Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 350 - 342: The Same Goal

"Enough."

Ouyang Qingsheng was furious. Yan’er was barely hanging on to life and still being rescued, yet these two were here bickering with each other, utterly lacking in manners and upbringing.

Just then, the old steward rushed in to report, "Family Head, the fire in the West Cross Garden and storeroom has been extinguished. It burned down three courtyards entirely, and damages are still being assessed. The residences in the West Cross Garden were mostly consumed by flames. The young masters are all unharmed, but something seems odd; the guards and servants who participated in the rescue are very tired, strangely so, I do not know..."

The steward hadn’t finished speaking when the inner room’s door squeaked open, and Ouyang Qinghua stepped out.

Zhongli Mei quickly rushed up, "Third cousin, third cousin, how is Yan’er, how is he?"

Ouyang Qingsheng also hurriedly stepped up, urgently asking, "Old third, it’s not, is it?"

Ouyang Qinghua shook his head, "Sixth young master’s illness is grave; the toxin has already spread to the entrails and beyond. If we want to save his life, I’m afraid..."

Ouyang Qinghua’s words trailed off.

Everyone knew in their hearts; the prognosis was grim.

"What poison did Yan’er ingest?"

Ouyang Qinghua furrowed his brow, "This poison is likely not simple; it doesn’t appear to be anything available publicly. Elder brother should investigate the list of people who’ve recently entered and left the mansion thoroughly."

Ouyang Qingsheng and Ouyang Qinghua exchanged a meaningful glance, understanding each other’s thoughts.

Perhaps using the ancestor’s secret Gu might save his life; conventional methods aren’t working.

"How could this be, how could this be, Yan’er was perfectly fine just this afternoon."

Zhongli Mei mumbled to herself, seemingly struck by a great blow, shaking her head in terror, "No, it can’t be, no, it can’t be."

She suddenly remembered something, frantically lunging at Lady Ouyang, "It’s all you, you caused this, give me back Yan’er, give me back Yan’er."

Lady Ouyang’s maids swiftly stood in front to block the way, and both sides started pulling and shoving, descending into chaos.

The maids on both sides nearly failed to restrain the deranged Zhongli Mei; her long nails seemed about to scratch Lady Ouyang’s face.

Zhongli Mei suddenly rolled her eyes and fainted.

"Aunt, Aunt, what’s wrong!"

A moment of frantic confusion ensued.

Ouyang Qingsheng pursed his lips, silently watching the spectacle unfold with a cold expression.

Ouyang Qinghua spoke up to remind, "I hope elder brother makes a decision quickly; I’ve temporarily sealed off Yan’er’s toxin, but we only have an hour. After an hour, the toxin will spread throughout the entrails, and not even a deity descending can save him."

"But the Life Gu is exceedingly dangerous; Yan’er, pampered from a young age, might not endure its bitterness."

"We have no choice but to treat a dying horse like a living one."

After pondering for a long time, Ouyang Qingsheng’s clenched fist tightened, loosened, and tightened again, unable to decide.

Once the Life Gu is taken, the chance of childbearing ceases; if Yan’er awakens, how could he endure such a blow?

"Brother, time is running short."

Looking at his usually vibrant, confident, and proud son lying motionless on the bed, with his complexion and lip color increasingly darkening to blue-black, Ouyang Qingsheng had no choice but to make a painful decision, "We have no other option."

The old steward, initially reporting, was interrupted, and family orders sent him to retrieve the Life Gu from the forbidden area. The previous matters were set aside given the importance of the sixth young master’s life.

At this moment, a guard entered to remind them the time was almost up.

Recalling the earlier report from his subordinates, "Has that group of black-clad people been dealt with?"

"Not yet!"

"How many intruders?"

"Over twenty masked individuals in uniform attire, all experts in Inner Strength, and they seem well-prepared."

"What do you mean well-prepared? Just this paltry group thinks they can snatch anyone on Ouyang Family territory, it’s reckless. Deploy more manpower, eliminate that group quickly; time is up, don’t delay the ancestor’s important affairs."

"Yes!"

As more skilled individuals gathered, the masked black-clad people gradually fell into disadvantage, unable to contend.

"Host, the strength difference between the two sides is too great."

"Nonsense, if not for the medicine incapacitating this many people, the situation would be even worse."

Gu Ming, at this moment, was murdering with fury, seeing the Little Crown Prince nearby, yet unable to rescue him immediately, feeling deeply ashamed to the deceased Emperor and Empress.

Earlier, while they were hiding, they unwittingly overheard gossip from a servant; these children are truly pitiful, scheduled for sacrifice tonight.

They realized tonight was the only chance to rescue the Little Crown Prince, later hearing the children’s heart-wrenching cries, hurriedly rushing over.

They had no prior plan or arrangements, nor had they assessed the enemy’s strengths.

Knowing the risk, they rashly barreled in, optimistic about a less-than-20 percent chance of rescue success, yet the circumstances forced them into desperate measures.

With this thought, Gu Ming’s moves became more lethal, his formidable sword swept like a meteor, clearing swathes, the powerful airflow toppled many incoming guards. Even if today’s cost was their own lives, they must save the Little Crown Prince; otherwise, Tianqi would soon face a fallen country.

The clashing blades glimmered with chilling light, bloodstained snow, crimson and vivid.

In the struggle, they managed to grab four or five children.

But getting fewer was better; unfortunately, they didn’t recognize the Little Crown Prince among them. Out of 99 children, some slightly older ones were recognizable.

Among those around the same age as the Little Crown Prince, there were about a dozen, and taking all of them posed a challenging task.

"Master, what do we do, too many enemies."

Initially, their night expedition into Ouyang Mansion aimed to scout the area, unexpectedly encountering a formidable array upon arrival.

Inside, they learned the child’s sacrifice was scheduled for tonight, forcing them to hastily dive in with no certainty of success. The current situation seemed even worse.

Sending signals out for external assistance wasn’t realistic either; brothers outside couldn’t pass the Bamboo Forest Formation.

"First confirm the Little Crown Prince’s identity, save as many as possible."

Yang Zihuan struggled free and joined them, "None of us have seen the Little Crown Prince, how do we confirm his identity?"

"Lord Yang, be careful."

A long sword unexpectedly thrust from the rear, nearly piercing Yang Zihuan, and Ah Li hastily drew his sword to block and engaged the attacker.

"We can only distinguish based on facial features; slightly older ones might be excluded, narrowing the range as much as possible."

Their hushed dialogue was overheard by Cheng Xiaoxiao, lurking in the shadows.

What!

What did it mean, these black-clad people came to save the Little Crown Prince?

Was it not the Little Crown Prince she thought of?

Hearing one addressed as Lord Yang, suggesting he was someone from the court, how’d they know the Little Crown Prince survived? Could it be someone else also unearthed the Empress’s tomb alongside her?

Truly tangled beyond disentanglement.

"Host, should we assist them?"

’I’d love to help, but revealing myself isn’t timely right now, and the biggest boss hasn’t appeared yet, rescuing might not be so easy.’

Mentioning that, the peculiar Stone Gate on the mound slowly began to open.

Having waited long for the sacrificial offering, Ouyang Ancestor emerged for firsthand examination.