Chapter 221: Chapter 199
Having just passed the New Year, most people were back to work by the tenth.
It was past noon again, and there were naturally few people around.
Feng Chuanbai’s people had already quietly cleared the area early on, masquerading as tourists visiting the mountain.
At this time, aside from them, there wasn’t anyone else at the foot of the mountain.
Shang Yue looked at the deep mark on the ground carved out by the crossbow arrow.
If it had been a second slower, the crossbow arrow would’ve been stuck in her head.
Shang Yue’s pupils trembled, and she was pulled back by Qiao Yuxian.
She looked at her, seeing Qiao Yuxian kick over someone swinging a dagger at her.
Shang Yue’s cold and expressionless look was momentarily shocked.
In the seconds when she was dazed, Qiao Yuxian raised her hand, pressing her back, leaned down, and dodged two more crossbow arrows, while also kicking down two people.
As more people fell to the ground, Shang Yue quickly snapped back to fight.
As soon as she moved forward, Qiao Yuxian retreated, cheering her on from behind: "Hit him, hit him."
"This way, this way."
"Go, go."
While cheering on Shang Yue, she also kept an eye on Lu Mengyi’s side, occasionally stretching a leg from behind Shang Yue to kick someone, enjoying herself.
She also kept an eye on the crossbow arrows being shot from afar.
As Shang Yue protected her, she was also protecting Shang Yue.
Lu Mengyi was very skilled.
Her movements were crisp, swift, and ruthless.
She was cool and collected, with no visible change in her emotions, just the same as usual. Other than a chill, there was no killing intent or hostility detectable from her.
She was just extremely ruthless in her actions.
Showing no mercy at all.
She had Shang Yue protect Qiao Yuxian while she maneuvered around people and dealt with the three holding bows and crossbows.
Soon, the group sent by Shang Chenxian arrived.
As the periphery was attacked, they quickly subdued Feng Chuanbai’s people.
Lu Mengyi first went to see if Qiao Yuxian was injured.
She was the one who brought her out, and she had to ensure she returned unharmed.
Lu Mengyi approached, inspecting her from top to bottom.
Qiao Yuxian saw her looking and smiled, "Thank you, Miss Lu, for your protection."
Shang Yue took a wet wipe from her pocket and opened it, handing it to Lu Mengyi.
Seeing that Qiao Yuxian was fine, Lu Mengyi took the wet wipe and wiped her hands, "I brought you out, so naturally I should bring you back safely. No need to thank me."
"It’s not right to say that," Qiao Yuxian replied, "They were after me, so I did involve you."
Lu Mengyi smiled without saying more.
Qiao Yuxian also didn’t say more and took a few steps to pick up a crossbow arrow from the ground.
She looked at it, realizing it was the same as those at the Qiao Mansion in Yue City.
Thinking to herself: They truly are everywhere.
"What’s up?" Lu Mengyi asked.
Qiao Yuxian shook her head, looking again at the subdued people of Feng Chuanbai.
She walked up to the person closest to her.
Waving the crossbow arrow in her hand, she signaled to let him go.
The man’s arm was broken, and as soon as he was released, he went limp, his arm hanging down.
In the dead of winter, his forehead was full of sweat from the pain, his face pale, breath heavy, unable even to lift his head.
Qiao Yuxian nudged his dislocated arm with the crossbow arrow, speaking indifferently, "Go back and tell Feng Chuanbai if he’s not afraid to die, let him keep coming. I’ll accompany him to the end."
Both Lu Mengyi and Shang Yue were watching her.
Seeing her with a slight smile on her face, yet her aura suddenly pressing.
After speaking, she glanced at the Gu Family’s people.
The Gu Family nodded, pulling up the man on the ground and sending him back to Feng Chuanbai directly.
The Gu Family handled the cleanup on site.
With the crossbow arrow spinning in her hand, Qiao Yuxian looked at Lu Mengyi, "Shall we head back?"
"Yan... Gu Yanjing’s coming over, right?" Lu Mengyi asked, "Not waiting for him?"
Qiao Yuxian, hearing her sudden change in address, looked at her, "Will you wait with me?"
Lu Mengyi met her gaze, "Sure."
"Then let’s wait a bit," Qiao Yuxian said.
"Okay."
Gu Yanjing arrived quickly. When he got there, Qiao Yuxian was holding a lollipop in her mouth, playing "Fight the Landlord" on her phone with Lu Mengyi and Shang Yue.
Hearing the car, the three of them looked over.
Seeing Gu Yanjing stepping out of the car.
Qiao Yuxian quickly closed her phone and ran towards him.
Gu Yanjing visually scanned her from head to toe as he walked towards her to check if she was hurt.
Seeing she was fine, he felt somewhat relieved.
Watching her jog up to him, nearly crashing into his arms, he reached out to catch her, but she stopped just before him, motionless.
Gu Yanjing’s lifted hand hovered awkwardly in midair, looking at her.
Qiao Yuxian grinned up at him before pressing his slightly raised hand down, standing beside him, and said, "Today, I’m really grateful to Miss Lu and Shang Yue for protecting me."
Speaking indistinctly with the lollipop in her mouth.
Lu Mengyi happened to walk over.
Shang Yue glanced at Qiao Yuxian without saying anything.
Gu Yanjing exchanged a glance with Lu Mengyi, then said, "Thank you."
Lu Mengyi shook her head, "There will be an explanation when we get home."
She hadn’t said it, but she had already deduced the problem was on her end.
Nobody tailed them on their way here.
Feng Chuanbai’s people came to Lingshi Temple directly.
Clearly, they knew Qiao Yuxian would be coming to Lingshi Temple.
When she and Shang Yue arrived at Fenglin Villa, Qiao Yuxian was home alone, and Aunt Mei was out.
Nobody knew that Qiao Yuxian left with her.
Moreover, even if someone knew they went out together, Qiao Yuxian herself didn’t know where they were going, so how could anyone else?
The only possibility was someone in her household.
Especially someone in her courtyard.
Last night, she had casually mentioned to Shang Yue about bringing Qiao Yuxian to Lingshi Temple.
It was just a casual remark, not taken to heart, and there were a few people around at the time.
Qiao Yuxian said nothing, glancing at her and then at Gu Yanjing.
Gu Yanjing nodded, "Okay."
They had grown up together, and though they had intentionally kept their distance since their twenties due to marriage arrangements, they always trusted each other greatly.
Gu Yanjing understood Lu Mengyi’s character, and he trusted she wouldn’t do anything that couldn’t be publicly acknowledged.
Lu Mengyi said nothing further, looked at Qiao Yuxian, "Next time, I’ll take you out to play."
Qiao Yuxian was initially smiling, but the smile quickly faded at her words. She paused and said, "Can we not climb mountains?"
Lu Mengyi gave a light smile and said, "Next time, you decide."
"Then I’ll take you to have fun," Qiao Yuxian said.
"Okay," Lu Mengyi nodded, "We’ll be off now."
"Alright."
Lu Mengyi and Shang Yue left first.
Gu Yanjing gave a glance to Shang Chen, signaling him to see them off.
Shang Chen nodded and left.
Qiao Yuxian watched them go.
She kept watching until they got into their car and drove off.
Gu Yanjing turned her head back by pressing on her little head.
Qiao Yuxian looked at him, then directly leaned forward, crashing into his embrace. She looked up at him, the lollipop in her mouth, and said, "I’m so tired."
Gu Yanjing wrapped one arm around her, checking her right hand with the other, inspecting the back of her hand.
No redness or swelling.
Qiao Yuxian looked at him, "I was good; I didn’t move a single finger as you instructed."
The believability of this statement was up for examination.
But Gu Yanjing still responded with a nod.
After acknowledging, he nudged the lollipop stick from her mouth to the side and bent down to peck her lips.
After the kiss, Qiao Yuxian purposefully moved the lollipop stick back to the center of her mouth with her tongue.
Gu Yanjing looked at her.
Qiao Yuxian raised an eyebrow, her expression as if saying, "I did it on purpose, what are you gonna do about it?"
Gu Yanjing couldn’t do much, so he just gently pinched her cheek.
Qiao Yuxian smiled at him.
Lu Mengyi, sitting in the car, happened to see Gu Yanjing bend down and give Qiao Yuxian a kiss as the car turned.
She kept looking out until they drove off, disappearing from view, only then did she withdraw her gaze...