"Xuesong, what are you doing?" a guard accompanying Xuesong asked as he watched Xuesong pacing back and forth in the post station.
Xuesong turned to see Zhou Kang, who had spoken to him a few times on the way, and said, "I've lost my family's jade pendant. I remember it was around here."
Zhou Kang enthusiastically said, "I'll help you look for it too."
Xuesong casually reached for a jade pendant at his waist and threw it on the ground, exclaiming, "Found it, found it!"
Zhou Kang leaned closer and smiled, "Since we finally have a moment to rest, shall we go for a drink?"
Xuesong shook his head, "No, I don't drink."
Zhou Kang shrugged, "Then I'm off."
Zhou Kang left the post station but didn't go for a drink. Instead, he went to a dilapidated temple, tore off his human-skin mask, revealing an unfamiliar face. "Big Brother, Xiao Wu was right. There are indeed a few decent-looking ones at the post station, but I haven't seen any like a celestial being yet."
The burly man rubbed his hands upon hearing this, "This is quite profitable now."
"However, Big Brother, the guards they brought are a bit too many, and they are all skilled practitioners. They might be difficult to deal with."
"What are you afraid of? This is Suizhou, our territory. Are we afraid of them?"
"Big Brother, don't underestimate the enemy."
The burly man thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Qi, go notify the Prefect of Suizhou and tell him that I'm about to do something big, and he should send reinforcements."
Xiao Qi got up and patted his butt, "Got it, Boss. Don't worry, I'll handle this job perfectly."
"Boss, Boss, look, the celestial being is out," Xiao Wu appeared at the entrance of the dilapidated temple, panting.
The burly man got up, walked out of the temple, and followed behind Xiao Wu.
On the street, the appearance of the young man and woman caused quite a stir among the onlookers.
"Young Master, are you married?" a bold woman stepped forward to ask.
The customs of Huangze were open. Women could inquire if a man they liked was interested in them.
Men could refuse or agree in person.
The young man looked up, his gaze as clear and cold as frost, like a thousand-year-old block of unmelting ice.
The woman, startled, took a few steps back, not daring to approach further.
"Yunjin..."
Xue Zining turned to look at the young man. His usually aloof expression softened slightly.
"Your Majesty, shall we go back?" the young man spoke.
Xue Zining looked at the growing crowd and nodded, "Alright."
Outside the crowd, Xiao Wu excitedly said, "Boss, how was the merchandise this time?"
The burly man smiled and patted Xiao Wu on the back of the head, "Kid, you did well this time."
Suddenly, an icy gaze shot towards them like a sharp blade. The burly man's hand froze rigidly on the back of Xiao Wu's head, unmoving.
Xiao Wu also sensed something was wrong and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Boss?"
The burly man shook his head, "Nothing, I just felt like someone was watching us."
Xue Zining and Hua Yunjin returned to their room. Xue Zining said in a low voice, "Did you see clearly?"
The young man nodded, "I saw clearly. There were three of them, and the burly man in the lead has some skill."
Xue Zining nodded, her gaze gradually turning cold. Her purpose in coming to Binzhou, besides personally escorting Hua Yunjin back to the capital, was to eliminate a trafficker who had been preying on young boys and girls in Suizhou for decades.
As expected, they were targeted the moment they stepped off the carriage.
They would play their own game, luring them out, and then catching them all at once when the time was right.
For some reason, she felt as if she had done something similar in Binzhou before, but she couldn't recall it at all.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?"
Xue Zining looked up at the worry in the young man's eyes and shook her head, "Perhaps I'm just a bit tired."
"Your Majesty, you should rest," the young man said.
Xue Zining nodded, "Alright, but I want you to stay with me."
The young man nodded, his eyes gentle, "Alright."
Watching the young woman gradually fall asleep, the young man then slowly walked out of the room. Outside the door, Xuesong was about to speak, but the young man said in a low voice, "Let's talk when we get back to the room."
Inside the room, Xuesong hesitated to speak.
Xue Jingyun, who had removed his human-skin mask, asked indifferently, "Speak, what is it?"
Xuesong furtively rubbed his hands and said, "The Empress asked me to ask you when you will return to the palace."
"Is something wrong?" Xue Jingyun raised his eyes, his gaze as clear and cold as frost.
Xuesong nodded, "His Majesty was attacked."
Xue Jingyun's eyes flickered slightly, "Why would Father Emperor be attacked?"
Xuesong shook his head, "I don't know. I sent a carrier pigeon to Xue Li to write down all the details."
Xue Jingyun's gaze turned cold, "You go back too."
Xuesong was startled, "No, I still need to protect the Prince."
Xue Jingyun's eyelids lifted, exuding a chilling aura. Xuesong shriveled his neck, "I... I'll leave now."
Xue Yan, I can't stay with you anymore. You must not cheat on me.
Xue Yan outside the door sneezed inexplicably and thought to herself, who is thinking of her for no reason?
After a moment's thought, besides that silly Xuesong, there really was no one else.
Suddenly, there seemed to be movement behind her. Xue Yan turned around, only to see a white powdery substance being thrown towards her.
"Xue Yan..." Xue Zining called out, but Xue Yan was nowhere to be seen. She opened the room door, and Xue Yan was not outside.
She felt a strange sense of unease. As she was about to step out of the post station, a voice came from behind, "Are you going out?"
She turned back and saw Hua Yunjin. She nodded, "Xue Yan is missing."
Hua Yunjin heard this and said, "The fish have taken the bait."
Xue Zining nodded, "What's next..."
Hua Yunjin stepped forward and took her hand, saying, "Let's go together."
His fingers were long and slender, exuding a hint of coolness.
Hua Yunjin's hands used to be warm.
However, this coolness did not make her feel uncomfortable in any way.
Stepping out of the post station, Xue Zining observed carefully and indeed saw a message left by Xue Yan in the corner.
"Yunjin, it seems Xue Yan has been abducted," Xue Zining said, then turned her head, only to see white powder flying towards her.
She held her breath and then pretended to be drugged, falling to the ground.
She felt someone pick her up and run swiftly.
She slowly opened a slit of her eyelids and saw that the burly man at the back door was also carrying a young man. The clothes were not those of Hua Yunjin, who had come out with her. Who else could it be?
"Boss, isn't this merchandise good?" Xiao Wu, after putting down the young woman, looked at her face and said with some pride.
The burly man also put down the young man he was carrying. The young man, who didn't look very old, felt so heavy.
"This merchandise is good. Has Xiao Qi not returned yet?" the burly man asked.
Xiao Wu shook his head, "Not yet, but he should be back soon."
The burly man nodded and said, "Watch them carefully. This is our last job before we retire."
Xiao Wu nodded, "Don't worry, Big Brother, I'll keep a close eye on these two."
The burly man said, "After this job, I'll join the army. The Empress has issued a directive that background doesn't matter. By then, I'll have made a contribution."
Xue Zining: "..."