Meanwhile, Bai You'an was frowning as he followed Hong Niang towards the outskirts of the city.
"Where exactly are you taking me?"
Hong Niang gave a delicate "tsk" sound. "Why is Young Master Bai in such a hurry?"
She flicked her willow-leaf shaped eyebrows back.
"Could it be that Young Master doesn't realize you're being followed?"
Bai You'an scoffed. "My martial arts are indeed inferior to Miss Hong Niang's."
Hong Niang was not angry.
She simply walked with a more alluring sway, her voice growing more wanton.
"Young Master Bai is truly joking," she said, lowering her head and playing with her long, crimson fingernails, which looked particularly beautiful in the sunlight. "If you didn't wish to follow me, how could I possibly force you?"
Bai You'an replied with a deep voice, "If you hadn't clung to me, I wouldn't have wanted to follow you to settle things."
"Oh?" Hong Niang's shoulders shook with laughter. "Young Master Bai truly has a way with words."
She finally stopped laughing and then sighed.
"However, Young Master, do you truly think I'm not pretty enough?"
Her eyes sparkled.
She stared directly at Bai You'an's current, displeased face.
Bai You'an didn't even look at her. "Is Miss doubting her own appearance?"
Hong Niang exclaimed, "My beauty, widely praised, is worthless in Young Master's eyes now. I truly wonder what kind of girl you like. If you have someone you fancy, I wonder how devastatingly beautiful she must be to have captivated someone like Young Master Bai."
This time, Bai You'an remained silent.
He was also pondering Hong Niang's question.
But he was thinking in a different direction.
How could someone as beautiful as Miss Song possibly like him?
He thought of the eight handsome guards by her side, each with their own unique charm in appearance and physique.
From afar, there was Feng Shao Cheng, the young man in white, elegant and poised.
Up close, there were the eight guards, a variety of types from youthful wolves to innocent puppies.
Bai You'an felt he was in danger.
He wished he could slap himself. Why had he argued with Miss Song back then?
If Miss Song truly hated him, then...
Then he would simply let her beat him.
Rather than losing anything else, he didn't want to lose her.
Nothing was more important than her.
He was now filled with immense regret.
If he could find Miss Song, he would surely explain everything clearly.
What was Shui Yun Jian? What was Hong Niang?
They were all mere illusions.
With his mind cleared, a hint of gentleness appeared in Bai You'an's eyes.
This change in his demeanor made Hong Niang, who had been watching him, curious.
"What is Young Master thinking about? You look like you're lovesick."
Hong Niang's question made Bai You'an blush, a rosy hue slowly creeping from his neck to his earlobes.
But he still stubbornly said, "Hong Niang is joking."
Hong Niang let out a surprised "Oh?" "I couldn't believe it before, but seeing Young Master like this now, you must have someone you like."
She sighed again, feigning great sadness.
"Alas, I came too late and could not capture Young Master's attention." She covered her eyes with a handkerchief. "I am truly a pitiful person."
Bai You'an: "..."
This time, Bai You'an ignored her again.
He felt there was nothing more to say to this woman.
Too much drama...
Although Hong Niang was being dramatic, her attention was indeed fixed on the people behind them.
The location of the mountain stronghold was obvious.
They had no intention of hiding it.
But if someone were to follow them in and thoroughly understand their operations, that would be absolutely unacceptable.
"Hong Niang is just letting the tail behind us follow?"
Bai You'an also had this question. Why hadn't Hong Niang acted when she discovered them?
He was certain the person behind them was not his man.
Nor should it be General Zuo's men.
Then whose tail was this?
Could it be Xi Yun Ge? But why would Xi Yun Ge be following them?
Could it be that Miss Song was inside this mountain stronghold?
If he thought about it that way, it made sense.
His men had searched all over Mobei, even turning the region upside down, but still couldn't find Miss Song.
And although this mountain stronghold's location was clear on the map, its entrance was known to very few.
This was why he had agreed to Hong Niang's suggestion to take a look.
Otherwise, why would he follow her to the stronghold? Did he really want to become her bandit king?
His heart belonged only to Miss Song!
"Young Master Bai? Young Master Bai..."
Bai You'an was startled by a sudden pat on his shoulder.
"What are you thinking about?"
Bai You'an snapped back to attention. "Nothing. Let's hurry. I have something to do tomorrow."
"Something to do? What does Young Master Bai have to do?" Hong Niang's voice was melodious and captivating, like a pair of hands stirring ripples on a calm lake. "Could it be to see that lady?"
Hong Niang's words made Bai You'an's face flush again.
"Why are you saying so much?"
"Oh, oh, oh!" Hong Niang laughed, covering her smiling mouth with her handkerchief. "So the usually aloof Young Master Bai has such a side."
She clutched Bai You'an's sleeve with her handkerchief.
"Young Master Bai, your situation is urgent now. Don't think about beautiful women. Let's hurry."
Following that, Bai You'an was pulled into a mountain cave by her.
The cave's location was very hidden.
It was also short and narrow.
He had to bend over to move forward inside.
Gradually, the path widened ahead, and light appeared in the cave.
He also noticed that the cave was slightly inclined upwards.
When they completely passed through and emerged from the cave, he looked at the scene before him, and it was exactly as he had imagined.
He was now standing halfway up the mountain.
Outside the cave was a flat area, and below that was a valley.
"The mountain stronghold is at the bottom of the valley?"
Hong Niang glanced at him but said nothing.
Then, she ran her hand through a crevice in the wall, and as she touched a stone, another path appeared.
Exiting through this path led to the mountain road.
Bai You'an couldn't help but ask, "No wonder General Zuo could never find us."
Hong Niang, walking ahead, responded with a smile. "Why would he look for us when there's nothing going on? We're not in the business of killing and looting."
"On the contrary, if the enemy attacks, we'll be the first to die. This secret passage isn't to defend against our own people, but against the Northern Barbarians opposite us."
She emphasized the words "Northern Barbarians" heavily, as if she harbored an immense hatred for them, wishing to crush them into the very earth so they could never rise again.
Hong Niang seemed to realize her own emotions.
She quickly returned to her charming demeanor.
Bai You'an followed behind, saying nothing.
He only knew that in his previous life, the Northern Barbarians, who had previously been unable to breach their defenses, had suddenly launched an offensive.
He figured it must have been due to this mountain stronghold. Then why was the mountain stronghold destroyed in his previous life?
The destruction of the mountain stronghold was definitely not because of the Northern Barbarians.
Therefore, there was only one possibility.
The people who destroyed the mountain stronghold were within Da Yuan.