I'm Feng Aotian—And I’m Running Away from My Wedding - Chapter 12

Sunlight struck the surface of the dagger, reflecting off its polished blade and casting a glaring shadow elsewhere.

Li Baiying seemed completely oblivious to the danger as she casually tilted her neck, revealing a thin trail of blood on her sun-kissed skin.

“You…!” The girl was momentarily stunned by her movement, instinctively pulling her fingers back slightly.

“You see, you don’t actually want to harm me,” Li Baiying seized the opportunity to grip her wrist, deftly disarming the dagger. Then, she calmly reiterated:

“As I said earlier, I invited you to join me for mutual benefit.”

“Admittedly, I do want to make use of your treasure-hunting spirit fox, but I also dislike hearing sneaky people gossiping about you behind your back. The best way to silence them is to master Qi absorption and make them feel ashamed of themselves.”

“…”

Qin Yixiao remained silent, a flicker of confusion passing through her beautiful peach-blossom eyes. “Can I trust you?”

“Wouldn’t another collaboration answer that?” Li Baiying replied with a carefree smile. “Once my injuries heal, shall we set off?”

After a long pause, she heard the girl softly utter an “Mm.”

“Wait a moment.” Qin Yixiao stood up, quickly left, and returned shortly after, crushing herbs and applying them to Li Baiying’s neck.

“This minor injury is nothing serious,” Li Baiying squinted, feeling a cool sensation spread from the wound. What stirred her heart even more was the unfamiliar tingling caused by the other’s soft fingertips pressing against the injury.

Suddenly, her gaze met the girl’s. Qin Yixiao pursed her lips, her expression as cold as ever.

“This isn’t medicine, it’s a slow-acting poison. Rather than trusting your one-sided claims, I prefer to take precautions myself.”

As she spoke, the girl pried Li Baiying’s fingers off her wrist one by one. “If you deceive me, your fate will be miserable.”

“Tsk…”

Li Baiying drew a sharp breath. Before she could respond, the other had already packed her things and walked out, slamming the door shut behind her.

“Tch, I thought she was a delicate flower, but it turns out she’s a hidden carnivorous plant.”

Shaking her head helplessly, Li Baiying touched the now fully healed wound, an inexplicable smile curling at her lips. “She claims it’s poison, but she still healed my injury first.”

Picking up the half-eaten meat bun from earlier, she resumed eating heartily, utterly carefree.

…

The recovery period wasn’t long, but for Li Baiying, lying in bed with nothing to do felt interminable.

Aside from fiddling with flowers and plants in the courtyard, she often forced Qin Yixiao to keep her company and chat.

After several such attempts, the latter began to avoid her like the plague. Even if Li Baiying pounded on the door until it nearly broke, Qin Yixiao refused to come out.

With nothing else to do, Li Baiying turned her attention to the residual toxins expelled from her body. If she could trace their origin, she might uncover who had secretly hired assassins to kill her.

So, one day after changing her bandages, Li Baiying disguised herself and stealthily infiltrated the largest teahouse in town.

The sun had just risen in the east, and the town was slowly awakening from its slumber. The teahouse was empty except for a waiter cleaning up.

She summoned the manager and unceremoniously slammed a silver coin onto the table, crossing her arms.

“What can I do for you, honored warrior?” The manager’s eyes widened, and an ingratiating smile instantly spread across his face.

“I need you to do me a favor.”

Li Baiying took out the small vial and pointed toward the storyteller’s platform. “Help me post a bounty: whoever can identify the origin of the medicine in this vial will receive ten taels of silver as a reward.”

“T-ten taels?! Yes, I’ll get it done right away.”

The innkeeper picked up the small vial, gazing at it with reluctant fascination, wishing he could provide the answer himself and seize the opportunity. Yet, he was destined to be left scratching his head in frustration.

Once the matter was settled, Li Baiying found a corner seat and leisurely enjoyed the view while sipping her tea.

The teahouse was bustling with people, often frequented by hidden talents from the streets. Perhaps she could gather some clues here. If her efforts yielded nothing after all this time, she planned to send the remaining poison back to Taichu Mountain via carrier pigeon to see if her mother knew anything about it.

However, she preferred not to turn to her family unless absolutely necessary. After all, she had descended the mountain alone precisely to prove her independence.

The sun gradually rose to its zenith before slowly descending westward.

Throughout the day, many people came and went in the teahouse, all aware of the ten-tael silver bounty. Yet, upon seeing the small vial, almost everyone was utterly baffled, unable to offer any plausible explanation.

Of course, there were also answers that were clearly fabricated.

“Miss, perhaps you could come back another day?” the innkeeper cautiously suggested as closing time approached.

“Very well. I’ll return if I need anything else.”

Li Baiying snatched back the small vial and, with a swift movement, vanished into the night.

Unbeknownst to her, the moment she left, a cloaked figure dressed in black, his face concealed, stepped into the teahouse.

He reached into his robe and dropped a heavy silver ingot onto the counter. “Any noteworthy events today?”

His voice was hoarse, like metal scraping against glass, unsettling and causing an uncomfortable stir in one’s blood.

“Y-yes, there is.” The innkeeper lowered his head, licking his dry lips, and recounted the bounty matter in detail.

Throughout, his gaze remained fixated on the gleaming silver ingot.

After listening, the black-clad man turned away without a word.

“Wait, sir, are you here for a meal or lodging?”

“No need. The silver is yours.”

His figure merged into the darkness like lightning, as if he were an inherent part of it. The chilly evening wind swept through, carrying a biting cold.

“The weather’s about to change,” the innkeeper mused, hugging the silver ingot gleefully. “But today has been quite a harvest.”

…

Medical Clinic.

Li Baiying pushed the door open and casually removed her disguise. Having gained nothing after a whole day, her spirits were low.

Unexpectedly, she spotted a slender figure standing by the chamber door.

The dim glow of the lantern cast a hazy light on the girl’s fair, jade-like profile, making her appear as though she had stepped out of an oil painting. Li Baiying found herself momentarily captivated.

“You’re not fully healed yet. You shouldn’t be running around.”

Qin Yixiao frowned at her, her gaze flickering slightly when it landed on the small vial clutched tightly in Li Baiying’s hand.

“I’m just seeking the truth in my own way.”

Li Baiying offered no further explanation and stood firmly before her. “My injuries are almost healed. We’ll set off tomorrow.”

“But-”

“I caused quite a stir today. We might attract unwanted attention. I think it’s better for us to leave quickly.”

She paused, cutting off the other’s hesitant words. “I know my own body best. Over the years, I’ve grown accustomed to injuries, big and small. Besides, the journey will take at least half a month, that’s more than enough time for me to recover.”

Qin Yixiao remained silent. Just as Li Baiying thought she was expressing disapproval through her quietness, the young woman spoke softly, “I’ve hired a carriage transporting medicinal herbs in the backyard. Why don’t we leave tonight?”

“Good idea.” Li Baiying’s eyes lit up, and she agreed immediately. “I’ll go pack my things right away.”

Qin Yixiao watched her hurriedly departing figure, a flicker of complex emotions passing through her gaze.

Suddenly, without warning, she turned around and stared directly at the roof beam.

A dark shadow, like a bat in the night, perched there. “Miss Qin, don’t forget your situation,” a voice rasped, grating like a blade scraping against stone, piercing her ears.

“I understand.”

Qin Yixiao lowered her eyelids and replied calmly, “I know what to do. So, please don’t follow us anymore.”