Chapter 377: Tang San and Xue Ke, A Thousand-Mile Escape
"Princess, His Highness Lan Hao...he…"
The maid hurriedly entered the princess's chamber, hesitating as she looked at Princess Xue Ke, who was waiting anxiously.
Seeing her maid return alone, Xue Ke felt a pang of disappointment.
"What about Lan Hao? Where is he?"
Since her time at Yue Xuan, Xue Ke's heart had been won over by Tang San. His brilliance, his remarkable talent, and his quiet sorrow stirred her heart. After graduating from Yue Xuan, she sought out her teacher, Yuehua, to learn more about Tang San, but all she received was silence. She believed she'd never see Tang Yin again—until he reappeared, joining the empire and pledging loyalty to her beloved brother.
The Tang Yin she encountered now was transformed, with silver hair and a quiet sadness in his eyes that tugged at her heart. Despite her world crumbling around her, she had clung to the hope of bringing comfort to Tang Yin's pain, to slowly help him open his heart.
But that fragile world had shattered overnight. Her father was gone, her trusted brother revealed to be an imposter from Wuhun Hall, and her other relatives, Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing, were dead as well. Though she had never been close to them, their deaths left a void. Suddenly, the vast Tian Dou Empire was without a single royal heir, leaving her the last to inherit the throne.
There was no excitement, only terror. Now the eyes of ministers, noble families, and even her father's former advisors were upon her—a young girl, once carefree, thrust into a world of unfamiliar faces and hidden agendas. The weight was unbearable.
Yet, she still had Tang Yin. Her father's final decree had arranged for her to marry him, and now, with Tang Yin beside her, perhaps all was not lost. She would no longer be alone in this ruined kingdom.
But why hadn't he come to see her? In this crucial moment, where was her fiancé?
The maid bit her lip, pained by her princess's hopeful look. She had no choice but to finally say,
"Princess, His Highness Lan Hao said…he is occupied with urgent matters and cannot come now."
A bitter smile tugged at Xue Ke's lips.
"Of course," she whispered, more to herself than to the maid. "In these turbulent times, he has many important things to handle…"
Watching Xue Ke's brave front as she justified Lan Hao's absence, the maid couldn't contain her anger.
"Your Highness, you're far too kind to him!"
Nearby, Grandmaster, Flender, and Liu Erlong exchanged glances, choosing to stay silent. Liu Erlong finally approached the princess with a gentle smile, trying to comfort her.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. You are his betrothed; he would never disregard you. If he hasn't come, there must be a pressing reason."
Liu Erlong understood all too well the true reason for Tang San's absence—he had not moved on from Xiao Wu. But she couldn't voice that truth to Xue Ke. Xiao Wu was gone, and people needed to move forward. With time, perhaps Tang San would come to accept the princess's love.
"Really?" Xue Ke looked to her, her hope rekindling.
Liu Erlong nodded firmly.
"Little San is serious and devoted. You must have faith in him. Just give him some time."
A soft smile returned to Xue Ke's face, and she felt her heart lift.
Liu Erlong watched her, sighing inwardly. If only time could indeed heal all wounds, she herself wouldn't have waited so long for Grandmaster, standing solitary at Lanba Academy. Would someone as devoted as Tang San truly forget Xiao Wu and accept Xue Ke?
Casting a longing glance at Grandmaster, Liu Erlong felt her own heartbreak stir once more. Though they had reunited, Tang San's repeated losses to Dai Yao had frustrated Grandmaster, fueling his self-doubt. He'd never found the strength to fully accept Liu Erlong's love, avoiding her whenever she approached him.
Her heart sank again. Perhaps they were all trapped, destined to forever yearn for something just out of reach.
North of Tian Dou City, Nightfall
The dark forest along the road was alive with the sounds of insects. A lone carriage moved swiftly through the night, breaking the stillness.
"Stop here," Dai Yao ordered, looking out into the dark woods.
The driver blinked, surprised. Their destination was the northern town, so why stop here? But he didn't question it. With a quick pull of the reins, he brought the carriage to a halt.
"Time to go," Dai Yao said softly, glancing at the injured Qian Renxue, who looked back, puzzled.
He climbed down, then helped Qian Renxue from the carriage. She had endured the entire journey without complaint, but without the herbal remedy, she would have collapsed from her injuries long ago.
As she leaned against him, Dai Yao reached into his bag, producing a pouch of gold coins, which he handed to the driver.
"Here are a thousand gold soul coins as a small reward. Continue north to Lin Winter City. There, someone will ensure your safe return to Wuhun Hall and grant you a proper reward."
The driver, eyes wide with gratitude, nodded. He had spent years undercover in Tian Dou, yearning for the day he could return home.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you!"
"Don't delay—head north at once."
The driver tipped his hat and drove off, while Dai Yao, supporting Qian Renxue, turned into the dense woods. He wiped away their tracks, concealing broken branches and footprints as they moved further in.
Seeing Dai Yao's thoroughness, Qian Renxue felt a flicker of respect for his caution. He had made preparations for escape long before the coup, back when the plan seemed destined for success. She had dismissed him as overly cautious. Now, in their desperate circumstances, his meticulous planning was their lifeline.
She coughed lightly, her voice bitter.
"Unbelievable how cautious you are. You even refuse to trust the driver fully."
While erasing their trail, Dai Yao replied,
"One's life is safest in one's own hands. That driver would likely give nothing away even if caught, but I can't take any chances. Any possibility of exposure, no matter how slight, is a risk I refuse to accept. I'm not like you, born into a life of privilege. I grew up surrounded by people who wanted me dead. If I hadn't been cautious, I wouldn't have survived this long."
Qian Renxue looked at him, her expression softening. She had dismissed his careful nature before, but now it was saving her life.
Earlier, Qian Renxue had thought Dai Yao's caution was a sign of weakness, even looking down on him, convinced he lacked the heart of a true warrior. But now she realized that without such caution, survival wouldn't even be possible. She had been so self-assured, confident in her own god-level martial soul, but now, doubt had crept in: was a powerful martial soul really all that mattered?
"When we left Tian Dou City, I noticed explosions near the other seven gates. Did you arrange for a total of eight identical carriages?" she asked, recalling the elaborate ruse at the city exit.
Dai Yao nodded.
"Wuhun Hall is south of Tian Dou, but you left by the northern gate. If the whole plan was a feint, wouldn't leaving from the north give away that you wouldn't take the southern route? Doesn't that make all this extra effort unnecessary?"
Dai Yao chuckled.
"You're right—but do you really think Tang San would take that gamble?"
Qian Renxue paused, understanding dawning on her.
"You mean you planned this to force them to split their forces?"
"Exactly. I never expected to just slip out of Tian Dou unscathed. We still have to pass through Jialing Pass to escape the empire. Do you really think Tang San would be lax in defending it?"
Qian Renxue nodded in agreement, seeing the logic in his plan.
"My goal was to spread their forces thin. With the Haotian Sect sending five Titled Douluo elders—though the Seventh Elder is injured—that still leaves four elders to contend with. Each one would need to cover a separate direction, so even if one does catch up with us, I should still be able to hold them off."
Qian Renxue shot Dai Yao a thoughtful look, surprised by the careful tactics from the once-renowned young genius, now seemingly overly cautious. She murmured, almost in disbelief,
"You're truly thorough."
Dai Yao smiled.
"There's more. When planning our escape route, I scouted each city gate's defenses in advance. Among the eight gates, the northern gate was the weakest. I placed two Soul Emperors at the southern gate, one at the western gate, to mislead the enemy."
"In the north, although I had no Soul Emperors there, I've had that gate thoroughly infiltrated. Had it not been urgent, I wouldn't even have needed the other seven gates as a distraction—I could've quietly slipped us out through the northern gate."
Qian Renxue stared, astonished. Could such a detailed plan really be put together in just a month? She couldn't help asking,
"You planned all of this in a month?"
Dai Yao met her gaze before looking up at the dark, starless sky, the sound of insects filling the silence around them. After a moment, he exhaled deeply, shaking his head.
"A single month? Impossible."
"Back when I fled from the Star Luo Empire to Tian Dou, the royal family, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and countless other factions all wanted to recruit me. As I became more prominent, Platinum Bishop Salas began to worry that the empire might try to detain me by force."
"He even brought in Chrysanthemum Douluo to secretly guard me. That's when I took the opportunity to plant my own agents throughout Tian Dou, using Wuhun Hall's resources in preparation for a day like this. The seeds I sowed back then have finally borne fruit."
Qian Renxue was speechless. Dai Yao had been preparing for his escape from Tian Dou all those years ago, despite the protection offered by Wuhun Hall. Rather than trusting others with his fate, he took control himself—a stark contrast to her own approach. She fell into a deep silence, feeling the weight of her own failures.
Seeing her pensive, Dai Yao said nothing. Supporting her, he set off toward the next checkpoint.
Before long, they reached a small hut made of straw.
Dai Yao helped Qian Renxue to the ground and, as she watched in curiosity, he disappeared behind the hut. A moment later, he emerged with two sturdy horses. From within the hut, he retrieved a carriage platform and fitted the saddles on the horses. Turning to Qian Renxue, he said,
"Get on."
Though physically weak, Qian Renxue was impressed by Dai Yao's foresight, asking in amazement,
"Where did you get all this?"
Gently stroking the horse's mane, Dai Yao explained,
"There's a stable behind the hut. I had it stocked with horses long ago, just in case. Now it's finally paying off."
"Get comfortable. I'll be driving this time. We'll be avoiding the main roads, and the trail's rough, so brace yourself."
Dai Yao trusted no one but himself, knowing that only he wouldn't betray his own escape.
Climbing onto the carriage with his help, Qian Renxue took a few deep breaths, steadying herself. Her voice was strained but resolute.
"Don't worry—I won't be a burden."
With a nod, Dai Yao took the reins, urging the horses forward into the night. The narrow path was far more rugged than the main road, and Qian Renxue could do little more than grit her teeth through the pain. The herbs she had taken were the only thing keeping her from passing out.
Dai Yao focused on the road ahead, a sly smile playing at his lips. He had memorized every twist and turn, having rehearsed this escape countless times. Not even the pitch-black darkness could make him lose his way.
"Tang San, head to Lin Winter City. There's a little gift waiting for you there," Dai Yao muttered to himself. He didn't doubt Tang San would eventually figure out his route, so he had set a little surprise in Lin Winter for any pursuers, particularly if Tang San himself decided to come.
With the night breeze whipping his hair, Dai Yao called back over his shoulder.
"Oh, and by the way, there's some food and water in the carriage. It's not the best, but it'll fill you up if you're hungry."
A faint voice from within the carriage replied,
"No need. Thank you."
The rhythmic sound of horse hooves echoed through the night, shattering the silence.
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