Chapter 85 Her ability to act cute and pitiful is unparalleled...
Dark clouds loomed overhead, but the rain didn't fall until Dai Li and Qin Yanzhou arrived in Nanyang County.
Nanyang County is just a county, and its scale cannot be compared with that of a prefecture. The mother and son arrived here just before curfew, and without thinking about anything else, they found a guesthouse nearby to stay in.
Dai Li used the story told by the wife of a merchant, while Qin Yanzhou used something else. The two of them booked two adjacent side rooms.
After having dinner in the lobby, the two returned to their room.
Qin Yanzhou first followed Dai Li into her room and carefully inspected it inside and out to see if the room met the "first-class" standard that the maid had mentioned earlier.
Dai Li stood by the window, peering out. "Zhouzhou, that gyrfalcon is still there."
"Time is tight today, so I can't deal with it now. I'll get a bow tomorrow and shoot this gyrfalcon down." Qin Yanzhou already had a plan.
Dai Li nodded and agreed.
Just then, two maids carried in a wooden bucket filled with water. This was an extra service that Dai Li had requested along with her room reservation when she first arrived at the shop.
They finished their dinner downstairs, and the water was ready just in time.
"Mom, I'll watch the door for you outside." Qin Yanzhou left.
Dai Li waved her hand: "No need, you've been working hard all day, go back to your room and rest. These two rooms are close together, if anything happens, I can just shout from my room."
Qin Yanzhou hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.
After everyone left, Dai Li began to take off her clothes and shower. Yesterday, she stayed in a farmhouse in a small mountain village. It was already a blessing to have a roof over her head and not have to sleep on the streets. She couldn't ask for anything more.
As for the day before yesterday, there's no need to mention it further; the environment in the dilapidated temple was even worse.
But that's all in the past. Now she and Zhouzhou have entered Yuzhou and left Qin Shaozong's territory.
Once they've dealt with that gyrfalcon, she and her son will head further south, ideally to a small county bordering the prefecture where the governor's office is located.
I'll buy a small house then, plant some flowers, and raise a cat or a dog.
Zhouzhou is nineteen this year, old enough to date girls. No, dating isn't allowed here; marriages are all arranged by parents and matchmakers.
The procedures are quite different, but there's always a way...
With a warm brocade scarf covering her face, Dai Li sighed contentedly.
*
Mo Yanyun rode his half-dead horse alone along the mountain path. He had only set off again in the afternoon and didn't reach the vicinity of Nanyang County until late at night.
Suddenly, Mo Yanyun heard a rumbling sound.
At first he thought it was thunder, but a moment later he realized it was clearly the sound of horses' hooves.
He has now come to a fork in the road. Ahead lies Nanyang County, behind him is the road he came from, and the other is the official road to the northwest.
Mo Yanyun muttered to himself, "It seems to be in the northwest. Why are there people traveling at this hour? Could it be reinforcements from Sizhou who want to detour to the east of Xiagu City? But that doesn't make sense. Why go through such a big detour when they could detour anywhere else?"
Regardless of whether it was right or wrong, he quickly dismounted and led the horse to a nearby thicket, trying his best to hide it.
"Well, thankfully it's dark today, so we shouldn't be discovered." Mo Yanyun began to wait.
In just a short while, the team arrived.
The night was pitch black, making it impossible to discern the exact leader, but the others were still roughly visible. The cavalrymen disappeared into the darkness, their powerful horses galloping in with imposing momentum, the soldiers on horseback all clad in light black armor.
Mo Yanyun stared in disbelief.
Something's definitely not right; the more I look at it, the more familiar it seems.
Suddenly he shuddered; these looked like his own cavalry!
Mo Yanyun immediately jumped out and shouted, "Xuanxiao Cavalry, wait!"
The cavalry was incredibly fast; by the time Mo Yanyun shouted, only the tail of the Xuanxiao cavalry had passed. As soon as he finished speaking, someone at the front reined in their horse and ordered a halt, and the entire column quickly came to a stop.
Mo Yanyun quickly rode forward, and before he had gone far, a tall and imposing figure gradually became clear in the darkness.
Mo Yanyun was shocked, "My lord? What brings you here..."
"Where is Madam?" Qin Shaozong asked in a deep voice.
Mo Yanyun seemed to have been suddenly choked; he opened his mouth but made no sound, unable to utter a single word.
"Mo Yanyun".
Mo Yanyun was on the verge of tears. “My lord, I’ve lost them. At first, Lady Dai let me follow them, but after staying overnight in the small mountain village, today… no, yesterday morning I realized my horse was in bad shape. It seemed to be poisoned and I couldn’t catch up with Lady Dai and the young master.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the air pressure around them instantly dropped. Mo Yanyun knew something was wrong and quickly finished what he was saying:
"Bai Ye should not have been discovered yet, at least not until my horse had an accident. Everything seemed normal. And Nanyang County is just ahead. Madam Dai and the young master were riding together, so their speed was definitely not fast. I guess they entered the city around late afternoon yesterday. Time is of the essence, so even if they discover Bai Ye, they probably won't have time to deal with it in a short time."
For the first time, Mo Yanyun felt like her brain was sparking with fire.
He cautiously observed his superior and found that although the other party's expression did not exactly soften after he finished speaking, the atmosphere was not as frightening as it had been before.
Qin Shaozong simply said, "Follow me."
Mo Yanyun looked worried and distressed.
Keep up?
His horse is in such bad shape, it can't keep up!
But Qin Shaozong clearly didn't intend to pay him any attention, and after saying that, he turned his horse around.
This place was not far from Nanyang County. An hour later, Qin Shaozong arrived outside Nanyang County.
Whether it's a prefecture or a county, all the walls are thicker at the bottom and thinner at the top, with a certain slope, rather than being vertical. The difference is that the walls of some prefectures are higher and the surface is relatively flat, such as in Xiagu; while the walls of counties are lower, and due to lax supervision, the bricks are often misaligned, such as in the Nanyang County in front of us.
The former is not conducive to climbing, while the latter has an unusually large number of footholds. In the absence of interference, a daring person can quickly climb the city wall.
Qin Shaozong looked up at the height of the wall.
It's a little over two zhang, but less than three zhang, so it's not considered tall.
Mo Yanyun, who had swapped horses with Xuanxiao, caught up with them. He volunteered to redeem himself, saying, "My lord, I wish to lead a few men to open the city gate."
Qin Shaozong agreed.
In the darkness, more than a dozen figures dismounted in unison, swiftly reached the foot of the city wall, and began to climb it with practiced ease.
They clung to the wall like geckos, climbing upwards without ever looking back. In just a short while, these dozen or so figures reached the top one after another.
A commotion arose from the city wall, but it quickly subsided.
A moment later, the not-so-heavy city gate slowly opened.
*
Dai Li was awakened in the middle of the night by a clap of thunder. It was a hot summer night, and she hadn't closed the window before going to bed. Now, the wind was rushing in, making the window slats sway and the wooden hinges creak.
The sound was so annoying that Dai Li couldn't help but get up and close the window after listening for a while.
Thunder rumbled, as if trying to pierce the sky. Lightning bolts streaked across the heavens, their dark purple streaks connecting to form a vast net, catching every fish that slipped through.
Dai Li glanced at the rooftop opposite; the gyrfalcon that had landed there earlier was no longer there.
They probably went to avoid the rain.
Dai Li closed the window and lay back down on the bed. But before she could fall into a deep sleep, she thought she heard a knocking sound at the door.
The urgent tone, heard in this not-so-quiet night, sent a chill down one's spine.
"Mother……"
Dai Li suddenly opened his eyes. It wasn't a hallucination or a dream; it was Zhou Zhou calling him from outside.
Dai Li hurriedly got up to open the door.
The wooden hinge spun open, and Dai Li saw Qin Yanzhou behind the door. "Zhouzhou, what's wrong..."
Before he could finish asking the question...
"The Marquis of Wu'an's men have arrived, quite a few of them, and they're already downstairs." A rare, obvious urgency appeared in Qin Yanzhou's eyes.
Dai Li was stunned, and then the color drained from her face instantly.
They lived on the second floor and hadn't noticed before, but now that her son had brought it up, she realized the noise downstairs was excessive. In what should have been a peaceful night, lights were on downstairs, and people were talking.
The mother and son stood on the second-floor stairs. This traditional house had a high ceiling, and part of the first floor was not topped off. Standing on the second-floor stairs, they could see what was happening on the first floor.
At this moment, the gates of the post station were wide open, and two soldiers in black armor stood at the entrance. Two small lamps on the table swayed as people walked through the hall.
The leader was over eight feet tall, clad in black armor and a red cloak. His imposing figure, illuminated by the dim light of the lantern, resembled an insurmountable mountain. The dark red cloak billowed with a sharp arc as he moved, like a blade freshly saturated with blood.
Dai Li's pupils trembled slightly.
It wasn't Qin Shaozong's subordinates who came; it was actually Qin Shaozong himself.
The man on the first floor seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up.
Dai Li stood in the darkness, and logically the other party shouldn't have been able to see her. However, when that sharp and scorching gaze fell upon her, for a moment, she felt as if she were enveloped by raging, molten lava.
The raging wildfires transformed into a giant tiger with gaping, bloodthirsty maws, eager to tear her apart and devour her whole.
Oh no, he definitely saw her.
Dai Li's legs felt a little weak.
"Mom, I'll take you..."
Dai Li grabbed her son's arm tightly and led the young man back to his room without allowing any argument. "Zhouzhou, don't come out later. Leave everything to me, I'll handle him."
"No." The young man shook his head without even thinking.
"Listen to me!" This was the first time Dai Li had spoken to her son in a stern tone since their reunion. "Our presence together will only fuel his anger. Now is not the time to add fuel to the fire. Zhouzhou, be good and stay in your room."
Dai Li patted her son's arm and softened her tone, "It's okay, Mom knows what she's doing, don't worry."
Without waiting for Qin Yanzhou to say anything more, Dai Li left his room, closing the door behind her. Before she could turn her head, a dark figure had already entered her peripheral vision.
The powerful figures who emerge from the bloody battles exude an imposing aura, as if transformed into the sharpest blade, inspiring constant fear and trepidation.
Dai Li remained in the position of closing the door.
After a brief moment of stiffness, Dai Li turned her head and gave a gentle smile, "Your Lordship has arrived."
She spoke casually and in an ordinary tone, as if none of it had ever happened—whether it was her abduction by the Qinglian Sect, her later escape, or her silent journey south to Yuzhou with her son.
She neither cried to him about her grievances and anger at the time, nor did she reveal her fear of being caught red-handed.
She tried to downplay the situation.
The fire that Qin Shaozong had been suppressing suddenly surged like oil being poured on it, burning him so badly that his internal organs ached and he clamored for release.
The man's forehead veins bulged, and he gave a forced smile: "I always thought that Madam had the guts of a bear and the courage of a leopard. Now it seems that she certainly has the guts, but whether she has a heart or liver is another matter."
The door wasn't very soundproof, and Dai Li didn't want to talk in the hallway.
She stepped forward and took Qin Shaozong's arm, saying, "My lord, what are you saying? Circumstances are unpredictable, and many things are beyond our control. Don't stand outside, please come inside with me."
A subtle fragrance wafted through the air, that familiar scent wafting towards him. Qin Shaozong's mockery vanished, and he stood motionless, his face cold.
Dai Li still held his arm and tried to lead him forward, but because Qin Shaozong's height and weight far exceeded hers, she couldn't get him moving.
Unable to pull him, Dai Li simply let go of him. "My lord, you came so late at night, are you thirsty? Shall I pour you a cup of tea?"
She went back to her room and heard footsteps as she took her first steps.
"Bang!" The door was slammed shut.
With a sudden tightening around her waist, Dai Li was pulled over. After a dizzying spin, her back pressed against the cold wooden door, and he was in front of her.
The man, still clad in black armor, appeared even more imposing. Outside the window, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the light occasionally blazing brightly before disappearing again. Yet, Dai Li couldn't see a sliver of light; she was enveloped by him, pressed against the door, even her breath filled with his deep, masculine aura.
"Why didn't you come looking for me when you were in the city? Why did you secretly head south with that kid?" Every word seemed to have been crushed before it was uttered.
irritable, with a fiery temper.
Dai Li knew in her heart that things were in trouble; it seemed there was no way to cover it up now. She lowered her eyes, quickly admitting her mistake while simultaneously shifting the blame to the Qinglian Sect, "I'm so sorry, it was the Qinglian Sect that sent my son on a long journey. I wasn't comfortable with him traveling alone, so I insisted on going with him. I did consider whether to inform you, but thinking of how irreconcilable you and the Qinglian Sect are, I..."
"lie!"
The two powerful words stunned Dai Li.
Dai Li hurriedly looked up, staring at Qin Shaozong in astonishment. Her red lips parted, but she couldn't utter a word.
Qin Shaozong stared at her intently, not missing a single expression even in the dim light of the room.
He had been tricked by her once before in Nankang County, and he discovered that this fox was very good at deceiving people, mixing truth and lies, and would also play the victim when the time was right.
Just now, when she lowered her eyes and spoke pitifully, that familiar feeling returned, more unbearable than the thunder outside, making him dizzy and disoriented.
They're incredibly good at playing the victim and feigning helplessness, and they're quick and decisive when admitting their mistakes, but they never actually change.
If there's a next time, he's sure she'll do it again!
Qin Shaozong's temples throbbed. Seeing that she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, he simply used his hand to hold her chin and lift it up.
If she says something unpleasant, then don't let her say it.
He leaned down and kissed those red lips fiercely.
Dai Li knew he was always fierce in matters of the heart, but this was the first time she had felt the even more obvious "ruthlessness" behind that "fierceness." She was completely pressed against the door, unable to move, and couldn't even make a sound.
The simmering fire that had been burning within Qin Shaozong's chest for days finally found an outlet, surging forth with overwhelming force.
He wrapped himself around her, nibbled at her, and swept her back and forth.
Dai Li was forced to tilt her head back, so she couldn't see her own face, but she instinctively felt that he had bitten her lips and tongue, leaving shallow teeth marks.
A silver thread dangled down, first appearing as a small dot, then slowly expanding until it soaked a small patch.
Dai Li tried to quell the raging wildfire. She stood on tiptoe and hooked her arm around his neck, attempting to put out his anger.
Thunder roared and electricity crackled outside, while inside the house, a series of loud, smacking sounds filled the air, making one's ears turn red and heart race.
After a day of gloom, the sky finally gave way to a downpour. The rain poured down relentlessly, obscuring many sounds.
It was cool outside, but the temperature inside seemed to be rising steadily. Dai Li felt like she was being swallowed up. She turned her head to the side, her breathing rapid, and her eyes were filled with a thin layer of mist.
She turned her head away, but he still wouldn't let her go.
The man first wrapped one arm around her waist, using his arm strength to lift her up, while his other strong long arm went down her waistline, lifted her up from under her legs, and almost held Dai Li up as if she were sitting on his arm.
The two are nearly 20 centimeters apart in height. When he kissed her earlier, Qin Shaozong did not straighten up. Now, after lifting Dai Li up by the feet, he continues to press her against the door.
The sudden feeling of being lifted into the air startled Dai Li, and she instinctively grabbed his arm. The man's light armor was still on, and his shoulder blades were very hard, so Dai Li couldn't grip them properly and had to grab the red cloak on his shoulder blades instead.
He kissed her lips again, and Dai Li, who was still catching her breath, subconsciously turned her head to the side.
Qin Shaozong paused, then moved his kiss down from her red lips to her fair neck.
Its canine teeth were exposed, and it was gnawing or licking a small piece of skin or flesh.
Author's Note: On May 21st, Dai Li and Lao Qin met!
Sigh, it's not over yet. Please come early tomorrow! [heart emojis]
Please give me some nutrient solution [hugs]
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