“Why was Baili Hao so foolish? To go to the Prince’s mansion alone to seek revenge on Zheng Xiang,” Shen Xiaoyan said, somewhat bewildered. Zheng Wei had just mentioned that Baili Hao’s cultivation had significantly declined.
This decline wasn't compared to his past life, but rather to his own previous level of power.
In such a state, for Baili Hao to seek out Zheng Xiang was akin to walking into a trap.
“I’m not sure either. Everything I know comes from Zheng Xiang,” Zheng Wei replied, shaking his head slowly and sighing. “Zheng Xiang is a man of deep thoughts. It’s impossible to fathom his intentions or discern the truth from his words.”
Hearing this, Shen Xiaoyan understood.
Zheng Wei’s earlier words to Baili Hao were intended to test him and to elicit the story of what happened. This would allow them to compare it with Zheng Xiang’s account and perhaps uncover the truth.
However, it was unexpected that Baili Hao wouldn’t say a word, leaving them with no other recourse.
“Never mind him. After all, Zheng Xiang has nothing to do with us,” Shen Xiaoyan said, offering Zheng Wei a bright smile.
“That’s right. It’s enough for me to just be by Mìmi’s side,” Zheng Wei replied, gently flicking Shen Xiaoyan’s nose with his finger.
While the two shared a sweet moment, Lu Taobao, back in town, was feeling distraught.
Upon reaching the town, he personally escorted Bai Ying home. He watched her enter the gate before turning his horse to leave.
Just as he turned, he heard Bai Ying call out to him from behind.
“Brother Lu, please wait a moment.”
Lu Taobao was confused about what she needed but stopped and turned around. “What is it?”
“Brother Lu, please take good care of yourself from now on.”
Bai Ying stood by the gate, her yellow robe fluttering in the gentle breeze, giving her an ethereal appearance.
A faint smile played on her lips, and her gaze towards Lu Taobao was sincere and lingering, tinged with sadness.
“I will. You take care too,” Lu Taobao replied with a smile, then added, “I must be going. I have many things to attend to.”
Bai Ying nodded with a smile but said nothing more, nor did she retreat into the courtyard.
Lu Taobao felt a pang of melancholy but calmly turned his horse and rode away.
This was supposed to be a simple farewell, yet it was a parting that might never be repeated.
The next day, as soon as he woke up, Wu Yong rushed to find him, reporting that Bai Ying had run away from home.
This news struck Lu Taobao like a thunderbolt.
He couldn’t fathom that the person who seemed to have moved on and smiled at him yesterday had actually left home today.
“What exactly happened? Tell me everything,” Lu Taobao said, steadying his mind and asking sternly.
“Bai family’s servant just said that their young lady left a note and disappeared,” Wu Yong said, wiping sweat from his brow.
“What do you mean ‘disappeared’? How can someone disappear from their own home? Are the gatekeepers all dead? Did they not know their young lady left?” Lu Taobao’s anger grew as he spoke.
It was unclear whether he was angry at the gatekeepers’ negligence or Bai Ying’s rashness.
“I thought the same thing, young master, and asked as much. But the servant said that the gatekeepers were on duty at night, and no one left.”
Wu Yong lowered his head, not daring to look at his young master’s expression, which he was sure was darker than the bottom of a pot.
“What did the note she left say?”
“Huh?” Wu Yong looked up in confusion.
“Huh what? What did the note she left say?” Lu Taobao’s temper flared, and he kicked Wu Yong.
The kick wasn't hard, and Wu Yong didn’t feel pain, but he quickly replied, “The servant didn’t say. He mentioned that if you want to know, you’ll have to ask her father.”
Lu Taobao remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked out.
He rode his horse swiftly to the Bai residence. Lu Taobao dismounted at the gate and quickly entered.
He went directly to Elder Bai’s courtyard and, without pausing, entered the main room.
“You’re here.”
As Zheng Wei entered, before he could speak, a tired, middle-aged voice from within the room greeted him.
Zheng Wei recognized this voice instantly; it was Bai Ying’s father.
“Uncle Bai. Yingying she…”
“This is what she left behind,” Bai Fu interrupted Lu Taobao, picking up a piece of paper from a nearby table and handing it to him.
Lu Taobao hurried forward to take it and then carefully read the words on the paper.
The words were few, incredibly few.
“May my parents live in peace. Do not worry. Your unfilial daughter offers this.”
Only three lines, a total of twelve characters. Not a single word about him, as if her departure had nothing to do with him.
“Uncle, have you sent people to search? Yingying is alone, and it’s not safe out there. Besides, it’s only been one night; she can’t have gone far. If you need more people, I can send all the servants from my household to search,” Lu Taobao said, tightly clutching the paper and speaking to Bai Fu with all the arrangements he could think of.
“It’s no use,” Bai Fu replied, shaking his head and sighing. “I haven’t sent anyone, and you shouldn’t either, because they won’t find her.”
“Uncle, why do you say that?” Lu Taobao was surprised. This was Bai Ying’s father, who doted on his daughter immensely. Yet, with his daughter gone, he sat calmly and wasn’t sending anyone to search.
“I never told you this before, but seeing you like this, I suspect Yingying didn’t tell you either. Sigh, that child’s temper is stubborn, but it’s understandable given how far you two have come.”
“When Yingying was young, she took a master. That master was incredibly powerful and taught Yingying some kind of formidable skill. When I watched Yingying practice, an aura of celestial grace emanated from her.”
“Later, as her practice became more intense, she started going alone to Baiyun Peak to train. Coincidentally, she met you once and saved you. But I don’t know what she was thinking, she just ran off and left you alone. Fortunately, you were rescued later.”
Hearing this, Lu Taobao was utterly astonished.
What was Bai Fu saying?
Had he misheard?
The person he had longed for, the one he believed would recognize him upon meeting, had been by his side all along.
Moreover, she had been constantly pursuing him, loving him, and following his footsteps.
“Unfortunately, perhaps it’s simply that you two are destined to be apart. It’s unavoidable if you don’t like her.”
“Before her master left, he wanted to take Yingying with him, but Yingying couldn’t bear to leave you, so she refused.”
“Now, she’s probably made up her mind and gone to find her master.”
Just as Lu Taobao was about to ask where her master was, Bai Fu continued.
“Her master left her an address, but only she knows it. She also told me not to worry if she left, and not to look for her, as she would contact home.”
…
Lu Taobao vaguely remembered what Bai Fu said afterwards.
His mind repeatedly echoed one sentence: Bai Ying was that divine maiden. Bai Ying was that divine maiden.
This was the biggest shock for Lu Taobao.
He didn’t know how he left. When he came to his senses, he was already at Zheng Wei’s gate, and standing before him was Huo Cheng.
“Young Master Lu has arrived. Why aren’t you riding a horse?” Huo Cheng asked curiously after bowing.