Chapter 220 – Burning the Bridge After Crossing
Such a despicable person. Yan Xiaosi thought Long Yu would just escort her, but when that arm reached around her waist, she was taken aback, her whole body tensing up.
Long Yu pulled her into his embrace and took a light step.
Yan Xiaosi immediately felt her body become weightless. In the blink of an eye, she found herself carried by Long Yu up into the canopy of a tree.
This was the second time Long Yu had taken her flying while showing off. She was getting used to it. Looking down, she didn’t feel afraid anymore.
Long Yu held her close as he tread lightly across the branches using his lightness movement skills (qinggong).
The delicate branches seemed like a grand avenue under his feet, allowing him to proceed unobstructed.
After watching for a moment, Yan Xiaosi felt the lightness movement skill was even more useful than the spiritual force she had cultivated.
With it, one didn’t even need a carriage.
“War King, your skills are truly superb. Even while carrying a commoner like me, you can soar across rooftops without breaking a sweat.”
Long Yu turned his eyes towards her, glancing at her envious expression. “You want to learn?”
Hearing these tempting words, Yan Xiaosi’s eyes lit up and she nodded vigorously. “Mmhmm.”
“But this king doesn’t want to teach you.”
Because she had called him War King instead of War King-gege like before, Long Yu found it dissatisfying and didn’t want to teach her. Changing how she addressed him so quickly was unacceptable.
The enthusiasm on Yan Xiaosi’s face and in her eyes was instantly extinguished like cold water had been poured on it.
Was this War King just toying with her?
She closed her mouth and didn’t say another word.
Seeing the lord carrying Young Master Yan rushing off, Long Yi hurriedly followed behind.
Soon after, Long Yu brought Yan Xiaosi near the cave dwelling on Big Sister Peak.
Faint lamplight could be seen shining from inside the cave. Yan Xiaosi shifted in Long Yu’s embrace and said, “Thank you War King for the escort. You can let this commoner off here, as it’s not far from my family’s home.”
The arm around her waist tightened as Long Yu coldly said in her ear, “This king has carried you soaring for so long and has grown quite parched. Won’t you invite this king into the cave for some tea?” What an ungrateful scoundrel, burning the bridge after crossing it.
It was late at night and Yan Xiaosi didn’t want to bring the War King into the cave, disturbing Ms. Zhong and her sisters. Ushering the War King inside would just lead to another round of bowing and ceremony.
“The hour is late, and this commoner’s two older sisters are still unwed maidens. My mother has been a widow for many years. It wouldn’t be proper to invite the War King inside.”
Hearing this, Long Yu slowed his movement.
What did this little scoundrel mean by that earlier comment? Was he worried the War King might take an interest in her mother or her two sisters?
Thinking it over, his expression darkened further as he slowed, descending with Yan Xiaosi from the tree branches.
Yan Xiaosi planted her feet on the ground and, looking towards the lamp-lit cave nearby, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“This commoner bids you farewell, War King. Good night and sweet dreams.” She turned and left the frowning Long Yu behind, quickly walking away.
Long Yu stared at her retreating back, gritting his teeth before coldly reminding her, “Don’t forget to deliver the medicine to the military camp first thing tomorrow morning.”
“This commoner won’t forget, the War King can rest assured.”
Yan Xiaosi addressing him over and over as War King caused Long Yu’s brow to furrow deeper and deeper. You little scoundrel, would it kill you to call me War King-gege again?
Inside the cave dwelling, Ms. Zhong and Yan Xiao’s sisters had been anxiously waiting for Yan Xiaosi to return. Seeing her come back safe and sound, the worry immediately left Ms. Zhong’s eyes.
“Xiaosi, why are you back so late?”
That morning, Yan Xiaosi had said she was going down the mountain to help Brother Dazhuang with something. Ms. Zhong thought she would be back quickly but instead she was gone the whole day.
“Did you have dinner? Were Brother Dazhuang’s issues resolved?”
After being carried soaring up the mountain by Long Yu, Yan Xiaosi’s mouth was quite parched from taking in so much cold wind. She first went to scoop up some cold water from a ladle gourd and gulped down about half to moisten her throat before answering Ms. Zhong.
“Brother Dazhuang’s matters have been resolved. I had dinner at his home and chatted with him for a while, which is why I got back so late.”
Yan Shuqin smiled happily. She knew Yan Xiaosi had gone down the mountain today to help Tian Dazhuang get out of the marriage to Yan Shujing.
“Xiaosi, you really went through a lot of trouble.”
When the waxing moon was high in the night sky and Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuqin and the others had fallen asleep, Yan Xiaosi didn’t feel tired at all. She focused her mind and entered her Portable Space.
As usual, she first went to the spirit spring to water the heshouwu, and lingzhi mushroom spores she had previously planted.
The vines had already spread quite wide, the ginseng had sprouted some new leaves, and the lingzhi mushrooms had started emerging from the spore-planted soil.
Yan Xiaosi smiled as her gaze swept over them. Using her psychic powers, she drew some water from the spirit spring to irrigate the plants, then walked towards the small villa.
Her spiritual force cultivation was still lacking. Taking water from the spirit spring to irrigate for too long would cause fatigue.
The scene shifts to Shaoyao Village.
It was already deep into the night. Apart from the Yan residence, every household in Shaoyao Village had its doors tightly shut with lights extinguished.
The reason the Yan residence still had lamps lit and servants awake was because they were waiting for Yan Shujing to return with good news.
Inside the side hall, Old Master Yan had been pacing left and right, his brow furrowing deeper with each passing moment as he gripped his cane tighter.
Could some problem have occurred again?
His wife, Madame Jiang tried to reassure him, “Old Master, don’t worry so much. This is just Shaoyao Village. Nothing will happen to Shujing. Her delay in returning may just mean General Zhan directly took her to the military camp at Tongluo Plain.”
Old Master Yan considered this and found Ms. Jiang’s words reasonable.
Previously, before the imperial army of 50,000 was stationed at Tongluo Plain, the area around the Four Sisters Mountain may have been unstable. But recently, with that massive deployment in Tongluo Plain not only deterring the Rongdi barbarian forces but also local bandits and kidnappers who liked to rob, rape and pillage, the few villages around the Four Sisters Mountain had become so secure that residents could leave their doors open at night without any thieves daring to intrude.
What Ms. Jiang said also put Ms. Li’s mind at ease.
“Father, Mother is right. Don’t worry first, let’s wait a while longer. If Jing’er still hasn’t returned by morning, we can send someone to inquire at the military camp in Tongluo Plain.”
Yan Wenfeng nodded in agreement.
Though Ms. Hu and Yan Shuxiu wore smiles, the corners of their mouths betrayed a sneer.
If Yan Shujing still wasn’t back by now, she had likely been carried off by wild dogs.
As the mother and daughter silently cursed Yan Shujing in their hearts, the servant Granny li came to report.
Granny Li had been stationed by Ms. Li outside the main gate, waiting for Yan Shujing’s return.
“Old Master, Old Madam, Ms. Li, the Young Miss has returned.”
Noticing the strange look on Granny Li’s face and that her tone in reporting didn’t sound too celebratory, a bad premonition rose in Yan Wenfeng’s heart.
“Since the Young Miss is back, why didn’t you bring her to the main hall to see the Old Master?”
Granny Li looked hesitant.
Earlier when she was keeping watch by the gate, she saw Yan Shujing approaching in a bedraggled state from afar. Sensing something was amiss, she didn’t wait for Yan Shujing to enter but rushed ahead to make this report to the main hall.
“The Young Miss’s appearance seemed…rather off.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a thudding noise came from outside the main hall, followed by a panicked servant’s voice.
“Young Miss! Oh no, the Young Miss has fainted!”
Everyone in the main hall turned pale upon hearing this.
Old Master Yan, Ms. Jiang, Ms. Li, and Yan Wenfeng looked anxious, while Ms. Hu and her daughter concealed smirks.
They all hurried out to the courtyard.
There laid Yan Shujing, disheveled and motionless in the yard.
The servant who had shouted stood to the side, wanting to help her up but not daring to touch the Yan family’s young mistress.
Old Master Yan stood three paces away from Yan Shujing, seeing her hair in disarray, clothes covered in mud and grime. Knowing nothing good had happened, he frowned and instructed Granny Li, “Go draw a basin of cold well water to wake the Young Miss.”
Though Ms. Li and Yan Wenfeng looked ready to object, a glare from Old Master Yan shut their mouths.
Granny Li obeyed, immediately fetching a basin of ice-cold well water which she unceremoniously splashed over Yan Shujing’s head, the loud splashing ringing out.
Ms. Hu and her daughter’s lips curled in smug smiles.
“Cough cough.”
Yan Shujing let out two coughs, her eyes slowly opening.
