Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 298: Maybe, There’s Still Time

Xuan Mei roughly dragged Jiu’er away.

She didn’t pause for a moment, even as E Jintang chased after them.

The color drained from Jiu’er’s face when Xuan Mei dragged her to Huaxu Square and she saw the scene before them.

"No, I don’t want to go... I’ll die if I go in there..."

She whirled around to run, but Xuan Mei yanked her back and slammed her to the ground. The tip of her sword was already pressed against Jiu’er’s neck. In that moment, Xuan Mei looked truly terrifying, as demonic as a specter.

"If I can’t find the Princess Consort, I’ll cut your head off right now!" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Jiu’er burst into tears, terrified. "No, I don’t want to go! It’s full of miasma in there! I’ll die!"

Xuan Mei sneered. "How do you know there’s miasma here? And how do you know you’ll die?"

"I... I..."

Jiu’er averted her gaze.

E Jintang finally caught up. "Xuan Mei! Let Jiu’er go!"

"Get lost!"

Xuan Mei whipped her head around to glare at him, and the ferocity in her eyes made E Jintang flinch.

He had never seen Xuan Mei like this before.

While he was still frozen in shock, Xuan Mei’s sword bit into the flesh of Jiu’er’s neck, and blood instantly welled up.

"Aaaah—"

Jiu’er shrieked in terror. Although she and Xuan Mei rarely interacted, she had never felt such hostility from her.

’But today, she’s really trying to kill me!’

"Jiu’er!"

E Jintang couldn’t help but move forward, but someone suddenly blocked his path.

It was his mother.

Mrs. E had followed them here at some point.

She resolutely blocked her son and shook her head.

Xuan Mei had no more time to waste. "I’ll ask you one last time. Are you going in to rescue them?"

The blade pressed deeper, as if a single "no" from her would cost her her head.

’I fought so hard to survive. How can I just let myself be killed like this?’

"Okay, okay! I’ll go!"

Jiu’er’s cry was one of complete helplessness.

E Jintang was stunned. "Jiu’er..." He turned to his mother in confusion. "Where is Jiu’er going?"

Looking at her foolish son, Mrs. E was speechless. ’He’s never once suspected this mysterious little girl!’

The miasma from underground began to spread, and the imperial guard bore the brunt of it. Some soldiers were already showing signs of sickness, and soon, one after another, they began to vomit and feel dizzy.

Cao Jin had no choice but to order a retreat.

He couldn’t send his men to their deaths for nothing.

When he saw Xuan Mei forcing Jiu’er toward the entrance, he frowned and immediately moved to block their path.

"The miasma here is incredibly potent. It’s not the ordinary kind. You can’t go in!"

Jiu’er was on the verge of tears.

’No kidding!’

She couldn’t help but shoot a pleading look at the tall, imposing man, her eyes desperately trying to convey a message. ’This psycho has a death wish, and she’s trying to drag me down with her!’

But Cao Jin didn’t spare her a single glance, his eyes fixed solely on Xuan Mei.

Xuan Mei stopped, a cold sneer forming on her lips. Her tone was pure mockery.

"If you’re afraid to die, get out of the way."

For once, Cao Jin’s temper flared. His face darkened as he took a step forward, his gaze intense. "I won’t let anything happen to you."

"Move."

Xuan Mei couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him. Every moment her master and the Princess Consort remained inside was another moment of danger.

The Shadow Guard had been at her side the entire time. He seemed to have guessed what she was planning from the moment she’d seized Jiu’er.

He took a step forward. "Commander Cao, please step aside. Don’t doom us beyond redemption."

If their cowardice led to their master’s death, how could they possibly live with themselves for the rest of their days?

Cao Jin’s dark eyes narrowed. He suddenly began to unfasten his golden armor, his gaze never leaving Xuan Mei. "All soldiers, hear my order! Do not advance without my command!"

Xuan Mei started.

Without a word, he moved to stand in front of her.

His intention couldn’t have been clearer. If there was danger ahead, he would be the one to shield her from it.

Seeing this, Jiu’er couldn’t help but whisper, "Hey, he’s got feelings for you."

Xuan Mei gritted her teeth and pushed her forward.

"I’m going too!"

Mrs. E stepped forward, whip in hand.

"Then... I’ll go too!"

E Jintang didn’t care if it was dangerous or not. He’d go wherever his mother went. Besides, Jiu’er was going too! He could protect Xiaoyi and Xiao Er, so there was no reason he couldn’t protect Little Nine!

Xuan Mei and the Shadow Guard shot the mother and son a grateful glance. Mrs. E merely gave them a slight nod. Nothing more was said.

"Wait!"

It was Da Xi, hurrying to catch up with them.

She was panting, completely out of breath. Pulling a small package from her robes, she gasped, "These... are... the Princess Consort’s Miasma Pills!"

"Of course!"

The Shadow Guard slapped his thigh. ’How could we have forgotten about those!’

Thankfully, there were enough for everyone. After they each took one, Cao Jin immediately instructed Da Xi, "You go with my men, get to the city at once..."

"Understood!"

Da Xi knew what he was going to say. "I know how to make Miasma Pills! I’ll do my best to make more and distribute them to the people of the city!"

"Good."

Only then did Cao Jin and the others, with Jiu’er in tow, step into the ruins, which were shrouded in billowing black mist.

Once inside, Jiu’er knew there was no turning back.

’If I want to get out of here fast, I need to find them first.’

"I think the most likely place they’d be is the instrument room," Jiu’er said, impressively navigating by the few landmarks visible.

How could the others not understand what this meant?

Jiu’er must have belonged to Huaxu Square. Otherwise, how could she navigate it so easily?

But saving the Prince and Princess Consort was more important than any questions. They followed her closely. Thanks to the Miasma Pills, the poisonous miasma had yet to invade their bodies.

But no one could say for sure how long the pills would last.

After all, they could all feel it. This was no ordinary miasma. The most obvious sign was the discomfort on their skin—any exposed flesh had begun to prickle and itch.

"These pills are incredible!" Even someone as slow-witted as E Jintang understood how potent the pills were. He couldn’t help but ask, "But what if the Prince and the others don’t have any?"

He spoke his mind without thinking, and Mrs. E quickly shushed him.

Jiu’er snorted. "If they don’t have any, they’ll just become part of the miasma! Why else do you think this place is so cursed? Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, the City Lord who ruled here was a tyrant. For fun, he enjoyed inventing all sorts of inhuman tortures. He used a ’pit of vipers’ to punish treacherous officials and traitors. They say that after the victims were bitten to death by venomous snakes, their bodies became toxic corpses that, in turn, nourished the venomous creatures... See? It doesn’t matter how powerful you are. In the end, everyone turns into this miasma. It’s everywhere."

"Shut up!"

Xuan Mei snapped, her voice cold.

"Can’t even tell the truth anymore..." Jiu’er muttered. "I’m telling you, you’re all wasting your energy. Zhen Niang has already planned for everything to get to this point. If she’s not going to make it out okay, she’ll make sure no one in the city does either..."

Despite her words, Jiu’er never stopped searching, and beads of sweat started to form on her forehead.

’I hate owing anyone anything,’ she thought. ’But at the end of the day, Song Lianhe gave me a good place to stay. She knew I was suspicious but never pried or asked too many questions.’

Jiu’er was clinging to a sliver of hope that the woman could hold out for a little while longer.

’If I can just move a little faster,’ she thought, ’maybe I can still make it.’