Chapter 210: Not that I don't love, but that I love deeply

Ah? Oh, okay, I need to tie my hands and then put on the hood.

The dark guard reminded them, seeing the two people unconsciously stretch out their hands, feeling that this task might be a bit too simple?

Only after sending the person away did he suddenly come to his senses.

"Are we supposed to send them off separately?" Just as the two left, the door was pushed open.

Ning Qiancheng walked out, instinctively reached out his hand, and then asked a question.

The dark guard looked at his obedient appearance, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily, and said, "I can't say."

Ning Qiancheng raised an eyebrow, already having the answer in mind.

Actually, when the boss and Kang Wu left the room, he had already woken up; growing up in the Imperial Palace, his meticulous nature meant he couldn't possibly not hear such a commotion.

Just like that, everyone in the room left.

At the girls' dormitory, Jiang Yun Chu and Dean Ningguang directly woke them up, saying, "Put on your hoods yourselves; I'll tie your hands in a moment."

Jiang Yun Chu leaned by the gate, looking at the four dazed girls, and yawned ungracefully—what a great time to sleep in this pitch‑black night!

The four girls glanced at each other and immediately put on their hoods.

Dean Ningguang looked on speechlessly; everything before them was utterly absurd.

After the girls fastened their hoods and tied the ropes to each other, only Kang Zi Wei remained, unable to tie her hands……

Dean Ningguang walked over, tied Kang Zi Wei's hands, and said, "Let's go."

She waved her hand, and the maid outside helped the four girls onto the carriage.

That night, at the side gate of the Regent Prince's Manor, the sound of hooves never ceased.

On a mountain, all around was dark, only scattered moonlight filtering through the trees.

"Leave this mountain before sunset." A voice whispered in each child's ear, and the footsteps of those departing gradually faded away.

At the mountain's base, in a grass hut, Jiang Yun Chu leaned sideways, his face full of weariness.

"They've only been training in martial arts for less than a year—isn't that a bit early?"

Dean Ningguang looked worried; seeing Yun chu's plan and obstacles, her eyebrows twitched—could these kids make it down the mountain unharmed?

Jiang Yun Chu lifted his gaze and looked outward.

Early spring, a bit chilly.

Those kids are all wearing single layers; who knows if they'll catch a cold.

"Has Ningguang forgotten? I've also trained in martial arts for less than a year."

As she spoke, her body made no movement; she even lay down a little, feeling worried inside but showing nothing on her face.

She doesn't raise flowers in a greenhouse; they start martial arts training before dawn each day, and it's almost been a year—now is the time to give them extra trials and let them know their achievements and shortcomings.

"They're still young." Dean Ningguang looked at Yun chu, half‑laughing, half‑crying.

"We must believe in them."

She merely said it softly, to Dean Ningguang and to herself.

Ning Hanmo felt the people recede further away; his hands were bound in front, impossible to pull free. He bent down, feeling around bit by bit, finally finding a stone—not sharp, but usable for grinding the rope.

First step: free the hands, otherwise nothing can be done.

For a moment, the mountain was unusually quiet; in fact, each of them had a dark guard beside them, arranged by Jiang Yun Chu to protect their safety—even Dean Ningguang didn't know.

She wanted to train the children but not let them truly get hurt, so she could only act in secret.

"Phew, finally off." Kang Wen pulled the hood from his head, looked around the dark surroundings, and exclaimed, "Damn, the Dean is harsh!"

In this pitch‑black night, those unaware still thought the hood was on!

"Wait until dawn?"

"No, no—what if someone else is in danger?"

Kang Wen squatted under a tree, thinking, finally resigned himself to stand, drew a symbol on the big tree with a stone, and left the spot.

On the other side, Ning Hanmo also untied the rope, took off the hood, surveyed the surroundings, sensed the wind direction—now it's pitch black, he can't see clearly, only roughly determine his bearings.

He carved some marks on the tree trunk and used a haircut to indicate direction.

Only then did he leave the place; if someone came here, it could help and also point the way.

For a moment, the previously quiet mountain saw everyone moving.

Under the night, tiny figures darted through the great mountain.

"Number 3 has already untied the rope."

"Number 1 has untied the rope."

"Number 5 has done it."

One piece of information after another quickly gathered at the mountain's base.

Besides having guards nearby, each area had a supervisor who quickly compiled their reports and sent them down the mountain.

For this trial, she entered the palace to ask the Emperor for personnel, solely to protect the children.

Moreover, a team of imperial physicians had already gathered on the side; if any accident occurred, they could administer first aid immediately.

"Ningguang, take a break—all this back‑and‑forth is making me dizzy…"

Watching Ningguang pacing back and forth, Jiang Yun Chu poured her a cup of tea; usually Dean Ningguang appears cold and distant, not very warm toward the kids.

Only now did one see how deeply she loves these children.

"I'm not tired, but I feel uneasy." Dean Ningguang sighed; she couldn't bring herself to drink the tea.

"Everyone around them has a lookout, each area has a person in charge—any problem gets reported." She explained the situation on the mountain, then smiled helplessly, saying, "I worry about their safety more than anyone else."

"A young eagle can only learn to fly after leaving the parent eagle."

"And the parent eagle will, on the cliff's edge, personally push its offspring off."

Not that I don't love, but that I love deeply.

Ningguang, everyone turned back, staring at Jiang Yun Chu, gazing at her gentle face with a faint smile; her eyes flickered in the kerosene lamp's light.

"Yun chu, you are a very good mother and also a very good teacher." Ningguang never imagined that, in places she didn't know about, Yun chu had done so much.

But...

She said nothing; everything was silent.

"I am not."

Jiang Yun Chu shook her head; she was selfish, she only hoped that the light in her children's eyes would never go out.

She only hoped that the children could have a piece of pure land, giving them time and space to grow.

But this time probably won't last long.

"Report, number 12 has left area three."

"Report, numbers 5 and 1 have met."

Number five, Kang Nai Xin; number one, Ning Hanmo.