With Mo Zhizhang's help, the two instantly got ahead of the dogs. Seeing this, Li Zhao also quickened his pace.
Guided by Ye Wanmian, the group braved the rain and wove through the streets and alleys, racing against time towards a certain place.
At this moment, the world seemed to stand still. Ye Wanmian could hear no sound of wind or rain in her ears, only the pounding of her own heart.
Suddenly, she also heard the rapid sound of hooves in her ears. The sound of the hooves seemed to be coming from the same direction she was heading.
Rushing out of the alley, not far ahead was the locked courtyard. Ye Wanmian's pupils constricted. Through the curtain of rain, a man on a galloping horse came charging from another direction, with many dogs chasing after him.
He was soaked from head to toe by the rain, but that figure, that face, could it be anyone other than Xiao Jingcheng?!
There was no time to be surprised how Xiao Jingcheng had come here. Ye Wanmian was only concerned about Jiang Zhiqing in the courtyard.
To her shock, before the horse had even stopped, Xiao Jingcheng flipped off its back and kicked hard at the locked gate of the courtyard.
With a loud bang, the closed gate was broken open by Xiao Jingcheng, revealing the situation inside the yard.
"Ah—ah—"
Jiang Zhiqing was being roughly held down on the ground by a woman, while a man was holding a bowl and, with a ferocious expression, pouring the contents of the bowl into her mouth.
Jiang Zhiqing probably sensed the threat to her life. She struggled desperately, letting out heart - rending roars. But how could her strength alone withstand two people? Some of the stuff in the bowl was forcibly poured into her mouth.
The loud noise of the broken gate startled the two of them. The man paused his actions, got up, and turned his head to look outside. But the next moment, he was kicked in the chest by Xiao Jingcheng, who had rushed forward. The man flew backwards, knocking over the table behind him and hitting the wall hard, then immediately fainting.
The woman who was holding down Jiang Zhiqing had her neck grabbed by Xiao Jingcheng and was lifted off the ground.
Xiao Jingcheng was soaking wet. The temperature of his palm was like ice, and his eyes were bloodshot. He looked like a vengeful ghost climbing out of hell.
He tightened his grip and said coldly, "You're really looking for death!"
Ye Wanmian and Mo Zhizhang were a step behind Xiao Jingcheng. When they reached the courtyard, they saw Xiao Jingcheng kicking the man away and then grabbing the woman.
Jiang Zhiqing was no longer under anyone's control, but her condition was not good either. She covered her neck, spitting out white foam, and curled up in agony.
"Mother!"
This scene made Ye Wanmian let out a startled cry. She broke free from Mo Zhizhang, rushed into the rain, and knelt in front of Jiang Zhiqing, tremblingly holding her up.
"Mother, how are you, Mother?"
Noticing a broken bowl on the ground beside them and a pool of liquid next to the bowl, she immediately understood what Jiang Zhiqing had been fed. The fear of losing her loved one instantly swept over her heart.
"Mother, don't be afraid. I'm here to save you. I will definitely not let anything happen to you." She said through her tears, trying to wipe the white foam from Jiang Zhiqing's lips with her sleeve.
But the more she wiped, the more white foam Jiang Zhiqing spat out, mixed with blood. She stared at Ye Wanmian with wide - open eyes, as if trying to recognize her. However, her pupils were already beginning to dilate.
"Mother, Mother, please don't be in trouble." Ye Wanmian was so panicked that she lost her wits and all ability to think. She hugged Jiang Zhiqing tightly, and tears fell uncontrollably.
Mo Zhizhang put away his umbrella and entered the house. His gaze first swept over the man who had been kicked unconscious by Xiao Jingcheng, and then he looked at Xiao Jingcheng, narrowing his eyes slightly.
The man in front of him, judging from his stature and figure, was clearly the Jing Goudan who had given him a hard time and opposed him in Huichuntang a few days ago. But the once - blurred face was now clearly in front of him.
This was an extremely handsome man, with sharp and cold eyebrows, eyes as sharp as knives, a well - defined side face, and a commanding and imposing aura that was impressive and inexplicably inspired a bit of awe.
Such a person was definitely not an ordinary person from the countryside.
Interesting.
"Brother Goudan, leave them alive." Mo Zhizhang reminded. Xiao Jingcheng glanced at the fainted woman in his hand, snorted, and threw her to the side.
Mo Zhizhang squatted down and said to Ye Wanmian, "Niece, let go of her. Let me take a look."
Mo Zhizhang's words brought a bit of sense back to Ye Wanmian. She grabbed Mo Zhizhang's wrist tightly, her voice trembling with sobs, "Uncle, please, please help me save my mother."
Ye Wanmian's eyes were red - rimmed, filled with pleading. Tears streamed down her face, and her gaze was heart - breaking.
No one could refuse such a pair of eyes. Mo Zhizhang unconsciously tightened his fingers.
He lowered his head, avoiding her gaze. His eyes fell on her fingers that were holding him. He paused for a moment, then reached out and gently patted her hand, comforting her, "I'll do my best. Let go of me first."
Ye Wanmian quickly let go. Mo Zhizhang said to Xiao Jingcheng, "Brother Goudan, could you come and give me a hand?"
Only then did Ye Wanmian remember there was another person in the room. She looked up at Xiao Jingcheng.
If he hadn't broken in through the door and stopped all this just now, what she might be seeing now could be Jiang Zhiqing's cold body.
But the man was completely soaked, his eyes bloodshot, and he didn't look in good condition. She wondered where he had got the news from and how he had known that something was wrong here.
The next moment, Xiao Jingcheng leaned towards her, placing his big hands on her arms. His fingers were as cold as the rain, and the coldness seeped through her clothes without any hindrance, making Ye Wanmian shiver.
How long had he been in the rain?
This thought flashed through her mind for just a moment. He exerted force and pulled her up from the ground, then sat her down on a chair.
"Wait here. Don't worry. I will definitely not let anything happen to her."
The man reached out and stroked her hair, which was also wet from the rain. Then he turned around and walked towards Mo Zhizhang.
The situation was urgent. The two no longer confronted each other as before. They tacitly put aside their inexplicable hostility towards each other and focused on rescuing Jiang Zhiqing.
Following Mo Zhizhang's instructions, Xiao Jingcheng carried Jiang Zhiqing upside - down on his shoulder, with his shoulder pressing against her abdomen, and jolted her hard.
With a "wow", Jiang Zhiqing trembled all over and vomited out all the stuff that had been poured into her mouth just now.
Only when Jiang Zhiqing had nothing left to vomit did Xiao Jingcheng put her down. He knelt on one knee on the ground and let her lean against his chest.
Li Zhao, who had difficulty walking, arrived late. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Jiang Zhiqing, weak and pale as paper, leaning against Xiao Jingcheng's chest.
Seeing that familiar face, his body trembled violently, and his eyes instantly turned red.
"Yingniang—"