I'm Feng Aotian—And I’m Running Away from My Wedding - Chapter 27

At that moment, a group of people were slowly descending the cliff face by rope.

“Young Master, be careful!”

A man dressed in the black uniform of the dark guards swiftly turned and steadied a tall, unsteady disciple.

“Get off me! Do you think I can’t even climb down a cliff?”

Qin Mo angrily shoved him away but accidentally missed his footing on the stone steps. His hand slipped, and he stumbled, nearly tumbling face-first down the slope.

This time, two people immediately grabbed him firmly, preventing him from ending up with a bruised and battered face.

“Where is Li Baiying? Has she still not been found?”

Qin Mo scanned the disciples, some of whom were stifling laughter, and redirected his anger. “My father didn’t send you here to freeload. If we don’t find her this time, none of you will escape punishment in the Enforcement Hall!”

“Enough, A-Mo.”

A clear voice came from behind him. Qin Zhili leaped gracefully, like a black bird descending slowly, and landed at the front of the group.

“Our Qin family has always been clear about rewards and punishments. Anyone who doesn’t give their all will inevitably end up doing hard labor in the Enforcement Hall. But it’s too early to draw conclusions before the search has even begun.”

She smiled sweetly, though her expression held an edge. “I hope you won’t disappoint me. I, for one, cannot tolerate incompetence.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The group divided into four teams and began a systematic search in different directions.

At the head of each team, two double-headed hounds were led, pausing at intervals to sniff for scents.

“Elder Sister,” Qin Mo turned, his arrogant demeanor softening slightly, even showing a hint of deference. “If we find Li Baiying, can you hand her over to me?”

“What, are you still holding a grudge over the Shadowless Bear she took from you?”

Qin Zhili glanced at him, her tone tinged with amusement. “They say a real man should be broad-minded, but you’re holding onto something that happened six years ago.”

“No, you don’t know how despicable she was back then-”

“Enough. If you’re outmatched, you should admit defeat.”

Qin Zhili cut him off, then shifted the topic. “However, if you perform exceptionally well in this search, your request might not be out of the question.”

“Thank you, Elder Sister!” Qin Mo hurriedly jogged to catch up with one of the teams, swaggering to the front as if he were the leader.

Seeing this, Qin Zhili snorted softly and muttered under her breath, “Useless fool. He only dares to act so arrogantly because Father is the acting clan leader. Stuck at the fifth level of apprenticeship for so many years, he’ll probably never break through to the Innate Realm in this lifetime.”

She had never regarded him as a threat. A domineering waste like him wasn’t worth her attention.

What truly concerned her was the treasure hidden deep within the Taichu Mountains.

Without a direct descendant of the Li family, even with the key, their efforts would be in vain, leaving them with nothing.

“Come out!” Qin Zhili suddenly turned and glared sharply behind her.

Li Ruoruo carefully descended the rope, sliding down slowly. “Miss Qin, I only wanted to help…”

“You’ve come at the right time.” Qin Zhili interrupted her pointless pleasantries and casually took out a three-inch-long silver needle. “Hold out your hand.”

“Ah, I…”

Under the other’s icy gaze, Li Ruoruo bit her lip and slowly extended her hand.

In an instant, the silver needle pierced down, and bean-sized drops of fresh blood welled up, which Qin Zhili collected into a small green vial.

“Ordinary search methods are too slow. I believe the Blood Guiding Technique will be more effective for finding someone.”

Without even glancing at Li Ruoruo, who was clutching her arm in pain, Qin Zhili rubbed her fingertips together, and a faint red glow drifted up as if alive, swaying unsteadily as it flew deeper into the cold pond.

“It seems the person is still alive.”

Qin Zhili’s expression tightened. With a light tap of her toes, she shot forward like a gust of wind, chasing after the glowing orb.

“Ugh.” Ignoring the pain from her wound, Li Ruoruo gritted her teeth and quietly followed behind her.

…

Around the cold pond, white mist swirled.

The air grew increasingly frigid, but Li Baiying seemed oblivious, quickening her pace toward the end of the path.

“Hey, hey, little one, don’t just charge ahead. Turn around and see how frozen your little companion is.”

Hearing this, Li Baiying abruptly halted and looked back, only to realize that she and Qin Yixiao had unknowingly drifted more than ten meters apart.

“Are you okay?” Belatedly realizing the situation, she dashed forward in a flash, grabbing the young girl without a word. A fiery aura continuously flowed from her palm into the other, clearly channeling energy.

“I… I’m fine.”

Qin Yixiao struggled slightly but was held even tighter. That unfamiliar energy was just like Li Baiying herself, even if she refused repeatedly, it would still cling to her.

Strangely enough, the cold currents retreated upon encountering this particularly vibrant energy, leaving her meridians.

Seeing her complexion gradually shift from pale to rosy, Li Baiying didn’t overthink it and casually released her grip. “Just hang on a little longer, we’re almost there. If you still feel cold, tell me right away.”

“…Mm.” The girl responded almost imperceptibly.

“Wait, little one, there’s something odd about your little companion’s body.”

The woman suddenly interjected in her mind, “When your essence flowed through her just now, I thought I sensed, no, perhaps I was mistaken.”

She paused and didn’t continue.

“Ha, Ancestor, even you can misjudge things sometimes.” Li Baiying teased, but her eyes involuntarily darted around, wary of any pursuers.

Their preparations before leaving had been rushed. The traces of their recent activities couldn’t be fully concealed in such a short time, anyone looking carefully would surely find them.

What worried her more was that if there were tracking hounds on their trail, catching up with them was only a matter of time.

“Don’t get distracted. Another hundred meters, and you’ll enter the range of the poison array.”

“Understood.” Li Baiying’s expression turned serious, and she slowed her pace instead of speeding up, walking side by side with Qin Yixiao.

“I plan to hide inside the toxic miasma. We’ll come out after the pursuers leave.”

“I have no objections.” The girl’s expression returned to its usual aloofness. “You seem very familiar with this place.”

“Of course, I’ve been training around here for the past week.”

Li Baiying didn’t hide anything. “You should try it too when you have time. A well-conditioned body makes cultivation twice as effective.”

Just as Qin Yixiao was about to speak, her eyes flickered, and a small opening appeared in the spirit beast pouch at her waist.

In an instant, a small fox with fiery red fur leaped out, lifting its head alertly as if sniffing intently for something.

“Is there a treasure nearby?!” Seeing this, Li Baiying’s eyes lit up, and she pressed eagerly for answers.

The spirit fox tilted its head in a human-like manner, casting her a disdainful glance. Suddenly, it lowered its body and shot forward like a cannonball, charging straight toward the edge of the poisonous mist.

“Fei Yun, wait!” Qin Yixiao’s call did nothing to slow its speed in the slightest.