"Are you here to arrest us?" Ling Shuang asked cautiously.
Mo Niang smiled kindly: "Ladies, please come with me, I'll take you to the exit!"
Although she had her doubts, she still followed her forward.
The winding path was secluded and hidden, concealing mechanisms; we looked at each other in bewilderment.
If it weren't for Mo Niang leading the way, would I have ended up dead here?
"This is the exit. If you keep heading west, you will reach Lingqi City!"
"Mo Niang, aren't you coming with us?"
"No, I've already gotten used to life here!"
"What if they find out we're no longer blaming you?"
"It's alright. My husband is kind-hearted. At most, he'll just lose trust in me, but he won't do anything to me."
"Thank you, Mo Niang. Take good care of yourself!"
"Ladies, please be careful!"
After watching Mo Niang leave, we exited the Valley of No Worries.
By the moonlight, we could clearly see our location.
The weeds were taller than us, and the fireflies fluttering about looked just like fallen stars.
"Are you alright?" I asked with concern.
Ling Shuang was, after all, a princess, pampered since childhood, and had never experienced anything like this.
To everyone's surprise, she was quite excited: "I'm doing great! It's much more fun than being cooped up in the deep palace all day!" As she spoke, her eyes shone with a unique brilliance, as bright as the stars in the sky.
Spending a few days with her has greatly changed my opinion of her. Although she's a bit willful and capricious, she's simple-minded, straightforward, and unlike other young ladies from wealthy families.
"If you weren't Murong Kui, I wouldn't have made you my friend!"
"Tch! I don't even want to be friends with you!"
We chatted and bickered the whole way, and before we knew it, we had covered most of the distance.
Suddenly we saw someone carrying a torch walking towards us.
Judging from their attire, they were probably patrolling bandits.
I reacted quickly, pushing Ling Shuang into the tall grass to hide her, signaling her to be quiet.
"What are you doing?" the bandit at the front shouted.
"Isn't that meant to be offered to the mistress of the house?"
As I was talking, I turned and ran back, attracting the attention of all the bandits who chased after me.
"Grab her, don't let her get away!"
Ling Shuang was so frightened that she covered her mouth tightly. Only after the sound stopped did she dare to peek out to check. When she tried to get up, she found that her legs had already gone limp from fear.
Their voices rang out behind me, and only one thought occupied my mind: to rush forward.
I kept praying that Ye Lisheng would appear where I could see her as soon as I looked up.
"Where are you, Ye Lisheng?"
The weeds scratched my face and the back of my hands, but I didn't even realize it.
Suddenly, he lost his footing, leaned forward, and tumbled down the slope.
The sound of the waterfall: "Splash!"
In my fear, I vaguely bumped into something fleshy.
"Ouch! That hurts so much!"
"Are you alright, young lady?" A gentle, soothing voice rang out.
It was like finding a lifeline; I hoped he would possess unparalleled martial arts skills and rescue me from my suffering.
With eager eyes, I asked, "Do you know martial arts?"
He looked at me with a puzzled expression.
I sized him up and down. He was handsome, dressed like a scholar, and looked rather frail. He didn't seem like someone who knew martial arts at all.
He kindly advised, "There are bandits chasing me from behind, you should hurry up and leave!"
He smiled at me and said, "It's alright!"
"He's here!"
Just then, the bandits came towards us carrying torches.
"I told you to leave, but you wouldn't. Now look what's happened!"
"Don't be afraid, girl!"
Instead of arresting me, the bandits bowed in unison and said, "Master, you're back?"
"The boss? Who is that?" I curiously peeked around but didn't see anyone.
Realizing something, she looked at him with disbelief and asked, "You...you're their boss!"
Doesn't it look like it?
I shook my head vigorously, like a rattle-drum.
"How dare you be so disrespectful to our leader!"
I was startled by his roar and grabbed his hand tightly.
"It's fine! Let her be!"
"Don't be afraid, they won't hurt you!" These words seemed to have a magical power.
"I'll take you back!"
"No, I want to go home!"
He whispered something in my ear, and the bandits grinned from ear to ear.
Along the way, the fireflies looked just like little lanterns illuminating the path, following us the whole time.
My mood improved.
Ye Lisheng and his group searched without success, but found something amiss with the flustered waiter at the tavern.
They are escorting him towards the Valley of No Worries.
Seeing the light, Ling Shuang cautiously hid.
"Sixth Brother! Don't worry, we will definitely find them!" Ye Xuanling comforted him.
"Myna! Brother Ye!"
Ling Shuang excitedly stood up and ran towards them, calling out, "Eighth Brother! Brother Ye!"
"Spirit Frost!"
She leaped into their arms and held them tightly.
Tears welled up in her eyes instantly: "You've finally come!"
"Don't cry, your brothers are here!" Ye Xuanling comforted her gently.
Ye Lisheng looked back expectantly and couldn't help but ask, "Are you alone?"
"Um!"
Where is Murong?
Ling Shuang was sobbing, unable to look Ye Lisheng in the eye.
"Sister Murong went to lure the bandits away alone, and now... now she's probably in grave danger!"
Ye Lisheng felt as if struck by lightning, her heart churning with turmoil.
He kicked the waiter to the ground, saying, "I'll give you ten minutes. If you still can't find the stronghold, I'll tear you to pieces and feed you to the wolves."
Everyone was taken aback; Ye Lisheng had never lost his composure like this in front of others.
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