57 Pretense

Cui Lingyi and the others left first. Bai Wutong and the others did not delay further as well.

After walking for a while, the autumn rain fell again.

There was no place to stay nearby, so Bai Wutong and the others had no choice but to move forward in the heavy rain.

Fortunately, everyone was already used to the weather in Jiangyuan City where it could rain at any time. They immediately put on waterproof raincoats and moved forward with much difficulty.

Bai Wutong stepped on the muddy ground. She finally knew why so many people had died in Jiangyuan City after the flood the previous year.

It was already very unlucky to encounter a flood. After the flood, it was still raining heavily. The citizens did not even have the time to recover from it, so how could they survive?

If only there were people like Yu the Great in this era who could resolve the source of the flood in Jiangyuan City.

The rain stopped, and they were less than 30 miles away from Jiangyuan City. Before everyone could rejoice, they realised that the area around Jiangyuan City was flooded into an island.

Bai Wutong and the others stood on the small hill. At a glance, there was endless water in front of them. On the side, there were dense tents set up by Duke Ping’s 200,000-men troop to defend Phoenix City and Jiangyuan City.

If the army could not cross, they naturally could not.

Bai Wutong frowned. Lin Yue said, “Madam, we can take a raft over.”

Bai Wutong shook her head. “Look at the few trees around here, and then look at how many people we have. The troop hasn’t been able to cross as well. We should wait. The water level over there is about to fall.”

Lin Yue looked around. That was indeed the case, so he said, “Then let’s find a place to stay first.”

It was too dangerous to be too close to the army. Bai Wutong and the others walked around the flood for almost two hours before they found a relatively hidden place.

Suddenly, a man carrying a piece of driftwood floated over from the flood. Bai Wutong and the others looked over. Oh my, wasn’t this the Blue Woodhead that Cui Muzhi had called out previously?

He kept drifting down. He was almost down the rapids.

Bai Wutong tied a floating loop with rope and threw it at him.

Lan Jingbai also saw them and decisively grabbed the rope. Zhao Pengfei pulled him ashore alone.

Lan Jingbai reached the shore and stared blankly at the floating ring. He suddenly raised his head and begged Bai Wutong, “Madam Bai, can I borrow your floating ring and rope?”

As soon as he finished speaking, before Bai Wutong could respond, Cui Muzhi, who had followed Lan Jingbai down, ran over.

He quickly ran to the drenched Lan Jingbai and took off his coat to put it on him. He asked worriedly, “Blue Woodhead, are you alright?”

Lan Jingbai glanced at his coat and pulled it off with his hand, wanting to return it to him. “I’m fine. Madam Bai and the others saved me.”

Cui Muzhi held his hand firmly for once. “Put it on.” He bowed to Bai Wutong solemnly. “Thank you for saving Jingbai, Madam.” Bai Wutong and the others had first saved Cui Lingyi and Granny Wang, and now they had saved Lan Jingbai. Cui Muzhi was really too grateful. The words he had accumulated over the years were lacking.

Bai Wutong helped him up and asked, “Why are you here? Where’s your sister?”

Cui Muzhi said dejectedly, “She was trying to save my uncle and the villagers. Jingbai couldn’t get to the other side and was washed down by the flood, so I brought my men down.” It had been a close call. He had almost thought Blue Woodhead was going to die. Seeing him safe and sound, he still had lingering fear.

Bai Wutong immediately understood why Lan Jingtian wanted to borrow their floating rings and ropes.

They followed Cui Muzhi upstream for a long time before they saw a group of people looking at them in horror from the top of a house opposite the flood.

Cui Lingyi frowned as she watched the flood. Several people had tried to get into the water but had failed. They would have to wait a little longer. But the house would collapse if it was soaked for too long. In addition to her father and the others, there were so many trapped villagers. Cui Lingyi forced herself to stay calm. She wanted to ask her men to build a raft, but quickly rejected the idea in jer mind. The flood was so strong that the raft was useless.

When Bai Wutong and the others suddenly appeared, Cui Lingyi immediately recalled the scene of the bandits and Granny Wang falling into the swamp river together.

Saving people was more important. She couldn’t care less about small talk and begged Bai Wutong anxiously, “Little Phoenix, can you lend me the floating ring you use? When my father and the others are saved, I’ll return it to you.”

Bai Wutong had her men ready. She didn’t say much. “Use it as you see fit. We’ll set up a shed over there for the night.”

Cui Lingyi put her arms around her excitedly. “Thank you, little phoenix. We’ll have a drink after I save my father.”

Bai Wutong glanced at Chu Tianbao, who had a sulky expression on his face that was implying that she was not a good wife if she drank. She smiled and said, “Saving people is more important.”

When Cui Lingyi heard this, she immediately let go of Bai Wutong and organized Lan Jingbai to bring people to rescue Prime Minister Cui and the villagers.

Bai Wutong and the others had long and strong ropes. Cui Lingyi had her men put on floating rings and tie the ropes around their bodies. She also tied some large rocks to the ropes to prevent them from going weightless in the water.

Cui Lingyi looked at the row of sturdy trees opposite and said to Lan Jingbai, “Lead the way and tie the ropes to three trees in a row. Then let my father and the villagers come down from the roof. Put on floating rings and pull the ropes down bit by bit.”

With Bai Wutong’s floating rings and ropes, Lan Jingbai successfully reached the opposite side of the flood.

The villagers cheered excitedly and hurriedly said to Cui Shize, “Sir, they’re here to save us!” If Cui Lingyi hadn’t calmed them down in time, they would have broken down.

At this moment, Cui Shize could not help but reveal a relaxed smile. He said to the villagers, “There’s an order to seniority. Don’t fight for it. Go down from the roof one by one and prepare to go ashore.”

As soon as he said that, the officials in charge of detaining Cui Shize were unhappy. “No matter what, we should be the ones to leave first. Who knows if we will be left behind?” However, they only dared to mutter softly. After all, the person who came to save them was Cui Shize’s daughter.

If not for Cui Shize, they would not have had the chance to be saved. The grateful villagers of the Falling Rain Village hurriedly said, “Master, you can go first. We’ll just follow behind.”

Even Cui Shize’s disciples, who had been demoted with him, tried to persuade him. “Yes, Master, you should leave first.” What if the rope broke?

Cui Shize shook his head and made up his mind. “The villagers can leave first. I’ll be the last.”

In the face of imminent disaster, Cui Shize could do this for the commoners. How noble and selfless was this!

His disciples also said firmly, “We will advance and retreat with Master!”

The villagers were moved to tears. If they could kowtow, they would definitely kowtow to Cui Shize.

The bailiffs pursed their lips and muttered softly, “You’re all so pretentious.” If Cui Shize hadn’t been a busybody reminding the villagers that the flood was coming, they wouldn’t have been trapped here.

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