Yu Xiaoyu had no choice but to leave the Yan Residence.
She wandered aimlessly through the streets. Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed before her. She trembled, then quickly ran away. The closer she ran, the closer the shadow seemed to get.
In her panic, she ran into a narrow alleyway where she was cornered by the man in black.
"You... how are you here?" Yu Xiaoyu, seeing the man in black, shivered, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Yu Xiaoyu, long time no see!" The man in black's voice was chilling, making Yu Xiaoyu's already fearful heart even more terrified.
"Please, let me go? Please." Yu Xiaoyu begged. She would even kneel if it meant a chance at survival.
"Today, I will not kill you."
Yu Xiaoyu started, then looked up at the man in black, disbelieving. "You... are you sure?"
The man in black nodded. "Sure."
"Then... what do you want with me?" Yu Xiaoyu asked cautiously.
"Go buy the medicines on this list. Bring them here to me once you're done."
Yu Xiaoyu's eyes lit up. Could this be an opportunity to escape?
The man in black seemed to read her thoughts and said coldly, "Don't even think about escaping. You know the consequences if I catch you."
"No... no, I wouldn't..." Yu Xiaoyu quickly shook her head.
The man in black handed her the list from his waist. Yu Xiaoyu saw that it was all medicine for deficiency of qi and blood. She figured his injuries must be quite severe.
"Problem?" the man in black asked.
"No... no, I'll go buy them now." Yu Xiaoyu clutched the list and went to the herb shop. She handed the list to the attendant, who glanced at it and quickly went to fetch the medicine.
Yu Xiaoyu looked outside and realized the man in black was not there. She rushed out. Just as the attendant came out with the medicine, he saw Yu Xiaoyu about to leave and quickly approached her. "Miss, you haven't paid yet?"
Yu Xiaoyu threw all the money she had into the attendant's hand. "Here."
While the attendant was counting the money, she quickly fled.
She ran towards the Yan Residence. As she reached the entrance, the dark shadow appeared before her again. She was mere steps away from the Yan Residence.
"You... how are you here?" Yu Xiaoyu recoiled in fear.
The man in black sneered, "What, Miss Yu wants to run?"
"I... I didn't want to run, it's just..."
The man in black moved forward with a chop to her neck, and she fainted. Before losing consciousness, she thought she saw Xue Feng.
It was indeed Xue Feng who came out. He sensed an unusual presence outside the door, a presence that felt familiar.
But there was no one outside.
There was no one there at all.
When Yu Xiaoyu woke up, the room was completely dark. She couldn't see anything and groped her way to her feet.
Suddenly, the room lit up. Directly in front of her, Wen Ling sat in a chair, looking at her coldly. His eyes held a sinister glint, and a chilling aura emanated from him.
A tremor ran through her for no reason, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor.
"What? Afraid of me?" Wen Ling leaned down, his voice filled with coldness.
Yu Xiaoyu bit her lower lip tightly, her voice trembling. "Please, let me go?"
"Miss Yu, what are you afraid of? I already said I won't kill you now."
Not now? What about later?
Yu Xiaoyu looked up and pleaded, "As long as you let me go, I'll do anything."
"Miss Yu, I do have something to ask of you."
Yu Xiaoyu blinked. "What is it?"
"Come with me." Wen Ling stood up and walked towards the adjacent room.
Yu Xiaoyu had no choice but to follow. She entered the next room and saw a woman lying on a bed. She was surprised. She had seen this woman before and felt some pity for her. The woman's eyes had been gouged out, her tongue cut off, and her meridians severed. She was suffering immensely.
"Make medicine for her every day and feed it to her."
Yu Xiaoyu blinked. "That's all?"
"Yes," Wen Ling said.
"You can do it yourself, why don't you?" Yu Xiaoyu couldn't help but ask.
"She doesn't want me to touch her," Wen Ling said slowly, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
Yu Xiaoyu nodded. "Alright, but you have to promise not to kill me."
"Naturally," Wen Ling replied.
Yu Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief. At least her life was safe.
At first, the woman resisted and refused to drink the medicine. Yu Xiaoyu pleaded with her, saying that if she, Sun Shi, didn't drink it, she would be killed. Only then did the woman agree to drink.
Sometimes, when Wen Ling was in a good mood, he would allow Yu Xiaoyu to rest in her room after feeding the woman.
As for escaping, Yu Xiaoyu had thought about it, but she couldn't get away.
The man in black seemed to be her shadow. Any attempt she made to escape was known to him, as if he could read her thoughts.
Xue Zining and the others finally arrived in Jiangnan. As they reached the gates of the Yan Residence, Xue Xingyue dismounted from her arms and shouted, "Daddy, I'm back! Brother, Daddy!"
"Daddy, I think I heard sister's voice." Xue Xingchen was having breakfast and thought he was hallucinating, hearing his sister Xingyue's voice.
"You didn't mishear." Yan Jin’s gaze deepened.
"Really?" Xue Xingchen happily climbed down from his chair and ran towards the door. He indeed saw Xue Xingyue at the entrance.
"Brother." Xue Xingyue cheered.
Xue Xingchen was overjoyed and ran to embrace his sister. "Sister, you're finally back."
"Xingchen, are you well?"
Xue Xingchen paused slightly and looked up to see Xue Zining. His eyes immediately welled up. "Mother..."
Xue Zining bent down and picked up both children. "We won't be separated anymore."
"Not separated anymore." Xue Xingyue and Xue Xingchen nodded.
Xue Zining saw a tall, slender figure standing at the door, his countenance refined and handsome. His eyes were like stars in the dark night, exquisitely beautiful.
"You're back?" Yan Jin asked faintly.
She nodded. "Yes, I'm back."
"Yan Zhao, it really is you..." Wen Yuxi stepped forward from behind and threw a punch at Yan Jin.
Yan Jin's gaze turned cold, and he took a step back. Wen Yuxi's fist did not connect.
Wen Yuxi paused, then suddenly said, "I forgot, you don't remember who I am now?"
"Who are you?" Yan Jin asked coldly.
"Wen Yuxi," Wen Yuxi said slowly.
Yan Jin's expression turned somewhat cold. "My residence probably can't accommodate so many..."
Wen Yuxi had already lifted his foot and stepped inside. "Since I'm here, no need to be so formal. Just regular meals, I'm not picky."
Yan Jin frowned. How could someone like this appear?
Xue Xingyue smiled and said, "If anyone can drive Uncle Wen out, I'll be the first to admit defeat."
Xue Xingchen also smiled, wondering who would win in a confrontation between Daddy and Uncle Wen.