Yun Daman looked curious, "What kind of human traffickers? How can there be human traffickers in the mountains?"
Are the child traffickers these days so dedicated, running into the mountains to snatch children...
Kong Xingzhuo sighed, "I don't know who that person was. They ran incredibly fast, and we couldn't catch up even when we chased with all our might!"
Gu Shi's mind buzzed with anxiety upon hearing this.
It seemed her youngest daughter and Young Master Xiao hadn't been eaten by wolves, but had been taken away by human traffickers.
This was not a good thing...
"Young Master Kong, do you know where that human trafficker went?" Gu Shi asked.
No matter how far, she had to find her daughter.
The Yun family all looked expectantly at Kong Xingzhuo, hoping he knew Xiao Xitian's whereabouts.
"Actually... actually, I'm just guessing, but Sweet Baby and the Young Master were likely taken to Shuoan City!" Kong Xingzhuo murmured.
"What?" Yun Erman's eyes widened, "Shuo... Shuoan City?"
He had delivered a letter to Prefect Qin once before and had been to Shuoan City.
That place was so far away.
The prefectural city was huge, and once they were taken there, it would be harder to find them than searching for a needle in a haystack...
"Young Master Kong, are you sure?" Yun Erman's voice changed pitch with anxiety.
His gums had swollen with boils from anger these past few days, his face was unshaven, making him look years older.
Coupled with Liu Cuirong's disruptive return, he appeared even more haggard and exhausted.
Kong Xingzhuo shook his head, "I can't be sure about this. For now, we need to write a letter to Prefect Qin and ask him to keep an eye out in Shuoan City..."
There were no other good solutions.
Old Man Yun tightly gripped his pipe, his face clouded with worry, "Then, then we'll trouble you, Young Master Kong!"
"Oh, Uncle Yun, at a time like this, what's there to trouble about? You all should go inside, it's so hot out here..."
Kong Xingzhuo sighed a few times and went back inside for some water.
Granny Jin, Ruyue, and Ruhua made noodles to feed Kong Xingzhuo and the two hidden guards.
The topping was shredded mustard greens and shredded meat, which was delicious mixed with the noodles.
Kong Xingzhuo, exhausted, glanced at the noodles but didn't touch his chopsticks.
However, the two hidden guards devoured the noodles like starving wolves...
"Granny Jin, are there any more noodles? I'm not full!" Guard Jia rubbed his stomach.
Granny Jin smiled helplessly, "Yes, yes, Ruyue, go get them two more bowls of noodles!"
Alas, these two fellows, they hadn't found the Young Master, but they sure ate a lot of noodles.
"Commander Kong, why aren't you eating?" Granny Jin asked, looking at Kong Xingzhuo's worried face.
"No appetite!" Kong Xingzhuo stood up, walked to the desk, picked up paper and pen, pondered for a moment, and then wrote a letter.
The letter contained only a few words: The prince is missing, please ask Prefect Qin to send people to search quickly...
He put the letter into an envelope and went to the Yun family's house.
"Erman, you'll have to work hard and make a trip. My subordinates are too tired to move, so this letter..."
"Is it to be delivered to Shuoan City?" Yun Erman took the letter. "I'm familiar with the Prefect's mansion, I've been there once!"
Kong Xingzhuo grunted and patted Yun Erman's shoulder, "Go quickly and return quickly!"
This matter couldn't be delayed for a moment...
The Young Master and Sweet Baby's lives were at stake. If anything happened, ten heads wouldn't be enough to be chopped off.
"Okay!" Yun Erman replied.
He led out the family's red horse. Zhao Guihua prepared some dry food and pickles for him to eat on the road, and Yun Erman galloped away...
"I hope this time it goes smoothly!" Gu Shi sighed deeply, watching Yun Erman's receding back.
"Old woman, you go back and lie down for a while. Don't fall ill yourself before your daughter is found!"
Old Man Yun looked at his weathered and haggard wife, his heart aching as if stabbed by a knife...
Everyone in the family knew that Xiao Xitian was Gu Shi's lifeblood.
What must her feelings be like to suddenly lose her daughter!
Although Old Man Yun was also anxious and worried, coughing from smoking every day, he was the head of the family. If he collapsed, what would happen to the Yun family in the future...
Gu Shi turned and went back into the house.
Zhao Guihua had rested for two days and was already able to get out of bed to cook.
She led Huaihua and Xi'er to the garden to pick some cucumbers and beans. She also gathered half a basket of sweet potatoes, planning to steam them and eat them with dipping sauce.
Xiao Xitian's plot of land had already sprouted, and everyone had no idea what she had planted in it...
"Ah ah!" Jin Huaihua grabbed Zhao Guihua's sleeve and gestured with her hands.
It was roughly asking if Xiao Xitian was alright.
Zhao Guihua smiled wryly, "Don't worry, my little sister is blessed with great fortune, she'll definitely be fine!"
No one knew if she was alright. Those human traffickers were all insidious and cunning. If Xiao Xitian and Young Master Xiao resisted, wouldn't they immediately strike?
Jin Huaihua was relieved upon hearing this.
These past two days, many rumors had spread in the village, saying that Xiao Xitian had been eaten by wolves.
There were also those with loose tongues who said she had fallen off a cliff and turned into a meat patty.
Jin Huaihua was mute and couldn't refute them, so she was very upset and worried along with her family...
Only Hu Xi'er could eat and drink, and she had even gained some weight in the past two days, becoming plump.
"Sister Guihua, that Young Master Xiao clearly has a significant background. With so many capable people under him, how can they not even find two children?"
That's too useless.
Hu Xi'er carried her bamboo basket, speaking sarcastically.
Zhao Guihua: "..."
Was that human speech?
That Camelback Mountain had more than one ridge, and the mountain was full of dense undergrowth.
Moreover, it had rained heavily a few days ago, and walking in the forest meant that every step got mud on your shoes.
Such a large mountain, did you think it was your backyard, where you could find people with just a couple of steps?
"Pick your vegetables. It's best not to say these words in front of Mom and Dad. They are already worried, don't add fuel to the fire..." Zhao Guihua glared at her.
Hu Xi'er pouted, not caring at all.
It would be even better if they weren't found. Without Xiao Xitian, wouldn't Daman and Erman have to split the family and live separately!
Once the family lost its labor force, relying solely on Old Man Yun, those lands would definitely not be cultivated well...
Then she and Sister Huaihua could openly leave the old Yun family.
Judging by the current situation, his daughter was most likely dead.
"Xi'er, go pick another handful of green onions!" Zhao Guihua instructed.
She had just seen Hu Xi'er secretly smiling foolishly and guessed she wasn't thinking of anything good...
No wonder Liu Cuirong had targeted her back then. This girl was full of wicked schemes, and at an age where she was prone to mischief, she might be up to something outside.
After picking the vegetables, the three returned to the Yun family's house and began preparing lunch.