabbed onto the leg of his pants, begging, ”Don't …” Please, don't hurt him! ”

”Oh, oh.” He looked at the weak scholar on the ground and then looked at the girl at his feet. He put away his saber and smiled with interest. ”I was wondering how you could catch such a lively girl in such a chaotic battlefield. So you ran off here with this young man!”

”It's a pity that your husband is so pale. He won't be of any use!” When he finished, he chuckled and licked his lips, ”Really …” ”What do you mean, 'wild ducks' or 'wild ducks' or 'wild ducks' …”

”Bastard, you're the only one who doesn't recognize this word. Do you still miss poems?” All of the soldiers in the hall laughed as they sat next to the prayer mats, watching the show.

Gui Zhi saw that son of a bitch raise his head and look towards the palace, gritting his teeth, he pulled out the hairpin and pierced it fiercely towards his thigh. Hearing his scream, Gui Zhi immediately released his hand, jumped out to help Zhou Shuli up, and was about to run away.

The two of them held each other's hands tightly. They looked at each other and ran for their lives.

Before he could even run two steps, a long blade came flying from behind him, the blade hilt smashed onto Zhou Shuli's waist heavily.

Zhou Shuli's legs buckled as he fell to the ground.

Gui Zhi hurriedly squatted down and tried to pull him up, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't pull him up.

Gui Zhi's eyes became red with anxiety, and laid in front of Zhou Shuli, letting him lean on her back. However, Zhou Shuli pushed away the Gui Zhi with one hand: ”Go! If I stay here, I'll just die! ”

”If you want to die, die together.” Gui Zhi's tears flowed again. This time, she wasn't afraid.

Behind him, the soldiers had already caught up with them. One in each hand, they picked up the two of them and carried them back into the hall.

The head of the boa pulled off the chaste, kicked the osmanthus branch flying, and heavily fell in front of the golden clay body of the Bodhisattva.

Inside the mud-sculpted golden body of the Bodhisattva, Jin Xiaolou was filled with terror upon seeing it.

Mudskipper limped over to Zhou Shuli, lifted Zhou Shuli's collar, and slapped him twice: ”You want to go together? None at all! You want to die together? It's impossible for me to tell you! ”

”Today, I am going to bash the mandarin duck until one of you dies, and both of you live a life worse than death!”

The toad picked up a rope from the side and tied Zhou Shuli to a pillar in the middle of the hall.

He then stopped Huang Guizhi and turned to ask: ”Have you chosen? Which one of you is alive and which one of you is dead? ”

”I'm going to die!” Zhou Shuli did not hesitate at all, ”Let her go, let her live!”

”No!” Gui Zhi screamed at the top of his lungs.

Mudskipper smiled again, ”I've thought about it. Dying is easier, but living is more difficult!”