Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1333: Chapter 1335: Escape from Death_1

The sound of the Holy Guards’ footsteps was approaching from not far away, and Chu Hai felt a surge of urgency in his heart. He knew that he would either be captured by the Holy Guards or taken by Lian Jia. Given the choice, it would be somewhat better to be caught by Lian Jia; at least he wouldn’t immediately take his and Zhanna’s lives.

”She wasn’t abducted by me. The Divine Hall amputated her leg to perform some evil technique, and now they want to kill us to silence us. If you want to understand what’s going on, you need to take us away quickly!” he said rapidly.

Lian Jia was stunned for a moment. He had interrogated Chu Hai before, but Chu Hai wouldn’t say a word. Although he had his suspicions about Chu Hai’s identity, he still recognized him as a real man. Now that Chu Hai suddenly spoke, he revealed so much information in one breath that Lian Jia was momentarily unable to react. It was the footsteps of the Holy Guards in the distance that snapped him back to reality.

His face changed. If they were taken by the Holy Guards, he could forget about getting to the bottom of this.

He glanced at the unconscious woman again, seeing that indeed one pant leg was empty; it seemed her leg was completely gone.

He grabbed Chu Hai and Zhanna, using his lightfoot skill to sweep them into his guard team, then draped his cloak over Chu Hai, instructing him to carry Zhanna and mount a horse.

Chu Hai was already thin, and covered with the oversized cloak, even with Zhanna hidden behind him, it wasn’t obvious. He also put on a guard’s helmet, instantly disguising himself as a city defense guard. Since the Holy Guards had never seen his face, even face to face they wouldn’t recognize him.

Just as he had finished disguising himself, a pair of Holy Guards rushed out.

The leading Holy Guard paused upon seeing Lian Jia, then saluted him and said, ”It turns out to be Team Leader Lian. We are looking for two thieves who attempted to steal from the Divine Hall. Have you seen anyone like that?”

Lian Jia now believed even more in what Chu Hai said. The woman had only one leg; how could she steal anything? Even if Chu Hai wanted to steal from the Divine Hall, he would have no reason to carry a burden with him, right?

”We were patrolling and didn’t see anyone. May I know the characteristics of these two individuals? If we spot them, we can send a message to the Divine Hall,” said Lian Jia, without revealing anything.

The leading Holy Guard hesitated. He hadn’t gotten a clear look at them either, only knowing that the woman they were after had one leg. But Madame Diao Mo had instructed them not to let that information out.

”It’s a man and a woman. The woman disguised herself as a maidservant of the Divine Hall to steal,” he replied after some thought.

”Understood. If they are spotted, I will immediately have someone notify the Divine Hall.” Lian Jia then bowed his hand to the Holy Guard and continued to patrol with his men.

The Holy Guard watched as Lian Jia’s men left, feeling uneasy. Another Holy Guard leaned over and whispered, ”Could it be that Lian Jia took the fugitives? How could they just disappear in the blink of an eye? I clearly saw them enter this alley.”

”Let two men keep watch, the rest will continue with me. There are many residences around here; don’t let them hide in the homes of the common folk,” ordered the leading Holy Guard.

Lian Jia led his men to continue patrolling. He knew that he was being followed, but he pretended not to notice anything. Chu Hai, carrying Zhanna, was extremely nervous. If only the Holy Guards came it would be fine, but if Madame Diao Mo arrived with tracking bees, no disguise would help him.

With that in mind, he whispered to Lian Jia, ”Diao Mo has tracking bees.”

Lian Jia’s face slightly changed, then he said to the rest of the guards, ”There’s a banquet in the Palace today; let’s return early.”

The men turned their horses around and followed Lian Jia’s orders, carrying Chu Hai towards the Imperial Palace.

Not long after they entered the palace, Lady Diao Mo arrived at the Palace Gate with her tracking bee in tow. Gazing at the towering wall of the palace, she was so infuriated that she nearly shattered a silver tooth. With the people inside the palace, it was inconvenient for her to pursue them further; she had no choice but to report the matter to the great elder for handling, inevitably facing another scolding.

Jin Jing squinted her eyes and said, ”Mother, let’s just chase after them. What are we afraid of? It’s not like that monarch is anything more than a figurehead.”

Upon hearing this, and noticing the guards on both sides had heard as well, Lady Diao Mo, driven by anger, slapped Jin Jing and scolded, ”What nonsensical babble are you spouting? Even bandits wouldn’t dare to sneak into the royal palace. As eager as we may be to catch the villain, we must not lose our sense of propriety. How could you be so disrespectful towards His Majesty?”

Realizing her error, Jin Jing hastily agreed, but unable to conceal the resentment flickering in her eyes—her mother had just slapped her, and the Holy Maiden had slapped her too. Why should she allow them to push her around one after the other?

As soon as Lian Jia entered the Imperial Palace, he personally apprehended Chu Hai and Zhanna. Chu Hai glanced at him and said, ”That maid has been severely injured; she needs rest and medicine, or she won’t survive.”

Narrowing his eyes, Lian Jia took the two of them to Qingyou Hall while quietly sending word to the monarch.

”Why here again?” Chu Hai frowned. ”I’ve heard this was once the palace of the monarch’s beloved. Why imprison us here again?”

”Just worry about keeping yourself alive. One more word, and I’ll toss you to the Divine Hall,” Lian Jia said displeased, his tone clearly irritated.

Lian Jia could not bring himself to speak the truth because this was the one place the Queen refused to visit or send people to inspect out of fear, for here thunderstrike had claimed the life of Lady Qingxuan—the Queen dreaded this place.

But could he really admit that the mighty monarch himself had to walk on eggshells in his own palace, always mindful of the Queen’s disposition?

Chu Hai set down Zhanna, fed her the pill Bai Ruozhu had left behind, and due to the frantic run, her wounds had bled profusely. Chu Hai had no choice but to rebandage the gauze. Originally, Lian Jia intended to look away, but seeing Chu Hai acting so openly, he couldn’t help but steal a glance, only to see that the woman’s leg was indeed completely gone, the wound neat—as if it had been sliced precisely by a sharp knife!

”Why would the Divine Hall inflict such torture on a maid? Just who are you?” Lian Jia stared at Chu Hai as he spoke.

”You might inquire around. Before Jin Jing, the daughter of Lady Diao Mo, returned to Gaochang City, a beast from the Beast Team of Sangta bit off one of her legs. It was said to be so badly mangled that it couldn’t possibly be reattached, yet her leg soon healed, and she was even able to run around causing more harm. Meanwhile, Zhanna, a maid of the Divine Hall, suddenly had her leg chopped off and was left for dead on the Chaotic Burial Ground. Luckily, she hung on to life and made it back, else no one would have known of such wicked deeds,” Chu Hai calmly replied.

Lian Jia’s expression grew colder and colder—such a vile act was also highly strange.

However, he kept his gaze fixed on Chu Hai’s face and said, ”You still haven’t said who you really are.”

At that moment, a guard’s voice announcing a visitor came from outside: ”The monarch arrives!”

The casually dressed monarch rushed in, asking as he walked, ”What in the world is going on? The person last time, that Master Hao Feng, was from the Holy Hall?”

Upon seeing the monarch, Chu Hai’s heart suddenly tightened, and he quickly turned his head away.

It was then that the monarch noticed Chu Hai, abruptly halting his steps. His once keen eyes stared intently at Chu Hai as if puzzled, yet seemingly understanding something.

”You, you are...” The monarch’s throat went dry, his hand pointing at Chu Hai also began to tremble slightly.