Free Web NovelChapter 444: Chapter 372: You Don’t Want Them to Find Out Either
"Alright, then I’ll bring it up at tomorrow’s meeting." Yan Qing turned to leave, "Any conditions I cannot fulfill, I’ll pretend they don’t exist."
"You!" Ying Rushi grabbed his sleeve, "At least... at least wait until I’m closer to them, alright?"
"How close? What specific signs are you referring to?" Yan Qing looked at her skeptically, "I suspect you’re just trying to stall for time."
Ying Rushi stumbled over her words, much like a woman trying to avoid discussing a wedding date, "When... when they’re ready to talk about you with me, I’ll bring it up. After all, I can’t be helping them while also hiding things with you... it’s too unethical."
"But your private matters, I wouldn’t know if you didn’t tell me." Yan Qing replied, still not completely satisfied, "Yet... I suppose it’s fine. Sigh, have you considered my feelings with all your reticence?"
"You!"
Had it not been for her upbringing which restrained her from swearing, Ying Rushi would have spat venom at this lustful dog. Ignoring the barrier, she raised her fist and swung it at him directly, "If it wasn’t for the mission, for you, would I need to keep things under wraps!? It’s you who involved me, it’s you who is fickle, and now I have to help you conceal... I’m doing this with your feelings in mind! I don’t want my involvement to keep you from them, to see you upset... and I don’t want to hide, sitting far from you during meals makes me unhappy too!"
As she spoke, Ying Rushi couldn’t control her emotions. Both her hands were taken by Yan Qing, and she could only bury her head in his embrace, unwilling for him to see her discontent and frustration.
"How would I know you’re unhappy if you don’t say anything?" Yan Qing said, "I might not be able to hear you vent every day, but I can manage once every ten days. I’ll be there for you to let it all out."
Ying Rushi’s body trembled within his arms. After a moment, she lifted her head, rubbing her reddened eyes, still radiantly beautiful and pitiful. She waved her hand, feigning calmness, "Alright, I’ve vented. You can go now."
Yan Qing shook his head, pointed at his lips, and blinked, "White Fox, you wouldn’t want Black Wolf and Red Snake to find out, right?"
Ying Rushi glared at him, both angry and amused, her face blushing as she stood on tiptoes to gently peck his lips. A moment later, she suddenly pushed him away with both hands, covering her backside and cursing, "You lecherous dog!"
...
...
Ying Rushi rested in her room for a while, waiting for the blush on her face to subside before returning to the present world.
In the forest, Murong Hui was gnawing on grilled fish. Upon seeing Ying Rushi appear, she handed over a skewer of grilled fish she had prepared. But the next moment, she sniffed the air, looking at Ying Rushi with a face full of grievance, "You had a full meal at the Thief’s House?"
Ying Rushi suddenly realized what she had forgotten, quickly taking out candies she collected from the Demon Gathering Land as an offering. But Murong Hui still pouted, "You ate and drank well and forgot to bring me food? Did Yellow Dog forget too?"
Ying Rushi gritted her teeth, "I’ll go back now and have Yellow Dog fry up a couple of dishes for you!"
"No need, I just had a few packs of spicy dried fish from the Demon Gathering Land, so I’m not really hungry," Murong Hui said as she squatted down and drew circles on the ground, "After all, I’m just an uncared-for older sister... grilling fish for her sister, waiting for her to return..."
However, Murong Hui’s mood swung back quickly, and she soon recovered under Ying Rushi’s caress.
"Let’s keep moving, try to stay at an inn tomorrow!"
Ying Rushi felt a bit awkward then, "Hui, I have something to attend to—I need to head over to Nocturnal Heaven."
"Ah!?" Murong Hui froze, lowering her head without saying a word. Originally, parting wouldn’t have been a big deal, but just now forgetting to bring food for Murong Hui left Ying Rushi feeling a little guilty, "If I have time, I’ll come find you at Yanzi Military Town for some fun, okay?"
"You promised!" Murong Hui responded immediately, "Then let’s go, to Nocturnal Heaven!"
Ying Rushi was stunned for a moment before she realized, "You’re going too?"
"What else? It’s safer with the two of us than just you alone, isn’t it?"
"But if I encounter danger, I can retreat into the Thief’s House, you..."
"If I’m in danger, I can call out my renowned name," Murong Hui said, hands on her hips, "I didn’t blame you for calling me Murong Hui in the Demon Gathering Land, but out here, what should you call me? My grandpa is the Purple Tribulation Zhenren!"
"In terms of speed, does your Shadow Spider Boots compare to mine? Rest assured, should danger truly arise, I promise I’ll escape even quicker than you, let’s just go, weren’t you in a rush?"
Feeling Murong Hui’s tight hold on her arm, Ying Rushi understood her concern. In the past, Ying Rushi might have refused; she was used to shouldering everything alone. But after all the events in the Demon Gathering Land, something stirred in her heart.
"Then let’s go together."
The two raced forward with all their might, like phantoms through the forest, reaching the main road by dusk. They encountered a caravan, bought two horses, and galloped on horseback, even giving the horses Blood Replenishing Pills for stamina, finally arriving at the borders of Nocturnal Heaven by noon.
From a distance, they could already hear a thunderous sound of hoofbeats. Exchanging a glance, Ying Rushi and Murong Hui abandoned their horses, hiding in the woods nearby. Soon, a squad of Baibao Guards charged through, each one splattered with blood-covered armor, emanating a strong scent of blood, with spears still dripping crimson.
This was a twenty-man squad of Baibao Guards. Ying Rushi had encountered them countless times, but for some reason, just watching them from afar this time sent shivers down her spine. Besides the ominous "Mobilized Heart," Ying Rushi sensed an even more terrifying power in them. Without using the "Red Dust Eye," she likely wouldn’t last even one round!
Once the Baibao Guards moved far away, Ying Rushi and Murong Hui continued onward. Soon, they caught the overwhelming scent of blood in the night breeze, the sound of insects echoing far and wide, while people raced through the forest as they swept by.
Emerging from the woods, not far ahead lay Wucheng County, the Fuguo County of Nocturnal Heaven. It’s said that Wucheng County once held a Secret Realm two hundred years ago. Though the Secret Realm has vanished, it remains a thriving large county with a population of hundreds of thousands, one of the most prosperous places near Nocturnal Heaven.
Yet before their eyes stood a dead city devoid of lights. In the darkness, shadows loomed, with occasional wild dogs howling and crows cawing.
With the clouds parting, revealing a sliver of the moon, the horrific scene within Wucheng County revealed itself.
"This, this is just too..." Murong Hui muttered, "Did the Zhou Kingdom and Liang Kingdom invade?"
Bodies covered the ground, staining the blue bricks red. Wild dogs feasted, crows pecked.
No one dared to weep, no one dared to appear, no one dared to slumber, no one knew the crime.
Faint lines of blood rose from the town, drifting towards Nocturnal Heaven, converging in the air into a river of blood, burying all beings and deities.
Without a word, Ying Rushi walked towards Wucheng County.
At that moment, she faintly heard a woman’s cries for help. The Shadow Spider Boots activated like lightning, soon discovering two delinquents attempting to break in and rob a house. She drew her sword and swiftly killed them, saying to those inside, "It’s alright now."
There was no response from inside. Ying Rushi kicked the bodies aside, and suddenly, a woman’s sobbing came from indoors, "My husband... he went out and never returned."
Ying Rushi fell silent, took out a Spiritual Jade and slipped it through the door crack. She continued down the street, delving further in. Though close to Nocturnal Heaven, she had never been to Wucheng County before... and she would never see the Wucheng County of the past again.
"Ying Le..." Ying Rushi murmured, "Just how much more do you intend to desecrate the glory of Emperor Divine Martial?"
Murong Hui, following behind, dared not utter a word.
Tonight, the Prince of Lanling radiated an otherworldly aura of malice.
