They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Number Three

The next day.

The group began packing their luggage, preparing to leave the Cui residence.

Cui Bo stood with a cold face, instructing the remaining servants to load the prepared clothes and food onto the carriage. Cui You stood by the carriage, helping to load the items.

Cui Bo glowered at Cui You. “Once you leave this door, I won’t be able to control you. Take all these things with you. Don’t end up collapsing in front of someone’s house again, waiting for someone to take you in.”

“That won’t do. You’re my father. How can you not look after me?” Cui You said, loading the last bag onto the carriage, lifting the curtain, and waving his hand.

Cui Bo stared blankly as the carriage drove away, then looked at Cui You, who was still standing there. “You… why are you still here?”

Cui You smiled, opening his fan, and walked towards the house. “I’m your son. Where else should I be? Don’t think you can shake me off that easily!”

Cui Bo’s eyes reddened slightly. Finally, he turned his face away so Cui You wouldn’t notice. “Hmph, who said I wanted to shake you off? In all these years, when have I ever resented you?”

Cui You turned around and tilted his head. “Tsk, you’re talking nonsense. In this past year, the times you haven’t resented me could probably be counted on one hand.”

Cui Bo walked inside with his hands behind his back. “That’s your problem.”

The voices of the father and son arguing gradually faded into the distance.

…

On the carriage.

Leng Licí sat with his eyes closed, conserving his energy. Yun Qingwu sat beside him, watching Little Dāo, who was lying on the couch, studying the pattern of the cushion.

Liu Yu opened the bag prepared by Cui Bo. It was incredibly well-stocked, and not only that, it contained a wad of silver notes and enough gold to blind a person.

He clicked his tongue. “I thought he was just a father in name, but it turns out the man is a truly substantial father.”

The sense of injustice that had previously dissipated surged back up. He rummaged through the contents and found toys for children. He took out a rattle-drum and handed it to Little Dāo. “This Cui Bo is actually quite meticulous.”

Little Dāo stared at the rattle-drum, abandoning her study of the cushion pattern. She giggled, took the rattle-drum, and waved it.

Yun Qingwu helped Little Dāo sit up straight. He looked at the items, and the fluctuating emotions in his heart were somewhat soothed. “Cui Bo might be sharp-tongued, but deep down, he truly treats Brother Cui as his own child.”

Leng Licí opened his eyes, glanced at the bag, and then closed them again, scoffing, “He should have done so anyway.”

Yang Yuanli sat in the innermost section, casting a sideways glance at the items, then looked at Yun Qingwu. “Where to next?”

Yun Qingwu: “Yún Yáng City.”

Yang Yuanli looked hesitant. “Is there another Scarlet Flame Divine Sovereign there?”

Yun Qingwu nodded. “Mhm.”

Yang Yuanli’s gaze fell on Liu Yu. “What exactly is going on with the Scarlet Flame Divine Sovereign?”

“You will understand these things later,” Yun Qingwu said, raising his hand to pull the rattle-drum away from Little Dāo’s mouth.

Yang Yuanli frowned. “You insist on keeping me confined here. Aren’t you afraid I’ll learn your secrets?”

Yun Qingwu curled his lips. “They are secrets now, but once this matter is complete, they will no longer be secrets to me.”

Yang Yuanli looked at Yun Qingwu suspiciously, unable to discern anything. He simply lifted the carriage curtain and turned his attention to the scenery outside.

…

After leaving the city, the group and the carriage landed directly at the location of the third fragment—Yún Yáng City.

Yún Yáng City was situated at the junction of three large mountains, located near the border. Along the way, different styles of architecture could be seen arranged together. This sense of mixture was apparent everywhere, from the residents wearing various kinds of clothing to the food sold by small vendors.

Yet, it still maintained a thriving appearance. Various types of inns were everywhere, an extreme contrast to Yuèlín City.

Yun Qingwu pointed to an inn nearby that looked more like Central Plains style. “How about that one?”

Leng Licí didn’t care where they stayed. “Whatever.”

Liu Yu, however, was more interested in another inn with a Western Region style. “I think that one looks good too. Since we’re here, wouldn’t it be a shame not to experience something different?”

Yang Yuanli glanced at Liu Yu. Even now, he was very unaccustomed to the current style of the Scarlet Flame Divine Sovereign, whom he remembered as always being stable and reserved.

Yun Qingwu followed his gaze and nodded. “That one it is.”

The group stopped in front of the building complex with semi-circular rooftops. The owner, a person with braids, immediately came out to greet them and helped settle the carriage.

Little Dāo was captivated by the sparkling accessories not far away under the sunlight. She tugged at Leng Licí’s robe, pointing with her small hand. “A-Dàd, shiny-shiny.”

Leng Licí looked over. “Just a pile of stones. What’s so strange about it?”

Little Dāo tugged harder, looking up at Leng Licí with wide eyes, whimpering. “Little Dāo wants to see.”

The large and small figure stood in confrontation for a moment. Leng Licí glanced at Yun Qingwu, who was still communicating with the innkeeper. He picked up Little Dāo in one go, walked over with a look of distaste, and set her down again. “Look.”

Little Dāo stood on her tiptoes, looking left and right at the stall with curiosity. The stall owner didn’t rush them, smiling as he watched the father and daughter. “The little girl has good taste. Take your time, pick whatever you like.”

Leng Licí, however, was not giving face. He glanced at the necklaces and bracelets. He rotated the gold bracelet on his right wrist with his left hand and scoffed, “Flashy and impractical.”

Little Dāo was completely immersed in the sparkling items and naturally didn’t hear these words.

Just then, a young woman with an elegant demeanor, wearing a long, light blue dàjīn (large lapel) gown with a standing collar, walked by. Her attention was not on the jewelry but on Little Dāo and Leng Licí.

She saw Little Dāo holding a string of broken bead bracelets, her eyes shining as brightly as the gems. The look in her eyes softened. She looked at Leng Licí. “Young Master, I would like to offer this bracelet to your daughter. Is that alright?”

Leng Licí frowned, glanced at the woman, and looked away. “No need.”

The woman touched her slightly protruding abdomen, looked at Little Dāo with some regret, and said no more, turning to leave the stall.

“Madam, are you alright?”

The stall owner suddenly exclaimed, getting up and scurrying to the right. The woman who had just left was bent over, clutching her abdomen, stopped not far away with a pained expression.

The woman shook her head, speaking with difficulty. “I… I’m fine… just a stomach ache…”

The owner then looked at the woman’s abdomen, realizing she was pregnant. He was momentarily at a loss. He looked around and finally fixed his gaze on Leng Licí. “Young Master, could you help take this Madam to the clinic? She’s expecting a child.”

Leng Licí looked over with an indifferent expression, then withdrew his gaze. He had no interest in such trivial matters. “Let’s go.”

He placed the silver fragments on the stall, picked up the string of beads Little Dāo was playing with, and was about to leave. But for some reason, amidst the woman’s increasingly distressed groans, his footsteps inexplicably stalled.

“A-Cí,” Yun Qingwu finished his business and walked towards Leng Licí.

“Young Master, please help. I can’t lift her.” The owner’s tone was urgent, pleadingly looking at Leng Licí.

Under such scrutiny, Leng Licí grew irritable. He picked up Little Dāo in one hand and walked towards Yun Qingwu.

“What’s wrong?” Yun Qingwu noticed Leng Licí’s agitation. He leaned forward to check the situation ahead, but the next second, he received Little Dāo.

Leng Licí walked back with a dark face, lifting the pale-faced woman horizontally into his arms. “Where is the clinic?”

“It’s… around the corner to the right ahead.” The stall owner breathed a sigh of relief and pointed.

Leng Licí walked quickly in the direction indicated. Yun Qingwu looked at the woman’s abdomen, likely knowing what had happened, and followed suit.

…

“It’s just a threatened miscarriage, nothing serious. I’ll prescribe some medicine to stabilize the pregnancy.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” The color returned somewhat to the woman’s face. She then looked at Leng Licí. “Thank you for saving me today, Young Master. Please, you must come home with me so I can prepare a banquet to express my gratitude.”

“No need.” Leng Licí turned to leave, but the doctor stopped him.

Doctor: “The patient’s condition has not fully stabilized. Why don’t you see your kindness through and escort her home?”

Leng Licí gave the doctor a cold look. “You go escort her?”

Yun Qingwu looked at the woman, who was struggling slightly to get off the bed, and frowned slightly. “A-Cí, maybe we should take her home.”

“It’s alright, I can manage myself.” The woman held her lower back and thanked them again. “I’m sorry for the trouble today. My home is on Líntián Street. If you have time, you are welcome anytime.”

With that, the woman supported herself on the wall, intending to leave.

Leng Licí stared at the woman’s back for a moment, then Yun Qingwu tugged at his sleeve.

Little Dāo: “Pretty, send.”

Leng Licí frowned, frustrated. “What’s the big deal about sending her off?”

Although he said that, he still walked out with a sullen face, following behind the woman. “What a bother.”

A slight smile appeared in Yun Qingwu’s eyes. He picked up Little Dāo and followed. “It’s two lives we’re talking about. What does a little trouble matter?”

Líntián Street was three blocks from the market, not very close. By the time the group reached their destination, the high sun had already set in the west, serving its final shift for the day.

“Thank you so much today. Please, you must come in for a light drink.” The woman looked grateful, standing to the side, maintaining a perfect, non-intrusive intimacy as she invited Leng Licí and Yun Qingwu again.

Leng Licí had already turned, making it clear he was ready to leave at any moment. Yun Qingwu bowed to the woman. “It was just a small favor, nothing to mention. We—”

“Xiǎozhú, why were you gone so long?”

A familiar male voice interrupted Yun Qingwu’s words. Yun Qingwu looked up, his eyes widening in surprise.

The person who arrived was precisely the third fragment of Yún Chuān.

Leng Licí heard the voice, turned around, and his gaze also settled on this Yún Chuān.

“I encountered a slight accident on the way, thanks to Young Master Leng and Young Master Yun for their timely help.” The woman looked at Leng Licí and Yun Qingwu.

Yún Chuān Number Three’s gaze finally shifted from the woman. He looked over. “Thank you both for helping my wife. Everyone meeting here is fate. Please come in quickly.”

Xiǎozhú…?

Yun Qingwu’s gaze shifted back to the woman, then he glanced at Leng Licí. Leng Licí’s eyes were also fixed on the woman.

“I haven’t had a chance to ask for your names.”

“Oh, my surname is Jì, and my name is Lín.” Jì Lín embraced the person beside him, a sweet look on his face. “My wife, Yǒu Sū Xiǎozhú.”