The Cannon Fodder Supporting Female Character is Still Alive Today - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Covert Plot (2)

When they ran back to the riverbank, the people who had gone downstream to search for Bai Yao had already returned.

Gu Sanmei urgently asked, “How is it? You didn’t find her?”

The searchers looked at Gu Sanmei and shook their heads.

The large crowd of people running around was very conspicuous, and the other people in the fortress also gathered around, asking what had happened.

155

Luo Qi was sitting on a blue stone, just having started dinner.

A few bandits were sitting scattered around her, occasionally glancing at her.

The stage had not yet been built, and seeing that the people in the dance troupe were idle, the people in the fortress had called upon the men in the troupe to help out, doing heavy labor like carrying and chopping wood.

However, those men who were proficient in dance were generally not very strong and were unskilled at the work.

Some bandits were sharp-tongued and mocked the uselessness of the dancers, but when they saw Luo Qi, these bandits had no choice but to shut up.

They had truly never seen a person like this.

She was so beautiful and delicate-skinned, yet she worked quickly and efficiently, which was deeply satisfying to watch.

Seeing Luo Qi effortlessly chop the wood at several times their speed, the bandits couldn’t help but feel admiration for her.

As a bandit lair, Black Cloud Fortress highly valued martial prowess and strength.

But despite their admiration, after a few attempts at conversation, the bandits discovered that this capable person, though swift in her work, was extremely difficult to talk to.

She seemed very unwilling to socialize.

So, the bandits just sat around Luo Qi and ate their meal together.

This state of “tranquility” lasted for about half an incense stick’s time before it was interrupted by shouts from outside the courtyard gate.

The shouting grew louder, mixed with the sounds of women crying, and rushed past the gate. After a while, they returned.

Humans naturally have a penchant for gossip. Immediately, those who ate quickly gulped down their food and chased after the commotion to see what had happened.

By the time the person who went to investigate returned, Luo Qi had just finished eating and was preparing to go back to the dance troupe’s quarters.

Yao Yao had said they would meet tonight, so she would likely come to find her.

She didn’t know what time Yao Yao meant by “tonight,” but seeing that the sky was already dark, Luo Qi planned to go back and wait.

If Yao Yao didn’t come soon, she would go find Yao Yao herself.

Thinking this, Luo Qi took a step towards the courtyard entrance, but before she could cross the threshold, her steps abruptly halted.

Luo Qi stiffened, hearing only the person behind her say, “The one who fell into the water is that Miss Bai, the one who was captured a while ago.”

156

The small bandit who had received the news was gathering with his friends, sharing what he had just learned. But mid-sentence, a set of hurried footsteps came from behind him, and then a hand grabbed the back of his collar, abruptly yanking him up.

“Hey, what the fu—” Suddenly being treated roughly, the little bandit was about to erupt in anger, but when he turned around, he recognized that the person pulling him was the powerful figure who worked so efficiently.

The curse word the small bandit was about to say was cut short, and he said, “Brother, why did you suddenly grab me? That hurts…”

Completely ignoring the small bandit’s complaints, Luo Qi frowned and said urgently, “What did you say happened to Yao Yao?”

“Yao Yao?” The small bandit was confused, “I didn’t say anything about Yao Yao. I was talking about that Miss Bai.”

The hand gripping his collar tightened even more. Luo Qi demanded, “What happened to Miss Bai!”

Intimidated by her tense and anxious tone, the small bandit quickly replied, “Miss Bai fell into the river on the west side and was swept away!”

157

Si Qingyu stood by the riverbank, staring intently at the rapidly flowing river in the darkness, her expression uncertain.

What’s going on?

She had just sent a message out, so how could this Miss Yun Niao suddenly fall into the water?

Was she planning to escape from here, not believing her words at all?

A sound of choked sobbing came from the side. Si Qingyu turned around and said to the little maid, “Stop crying. Tell me exactly what happened. How could you not keep an eye on one person?”

“I, I…” The little maid said, “Miss Bai said she wanted to spear a fish for the Fourth Master…”

Si Qingyu was taken aback by the statement.

Spear a fish for her? Why would she spear a fish for her for no reason?

She grew even more suspicious that Bai Yao was using some trick to escape. Si Qingyu was about to press for more details, but the little maid continued, “Miss Bai said, she said the Fourth Master is a good person, and that you had just agreed to help her with a big—a big favor…”

The little maid said, “So she insisted on going into the water, saying that only if she caught a fish for you, would it count as a token of her sincerity…”

Upon reaching this point, the young girl broke down into tears again, “But the riverbank was too shallow, and she couldn’t catch any fish. Miss Bai got really anxious and walked further ahead, and then… then she missed her footing, and was instantly swept away by the current…”

Si Qingyu stood frozen, replaying the little maid’s words in her mind. She suddenly understood.

This Yun Niao had completely believed her and was planning to repay her, and that was why… she fell into the water?

But this was too coincidental.

She still had a final doubt, but before Si Qingyu could think further, someone violently shoved through the crowd behind her and rushed past.

Luo Qi looked at the large river in front of her, breathing heavily. Then she turned back to look at Si Qingyu, who was standing beside her, and grabbed Si Qingyu’s collar, demanding, “Where is Yao Yao?!”

Luo Qi couldn’t deliberately lower her voice anymore. At this moment, she was frantic with worry, and even without control, her voice was trembling and deep, making those who heard it both moved and frightened.

Si Qingyu was stunned by the question. Seeing Luo Qi so out of control completely dispelled Si Qingyu’s earlier doubts.

The little maid’s words surfaced in her mind again, and Si Qingyu felt a pang of guilt.

Ignoring the fact that she was still being held by Luo Qi, Si Qingyu urgently asked, “Did you check carefully? Where was she swept to? Was she stopped by any branches?”

At this moment, the people who had gone out for the second search also returned. Hearing the question, they replied, “Fourth Master, we’ve searched carefully twice. She’s really not there. And…”

The man paused, not continuing for a moment.

Then another person continued, “We asked the guards at the pass. They also saw… saw the young lady swept out of the fortress.”

The man explained, “You know that right outside the fortress is that big waterfall. Falling down there, even you would…”

Luo Qi said, “What waterfall? What do you mean by that?”

A blunt bandit thought she truly didn’t understand, so he said directly, “It means the young lady is definitely dead. There’s no way she could still be alive.”

158

For the Prince, For the Phoenix Volume X, Chapter X.

Bai Yao, deceased.

159

The moment she clearly heard the word “dead,” the color drained completely from Luo Qi’s face.

Then she got up and ran in the direction of the river. A few bandits tried to stop her, but Si Qingyu called them off.

“Let her go.”

160

The sky was completely dark.

The river, which exuded vitality during the day, was now cloaked in an unknown black exterior. The churning seemed to be restless souls.

Luo Qi ran along the riverbank, her movements so frantic that she tripped over a rock and fell to the ground.

Her clothes were stained with mud, and her palms and wrists were cut by sharp stones, yet she seemed not to feel any pain. She scrambled up recklessly and continued running forward.

Luo Qi ran all the way to the checkpoint. A few guards there suddenly saw someone running out of the darkness and approached with torches to stop her.

Luo Qi paused, looking coldly at the people blocking her path, and reached back for her sword.

She knew that if she drew her sword against these people now, she would face endless fighting, and there would be no turning back.

But the river beside her continued to flow relentlessly.

Her Yao Yao was in this river.

Luo Qi gripped her sword, her eyes cold as she made up her mind. When she looked up at the crowd in front of her again, a deep killing intent filled her eyes.

Even if the fortress was impenetrable, even if the path ahead was an inescapable dead end, she would break through.

She would fight with everything she had, to the last of her strength.

Even if what she ultimately recovered might only be a cold corpse.

Facing the people opposite her, Luo Qi drew the sword from her back.

That was her Yao Yao.

She vowed to find her.

161

“Luo Qi? Luo Qi!”

Lie Ruyang was practically screaming as she ran forward, but the person standing by the river seemed deaf to her calls, drawing her sword regardless.

What’s going on? What is she doing?

Lie Ruyang ran while wondering, Didn’t we agree to wait and see? Why is Luo Qi suddenly acting like she’s possessed?

Just as Luo Qi was about to charge forward with her sword raised, Lie Ruyang finally reached her side, panting heavily as she pushed down the sword in Luo Qi’s hand.

“You… I said, what… are you… doing?”

With her wrist held down, Luo Qi looked sideways at Lie Ruyang and said, “Let go.”

Her voice was icy, carrying an unrestrained killing intent and an air of madness.

Lie Ruyang saw Luo Qi’s expression and the blood-red in her eyes, stiffening completely. She said, “No, what happened? Why are you… so terrifying?”

Luo Qi turned her gaze to the large river beside them and said, “Yao Yao fell into the river. They said Yao Yao died.”

Luo Qi said, “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it. So I have to go out. I have to find Yao Yao myself.”

Saying this, she broke free from Lie Ruyang’s restraint, clearly intent on rushing forward and confronting them.

Lie Ruyang was inwardly shocked. For a moment, she even thought that in her current state of pure rage, Luo Qi might actually be able to fight her way out of Black Cloud Fortress single-handedly.

But she possessed more rationality than Luo Qi. Lie Ruyang quickly reached out, stopped Luo Qi again, and rapidly whispered a sentence into her ear.

Luo Qi’s movements abruptly ceased. She turned her head to look at Lie Ruyang.

The bandits in front, seeing these two strange people, finally approached and asked, “What are you two doing here? Why are you holding a sword?”

“I’m so sorry, Big Brother.”

Lie Ruyang smiled and said, “We’re from the dance troupe. We were just rehearsing an act. Our Second Master is about to celebrate a big event, right? Our troupe specially prepared a new performance for him.”

A few bandits looked at them suspiciously, but seeing that they were indeed wearing the troupe’s clothes, and Lie Ruyang’s words were agreeable, they didn’t bother to pursue it further and said, “It’s late. Go back and rehearse.”

Lie Ruyang said, “Yes, yes. We’re going now. Thank you for your hard work, Big Brothers.”

162

Lie Ruyang pulled Luo Qi a few steps away, and looking at the disheveled Luo Qi, she said, “I never thought Young Master Qi An would lose his composure like this. I’ve really seen something today.”

Luo Qi looked up at her and asked, “Was what you just told me the truth?”

Lie Ruyang said, “Of course. Now go back to our troupe’s quarters, and you’ll see…”

Before she finished speaking, Luo Qi had already darted away.

The reason Luo Qi had regained her senses just now was that Lie Ruyang had quickly whispered six words into her ear.

She had said:

Miss Bai, is not dead.

163

Hello everyone, I am the still-alive Bai Yao.

I’ve been completely silent for nearly ten paragraphs. I wonder if anyone missed me.

But I certainly haven’t been missing you all.

Because my mind is preoccupied with wondering why Lie Ruyang hasn’t brought Luo Qi back yet.

164

The night was deep. The lanterns in the corridor were lit, illuminating several figures hurrying to and fro.

Then, a certain figure stopped at the door and raised a hand to knock.

“Ah Song, are you in your room?”

Footsteps immediately sounded inside the room. After a moment, the door was pulled open inwards, and a thin man peeked out, looking at the dancer standing outside.

The man silently mouthed something at the dancer, then gestured wildly a few times.

He turned out to be mute.

The dancer clearly knew about the man’s speech impediment and simply said, “I heard someone died by the river. It’s chaos outside. Everyone went to see the excitement. Are you going?”

The man was startled, then shook his head.

Seeing him shake his head, the dancer said nothing more and turned to leave, but the man reached out and grabbed her, making a gesture of inquiry.

The dancer said, “You’re asking me who died? It’s just a girl who was captured and brought to the fortress. I don’t know why it’s such a big fuss.”

Immediately, another dancer passed by and heard the former’s words, refuting, “What girl? Didn’t you hear? That person was the Fourth Master’s lover! She fell into the river trying to catch fish for the Fourth Master!”

“Who told you that?”

Another male dancer said, “I just came back from outside. The brothers in the fortress told me she was the Third Master’s person.”

“Hey, you’re both wrong,” another person interjected. “That girl clearly got involved with someone in our dance troupe. They say many people saw someone wearing our dance clothes running frantically along the river!”

“What exactly is going on? Let’s go check it out.”

Talking amongst themselves, a few people walked outside.

The thin man was left standing inside the door. After a long pause, he reached out and closed the door.

165

Sitting back on the bed, Bai Yao silently looked at herself in the mirror.

She was clearly a pale, thin, mute man, a seamless disguise.

But what in the world were those people gossiping about just now?

If she didn’t know she was disguised by Lie Ruyang, she would suspect she had traveled to a new world again.

Bai Yao shook her head and clicked her tongue.

It seemed that whether in modern times or ancient times, true and false gossip was always ubiquitous.

Then Bai Yao sat on the bedside, recalling those people’s words again.

166

?

Wait a minute.

Did I miss something important?

Those people seemed to say that someone from the dance troupe was running frantically along the river?

Bai Yao was suddenly startled, remembering the long-absent Luo Qi.

Could that person… be Luo Qi?

Bai Yao licked her lips, feeling a strange panic in her heart.

167

Given: Yao, who prepared a surprise, inadvertently caused fright.

Question: How to resolve it?

Answer: According to convention, allow me to first write the word for “resolve” (解)…

Before she could finish the radical of the word “resolve,” Bai Yao’s attempt at an answer was interrupted.

Because a set of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and then someone abruptly pushed the door open, fixing their gaze on her.

168

Luo Qi stepped inside, staring intensely at Bai Yao sitting on the bed.

The moment Bai Yao saw Luo Qi, all words caught in her throat.

In the brief seconds before the footsteps arrived, Bai Yao had actually considered many ways to respond.

For example, running over with a smile and saying, “How did I manage to trick you?” Or taking Luo Qi’s hand and saying, “I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand.”

Or, if absolutely necessary, clinging to Luo Qi and making a pathetic face to beg for forgiveness.

But none of those words could be uttered now.

Luo Qi had clearly rushed over, her chest still heaving violently.

Her face was still deathly pale, and her eyes were filled with an intense, uncontained worry.

Bai Yao’s gaze shifted downward, noting a fresh wound on Luo Qi’s wrist that was oozing blood, and the hem of her clothes, which was covered in mud, grass, and leaves.

She had clearly fallen but rushed back without time to clean up.

Bai Yao suddenly remembered earlier by the river, when Luo Qi bent down and gently helped her pick the grass and leaves off her skirt.

When had Luo Qi ever looked this distressed since their first meeting?

Even when she was hit by two of Qin Dexuan’s arrows and injured by a Dark Disciple, Luo Qi’s face had never shown such a panicked expression.

Looking at the person in front of her, Bai Yao suddenly realized that compared to Luo Qi’s worry for her, all the things she had prepared to say seemed too frivolous.

Putting herself in Luo Qi’s shoes, if she, Bai Yao, were tricked like this by a friend, she would probably be half-dead with anger.

And she would most likely punch them right there on the spot.

169

While Bai Yao was urgently thinking, Lie Ruyang, who was chasing after Luo Qi, also finally ran into the room.

She stepped in, closed the door, and said, “Why are you two just standing there like idiots?”

Bai Yao was brought back to reality by her words and moved a step towards Luo Qi.

Sigh.

No matter how angry Luo Qi was, it was all her, Bai Yao’s, own doing…

If absolutely necessary, maybe she should let Luo Qi hit her twice?

Ay, but Luo Qi’s punches seem like they would hurt a lot…

Bai Yao was lost in thought when she saw Luo Qi take a step and quickly walk towards her.

Character: Luo Qi.

Emotion: Anger value UP (Bai Yao’s assumption)

Warning! Warning!

It’s over, it’s over.

Bai Yao stood still, silently shrinking her neck.

Calculating from that acceleration, she was probably about to receive a heavy beating…

170

Bai Yao was embraced by Luo Qi.

The alarm bells in her mind had not yet faded. Bai Yao, in a daze, felt Luo Qi’s hands wrap around her back and waist, pulling her tightly against her chest.

Luo Qi slightly curved her back, burying her head in Bai Yao’s neck, breathing in her familiar clean scent.

With a deep sigh of relief, the earlier hostility finally completely subsided. Luo Qi leaned some of her weight onto Bai Yao’s shoulder, calling her name in a hoarse voice, “Yao Yao…”

Three parts of the ecstasy of recovering something lost, three parts of the fear of nearly losing her forever, and a few parts of sheer relief.

All the complex emotions tangled together, ultimately transforming into this single utterance of “Yao Yao.”

Bai Yao’s eyes suddenly reddened at that sound. She raised her hands to hug Luo Qi back and said, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Luo Qi stroked Bai Yao’s back and said warmly, “It’s alright. Don’t be afraid.”

No need for apologies, no blame for the deception.

The answer Luo Qi offered was one of comfort for Bai Yao.

Although Lie Ruyang had already explained Bai Yao’s scheme to Luo Qi on the way, Luo Qi was entirely focused on one thought: falling into that turbulent water in the darkness, such a dangerous thing—how terrified must her Yao Yao have been?

Hearing Luo Qi’s comforting words in her ear, Bai Yao was momentarily stunned, and tears instantly streamed down her face.

171

When it came to swimming, Bai Yao was an absolute expert.

She lived in the village in her early years, spending every day playing wildly with a group of boisterous children.

Many times, this was in that very river.

Many children in the village could swim well, but none could beat Bai Yao.

Even the boys who were physically stronger than her lacked her agility.

Bai Yao had always been intimately familiar with water and rivers.

But truthfully, she was genuinely scared by that recent fall into the water.

It wasn’t that Bai Yao had never swum in a river with a slightly fast current, but she had never experienced a river that swift.

However, to evade Si Qingyu and conceal her identity, she had no choice but to resort to this drastic measure.

Earlier, at the foot of Guiming Mountain, when Bai Yao persuaded Luo Qi to swear an oath, she merely hoped that if her identity was exposed one day, Luo Qi would show her mercy.

Through their interactions these past few days, Bai Yao had realized that Luo Qi valued her greatly, and even if her identity was revealed, Luo Qi would definitely not harm her.

But having reached this point, what she worried about was no longer just her own safety.

Bai Yao mistakenly believed that if Luo Qi learned her identity, even if she wouldn’t blame or retaliate, there would inevitably be a rift and awkwardness.

Every time Luo Qi saw her in the future, she would be reminded that this was the daughter of her mother’s killer.

How painful would that be?

Even if Luo Qi wasn’t sad, Bai Yao felt sad.

So, Bai Yao asked Lie Ruyang for help, deciding to take a gamble.

172

According to the dance troupe’s schedule, they were due to perform for another high-ranking official in a few days. So, they would stay at Black Cloud Fortress for two more days at most before leaving.

If Bai Yao could leave with the dance troupe, she could evade Qin Wufang and his group and continue to conceal her identity.

The fall into the water was risky, but if successful, the General’s Mansion would also believe Yun Niao was dead, achieving a permanent solution.

There was a mute handyman in the dance troupe named Ah Song, whose build was similar to Bai Yao’s.

After finalizing the plan, the two matched their timing according to the fortress’s patrol schedule.

Bai Yao would fall into the water upstream, and Lie Ruyang would wait downstream.

When Bai Yao appeared, Lie Ruyang, who was hidden in the woods, would stop her with a pre-prepared bamboo pole and drag her ashore. Then she would throw a quilt wrapped in a dress of the same color as Bai Yao’s into the river, ensuring the guards at the pass saw “Bai Yao” being swept out of the fortress.

That quilt, disguised as “Bai Yao,” would float far away and wouldn’t be discovered for a while.

Afterward, Lie Ruyang would take Bai Yao into the woods to change clothes, arrange her hair, and apply makeup.

When she emerged, she would look like a completely different person.

Bai Yao’s original plan was to go find Luo Qi immediately after changing her appearance and give her a surprise.

She never expected that Luo Qi, being so skilled at chopping wood, would be asked by the bandits to help out for an extra half a day.

In her ignorance, she was forced to face Bai Yao’s “death.”

173

With Luo Qi gently stroking her back, Bai Yao continued to shed tears.

Not until Lie Ruyang couldn’t hold it in anymore and reminded her, “If you keep crying, the mask will be ruined,” did Bai Yao manage to stop.

Bai Yao then struggled free from Luo Qi’s embrace and lowered her head to look at Luo Qi’s injured wrist.

Looking at the gruesome wound mixed with dirt, Bai Yao asked, “Does it hurt badly?”

Luo Qi smiled and shook her head at her.

Bai Yao turned back and looked at Lie Ruyang.

Lie Ruyang understood the hint, got up, and left the room to fetch the medicine from her own quarters.

Bai Yao held Luo Qi’s hand and asked, “Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”

Such as questioning why she didn’t tell the truth, or why she kept it a secret.

But Luo Qi said, “No. I know Yao Yao didn’t deliberately lie to me; she just wanted to give me a surprise.”

Help me.

Why is there such a good person in the world?

Bai Yao looked up at Luo Qi and sincerely said again, “I am truly sorry. I absolutely promise I won’t do this again.”

Luo Qi gazed into Bai Yao’s eyes and replied, “Good.”

174

Most people outside were rushing to see the so-called “excitement,” and the rest who had nothing to do had gone to sleep.

The conversation between the two ceased, leaving only the sounds of their breathing in the space.

So, Bai Yao, desperate for conversation, said, “Speaking of which, don’t I look strange in this appearance?”

Luo Qi examined her carefully and shook her head, “Not strange. Very beautiful.”

Beautiful?

Bai Yao thought, this face was a complete replica of the little mute man, Ah Song. Although he was clean-looking, she wouldn’t call him beautiful.

What Bai Yao didn’t know was that in Luo Qi’s eyes, no matter what face she wore, she was always the most beautiful Yao Yao.

The conversation lagged. Luo Qi quietly looked down at Bai Yao, the distance between them just a few inches, yet feeling far away.

So, she finally lowered her head slightly to close the gap between them.

Bai Yao looked up at Luo Qi, vaguely discerning the familiar starlight in the other’s eyes.

But she just waited, not flinching, even though she vaguely recognized that the destination this time seemed to be more than just her cheek.

The crimson petals floated down slowly from the air, about to cover another fragrant petal…

175

“Clang—”

The door was pushed open forcefully. Lie Ruyang, carrying medicine and bandaging supplies, rushed into the room.

After stopping, she looked at the two people who were looking at her. Receiving an unfriendly gaze from Luo Qi, Lie Ruyang asked blankly, “Wha-what’s wrong?”

She walked closer, handed the medicine to the red-eared Bai Yao who was looking down, and said to Luo Qi, “It’s not my fault you fell. Don’t glare at me just because your hand hurts.”

Bai Yao: “…”

Coughing a few times to cover up, Bai Yao said to Luo Qi, “I’ll apply the medicine for you.”

176

Carefully rinsing off the sand and dirt, then applying the medicinal powder, the anti-inflammatory medicine seeped into the wound, causing fresh pain.

Seeing Luo Qi frown slightly, Bai Yao asked, “Does it hurt?”

Luo Qi nodded.

Bai Yao felt anxious and could only say, “I’ll be gentler.”

But no matter how careful her movements were, the pain couldn’t be avoided.

Watching Luo Qi’s frown deepen, Bai Yao turned her head to look at Lie Ruyang, who was propping up her head and watching the show.

Bai Yao said, “Lie Ruyang, don’t you have… something to do?”

Lie Ruyang: “? No.”

She had eaten and wasn’t ready to sleep yet.

Bai Yao said, “Don’t you want to go for a walk?”

Lie Ruyang said, “Today I first had to intercept you from the river, and then ran all over the fortress looking for Luo Qi. From the afternoon until now, I’ve been wandering outside for half a day.”

Bai Yao, frustrated by her lack of urgency, said, “…Then just stay here.”

Lie Ruyang: “?”

Lie Ruyang was about to ask Bai Yao what she meant, but before she could speak, she saw Bai Yao turn back with a determined look and kiss Luo Qi squarely on the cheek.

Luo Qi froze instantly. Bai Yao quickly straightened up, coughed, and said solemnly, “A kiss, and the pain flies away.”

Lie Ruyang: “…”?

Luo Qi lowered her eyes to Bai Yao, then smiled and said, “Mhm.”

Then she tilted the other side of her cheek, coaxing, “This side needs one too.”

Bai Yao: “…”

Oh.

Right.

Last time, when Luo Qi was coaxing her, she also kissed her twice.

177

A certain sage said it right: one should not be indebted to others.

A certain sage smiles: I never said that, and even if I did, I didn’t mean it in the way you’re using it now.

178

Having prepared herself mentally, Bai Yao looked up and dutifully kissed Luo Qi on the other cheek.

Luo Qi’s eyes curved with a smile.

Lie Ruyang stood up and moved towards the door.

Bai Yao looked at Lie Ruyang and asked confusedly, “Where are you going?”

She couldn’t be chased out earlier, so why was she leaving now?

Lie Ruyang opened the door. The cold wind rushed onto her face. Without looking back, she said, “…Farewell.”

Covert Strategy

179

Lie Ruyang walked in the cold wind.

Lie Ruyang was looking lonely in the dark night.

But before she had walked many steps, the sense of loneliness disappeared.

Abruptly halting her steps, Lie Ruyang looked to her side.

However, there was only the sound of the wind rustling the forest, and fallen leaves landing on the ground.

No one was there.

Lie Ruyang frowned slightly.

Although her internal energy had not yet recovered, as a Dark Disciple, Lie Ruyang possessed a perception that exceeded that of ordinary people.

This kind of sixth sense was practically ingrained in her and had saved her many times in fights.

In that instant, she had distinctly felt something flash past.

Then, a few bird cries sounded distantly from the woods.

What kind of bird?

Before Lie Ruyang could think further, the door behind her opened, and Bai Yao called out softly, “Lie Ruyang, come back!”

180

Putting her thoughts aside, Lie Ruyang walked back into the room.

In the spot where Lie Ruyang had just stood, following the angle she had been looking at, deep into the woods, a man stood on a branch. In his pale, long fingers, he held a black eagle he had just captured.

The forest wind blew through, and the moonlight scattered over the man’s dark Xuan-black robe, revealing the indigo Shura pattern on the back of his garment.

The eagle, normally a ruler of the sky, was now held effortlessly in the man’s hand, frozen and daring not to move.

Leaning back against the tree trunk, the man reached out and pulled the slip of paper from the eagle’s foot.

Then he casually tucked the eagle under his arm, read the note, and flew away.

181

Lie Ruyang, unaware of what had just transpired, returned to the room and heard Bai Yao ask, “You still haven’t told me where you hid the real Ah Song?”

Lie Ruyang suddenly smiled. Then she walked to the bed, motioned for Luo Qi to stand up.

Luo Qi got up and stepped away. Lie Ruyang stepped forward, braced her hand against the bed frame, and lifted it.

Underneath the bed frame, a person was lying on their side, seemingly sleeping peacefully.

That person’s appearance was identical to Bai Yao’s current disguise—it was the real Ah Song.

This Ah Song was briefly mentioned in the original book.

He was not born mute but lost his voice due to abuse in childhood. However, he had a unique skill: bone-shrinking technique.

The plan Bai Yao and Lie Ruyang had concocted was for Bai Yao to fake a drowning to escape. Then, when they left the fortress, the real Ah Song would use his bone-shrinking technique to hide in a parcel and leave with them.

182

Lie Ruyang said, “Don’t worry. I talked to him. I wake him up regularly for meals and to use the bathroom, and the rest of the time, I just point a sleeping acupoint.”

Bai Yao asked in confusion, “How did you talk to him?”

Lie Ruyang smiled mischievously and waved her fist, “I smashed a hole in the wall right in front of him.”

Then she proudly pointed to a wall surface that clearly had a small circular indentation.

???

Was it that exaggerated?

Bai Yao walked over with an expression of wonder. Luo Qi also raised an eyebrow and followed Bai Yao to look at the indentation.

Looking at Lie Ruyang, then reaching out to touch the dented wall surface, Bai Yao touched it and said, “Wow, you’re still so amazing even without internal energy…”

Before she could finish the word “ful,” the section of plaster under Bai Yao’s hand suddenly caved in.

“…”?

Bai Yao moved to a different spot and pressed hard again.

Another spot she pressed also caved in.

Luo Qi, standing nearby, understood the situation and chuckled softly.

Bai Yao: “…Lie Ruyang?”

Seeing that the truth had been exposed, Lie Ruyang smiled and admitted frankly, “Actually, their houses are really shoddily built. That wall was already weak. I just happened to find it and used it to scare him.”

Bai Yao silently glanced at the little mute man lying under the bed board.

I sympathize with you.

183

Everything planned up to this point had gone smoothly.

However, Bai Yao thought for a moment, feeling like she had forgotten something.

184

The next morning, Bai Yao carefully checked all her disguises, then left the room in the identity of Ah Song.

To avoid suspicion, she, Luo Qi, and Lie Ruyang had agreed that during this final period, the three of them should minimize contact in public.

At this moment, Bai Yao stood alone at the front of the crowd, while Luo Qi and Lie Ruyang stood a few people apart to her side.

It must be said that Gu Sanmei really did treat Bai Yao like a sister. He specifically invited people to the riverbank to perform rites for her soul, and he even shed genuine tears while burning paper money.

Gu Sanmei knelt on the ground, murmuring all sorts of things while burning the money, hoping Bai Yao would eat well, drink well, and find a good wife in the afterlife.

This was somewhat unexpected for Bai Yao.

Bai Yao stood by, listening for a while, and found that Gu Sanmei was entirely wishing her well, without asking for any blessings for himself.

This made Bai Yao feel a pang of guilt.

But just as Bai Yao’s guilt level was about to fill a notch, she heard Gu Sanmei cry and say, “Sister, don’t worry about me at all. Just bless your Sanmei to keep her stunning beauty for the rest of her life…”

Bai Yao: “…”

Wake up, sister.

185

Bai Yao shifted her gaze to the side, seeing Si Qingyu standing next to Gu Sanmei with a rather poor expression.

Because Yun Niao had died suddenly, Si Qingyu had been forced to send out a message again in haste last night.

Compounding this, being told that Bai Yao’s death was partly her fault made Si Qingyu feel a knot in her heart.

So, at this moment, although she didn’t burn money for Bai Yao like Gu Sanmei, she occasionally extended her foot to silently help push the fluttering paper money back toward Gu Sanmei.

A crowd of people gathered around, half watching the spectacle, half sighing with emotion.

After a while, a commotion broke out at the back of the crowd. A person pushed through the crowd and abruptly threw themselves onto the ground.

Before the crowd could react, they heard the person wail loudly, “Miss Bai!”

With that shocking cry, Bai Yao’s eyebrow twitched violently.

186

Damn it.

I remember what I forgot.

Su. Mu. Bai.

187

Silently standing in the crowd, watching Su Mubai cry so grievously that he was practically hyperventilating, Bai Yao felt a migraine coming on.

Was the Male Second Lead always this kind of character?

Why has Su Mubai’s script become increasingly silly and sweet ever since I showed up?

To prevent Su Mubai from worrying unnecessarily, Bai Yao had originally planned to tell him about her fake death when she went to find him that day.

Since Su Mubai’s upright character was firmly established, Bai Yao knew he wouldn’t betray her.

However, after the incident with Su Mubai stealing the knife, she completely forgot about it.

After another moment, the crowd automatically parted a path. Hu Jiu walked over to support Su Mubai, “Su Su, don’t cry.”

Su Mubai…