Chapter 141.1

Lin Yao’s words had just fallen when the lookout from the Women’s Army outside the cell lowered her voice and urgently shouted, “Someone’s coming!”

Lin Yao, Wang Biao, and the two Women’s Army members inside the cell all changed their expressions.

One of the Women’s Army members said, “The agreed time hasn’t arrived yet. The girls who were supposed to set fire to the camp to cover us shouldn’t have acted yet. If it’s Kadan’s people who’ve come, then it’s bad!”

Kadan had just mentioned today that he wanted to kill Lin Yao and Wang Biao, but Princess Tia had caused such a commotion that the siblings had quarreled.

If Kadan, fearing further disruptions from Princess Tia, ordered someone to act tonight, things would become extremely tricky.

Time was running out, and there was no time to devise a detailed plan.

Lin Yao said, “After unlocking the iron shackles on our hands and feet, you must quickly leave.”

The two Women’s Army members were also at a loss for a moment, but they had no choice but to obey Lin Yao’s orders.

There was a switch on the iron shackles that couldn’t be opened when locked.

After unlocking the lock, Lin Yao and Wang Biao still appeared to be shackled by the iron shackles, but as long as they exerted force, they could break free in an instant.

With Lin Yao and Wang Biao’s martial arts skills, despite their severe injuries, they could delay the situation for a while.

The Women’s Army had taken the risk to come and break out of prison tonight for three reasons:

First, they had heard that Kadan intended to execute Lin Yao and Wang Biao;

Second, they had previously learned the number of guards and their shift changes around the cell while delivering food;

And third, with the Northern Barbarian’s Army southward migration, the defense of the camp was much weaker than usual, presenting a rare opportunity.

Their original plan was to rescue Lin Yao and Wang Biao here, while another group of Women’s Army members set fire to the camp, diverting the Northern Army’s forces to put out the fire while they escaped in the chaos.

However, their current plan had clearly been disrupted.

Under the cover of night, a slender figure approached the prison cell cautiously.

The fire in the brazier illuminated a braid adorned with red coral, a belt studded with various gems tied around a blue and white robe—it was Tia.

She took a few steps and looked back anxiously, only relaxing when she saw no one following her.

As she neared the prison cell door, she saw the guards leaning against the wall as if dozing off.

Instead of loudly waking them up, she cautiously looked around, then took out a bamboo tube from her sleeve and blew smoke towards them.

Ensuring that the guards inhaled enough smoke, Tia walked out of the shadows, took a bunch of keys from one guard’s waist, and unlocked the door of the cell.

Inside was pitch black, so she lit a torch on the wall with a firebrand, illuminating everything in sight.

Lin Yao and Wang Biao were still bound by iron shackles on their hands.

Compared to Tia’s last visit, their white inner garments were now filthy and their hair disheveled.

Lin Yao’s body was stained with blood, a testament to the suffering he had endured in these days.

Even though they heard someone entering the cell, neither of them raised their heads.

They appeared to be extremely injured.

Tia walked up to Lin Yao with her hands behind her back, looking down at him. “My brother wants to kill you. However, you are a slave favored by this princess.

Your life and death will be under my control.

I came here tonight specifically to take you away. If you are sensible, you will serve me as an ox or a horse to repay this princess.”

She was about to use the key to unlock the shackles when, in the blink of an eye, the man who had seemed half-dead suddenly broke free from his restraints and grabbed her throat.

Tia was horrified. “You—”

Before she could say another word, Lin Yao’s grip tightened around her throat, cutting off her voice.

Though Lin Yao could barely stand, the strength in the hand gripping Tia’s throat was surprisingly strong, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

As the cell door opened once again, Tia was initially relieved.

However, upon seeing several dirty female slaves enter, her expression instantly turned ugly.

At the same time, she was greatly surprised.

Why would female slaves from the camp be here at this hour?

One of the female slaves said, “General, this woman is the most beloved daughter of the Khan. Taking her with us, if something unexpected happens while leaving the camp, we can use her as leverage.”

The fear of death shattered all of Tia’s pride.

She felt that Lin Yao would actually crush her throat.@@novelbin@@

She could only nod desperately.

Lin Yao’s lips were pale, cracked, and oozing blood.

He looked weak and vulnerable, but there was a chilling fierceness in his eyes.

With one hand still clutching Tia’s throat, he extended the other towards her. “Return my belongings to me.”

The Women’s Army members looked at each other in confusion, but Tia knew what he was talking about.

Despite the pain in her throat, Tia managed to speak through it. “They’re… in my… clothing.”

She glanced up at Lin Yao with a hint of hesitation. “Should I give them to you?”

Lin Yao neither agreed nor disagreed.

The pressure of his hand on her throat loosened slightly.

Tia reached into her clothing and pulled out the glistening pearl.

She held it out to Lin Yao with an open palm. “Here.”

Just as Lin Yao reached out to take it, Tia suddenly clenched her fingers and forcefully threw the pearl towards a rocky wall below.

In response, Lin Yao instinctively tried to catch the pearl, but Tia swiftly raised her knee and slammed it into Lin Yao’s abdomen.

The pearl made a crisp sound as it hit the rock, and Lin Yao’s face paled from the sudden pain.

However, Tia had underestimated the beatings Lin Yao had endured these days.

Instead of releasing her due to the pain, Lin Yao used the iron chain that had once bound him to wrap around Tia’s neck, dragging her like a dog. “You’re asking for death!”

Tia understood the situation well.

Seeing her initial attempt fail, she immediately began to plead for mercy. “Don’t kill me! Keeping me alive will be very useful! I never intended to kill you from the beginning! I came tonight to save you!”

In the distance, a commotion could be heard, and the glow of flames could be seen spreading.

“It’s on fire? We’ve succeeded! General, we shouldn’t stay here any longer. Let’s take advantage of the chaos and escape!” urged one of the Niangzi Army members.

Wang Biao had been with Lin Yao day and night, so he was well aware of the extent of Lin Yao’s injuries.

He took the chain from Lin Yao’s hand. “Big brother, let me handle this.”

Lin Yao handed Tia over to Wang Biao and went to pick up the pearl that had been thrown to the ground.

Despite the crack in the pearl from the impact, Lin Yao didn’t say anything.

He placed the pearl back into his bosom.

In order to blend in and escape, Lin Yao and Wang Biao changed into the attire of the guards at the entrance.

Since Tia’s clothing was too conspicuous, one of the Women’s Army members dressed in guard attire and draped her dirty robe over Tia’s body.

Tia’s mouth was gagged with a rag, and her hands were tightly bound.

Although she wrinkled her brows in disgust, she could only emit muffled sounds.

The deliberately emitted stench from the Niangzi Army members was intolerable even for the stoic Northern guards, let alone Tia.

The clothing worn by Tia and the gag made of the Women’s Army’s garments almost caused her to faint on the spot.

Ever since being brought to the Khan’s camp, the Women’s Army had never stopped about returning to Great Chu.

During their months as female slaves, they had also never ceased exploring the terrain of the camp and inquiring about the routes to Great Chu.

They eventually learned the terrain and routes, but their escape plan was futile due to the strict defenses of the camp.

After the camp’s garrison moved south, the guards became much weaker.

They had planned for this opportunity for a long time, which was why they dared to take the risk tonight.

The other group of Women’s Army members set fire to the stables and livestock, as these were the weakest points in terms of defense.

Additionally, there were hunting dogs guarding them.

Over the months of labor, the Women’s Army members had become acquainted with the dogs.

As long as they avoided the guards, the dogs wouldn’t bark when they saw the Women’s Army members.

By setting fire to the stables and pens, they frightened the horses and livestock, creating maximum chaos.

While the chaos ensued, the Women’s Army members continued to set fire to other places, making it much easier to escape.

As more and more tents were engulfed in flames, the entire camp was thrown into panic, with Northern Barbarian soldiers running around with buckets of water to put out the fire.

Kadan was awakened from his sleep and, upon stepping out of his tent and seeing the camp engulfed in flames, seemed to instantly realize something.

His face twisted with anger as he called his personal guards and shouted, “Where is Tia?”

His guards didn’t understand why he was asking for Princess Tia at this hour.

Seeing his furious expression, they replied nervously, “Your Majesty, I helped with extinguishing the fire and didn’t see Princess Tia.”

Kadan glared as if he wanted to devour them. “Find her! Once you find Tia, bring her to me immediately!”

He himself hurriedly put on his outer robe and rushed towards the cell where Lin Yao and Wang Biao were held.

Upon discovering that Lin Yao and Wang Biao were indeed not in the cell, Kadan was enraged, kicking the earth wall with force, causing dirt and debris to fall to the ground.

“Report to the Prince! Several guards behind the cell have been found unconscious with their clothes stripped off!” a soldier rushed in to report.

Kadan’s expression changed drastically upon hearing that the guards’ clothes had been stripped off.

Just moments ago, he had wondered if his willful sister had come to take Lin Yao away.

Now, he doubted that this was Tia’s doing.

After all, Tia had plenty of ways to help those two escape.

Why would she strip the guards of their clothes?

Kadan dared not delay for a moment longer and swiftly walked out of the cell. “Spread my orders: Seal off all exits of the camp, and send people to block all major roads leading to the desert!”

After Lin Yao’s group merged with the other group of Women’s Army members who had set the fire, they quickly headed towards the camp’s exit.