ng Qianqian returned to the group’s camp with Ya’er, and Mo Yi had already set up the tent.
Shan Cheng sat leisurely on a small stool, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan he had acquired from sowhere.
"The Divine Doctor is back. How is it? Did you figure out a way to escape?"
He asked with a straightforward smile.
Ya’er looked at ng Qianqian with so surprise.
ng Qianqian replied calmly, "Do you think I would tell you if I found out?"
Shan Cheng smiled.
Mo Yi passed by and glared at ng Qianqian with hostility, "I’ve always said this woman should be silenced and her martial arts abolished."
ng Qianqian chuckled, "What, thinking of making your plaything?"
Mo Yi choked furiously, "Shaless!"
Shan Cheng laughed, "Alright, Mo Yi, by now you should’ve realized you can’t outmatch her in an argunt."
"Who wants to argue with him?"
Mo Yi said irritably and walked away without turning back.
Shan Cheng looked at ng Qianqian with a teasing smile, "You’re the first to get Mo Yi this worked up, probably the only one too."
ng Qianqian: "Oh, there’s one more."
"Who?"
"My brother."
Shan Cheng: "..."
-
The desert at night was cold and biting.
Everyone, after experiencing two major changes, huddled together for warmth.
ng Qianqian lay inside the airtight tent, with Ya’er and Mo’er beside her.
In the extrely cold night, the presence of the two could provide ng Qianqian a hint of warmth.
ng Qianqian closed her eyes, thinking about her escape plan.
The key to the plan was not really Nalan Xue, but that Mr. Sheng.
Only with his help could she possibly escape right under Ayimulan and Shan Cheng’s noses.
As ng Qianqian predicted, everyone rested in place for two days, setting out on the third morning.
This ti, everyone no longer acted dispersedly, even the small teams that once scorned seeking refuge joined stronger teams.
Mr. Sheng’s team originally had the most joiners, but reportedly was almost entirely refused by him.
His cautiousness added difficulty to ng Qianqian’s escape plan.
Fortunately, soon after setting off, Mr. Sheng’s guard ca to invite ng Qianqian to check Nalan Xue’s pulse.
Mo Yi, riding on a cal, snorted, "Don’t you have your own doctor? Why keep looking for a little maid? Really think she’s a Divine Doctor?"
The guard replied, "Alina’s dical skill is recognized by all. Besides, she’s a woman, and my lady prefers her over male doctors."
Mo Yi let out a disdainful snort.
ng Qianqian could easily guess what he was thinking.
The greatest fighter in Loulan, the Princess Consort’s trusted guard, when had he ever put a noblewoman in his eyes?
Even Mr. Sheng might not be regarded by him.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t reveal their identities on this trip.
Mo Yi could only swallow his anger.
ng Qianqian looked at Shan Cheng, "Brother, shall I et Miss Nalan?"
Ayimulan rarely issued direct orders; throughout the journey, her commands were conveyed through Shan Cheng, perfectly fitting the persona of Shan Cheng being the Young Master.
Shan Cheng smiled, "Go ahead, take Ya’er with you."
ng Qianqian took Ya’er along.
Nalan Xue was resting by the roadside, Mr. Sheng had taken people ahead to scout, leaving a dozen experts to protect her.
As expected, Ya’er was stopped at ten paces away.
"Miss Nalan."
ng Qianqian greeted her politely.
Nalan Xue’s eyes lit up, "Alina!"
She moved aside a bit, and shared a portion of her cashre blanket with ng Qianqian.
ng Qianqian sat down next to her.
She handed a water pouch to ng Qianqian, "Here."
In the desert, water was a precious commodity.
ng Qianqian took the pouch without hesitation and drank a sip.
Nalan Xue sent the maid away.
ng Qianqian checked her pulse.
Nalan Xue whispered, "I feel much better, sleep soundly, chest not stuffy anymore."
"That’s good."
Judging from the pulse, Nalan Xue was indeed much healthier than before, and her complexion was rosy.
ng Qianqian casually remarked, "But keeping it hidden forever isn’t a solution. It will be discovered eventually."
Nalan Xue looked around and whispered, "I... Once I reach Liuli Island, there will be a solution. He will wait for on the island and take away together."
ng Qianqian raised an eyebrow, "So your purpose of going to Liuli Island is—"
Nalan Xue replied, "I’m going for an arranged marriage."
"An arranged marriage?"
This was certainly surprising.
ng Qianqian always thought Mr. Sheng was after the legends of the Seven Stars in a Row.
If it’s only for marriage, what could she trade with Mr. Sheng?
"Is he from Liuli Island too?"
ng Qianqian decided to first care about this poor noble lady.
Nalan Xue shook her head, "He’s not. He learned of my arranged marriage on Liuli Island and made an agreent to wait for there."
"Why not take you away earlier?"
"As you can see, my uncle keeps a tight watch on . On the day of the wedding, amidst chaos, I might have a chance to escape."
"So Mr. Sheng is your uncle. To arrange a marriage with Liuli Island, your background must be remarkable."
"We—"
Nalan Xue was just about to reveal her family when Mr. Sheng’s guard approached.
"Miss, Mr. Sheng said it’s ti to leave."
"Got it."
Nalan Xue felt reluctant.
She tugged at ng Qianqian’s sleeve, "Before going to Liuli Island, can I speak with you again?"
ng Qianqian nodded, "Of course."
She felt an inexplicable attachnt to Nalan Xue, perhaps because her recent frail appearance reminded her of Shang Changle.
Returning to the group, Shan Cheng couldn’t resist taunting her, "Discovered they’re not going to find West Night Saintess, escape plan fell through?"
ng Qianqian retorted, "You knew early?"
Shan Cheng laughed, "Just a bit earlier than you."
ng Qianqian turned her face away, ignoring him.
He truly was vile, purposely watching her plan fail, then savoring his mockery.
Shan Cheng added, "Need sour apricots? Gave them all to Nalan Xue, now you have none."
ng Qianqian rolled her eyes, rode her cal to the front.
Mo Yi ca over, asked Shan Cheng, "Did you... drive her away?"
Shan Cheng replied, "What, want to learn?"
Mo Yi nodded earnestly.
Shan Cheng: "Not teaching you."
Mo Yi: "..."
ng Qianqian didn’t expect that the path she painstakingly found would be a dead end, Mr. Sheng’s way wasn’t viable, and she wasted a packet of dried apricots.
She was craving them too.
At night, ng Qianqian lay in the tent, tossing and turning.
Suddenly, a subtle footstep approached.
It headed toward Ayimulan’s tent.
The person’s Qinggong was impressive, if not for her heightened senses due to pregnancy, she might not have noticed.
ng Qianqian curiously sat up, not disturbing the sleeping Ya’er and Mo’er.
Thanks to the long journey, the two maids slept deeper than usual.
She lifted a corner of the tent, saw a shadow dart into Ayimulan’s tent.
"So fast?"
ng Qianqian leaned back strategically, "Faster than Miao King’s grandfather’s movent technique; who could it be?"
The person stayed a while in Ayimulan’s tent, then entered Shan Cheng’s tent.
Mo Yi was elsewhere, guessed he had so urgent needs.
Soon, the person erged from Shan Cheng’s tent, scratched his head, looking puzzled.
ng Qianqian blinked.
Was this person searching for sothing?
Finally, the person headed towards ng Qianqian’s tent.
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