Ming Yu nodded, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her clear eyes, "So it was him!"
"Yes, we hope that Miss Ming Yu will remember Miss Qian Shi Ning's reminder and save her!" Xue Yu pleaded once more.
"Xue Yu, don't force Ming Yu. This is our own affair," Qian Shi Xuan suddenly spoke. He stood up, his crimson robes creased, his ink-black hair messily falling, his face etched with anxiety.
"Who said Xue Yu was forcing me? I will definitely go." Ming Yu had made up her mind. After all, it was because of Qian Shi Ning that she was captured. It was only right and proper for her to go and save her.
"I'm going too…" a clear, cold voice suddenly appeared outside the door.
Ming Yu felt a surge of joy. Wasn't that Chang Yu?
"Thank you, Ming Yu, and Elder Brother Chang Yu," Xue Yu said gratefully.
"Thank you!" Qian Shi Xuan also spoke.
"Xue Yu, you stay here and take good care of your young master. Chang Yu and I will be back soon!" Ming Yu said.
"Alright, I'll do as you say!" Xue Yu replied.
"Ming Yu, thank you!" Qian Shi Xuan fumbled his way to within a meter of Ming Yu and bowed deeply.
"Young Master Qian, there's no need for such thanks. We are companions now. This is something we should do; there's no need for such a grand gesture."
She always felt that Qian Shi Xuan was no ordinary person. From his speech and actions, she believed that an object in the pool would eventually shine. Therefore, she tried her best not to offend him, believing that one day he might repay her.
After Xue Yu provided detailed directions, Ming Yu and Chang Yu used their Qinggong, reaching Shi Gui's home, where the black inn was located, in less than half an incense stick's time.
The vermilion gate was locked and adorned with glazed tiles, exuding opulence. Ming Yu and Chang Yu exchanged a glance. Chang Yu took her, leaping onto the eaves and walking lightly from one eave to another, searching for any sign of Qian Shi Ning.
Suddenly, someone walked out. Ming Yu and Chang Yu quickly crouched down. "I say, that woman the master captured today was really something. Even the master couldn't touch her at all."
"Indeed, with her delicate skin and tender flesh, one can tell she's from a prominent family. But that woman is truly beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yes, it's a pity we can't enjoy her. She'll be for the master's plump body. I wonder if the master can handle her?"
"Alright, this is just between the two of us. If the master overhears, he'll surely whip us."
"Yes, let's leave quickly!"
"You think you can leave that easily?" Ming Yu stood behind the two men who had been speaking, and with Chang Yu, each pointed a sword at them.
"Whoever dares to make a sound, I'll make his head roll," Chang Yu said coldly.
"Great heroes, female hero, spare our lives!"
"As long as you tell us the truth, we will spare your lives. Otherwise, this day next year will be your death anniversary," Ming Yu said coldly.
"Female hero, please ask away. We brothers will tell you everything."
"Where is the woman you were just talking about now?"
"That woman?"
"Stop with the nonsense, where is she?" Ming Yu said coldly.
"In… in the master's room."
"Where is your master's room? If you dare to play any tricks…"
"Female hero, we dare not play tricks. We've long been displeased with that fat master. To defile such a beautiful maiden, we feel it in our hearts."
"Enough talk, where is it?"
"The master's room is the largest one here. There is a peach tree in front of it."
"Thank you. However, it's better for you to faint!" Ming Yu and Chang Yu each struck the two men with a saber, and they immediately collapsed on the ground.
"Let's go quickly!" Ming Yu flew forward, with Chang Yu closely following. Qian Shi Ning looked at Shi Gui, who was so fat he was almost dripping oil, and felt like dying. But she was tied up and unable to move, otherwise, she would have taught him a lesson.
"Tsk tsk, little beauty…" Shi Gui squinted at Qian Shi Ning's skin as white as snow, almost drooling. He had desired her for a long time, but each time, those two expert maids were by her side. This time, he had finally managed to injure them all.
Qian Shi Ning looked at the ceiling in despair, sighing deeply in her heart. Her brother had no martial arts, and his eyes couldn't see. Xue Li had been thrown off a cliff while saving her. Xue Yu was seriously injured. She didn't expect her brother to come to her rescue. It was just… just that she wouldn't die a heroic death. She didn't want to be defiled like this. If possible, she would rather be beheaded with her family. At least they would be together in death.
Her expression grew somewhat hazy. She seemed to feel as if she had returned to the past. Back then, she and her brother lived very happily. Her brother hadn't lost his sight yet. After their lessons from their master, they loved to sit beside their father and listen to him recount his past.
Her mother would lovingly watch them and their father, then gently pour a cup of hot tea for her father and serve fresh fruit to her and her brother.
But their life was disrupted on that morning. Their father returned almost running, his face showing an anxiety they had never seen before. Their father ordered their mother to quickly pack some silver and take her and her brother back to her mother's maiden home. Their mother disagreed, stubbornly refusing to leave. Even when their father cursed her with the harshest words, their mother still refused to depart.
Helpless, their father divorced her mother with a letter. At that time, their mother couldn't accept this fact and committed suicide by smashing herself against a tree in front of the house.
Their father was stunned. She and her brother were stunned. Her brother cursed their father, asking how he could treat their mother like that. But she saw deep sorrow in their father's bloodshot eyes. She wondered if her father had some unspeakable pain. But then she thought, what matter couldn't be resolved? Was it necessary to drive their mother to her death? She hated her father.
Their father buried their mother hastily, then took out a bundle, handed it to her and her brother, and said, "You two leave!"
Her brother stubbornly took the bundle. It was the first and last time she saw her brother shed tears of blood. His voice was unusually cold, "I hate you. From this moment on, the father-son relationship between us is severed."
She saw her father take a step back, but his face wore a sneer. "You are nothing but burdens to me. I want to marry the daughter of the Minister of War. I cannot keep you two!"
Only then did she realize that her father wanted to marry a stepmother and did not want their mother anymore. He had driven their mother to death and wanted nothing to do with her and her brother, forcing them away. She let out a few cold laughs and spoke the most venomous words of her life, "You will not have a good end. One day, your entire family will be executed by the emperor…"
She saw a flicker of deep sadness in her father's hidden eyes. She resolutely left with her brother. Their childhood home, filled with joy and sorrow, was left behind forever.