The three of them had discussed this beforehand. Cao Weining put his mask back on at top speed and hastily pulled on a long black skirt. Without caring about anything else, Zhang Chengling carried Gao Xiaolian on his back, and sprinted away from the inn swiftly, with Gu Xiang and Cao Weining pretending to chase after him. Gu Xiang even shouted for show, “Little thief, you won’t escape!”

They put on an act of frailty as they pretended to chase him; Gu Xiang faked a limp, and Cao Weining clutched at his chest, wobbling as though he was about to collapse at any time. Halfway, a strong gale struck them from behind, and that Black Poison Hag’s old and hoarse voice rang out, “All of you, get out of my way!”

She barrelled past the two of them like a whirlwind.

A bunch of women in black followed close behind the Black Poison Hag, overtaking these two good sisters--sisters who had not forgotten to chase the enemy down even though they ‘had been ambushed and grievously injured’.

Gu Xiang and Cao Weining exchanged glances. The cripple was no longer crippled, and the heart-clutcher stopped clutching at his heart, fleeing by the route they had discussed beforehand.

Zhang Chengling and Gao Xiaolian were in a far more harrowing situation. Not knowing why he insisted on carrying her as he murmured under his breath continuously, Gao Xiaolian felt that she was a burden on him. Earlier, she had already recognised Cao Weining and Zhang Chengling in a split second; at this moment, she was touched, and said, “Little brother, put me down. I still have my martial ability, I can run along with you.”

In the pauses between his recitation of the mantra, Zhang Chengling eked out a hurried reply, “No way, we still have some distance to go.” Once he recalled the “night soil formation” ahead, he was despondently anxious and dared not to be distracted, reciting the mantra with his full concentration.

Gao Xiaolian could read the situation; seeing that he said this with much solemnity, she understood that they might have made some sort of arrangement, shut her mouth, and did not disturb him. Then she saw that he, utilising some unknown technique, moved as swiftly as a phantom, and was quietly surprised. It had barely been a year, she thought, what extraordinary encounter had this youth had, to become this skilled?