Chapter 557: Raging Wildfire
The air above them was thick with swirling smoke, and the heat grew increasingly intense.
Watching the fight before him, Zhan Chi grew anxious. They had taken a path up the back of the mountain to get here, but by then, the fire had already nearly encircled its entire circumference.
It had taken them nearly two hours to get here from the mountain’s rear flank. If they delayed any longer, the flames would connect. Once that happened, no one, no matter how skilled, would be able to get off the mountain.
"Zhan Chi, what are you standing there for? Get Pangtuan down the mountain, now!" Gu Shuo shouted over his shoulder.
At his words, Zhan Chi turned to see Ye Qianning had finished tending to her wound. He bent down and scooped her into his arms, letting her lean against his shoulder as he supported her with one arm.
With his other hand, he grabbed the back of Sang Zhi’s clothes and hoisted him up.
"You take Sang Zhi down the mountain. I’ll stay here," Ye Qianning said softly.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I’m serious. The fire is spreading quickly; it won’t be long before it reaches us. I can help them if I stay here." Ye Qianning’s leg was so severely injured that she lacked the strength to carry Sang Zhi down the mountain.
’At least if I stay here, I can still be of some use.’
"You’re already hurt this badly. Just be still."
"Zhan Chi, what are you dawdling for? Take them down the mountain! Hurry!" Gu Shuo snapped, growing impatient as he fended off the black-clad assassins with his Soft Sword.
"Put me..."
But Ye Qianning didn’t get to finish her sentence.
Zhan Chi leaped into the air, using his Qinggong to land in a tree. Pushing off the branch with the tips of his toes, he began to dart between the massive trees.
Carried to a higher vantage point, Ye Qianning looked down to see a sea of fire. It was only a mile or two from their position—the blaze was spreading much faster than she had imagined.
"What kind of trees grow on Four-direction Mountain? How can they burn so quickly?"
"Dust Pines. They’re extremely flammable and burn incredibly fast. When we arrived, a ring of fire had already been set around the entire mid-mountain. It looks like someone knew you were on Four-direction Mountain a long time ago." Zhan Chi and his men had already rushed here as fast as possible.
They’d wasted four to six hours in Four Directions Town because they weren’t sure of the exact location on the mountain.
If Luo Wen hadn’t recognized the bird, they never would have even found Four-direction Mountain. By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, it was late at night. They had just started their ascent, following the bird, when they discovered the blaze.
The fire spread relentlessly, forcing them to circle around to the back of the mountain to reach the upper slopes.
A terrible premonition grew in Ye Qianning’s heart. "When you came up the mountain, how far had the fire spread?"
"It had almost engulfed the entire mountaintop." Zhan Chi’s speed was incredible; he didn’t dare to pause for a second.
’He wasn’t even sure if they could make it down the mountain anymore.’
"COUGH, COUGH..." Sang Zhi regained consciousness. Having inhaled too much smoke, he broke into a violent coughing fit.
Ye Qianning’s brow furrowed in thought. ’At the rate this fire is spreading, we’ll likely never find an escape route. There are no streams on the mountain, either. I’m afraid...’
It took a moment for Sang Zhi’s coughing to subside. His small face was flushed red from the scorching heat. Realizing he was being held aloft, he began to struggle instinctively.
"Stay still."
Zhan Chi nearly dropped him.
Hearing the voice, Sang Zhi mustered his strength to turn his head. He let out a breath of relief upon seeing Ye Qianning. Then, he looked at the man carrying him and felt a great deal safer.
"Stop going forward," Ye Qianning said after a moment’s thought, reaching out to grab the front of Zhan Chi’s robes.
Zhan Chi glanced down but didn’t break his stride.
"I said, stop going forward!" Ye Qianning’s voice rose, and the small hand gripping his chest pulled harder.
The sudden tug threw Zhan Chi off balance. His feet slipped, and he stumbled, landing unsteadily on a branch below.
"What is it? Are you hurt somewhere?"
"Given the speed of the fire and the direction of the wind, the blaze has likely already encircled us. Running down is futile."
"How will we know if we don’t try? There might still be a chance." ’If we don’t do anything, all we can do is wait to die.’