The Cannon Fodder Supporting Female Character is Still Alive Today - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Spring Outing

209

Bai Yao rushed toward Qin Dexuan, calling out “Your Highness” repeatedly, but offering no substantive information.

After several calls, Qin Dexuan finally spoke: “What exactly is going on? General Yun said you went to the temple for some peace of mind a while ago. How did you end up here?”

210

Oh.

So that’s how the General’s Mansion is handling public relations.

211

According to the plot in the book, after killing Yun Niao’s mother and Yun Niao, the General’s Mansion claimed that assassins had broken into the residence, causing the tragedy.

This time, since Yun Niao didn’t die, the Mansion changed its story.

Bai Yao thought about it; this was actually a very “thoughtful” explanation.

If they had claimed Yun Niao was kidnapped or ran away, her reputation would have been ruined.

By telling people this, the General’s Mansion was clearly leaving room for her to return.

It also meant that…

The General might still be waiting for her to come back.

Thinking of the lie she had initially used to run away, Bai Yao felt a monumental headache.

However, the current situation was more important.

212

Bai Yao pulled her thoughts back and followed Qin Dexuan’s lead: “I was indeed going to the temple, but a group of black-clad men kidnapped me midway and locked me up with several other girls. Fortunately, we encountered some heroes from the Siyi Tower (Wanton Tower) who rescued us. Then, I followed them here.”

The Young Master Becomes the Phoenix said that Qin Dexuan had only seen Yun Niao a few times from a distance at the General’s Mansion, and his later marriage proposal was merely a ploy to win over General Yun.

Presuming they had no deep relationship, Bai Yao was not worried that he would see through her pretense.

Qin Dexuan was surprised when Bai Yao mentioned being “kidnapped by black-clad men,” and when she said she was “rescued by people from the Siyi Tower,” his expression quickly changed.

But he quickly masked it and smiled: “It’s good that Miss Yun Niao is safe.”

Bai Yao nodded, looking frightened: “Now that I’ve met Your Highness, Yun Niao feels completely at ease.”

She asked: “But why has Your Highness come here?”

Qin Dexuan glanced at her and said: “The people on this mountain are rebels. I have been ordered to suppress the rebellion.”

Bai Yao rolled her eyes internally.

Ordered my foot. You’re just here to steal credit.

The genuinely ordered poor guy is probably still lying dead at the foot of the mountain.

Before Bai Yao could speak, Su Ran, who had been ignored for too long, exploded. The little girl loudly retorted: “Who are you calling rebels?”

Qin Dexuan finally lowered his head and sized up the little girl beside Bai Yao. But seeing Bai Yao present, he decided not to argue with a young servant girl.

Qin Dexuan ignored the girl’s words and looked at Bai Yao again, with a fake smile.

Bai Yao secretly tugged Su Ran’s hand inside her sleeve, signaling her to be quiet.

Qin Dexuan asked: “Miss Yun Niao, while you were on this mountain, do you know where the people here went?”

According to intelligence, there should be three female leaders and a group of people living on this mountain. But he had searched around the peak and found no one.

Bai Yao blinked, acting completely innocent: “Rebels? Is Your Highness talking about the people on this mountain? But I thought they were all good people.”

Seeing her looking kind-hearted but easily fooled, Qin Dexuan said: “Miss Yun Niao, you are a young lady from a good family and don’t know how dangerous the jianghu world is. The person who rescued you, as you say, didn’t send you home. Instead, they brought you to this wild, remote mountain. What were their intentions?”

Seeing a hesitant look appear on Bai Yao’s face, Qin Dexuan continued: “One’s heart is separated by a belly; Miss should think more carefully.”

Bai Yao turned her eyes in response to Qin Dexuan’s words, seemingly thinking seriously. Then she looked up and said worriedly: “Your Highness’s words make Yun Niao fearful.”

She showed a shy smile: “But fortunately, Your Highness has arrived, and Yun Niao is no longer afraid.”

Seeing her demeanor, Qin Dexuan softened his tone and asked: “Then, Miss, tell me, where did the people on the mountain go?”

Bai Yao pouted, her face full of regret: “Your Highness, you came at the most inopportune time. They all went on a spring outing and haven’t returned yet.”

Qin Dexuan: “…”

213

Qin Dexuan stared at Bai Yao, his snake-like eyes scanning her entire body, as if trying to see through her.

Recognizing her attire, Qin Dexuan smiled darkly: “Earlier today, Miss Yun was seen descending the mountain with another girl. It seems Miss Yun has been in close contact with the people on this mountain. Colluding with rebels is a capital offense, Miss Yun, so don’t joke with me.”

Qin Dexuan said: “We have people guarding the foot of the mountain. How could they go on a spring outing?”

“Your Highness, don’t, don’t speak of Yun Niao like that!” Bai Yao trembled at his words, her expression mournful, about to burst into tears.

Bai Yao feigned a look of both fear and anger, saying: “Although Yun Niao is a weak woman, she is still the descendant of a General. She knows that all the land under heaven belongs to the King, and she understands the principle that rebels must not be tolerated!”

Hearing her speak this way, Qin Dexuan was momentarily hesitant.

Bai Yao seized the opportunity and asked: “Your Highness, which side of the mountain are you guarding?”

Bai Yao said: “They are all excellent at Qinggong. I heard them say they were leaving directly from the Flying Goose Mountain side.”

At her words, Qin Dexuan frowned.

They had indeed not specifically sent men to guard the Flying Goose Mountain side. Coupled with the fact that he had just witnessed Luo Qi’s exquisite Qinggong, he was temporarily unable to discern the truth.

Bai Yao pointed to Su Ran beside her: “Now, only she and I, and one other girl, are on the mountain. Speaking of which, did Your Highness not encounter that girl when you came up?”

Qin Dexuan had sneaked around to investigate the situation while Luo Qi was fighting the Dark Disciples at the cliff edge.

Assuming the girl Bai Yao mentioned was the one fighting the Dark Disciples, Qin Dexuan said: “I did.”

Qin Dexuan planned to return to the cliff edge. He said to Bai Yao: “Miss Yun, I need to clear out the rebels, you…”

Bai Yao grabbed his arm: “Yun Niao wishes to go with Your Highness!”

214

Bai Yao returned to the cliff edge with Qin Dexuan. Along the way, she secretly gave Su Ran a gesture to escape, and Qin Dexuan, preoccupied with the rebels’ collective “spring outing,” didn’t bother to complicate things further.

When she finally caught sight of Luo Qi fighting the three Dark Disciples in the distance, Bai Yao subtly let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed only three Dark Disciples had come this time.

And they were the Fourth Rank Dark Disciples with white soles.

The Young Master Becomes the Phoenix mentioned that there were twelve Dark Disciples under Qin Mang. Based on combat strength, they were divided into one First Rank leader, two Second Rank Disciples, four Third Rank Disciples, and five Fourth Rank Disciples. The First Rank wore gold shoes, the Second wore blood red, the Third wore ink black, and the Fourth wore white.

Though all twelve were Dark Disciples, the three Second and First Rank Disciples were completely legendary-level masters compared to the Third and Fourth Rank ones.

Bai Yao looked at Luo Qi in the distance, who seemed unharmed, and thought: Thank goodness it’s the weakest of the strong ones who came; otherwise…

215

Not good.

Luo Qi had said earlier that she felt the presence of other high-level masters at the foot of the mountain. Did she mean Qin Dexuan?

Bai Yao looked suspiciously towards Qin Dexuan, only to see Qin Dexuan facing one side and saying: “Why haven’t you made your move yet?”

The sliver of sunset that had remained a moment ago had completely melted into the horizon. The night wind cut through the forest, blowing apart the layers of green, and also stirred a dark figure.

Bai Yao then noticed a person standing on a tree branch near them.

The person stood perfectly straight on a very thin branch, seemingly without weight, swaying gently with the wind, like a slender leaf that naturally belonged on the branch, or like they had completely melted into the wind.

The distance between them was actually very close, but if Qin Dexuan hadn’t spoken, Bai Yao would never have discovered the person standing there.

Bai Yao’s gaze fell from the person’s black face mask downwards. When she clearly saw the dull, blood-red color of their soles, Bai Yao silently withdrew her gaze.

216

I jinxed it again.