Doesn’t it hurt anymore?
How could it not!
Prompted by Baili Weisheng’s question, Meng Duo’er finally snapped back to herself and immediately became aware of the pain again — but almost on pure instinct, she shook her head at once. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. That… th-thank you.”
Seeing that he was fine, Baili Weisheng backed off, sitting to the side to let Baili Xiaosheng bandage his wound.
Meng Duo’er’s gaze followed him. Seeing him with his head down, silent, paying her no attention at all, her heart suddenly felt strangely hollow, an inexplicable sense of loss washing over her.
What… what was wrong with her!
Meng Duo’er was genuinely startled by her own reaction. She quickly turned away, not even daring to look at her own injury, lying back, eyes narrowed slightly, gritting her teeth against the pain.
Jue Mingzi’s medical skill was, as always, impressive — he quickly finished setting the broken bone completely.
Still, this was a broken bone, and as the saying went, injuries to muscle and bone took a hundred days to heal — even the most miraculous physician couldn’t override the body’s own natural pace of recovery.
“Girl, I’ve used the finest medicine available, but that leg of yours will need at least three months before it can bear weight again. If you don’t want to end up permanently lame, you’d best avoid moving around recklessly for those three months,” Jue Mingzi said — not a suggestion, but a serious warning.
Meng Duo’er nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, doctor.”
Jue Mingzi paid her no further attention. Skilled as he was, he wasn’t in the habit of treating just anyone — he’d only done this for his daughter’s sake.
He turned to look at Ziqing, his tone shifting instantly. “Daughter, don’t worry.”
Ziqing met Jue Mingzi’s eyes, instinctively wanting to look away, but nodded instead without saying much.
Fortunate that it was only a minor matter — otherwise, she genuinely had no idea how she’d explain things to the Dream Clan leader. Meng Duo’er was, after all, the Dream Clan’s last hope!
Thinking of this, Ziqing couldn’t help but think of that difficult Old Meng Five again, and gave an involuntary shudder.
“Someone, arrange for a caretaker to look after Miss Meng, and notify the Dream Clan,” Jun Beiyue ordered at once. But at these words, Meng Duo’er grew anxious. “Prince Yao!”
“Hm?” Jun Beiyue turned to look.
“I… I…” Meng Duo’er couldn’t get the words out. If Yelu Qianqian was afraid of Jun Beiyue, then Meng Duo’er was a hundred times more afraid than that — she didn’t even dare look this man in the eye, let alone speak to him.
“Beiyue, bring her along — it’s what the Dream Clan leader entrusted to us,” Ziqing said with a smile, having instantly grasped what Meng Duo’er was so anxious about.
At those words, Meng Duo’er lit up with joy, hastily promising, “Prince Yao, I promise I absolutely won’t slow everyone down — I’ll work hard cultivating the instant seal technique, I’ll definitely be able to help you all!”
“Who asked for your help?” a low voice suddenly drifted over from the side.
Everyone turned toward the sound, only then noticing Baili Weisheng sitting there, his hand wrapped in white bandages — looking rather serious.
Madam Jinjiao narrowed her eyes, watching quietly, saying nothing.
Meng Duo’er, embarrassed, wanted to explain, but didn’t quite know how — she was never very good with words, and Ziqing’s group truly didn’t need her help all that much.
Ziqing, however, shot back, “Didn’t Duo’er save you and your mother in the Innocent Abyss?”
Baili Weisheng was instantly choked into silence, with nothing to say.
At this, Madam Jinjiao looked satisfied, and finally spoke up. “Son, repaying kindness is the most basic principle of being a good person. Mother didn’t have the chance to teach you that before — I’ll teach you now.”
Madam Jinjiao continued, smiling as she said to Jun Beiyue, “Beiyue, Ziqing, leave Miss Meng to the two of us for the rest of the journey, don’t worry!”
Ziqing nodded immediately — she’d known all along that Baili Weisheng could never escape his own mother!
Jun Beiyue, decidedly uninterested in matters like this, said nothing, simply nodded and turned to leave.
Ziqing and Xiong Bao followed at once, with Jue Mingzi trailing close behind Ziqing, leaving only Baili Weisheng, Meng Duo’er, and Baili Xiaosheng.
“Master, let’s find a few servants to carry Miss Meng down the mountain,” Baili Xiaosheng suggested thoughtfully, as always.
But before Baili Weisheng could even open his mouth, Madam Jinjiao scolded, “Find people for what? A grown man can’t even carry one little girl? We’re here to search for the Isolated Isle’s secrets, not to go sightseeing. No outsiders allowed — not a single one!”
Baili Xiaosheng shut her mouth, put out, and retreated behind Baili Weisheng.
Meng Duo’er, hearing the word “carry,” went pale with fright, waving her hands frantically. “No need, no need! No need! Just find me a cane, I can walk myself!”
She even tried to sit up as she spoke, but Madam Jinjiao wouldn’t allow it, glaring furiously at Baili Weisheng.
Baili Weisheng took a deep breath, a flash of irritation crossing his eyes, but said nothing, stepping forward at once and scooping Meng Duo’er up horizontally in his arms.
Meng Duo’er instantly froze stiff. In her whole life, aside from being carried by her father as a small child, she’d never once been carried by a man!
Not only did her whole body tense up, but her very mind seemed to lock rigid too — any thought of refusing evaporated on the spot.
A trace of impatience flickered across Baili Weisheng’s face, expressionless otherwise, and he didn’t bother acknowledging Madam Jinjiao at all, striding forward at once to catch up with Jun Beiyue and the others.
“Heh heh, that’s more like it!” Madam Jinjiao said, quite pleased, following along with a satisfied smile.
Baili Xiaosheng walked at the rear. Beneath her silver-white mask, no expression could be seen, but her clear eyes carried the same trace of irritation and displeasure as her master’s.
Sigh… this road all the way to West Liang was going to be a long one. How were they going to survive it?
Ever since the Gu family had truly come to dominate the Isle of Lingering Immortals, there had been dedicated ships and routes between the Isle and East Qin. Blessed with fair weather, the whole journey went smoothly without a hitch.
A few days later, the group disembarked at an East Qin port. But the moment they climbed into the carriage at the harbor, Jun Beiyue received an urgent secret report.
Seeing his expression turn grim, Ziqing asked quietly, “What’s wrong?”
“Unrest in West Jing.”
Jun Beiyue gave only those four words, but they carried an enormous weight of information. Ziqing blurted out at once, “What about Situ Haonan and Qianqian!”
Ever since the wedding, all they’d known was that the couple had said they were leaving West Jing — after that, no word of them at all!
“Nothing mentioned,” Jun Beiyue said flatly.
“Did they leave?” Ziqing asked again.
Regrettably, Jun Beiyue had no definite answer. “News out of West Jing is being tightly sealed off. We still can’t confirm whether they’ve left, or if they’re still in the capital.”
As he spoke, he immediately ordered his Shadow Guard, Yingzi, to investigate.
After Yingzi left, they switched drivers and set off again. Only then did Jun Beiyue say flatly, “It seems we really do need to stop in the capital.”
“Unrest in West Jing — could it be the Eighth Prince…?” Ziqing speculated.
At the last peace summit, West Jing had been the one nation left entirely unbound by any restrictions, which made the kingdom particularly sensitive now. Jun Beiyue had kept his attention fixed on South Zhao, never expecting trouble to erupt in West Jing first.
Of course, whatever happened, Da Zhou had more than enough military strength to handle it. What worried Jun Beiyue and Ziqing most was the safety of Yelu Qianqian and Situ Haonan!
After all, when it came to the struggle for imperial power, those two were simply no match for the cunning old foxes of West Jing! Yelu Qianqian, determined to protect her father the emperor, would surely go back to him even if she’d left!