Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 192 Finding an Escape Route

Hu Bugui was quick to grab the guard's collar and pull him back from the ground that was about to collapse. "Watch your step!" he warned sharply, while swinging his sword to block several arrows shot towards him.

Wu Tao followed Hu Bugui closely, nimbly moving between the rain of arrows and traps. Although she had no martial arts skills, her modern survival knowledge allowed her to keep a calm mind, observe the surroundings, and look for an escape route.

"Your Highness, this way!" A guard pointed to a hidden path ahead, where there seemed to be no signs of traps.

Hu Bugui did not hesitate at all and immediately led everyone towards the path. However, the dawn of hope was short-lived. When they were about to rush out of the trap area, a group of men in black suddenly appeared at the exit of the path, each holding a sharp blade, blocking their way like ghosts.

"It seems that we have fallen into a trap to lure the tiger away from the mountain," Hu Bugui sneered, "But do you think you can stop me like this?"

Before he finished speaking, he rushed into the enemy camp like an arrow from a bow, the long sword in his hand turned into silver light, reaping the lives of the enemies. The guards followed closely behind him and fought a desperate battle with the man in black.

However, these men in black were obviously carefully selected, each of them had extraordinary skills, and they cooperated well with each other, and had a good grasp of offense and defense. For a time, they were able to fight on equal terms with Hu Bugui and others.

"Your Highness, be careful!" a guard exclaimed.

A man in black rushed out of the crowd and headed straight for Hu Bugui. He was tall, with a mask on his face, revealing only a pair of sinister eyes. He was waving a ghost-head knife in his hand, and was obviously the leader of the group of men in black.

Hu Bugui exchanged a few moves with the leader of the black-clothed men and found that his martial arts skills were not inferior to his own, and he was very familiar with his moves, as if he had already studied him thoroughly. This made him feel depressed. Could this person be the leader of the remnant gang who had been hiding in the dark?

"Hu Bugui, your time of death has come!" The leader of the men in black said in a hoarse voice while attacking, his tone full of hatred and murderous intent.

Hu Bugui snorted coldly and fought back unwillingly, but the opponent's moves were ruthless and he pressed forward step by step, so that he gradually felt a little tired.

During the fierce battle, Wu Tao hid behind a huge rock and watched the battle anxiously. Although she could not help much, she knew that Hu Bugui was facing an unprecedented crisis at the moment, and she had to do something to help him.

At this moment, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind...

Wu Tao's mind raced, and she suddenly remembered the smoke bombs commonly used in modern movies. She looked around and found a pile of hay not far away, and she immediately had an idea. While everyone was not paying attention, she quietly slipped to the haystack, took out a tinder from her bosom, and lit a small pile of hay.

The dry haystack caught fire and instantly burst into flames, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. Wu Tao also sprinkled several bags of lime powder that he had prepared in advance into the fire, and immediately white smoke filled the air, covering the sky and the sun, and shrouding the entire battlefield in a fog.

"What's going on?" The leader of the men in black was choked by the sudden thick smoke and started coughing. His vision was blurred and he couldn't see the surrounding situation at all.

Hu Bugui was also stunned by this sudden change, but he quickly reacted and shouted, "Everyone, retreat!"

When the guards heard the order, they immediately gave up fighting with the men in black and, under the cover of thick smoke, they protected Hu Bugui and Wu Tao and evacuated quickly.

The leader of the men in black wanted to chase them, but was blocked by the thick smoke and could only watch them disappear into the fog. He roared in frustration, but to no avail.

After returning to the capital, Hu Bugui immediately went to the palace to meet the emperor and reported the details of the attack to the emperor. The emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation of the matter to ensure that all the remaining members were wiped out.

However, Hu Bugui and Wu Tao both understood that this incident was not accidental, and the mastermind behind it was clearly carefully planned and could not be easily eradicated. What worried them even more was that this remnant leader was not only prepared militarily, but also spread rumors politically in an attempt to undermine their reputation.

All of a sudden, all kinds of rumors spread in the capital. Some said that Hu Bugui staged the attack himself in order to eliminate dissidents; some said that Hu Bugui colluded with foreign enemies and intended to rebel; others said that Wu Tao was a beauty who brought misfortune to Hu Bugui...

Although these rumors were absurd, they caused a great deal of panic among the people, and even some doubts were voiced in the court. The emperor's trust in Hu Bugui began to waver, and some ministers also talked about him behind his back, making Hu Bugui feel isolated and helpless.

The thick fog enveloped the entire capital, and also the hearts of Hu Bugui and Wu Tao. They didn't know what fate was waiting for them...

The solemnity of the past in the Golden Throne Hall seemed to be shrouded in gloom. The emperor frowned, and the memorial in his hand seemed heavier than ever to him. The attack on Hu Bugui was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples and causing an uproar in the court.

"Your Majesty, I believe that it is urgent to purge the rebels. We must not let them revive and disrupt the government!" An old minister was filled with indignation and his passionate emotions were evident in his words.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I also think this matter is strange and needs to be thoroughly investigated!" Another minister echoed, but his words were sharp and pointed the finger at Hu Bugui, "But there are many suspicious points in this attack. I hope Your Majesty can give an explanation to prove his innocence."

Hu Bugui remained calm, meeting everyone's gaze with a determined look. He knew that he was standing at the center of the storm, and if he was not careful, he would be doomed. He cupped his hands and said, "I am sincere and I am here to help Your Majesty. Heaven and earth can bear witness to this! I was not prepared for this attack, but I will find out the truth and bring the mastermind to justice!"

The emperor remained silent, his eyes were deep, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking. He naturally believed in Hu Bugui's loyalty, but the constant rumors, like maggots attached to his bones, left seeds of doubt in his heart.

The undercurrents in the court made Wu Tao's heart hang in the balance. She knew that it would be difficult for Hu Bugui to fight against this powerful force alone. She had to do something to help him overcome the difficulties.

A bold plan gradually took shape in her mind. She decided to go deep into the enemy camp to find out the real purpose of the remaining leader and the support behind him. Only in this way could she completely crush their conspiracy and clear Hu Bugui's name.

Late at night, under a dark moon and with strong winds, Wu Tao quietly sneaked into a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city in her nightgown. According to her inquiries, this was the secret base of the remaining gang leader.

She carefully sneaked into the temple, hid behind the Buddha statue, and observed the movements around her. The lights in the temple were dim, and she could vaguely see several men in black whispering and plotting something.

Wu Tao held her breath and pricked up her ears, trying to hear their conversation. However, their voices were very low, and mixed with some dialects that she couldn't understand, so she couldn't capture any valuable information.

Just when Wu Tao was extremely anxious, a familiar voice came into her ears, causing her heart to tremble...

"...How's the matter going?" The voice was low and hoarse, with a sense of oppression that came from without even being angry.

Wu Tao's heart was shocked. Wasn't this voice the voice of the mysterious man who passed by her outside the restaurant that night? Could he be the leader of the remaining gang?

"Reporting to the lord, everything is going according to plan. Although Hu Bugui has some abilities, he won't be able to stay around for long." Another slightly shrill voice replied flatteringly.

"Humph, Hu Bugui is just a chess piece. We are not targeting him." The mysterious man snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain. "Once we take Chang'an, the entire Tang Dynasty will be ours!"

"Your Excellency is wise!" a shrill voice immediately flattered.

Wu Tao's heart was in turmoil. It turned out that their goal was not only to overthrow the Tang Dynasty, but also to have a bigger ambition! She had to tell Hu Bugui this news as soon as possible!

She stepped back carefully, wanting to leave this troubled place. However, at this moment, she accidentally knocked over the incense burner beside her. With a "bang", the incense burner broke into pieces, alarming the black-clad man in the temple.

"Who's there?!" a shrill voice shouted.

Wu Tao knew that she was exposed, so she stopped hiding and rushed out of the Buddhist hall and ran towards the outside of the ruined temple.

"Catch her! Don't let her run away!" The men in black drew their swords and chased after her.

Wu Tao ran wildly in the night, with the whistling wind and the footsteps getting closer and closer behind her. She knew she had to get rid of the pursuit, otherwise not only would her life be in danger, but Hu Bugui would also be implicated.

She used her agility to dodge in the darkness, but the man in black was chasing her relentlessly and was about to be caught up. Wu Tao was extremely anxious and had to find a safe place to hide...