Xiao Yingtao came to Xing Zizhou’s ear and murmured a few words, and Xing Zizhou left as well.
Inside the mountain cave, Zhao Xiaoxiao cried until her voice went hoarse, then gradually grew quiet.
Zhao Yusheng held her, gently laying her flat on a pile of dry grass. He removed his own outer garment and carefully draped it over her.
“Jiu’er, come over and take a look at Xiaoxiao — check on her condition.”
Zhao Yusheng’s voice was hoarse, and yet he could not manage even a single word of comfort.
Feng Jiu’er went over and knelt beside Zhao Xiaoxiao. Qiao Mu walked over as well.
Only then did Zhao Yusheng release Zhao Xiaoxiao’s hand with some relief. He stood, turned, and looked elsewhere.
Tuoba Keyan remained kneeling, from beginning to end, without saying a word.
Feng Jiu’er examined Zhao Xiaoxiao carefully, then said softly, “The effects of the drug have passed. Even so, she still needs a few days of rest to recover properly.”
“What happened today — no one beyond us will ever know. Whatever needs to be said, wait until you’ve taken care of yourself and feel better first. All right?”
Feng Jiu’er’s guilt was no less than Zhao Yusheng’s. But things had come to this point, and no words of comfort she offered now would do any good.
Zhao Xiaoxiao looked at her and gave a small nod. After weeping so thoroughly, her spirits had actually lifted somewhat.
“Jiu’er, I’m fine.” Zhao Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together and shook her head.
With Qiao Mu supporting her, she sat up and looked at Zhao Yusheng.
“Big Brother, did I hurt you just now? Serves you right for arriving so late. But truly, I’m all right.”
Qiao Mu said nothing. Head lowered, she helped Zhao Xiaoxiao put on Zhao Yusheng’s garment.
Feng Jiu’er picked up Tuoba Keyan’s clothing from beside Zhao Xiaoxiao, examined it carefully, and stood.
“Keyan, your arm is injured?”
There was a great deal of blood on Tuoba Keyan’s body — especially on his arm, where the fabric had been slashed open.
“Jiu’er, Keyan took a blade for me. The knife went into his arm. Please take a look at him quickly.” Zhao Xiaoxiao looked at Tuoba Keyan with a slight frown.
Even though she was still very frightened, the person last night had been Keyan — and that, at least, was better than one of those revolting bandits.
Slowly accepting this reality, Zhao Xiaoxiao’s heart began to ease a little.
Tuoba Keyan heard footsteps approaching. He extended a large hand and stopped Feng Jiu’er from coming closer.
“I am unharmed.” The words had barely fallen when he turned and knelt before Zhao Yusheng. “Young Master, kill me.”
“Keyan, what kind of nonsense is that?” Zhao Xiaoxiao frowned and said sternly.
Zhao Yusheng fixed his gaze on the man before him, his fists clenched tight. “You think I wouldn’t dare?”
“Big Brother.” Zhao Xiaoxiao forced herself to stand. “It was Keyan who saved me. What are you doing?”
“Xiaoxiao.” Zhao Yusheng turned to look at her. “This man… he wronged you, and you’re still speaking up for him?”
“I’ve already said — we were both drugged. Keyan had no choice either.” Zhao Xiaoxiao, supported by Qiao Mu, made her way toward Zhao Yusheng.
Zhao Yusheng looked at his frail little sister, the rage in his heart surging — but he forced it down, and went to meet her.
“Big Brother.” Zhao Xiaoxiao reached him and tugged at the hem of his sleeve.
Zhao Yusheng steadied her, his voice softening. “Don’t be afraid. From now on, Big Brother won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
Zhao Xiaoxiao gave him a look and said under her breath, “I told you, I’m fine. We’re children of the rivers and lakes — there’s no obstacle we can’t get past.”
Her gaze shifted to Tuoba Keyan, and she continued, “Keyan, get up. I don’t blame you.”
“If not for you saving me, with so many bandits there last night, things would have been far worse. I’m glad you came.”
“Xiaoxiao — let me marry you.” Tuoba Keyan suddenly spoke.
His words left everyone present stunned for a moment.
Zhao Xiaoxiao in particular opened her mouth and forgot to close it.
Zhao Yusheng recovered and turned to stare at Tuoba Keyan. “Tuoba Keyan, what do you mean by that?”
Still kneeling, Tuoba Keyan raised his eyes to meet Zhao Yusheng’s gaze and said, with complete sincerity, “Either kill me — or let me marry Xiaoxiao.”
“You…” Zhao Yusheng’s brow tightened, and for a moment he could not find words.
Qiao Mu walked over and caught Tuoba Keyan by the arm.
“Get up before you say anything else. Nobody wanted something like this to happen. Don’t throw your life away over it.”
“No.” Tuoba Keyan shook his head. “Young Master — if you let me marry Xiaoxiao, I will treat her well.”
Things having come to this, no matter how furious Zhao Yusheng was, he did not know how to proceed.
He turned to look at Zhao Xiaoxiao and asked gently, “Xiaoxiao, what do you think?”
Everyone knew that Zhao Xiaoxiao had feelings for Jian Yi — but this little girl had a habit of falling for a handsome face, and that much Zhao Yusheng knew perfectly well.
Jian Yi was an exceptionally fine-looking man. Tuoba Keyan was no lesser. Deep down, Zhao Yusheng found himself hoping Zhao Xiaoxiao would agree to this match.
“I…” Zhao Xiaoxiao looked at Tuoba Keyan, her brow furrowing, unable to speak.
As she hesitated, Feng Jiu’er stepped forward to stand before Zhao Xiaoxiao.
“Marriage is not something to be taken lightly.”
She left those words with Zhao Xiaoxiao, then turned to look at Tuoba Keyan.
“What happened today, none of us will speak of outside. Xiaoxiao is still young. If your intentions toward her are sincere, then show it through your actions.”
“If Xiaoxiao can truly accept you in return, I believe Zhao Yusheng would not object.”
Feng Jiu’er turned back again and asked, “Zhao Yusheng, what do you say?”
Zhao Yusheng looked at Feng Jiu’er, then his gaze settled back on Zhao Xiaoxiao.
Zhao Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together and gave a small nod.
Tuoba Keyan was covered in blood, and the sight of it sat uneasily with Zhao Xiaoxiao. Whatever else had happened, he had genuinely saved her.
She did not want Big Brother to harm anyone because of last night. After all — no one had wanted any of this.
Whatever the future held, she would deal with it then. Right now, Zhao Xiaoxiao did not want to think about anything at all.
Zhao Yusheng withdrew his gaze and fixed it on Tuoba Keyan, his voice cool. “As Jiu’er has said — the final decision rests with Xiaoxiao’s wishes.”
“But during this time, if you dare harm her in any way, I will not let it go.”
“I will not hurt Xiaoxiao again.” Tuoba Keyan dipped his head in acknowledgment.
“Get up then. Let me look at your wound — stop making Xiaoxiao worry.” Feng Jiu’er let out a soft sigh and stepped forward.
Half a shichen later, Xing Zizhou arrived with a set of women’s clothing.
Zhao Xiaoxiao changed, and Zhao Yusheng escorted her back to Zhao Family Stronghold.
Zhao Yusheng did not want to burden Feng Jiu’er with worry. The matter of Zhao Xiaoxiao’s abduction — he would investigate himself.
Feng Jiu’er ultimately agreed to Zhao Yusheng’s suggestion and, with her brothers, continued through the mountain range behind the Black Depths Clan toward Zhao Family Stronghold.
It took only a single day for the group to leave Black Depths Clan territory and enter the unclaimed stretch of land belonging to neither the Black Depths Clan nor Zhao Family Stronghold.
This range of mountains, lying beyond Qingzhou Valley, was treacherous terrain for anyone approaching from the outside. Had Feng Jiu’er’s group not traveled through it laterally, entering would not have been easy at all.
Perhaps that was precisely why neither side had bothered to lay claim to it.