Wu Qi kept running fast. His high skill as a great commander made it easier for him to avoid the pursuit of San Hu Wei. Hu Nayin was in his arms since he was afraid that Hu Nayin would miscarry if he let her run, but it was a piece of cake for him to run while carrying Hu Nayin. They had been far outside the palace just after few seconds later, within the crowded, hard-to-trace rows of houses.
The whole city became tumultuous. The pitch-black streets were now ablaze, filled with torches. Dozens of San Hu Wei soldiers had been filling the entire streets, messed everything rudely in order to look for their preys. But Wu Qi, who was initially their commander, had memorized all movement patterns his soldiers were going to carry out. He nimbly ran into a house whose occupants saw their arrival in shock.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I truly apologize for disturbing your rest. But we are being pursued by government troops! So I implore you, may all of you hide us here!"
"Oh!…" But Wu Qi did not wait for their approval; he walked straight into a room. Meanwhile, a violent sound of smashing the door was heard from outside. In the next instant, the soldiers had drawn their swords at all occupants.
"We are the San Hu Wei of Zhou Fan Wang Guo. We are here to look for two traitors to the country, a man and a pregnant woman! We know they are here! Hand them over to us right now! Or else… you know the consequence!" Yan San shouted.
"You dare threaten us?! Pff! Such a team of bastards, smashing and messing up people's houses at night!"
All men in this house were grim-faced, their eyes filled with hatred and murderous intent. Each of them carried a weapon. They were ready to fight. Meanwhile, the women had entered their respective rooms, yet they had shot a hateful glare at the soldiers before disappearing behind the door.
"Goddamnit! How dare you say such shit things towards us! Don't you know whom are you facing with?!"
"Why do we need to know? From beginning we have been declaring to fight against the ruthless and barbaric Ming government as well as their dogs like you!"
A man pointed at a large board hanging in the center of the room. Yan San's eyes automatically followed his finger. A few seconds later, he gasped.
The Center of Bai Lian Jiao Resistance Movement
"We have remained quiet all this time. Even though we are so eager to beat you up, we still remain quiet as long as you don't spark off any trouble. Yet you are the ones who initially look for trouble with us." The man waved his weapon, grinning sarcastically. "Come on, fellows, attack them! Crush these rascal government officers!"
The fight had inevitable occurred.
***
"Yes. We are now in The Center of Bai Lian Jiao Resistance Movement."
Hu Nayin's eyes widened as she heard Wu Qi's explanation as great shock entered her mind. It was understandable then, she still thought that she was the Zhou Wang Fei, and subconsciously assumed this anti-government movement as her enemy.
Now they were in a bedchamber, which clearly implied that its owner was a woman. Not only Wu Qi and her in this room. There were still two men and two women with them. The four of them were around the same age as Wu Qi and Hu Nayin, between thirty and forty. All of them looked at Wu Qi and Hu Nayin curiously.
A man who appeared to be the oldest one said firmly, "That's right! If you want to avoid the government, then this is the right place for you! All of us are the members of Bai Lian Jiao Sect who are forced to live in the grim underground, but we are open to anyone outside of Bai Lian Jiao as long as they are anti-government!"
Wu Qi smiled kindly. "Thank Heaven, you all really give us big help!"
"But by the way... aren't you guys from the Zhou Fan Wang Guo?" The oldest woman asked. She was staring straight at Hu Nayin. "And you... are Hu Wang Fei, the wife of Zhou Wang, aren't you? Why do you want to join us instead?"
"What?! This Ma'am is Zhou Wang Fei?!" Unlike her fellow, the others knew nothing about their identity. Maybe this woman had seen Hu Nayin when Zhu Su brought her at that time he announced publicly about his project. Everyone soon looked at them suspiciously. Hu Nayin herself, could only look down silently, busy wringing her hands.
Wu Qi answered. "You're right. We are the closest people to Zhou Wang. I am Wu Qi, San Hu Wei Chief Commander, and she is Hu Nayin Wang Fei, the wife of Zhou Wang... in the past. That was in the past, ladies and gentlemen. Not at this time." Wu Qi pressed his lips. "Now Zhou Wang hates Wang Fei so much, even wants to kill her."
The four of them were now staring at Hu Nayin's swollen belly. "You have impregnated her? Then caught by Zhou Wang?" A sloppy-looked man asked.
Wu Qi snorted. "Zhou Wang is the only man Wang Fei loves. Of course, the father of her baby is Zhou Wang." He sighed. "It's a complicated case. I only help Wang Fei escape from Zhou Wang's terrible anger. Well, accompanying a king is the same as accompanying a tiger!"
"But, Zhou Wang is so cruel, then. His wife's belly is so big, she will surely give birth in the near future. How can he even want to kill him?" The youngest and most beautiful woman opened her mouth.
"The Commander have told you that the problem is very complicated, Dear."
The oldest man now embraced the oldest woman who recognized Hu Nayin. The woman smiled. "Well, then, I'm grateful to marry you. Although we aren't very rich and we must live in hardship, at least our lives are safe and secure."
"Hahaha! Finally, you realize it! I love you even more, honey!"
"Hey, you still want to show off your affection in this situation, Newlyweds!" The sloppy man patted the oldest man anxiously. In the next instant, the room was filled with roaring laughter.
Hu Nayin was still wringing her hands. She was indeed the quietest of them all. Her eyes were on the newlyweds who smiled happily right now. Slowly, her eyes dimmed, she turned sadder and sadder.
She could not live this beauty of married life anymore...
She could not. Forever.