Chapter 289: How could she also come?

Pfft—!

A soft sound.

A streak of black light shot out, deeply embedding itself into the beam!

The last hidden pulse needle came out!

Tuan Tuan pulled back her little hand and ran back into Xiao Ningxun's arms.

Luo Zhenyue shuddered all over; his previously weak breath suddenly grew heavy, a faint sound issuing from his throat as he slowly opened his eyes.

Lu Qi and Xiao Er simultaneously withdrew their palms, their faces ashen as paper, and they exhaled a turbid breath with relief.

Luo Hongli lunged to the bedside, tears still wet on her face, staring blankly at her father.

Dad…?

Luo Zhenyue's gaze was initially scattered, but gradually focused, landing on his daughter's face.

His lips twitched: "Hong… li…"

Luo Hongli tightly gripped his hand, sobbing uncontrollably: "Dad! Dad! You've awakened! You've finally awakened! I'm Hongli, Dad, look at me…"

Xiao Ran rubbed his damp clothes, the corner of his mouth involuntarily curling up.

Lu Qi looked at Tuan Tuan in Xiao Ningxun's arms and said, "If it weren't for Tuan Tuan today, even if we risked our lives, it would all be in vain."

Tuan Tuan laughed happily, tugging at Xiao Ningxun's sleeve: "Third Brother, Old Sir has awakened! Luo Sister, why are you still crying?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Hongli immediately raised a hand, wiped away her tears, turned to look at her, and said, "Sister hasn't cried, little one; sister is too happy to even have time for tears."

Although Luo Zhenyue had just awakened, he was extremely weak all over.

But his years of experience in the jianghu let him grasp the situation at a glance.

He glanced at Lu Qi and Xiao Er, then followed his daughter's gaze to the delicate little doll, nodding slightly at her with a grateful smile.

Luo Hongli turned and walked up to Xiao Ningxun, then without further ado dropped to her knees!

Xiao Ningxun sprang to his feet, reaching out to help him up.

"Luo Sister!" Tuan Tuan jumped in fright and darted behind Xiao Ningxun.

Luo Hongli refused to rise, her voice choking: "Little one, everyone present! Thank you! Thank you for saving my father!"

"From now on, your affairs are my affairs, Luo Hongli's, and the affairs of every brother in the Bridgehead Gang! This kindness I will never forget!"

Tuan Tuan walked up to her, lifted her little hand to wipe her tears, and said, "Don't cry, don't cry; Old Sir is well now, Luo Sister won't have to shed tears anymore."

Xiao Ningxun exerted strength in his hands to lift Luo Hongli: "Young Chief, you overpraise yourself. Tuan Tuan is just a child; everything is thanks to the Old Chief's fortunate destiny."

"Although the Old Chief has awakened, he still needs proper rest; we'll take our leave now."

Luo Hongli nodded, her eyes shining, gave a brilliant smile, and reverted to her usual sprightly, unrestrained young chief self: "All right, everyone please return; once my father feels better, we'll go to Zui Jiangyue to express our thanks."

Having said that, her gaze unconsciously drifted to Xiao Ran at the side: "Just now… thank you."

Xiao Ran stared, his ears instantly reddening, and he flusteredly waved his hands: "No, no, it's nothing, you don't need to thank me."

His flustered, at‑a‑loss demeanor instead made Luo Hongli purse her lips in a smile.

Tuan Tuan stretched out her two little arms toward Xiao Ningxun: "Hold me." She gave a tiny yawn.

Xiao Ningxun bent down and lifted her; Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck, her little cheek rubbing against him, murmuring, "I'm sleepy, Third Brother."

Her soft, sweet voice was like a thunderbolt striking Xiao Ningxun's heart.

He suddenly recalled that when Tuan Tuan first entered the Prince's Mansion, healing Second Brother's leg injury, she had once fallen into a deep sleep for two whole days!

Back then she was just like today—saying "I'm sleepy" and immediately drifting into a deep slumber that no amount of calling could rouse.

"Let's go, we're heading back right now." Xiao Ningxun tightened his hold on Tuan Tuan's arm: "Tuan Tuan's exhausted; we need to hurry back to the inn."

Xiao Er's eyes narrowed; he obviously remembered as well: "Yes!"

Although Lu Qi didn't understand the details, seeing the two men's solemn expressions, he hurried over.

Luo Hongli personally saw them out of the bamboo building, watching their party disappear into the distance.

Xiao Ran couldn't help glancing back several times, until that dusky red figure vanished inside the bamboo lodge, whereupon he felt a sense of loss and turned to follow the others.

"Still looking?" Lu Qi teased with a smirk, "You're reluctant to part with the Young Chief Luo?"

Xiao Ran jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm just spouting nonsense." Lu Qi laughed, his shoulders shaking.

Tuan Tuan lay on Xiao Ningxun's shoulder, her breathing even and prolonged, but this unnatural stillness made Xiao Ningxun's and Xiao Er's hearts sink inch by inch.

Upon reaching the inn, Xiao Ningxun rushed straight into the guest room, gently laid her on the bed, and covered her with a thin blanket.

Tuan Tuan's tiny body sank into the bedding, eyes shut tight, utterly still.

The two of them kept watch at the bedside, exchanged a glance, and said nothing.

Xiao Ran followed them in, glanced at Tuan Tuan, then at the two men, and finally couldn't help asking: "Earlier, Tuan Tuan's hand…"

Xiao Ningxun lowered his gaze to his sister's peaceful sleeping face, his fingertips lightly brushing aside a stray lock of hair on her forehead, and said, "Ninth Prince, Tuan Tuan is the blessing of the Ning Prince's Mansion, the utmost treasure of our whole family."

Xiao Ran stared, then let the matter drop.

He understood deep down: Xiao Ningxun meant that no matter what happened to Tuan Tuan, the Ning Prince's Mansion would protect her, and no one dare lay a hand on her.

If Tuan Tuan were my sister, I'd feel the same way!

No, since she calls me Ninth Brother, she is my sister!

He nodded, sat down at the table, and kept watch with them.

Lu Qi brought tea and food, yet no one took a bite.

The four grown men took turns—one would rise to feel Tuan Tuan's forehead, another would go to tug at the blanket's corner; none slept, keeping vigil all night long.

At dawn the next day, the little figure on the bed suddenly stirred.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er, seated at the bedside, simultaneously sat up straight, intently watching her.

Tuan Tuan's eyelashes flickered, she slowly opened her eyes, blinked dazedly, and her gaze settled on Xiao Ningxun's face.

Then she pursed her little mouth, feeling aggrieved, and shouted, "I'm starving to death!"

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er were both startled at the same time, and then both of them laughed happily.

"Alright! Let's eat right now!"

Xiao Er lifted his foot and walked out: "I'll go get it."

Xiao Ran, still dazed, lifted his head from the table and looked at Tuan Tuan, who was energetically sitting on the bed, counting on his fingers: "I want osmanthus cake, water‑chestnut crisp…"

They rubbed their eyes: "Little one, you finally woke up."

The group had a hearty meal; seeing that they all looked exhausted, Tuan Tuan urged them to go to sleep, and obediently lay by the window watching the scenery outside.

Early the next morning, Xiao Er and Lu Qi, still recovering from internal injuries, rested in the inn, while Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ran led Tuan Tuan to Ningxiang Hall.

Upon entering, the hall was spacious; several treasure cabinets stood against the walls, filled with all sorts of porcelain vases, jade boxes, embroidered pouches, and the like.

In the center stood a long table covered with plain silk, around which seven or eight women dressed in sumptuous attire sat at the edge.

Some of them held a lotus‑embroidered scented sachet up to their noses to sniff, while others were laughing softly in front of an open enamel rouge box.

The room smelled faintly of fragrance, the light was soft—what an elegant place!

Hearing the noise at the door, a young woman in a light‑blue long dress turned her head.

Tuan Tuan looked and thought, "Huh, why is she here too?"