Chapter 179: 179 leaves Cloud City Chapter 179: 179 leaves Cloud City Watching Si Bei speaking to the gatekeeper, they were surprisingly let in straight away, in the middle of the night.
Ye Jiu’s eyes shimmered brighter, and he quickened his pace even more.
However, when they were still some distance from the city gate, Ye Jiu and Ying Luoxue were stopped, “Who goes there? What are you up to at this late hour?”
If the girls hadn’t appeared completely defenseless, their direct approach alone would have been enough for the gatekeeping soldiers to cut them down on the spot.
Ye Jiu didn’t answer the soldier’s question, but instead waved his hand and called out, “Guard Si Rong, Guard Si Bei, it’s us, right?”
At this, Si Rong and Si Bei were also happy and said to the people around them, “They’re our own people.”
The man nodded, and then said, “Let them through.”
Ye Jiu and Ying Luoxue were no longer hindered.
Just as they approached, Ye Jiu’s arm was seized by Si Bei, who asked, “Our Lord… Where is our master?”
“What?” Ye Jiu didn’t catch on immediately.
“Didn’t the master go back looking for you? Why are you two here? Where is the master?” Si Rong couldn’t help but feel nervous as well.
“After giving you the keys, we climbed out along the stream and didn’t see your master!” Ye Jiu replied.
Si Bei nearly lost control but was held back by Si Rong, “Let’s get out of here first. This is no place to talk and we shouldn’t implicate Lin Qi.”
Lin Qi was the Military Advisor guarding the gate and was also their undercover agent infiltrated into Nanchang.
It was only then that Si Bei stopped, his eyes reddening, “Then what do we do if the master… what if something has happened to him?”
He couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought. The master was like a deity in his eyes, but even deities can fall, especially here, in enemy territory.
“I believe in our master, he’s more likely to escape alone than with us in tow,” Si Rong declared.
The group stepped out of the gate, with Lin Qi escorting them to the outside, saying, “Go ahead, I’ll stay behind. The master will need to leave the city after escaping safely, and it won’t do without one of our own here.”
“But it will be dangerous for you to stay,” Si Rong frowned.
Originally, their plan had been to take Lin Qi with them, knowing that tonight’s opening of the city gates couldn’t escape investigation and Lin Qi would be exposed.
“I can’t worry about that now. The master is more important than me,” said Lin Qi calmly.
“Lin Qi, well done,” Si Bei said, patting Lin Qi’s shoulder.
They all accepted Lin Qi’s decision.
“It’s all my fault for being too careless and causing so many to suffer!” At this moment, the person who felt the worst was undoubtedly the Jing King.
He was just over twenty, his participation in battle only a moment of youthful bravery, overlooking the fact that martial arts skills don’t equate to the ability to lead troops.
His oversight in seeking to capitalize on victory had made him forget the axiom that one should not pursue a defeated foe and consequently fall into the enemy’s trap to be captured.
Though these were indeed the Jing King’s mistakes, he was their master and they his servants. Who would dare to reproach him?
This was the first time Ye Jiu had seen the Jing King up close, and although he looked wretched, it was clear he was not a bad man.
He made a mistake in his decision, but at least he knew to feel remorse. Compared to those gamblers who recklessly sacrificed others’ lives for their ambitions, he truly was already much better.
“Alright, let’s go quickly, we can’t delay any longer. When the master catches up, I’ll join him in pursuit of you,” Lin Qi said.
“Let’s go,” commanded Si Rong with difficulty.