Mingyi could tell at a glance that this was a girl. She really didn’t want to invite trouble for herself, but after a moment’s hesitation, she still bent down to pick the child up and ducked into a nearby alley.
“I can barely protect myself, so I might not be able to help you much,” she said as she set the child down. Tearing a strip from her robe, she tied the girl’s hair into a boy’s bun, then smeared mud from the ground onto her face. “You’ll have to rely on your own luck.”
After taking a few steps away, Mingyi paused.
She knew all too well that there were far too many suffering women in the Azure Cloud Realm—she couldn’t possibly save them all, especially not within the borders of Azure Snow City.
But after a deep breath, she still asked, “What can you do?”
The little girl, tears in her eyes, answered, “I can sew, weave cloth, and I’ll be obedient…”
Mingyi nodded, tucked the child under her arm, and sprinted back to the courtyard.
The whole way, she tried to compose an explanation in her head—how to justify this to Ji Bozhai and the others. After all, they were fugitives themselves. There was no reason to indulge her recklessness. If something went wrong because of this child, she’d be letting them down.
Yet when she pushed open the courtyard gate upon her return, she saw four or five grubby little girls sitting inside an Essence Power barrier conjured by Ji Bozhai and the others, curiously poking at the swirling energy.
Seeing her return, Ji Bozhai hesitated for a moment before standing up to explain. “Master and I originally went to stock up on meat and vegetables, but we ran into these… Master said they reminded him of you, so I brought them back.”
He added, “They’re all young and don’t eat much. At most, it’ll cost an extra thousand Shell Coins a day—we can afford that.”
Mingyi stared at him blankly. “You want to save them? But how could we ever save them all?”
“Saving people isn’t about fixing everything—it’s about easing your conscience where you can,” Ji Bozhai shrugged. “The world’s suffering is endless, but if I can pull these few out from under my nose, then at least I’ve done what I can.”
Afraid she might object, he pointed to the side room. “Somehow, the moment I brought them back, Chu He immediately went to clean up the room without a word. The bedding’s already laid out, so you—”
Mingyi waved him off, giving him a long look. She wanted to laugh but was also deeply moved.
She pulled the girl she’d hidden by the gate forward.
Just as dirty, just as oversized in boys’ clothing—Ji Bozhai took one look and relaxed his tense shoulders, chuckling. “Does this count as us being in sync?”
“Yes,” she nodded emphatically, ushering the child into the courtyard.
Only one room was left empty. Luo Jiaoyang and Fan Yao had gone to fetch wood and, wielding hammers with Essence Power, crafted three bunk beds that fit perfectly inside. Qin Shangwu had prepared pillows and clothes for them, while Chu He chopped firewood to roast sweet potatoes for the children.
The once-sparse courtyard was now bustling like a home.
Mingyi stood silently by, watching the sweet-potato-scented fire, and couldn’t help but ask Luo Jiaoyang, “Don’t you think this is too much trouble? If the people from Sunspire City catch up and we have to run again, with so many children—”
“It is troublesome,” Luo Jiaoyang admitted, but then grinned. “But I thought you wanted to save them. If that’s what you want, then we save them. Didn’t you say it yourself? A team must be united—that’s the only way to win.”
Mingyi’s fingers twitched slightly.She had never experienced anything like this before. In the past, whenever she wanted to do something, she would first pay the necessary price to satisfy everyone around her before proceeding. But now, these people were indulging her simply because she wanted to do it, without asking for anything in return?
They weren’t even related—why would they do that?
Bewildered, she was handed a sweet potato, ate it in a daze, and then absentmindedly assigned tasks to the children.
In the evening, one of the children brought her a package of beef jerky.
Mingyi opened it and found it coated with chili flakes, its aroma tantalizing.
“The big brother gave it to you,” the child said, pointing toward Ji Bozhai’s room. “He said you’d like this.”
Mingyi snapped out of her thoughts, both amused and exasperated.
This man—first gold, now food. Did he really think she was so easily bought?
She put the jerky away and patted the child’s head. “Your name is Fuling, right? From now on, you and Bai Ying will stay with me. No helping the big brother—you have to side with me, understand?”
Fuling nodded vaguely, then wrinkled her nose. “But the big brother is so handsome. Don’t you like the things he gives you?”
It wasn’t about liking or disliking—she just didn’t want to fall for his tricks.
Mingyi shook her head. “Little girls shouldn’t judge men just by their looks. You’ll get fooled that way.”
“Oh,” Fuling said seriously.
Yet the next day, she arrived first thing in the morning with an exquisitely crafted golden hairpin, her eyes shining. “I didn’t want to listen to the big brother, but he said I was so well-behaved.”
Mingyi: “…”
She had Bai Ying return the hairpin and said sternly, “Don’t trick children!”
Ji Bozhai leaned against the window, grinning. “If you don’t accept it, I’ll keep tricking them tomorrow.”
Now he was being shameless.
Mingyi rolled her eyes, took the hairpin, tossed it into a box, and left it at that.
The arrest period lasted several days. Their courtyard, hiding young girls, was soon reported by their neighbors. Officials came knocking again, forcing Qin Shangwu to produce Star Yearn City’s envoy token, claiming the children were brought by them.
Azure Snow’s inner court quickly received the news and soon met with the envoys pursuing them from Sunspire City.
“If you see those people from Sunspire City, please inform us immediately,” the envoy said arrogantly. “If you harbor them, Azure Snow’s tribute next year may become even heavier.”
The Azure Snow Da Si smiled and nodded but said, “We haven’t seen them at all. Our ferry has been blocked by heavy snow recently—no outsiders have come.”
The Sunspire envoys left suspiciously. The moment they were out of Azure Snow’s borders, the Da Si left the inner court.
He had people guard the courtyard where the Star Yearn group was staying and went there himself.
“Azure Snow and Star Yearn rarely interact, but we bear no grudges. I won’t hand you over to Sunspire—you can rest assured,” the Da Si said, sizing up Ji Bozhai. “I just came to make friends.”
Ji Bozhai nodded. “Being the Da Si’s friend isn’t easy. What are your terms?”
“Straight to the point, Lord Ji. I won’t mince words.” The Da Si’s voice turned cold. “Our city is rich in resources, but every year, the Upper Three Cities take more than half. Our tribute is always heavier than others’—simply because we have too much. If Star Yearn opens a trade ferry with Azure Snow, not only will I cover for you, but I’ll also provide our training grounds for your use.”The pursuers from Sunspire City had already gone to Star Yearn City, making it difficult for them to return anytime soon. However, with the year's end approaching, if they neglected their training, the outcome of the Six Cities Tournament would be uncertain.
Ji Bozhai merely smiled. "That's not something I can decide."
"You can." Azure Snow Da Si looked at him intently. "The trade ferry I mentioned doesn't have to be now—it could be after you inherit the throne."
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