Without a doubt, Baili Weisheng had gone off to find some clothes.
Before long, he returned dressed in a set of coarse hemp robes — such plain clothing, yet somehow it still carried its own distinct style on him.
This fellow, bare-chested, truly seemed impossible to associate with the name “Baili Weisheng” at all. Seeing him return properly dressed, Meng Duo’er finally felt a little less awkward.
Baili Weisheng settled onto a branch not far from her, leaning back lazily, arms pillowed behind his head, gazing toward the port.
Meng Duo’er followed his gaze as well. The two women from the carriage had already disembarked, currently standing idle, waiting — clearly, the ship would arrive soon.
They were heading out to sea — where were they going?
Had Meng Wanyue and Xuanyuan Lige already set sail?
Meng Duo’er was full of questions, wanting to ask yet not daring to. Meanwhile, Baili Weisheng had already summoned a hawk, tying a sealed letter to it and sending it off.
Surely reporting back to Jun Beiyue. Seeing this, Meng Duo’er finally felt somewhat reassured.
She’d originally assumed the ship would arrive soon, but who would have guessed — they waited quite a while, yet still no sign of any ship appeared.
As time passed, the silence between the two of them grew increasingly awkward.
She had no idea what Baili Weisheng was thinking, but for her part, Meng Duo’er found even breathing felt awkward now, even turning her body required long deliberation.
What should she do?
She’d always been carefree and easygoing — she genuinely didn’t like this current state at all!
She didn’t dare look at Baili Weisheng, yet felt as though he were staring right at her, scrutinizing her. Her whole body gradually tensed up without her realizing it, even her breathing growing irregular.
Meng Duo’er was still just a young girl, after all, and without realizing it, had become entirely absorbed in her own nervousness, never noticing that all of this stemmed entirely from her own concern — her concern over what that fellow might think of her.
Otherwise, given her usual temperament, she never would have reacted this way at all.
Yet, while Meng Duo’er remained entangled in her own private world of worry, Baili Weisheng’s full attention was fixed entirely on the port.
Aside from the shame and anger, he hadn’t noticed the slightest bit of awkwardness or discomfort at all.
Shame was shame, but after all, Meng Duo’er was just a girl — it wasn’t something he’d genuinely hold a grudge over. At this moment, he was earnestly puzzling over exactly where Meng Wanyue had taken Xuanyuan Lige!
Nanzhao — that much was beyond doubt!
He’d originally guessed the Meng clan’s territory, but the news that had since come from the Meng clan proved Meng Wanyue wasn’t nearly that foolish!
They’d found no trace at the Meng clan either — the only remaining lead was these two girls right in front of him.
It seemed as though these two girls were clues Meng Wanyue had deliberately left behind for them — was Meng Wanyue trying to lure them to Nanzhao?
Nanzhao might be vast, but it wasn’t a place one could move about freely — except by borrowing the Meng clan’s ships, she’d have no way to travel through Nanzhao at all.
Just as Baili Weisheng was pondering this, he spotted a ship approaching from far out on the water’s surface — indeed, a Meng clan vessel!
The Longyuan coastline was so vast, yet Meng Wanyue had still managed to escape by sea!
But where exactly in Nanzhao was Meng Wanyue heading?
What exactly was the conspiracy behind all this?
These questions were best left for Jun Beiyue to worry over — after all, she was his own birth mother; if even he couldn’t make sense of it, no one else stood a better chance!
Watching the ship draw near the shore, Baili Weisheng stretched lazily, only then finally turning his gaze properly toward Meng Duo’er.
By now, the sky had grown dim. Though Meng Duo’er’s face remained flushed, Baili Weisheng couldn’t make it out in the dim light — and besides, though he was a genuinely observant fellow, he was absolutely not the type to be observant about women’s feelings!
He could tell Meng Duo’er felt uneasy, but he didn’t think much of it at all.
“We’re boarding. This ship belongs to the Meng clan, but the people aboard might not necessarily be Meng clan members — be careful. If you cause any trouble, I’ll toss you straight into the sea to feed the fish!” Baili Weisheng warned earnestly.
Meng Duo’er still didn’t dare look him in the eye, nodding firmly. “I understand.”
Who would have guessed — the moment she spoke, Baili Weisheng suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and shot straight up into the air with her!
In that instant, Meng Duo’er’s heart very nearly stopped beating altogether.
He held her waist tightly, so very tightly, his arm wrapped around her back, drawing most of her body into his embrace, his fingers pressed against her side — she could clearly feel the warmth and strength of his palm.
So this was what it felt like, being held in an embrace.
This man’s distinct scent enveloped her completely, wrapping around her entirely in an instant.
Meng Duo’er’s heart raced faster and faster, and she felt as though her entire being had gone strange and unfamiliar.
Suddenly! Baili Weisheng banked sharply, skimming low past the right side of the crowd at the port. Meng Duo’er, caught completely off guard, found her whole body tilting toward him, her head landing against his shoulder.
Yet soon, Baili Weisheng’s speed slowed again, and Meng Duo’er remained leaning against his shoulder the entire time, her cheeks flushed crimson, lightly biting her lip, a hint of shy delight hidden within her bashful gaze.
Scholar-uncle, could I please lean here just a little longer?
With Baili Weisheng by her side, it felt so incredibly safe.
Meng Duo’er was still dazedly immersed in this unprecedented, wonderful sensation when Baili Weisheng, carrying her, silently touched down at the stern of the ship.
The moment they landed, he released her, and only then did Meng Duo’er snap back to reality, immediately straightening up.
Baili Weisheng glanced toward the bow of the ship, spotting Mi’er and Yu Xiaomeng boarding, and said in a low voice, “Be careful — let’s head to the hold below.”
With that, he hurried off. Meng Duo’er didn’t dare delay, quickly following along obediently.
Baili Weisheng figured that once they were out at sea, reuniting with Meng Wanyue and Xuanyuan Lige would surely come soon.
Meanwhile, with only three days remaining until the Jade Water Nectar ceremony, Ziqing and the others had just arrived at Great Zhou’s southern border gate, having just received the Nanzhao king’s reply.
“He’s agreed. With this letter, we’ll have direct passage to the Jade Water Nectar Heavenly Lake,” Jun Beiyue said flatly.
Ziqing let out a breath of relief. She hadn’t been worried the Nanzhao king or the Herb and Beast Clans wouldn’t grant them this favor — what she’d feared was running out of time!
As for the Jade Water Nectar Heavenly Lake, all they knew was that it was an extremely mysterious, ice-bound heavenly lake, a shared treasure of the Herb Clan and Beast Clan, rarely opened except under special circumstances, and even then, rarely opened completely without very specific conditions being met.
Unable to determine exactly what connection the natural sound had to this lake, nor where within the lake it might be heard, what Ziqing feared most of all was missing the narrow window when it would be fully open.
“Three days — will we make it in time?” Xiong Xiaobao asked anxiously. Though this trip to seek medicine was merely a pretext this time — Uncle Scholar and Grandpa Miracle Doctor had both said the odds were slim — he still hoped for a miracle, hoped they could cure Xiaosheng’s face.
“Once we’re through, someone will guide us. Even if we’re cutting it close, we’ll do everything we can!” Jun Beiyue said, his expression grave. He himself had no idea exactly where the Jade Water Nectar Heavenly Lake was located, but since it was a shared treasure of the Herb and Beast Clans, it had to lie somewhere along the border between the two clans’ territories — and that borderline was not close by at all.
Three days — the time was extremely, extremely tight.
“Send word to Baili Weisheng — we’re setting out immediately, no more delays!” Ziqing decided at once!
Jue Mingzi and Lady Jinjiao had already prepared everything, waiting at the gate.
Set out!
Nanzhao — this final stop — we’ve finally arrived once more!