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, âBrother Xie, itâs terrible. People from the fire patrol are inside. We canât go in, and the people in there canât get out. Doomed, weâre doomed!â
Xie Pinggangâs eyelids twitched. âMy buddies are in there too?â
âThey are. The fire seemed serious at first, but it could still be put out. However, something happened, and thereâs black smoke all of a sudden. And then⦠Thereâs a cloud absorbing the water like a dragon above. How can we put out the fire now!?â Official Liuâs voice was filled with despair.
Even if he did not lose his job, he would be demoted.
âIs this a wax shop?â Zhao Xuanjing sniffed. âHow many people are stuck inside?â
âThe fire canât be put out because itâs a wax shop.â Official Liu sighed. âWe 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, thereâs a priest too, but we havenât figured out who she is.â
âWhy is there a priest?â Xie Pinggangâs 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?
âA 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 ominousâ¦â Official Liuâs eyelids twitched as he spoke to this point. âBrother Xiao, do you thinkâ¦
âIt was caused by something evil!?
âThe fire was really strange!â
âDo you plan to report it like this?â Xie Pinggang found it unbelievable.
âHow could I? The female priest is strange. Many people had witnessed how true the priestâs prediction was. That Zheng familyâs only son had a grieving spirit clinging onto him, and he couldnât stand up earlier.â 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 smokeâ¦
He came out again!
Xie Pinggang looked beaten when he saw Official Liu and the Crown Princeâs faces.
âI-I thought I walked inâ¦â Xie Pinggang pointed behind him.
He was stepping forward when he entered the black smoke. How did he turn around instead?
âI saw you trying to walk into the smoke, but you couldnât no matter whatâ¦â Official Liu felt goosebumps.
The corner of Xie Pinggangâs 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.
âStop trying. Nobody could get in earlier. Itâs like a blind person losing his way. Do you think itâs possible for a person to lose their way in such a small place? I think thereâs a spirit in there,â Official Liu said in low spirit.
Xie Pinggang scratched his head, looking rather lost.
Zhao Xuanjing suddenly asked, âWhat does the female priest⦠look like?â
Official Liuâs eyelids twitched.
âIs this guy human? He wants to know if the female priest is pretty at such a critical time!?
âWhat an animal!â
âI heard sheâs charismatic, calm, and immortal-like. A priest who is unfathomable.â Official Liu added as he spoke to this point, âItâd be great if sheâs a capable priest. We should be able to put out the fire and save the people inside if she solved this strange situationâ¦â
Zhao Xuanjing frowned.
He had only spent time with a priest latelyâXie 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.