At this moment, the person appeared charred black, and with the slightest movement, large pieces of burnt skin fell off, revealing the fresh red flesh underneath.
Not only that, but as the skin fell off, a savory aroma of meat wafted through the air.
The smell was nauseating.
Zhao Ya sighed in his heart, knowing that this person was beyond saving.
Indeed.
After struggling for just a moment more, the person expired.
Meanwhile, the flames outside gradually extinguished, but upon looking at the scene, there was no trace of any person left.
Aside from a few indistinct piles of black ash on the ground, nothing remained.
Such a tragic scene stunned everyone.
The people from Cyan Bamboo Ridge were all ecstatic, and Ma Ling was showering compliments non-stop.
"Third Brother is powerful, eliminating all these guards with a single move!"
Huo Tianxiao couldn’t help but laugh heartily, then pointed towards the temple door.
"Miss Song, have you seen the fate of your subordinates? If you don’t want your tender skin to turn into charred cinders as well, then surrender obediently now, and I can spare your life."
Upon hearing these words, everyone’s gaze inside the door focused on Song Peiwan.
Song Peiwan remained silent for a long time, then finally spoke, "It seems that Cyan Bamboo Ridge is dead set on becoming the Hong Family’s lapdog!"
"Heh, this little girl has a sharp tongue, but your attempts to sow discord are futile. Enough nonsense, surrender or not?" Huo Tianxiao pressed coldly.
Song Peiwan took a deep breath.
At this moment, she was filled with despair.
She knew that if she surrendered now, although she could save her life temporarily, endless humiliation would await her.
Thinking of this, a determined look appeared in her eyes, and she gripped the dagger for self-defense, then took a deep breath and said.
"If I surrender, will you let the rest of these people go?"
"Miss!" the round-faced little maid exclaimed.
Huo Tianxiao sneered.
"What a benevolent lady who cares for her subordinates, fine, if you come out and surrender obediently, I can spare these people’s lives."
Upon hearing this, aside from the round-faced little maid who was full of grief and anger, everyone else secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially the monks of the Great Buddha Temple.
Although Song Peiwan was a major donor to the temple, visiting every year to offer incense and donations.
At this life-and-death moment, no matter how great the donor, they were not as important as one’s own life.
So apart from Zen Master Baojing who closed his eyes and chanted a Buddhist prayer with a sorrowful face, the other monks couldn’t wait for Song Peiwan to hurry up and surrender.
Song Peiwan secretly hid a blade, preparing to go out, but just then Zhao Ya suddenly quietly held her back.
Song Peiwan looked at Zhao Ya in confusion.
Regarding this guard who was the first to speak in support of her and the first to sense danger and run into the temple, Song Peiwan had a deep impression.
She didn’t know why this young guard was stopping her.
Zhao Ya didn’t speak, he just quietly pointed across, then made a throat-slicing motion.
At that moment, Zhao Ya stood in the corner of the temple door, completely out of sight from outside.
Seeing Zhao Ya’s gestures, Song Peiwan was stunned.
Because Zhao Ya’s meaning was very clear, even if Song Peiwan went out, these people would still likely die.
In fact, Zhao Ya had been hiding in the shadows, observing every move of the Cyan Bamboo Ridge people.
Although Huo Tianxiao kept saying he wanted to spare everyone, his subordinates’ actions never stopped, continuously refueling their sprayers with black oil.
This showed that Huo Tianxiao had no intention of sparing the people of the Great Buddha Temple, planning to capture Song Peiwan and then wipe out the rest.
Realizing this truth, Song Peiwan became even more desperate.
Surrendering meant death, and refusing to surrender also meant death. What could she do?
At this time, Huo Tianxiao was becoming impatient.
"Song, my patience is limited, hurry up and surrender before I change my mind!"
Song Peiwan was extremely anxious, even considering pulling out her dagger to take her own life now.
This was better than being humiliated by villains later on.
But just then, Zhao Ya suddenly pulled her over, then whispered in her ear, "Follow my lead later, don’t hesitate!"
Even in this life-and-death situation, Song Peiwan felt a bit strange.
After all, growing up, apart from her brother, no other man had been this close to her.
But listening to Zhao Ya’s calm voice and seeing his composed gaze, somehow Song Peiwan’s heart also calmed down.
She nodded slightly, then pulled her little maid beside her.
This little maid had been with her since childhood, like a sister, so even at this moment, Song Peiwan wanted to take her along.
Zhao Ya paid no attention to this, seeing through the crack in the door that Huo Tianxiao’s men were almost ready.
This was the last opportunity.
If they waited for the enemy to be fully prepared, it would be too late.
So he suddenly pushed open the door panel.
With a loud bang.
The thick temple door was pushed open, and Zhao Ya grabbed the door bolt and barred the door.
Though Zhao Ya knew this was only a makeshift solution, as this wooden door couldn’t stop the people of Cyan Bamboo Ridge.
But gaining a little time was always good.
"Run! These villains won’t spare anyone!"
Zhao Ya shouted and pulled Song Peiwan, running to the back.
This was all he could do; whether the monks of the Great Buddha Temple heeded his words was up to them.
Zen Master Baojing, being the abbot who had presided over the temple for many years, was quick-witted.
Hearing Zhao Ya’s words, he knew there was a high chance they were true, so he also shouted, "Run!"
In an instant, everyone scrambled to run to the back.
Outside, Huo Tianxiao was almost bursting with rage; he had never expected the duck in hand to fly away, so he waved his arms and shouted, "Burn it down, raze this place to the ground!"
At this time, his subordinates were ready and turned the switch towards the sky again.
Black oil fell like rain, and instantly the flames soared.
Most of this temple was made of wood, and couldn’t withstand such fierce flames.
So within a blink, the flames spread, and the entire temple was engulfed in a sea of fire.
Zhao Ya had long anticipated the actions of the Cyan Bamboo Ridge people, so he was not flustered. Even as the fire roared behind him, he didn’t look back, pulling Song Peiwan and running desperately to the back.
At this moment, Zhao Ya realized that although Song Peiwan had also practiced martial arts, her cultivation was mediocre, merely at the First Realm.
This might be considered decent among ordinary people in Wuxiang City, but it was nothing for the Song Family.
However, this was not the time for such thoughts, and Zhao Ya dragged Song Peiwan and the little maid, running to the back mountain.
Just as Zen Master Baojing had said, there was indeed a deep and bottomless chasm here.
At this moment, there was raging fire behind and a deep valley ahead, like an absolute deathtrap.
Yet Zhao Ya was unperturbed, reaching out to remove his clothing.
Song Peiwan was startled, "You..."
She was about to ask what Zhao Ya was doing, but saw he had already removed his top, revealing a close-fitting iron armor underneath.
Then Zhao Ya removed the armor, and free of the dozens of pounds of burden, he instantly felt light as a feather.
"Come, both of you hold onto me tightly!"