With a word, Bai Sha was so angry she almost spat blood. Her face turned extremely grim, yet she dared not say more. She swiftly glanced towards where the silken threads had been cast, her lips curling into a sinister grin, revealing a mouth full of bone-white teeth.
"Wúqíng, you're not dead? Today, this old crone will ensure you have no burial place."
As her voice fell, a figure descended from the air. It was none other than Wúqíng.
This time, not only Qingyao, but Mo Chou and Xiao Yu'er were stunned. Everyone gazed at the man who had appeared. His brows were like willows, his eyes like stars, his skin like snow, and his lips a vivid red. His hair, like pure white snow, in no way detracted from his handsome features, but rather added to his exquisite beauty. A gentle smile played on his lips, his gaze passing through Bai Sha and towards Qingyao opposite him, as he softly inquired,
"Are you alright?"
Qingyao nodded in response. She was so astonished she couldn't speak, her shock far outweighing her excitement.
This was because she had personally seen Wúqíng die that day. Yet now, here he was, alive and well. Moreover, Qingfeng was pushing him, and the two of them appeared before her just like this.
Xiao Yu'er, unlike Qingyao's composure, was already clinging to a tree, crying out dramatically, "A ghost!"
With that, she plummeted straight down. Mo Chou flickered, leaping forward to catch her, preventing her from harm.
Seeing Wúqíng appear, Bai Sha felt a lack of confidence, a flicker of fear. However, thinking of her efforts over the past two years and the death of Hei Sha, she could no longer afford to care. She soared into the air, "Wúqíng, I'll fight you to the death!"
"I spared you once that day. Today, you seek death."
Wúqíng let out an angry roar. The silken threads flew out, showing no mercy, and shot directly towards Bai Sha's face. Startled, she dodged, but the silken threads danced like a vast, dense net, granting her no space to breathe. An all-encompassing killing intent surged towards her.
Bai Sha's heart trembled. Could it be that she was destined to die today? Thinking this, she decided it was better to fight. Immediately, she unleashed her full might, her every move sharp and aimed at Wúqíng. However, she couldn't get close to him. Wúqíng also had no intention of engaging in a pointless struggle. The silken threads sharply entangled her, and with a forceful throw, he sent her hurtling towards a large tree.
Bai Sha felt a blockage in her chest, then vomited a large mouthful of blood. Following that, Wúqíng once again wrapped her with the silken threads and tossed her again. This time, she was directly thrown into the air, then plummeted downwards, falling to the ground. She struggled for a moment, blood gushing from her mouth, her eyes wide in death, never to close.
Wúqíng retracted the silken threads, his gaze falling upon the few people opposite him with an elegant, gentle smile.
By this time, Qingyao had regained her senses. Thinking that he had saved her once again, even though this time she might not have lost to Bai Sha, the thought of him always being the one to rescue her filled her heart with a warm, flowing light.
"Wúqíng, is that you? Weren't you dead?"
Qingyao couldn't help but speak. Beside her, Xiao Yu'er and Mo Chou nodded in unison. Yes, their young master was dead. They had seen it with their own eyes that day. How could he be well now?
Wúqíng sighed faintly, "I never expected he would ultimately be unable to bear killing me himself. The antidote was mixed with a fake death drug."
Qingyao froze, recalling Hua Wenbo's final moments. As he died, he had deeply repented, regretting having caused Wúqíng's death. Was Hua Wenbo putting on an act, not wanting her to see Wúqíng again, or was there some other hidden meaning? Qingyao narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at him. Yin Xuan had said that if it were a disguise, there would surely be flaws. His smile or his speech, his facial nerves would be somewhat unnatural. But Wúqíng's facial features were soft and natural, with no trace of flaws.
Silence fell upon the forest. Wúqíng's lonely voice echoed,
"Qingyao, two years have passed. I thought you would be happy that I am still alive. So?"
After he spoke, he slowly lowered his head, his hands clenched into fists. Qingyao's heart trembled. Recalling past events, everything she had was given by him. She should be happy that he was alive. Why, then, was she doubting him? She quickly took two steps forward, her face breaking into a smile, and said softly,
"Wúqíng, I'm sorry. I was just too shocked. A person who has been dead for two years suddenly comes back to life. You can't expect me to accept it immediately."
"Mm," Wúqíng nodded, not blaming her. He had never blamed her.
"Let's go," Qingyao walked over, took Qingfeng's hand, and pushed him towards the depths of the forest.
Mo Chou and Xiao Yu'er exchanged glances and both cried out, "Young Master, wait for us!"
The two followed, falling behind. Bing Xiao, trailing at the very back, looked at the scene before her and couldn't help but worry deeply for her mistress. The Marshal's feelings for this man were different from her feelings for others. Even Mo Chou and Xiao Yu'er seemed to like him very much. What about her mistress? A glint flashed in her eyes. She still needed to let her mistress come quickly.
In the bamboo house, Qingyao and Wúqíng sat at the table. Mo Chou served tea and then withdrew. Bing Xiao was initially unwilling to leave, but Mo Chou and Xiao Yu'er dragged her away. The three of them then pulled Qingfeng outside the bamboo house to question him.
"Qingfeng, what's going on? Why is Young Master alive?"
Xiao Yu'er tightly gripped Qingfeng's hand and questioned him. Qingfeng looked at the small hand holding him with a blank expression, appearing very helpless. Finally, his expression grew indifferent as he spoke, "Just as Young Master said. One day, Mingyue and I were playing music for Young Master. From the new grave, a terrifying sound suddenly erupted, and Young Master broke through the earth and emerged. Mingyue and I were terrified. Young Master came back to life like that. Later, we speculated together that perhaps Hua Wenbo couldn't bear to harm Young Master, and the antidote was actually mixed with fake death drugs, which is why Young Master revived."
After speaking, Qingfeng fell silent and turned to look at the lake before him. A thick layer of ice had formed, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight. That light leaped into his eyes, dazzling and brilliant.
Mo Chou and Xiao Yu'er glanced at him. Seeing that he wasn't speaking, they paid it no mind. Qingfeng had always been taciturn; they understood this. He wasn't as cheerful as Mingyue.
Now, the two of them were worried about something else. Young Master was alive, so what about the Emperor?
For the past two years, during Young Master's absence, the Emperor had been by their mistress's side. Although the two of them hadn't said it explicitly, their harmonious feelings for each other were evident to all. But now that Young Master was alive, the one in the most difficult position must be their mistress. Whom would she choose, whom would she abandon? Or would she choose neither, hurting neither, which seemed to be what she wished to avoid. The contributions these two men made to her were all genuine and without any ulterior motives.
Inside the bamboo house.
Tea fragrance permeated the air. Qingyao looked at Wúqíng, and after a long time, she sighed softly, "Two years have passed, and Wúqíng is still the same as before."
"But Qingyao has become even more steady and reserved than before. I've heard about your affairs; you became the Grand Marshal, conquering the Danfeng Kingdom and the Wanhe Kingdom."
His voice was as soft and delicate as before. Qingyao fell into contemplation, then looked up at him, "Since you are alive, why did you never appear?"