612 The Secret About the Past 230 (1/2)

It would be a tall order to make it through the door. Thinking that it would be difficult for the two of them to walk together, An Xiaoning squatted onto the ground and said, ”Mother, let me piggyback you, it'll be faster that way.”

Shi Qingzhou conceded, well aware that she would cause a delay in their escape since she could barely walk. Thus, she latched onto An Xiaoning's back and allowed the latter to carry her.

The door on the stone wall closed automatically, after which the two walked along the narrow passageway.

There were no lights in the pitch-dark passageway. However, the darkness did not pose a problem to An Xiaoning since she was wearing the night vision goggles.

Having already followed Tuoba Gucheng around throughout the day, An Xiaoning was long since exhausted.

However, she had never once loosened up, perhaps because she was rather motivated.

She strode forward extremely quickly while carrying her emaciated mother on her back.

The passageway was not a straight path and instead had a lot of bends along the way.

Fortunately, it was not too long.

They had already been walking for more than ten minutes by the time they reached the entrance.

An Xiaoning first let Shi Qingzhou down and put on her mask again before whipping out the pistol, which she gently pushed against the convex spot on the wall. Another door soon opened.

There was not a single soul outside.

An Xiaoning helped Shi Qingzhou out before the door closed again.

She scanned her surroundings in the room.

It was obviously a kitchen. They could not afford to waste any time idling about and peeked through the crack of the door to look outside.

To their surprise, it was where the gardeners were lodging in.

It seemed that they had prepared themselves fully, to have stayed undiscovered for more than a few decades.

The night was dead silent, and humans were scarce, giving An Xiaoning the perfect chance to leave with her mother.

An Xiaoning exited the door with her back facing Shi Qingzhou and hurriedly ran toward Tuoba Shuo's mansion.

Tuoba Shuo had been anticipating An Xiaoning's return, filled with worry and anxiety as he paced back and forth around the mansion to check if An Xiaoning was back yet.

He immediately rushed forward to welcome them the moment she saw a figure appearing from the darkness.

In that very moment, he burst into tears of joy and surprise. This lass actually has the capability to rescue her mother, he thought to himself.

It had never occurred to him that Shi Qingzhou would still be alive.

”Qingzhou…”

Shi Qingzhou could not believe her eyes. ”S… Shuo…”

”It's me. Let's go inside first.”

The three of them hurriedly entered Tuoba Shuo's mansion, after which Tuoba Shuo said to An Xiaoning, ”Carry your mother onto the bed.”

”No, my clothes are soiled and I smell horrid. Don't…”

”I don't think you do,” said Tuoba Shuo.

Shi Qingzhou refused vehemently and got down from An Xiaoning's back before saying, ”I'd like to take a shower.”

Tuoba Shuo was rather surprised to see what his lover had become after years of not seeing each other. She could not bring herself to face him for she was ashamed of how disheveled she looked, a stark contrast to what she used to be like during her younger days. She had always been vain and conscious of her appearance.

Tuoba Shuo gazed at her with a look of pity in his eyes. He took a deep breath and said to An Xiaoning, ”The bathroom is over there. Bring her to take a shower. I'll prepare a set of clothes for her.”

An Xiaoning agreed with a nod, ”Alright.”