He couldn't help but feel stifled, thinking these people were unreasonable. But then the words he wanted to unleash got stuck in his throat, unable to come out. He hadn't expected these people were looking for Huahua, which meant the girl might have already escaped. But where on earth was that foolish girl hiding now?
Since they were from Wu Dongjia's side, and Master Liu had suffered significant losses at Wu Dongjia's hands recently, he remained courteous to them, despite cursing them countless times in secret. Consequently, the Liu family's steward was a bit reckless when he first met him. However, when they searched his room later, they tried their best not to mess things up, thoroughly checking every nook and cranny.
Everyone shook their heads, stating no one was there. As the steward was leaving, he paused and told him that Huahua had burned down half of their Liu family's courtyard. This was a serious offense. Even if their past affection was deep, they would have to reconsider saving her, lest they get burned themselves, with no one to help them.
In front of them, Lu Zi nodded naturally. But lying in bed, he couldn't fall asleep. He tried to guess her hiding place, and finally, he got up, dressed, and paced around his room. He pondered whether to save her. He had finally reached this point, able to rent a small courtyard to live in, with no worries about food or drink. If his life were disrupted because of her, the loss would outweigh the gain.
If it were in the past, he would have undoubtedly saved her without hesitation. Ever since she betrayed the Dongjia last time, they had no contact, and he couldn't fathom what she was thinking or if her heart was with them. If he failed to rescue her and ended up endangering himself, there would be no one to cry to.
In the end, unable to bear the torment of his conscience, he quietly climbed over the back wall. The situation on the street was more severe than he had imagined. Lights blazed everywhere. It seemed the Liu family's influence was quite significant in the west district.
Finally, he took a winding path towards a certain place. At this moment, Huahua was hiding beneath a bamboo pole, clutching a piece of bamboo in her hand. Outside, there was chaos, and knowing everyone was looking for her, she was sweating profusely, unable to imagine what fate awaited her if she were caught.
As she was lost in thought, the bamboo pole in front of her suddenly moved. Instinctively, she thrust out the bamboo pole in her hand. She had picked up a sharp stone from the ground earlier and painstakingly sharpened it. In a critical moment, it could serve as a weapon, perhaps saving her life, and she wanted to catch them off guard.
Lu Zi, having practiced some martial arts, had sharp hearing and keen eyesight, and his reactions were much quicker. Looking at the bamboo pole before him, he gasped. If it were him in the past, caught completely off guard, he would have died instantly here.
"It's me. Don't be afraid." Huahua heard the voice she longed to hear even in her dreams. She thought she was hallucinating. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was indeed Lu Zi, and tears welled up.
She never expected to see him again before leaving this world. Even if he couldn't save her today, she would have no regrets. Lu Zi was the only person she had felt familial affection for in so many years, and also the one she had wronged the most.
"Why are you here?" Huahua choked out.
Just as Lu Zi was about to speak, he heard footsteps. He quickly squeezed in. The space was already very cramped, with Huahua occupying all of it. If Lu Zi hadn't used his hand to support himself, he would have already been on top of her.
The footsteps gradually faded away, and both of them let out a sigh of relief. Lu Zi saw that day was about to break and that they couldn't hide here any longer. He quickly pulled her along, taking a winding route towards his own small courtyard.
Upon reaching the back door of his courtyard, Lu Zi looked around for a while, ensuring no one was searching his house. Then, he quietly led her back. They didn't even dare to enter the main house, heading straight for the small kitchen, where there was a cellar he had discovered by chance.
Without a word, he hid Huahua in the cellar, prepared some dry rations and water, then slowly moved the water vat back to its original position. He covered it with dust and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, as dawn broke, someone knocked on the door again. Lu Zi had learned from experience this time. When he opened the door, he immediately stepped back.
The visibility was quite clear, and everyone looked around swiftly. Several times, their gazes fell on the water vat, and Lu Zi's heart leaped into his throat. He had learned a lot from Wu Caiwei recently. Although he was nervous, his expression remained calm. The leader looked at him several times but found no flaws before leading his men away.
Closing the door, Lu Zi touched his back and found his inner clothes were already soaked. If they had lingered any longer, his outer clothes would have become apparent, and he wouldn't have been able to hide anything. It seemed she couldn't stay in the city any longer. But how to leave? He fell into a dilemma.
He knew he was a person of interest to the Liu family, and Huahua couldn't hide in the cellar forever. If he went to work and someone climbed over the wall and discovered her, it would be trouble.
The most capable person he knew was his master. So, as soon as Wu Caiwei opened the door at dawn, she saw him. He usually arrived quite early, but never this early. She had heard the commotion outside last night and knew something had happened, but since it didn't concern her, she didn't pry. Besides, as soon as dawn broke, people in the capital would be gossiping, and she would know the details later. Why would she want to join the fray and arouse suspicion?
Seeing his somber expression, she knew this matter was more or less related to him. She quickly pulled him into the house. He didn't conceal anything and directly told her what had happened last night. Wu Caiwei raised an eyebrow in surprise. She didn't expect this kid to be so loyal. She thought the girl named Huahua had broken his heart, but he still stepped forward at the critical moment. However, she thought that next time he encountered such a situation, he needed to use his brain more.
"If you're asking for my help, you need to think clearly. I can take her out of the city, but I'll definitely abandon her halfway and will never admit to this later. Also, don't let her return to the capital for the next few years. And if you see her again, keep your distance. Don't always be overly friendly; you don't know if it will be appreciated, and it's easy to bring trouble upon yourself."
If Huahua had come to her for help, Wu Caiwei would have been indifferent. But her foolish disciple had already brought the person to her courtyard. If she didn't help him now, they might be discovered very soon. Given what Huahua had done, she was harboring a criminal.
Lu Zi quickly nodded, knowing that his master, despite her usual aloof demeanor, had the kindest heart. As long as he asked her for something, she would most likely help. But his master was right. He had saved her life, which was his utmost duty. Henceforth, he should keep his distance from her.