“Murder!”
“Fire!”
“Help!Terrified, tearing-like screams fell upon ears like thunder from a clear sky.
A blood-soaked servant rushed out from behind the door, followed by one maidservant after another, all panicking and scattering in disarray.
Pedestrians on the street paused, glancing over before their expressions twisted with horror. In an instant, the entire street descended into chaos as people scrambled for cover.
“Fire! The Luo Family Shop is on fire!”
“People died at the Luo family! Report to the authorities!”
“……..”
Located in Jingdu’s bustling district, Anyi Ward was surrounded by numerous shops. Beyond a narrow alley lay a residential area mostly occupied by tenants.
Compared to news of deaths, commoners feared fire more—once flames grew fierce, the surroundings would inevitably be affected, and it wouldn’t just be one or two lives lost!
Before officials arrived, nearby residents had already fetched buckets of water to extinguish the blaze.
The sudden upheaval caught everyone off guard.
The carriage they arrived in bolted in another direction when the horses spooked during the unexpected crisis.
In the crowd, Yue Zhi gripped Yun Wan, her face pale with fear. “Madam, we must leave—ah!”
Before she could finish, another fleeing person burst out, charging blindly like a headless fly toward them.
To avoid being knocked down, Yun Wan released her grip instantly. In that split second, they were separated, swallowed by the surging crowd.
Yun Wan gasped, “Yue Zhi—”
Looking around, she saw Yue Zhi far away, also gazing anxiously in her direction:
“Madam!”
They struggled to push toward each other, but the human tide surged like an unstoppable flood, leaving no gaps.
As Yun Wan nearly got trampled, she instinctively dodged. When she looked up again, Yue Zhi was gone.
“Yue Zhi!”
Yet scanning the surroundings yielded no sign of Yue Zhi. Panic flashed across Yun Wan’s face.
The worst had happened—she and Yue Zhi were separated.
To make matters worse, the sun was setting in the west, dusk approaching, while crowds rushed to fight the fire amid the chaos. Yun Wan, unable to see clearly, was eventually shoved into a corner.
Hiding behind a stone statue at the entrance, she watched the flames grow fiercer, ashes swirling above the shop, and coughed from the smoke.
Tying a handkerchief over her face and pressing a hand to her racing heart, Yun Wan forced herself to calm down.
Don’t panic, don’t panic.
She needed to leave this place quickly. Yue Zhi and the carriage could be searched for later.
Resolved, Yun Wan covered her mouth and nose, heading toward a less crowded spot to depart.
But after just two steps, someone grabbed her arm and thrust a ladle filled to the brim with water into her hands.
Yun Wan stood frozen.
A robust woman carrying a large bucket of water scolded, “What are you staring at? Hurry and help put out the fire! If it spreads, we’ll all die!”
Seeing Yun Wan’s plain attire and unsteady gait, she mistook her for a local resident.
“Follow me! Pour water where I do!”
With that, the woman charged forward with her bucket.
Clutching the ladle, Yun Wan observed the swarming residents desperately dousing the flames in every way possible. Conflict flickered across her face before she gritted her teeth and followed.
A single ladle of water would normally be insignificant, but under these circumstances, it felt incredibly precious.
Among those gathered to fight the fire were not only adults but also children, each clutching ladles from home, having fetched water from somewhere.
Seeing this, Yun Wan couldn’t bring herself to discard the ladle.
Holding up her skirt, she followed behind a woman and, at the nearest flames, stood on tiptoe to fling the water with all her might.
It accurately doused a small cluster of fire.
“Make way! Make way! Water’s coming!”
A shout rose from behind as two women carried a massive bucket of water forward.
The bucket was oversized and filled to the brim, making their steps unsteady as they struggled under the weight.
Yun Wan hurried over to lend a hand, passing her ladle to them. “Here’s a ladle.”
One of the women thanked her: “Thanks, sister!”
Yun Wan shook her head, about to say ‘you’re welcome,’ when she turned and saw a heart-wrenching scene that made her heart leap into her throat.
Just a few steps away, a little girl about the same age as A Sui seemed to have been separated from her family, sitting on the ground crying in terror.
Behind her, a thick wooden pole, as wide as an arm, had fallen and was rolling toward the child.
“Watch out!”
Yun Wan’s mind went blank. Without a second thought, she rushed forward.
Kicking the pole aside, scooping up the little girl, and dashing to an open, less crowded area—her movements flowed seamlessly.
Just then, someone cried out between sobs, “Nannan! My Nannan, where are you?!”
Hearing the familiar voice, the girl in Yun Wan’s arms stopped crying and whimpered softly, “Mama…”
The girl’s mother was instantly drawn to the sound. When she saw her child safe and sound in Yun Wan’s arms, she finally broke down in tears.
The memory of the earlier danger still fresh in her mind, Yun Wan couldn’t help but speak sharply: “Do you realize she was nearly burned? Hurry up and take her away from here!”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, the mother hugged her child and kowtowed twice to Yun Wan. “Thank you, miss! Thank you!”
…
An hour later, with the help of the garrison troops, the fire in Anyi Ward was extinguished. Fortunately, it hadn’t spread to the surrounding areas.
By then, the sky was stained blood-red by the setting sun, dusk approaching. Exhausted, those who had fought the fire slumped on the stone steps, scattered and weary.
Leaning against the outer wall, Yun Wan breathed heavily, a wave of relief washing over her.
So tired.
She looked up at the darkened sky and sighed softly. Who would have thought that in all the commotion, she’d forgotten about going home?
The fire had claimed three lives. One of the bodies, carried out from the Luo Family Shop, was covered with a white cloth, charred beyond recognition. Yet, Yun Wan recognized the gold-threaded garment visible beneath—it was the foreign merchant Luo Laoban.
Yun Wan averted her gaze, her emotions in turmoil.
Enough. She needed to find a way back first.
If she didn’t return soon, not only would A Sui worry, but the old lady would likely find out as well.
Planning to leave the street and find someone to hire a carriage, Yun Wan moved slowly, leaning against the wall, her body aching with fatigue.
Thankfully, she had dressed plainly and worn a face covering when she went out, so no one recognized her. She couldn’t bother about maintaining a proper appearance now.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, she reached a crossroads alley and felt a wave of confusion.
The alley entrances all looked identical. Which way should she go?
After a moment’s thought, Yun Wan gritted her teeth and chose the widest, brightest path.
She had only taken two steps when a muffled laugh suddenly rang out.
Then a pair of large hands reached out from the darkness, seizing Yun Wan’s wrist like lightning and pulling her into the nearest alley.