Proofread by Claire.KK
The lively Flower Festival lost its attraction for Granny Rouge who didn’t seem anxious while walking hopelessly on the road.
Having a look at her, Xie Mengxuan frowned and said low. “Granny Rouge, if you show no care, it makes no sense that we’re even as worried as a cat on a hot brick.”
Uncle Luo chimed in. “None succeeded in escaping. Today the city is bustling with activity so that it’s hard for others to pa.s.s a message. As a result, there’s still hope.”
Xie Mengxuan shifted her gaze to Uncle Luo, only to look directly into his eyes. Uncle Luo avoided the eye contact while Xie Mengxuan pursed her lips and then looked at Granny Rouge. “They’ve been setting up an ambush here over these days so that it’s impossible to have no trace left. Think about it.”
Granny Rouge turned her dull eyes and after a while she came up with something. A little hope appeared on her face. “It occurred to me that they had ever taken me to a noisy place at night where seemed to be a theater.”
Concerned for the safety of Geng Zhishan, Xie Mengxuan looked around. “We’d better part from each other.”
“I’ll follow you.” Gu Yusheng took a step forward.
Xie Mengxuan waved her hand. “There’s no need. It’s not my first time to come here. I’m okay on my own.”
She turned away and let out a sigh. “We could be relieved if he’s found at an early time.”
Aware of her meaning, Gu Yusheng pulled a long face. She went so far as to be that worried about Geng Zhishan.
They had a neat discussion about where to look for them and when to be reunited here.
Xie Mengxuan hurried away and in the blink of an eye she disappeared in the crowd.
Looking at her, Gu Yusheng made a subtle move to twist his two fingers as a gesture. In the dark, a figure flashed, following Xie Mengxuan.
Xie Mengxuan failed to notice that she had been followed. Instead, she was looking for Geng Zhishan in a careful fashion along the way. Meanwhile, it was also necessary for her to observe whether there was a theater in the surroundings. After running for such a long distance, she turned out to find nothing. With so many people around, her hurried footsteps were extremely eye-catching.
Right at this moment, she suddenly heard a kind of sound, the rhythmic clatter. Even in such a rowdy situation, it was as clear as around the ear. Xie Mengxuan stopped, and slightly inclined her head to listen carefully, in order to tell the source of the sound.
She turned around while the sound seemed to disappear.
She furrowed her eyebrows. Was someone playing tricks with her?
“Miss Xie…”
The instant she was about to leave for another place, a figure approached her in deft movement, who called her with a low tone and several clatters.
Xie Mengxuan turned her head, only to see a tall and strong man whose face was covered with a silvery mask. On the alert, she said low. “Who are you?”
“Miss Xie, please follow me to the alley to have a talk.” The man raised his hand to wave in front of her.
With her eyes open wide, Xie Mengxuan figured out it was the lord’s token so that the clatter sound was from him.
With her chin slightly up, Xie Mengxuan followed the man into the dark alley.
Polite, Xu Guling subtly nodded with one hand behind his back. “I’m Xu Guling. Nice to meet you, Miss Xie.”
In a haze, Xie Mengxuan was a little bit astonished. “You are Xu Guling?”
Xie Mengxuan had ever heard about him, but she never saw Xu Guling with her own eyes. She pursed her lips when measuring him for a long time.
Xu Guling was natural in his manners. “Yes, as there are others in your company, it’s inconvenient for me to show up. Therefore I’ve been protecting you in secret. Please forgive me, Miss Xie.”
Xie Mengxuan nodded and replied out of courtesy. “It’s my pleasure to be protected by you in secret. Mr. Xu, have you ever seen another man in my company?”
Raising his lips, Xu Guling seemed to be amused. “Yes, he’s watching lanterns nearby. Don’t worry, Miss Xie.”
Xie Mengxuan let out a sigh and continued. “Well…Mr. Xu, in the rouge shop, have you noticed any tail?”
As a matter of fact, she held no hope. For one thing, she was not clear about whether Gu Yusheng had been guarding outside all the time; for another, it was unknown whether he would show care for others since his task was to follow her.
Xu Guling nodded. He thought to himself that it would not have been so easy for them to deal with those murderers but for his help to settle the tails outside.
“Yes, but it’s all settled. Rest a.s.sured. The message fails to be pa.s.sed so that the old woman’s family will be safe.”
Delight showed in the eyes of Xie Mengxuan. “It must have been verified, Mr. Xu?”
“Yes, they’re in the small tea shop ahead, locked up in an empty wood shed behind the house.”
“Thank you, Mr. Xu.”
It was pleasant to get reliable news. Xie Mengxuan nodded to Xu Guling and was ready to turn away.
“Miss Xie, are you going on your own?” Nervousness could be head from the voice of Xu Guling.
Full of misgivings, Xie Mengxuan turned her head. “Am I that silly to offer my head for myself? I’m going to find my fellow and set out in their company.”
A bit embarra.s.sed, Xu Guling cleared his throat. “Well, I have to go now. Don’t worry, Miss Xie. I’m protecting you in secret.”
“Thanks.”
Xie Mengxuan hurried aaway to find Gu Yusheng and Uncle Luo. Nevertheless, it was rather difficult due to the large area. As a result, she decided to return to the starting point in order to wait for them.
Shortly afterwards, they reunited with her, along with Granny Rouge who was filled with despair, tears flowing from aged eyes.
Xie Mengxuan was in no mood for comforting her. “I’ve found them. They’re in the small tea shop ahead, not far away.”
“The small tea shop…” In a haze, Granny Rouge shook her head. “No, I went a long way when they took me there.”
“Now that there’s no clue, why not have a look? I heard the sound from inside.” Xie Mengxuan made up a lie while her face didn’t turn red at all.
Looking at each other, Gu Yusheng and Uncle Luo went to the tea shop together with her.
On such a bustling day, the tea shop turned out to be closed and there was no light inside the room. With a gloomy face, Gu Yusheng carefully pushed the door which opened with such little force.
“Watch out, Big Brother Gu.” Xie Mengxuan said in a hushed voice.
Gu YUsheng nodded and walked into the room while Uncle Luo remained at the end of this queue. The room was clean, but it could be inferred from the melon seed sh.e.l.ls on the table and ground that they left in a hurry.
Xie Mengxuan lowered her voice. “They’re in the small wood shed behind the house.”
Having a look at her, Gu Yusheng took out the long sword, which pointed at Xie Mengxuan.
His abrupt practice scared Xie Mengxuan who said low with her brows knitted. “Big Brother Gu, what are you doing?”
Squinting his eyes, Gu Yusheng no longer covered his strong intention to kill her. “Tell me the truth! Who are you?”