Yan Xiao had sharp eyes and immediately stepped forward, pretending to examine Mingyi’s pulse before cupping his hands toward Da Si. "Lady Ji is unwell and may need a quiet courtyard for a thorough diagnosis."
Mingyi’s earlier gesture, combined with Yan Xiao’s words, made the situation clear to everyone. Da Si quickly responded, "Go, go at once. If there’s good news, be sure to send word back."
Those with exceptionally high Essence Power often bore children with strong Meridians. If Ji Bozhai were to have an heir, it would be another joyous occasion for Star Yearn City.
Da Si couldn’t stop grinning, instructing attendants to follow Yan Xiao and assist as needed, then eagerly poured wine for the envoys from the Upper Three Cities. "Today is a fortunate day. Come, let us all drink together."
The envoys’ expressions were far from pleased. What kind of auspicious event was this? Only Star Yearn City stood to benefit—what did it have to do with the others?
But the two from Sunspire City wore mixed expressions.
She Tianlin was torn between astonishment and sorrow, while Dan Er remained silent, his fingers subtly twitching as if calculating something.
Regardless of the others’ thoughts, Mingyi successfully escorted Ji Bozhai away from the Song and Dance Stage, retreating with Yan Xiao to a secluded courtyard.
Once alone, Ji Bozhai could no longer hold back, groaning as blood spilled from his lips.
Yan Xiao, as if accustomed to this, swiftly took out silver needles to puncture two of his blood vessels, draining a small vial of blood before bandaging him up.
"That shameless Zuo Ping," he cursed.
Ji Bozhai, regaining some strength, smirked weakly. "His tricks couldn’t defeat me."
"Not defeat, but he sure made you suffer." Yan Xiao shoved medicinal pills into his mouth, fuming. "Utterly despicable."
Mingyi silently wiped the blood around his wounds. Ji Bozhai glanced at her, trying to feign indifference, but after a moment, he couldn’t resist asking, "Are you really unwell?"
"It was a ruse. We couldn’t leave otherwise," she replied flatly, not looking up.
His smile faltered slightly as he turned away. "I thought as much."
Seeing Yan Xiao work efficiently, Mingyi stood. "I’ll check the stables. Minister Yan, please tend to him."
Yan Xiao was surprised. Though Ji Bozhai wasn’t in mortal danger, his injuries were severe—covered in blood, his lips pale, the picture of a fragile warrior. Yet she could coldly announce her departure?
"Her task is urgent," Ji Bozhai murmured, eyes downcast. "Let her go."
"Your servant takes leave."
Her water-red skirt brushed past the threshold without so much as a lingering breeze.
Yan Xiao watched her retreating figure, then turned to the silent Ji Bozhai and suddenly chuckled. "So this is your fate today."
"What about today?" He maintained his indifferent facade. "I sent her on a task. She had to go."
"But you care about her, don’t you?" Yan Xiao studied his expression while bandaging. "Yet she doesn’t seem to reciprocate."
"Ridiculous. You didn’t see how devoted she was before—waiting outside my manor every night with a lantern." Ji Bozhai scoffed. "In this world, only I disregard others, never the reverse. After knowing me so long, haven’t you learned that?"
"Of course, of course." Yan Xiao tightened the bandage.
He winced, long lashes lowering in faint irritation. "Be gentler.""Alright, I get it. Don't get angry—it's not good for your recovery."
Recovery or not, Fighters like them weren't that fragile. Without obvious external injuries, they'd be fine... Wait.
Glancing down at his wound, Ji Bozhai suddenly felt something was off: "Fighters all have scars, don't they?"
"Of course."
"If she knows Essence Power, she must have trained before, so she should have scars too." Ji Bozhai frowned and sat up straight. "But she doesn’t have a single wound or even a faint scar on her."
Yan Xiao was taken aback, thinking for a moment. "What’s so strange about that? Many cities have rare medicines that heal scars."
"But didn’t she say she’s from Star Yearn City?" Ji Bozhai narrowed his eyes. "The daughter of a herb-gathering family from Star Yearn City—where would she get the money for such expensive scar-healing medicine?"
"..." Yan Xiao was stumped.
Truthfully, it was obvious—what ordinary girl would coincidentally learn Essence Power? Her identity was full of holes from the start. It was just that he refused to kill her outright, insisting on getting to the bottom of it.
Licking his dry lips, Ji Bozhai leaned back against the cushion with a low chuckle. "There are so many women in this world—gentle and virtuous, delicate and sweet—I’ve seen every kind. But her? Cunning and deceitful, utterly unpredictable. How interesting."
Yan Xiao poured him a cup of hot tea with disdain. "In the past, whenever you encountered scheming people, you’d make them beg for death. Now that it’s her, suddenly she’s 'interesting' and 'vivid.'"
"People are different."
"Tch, just admit you like her and treat her differently because of it," Yan Xiao muttered. "With your skills, couldn’t you just live a peaceful life with her?"
Ji Bozhai lowered his gaze and didn’t respond.
A peaceful, harmonious life?
From the moment he stepped into Star Yearn City’s main district, that kind of life was no longer meant for him.
The Song and Dance Stage was as lively as ever, and the stables where the beast-drawn carriages were parked were naturally deserted. Even the gatekeepers had sneaked off to enjoy the spectacle, leaving only the carriage-pulling Following Beasts, which immediately tensed the moment she entered.
Following Beasts were ranked by grade. High-grade ones, like Bo Yuankui’s three-headed wolf, were sharp and vicious, never allowing outsiders near the carriage.
Mingyi stood in a secluded corner and took out the item Ji Bozhai had given her.
A bamboo hairpin as thick as a finger.
It wasn’t pretty or valuable. She studied it for a long time but found nothing special about it. What use could it possibly have in Bo Yuankui’s beast-drawn carriage?
No matter. Since it was a task, she’d do it.
After sizing up the snarling three-headed wolf, Mingyi released her pure white Essence Power, shaping it into a cat.
Unlike her cautious self, the cat yawned the moment it landed, scratched its chin with a hind leg, then picked up the hairpin in its mouth and swaggered toward Bo Yuankui’s carriage.
The surrounding Following Beasts huffed and lowered their heads to watch it. Its white fur fluttered wildly from their breath, but its blue eyes brimmed with disdain. No matter who stood in its way, it arched its chin high and sashayed past in feline grace.
The three-headed wolf bared its fangs, lowering two heads to bite. The white cat leaped, using each of its three heads as stepping stones to vault into the air, effortlessly dropping the bamboo hairpin into the carriage.The three-headed wolf was furious and lunged forward to bite the swaying tail. The white cat twisted its body and swiped a paw across the wolf's snout, leaving five bloody gashes in an instant.
The wolf was stunned, its expression even seeming a bit aggrieved. The white cat looked down at it with disdain, clearly ready to strike again.
Mingyi quickly pulled it back. "None of that now. We're doing something bad here—no need to be so bold."
The white cat let out a displeased growl before turning its head and vanishing into her arms.
OpenNovel