Leaving the city
Wen Zheng carried Xiao Yu as she ran out of the banquet hall. The once bustling streets were deserted, as if they knew in advance what was going to happen today.
The little Yu in her arms had turned into a deer's face, with a pair of crystal-clear antlers, which made it clear that he was no ordinary creature.
Wen Zheng took out a cloth and wrapped it around Xiao Yu's head, saying gently, "Don't be afraid, I'll take you out right away."
Xiao Yu opened his mouth and made a "yoyo" sound. Wen Zheng couldn't understand it. Seeing that he didn't resist, she carefully covered the antlers with a cloth and asked, "Why did you come to Qing Shi City alone?" to distract him.
Wasn't Mayor Zhao living with Xiaoyu in Lanshui Town? Why did he let Xiaoyu run so far away alone?
Xiaoyu's calm emotions struggled violently after she finished speaking, and she let out a terrified cry.
Someone seemed to be approaching from not far away. Wen Zheng covered Xiao Yu's mouth and hid in the alley. After Xiao Yu calmed down, she said, "I won't ask anymore, I won't ask anymore."
She had originally asked the question to distract Xiaoyu, but now she realized something was wrong. How could a little kid like Xiaoyu have run so far? Someone must have brought him here.
The person who brought him here is most likely someone who covets the white deer, or it could be Mayor Zhao. If it's the former, Mayor Zhao is likely in grave danger; if it's the latter, he probably won't fare much better.
Wen Zheng lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "How about I take you back to Blue Water Town?"
The matter of the Grand Elder was none of her business. She had planned to leave after discussing Hua Rong's affairs. If it weren't for the Grand Elder's delay, she and Mu Qing wouldn't have gotten involved in this dispute.
Since she had nothing to do anyway, she might as well take Xiaoyu home on her way and find someone to take care of him.
Xiao Yu looked up at him blankly, his doe eyes revealing sadness. He opened his mouth, his doe face turning back into a child's, and he whispered, "You need a token to leave the city, and I don't have one."
He was able to speak up, which eased Wen Zheng's low spirits considerably. She patted his head reassuringly and said, "It's alright. I know some people. Getting a token from them shouldn't be a problem."
She picked up Xiaoyu and walked towards Fumanlou.
Mu Qing rushed to the alley entrance but couldn't find Wen Zheng. Just as she was about to sense her again, dozens of white figures appeared behind her.
He turned around, and the people in front of him were the same white-robed men who had kidnapped Xiaoyu before. These men had fierce looks on their faces and shouted angrily, "Hand over Bai Lu right now, or you'll be sorry."
These people's target is Bai Lu, but Bai Lu is currently with Wen Zheng, and letting these people leave will cause trouble for Wen Zheng.
Without even thinking, Mu Qing immediately drew her sword and pierced the chest of the white-robed man in front of her. A blood-red flower bloomed from his chest. The other white-robed men were so frightened that they took a step back, their faces showing hesitation. They wanted to leave but dared not.
Mu Qing had no time to dwell on these people's emotions. With a swift movement of her blade, all the white-robed men were gone.
After finding the Longevity Sect token on the white-robed man again, Mu Qing remained calm. He already had a plan in mind; he just needed an opportunity to verify it.
However, the most important thing now is to find Wen Zheng. The white-robed man has appeared, and Qing Shi City is destined to be turbulent tonight.
On the other side, Wen Zheng led Xiao Yu through various hiding and dodging maneuvers to avoid the patrolling guards, finally arriving at the entrance of Fu Man Lou.
Fu Man Lou was closed tonight, unlike its usual bustling and prosperous atmosphere. A little demon guarding the gate yawned and waved his hand when he saw people coming, saying, "Fu Man Lou is closed today. You can go back now."
Seeing that the person wouldn't leave, Xiao Yao prepared to chase them away. Wen Zheng grabbed Xiao Yao's collar and asked, "Where's Zhan Xin? I need to talk to him."
The sudden feeling of suffocation on her neck brought Xiao Yao back to her senses. After seeing who it was, she vaguely felt that they were familiar. After thinking for a while, she remembered that this guest looked like Master Shi Zhanxin.
The little demon immediately put on a smile, bowed and showed a fawning smile, "Lord Zhanxin is in the building handling the accounts, I'll take him there right away."
The little demon's change in attitude made Wen Zheng realize once again that something was wrong with Qing Shi City. These demons seemed to have no souls, and they were too obsequious when they saw those with power and influence, as if they were born to be servants.
Wen Zheng sighed deeply, shaking off her unrealistic fantasies, and found Zhan Xin drinking in the building.
Zhan Xin leaned against the window, his eyes fixed on the place where the Grand Elder was holding his birthday banquet today. From his vantage point, he could see the large fire burning in the distance, the flames accompanied by screams of agony.
Zhan Xin downed the wine in one gulp, a slight smile appearing on his lips, but when he turned his head and caught sight of Wen Zheng holding the child, his smile froze on his lips.
Wen Zheng hadn't expected to see Zhan Xin like this again. After taking a deep breath, she slowly said, "I want to leave the city. Can you help me get a token?"
"Leave the city? Now?" Zhan Xin asked in surprise.
During the day, you only need to pay a certain amount of spirit stones to leave the city. Only at night do you need a token to leave the city. The situation at the Grand Elder's place has just become chaotic. Wen Zheng is taking a child and wants to leave the city.
Wen Zheng nodded: "Right now."
Zhan Xin looked at the child in her arms, whose appearance was obscured by the swaddling clothes, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "Come with me."
He took Wen Zheng to Elder Qingniao's residence, which was brightly lit and filled with soldiers in armor awaiting orders.
When Zhan Xin appeared with his entourage, they glanced at him in surprise, but then casually began to talk about other things.
Following Zhan Xin along the way, Wen Zheng finally met the Elder Qingniao he had mentioned, a demon with a gentle demeanor.
"Elder Qingniao, she needs the token to leave the city." Zhan Xin said, looking at Elder Qingniao.
Elder Qingniao immediately recognized Wen Zheng's human identity. Without asking any further questions, he took out a token and handed it over, instructing her, "The east gate is under martial law, the west and north gates are similar, the south gate is more relaxed and the road is shorter, so you can go this way."
"Thank you." Wen Zheng accepted the token and expressed her gratitude. As she turned to leave with Xiao Yu in her arms, a piece of the cloth wrapped around her head fell down, revealing Xiao Yu's pale face.
"Wait!" Elder Qingniao shouted sharply to Wen Zheng, "Where did you pick up this child?"
Didn't he order someone to send the child and Zhao He back together? Where is Zhao He?
Wen Zheng tightened her grip on Xiao Yudian's hand and quickly pulled up a cloth to cover Xiao Yu's face. "I know him. I found him by accident and was just about to take him home."
She looked nervously at Elder Qingniao, worried that he might also be one of those coveting Xiaoyu's white deer bloodline. Elder Qingniao was equally uneasy. He tried to control his emotions and asked Xiaoyu softly, "Where is Mayor Zhao? Didn't I send someone to escort you back?"
When Mayor Zhao was mentioned, Xiao Yu tensed up again, but this time he was much better and could still speak.
“Mayor Zhao… is dead, and my uncle is dead too. He was killed by a woman. That woman wanted to kill me, but Elder Lieyan appeared. He discovered that I have the bloodline of the White Deer and wanted to offer me to the Grand Elder. He drove that woman away.”
Xiaoyu calmly recounted what had happened. His pale face was devoid of any color, and he was very calm, as if he had suddenly grown up.
Upon hearing the word "woman," Wen Zheng's mental radar went off. Her first thought was Li Ruyue, and her heart skipped a beat, her whole body trembling with goosebumps.
Once her heartbeat calmed down, Wen Zheng paused, squatted down, and, with her eyes level with Xiao Yu's, asked, "Was that woman's weapon an iron rod?"
Li Ruyue's iron rod left a deep impression on Wen Zheng, one she could never forget.
Her fear was Xiaoyu's fear too. Recalling the iron rod that the woman had swung down, Xiaoyu trembled and shrank behind Wenzheng.
Seeing his reaction, Wen Zheng understood everything. She knew that Li Ruyue was not only alive, but had also come to Qing Shi City and killed Mayor Zhao.
However, there was one thing Wen Zheng couldn't understand: why would Mayor Zhao come to Qing Shi City?
She voiced her doubts, but Xiaoyu was already trembling with fear and didn't even have the strength to answer. It was Elder Qingniao who answered her question.
“Zhao He came to Qing Shi City seeking my protection. He said someone was chasing Xiao Yu, so he had no choice but to come to Qing Shi City for help. My men went to check and found no suspicious people.”
Elder Qingniao's expression was not good. He had only just found out about such a big incident; he had failed in his duty.
Connecting the clues, Wen Zheng immediately understood.
After escaping from the Lord of Vermilion Bird City, Li Ruyue did not leave. Instead, she went to Blue Water Town to capture Xiaoyu. Later, she asked the town mayor to bring Xiaoyu to Green Stone City, and Li Ruyue came along as well.
Remembering the man's ruthless attempt to kill her, Wen Zheng anxiously turned the wooden bracelet on her wrist.
It's probably not safe to leave the city now.
As she pondered, Elder Qingniao spoke up, "I'll go with you, help you get out safely, and collect Zhao He's body while I'm at it."
Zhao He was someone he had high hopes for, and now that his body was lying exposed in the wilderness, he couldn't bear to see it.
Considering Xiaoyu's unstable emotions, Wen Zheng felt it would be better to send Xiaoyu back to a familiar place to recuperate. She said in a deep voice, "Take more people with you. That woman is not easy to deal with."
The fact that he was able to escape from the clutches of the Vermilion Bird City Lord and Mu Qing demonstrates his extraordinary strength.
Elder Qingniao nodded, "Don't worry, none of my people are simple."
After briefly explaining, Wen Zheng took Xiao Yu to rest for a while before leaving the city with Elder Qingniao.
Outside the city.
Elder Qingniao led his men to the bodies of Zhao He and his men, and solemnly helped them with their funeral arrangements.
Worried about Xiaoyu's feelings, Wenzheng pulled him to stand not far away and kowtowed three times to Mayor Zhao.
The man brought by Elder Qingniao had an ugly expression and followed him silently, his hand unconsciously reaching for his waist.
My companion died a gruesome death. The murderer was so cruel, leaving not even a complete body; he was truly vicious.
After Elder Qingniao finished handling his affairs, he walked up to Wen Zheng and said, "I will escort you back to Bluewater Town."
He originally only intended to send the men out of Qing Shi City and then return, but after seeing the mangled corpses of his men, he changed his mind; he had to send the two men back.
"Thank you for your help." Wen Zheng didn't refuse. She wasn't sure she could get Xiao Yu home safely, and having someone help her would be a great help.
Thinking of Mu Qing, who was still fighting a fierce battle with the Grand Elder, Wen Zheng took out a jade slip and briefly recounted how she had sent Xiao Yu home.
Mu Qing is busy fighting right now and probably won't have time to reply to her, so she should leave with Xiao Yu first.
She had just taken Xiaoyu's hand when a chill ran down her spine. Her body reacted first, and she rolled to the side with Xiaoyu in her arms. Sand and gravel kicked up by the iron rod splashed all over her face.
When Wen Zheng brushed aside the sand and stones in front of her, she saw Li Ruyue with a full head of white hair, looking as if she had aged forty years.
"It really is you," Wen Zheng said.
A smile tugged at Li Ruyue's aged face. "It seems I can get both things done today."
She twirled the iron rod in her hand, issuing a silent warning. In the moonlight, the shadows of the surrounding trees seemed to transform into man-eating monsters, baring their fangs and claws along with Li Ruyue, eager to devour everything.
Wen Zheng wiped the sand off her face, casually tossed out a handful of talismans, and while Li Ruyue was blocking the talismans, she handed Xiao Yu to Elder Qingniao, saying, "Take Xiao Yu and go, I'll cover the rear."
Although she lacks strength, she has been through so much and still has the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Moreover, Li Ruyue's current condition is clearly not right, so she might be able to beat her.
Elder Qingniao looked at Xiaoyu, who was already terrified, and then at the human who was about to act foolishly. He sighed and ordered his subordinates to take the child and immediately summon their weapons to stand beside Wen Zheng.
"I'll take care of it; you can just stand by and help me whenever you need to."
He wouldn't send a Nascent Soul stage human to their death.
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