"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... Wuqing, tell them to step back a bit." Gu Qingli, finally able to speak, still rembered her pants.
That lunatic! With my backside exposed like that, if anyone found out, they’d surely assu sothing improper had happened between us. It was impossible for them not to overthink it.
Wuqing, thinking Gu Qingli simply needed to relieve herself, saw Yun Twenty and Yun Sixteen had already moved far away, their backs turned to them.
Wuqing placed Gu Qingli on the ground. Gu Qingli, seizing the mont, squatted down and pushed Da Bai away.
Da Bai whimpered a few tis and moved aside with Wuqing.
Gu Qingli squatted for a short while, then stood up and pulled her pants into place.
"Miss, are you alright?" Wuqing asked worriedly. She wanted to ask how Miss could have appeared out of thin air, but she swallowed her words.
They knew that when Miss was willing to explain, she would. They just had to keep their mouths shut.
"I’m fine." Gu Qingli shook her head, walked over to Da Bai, and leaned against it as she sat down.
This unfortunate day and night, though not exactly thrilling, had kept her nerves stretched taut. Now that her acupoints were unblocked, an overwhelming exhaustion washed over her, and drowsiness began to claim her.
"Miss, I’ve already sent a ssage to Young Master. Shall we wait here, or should we leave?" Wuqing asked. She had used up all the carrier pigeons she had brought and couldn’t send any more ssages by pigeon post.
It was nearly noon. Gu Qingli touched her rumbling stomach and surveyed the surrounding forest. "Let’s wait here. Ask them to find sothing to eat."
"Yes, Miss." Wuqing called Yun No. 20 over and instructed him to hunt for so food and find drinking water.
Their group of eleven, plus Da Bai, had been on the move since last night, with only a brief stop that morning for a few hundred breaths’ ti. They hadn’t rested since and were all tired, hungry, and thirsty.
Yun No. 20 took two n with him. The others remained to guard their lady as the small party quickly set off to find food and water.
「anwhile, Xiao Yunjing was hurrying on his journey.」
He had only received Wuqing’s ssage early that morning, learning they were pursuing Red Leaf Villa.
He imdiately changed his course towards Red Leaf Villa, which was not far from his current position.
In fact, Red Leaf Villa, the Beijiang border, and the border pass where Mr. Xiao had gone ford an equilateral triangle, with Red Leaf Villa at its apex.
The location was strategically excellent. If Red Leaf Villa made any move, they could directly attack Qiongshan Pass on Daqian Kingdom’s western border, which connected to Xichen Kingdom. To the north lay Beijing County, which bordered Beijiang Kingdom.
And a direct strike southeast would lead them straight to the Capital City.
Gu Qingli and her group were currently on Snakehead Mountain, about fifty miles from Red Leaf Villa.
Gu Qingli closed her eyes for a mont, then abruptly rembered that Xiao Yunjing didn’t know their precise location. She instructed a mber of the Secret Sect to ascertain their exact whereabouts. Then, taking out paper and pen from her Space, she wrote a note, intending to send Xiao Yunjing a ssage once the information was confird.
Her carrier pigeons were all in her Space. If I don’t send him a ssage, he’ll rush over like a headless fly, not knowing where we are.
It wasn’t long before the Secret Sect mber returned, reporting that they were on Snakehead Mountain, southwest of Red Leaf Villa.
Gu Qingli imdiately finished the note and dispatched the carrier pigeon.
When everyone saw her produce the carrier pigeon, no one was surprised or curious anymore. After witnessing her appear from nowhere and partaking of the dicinal pills she provided, they had co to accept that their lady possessed so unknown, incredible abilities.
Yun No. 20 and his n returned with hunted ga and water. They gave Gu Qingli a drink first, while a few others began to roast the ga.
After drinking so water, Gu Qingli’s throat felt much better. She sat down to wait.
Yun No. 20 brought the roasted hare to Gu Qingli first. She was already starving and didn’t stand on ceremony, digging in at once.
Wuqing watched her, her heart aching. Our Miss can’t bear hunger. That accursed Young Master Qingchen! He didn’t even give Miss food. Next ti I see him, I’ll definitely beat him to a pulp!
"Miss, eat slowly."
"Mm, I’m just famished. So hungry my stomach is practically touching my spine," Gu Qingli said between mouthfuls.
Da Bai even turned its head to glance at her.
"Alright, I’m full." This ti, Gu Qingli ate an entire hare before she was satisfied.
"Miss, have so water. After drinking, you should get so sleep," Wuqing said, handing her a bamboo tube.
"Alright." After Gu Qingli drank the water, she yawned, leaned against Da Bai, and fell asleep.
She was so exhausted that if her stomach hadn’t been growling incessantly, she would have fallen asleep much earlier.
With a full stomach and Da Bai as a comfortable bed, Gu Qingli’s even breathing was soon heard.
Seeing her asleep, Wuqing had Yun No. 20 and the others eat first, telling them to relieve her afterward.
Miss couldn’t be too far away from them; she must remain within their protective circle.
Yun No. 20 nodded. After they ate quickly, he dispatched two n to et Xiao Yunjing, while the remaining three sat cross-legged around Da Bai, keeping watch.
Wuqing fed Da Bai a few roasted chickens before eating herself. Afterward, they took turns resting.
The early autumn night was a bit chilly. Yun No. 20, having sohow procured a woman’s robe, gently draped it over Gu Qingli.
She slept from noon until the Zi hour (11 PM - 1 AM) that night, without waking.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH.
At this mont, three figures flew up. The one in the lead, moving with urgent steps, rushed directly towards Da Bai.
"Young Master!" Wuqing exclaid, while the Secret Sect mbers also greeted him as "Master!" They all imdiately stepped forward to salute.
Xiao Yunjing raised his hand, signaling them to be quiet.
He took a few quick steps to Gu Qingli’s side, gently gathered her into his arms, and softly kissed her forehead.
Then he gently nuzzled his cheek against hers.
"Li’er," Xiao Yunjing whispered her na. Holding her, his frantically pounding heart finally cald, finding peace.
Still deep in sleep, Gu Qingli rely mumbled and snuggled deeper into Xiao Yunjing’s embrace, sleeping like a log.
"Let’s go," Xiao Yunjing said to Yun No. 20 and the others, holding her securely.
"Yes."
Yun No. 20 had two n lead the way while the others followed. Wuqing rode Da Bai, keeping pace.
「By dawn, they reached a small town, where they finally stopped to rest.」
"Yunjing," Gu Qingli murmured as she woke, recognizing his familiar scent.
"Mmm," Xiao Yunjing responded, lovingly kissing her lips before hugging her tightly.
"Shall we rest here?" Xiao Yunjing asked, his voice soft and hoarse. He hadn’t closed his eyes for days and nights; even an iron constitution would have buckled under the strain.
"Mmm," Gu Qingli nodded. Looking at his bloodshot eyes, she reached out to gently touch them.
After leaving Da Bai on a hill outside the town, the group found the only inn in town.
The innkeeper, seeing their travel-stained appearances and formidable aura, was too intimidated to even breathe loudly. He respectfully arranged their rooms and imdiately called for attendants to bring hot water and food.
Xiao Yunjing carried Gu Qingli into their room and laid her on the bed. The mont his head touched the pillow, he was fast asleep.
"Yunjing!" Gu Qingli exclaid, startled. She quickly felt his neck and then checked his pulse, relieved to find he was rely suffering from extre exhaustion.
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