From cute to empress

Chapter 213: Fire in the Taoist Temple

My heart pounded wildly as I dragged Zhen Youcai through the corridors of the palace. The footsteps behind me grew closer, hammering at my nerves like a death drum. Heisha's words, "You can't escape," echoed in my ears like a curse.

"This way!" I pulled Zhen Youcai breathlessly into a secluded path. This was a path leading to the Imperial Garden, and usually few people passed by.

"Mengmeng, we can't keep running like this," Zhen Youcai grabbed me and supported my stumbling steps, "Listen!"

I held my breath, and sure enough, in addition to our hurried footsteps and panting, there were faint sounds of breaking air behind us, like some kind of wild beast approaching.

"Damn it!" Zhen Youcai cursed inwardly, looked around, and finally locked his sight on a low wall not far away, "Let's climb over it!"

I nodded without hesitation. We climbed over the low wall together, only to find a deserted valley in front of us.

"What should I do?" I leaned weakly against a dead tree, despair flooding my heart like a tide. We are trapped!

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Zhen Youcai protected me behind him, drew the long sword from his waist, and looked around vigilantly.

At this moment, a sinister laugh came from behind: "Haha, where do you think you can escape to?"

Black evil!

I don't know when he appeared behind us, the black dagger in his hand flashed with a cold light, like the tongue of a poisonous snake, which made people shudder.

"Let's fight!" Zhen Youcai shouted and rushed towards Heisha with his sword.

"You don't know your own limitations!" Heisha sneered, dodged Zhen Youcai's attack with ease, and hit him in the chest with a backhand palm.

"Puff!" Zhen Youcai spat out a mouthful of blood, fell to the ground, his face as pale as paper.

"Youcai!" I exclaimed, and rushed to Zhen Youcai regardless of everything and helped him up.

Heisha approached step by step, with a cruel smile on his face: "Now, no one can stop me..."

Just when I thought everything was over, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the depths of the valley: "Amitabha, benefactor, please forgive others when you can. Why kill them all?"

I looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old man in a gray Taoist robe slowly walking out of the forest. His hair and beard were all white, but he looked energetic and had an immortal look. He was holding a whisk in his hand, and he looked like an immortal.

"Master Qingfeng!" I felt as if I had grabbed the last straw, and a fire of hope ignited in my eyes.

"Master!" Zhen Youcai, who had been unconscious, miraculously opened his eyes when he saw the old man and shouted weakly.

Taoist Qingfeng? A talented master? Why was he here? I was filled with doubts, but now was clearly not the time to ask questions. All I knew was that we were saved.

"You guys follow me first." Taoist Qingfeng ignored Heisha and turned around, heading deeper into the valley. I supported Zhen Youcai and followed closely behind him, not daring to stop for even a moment.

Heisha watched us leave, but didn't chase after us. He just stood there, a strange smile on his face...

We followed Taoist Qingfeng into the depths of the valley, and after several turns, we arrived at a hidden cave. The entrance of the cave was covered by dense vines. If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't be able to discover that there was a hidden world here.

"Come in." Taoist Qingfeng pushed aside the vines and walked into the cave first.

I helped Zhen Youcai walk into the cave. A damp and cold breath hit my face and I couldn't help but shiver.

"This is my place of cultivation," Taoist Qingfeng lit an oil lamp, and the dim light illuminated the cave. "You will hide here for the time being. The Black Evil will not be able to find us."

"Thank you, Taoist priest, for saving my life." I said gratefully, and looked at Zhen Youcai worriedly, "Youcai..."

"His injuries are very serious and he needs treatment immediately." Taoist Qingfeng took out a porcelain bottle from his arms, poured out a pill, and fed it to Zhen Youcai.

After he finished, he looked up at me, a complex expression in his eyes. "Child, I have something to tell you about that ancient book..." Taoist Qingfeng helped Zhen Youcai lie down. The dim light cast a shadow on his aged face, making it look particularly solemn. He pulled a porcelain bottle from his bosom, poured out a faintly fragrant pill, and fed it to Zhen Youcai. After he finished, he sighed deeply and turned to me, his eyes filled with an indescribable complex emotion.

"Child, how much do you know about that ancient book?" He spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse.

My heart trembled, and the ancient parchment scroll and its obscure words emerged in my mind. It was this scroll that brought me to this world, and it was also this scroll that gave me my current identity and power.

"I only know that it is a magical book with great power that can make my wishes come true..." I answered hesitantly, with a hint of uneasiness rising in my heart.

Taoist Qingfeng shook his head, his brows furrowed. "Child, you are still too naive. The power of that ancient book is far stronger and more dangerous than you imagine! It is not a magic book that grants wishes, but a double-edged sword. Anyone who controls it will be doomed if they are not careful!"

His words resonated like thunder in my ears, sending me plummeting into an icy abyss. How could this be possible? I'd always considered ancient books my lucky charms, my support. How could this be...

"Master, please don't scare Mengmeng. She is still young and doesn't understand many things..." Zhen Youcai's voice came weakly. He struggled to sit up, but was held down by Taoist Qingfeng.

"Child, your injuries haven't healed yet, so don't talk yet." Taoist Qingfeng's tone was filled with worry and helplessness. He turned his head and stared at me with burning eyes, "Child, do you believe me?"

I froze, a bit flustered by his penetrating gaze. I didn't know whether to believe him or not. His words completely overturned everything I had known, leaving me feeling terrified and lost.

"Child, think carefully. Do you truly understand the nature of that power? Have you ever considered that everything you gain may come at a price?"

His voice echoed in my ears like a spell. I felt dizzy and everything in front of me became blurry... Price? Could it be that everything I have was exchanged for something?

I shook my head weakly, wanting to deny it, but I couldn't convince myself.

Taoist Qingfeng looked at me, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes. He slowly stretched out his hand, as if wanting to touch my hair, but stopped in mid-air.

"Child..." He hesitated and finally sighed, "Everything will be clear when you truly understand..."

Before Taoist Qingfeng could finish his words, he was interrupted by a violent cough. He covered his mouth, his face turning even paler. I was immediately panicked. Could it be that he had expended too much energy healing Zhen Youcai?

"Master!" Zhen Youcai struggled to get up, but it agitated his wound. He groaned in pain and fell down weakly again.

"I'm fine," Taoist Qingfeng waved his hand, indicating that we should rest assured, "It's just some old illness, it's nothing serious." He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm his breath, but I knew he must be holding on.

"Mengmeng, don't listen to Master's alarmist words," Zhen Youcai held my hand. His hand was warm and strong, and it gradually calmed my panicked heart. "Have you forgotten how we got to this point? I believe that as long as we work together, we can solve all problems!"

His words were firm and powerful, like a ray of light in the darkness, illuminating the confusion and fear in my heart. Yes, I still have him. We have been through so many ups and downs together. How could I be afraid of the difficulties before me?

"Yeah!" I nodded vigorously, held his hand tightly, and the flame of hope rekindled in my heart.

At this moment, a sharp sneer suddenly came from outside the door, breaking the brief tranquility in the Taoist temple.

"Hahaha, that's so touching!"

Following this sneer, a man in a black robe and a ferocious mask appeared at the door. Behind him were dozens of men in black, each of whom exuded a cold murderous aura.

It’s Black Evil!

"You can't escape!" Heisha's voice was like an evil ghost from hell, making people shudder.

Taoist Qingfeng stood up suddenly and protected Zhen Youcai and me behind him. The whisk in his hand moved without wind, emitting a dazzling golden light.

"If you want to hurt my disciple, you have to get past me first!" Taoist Qingfeng's voice was old but full of majesty.

"You don't know your own limitations!" Heisha sneered and waved his hand, "Kill him!"

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of men in black rushed over like a tide, and a battle was about to break out...

I held Zhen Youcai's hand tightly, my palms were full of sweat, but I was no longer afraid because I knew that no matter what happened, he would protect me and we would face it together!

The black-clad men led by Heisha swarmed into the small Taoist temple like a flood. Swords flashed and shadows clashed before my eyes, and the shouts of killing were deafening. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut and hid behind Zhen Youcai, my heart nearly leaping out of my throat. I could feel Zhen Youcai's strong body trembling slightly, but he gripped my hand even tighter, as if to impart strength to me.

"Mengmeng, don't be afraid, I'm here!" He growled in my ear, his voice a little hoarse from the effort, but it made me feel extremely at ease.

Taoist Qingfeng was like a god descending from heaven, waving his whisk with impenetrable force. In the flashes of golden light, men in black would always fall down with screams. However, he was old after all, and having previously used up a lot of his Qi healing Zhen Youcai, he gradually began to feel a little weaker.

"Master, be careful!" I saw a man in black go around behind Taoist Qingfeng and start to chop with a knife. I couldn't help but scream in surprise.

Taoist Qingfeng reacted quickly, dodging the blow by leaning sideways, but his whisk was cut off, and the golden light dimmed. The man in black took advantage of the situation and attacked again with his sword.

"No!" I watched the knife fall, but I was powerless to stop it. I could only close my eyes in despair.

"Bang!" The expected pain didn't come. I opened my eyes and saw Zhen Youcai had somehow blocked my path, his sword blocking the black-clad man's knife. His face was pale, and a trace of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth. He was obviously forcing himself to practice martial arts.

"Let's go!" Taoist Qingfeng seized the opportunity, pushed Zhen Youcai and me aside, and went to meet the man in black.

We stumbled out of the temple, the deafening sound of fighting behind us. I looked back and saw that the temple was already engulfed in flames, and the figure of Taoist Master Qingfeng was also drowned in the flames.

"Master!" I cried heartbreakingly, but I could only watch the Taoist temple turn into a sea of ​​fire.

"Mengmeng, let's go quickly, it will be too late if we don't leave now!" Zhen Youcai pulled me up and ran forward desperately.

We fled all the way, and we didn't know how long we ran until we were exhausted and couldn't run anymore, and then we collapsed in a forest.

"What should we do? What should we do now?" I looked at Zhen Youcai helplessly, my eyes blurred with tears.

Zhen Youcai hugged me tightly, stroked my hair with his chin, and comforted me softly: "Don't be afraid, Mengmeng, we will definitely find a way."

Just then, a soft voice came from behind us: "Are you looking for this?"

We looked back and saw a woman in a purple dress standing behind us, holding an ancient book in her hand.