rushing out the door

Cheng Fengyi, unaware, continued until the blood flowing out gradually turned red, applying a paste of battlefield medicine, quickly bandaging the wound, and rushing to write a prescription.

"Sister Cheng! How is General Yang?" Chi Ying panted as she ran in.

"Why are you back?" Cheng Fengyi was surprised, "I can handle this; go back. The front line needs someone in charge."

Chi Ying wiped the sweat from her nose, gasping, "It's alright now. General Cao brought reinforcements; the city is secure."

Everyone in the room beamed. Two maids hugged each other, cheering. Yang Qiong sighed in relief, "That's good."

Cheng Fengyi wrote the prescription quickly, handing it to a maid, "Take this to the pharmacy in town..." Suddenly remembering the chaos, where pharmacies might be closed, Chi Ying took the prescription, "Give it to me. The Wangfu has all kinds of medicines; I'll fetch them."

Moments later, a maid reported that most ingredients were available, but one key ingredient, Ché Sāngzi, a unique herb from the frontier, was unavailable in the Wangfu's storeroom.

"What about the pharmacies in town? Have you sent people to ask?" Cheng Fengyi asked.

The maid nodded repeatedly, "Lady has already sent people to inquire everywhere."

After waiting some time, Chi Ying returned, standing at the door with red-rimmed eyes, unable to speak.

Cheng Fengyi stood up abruptly, "I'll go find it myself."

"Sister Cheng!"

"Madam Cheng!"

Chi Ying and Yang Qiong exclaimed simultaneously. Chi Ying grabbed her, "Where are you going? With the battle ongoing, think of another solution. Can't we use something else instead?"

Yang Qiong said, "Qiong is insignificant; I'm not worth Madam taking such risks. Bring a knife; I'll cut off this arm."

"No!" Cheng Fengyi angrily rebuked, "Our bodies are given by our parents; how can we destroy them recklessly? As a warrior, losing an arm would be a lifelong regret. As a doctor, how can I let you belittle your own body like this!"

Yang Qiong was silenced. Cheng Fengyi added, "Besides, the poison has spread throughout your body. Cutting off the arm won't help; we must find the antidote!"

Chi Ying looked troubled, "But now..."

Cheng Fengyi didn't listen, rushing out the door.

Inside the room, it was quiet for a moment. Yang Qiong buried his face in the pillow, eventually letting out a painful cry.

Though both Chi Ying and Zhong Lüping were outstanding among noblewomen, compared to Cheng Fengyi, they were small fry. Not considering her resistance against Huerhanah during her two years among the Northern Di, just finding Ché Sāngzi showed Chi Ying's inadequacy.

Because she seized the opportunity when Cao Qian opened the city gates to engage Han Zhui in a plains battle, riding out alone on horseback!

A soldier rolled back to report. Chi Ying stared in shock, speechless for a moment, finally sighing, "Sister Cheng truly is a heroine."

"The incident happened suddenly; General Cao couldn't spare men to chase after her, saying he'd come to apologize later."

"No, no, this isn't General Cao's fault!"

Chi Ying quickly instructed the soldier, "Tell General Cao this was my arrangement. Time was tight; I didn't inform him in time. Tell him not to blame himself. Sister Cheng... sigh, this matter..."

Though Cheng Fengyi acted voluntarily, if anything happened to her, not only would Yang Qiong suffer without the antidote, even healthy, he might die of grief. Imagining the scene, Chi Ying felt her head would explode.

Fortunately, Cheng Fengyi acted decisively but thoughtfully. Disguising herself as a soldier, unknown to the Liang Zhou army, she took advantage of the chaotic scene when nearly ten thousand people surged out of what was supposed to be an empty city, catching Han Zhui off guard, paying no attention to a lone rider galloping away.

Thus, Cheng Fengyi passed through thousands of soldiers, out of Hu Ben Pass, into the Boergik Grassland.

In the rolling green waves of midsummer, a chestnut horse sped along, carrying a slender figure rapidly. This scene was witnessed by Bumu'er, observing the battle from a nearby hilltop.

Bu Xia tribe members parted ways with Yang Qiong and others thirty miles from Hu Ben Pass. Sangduo led the youths back to their tribesmen by the riverbank, while Bumu'er stayed behind, watching from the hills for days.

He knew what he was waiting for but refused to admit it. Capable of infiltrating the Liang Zhou army camp to assassinate Han Zhui, he chose not to. Knowing Yan Zhou Fu had no troops or generals, he remained indifferent.

Day after day, he hoped Yan Zhou's defeat and city's fall would lead Chi Ying to seek his help or him to rescue her.

This selfish, despicable mindset disgusted Bumu'er, yet he derived a sick pleasure from anticipating that moment.

So, when the city gates opened and a rider "escaped" toward the grasslands, he unhesitatingly pursued with Nayang.