It was now possible to be quite certain that Xie Jiang had likely met with an accident.
Initially, they hadn't taken it too seriously, thinking that even the most capable subordinates of their young master, the Xie family's men, had begun to panic.
The deep mountains at night were fraught with peril; no one could afford to harbor any lingering侥幸 (jǐngxìng - hope/chance).
The bandits of Huang Lanshan in the three encampments were almost annihilated, but the forest at night was even more terrifying than the Huang Lanshan bandits.
It was like a gaping maw filled with fangs, silently devouring everything.
Under the flickering torchlight in the night wind, Xu Hengyan's expression grew increasingly grim.
Watching his accompanying guards wrestle with two pythons as thick as an adult's thighs, Xu Hengyan's mind involuntarily conjured up many extremely dangerous scenes.
All of them were about Xie Jiang.
She alone had to face not only the highly skilled, cunning, and venomous Winged Tiger but also the various ferocious beasts that emerged endlessly in the deep forest.
Sweat dripped from Xu Hengyan's temples, yet his body felt chillingly hollow.
"Young Master, it's dealt with."
Xu Hengyan's men had split into several teams and scattered. The guards who remained by his side had already sustained several injuries.
After dealing with the pythons, they encountered a black bear.
Following the traces of several fights, they had already traveled an unknown distance.
Darkness naturally concealed many things, let alone a forest inhabited by ferocious beasts.
The trail they had followed for half an hour suddenly vanished.
It was pitch black all around; which way had she gone?
Before Xu Hengyan could speak, Guang Bai preempted him, "Young Master, we cannot split our forces any further."
They were left with only eight men. Any further dispersal would jeopardize the Young Master's safety.
The forest was too dangerous.
While they worried about Young Master Xie, they couldn't risk the Young Master's safety.
Xu Hengyan remained unmoved. "Split into four teams of two. Gather here after the time it takes for one incense stick to burn."
The guards immediately divided into teams and complied.
Only Guang Bai remained by Xu Hengyan's side.
Guang Bai instantly felt immense pressure.
After the time it took for one incense stick to burn, the guards returned one after another. The last group brought good news: they had found traces of a struggle.
~
They searched for the entire night.
At the crack of dawn, they found the corpse of the Winged Tiger.
The Winged Tiger's neck had been violently severed, its head and body separated.
When they first found it, a hungry wolf was gnawing on the Winged Tiger's carcass, having already eaten one of its legs.
Xu Hengyan stepped forward to examine several wounds on the Winged Tiger, including the fatal one on its neck, confirming it was left by the dagger Xie Jiang carried.
However, Xie Jiang herself was nowhere to be found.
"The Winged Tiger died no more than an hour ago. Young Master Xie should be nearby."
Without waiting for Xu Hengyan's command, the guards fanned out to search.
By now, the sky was faintly brightening, and the Winged Tiger was already dead.
Xie Jiang had not deliberately concealed her tracks; she had even found time to leave several signals.
Yet, Xu Hengyan's anxious heart still did not settle.
This was because they later discovered wounds on the corpse of a black bear identical to those on the Winged Tiger.
With so many guards by his side, this night had been exceptionally perilous.
She was all alone!
Xu Hengyan wanted to kill those unworthy subordinates of hers. What could be more important than protecting her, to let her pursue the notorious Winged Tiger alone!
Who knew how many years the Winged Tiger had been established in these deep mountains, or if it had set any traps!
"It's Young Master Xie!"
The guard scouting ahead suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
Beneath a small waterfall, Xie Jiang leaned against a rock by the pool, motionless as if asleep.
Xu Hengyan's gaze immediately fell upon the bloodstains on her body. Seeing her leaning there, unresponsive even as they approached, his heart constricted.
Xu Hengyan strode towards her, but Guang Bai suddenly grabbed him, "Young Master, be careful!"
Fine threads emitting a faint blue glow crisscrossed the area, encircling the entire pool. They were likely traps set by Young Master Xie to ward off wild beasts.
Xu Hengyan was already in a state of utter confusion and had not noticed these mechanisms.
"They are coated with potent poison, Young Master, please be extremely cautious."
How could Guang Bai not understand the torment the Young Master had endured all night?
Xu Hengyan used the momentum from a tree branch to leap, soaring over the dense network of poisonous threads and landing by the pool.
"Xiao Xie..."
Xu Hengyan knelt before her, gazing at the bloodstains on her body, hesitant to touch her.
He was so close, right in front of her, yet he couldn't hear her breathing.
The hand Xu Hengyan extended to check her breath was trembling.
Just then, Xie Jiang opened her eyes. She remained leaning against the rock, her eyes open, gazing at him motionlessly.
Her gaze was exceptionally calm.
"Xiao Xie!"
Xu Hengyan called her name with immense joy, and in the next moment, he pulled her tightly into his embrace.
Nothing else mattered!
Nothing mattered anymore!
The person in his arms was his everything.
Whether it was sin or shame, it was all unimportant!
What were principles and ethics anyway!
Guang Bai felt that the Young Master's actions were somewhat unusual, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong. However, he didn't forget to have all the guards withdraw and keep their distance.
"Xu Hengyan..."
Xie Jiang, whose ribs felt as if they were about to break from the embrace, weakly uttered a sound.
Only then did Xu Hengyan remember that she might be injured. He quickly released her and anxiously examined her, "Where are you hurt?"
Xie Jiang's eyes were red-rimmed. "My heart is hurt, don't you know?"
Hearing this, Xu Hengyan felt waves of heartache.
Xie Jiang said with a distant tone, "Didn't you say you wanted to break off our engagement? What are you doing coming into the mountains?"
"I lost my head, I'm sorry."
Xu Hengyan looked at her with concern, reaching out to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, but the blood had long since dried.
"So, Young Master Xu, are you trying to get back together with me now?"
"Can you give me another chance?"
Xie Jiang's eyes were red as she let out a cold laugh. "You break off the engagement when you want, and you want to get back together when you want. Why should everything be on your terms!"
A hint of determination appeared in Xu Hengyan's eyes. "From now on, there will never be a next time, unless it is Young Master Xie who wants to break off our engagement."
"Are you sure?"
"I am very sure."
"What if I told you that all of this was actually a ploy?"
Xu Hengyan visibly faltered for a moment, but quickly regained his composure. "You deliberately let the Winged Tiger escape, and then went to pursue it alone?"
Xie Jiang retorted with righteous indignation, "Just because it has the title of Winged Tiger, you really think it's the Winged Tiger?"
Xie Jiang let out a proud snort. "Does a mere bandit leader deserve me to personally pursue him? He'd have to be reborn eight more times to be worthy."
So it was true that she had deliberately let the Winged Tiger go and then pursued it into the forest alone!
Xu Hengyan was so angry he could have died. "Just to see my reaction, you took such a huge risk? The forest at night is so dangerous!"
Xie Jiang said, "If it weren't dangerous, how could I have fooled you?"
No wonder he had only encountered a few of her subordinates at the very beginning, giving him the illusion that their young master might be in trouble!
After that, they hadn't encountered a single one all night!
It was likely that after acting their part, they had simply found a place to sleep!
Truly, what kind of master, what kind of subordinates!
Each and every one of them was such a good actor!
Xu Hengyan took a deep breath...