Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 185: Blitz Assault

These people dream of leaving, and even more so of escaping Yu County. Since someone has given them a glimmer of hope, why would they hesitate as lambs awaiting slaughter?

Even without the promise of gain, if there’s a chance, they would still escape.

When Cheng Xiaoxiao led the people out, Leng Qi had already dealt with several guards, leaning aside and panting heavily, his wound possibly tearing open again, as a patch of crimson slowly seeped through the white cotton bandage.

"Can you hold on?" Cheng Xiaoxiao asked worriedly.

Seeing Leng Qi nod, she could only brace herself and said, "Can you go and burn their granary now without any problems?"

With no one available to help, she had no choice, as she still needed to rescue Cheng Jia and Cheng Ran, and couldn’t be in two places at once!

"Don’t worry, I will complete the task for sure."

At this moment, the surrounding prisoners had all run away, leaving only a disheveled old man standing diagonally behind Cheng Xiaoxiao. Watching the pair, he marveled, an extremely wounded young man and a little girl—was it really just the two of them who had rescued everyone?

It was truly unbelievable.

One couldn’t help but sigh—young people are truly gutsy.

Seeing that Cheng Xiaoxiao and the others still had matters to attend to, looking very anxious, he stepped forward to ask, "Is there anything I can do to help? I am alone in this world, unattached. If there is any place where you can use my help, just say the word."

Cheng Xiaoxiao turned around and saw a prisoner in shackles—a tall, thin figure but slightly stooped, with dirty hair obscuring his face, presumably one she had just released.

Thinking that this was a time when every hand counted, it didn’t matter if he came along. After all, their ultimate goal was to get out of the city. More cannon fodder might mean more safety.

As long as the system kept an eye on his every move, any untoward behavior could be quickly discovered. So, for now, it would be best to make use of him.

Cheng Xiaoxiao took out a pen and paper to sketch the granary’s location for Leng Qi, warned him to be careful, and shared some dry food and medicine with him, in case something unexpected happened and they missed each other.

They watched Leng Qi leave. Cheng Xiaoxiao turned back and gazed straight at the old man. The old man was staring intently at the pen in her hand.

Coming to himself, the old man, feeling a bit embarrassed, met the girl’s gaze, suddenly understood, and immediately introduced himself: "I am from Shanyang County, named Gui Lianxu, and I’m a teacher at Hongyuan Academy in the county.

When fleeing disaster, my family was wounded, some fell ill, some were killed, and in the end, only I remained."

Recalling the past, the old man’s tone also turned sorrowful.

"I’m sorry!"

"No problem, it’s all in the past. Though my family is no longer here, I had a wayward daughter who left home long ago, my only attachment in this world. If fate allows us to meet, so be it. If we’re not destined to..." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Then I live each day as it comes, and if one day I don’t wish to anymore, going down to see my family sooner would be a relief.

So he was a teacher, no wonder his speech was so erudite. Frankly, she wasn’t very fond of ancient tutors, a bunch of old-fashioned folks, who only know how to drone on about decorum and the Four Books and Five Classics, turning her family’s Cheng Jia into a bookworm.

Ancient people didn’t understand what well-rounded moral, intellectual, physical, and labor education was all about.

Ah! Maybe it was just limited teaching standards in town! She shouldn’t label all with the same brush.

Though Old Man Gui’s face wasn’t very clear, his eyes showed clarity and sincerity, not like those of a villain. Besides, he appeared weak and harmless.

Cheng Xiaoxiao, generally cautious, relied on intuition, feeling the old man was trustworthy, so grudgingly agreed to team up.

Upon reaching the spot, she took out a thin string, with Old Man Gui holding one end, she held the other, hiding along the corners of the dark street where the two must pass.

They had just settled in position, and within a dozen breaths they heard the sound of approaching hoofbeats, growing louder. She held her breath, giving Old Man Gui a sign, and just when the horse was about to pass.

They lifted the rope, causing the horse to trip and fall on its forelegs, while the rider was caught off guard, tumbles down where Cheng Xiaoxiao lay in wait.

The person behind, seeing trouble, tugged hard on the reins. The horse, suddenly pulled back, reared up with its head yanked back, hurling the rider and the tied-up Cheng Jia off together.

Seizing the opportunity, Cheng Xiaoxiao rushed forward, impaling the black-clad guard trying to get up with a sudden thrust of her sword. Before he could react, with a tearing sound, the longsword was withdrawn, and he breathed his last.

In an instant, the ambush was completed. Now, the key was swift action—prolonging the fight risked attracting the Hidden Guard experts from the city.

Cheng Xiaoxiao then barreled straight toward the person who had just fallen from behind.

The man quickly rolled to dodge her swinging sword upon seeing his comrade slain.

In a flash, he unsheathed a large saber from his waist, and the two were locked in combat.

Originally, Cheng Xiaoxiao had planned for Old Man Gui to find a hiding place after their ambush to ensure his safety.

Old Man Gui, being sharp, saw the children tied up on the ground and quickly and stealthily dragged Cheng Jia and Cheng Ran into the dark alley.

Old Man Gui untied them, called out softly and shook them gently, and they groggily awoke.

"Shush!"

Before either could make sense of their surroundings, Old Man Gui gestured for them to stay quiet.

Pointing toward the two battling in the alley outside.

Cheng Jia and Cheng Ran weren’t fools, especially having grown much through the recent bandit incident and this kidnapping attempt. Realizing they’d been rescued, they managed to stay composed.

Upon seeing one of those fighting outside, they lost their calm.

Cheng Jia stopped himself just as he was about to shout, clasping his mouth shut.

While Cheng Ran, being two years younger, was caught by Old Man Gui with his hand over his mouth just as he was about to shout.

The two burst into tears as they watched their sister, combat the villain.

Their sister had returned.

They finally had someone to rely on.

Sobs filled the silent air, wounding the heart.

Old Man Gui, too, had lost family and empathized with their feelings deeply.

They are such good children!

Lucky to have a capable sister willing to risk her life to rescue them!

Had a girl fallen into those people’s hands, her fate would have been even more tragic.

One could only hope the little girl could win the fight.

Steel clashed sharply as one looked on.

Clang, clang, clang!

Cheng Xiaoxiao crouched to dodge the big knife, thrusting her sword upward in a swift strike. The opponent parried her thrust, and they were locked evenly in battle.

Didn’t expect this person would be so hard to deal with.

This wouldn’t do.

Before Cheng Xiaoxiao could adjust her tactics.

The opponent suddenly paused momentarily.

Cheng Xiaoxiao seized the moment, slashing him on the arm with her sword.

The wounded guard stared sinisterly at the dark alley, where the surprise attack came from.

Cheng Xiaoxiao surveyed the scene, suspected as much, and confirmed that Old Man Gui must have helped Cheng Jia and Cheng Ran escape, while the children hid, launching surprise attacks from the dark alley.

Having extra help, why hesitate?