PTYS Chapter 183

This time, the system finally quieted down, and they successfully returned to the real-world city of Yingzhou. Seeing the hanging lanterns, Chen Kaijie almost cried, “We’re really back, right?”

He was still a bit scared because they had been delayed for so long. Now, there were hardly any people on the street, only the quietly burning lanterns decorating the city’s nightscape, peaceful and beautiful like a fairyland.

But just a few hours ago, they had almost died in the same scene.

“There’s someone there! It’s the young lady and the cousin!”

As Xiao Muyu and the others were in a daze, a group of people holding lanterns and gongs appeared at the street corner. Seeing them, they shouted in joy.

Soon, another group appeared, also shouting for the young lady. It turned out to be people from the Shen and Xiao families.

It seemed that because it was so late and they had no trace, their families had discovered they were missing and were searching everywhere.

“Miss, we finally found you. The master and madam were so worried!”

The chaotic voices couldn’t hide the excitement. The Shen family members were stunned to see Shen Qingqiu on Xiao Muyu’s back, “Miss, what’s wrong with you?”

Xiao Muyu didn’t want them to disturb Shen Qingqiu, so she said, “Calm down, we’re all fine. Your young lady is just a bit weak. Don’t disturb her.

You all go back and report that we’re safe and sound. But because of the strange events tonight, we won’t go back for now to avoid chaos. We’ll rest at the inn for the night.

If the master asks, say it’s my decision. Also, report to the authorities that we found the missing eight girls in an abandoned house five miles northwest after leaving the north gate.”

The servants’ faces changed. Everyone in Yingzhou knew about the disappearance of the eight girls and the rumors of the White River Lord causing trouble.

Thinking of their families’ discussions when the young lady went missing, they all felt a chill. Looking at Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu with fear, they nodded dumbly.

As they prepared to leave, Xiao Muyu frowned, “Split up and act quickly. Report the case first.”

They finally came to their senses and hurried off.

Normally, the yamen wouldn’t respond so quickly at this hour, especially to a strange case.

But the Shen and Xiao families were prominent in Yingzhou, and the disappearance of the eight girls had a significant impact on the city. The authorities were also desperate.

So, hearing it was reported by the young ladies from the Shen and Xiao families, they immediately dispatched, lighting torches and heading to the northern suburbs.

It was said that the soldiers that night were so frightened that several of them collapsed on the spot, and the whole night was chaotic.

If it were just their issue with the Dong family orphan, Xiao Muyu wouldn’t have made a fuss. But it involved the lives of eight others, and she couldn’t ignore it, so she had to let the authorities handle it.

Soon, Shen Wanlin and Xiao Qian arrived at the inn where they were staying. Upon learning that their daughters had returned safely, they were both happy and angry.

“Why aren’t you coming home if you’re safe? Staying at an inn, how does that look? And you decided on your own to keep Qingqiu here, making your Uncle Shen so worried.” Xiao Qian, initially joyful at seeing Xiao Muyu, quickly frowned.

Shen Wanlin waved his hand anxiously, “Let’s not talk about that now. Muyu, where’s Qingqiu? Is she hurt? And what about A’Jie?”

Xiao Muyu’s brow furrowed, “Qingqiu was taken by the White River Lord, her body is weak, and she’s exhausted. She’s asleep now. Uncle Shen, please don’t ask too much tonight. Let her rest.”

Shen Wanlin’s face turned pale at the mention of the White River Lord, his beard trembling, “She was really targeted by the White River Lord?”

Xiao Muyu nodded.

Xiao Qian, equally frightened, quickly looked over Xiao Muyu, “What about you? Why did you disappear too? And your cousin?”

Xiao Muyu, seeing the genuine worry and fear in their eyes, softly said, “She and Su Jin are with Qingqiu. This time, the White River Lord’s target wasn’t just Qingqiu but also me. The others were collateral.”

“What? You were also targeted! How? I haven’t arranged any marriage for you! Are you really okay?

Did you see a doctor? No, a doctor won’t help, I’ll find a master to look at you.” Xiao Qian, in shock, spoke incoherently, clearly terrified.

“Father, we’re fine, just very tired and shaken. We don’t need a master. If a master could help, so many people wouldn’t have gone missing.”

Xiao Qian had to give up, glancing at Shen Wanlin, unsure what to do.

“How were you taken while watching lanterns on the street? What is the White River Lord? And I heard you told the servants to report finding the missing eight girls?” Shen Wanlin, more rational than Xiao Qian, asked.

Xiao Muyu’s face darkened, and after a while, she said, “I don’t know. When we regained consciousness, we were already in the suburbs, and then we encountered two groups, one carrying a bridal sedan chair, the other a coffin. We were taken by them.

Qingqiu was taken for marriage, and I was nearly drowned in the White River in a coffin, but Chen Kaijie and my cousin saved me.”

Xiao Muyu omitted many details, briefly describing the situation. But even these few words painted a horrifying picture.

Xiao Qian and Shen Wanlin turned pale, almost unable to stand, “Red and white clash.”

Xiao Muyu, looking tired, said, “Father, Uncle Shen, we have reasons for not returning home. But we’re exhausted now, and you’ve also been worried. So, let’s talk about everything tomorrow, okay? I don’t want to talk about it now. The authorities will surely come for questioning later. You should go back.”

Xiao Qian and Shen Wanlin, though wanting to say more, couldn’t after seeing Xiao Muyu’s state.

Shen Wanlin nodded, “Alright, you always have a plan. Uncle Shen won’t ask more. I’ll check on Qingqiu. I’ve arranged for guards outside, so rest assured.

I’ll handle the authorities, and we’ll talk about everything tomorrow. Brother Xiao, let the children rest.”

Xiao Qian sighed, “Okay, rest well. I’ve also arranged guards outside. Will you be afraid to sleep alone? If so, stay with Tiantian.”

Xiao Muyu nodded, looking at the worried man in front of her, finding it hard to believe he could do such terrible things, feeling conflicted.

Xiao Qian patted her shoulder, then hesitated, “I sent Cheng Yuan and Zhou Zheng to protect you, but they’ve disappeared too. Their families are worried. Did you see them?”

Xiao Muyu felt a pang. Those two bodyguards had died, their bodies unrecovered.

She lowered her head, speaking bitterly, “They were killed. We didn’t even find their bodies.”

Xiao Qian’s face tensed, remaining silent for a long time. But Xiao Muyu saw his facial muscles twitching, and after a while, his back seemed to bend, saying with difficulty, “I see. Don’t think too much about it. It was my fault for sending them. I… I’ll go now. As long as you’re safe, that’s what matters.”

He supported himself on the door frame, stumbling out.

Xiao Muyu hadn’t yet mentioned that the White River Lord was a member of the Dong family. She didn’t know if Xiao Qian and Shen Wanlin had realized their enemy had returned.

She was indeed tired and worried about Shen Qingqiu. After they left that so-called underworld, Shen Qingqiu had felt better, but after vomiting blood and being tormented, she was slumped on Xiao Muyu’s back upon entering Yingzhou, and now she didn’t know how she was.

Thinking of this, Xiao Muyu couldn’t stand still and went to Shen Qingqiu’s room. Shen Wanlin was standing by, talking to Chen Kaijie.

Seeing Xiao Muyu enter, he sighed, “You all are tired. I won’t delay your rest. But Qingqiu doesn’t look well. I’ll call a doctor over. If there’s any issue, let me know.”

Xiao Muyu nodded, “Uncle Shen, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Qingqiu.”

Shen Wanlin glanced at her, “Thank you.”

After he left, Xiao Muyu told Su Jin and the others, “Go rest. We’ll talk tomorrow. I’ll stay with Qingqiu. Su Jin, stay with Xiao Zuo. Chen Kaijie, be careful.”

“Yes, Captain Xiao, don’t worry.”

When only the two of them were left, Xiao Muyu sat by the bed, looking at Shen Qingqiu. Even in sleep, her brows were furrowed, looking uncomfortable.

Xiao Muyu touched her forehead, finding it sweaty and worrying.

Despite her fatigue, she couldn’t sleep, instructing someone outside to heat water, carefully wiping Shen Qingqiu’s body, and then keeping watch, dozing off a bit.

When Xiao Muyu woke again, the thin light of dawn was seeping through the window, but the room remained dim and quiet.

Her head still foggy, Xiao Muyu rubbed her forehead to wake up.

Soon, she heard a sound in the silence—Shen Qingqiu’s breathing, but it was uneven and rapid.

Xiao Muyu quickly went over, touching Shen Qingqiu’s forehead, feeling both sweat and heat.

Her heart sank—Shen Qingqiu had a fever. She hurried to get a washcloth to cool her down.

The cool cloth moved from her forehead to her neck, then her palms. Shen Qingqiu’s temperature was high, not just a mild fever.

Xiao Muyu was anxious, checking Shen Qingqiu’s abdominal wound, which was red and swollen.

Regretting not having a doctor check her last night, she quickly stood up and went outside.

Soon, there were low voices and footsteps outside, and a middle-aged man carrying a medicine chest followed Xiao Muyu into the room.

Xiao Muyu had been frowning the entire time, listening to the doctor talk about Shen Qingqiu’s condition. Although she knew deep down that Shen Qingqiu’s illness was not caused by human intervention, Xiao Muyu couldn’t just let her remain sick.

The doctor could only treat the symptoms, saying it was an evil wind that had entered the body, causing the lungs to fail in their function, which led to the fever and cough. He prescribed some medicine and instructed Xiao Muyu to prepare it for Shen Qingqiu.

After sending the doctor away, Xiao Muyu had the servants prepare the medicine at the inn. She chose not to go back last night to avoid complications with Miao Anli and the others and because they each had their own families now and couldn’t stay together all the time.

But seeing how severely Shen Qingqiu had suffered, her body so frail, Xiao Muyu couldn’t just leave her. It was better to stay and take care of her, which put her mind at ease.

Even though she had only rested for less than four hours the previous night, seeing Shen Qingqiu in such a state left Xiao Muyu wide awake. Noticing her flushed cheeks from the fever, Xiao Muyu quickly continued to wipe her body down to reduce the temperature.

This time, when she used the wet towel to wipe Shen Qingqiu’s palms, Shen Qingqiu woke up. She didn’t move but just opened her eyes and quietly stared at Xiao Muyu.

The light from the lantern illuminated her face, and the slight glimmer in her light brown eyes was gentle, like the first light of dawn outside. Xiao Muyu, who already felt both pain and pity, found her heart could not be more divided.

“You’re awake. You have a fever, and your body is burning up. Do you feel any discomfort? Are your wounds hurting? Do you feel dizzy?” Xiao Muyu asked, holding her hand close.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t speak immediately. She grabbed Xiao Muyu’s hand with her right hand, pulling it to her chest and holding it, gently rubbing her thumb between Xiao Muyu’s fingers, just looking at her.

Shen Qingqiu’s face didn’t show much discomfort, nor did it carry her usual smile, but her eyes were full of gentle affection.

Xiao Muyu felt a soft yet intense pain in her heart. “Why aren’t you saying anything, just looking at me like that?”

Shen Qingqiu shook her head. “I’m fine now. I just had a dream.”

“What dream?” Xiao Muyu asked, her eyes fixed on her.

Shen Qingqiu tightened her grip, sitting up with Xiao Muyu’s help. Lowering her gaze for a moment of silence, she looked back at Xiao Muyu with an uncharacteristic hint of fear and vulnerability in her eyes. “I don’t know what kind of dream it was. I just remember you weren’t in it, and I couldn’t find you no matter what.”

Xiao Muyu’s heart twisted, like a needle pricking into it, causing a dense pain. She put down the towel, held Shen Qingqiu’s hands with both of hers, and looked into her eyes seriously. “You will always find me.”

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes moved over Xiao Muyu’s face, as if enveloping her in a net. She smiled, a gentle curve of her lips. “Yes, that’s why it’s so good to open my eyes and see you here beside me. Everything is good, and I don’t feel any discomfort.”

Xiao Muyu watched her smile, a smile devoid of its usual boldness but so beautiful and heart-stirring, and heartbreaking.

So, she forgot the circumstances, forgot the situation, and leaned in to kiss her.