As time goes by and the situation changes, the Huo Fu Thief Gai gradually no longer only catches arsonists and thieves, but its specific functions gradually become today's specialized responsibility for dealing with major criminal crimes and vicious criminals.

"Cough! Cough cough cough cough!"

Qingdeng moved forward slowly, coughing a few times every few steps.

His throat was so dry that Qingden felt that when he opened his mouth, thick black smoke would immediately float out from between his teeth.

I didn't dare to swallow. Every time I swallowed, it felt like I was swallowing a knife.

However, in fact, Qingden couldn't even swallow his saliva now.

The moisture in his mouth had long been evaporated by the high temperature of the environment.

Although the fire and smoke that filled the surrounding area were a hindrance, it was not to the extent that it would be difficult to walk. It was truly a blessing among misfortunes.

The fire was so strong that almost everyone who could escape had escaped.

Those who can't escape...that's about it.

On the way to find the exit, Qingdeng didn't meet even a single living person.

All they encountered were corpses that had been choked to death and suffocated to death, as well as pieces of human-shaped charcoal...

The reason why Qingdeng can still remain generally awake until now is all thanks to his daily physical exercise that he has never slacked off, as well as the physical bonus brought to him by talents such as "Yuan Yang +1".

However, no matter how strong your body is, it will eventually come to an end.

The gradually increasing concentration of carbon monoxide and the rapidly decreasing concentration of oxygen in the air caused Qingdeng's drawing review to slowly and uncontrollably experience abnormal reactions.

Qingdeng has begun to feel that his head is dizzy, the strength of his limbs is gradually being withdrawn, and breathing is becoming more and more difficult...

If he continues like this, he will become one of the piles of corpses and charcoal he saw on the road.

Fortunately, at this moment, Qingdeng suddenly spotted a very familiar wall.

——This wall is...?!

Qingdeng stared blankly at the mottled wooden wall in front of him.

He remembered clearly: when he was sent to the cell in the morning, he passed by the left side of this wall!

In this case... Qingdeng followed the scene in his memory and turned to look to the left side of the wall - a long and narrow corridor that looked very familiar to him lay in front of him!

——Finally found the exit...!

At this moment, Qingdeng felt that his body became a little lighter, and the fatigue and discomfort accumulated in his body also disappeared a lot.

If you find a way to leave...then the next thing will be easier!

Qingdeng steeled himself and walked straight ahead along the path he had taken when he came.

Familiar corners, familiar sliding paper doors... Qingdeng passed by one place or another that left more or less impressions in his mind.

Qingdeng was convinced: he was getting closer to the exit and the place without flames!

I don't know if it was Qingdeng's imagination, but his skin seemed to vaguely feel the cool air that had not been burned by the fire waves.

——No...my head is starting to feel dizzy again...

Qingden thought to himself as he walked around the corner of the corridor on the right.

——You have to hurry up...

Before he could finish his thoughts, he suddenly saw a thunderous light flashing out from behind the corner of the corridor and slashing down towards his Heavenly Spirit Cap!

Qingdeng's expression changed and he hurriedly stepped back.

A chill that was unique to the blade flashed in front of Qingdeng.

Immediately afterwards, Qingdeng saw a few strands of his hair falling down.

One jump, another jump, three jumps. Qingdeng's body flashed flexibly, and he jumped back several steps in one breath, widening the gap between him and the corner of the corridor where a white blade suddenly "popped out".

"The response is good... As expected of a benevolent king..."

A warrior wearing a low-rimmed bamboo hat, whose appearance could not be seen clearly, walked slowly out from behind the corner of the corridor.

In his hand he held a shining knife.

Looking at this "mysterious man" who suddenly appeared, Qingdeng looked solemn.

"...I was just wondering why the fire in the prison started so strangely and burned so fast. Sure enough, someone was behind it..."

On the first day he was imprisoned, he encountered a fire; the fire spread unusually fast; an unknown person suddenly appeared in the fire scene and launched a sneak attack on him... Qingdeng's suspicion in advance came true - behind the fierce fire, there was something hidden.

The mastermind behind the scenes!

"hehe……"

The mysterious man shook his shoulders with a smile on his face.

"Because I felt that just setting a fire might not kill you 100% of the time, so I stayed here for a while... Fortunately, I didn't leave directly, otherwise the fire would have been in vain.

."

The mysterious man's voice was very young, with the accent of an Edo native. Judging from the timbre, he was in his twenties at most.

"Who are you?" Qingdeng shouted sharply, "Are you the killers sent by the Akabane family? Or... are you the remnants of the anti-barbarian group?"

In Qingteng's memory, the only enemies who had a life-or-death hatred against him and wanted to eliminate him even at the cost of such drastic measures were the remnants of the Akabane family and the anti-barbarian group.

In terms of possibility, Qingdeng thinks the former is more likely.

The anti-barbarian group has long been crushed to ashes. Even if there are still some lucky ones who escaped the shogunate's suppression, their small number of people and small amount of energy will not make a big difference.

He was imprisoned by the "Direct Participation Alliance" organized by the Akabane family. In order to kill him who was imprisoned and whose movements were restricted, the Akabane family sent assassins to kill him and silence him - this logical chain is clear and reasonable.

However, although this conjecture is logically consistent, there is an unexplainable question: Did the Akabane family go to such great lengths to kill him?

You know, because Japanese buildings are extremely afraid of fire, the crime of arson is a first-class crime with absolutely zero tolerance under the laws of the Edo Shogunate!

All arsonists, regardless of gender or origin, are sentenced to be burned alive.

As for the Akabane family, they would not hesitate to commit arson in order to kill him. If someone were to find out, the entire family would face disaster?

"Akabane? The barbarian group? Huhahahahaha!"

The mysterious man looked up to the sky and laughed.

The laughter was so strong and loud, it was like hearing some very funny joke.

After the laughter subsided, he said quietly:

"O Ju Qingden, you have more enemies... than you think!"

Qingdeng heard the mysterious man's last few words suddenly become louder.

This was not because the mysterious man increased his volume, but because he instantly shortened the distance between him and Qingdeng!

"Go to hell! Tachibana Aoden!"

White light flashed in the air, and the knife raised by the above section was slashed towards Qingdeng's head!

The ribs of the knife are very straight and the knife is very powerful.

If it had been chopped hard, Qingdeng's whole head would have split in half like a watermelon.

Qingdeng subconsciously wanted to pull out the saber on his waist to meet the enemy, but he suddenly remembered that he was unarmed now! Not to mention the saber on his waist, there was not even a single thing in his body that could be used as a weapon, not to mention the saber on his waist.

None!

Tsk. Qingdeng smacked his lips, stepped to the right and dodged the mysterious man's slash.

Qingdeng's dodging steps contained the movement and potential energy of a forward pounce.

In the next breath, Qingdeng lowered his body and slid forward, intending to capture and subdue the mysterious man.

Unexpectedly, the mysterious man is not a fuel-efficient lamp. He has long seen through Qingdeng's intention. At almost the same time as Qingdeng pounced on him, he put the knife in his chest to protect his body and jumped back.

Give Qingden a chance to get closer.

Qingdeng's counterattack failed, and the mysterious man launched a new attack at the right time.

The blade rustled in the wind, grazing the ground and striking Qingdeng's chest.

Qingdeng dodged it. The mysterious man relentlessly delivered the second blow, then the third blow...

——Damn, my head is getting dizzy...!

For Qingdeng at the moment, he has no weapons at hand and must fight against the mysterious man's knife attack with his bare hands. This is not the most difficult situation.

To say what is the most difficult situation Qingdeng is currently facing, it must be that his body is becoming increasingly overwhelmed!

Staying at the fire scene for a long time had already put Qingdeng's body in an extremely uncomfortable state due to lack of oxygen.

The negative consequences of physical discomfort are reflected in all aspects.

For example: strength becomes weaker, reaction becomes slower, physical strength is poor...

Fighting with others will greatly increase the body's demand for oxygen, thereby further deepening the physical discomfort and making it increasingly difficult to cope with the mysterious man's fierce offensive.

The delay in subduing the mysterious man forced the battle with the mysterious man to be extended; as the time was extended, the body became less and less able to obey his orders, making the battle with Kamino even more difficult...

A headache-inducing vicious cycle...
To be continued...