Chapter 607

Zhui Yu: "When Miao'er returns, if she still wants to marry, I'll help her find a good husband."

"If she doesn't want to marry again, I'll support her as my sister for life."

Po Feng: "What if she… insists on carrying out the marriage between our families and must marry you?"

Zhui Yu: "That is only proper; I should marry her."

"I will also treat her well."

Po Feng: "You really don't care?"

Zhui Yu turned and punched Po Feng again.

"Why should I care?"

"She has already suffered enough; if I despise her again, how could she live?"

"Moreover, all the hardships she has endured are due to my inadequacy."

"If I had found her earlier, perhaps she wouldn't have suffered these things."

"Earlier I selfishly wanted to get rid of this matter; now I realize I'm a beast! Miao'er has only me as kin in this world. If I again try to abandon her, how am I different from those who harmed her?"

"So I have figured it out: as long as she is willing, I will take responsibility."

Po Feng sighed, gripping Zhui Yu's shoulder firmly: "Brother, you've done well."

Zhui Yu: "I know I should do this."

But deep down, I can't hide my disappointment.

Some people, from now on, must be completely let go.

The next day.

Li Qingluo strolled casually along the streets of Mantuo City.

The local customs are simple and honest, yet compared to Da Chu and DaLiang, they are even more open.

Women can walk freely on the streets.

They need not cover their heads and faces.

They also do not need to be accompanied by a man.

Women can also sell and shout their wares on the street.

Li Qingluo even saw a girl carrying a bamboo basket to school, and her little companions nearby included both boys and girls.

"Miss, Mantuo City seems quite friendly toward women."

Que'er followed beside Li Qingluo, happily observing the local customs.

Although they have experienced war, the people here are not very well-off, yet every face beams with a contentment and laughter that Nan'an and Jinling City lack.

Li Qingluo also noticed this.

It seems Po Feng has governed this place well.

This is indeed a good phenomenon.

Just as she was thinking, Sha San hurried over.

"Miss, Qin Ling and Li Yunchu have run away."

Li Qingluo: "Follow them."

She had long known these two would flee.

So how could she possibly let them really escape?

She is not so kind as to let this ill-fated pair go off to live happily ever after together.

So she had Zheng Mama tamper with them earlier.

Sure enough, before sunset, Qin Ling came running back, panting and in a sorry state.

"What exactly did you do to her?!"

"Li Qingluo, do you really intend to exterminate them completely?!"

Li Qingluo was still leisurely sipping tea; seeing Qin Ling in such a flustered state, she merely smiled.

"What can I do?"

"Qin Ling, the one who wants to kill her is you."

"Your medical skill has always been superb; how come you can't now diagnose or treat the ailment afflicting Li Yunchu?"

Qin Ling's face went pale, yet he still wanted to rush forward.

Sha Yi blocked him with a sword.

Qin Ling dared not advance further, and shouted hoarsely: "What do you mean by that?"

"Is it the tampering you did?"

"You really used Witchcraft Technique!"

"Even if I were a Great Luo Immortal, I couldn't save her!"

"No wonder that after we had gone only ten li outside the city to that ruined temple, she suddenly couldn't catch her breath."

"Now she can't even swallow water."

"Li Qingluo, if anything happens to Yunchu, I will fight you to the death—"

Li Qingluo picked at her ears, quite impatient: "So you come running back to question me, yet you left her in the ruined temple?"

"Qin Ling, you're adorably stupid."

"You've guessed it's Witchcraft Technique, yet you didn't even carry her back yourself. Do you love her or want to harm her?"

"Come on; if you don't go now, your Yunchu will be buried straight away."

Qin Ling still hadn't reacted, when Sha Er seized him by the scruff and dragged him outward.

"Let go!"

Let go of me, you cold-blooded monsters who kill without blinking——

Ah——

A ruined temple outside the city.

On the empty ground, where is there any trace of Li Yunchu?

Qin Ling lay on the ground, face full of panic: 'Where is she?'

I had her safely hidden here! Yuniang——Yuniang!!

Qin Ling thought he might really have harmed Li Yunchu, and instantly overcome with grief he burst into tears: 'Yuniang——'

If anything happens to you, I'll follow you in death——

Qin Ling looked as if he truly intended to die.

Li Qingluo gave a look, and Sha Er hurried forward, grabbing him by the neck.

Shut up! If you keep wailing, I'll kill you right away!

Li Qingluo looked toward the dark corner where Sha Shisan stepped out: 'What's going on?'

Sha Shisan: 'Miss, just now a merchant convoy passed by and took her away.'

Having received no orders, Sha Shisan did not act on his own to block them.

However, he had marked that merchant convoy, so finding them will be easy.

Li Qingluo: 'The witchcraft afflicting Li Yunchu cannot leave Mantuo City. The farther she goes, the harder it will be for her to breathe.'

Go, hurry and bring her back.

If you delay any longer, you truly won't be able to save her!

Li Qingluo doesn't care about Li Yunchu's life.

But she still wants to squeeze Qin Ling.

Qin Ling is useful in some ways.

Li Qingluo went to all this trouble also so that Qin Ling would henceforth be convinced and willingly continue to serve by her side.

Who would have thought that this lovable fool Qin Ling would first lose Li Yunchu?

Sha Shisan and Sha Er immediately set off in pursuit together.

Qin Ling's face turned pale, and upon hearing the truth he regretted so much he burst into tears.

Yuniang......

It's my fault you came to this......

Li Qingluo: 'If you keep making noise, I'll have them come back!'

Qin Ling choked up instantly.

And he glared at Li Qingluo resentfully.

It's all your fault!

If you weren't thinking of harming us, Yuniang wouldn't be suffering like this!

Li Qingluo: 'If you weren't thinking of escaping, would she suffer this pain?'

Qin Ling choked up again.

You, you!

You persecute us like this, and yet you won't let this ill-fated couple escape your clutches?

Li Qingluo: 'Then run away. Why do you still come begging me?'

Since you've come back begging me, you ought to have the attitude of a supplicant.

Qin Ling, this is what you husband and wife owe me.

Having said that, Li Qingluo lifted her foot and strode out.

Qin Ling cried out as he chased after her: 'Li Qingluo, stop right there!'

Just what do you want before you'll let us go?

Isn't it enough that I'm begging you?

Just spare us——

In my next life I'll serve you as an ox or horse to repay my debt to you!

Li Qingluo: 'Don't even think about a next life.'

In this life, if you serve me for another eight years, I'll spare you.

How about that?

Qin Ling: 'I've already been running errands for you two years, isn't that enough?'

You actually still want eight years?

How many eight-year spans does a lifetime have, ah!?

After eight years I'll be old!

Being apart from Yuniang for another eight years, what's the point of living!

Qin Ling jumped with anger, wishing he could rush up and perish together with Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo turned and gave him a strange smile.

If I were to also keep Li Yunchu.

Would you be willing to sign an eight-year life-and-death contract with me?

Qin Ling was startled by that smile of hers.

He even couldn't help but step back.

You, what do you mean?

You want to use witchcraft?

Li Qingluo crossed her arms, coldly looking at him: "It seems you don't love your Yunchu that much either."

It's very simple.

I will use witchcraft to sign a life-and-death contract with you. Within these eight years, if you dare to betray or flee, or if you intend to abandon me to die, you will die instantly.

If you dare, I will revive your Yunchu, remove the witchcraft poison from her, keep her by your side, and from then on let you two be reunited as husband and wife.

Think it over well.

Having said that, Li Qingluo strode onto her horse.

By the time Qin Ling reacted, she had vanished amidst the flying dust and sand.

Qin Ling hastily climbed onto his horse and gave chase.

I'll sign, I'll sign—is that not enough?

Damn it.

In any case, I can't escape the clutches of this ruthless woman; as long as Yunchu isn't the one bearing the punishment, as long as we husband and wife can still be together, what does it matter if I sacrifice my life?

Watching Qin Ling catch up, Zheng Mama, who was following beside her, anxiously asked: "Miss, are you really going to sign a contract with him?"

Better let this old servant handle it!

Li Qingluo: "Just scare him."

I promised Your Highness I wouldn't lightly use witchcraft.

But this scare, he wouldn't dare not believe it.

Then we'll just put on a show and draw up a contract.

As for Li Yunchu, she merely swallowed a poison insect given to me by my senior sister; she indeed cannot stray far from Mantuo City, or else the poison will flare up.

If we find her, giving her the antidote I gave you will suffice.

Let's go, let's return to the city!

We should also prepare for the journey to Eagle City!

Giddyap—

Li Yunchu was naturally rescued safe and sound.

However, Sha Shisan suffered a minor injury.

Miss, these people don't look like an ordinary caravan.

They seem more like Western Regions people in disguise.

Li Qingluo first attended to Sha Shisan's injury, then asked about these people.

How did your fight go?

Did they run away?

Sha Er: "Reporting, miss, among them there indeed are several highly skilled guards."

However, if we two truly had to fight them to the death, they would not be our match.

Li Qingluo: "You did the right thing."

No need to fight to the death; just complete the mission.

Besides their suspicious identity, is there anything else odd about them?

Sha Er thought for a moment and replied: "There is a special mark."

Originally they all had their necks and heads tightly wrapped; I accidentally tore off one man's headscarf and saw that behind his ear, down to his neck, there was a spearhead-shaped hook tattoo.

A spearhead hook tattoo?

Li Qingluo immediately drew it on paper.

Is it like this?

Sha Er and Sha Shisan immediately pointed and confirmed: "Exactly like this!"

Miss, how do you know?

Li Qingluo: "I heard it from Xuan Cang."

He said that people of the Wusun Kingdom have such a mark behind their ears.

So they actually are people of the Wusun Kingdom! But why did they capture Li Yunchu?

The mist surrounding Mantuo City seemed to grow deeper; Li Qingluo faintly caught a clue, yet could not fully see it.

Just as they were speaking, Xuan Cang walked in.

'Luo'er, a secret letter from the master's sect!'