Since the Crown Prince was checking out the fire, those who were secretly protecting him had to follow.
Official Liu was panicking. He was surprised to see Xie Pinggang.
He was a minor official too, so he did not recognize the Crown Prince. However, he was pretty familiar with Xie Pinggang. He asked without waiting for Xie Pinggang to say anything upon noticing his caring expression, “Brother Xie, it’s terrible. People from the fire patrol are inside. We can’t go in, and the people in there can’t get out. Doomed, we’re doomed!”
Xie Pinggang’s eyelids twitched. “My buddies are in there too?”
“They are. The fire seemed serious at first, but it could still be put out. However, something happened, and there’s black smoke all of a sudden. And then… There’s a cloud absorbing the water like a dragon above. How can we put out the fire now!?” Official Liu’s voice was filled with despair.
Even if he did not lose his job, he would be demoted.
“Is this a wax shop?” Zhao Xuanjing sniffed. “How many people are stuck inside?”
“The fire can’t be put out because it’s a wax shop.” Official Liu sighed. “We calculated earlier. Together with the fire patrol team, workers who stayed to put out the fire, and the citizens who are watching, there are 37 people. Oh, there’s a priest too, but we haven’t figured out who she is.”
“Why is there a priest?” Xie Pinggang’s eyelids twitched. He spoke while getting someone to splash water on his body.
His buddies were in there, so he had to go in, no?
“A couple hired the priest. They stirred a commotion on the street earlier, saying that the only son of the wax shop did something terrible and offended something ominous…” Official Liu’s eyelids twitched as he spoke to this point. “Brother Xiao, do you think…
“It was caused by something evil!?
“The fire was really strange!”
“Do you plan to report it like this?” Xie Pinggang found it unbelievable.
“How could I? The female priest is strange. Many people had witnessed how true the priest’s prediction was. That Zheng family’s only son had a grieving spirit clinging onto him, and he couldn’t stand up earlier.” Official Liu was currently losing hope.
Xie Pinggang was ready to charge in as he was done with the preparation.
However, after taking a step into the black smoke…
He came out again!
Xie Pinggang looked beaten when he saw Official Liu and the Crown Prince’s faces.
“I-I thought I walked in…” Xie Pinggang pointed behind him.
He was stepping forward when he entered the black smoke. How did he turn around instead?
“I saw you trying to walk into the smoke, but you couldn’t no matter what…” Official Liu felt goosebumps.
The corner of Xie Pinggang’s lips twitched.
He turned around and tried again.
However, it was the same as before. He stepped out of the black smoke as soon as he stepped in.
“Stop trying. Nobody could get in earlier. It’s like a blind person losing his way. Do you think it’s possible for a person to lose their way in such a small place? I think there’s a spirit in there,” Official Liu said in low spirit.
Xie Pinggang scratched his head, looking rather lost.
Zhao Xuanjing suddenly asked, “What does the female priest… look like?”
Official Liu’s eyelids twitched.
‘Is this guy human? He wants to know if the female priest is pretty at such a critical time!?
‘What an animal!’
“I heard she’s charismatic, calm, and immortal-like. A priest who is unfathomable.” Official Liu added as he spoke to this point, “It’d be great if she’s a capable priest. We should be able to put out the fire and save the people inside if she solved this strange situation…”
Zhao Xuanjing frowned.
He had only spent time with a priest lately—Xie Qiao.
Although she no longer dressed like a priest since coming to the Imperial City, Zhao Xuanjing could not forget her charisma during their first encounter back in Floating Pavilion Town.
