Chapter 117: Lord Hu Takes Action

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Lord Hu Takes Action

Xiao Yunjing nodded.

Wuqing swiftly flew into the forest toward Da Bai’s territory.

“Da Bai! Da Bai!” As soon as Wuqing arrived, she called out.

“ROAR!”

Upon hearing Wuqing’s voice, Da Bai leaped out, tackled her to the ground, and licked her face with its large tongue.

“Stop it!” Wuqing got up and pulled Da Bai’s ear as they walked away. “Quick, let’s go save our master! The master has been captured by bad guys!”

“ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!”

When Lord Hu heard his master had been captured by villains, he flew into a rage.

How could he stand for this? If he didn’t tear those scoundrels apart, he wouldn’t be Lord Hu!

Without waiting for Wuqing to reveal the location, he charged off, roaring, his pack following close behind.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yunjing had tried to intervene several times, but Gu Dahe’s dagger never left Gu Qingli’s neck. He could only watch helplessly as Gu Dahe pushed her into the forest.

As Gu Dahe shoved her deeper into the woods, Gu Qingli sensed something was amiss. “Third Uncle,” she said, “it’s safe enough here. You can escape down the mountain from this point. Any further in, and there are dangerous beasts.”

“Enough of your nonsense!” Gu Dahe’s tone turned sinister. “Who said anything about letting you go? You walked right into my hands. Am I a fool? You’re coming with me to live life on the run!”

Gu Qingli remained calm.

She knew Gu Dahe wouldn’t release her so easily; it was time to find a way out.

“ROAR! ROAR! ROAR…”

Just then, the roars of a tiger echoed from deep within the forest, accompanied by the sound of many animals stampeding.

Da Bai! Gu Qingli’s heart leaped with joy.

Gu Dahe froze, then spun around and began pushing Gu Qingli back toward the forest edge.

Xiao Yunjing, who had been trailing them, also heard the commotion. He signaled for the Secret Sect members to tighten their encirclement.

Da Bai ran a great distance before finally spotting his master’s figure. Indeed, a villain was holding her captive!

Da Bai was both furious and frantic. How dare anyone bully his master! He would tear that man to shreds!

Using all his strength, Da Bai covered the remaining distance in a few powerful leaps, catching up to Gu Qingli.

Seeing a tiger the size of a calf charging at him, Gu Dahe panicked and shoved Gu Qingli in front of him as a shield.

“ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!” Da Bai roared at Gu Dahe, its eyes wide with fury.

“ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!” The other fierce beasts following Da Bai joined the chorus.

Gu Qingli secretly gave Da Bai a thumbs-up.

Da Bai roared even more ferociously and lunged at Gu Dahe from the side.

Terrified to the point of wetting himself, Gu Dahe thrust Gu Qingli toward Da Bai and fled.

Da Bai was about to lead his pack in pursuit.

“Da Bai, don’t chase!” Gu Qingli hurriedly yelled.

Xiao Yunjing would take care of him.

As expected, the moment Gu Dahe released Gu Qingli, Xiao Yunjing waved his hand. Four Secret Sect members leaped down from the trees and swiftly apprehended the panicking Gu Dahe.

Meanwhile, Da Bai heard his master’s command not to chase. He tried to stop abruptly, his long legs skidding, and tumbled due to inertia before playfully pouncing on Gu Qingli. Gu Qingli hugged Da Bai, who was overjoyed.

His master was safe!

He began to play, licking her enthusiastically with his big tongue.

“Shoo!” Xiao Yunjing arrived, shooed Da Bai away, and pulled Gu Qingli into his embrace.

“Li’er,” he murmured, kissing her.

Wuqing, who had rushed over, couldn’t bear the sight and quickly retreated.

“Wuqing, bring a set of Li’er’s clothes up here,” Xiao Yunjing called out. Wuqing, already some distance away, heard his voice and stumbled in surprise.

The Young Master’s inner strength is so profound!

“WHIMPER, WHIMPER, WHIMPER…” Da Bai sat on the ground, protesting as he watched his master being kissed.

“Da Bai, take your pack and go,” Gu Qingli said, hearing his whimpers and gently pushing Xiao Yunjing’s face away.

Da Bai nodded, whimpered a few more times, then growled at his followers. They all turned and dashed back into the forest. After a few steps, Da Bai looked back at Gu Qingli. She waved, and then he was gone.

「Down the mountain,」

Wuqing first went to inform Gu Dalin and the others that Gu Qingli was safe, then she headed back to fetch Gu Qingli’s clothes.

The four Secret Sect members took Gu Dahe to their base. His fate would undoubtedly be wretched; they planned to hand him over to Magistrate Xu when he was barely clinging to life.

Magistrate Xu was still useful to Xiao Yunjing, and importantly, he was Master Xu’s brother. Xiao Yunjing had investigated Master Xu and learned he was a Master at the Imperial Academy—a man of profound knowledge and upright character who had offended someone powerful and sought refuge in this place. Such talent had to be preserved. Consequently, a major criminal like Gu Dahe could not be allowed to escape. If he did, Magistrate Xu wouldn’t just lose his official position; his own life, and the lives of those under him, would be in jeopardy.

This wasn’t the time for a direct confrontation with Chu Xiong, Xiao Yunjing mused. Protecting these people came first.

When Wuqing returned with the clothes, the Xiao Family also received word that Gu Qingli was unharmed, thanks to Da Bai’s rescue. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Upon hearing the news, Gu Chang’an instructed everyone to head back.

Only Master Gu returned with a grim face, his heart seething with resentment.

After fetching the clothes, Xiao Yunjing carried Gu Qingli to the hot spring pool and gently washed her from head to toe.

Seeing the marks on her neck and the raw abrasions on her wrists, Xiao Yunjing’s heart ached. “Does it hurt?” he asked, his voice husky.

Gu Qingli, her arms around Xiao Yunjing’s neck, shook her head. “My neck isn’t too bad, but my wrists really hurt.”

Gu Dahe’s grip had been so tight; she’d struggled fruitlessly to break free. Her wrists throbbed painfully.

Xiao Yunjing gently stroked her hair. “In the future, if you encounter something like this, don’t try to be a hero,” he said softly.

He couldn’t bear to imagine what he would have done if anything terrible had befallen Li’er today. He might have gone mad.

Gu Qingli nodded dejectedly.

She could feel the restraint in Xiao Yunjing, his unspoken blame for her decision to trade herself for Ms. Wu. If she hadn’t offered herself as a hostage, Xiao Yunjing would have acted immediately, but Ms. Wu would surely have been harmed. That meant two lives at stake, a thought Gu Qingli couldn’t bear.

“Remember this: your life is more important than anyone else’s,” Xiao Yunjing sighed, then repeated, confirming her thoughts.

Indeed, he would have crippled Gu Dahe on the spot. As for Ms. Wu, ensuring her survival wouldn’t have been an issue. But Li’er was different; he couldn’t stand the thought of even a single hair on her head being harmed.

“That’s true. I cherish my life,” Gu Qingli said, looking up and blinking playfully at him.

Her life hadn’t come easily; she cherished it dearly. As long as she wasn’t about to kick the bucket, a little calculated risk was acceptable.

“You…” Xiao Yunjing gently pinched her nose.

He briefly considered taking her with him wherever he went from now on. But the battlefield, with its indiscriminate blades and arrows… no, that wouldn’t do. Considering Li’er’s temperament, it was better for her to stay here for now. He would send for her once things were stable on his end.

After reassuring everyone at the Xiao Family, they went to Gu Dalin’s house to check on him and Ms. Wu.

Both had suffered a terrible ordeal today; they wondered if Gu Dalin and Ms. Wu would be able to cope.

When they arrived, they found Ms. Wu already asleep, having taken her fetal protection medicine.

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