She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 572 - 571: Fished Out of the River, Su Bai Disappears?
The Hidden Guard had cut off a wisp of Liao Cuihua’s hair and returned to report his duty.
Chu Qi looked at the strand of hair, his face expressionless, "Handle everything related to this matter completely. I do not want General Su to hear any rumors about this person or this incident upon his return."
The Hidden Guard bowed his head, "As you command."
Chu Qi nodded, "You have worked hard on this matter. Do not refuse the jewelry that was previously awarded to Liao Cuihua. Take it all. I have also relied on you these past years to save myself a lot of trouble."
"Relieving Your Majesty’s worries is our duty," replied the guard.
"There’s no need for such grand courtesies in front of me. If I tell you to take it, just take it," Chu Qi waved his hand, signaling him to leave. "I am tired now. You may go."
Silence fell instantly in the tent. The Hidden Guard vanished from sight.
When he had discovered Yan Wanqing in Dawei that year, Chu Qi was filled with frustration. He chose dozens of people from the Hidden Guard overnight to sabotage their relationship. But he never expected all those people to fail, and for it to be done successfully by the unknown Liao Cuihua.
Although it was late, the outcome had moved in the direction Chu Qi had hoped for, which he had never anticipated.
He lay comfortably on the bed, sighing comfortably.
Xiao Pingfeng, oh Xiao Pingfeng, I knew her first. What right did you have to come along and take over?
You obtained her but did not cherish her. You deserved this fate.
The heart was nearly pierced with a hairpin by Su Bai. Tsk, tsk, tsk... it sounds terribly painful, haha...
A pleasurable smile played on Chu Qi’s lips. Whenever he thought about it, he couldn’t help feeling delighted. His entire being emitted a sense of satisfaction!
But before he could savor his joy for long, a black dagger was placed against his throat.
He hadn’t even felt the presence of the newcomer, and his acupuncture points had already been hit.
The person was hidden within a black cloak, clutching a black dagger that emitted a very uncomfortable aura of slaughter. It was clear that this person was not to be trifled with.
"Now, I will ask one question; you will give one answer. A word more, and I will cut off your tongue," a cold, temperatureless voice issued from the thin lips of the newcomer.
From his perfect jawline, Chu Qi recognized that the man was very handsome.
He nodded in response.
The man in black released the acupuncture points.
Chu Qi did not shout for help: "Ask your question."
To his surprise, the man in black seemed a bit taken aback, yet the dagger did not move away.
"Who led the surprise attack tonight?"
He had only seen the troops leave when he arrived amidst the chaos.
"Song Huaxu, my State Preceptor," Chu Qi replied cautiously, wary of the dagger on his throat.
"Why the surprise attack tonight; what happened at the Dawei military camp?" he asked again.
Chu Qi frowned. This question involved military secrets, which he was reluctant to discuss.
"Speak!" The dagger pressed closer to his throat, the sharp tip piercing the delicate skin, causing Chu Qi to suck in a breath from the pain.
"Xiao Pingfeng was injured; tonight was the best opportunity for a surprise attack."
Song Huaxu had already taken people there. By now, it was too late for this man in black to send any message.
"Is Su Bai still alive?" This was the third question from the man in black.
With this question, Chu Qi realized who the other was here for.
He stared at the man’s chin, where a faint trace of bluish stubble was visible.
"You know General Su."
The dagger immediately pressed against Chu Qi’s chin: "I’m asking you—alive or dead?!"
Chu Qi felt a painful pressure on his chin, already smelling the blood; his face must have been marred: "...Alive." He truly feared that the man in black might start cutting from his chin down to his mouth.
Upon hearing that Su Bai was still alive, the man in black visibly relaxed.
He did not forget to press Chu Qi’s acupuncture points again.
Seeing Chu Qi watching him warily, he spoke hoarsely, "Do not worry, I will not take your life. After all, nobody wants to see Xiao Pingfeng unify the world too easily."
His hand was still at his sleeve.
Accompanied by, "Have a good sleep," a white smoke surged toward his face, and then Chu Qi passed out.
The man in black remained standing there, not hurrying to leave.
He moved around as if he were in his own house—first, sweeping his gaze over all the military maps on the table, then flipping through the list of key military personnel. In short, he was busy every moment, making every second count.
Only when he felt that he had remembered almost everything did he put them back in their original places.
Yet the man in black was not yet satisfied; seizing the last moments of his patrol, he walked over to Chu Qi. Facing that bewitching visage, he swung left and right, landing two fierce slaps. Watching the face swell up like a pig’s, he finally left, satisfied.
Meanwhile, on the hillside.
Despite the heaviness of the night, Yan Hongzhao still stood patiently at the summit.
It was unclear how much time had passed when the rustling of the western bush finally broke the silence of the mountains.
Yan Hongzhao immediately dismounted and went forward, "How is big brother?"
The man in black approached, his coughs tearing through the air.
"Are you alright, big brother?!" Yan Hongzhao worriedly took a water flask from her waist and handed it over.
Yan Li’an took a long drink and nodded, "I’m fine. Xiaoliu’s special medicine is a bit strong, and the mountain air tonight is damp, so my throat is a bit itchy." He had nearly suffocated in the Chu Kingdom camp.
Now that he could finally cough, he certainly took the opportunity to do so.
"Wanqing is still alive, and the people of Chu Kingdom haven’t found her yet. We need to hurry and find her before Dawei and Chu Kingdom do." Yan Li’an informed Yan Hongzhao of all the information he had gathered.
Everyone’s minds were slightly relieved.
Yan Hongzhao’s eyes felt warm.
When she received the news of her sister jumping into the river, she felt as if struck by lightning, nearly about to follow her in despair.
But now, she felt as if she had come back to life.
Yan Hongzhao immediately instructed Ghost Face gently, "You heard what my big brother said, have the brothers search for her throughout the night." She paused, "Let’s not alert the people at the Empress’s side about this matter yet."
Once it involved imperial power, it would be an endless struggle.
Her sister had been used by others for three years.
Yan Hongzhao just wanted to do everything she could to give her sister a peaceful time.
Yan Li’an understood and patted Yan Hongzhao on the shoulder, "Let’s go back. We’ll also search along the river; maybe we’ll find something new."
By the campfire.
In a cave on the mountain.
Yan Wanqing, half-asleep, saw Liao Cuihua reaching out her hands towards her son.
"No, don’t hurt my son!" She cried out in alarm and struggled to sit up, only to feel something warm under her hands.
Opening her eyes, she found herself clutching someone’s neck fiercely, the person struggling to breathe.
Yan Wanqing immediately let go, and the person, face flushed, kept coughing.
"Commandery Princess, after so many years, this is quite the greeting gift you give me on our reunion." The person wore red, his features gentle, and a teasing smile on his lips, charmingly alluring—it was none other than the old acquaintance Wu Bie!
"Wu Bie." Yan Wanqing was somewhat embarrassed, "Long time no see."
Wu Bie waved a dismissive hand, pulling out a set of clothes and a bunch of medicine bottles from his bag, "Commandery Princess, since you’re awake, change into some clean clothes and apply the medicine. You’ve been soaked in the river so long that the blood hasn’t washed off; honestly, it was quite a fright pulling you out."
He was only leading his horse to drink water, and in the dead of night, a body floated by in the river.
The fright made his horse run off without drinking.
He had killed too many to be scared.
Using a reed pole nearby, he pulled the body out, originally planning to bury it and thereby accrue some merit for Huai Yu and himself. He hadn’t expected it to be Yan Wanqing.
He didn’t hurry to ask what had happened to Yan Wanqing.
After all, the news from three years ago about Yan Wanqing’s death in the Dawei Imperial Family had reached his ears too.
Seeing her reappear in front of him now, Wu Bie knew there must be some extraordinary secret involved.
Over there, Yan Wanqing removed her soggy clothes, having tried several times to communicate with Su Bai within her, all to no avail.
Had Su Bai fallen into a deep sleep again?
Without an answer, Yan Wanqing could only take things one step at a time.
She first sprinkled medicine powder on her wounds, not minding the harsh conditions, then dressed in clean clothes. Despite the piercing pain, it was a blessing to wear clean clothes compared to her wet garment.
"Wu Bie, how did you happen to be here?" And just in time to save her.
