Chapter 312: 170 Offering Incense (First Watch of the Night)_2

So, they would go through the Suo Bridge.

Because of the crowd, traffic was tight, and progress was quite slow.

Maybe she could still catch up.

No, she must catch up.

The market was closed on the first day of the lunar new year, and no carriages could be rented, but the elderly neighbor had some.

Gu Jiao went to knock on his door, saying she needed to go to the temple to offer incense.

The old priest nodded and hurriedly asked Liao Quan to drive the carriage, taking Gu Jiao to the temple.

The road was fine at first, but it became congested as they approached the temple.

The road was already narrow, and half of it was sealed off for a noble’s exclusive passage.

Gu Jiao lifted the curtain: “Uncle Liu, you go back first, I’ll walk from here.”

“Are you sure?” Liao Quan looked at the vast sea of people, somewhat worried.

“It’s not far off.” Gu Jiao jumped off the carriage.

She squeezed through the crowd until she reached the riverbank.

From here, she could clearly see the temple on the other side of the river. However, in front of her eyes, there was only one bridge, guarded by soldiers. The pilgrims had to go out of their way towards the eastern side of the riverbank.

This detour would probably be at least five or six li.

She didn’t have the time.

By the time she could go around, Xiao Liulang would already be on the bridge.

The only solution was to go through the Stone Arch Bridge in front of her, pass through the temple and get to the back door, and figure out how to stop Xiao Liulang who was about to get on the bridge.

Gu Jiao approached the Stone Arch Bridge.

As expected, she was stopped by a guard at the entrance.

The guard was clad in armour, holding a spear, supremely commanding.

“You can’t walk here.” He said coldly.

Gu Jiao looked up at him: “I need to pass urgently.”

The guard retorted, “Which of those rushing to the temple isn’t in a hurry? There’s another bridge over there, go that way!”

Gu Jiao’s gaze was calm, but it created an inexplicable pressure on the guard, who added: “It’s an order from above. We can’t do anything.”

Gu Jiao said: “There are too many people on the Suo Bridge. It may collapse.”

The guard laughed coldly: “I just walked that bridge a few days ago, it’s in great condition. It won’t collapse.”

Initially, Gu Jiao thought that even if she didn’t go, if they sent people to prevent others from getting on the bridge, it would be fine.

But judging from the situation, it would be impossible.

Gu Jiao’s eyes cooled: “What if I insist on passing here?”

With her sudden sharp look, the guard faltered.

Despite her young appearance, the guard soon hardened his stance: “Then I’ll have to arrest you!”

There were eight guards at the entrance, and every ten steps on the bridge were guarded by two soldiers. The thirty-meter long bridge, from the end to the entrance of the temple, was guarded by soldiers.

A total of one hundred men.

There were probably more guards inside the temple unseen.

Breaking through the guards wasn’t an easy task.

But she was set on walking this bridge today!

Gu Jiao took a step forward.

When the guard raised his hand to arrest her, Gu Jiao pressed his arm, using his back for leverage to leap up and pull out the sword hanging from his waist.

She landed on one knee, using the sword to support herself, a sharp glare in her eyes.

The guard was visibly taken aback, clearly not expecting such a small girl to be so capable.

Snapping out of his shock, he barked, “What are you all doing? Arrest her!”

The guards on the arch flocked towards her!

It was not initially necessary to subdue a small girl with such a show of force. But Gu Jiao’s move had stunned them, resulting in everyone drawing their swords.

Gu Jiao suddenly exuded an intimidating aura.

However, she didn’t want to kill anyone.

A guard lunged at her.

With her sword against his blade, the sheer force she exerted caused his arm to go numb.

But this was just one guard. Soon enough, the remaining guards charged at her.

Fighting without killing slowed her down.

Xiao Liulang was approaching the bridge on his side.

Three more guards rushed at her. Killing with one sword strike would only take a split second, while knocking them down one by one would consume too much of her time.

“Don’t force me…”

Gu Jiao tightened her grip on the long sword.

She was never a good person to provoke, and her organization in her previous life wasn’t some charity, but a group of outlaws who dared to kill for money.

With a teeth-grinding shout from Gu Jiao, she leaped into the air using the stone rail of the arch bridge, swinging her sword, the cold gleam of the blade flashing in her eyes.

A powerful murderous aura swept over universally.

Just as her sword was about to draw blood, a familiar voice rang out distantly: “Stop!”@@novelbin@@

A sudden jerk in her midriff caused Gu Jiao to stop in the air. She shifted her sword, slicing open the armor of the three guards.