He was curled up in the nook, his face deathly pale, eyes tightly shut, seemingly unaware of Old Meng Five’s approach.
Old Meng Five said nothing, gesturing for Meng Duo’er, who was catching up, to stay quiet.
Suspicious, Meng Duo’er crept closer carefully, and the moment she saw the man, she sucked in a sharp breath!
Goodness!
She had never seen a man so devastatingly handsome before. His features, though not quite as exquisitely refined as some, were sharply defined, striking and peerless—though of course, that wasn’t even the key point. The key point was his aura.
Meng Duo’er couldn’t quite find the words for it—that pure, untainted air about him immediately brought to mind a lotus blossom in full bloom; however murky the mortal world around it, it remained pristine and unstained.
A man like this, even standing right before you, would somehow feel impossibly distant, something to be encountered by chance, never sought and found.
Seeing his scholarly attire, Meng Duo’er whispered, “Papa, he must be a scholar, right?”
But the moment she said this, the man’s eyes suddenly snapped open, a killing-intent-laced, icy gaze locking onto them, making Old Meng Five instinctively shield his daughter and stumble back several steps!
His instincts screamed that this man was absolutely no ordinary person!
Baili Weisheng had traveled all the way from Xiongnu territory to the Da Zhou capital, seeking the barrier entrance recorded in the ancient scriptures. Unfortunately, he’d underestimated his own injuries.
Though he hadn’t been poisoned, the spots on his shoulder and chest where the scales had been torn away still flared with pain from time to time, forcing him to stop in his tracks!
Had the pain not suddenly flared up, he’d have already entered the city long ago!
The ancient scriptures not only recorded that the seal would appear in the Da Zhou capital, but also detailed the exact method of locating it—Baili Weisheng was desperate to reach the Da Zhou capital in a single day if he could!
Unfortunately, right at the city gates, his own injuries had brought him to a halt!
Baili Weisheng glanced over at the father and daughter before him with narrowed eyes, said nothing, and slowly closed his eyes again. However much pain flared in his shoulder and chest, he’d endured it this long already—otherwise he wouldn’t be huddled here at all.
He had no strength left to spare, only using his gaze to warn the pair—this nook was already his!
Old Meng Five wasn’t one to stir up trouble either, and likewise said nothing, pulling Meng Duo’er along to leave—but Meng Duo’er was simply born to attract trouble.
She wrenched her hand free from her father’s grip and rushed straight up to Baili Weisheng, asking with concern, “Scholar, you look badly hurt—do you need help?”
Baili Weisheng had no strength left, but forced his eyes open anyway. “No need.”
“But you’re clearly in so much pain!” Meng Duo’er pressed urgently.
Baili Weisheng’s narrowed eyes clearly flashed with killing intent, but this foolish girl noticed nothing at all, actually stepping closer to try to help him up. “Scholar, come on, let’s take you to a physician.”
As she spoke, she’d already grabbed hold of Baili Weisheng’s arm with one hand. Weak as he was, he still had no shortage of ways to kill someone!
His other hand pressed down over the back of her hand, his handsome face darkening at once. “I said… no need!”
The moment the words left his mouth, his sharp claws were on the verge of striking—but at that critical instant, Old Meng Five yanked his daughter roughly away, shielding her behind him, snapping furiously, “You wretched scholar! My daughter was simply showing you kindness out of concern—if you won’t accept it, fine, but why would you harbor murderous intent!”
Hearing his father’s words, Meng Duo’er finally trembled with fear—the Longyuan continent truly was a dangerous place; she’d very nearly lost her life just now!
Baili Weisheng scoffed at Old Meng Five’s words, slowly closing his eyes once more.
Old Meng Five had no idea who this stranger really was, and in an unfamiliar place, could only swallow his anger, pulling Meng Duo’er away.
But they’d barely taken a few steps when suddenly, from behind them, came a loud “thud”!
Meng Duo’er stopped in her tracks. “Papa, what was that sound?”
Old Meng Five turned back to look, and was shocked to see Baili Weisheng sprawled flat on his back on the ground, motionless, as if dead!
“Ah…”
Meng Duo’er was about to scream, but fortunately Old Meng Five clapped a hand over her mouth in time. “Shh…”
Meng Duo’er nodded, and only then did he release her mouth.
“Papa, is he… he’s not… he’s not dead, is he?” Meng Duo’er asked, thoroughly frightened. Having grown up sheltered within the Meng Clan, like some idyllic paradise untouched by violence, this was the first time she’d ever seen a dead person!
“Not our concern. Let’s go.”
Old Meng Five had actually considered checking on him for a moment, but recalling Baili Weisheng’s murderous intent just now, he decisively turned to leave instead.
But Meng Duo’er wouldn’t let it go, tugging her father back toward the man.
“Papa, we can’t just watch someone die and do nothing—it’s still a human life, after all!”
“He just tried to kill you a moment ago—if you save him and he wakes up, he’ll try to kill you again!”
“But he didn’t actually kill me!”
“If I hadn’t stopped him, you’d already be dead. Did you see those claws of his? Anyone could tell at a glance they were laced with all sorts of poison!”
Old Meng Five said seriously, pulling his daughter to leave, but Meng Duo’er simply wouldn’t relent. “Papa! How about we at least drag him in a little further—it’s so windy out here!”
“Someone this cold-hearted and ungrateful, biting the hand that tried to help—he doesn’t deserve any sympathy. Let’s go! Stop causing trouble for me, don’t forget we still have important business to attend to!” Old Meng Five refused to budge.
Not only that, but while pulling his daughter away, he even gave Baili Weisheng a swift kick as he passed. “A man like this deserves to die with no one to save him!”
With that, he finally pulled Meng Duo’er far away.
Baili Weisheng lay face-down on the ground, his entire body drained of strength, but his mind remained fully conscious—he’d heard every word of that father-daughter exchange clearly, and he’d felt that kick from Old Meng Five too.
His ten fingers curled slightly, as though trying to clench into fists, and in his mind he cursed bitterly, “Old bastard who won’t die, you’d better hope I never run into you again—because if I do, I swear I’ll poison you to death!”
Not until the sky began to lighten faintly did Baili Weisheng finally recover a small measure of strength. He pushed himself up to sitting, spitting out a mouthful of sand, his darkly handsome face betraying just how thoroughly displeased he was in that moment.
After resting briefly, he forced himself through the pain, slipping silently over the city gate and into the Da Zhou capital!
The inner city of the capital was vast—finding the location described in the ancient scriptures would certainly take more than a day or two!
Baili Weisheng knew he needed to find a safe place to lie low first—otherwise, the moment the Gu-nanny woke, she’d surely come looking for him!
He landed atop a tall rooftop, scanning his surroundings, his gaze finally settling on the Prince Yao residence.
Within this entire vast capital, was there any place safer, more comfortable, than Jun Beiyue’s own estate?
Unfortunately, by the time Baili Weisheng arrived at the Prince Yao residence, he discovered it was anything but safe.
He saw a large contingent of shadow guards combing through the entire place—and not only that, he spotted Situ Haonan and Yelu Qianqian standing right there in the courtyard, murmuring quietly to each other about something.
Situ Haonan was awake?
Why were they here?
What were they searching for—an object, or a person?
Baili Weisheng was curious, but none of this was truly his concern. Right now, he couldn’t be bothered to inquire even about Jun Beiyue’s life or death.
All he wanted was to find his little Qingqing!
Without lingering, Baili Weisheng turned and left at once, never realizing just how significant the matter Situ Haonan and Yelu Qianqian were quietly discussing truly was!