Chapter 180: Out of the Tunnel

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Out of the Tunnel

“Burn them all, including him.” Xiao Yunjing pointed to the Clan Patriarch, uttered this command, and then strode out of the cave. Keeping this man alive would only invite disaster.

He didn’t mind if Xi Chenqing came seeking revenge. If she did, he would kill her as well. He would kill any woman who harbored improper designs on him. He wouldn’t allow Li’er to be troubled by such things; that simply wouldn’t happen in his presence.

In his past life, many women had flocked around him, but he had been a carefree bachelor then, and nothing could affect him. Now that he had Li’er, he was determined to provide her with a secure and peaceful home.

Afterward, Xiao Yunjing had the entire Baiyue Clan searched from top to bottom but found nothing unusual. He even searched the illusion formation outside but still found no trace of Gu Qingli or her companions.

Snowflakes drifted down continuously, blanketing any traces that might have been left on the ground.

Xiao Yunjing was overwrought with anxiety and fury, on the verge of tearing the Baiyue Clan apart in his rage.

“Li’er, where on earth are you?”

Xiao Yunjing slumped onto the snowy ground, muttering to himself, his gaze growing vacant, as if he might collapse at any moment.

Yun No. 6 and the others watched their master’s heart-wrenching despair, their own anxiety mounting. They had already searched the area as if digging three feet deep.

“Master, at that time, only Xi Chenqing was present. She must know where the Madam went,” Yun No. 6 said, stepping forward, unable to bear seeing his master in such a state. Xi Chenqing was still in the main camp. If they brought her back and questioned her, she would surely reveal everything.

Yan Ming thought for a moment, then said to Xiao Yunjing, “My Lord, in my opinion, Xi Chenqing is not the type to kill. She’s an exceedingly clever girl. She must have struck some sort of deal with the Madam—perhaps persuading her to leave voluntarily, or…”

Or to take her own life.

He dared not voice the last part.

He feared that Xiao Yunjing, in his current state of incandescent rage, might strike him dead with a single palm.

Yan Ming continued his explanation, “I watched Xi Chenqing grow up and know her temperament very well. She is cunning and eccentric, but she always knew her limits. Even if a disagreement led her to poison someone, she would never deal a fatal dose, only make the person suffer a little. She harbors feelings for Xiao Yunjing, so she would never do anything to displease him. Moreover, she is adept at self-preservation, ensuring she remained untangled from any messy repercussions. Therefore, she must have made a deal with the Madam, compelling her to disappear voluntarily. The Madam, unwilling to see so many people perish—especially you, My Lord—would naturally have compromised.”

Hearing Yan Ming’s analysis, Xiao Yunjing felt as if a blockage in his mind had cleared. Instant understanding dawned, and he rose, his voice heavy as he commanded, “Return to the city!”

How could I not have thought of this before? I was so fixated, like I was banging my head against a wall, convinced Li’er had hidden herself or been captured by the Baiyue Clan.

It never even crossed my mind that Xi Chenqing might have orchestrated something.

Given Xi Chenqing’s venomous nature, why would she save so many of us without a compelling reason? She’s hardly that benevolent.

“Damn it!” Xiao Yunjing cursed inwardly, his heart seething with regret.

I’ve been such a brute, not using my brain to think things through!

Xiao Yunjing descended the mountain with ten members of the Secret Sect, leaving the others to secure the area. This place would become his new base of operations, still under the management of Yun No. 200.

The group hurried back to the main camp. Upon arrival, soldiers reported that many domestic animals and people in the residential area behind the city had been poisoned. Fortunately, antidotes were administered promptly. Although the animals perished, all the poisoned individuals were saved. Furthermore, bloodstains were found on the spikes atop the outer walls, indicating someone had escaped that way.

Hearing this, Xiao Yunjing’s first thought was Xi Chenqing. He immediately sent someone to check her tent. Indeed, the messenger returned to report that her tent was empty, and her belongings were gone.

The reporting soldier was visibly uneasy. No one in the main camp had paid any attention to the girl’s movements. They had assumed that as long as this person, whom the General clearly disliked, didn’t cause any trouble within the camp, she could be ignored. They never imagined she would slip away unnoticed, nor did they have any idea when she had fled.

“Put the entire city on alert. If anyone sees her, do not apprehend her. Instead, courteously invite her to see me.” Xiao Yunjing didn’t erupt in anger. This was his oversight; he hadn’t instructed his men to keep a close watch on Xi Chenqing. Besides, if she was determined to leave, no one could have stopped her.

However, this meant it would take longer to get news of Li’er, a thought that made him incredibly frustrated. Nevertheless, he had already dispatched a large number of men to search for her.

Gu Qingli and her group had been walking through the underground tunnel for three or four days, yet there was still no end in sight. The further they went, the thinner the air became. Periodically, they would retreat into her Space to catch their breath before continuing. The tunnel was low on oxygen, but thankfully devoid of poisonous insects or snakes, allowing for unimpeded and relatively swift progress.

「Ten days later.」

“Madam, there’s fresh air ahead!” Yun No. 20, who was scouting at the front, reported excitedly upon his return.

“That’s good,” Gu Qingli replied weakly. She leaned against the stone wall, intending to sit for a moment, and Wuyou immediately placed a stool for her.

Gu Qingli sat down, utterly exhausted. These past few days, she had been plagued by severe morning sickness but had insisted on pressing onward.

“Young Miss, please drink this,” Wushuang said, handing her a cup of Spiritual Spring Water.

“Mm,” Gu Qingli acknowledged, taking the cup and drinking it all in one go. Thankfully, the Spiritual Spring Water had sustained her throughout the journey; otherwise, she doubted she could have endured. Once the Spiritual Spring Water settled in her stomach, the nauseating discomfort lessened considerably.

After resting for a while, she rose and continued walking.

True enough, as they ventured further, the air quality improved significantly. Their breathing eased, signaling that the exit was near.

After walking for another day, a cold wind began to blow in from ahead, making the group shiver. Except for Gu Qingli, who lacked internal energy, the others all possessed it. The fact that even they felt the biting cold made everyone wonder what kind of place lay ahead.

“Young Miss, are you cold?” Wuyou asked with concern.

“I’m alright,” Gu Qingli replied, looking down at her own bundled-up form. She was wrapped so tightly she resembled a ball.

If I wear any more layers, I wonder what I’ll look like.

Gradually, a faint light became visible in the distance.

“Madam, it’s an Icefield outside!” Yun No. 20 reported upon returning again.

“An Icefield? Have we reached the Arctic?” Gu Qingli was stunned. To her knowledge, the Daqian Kingdom had no such Icefield. Xiao Yunjing had mentioned that Beijing, the Northern Territory, was very cold, but never an Icefield.

The Arctic?

Wuyou and the others exchanged puzzled glances.

Where is this Arctic? How come we’ve never heard of it, yet the Young Miss, who supposedly rarely ventures out, knows about it?

We truly are ignorant. The Young Miss has mentioned so many things on this journey that are completely new to us.

“I mean, it’s probably Beijing, the Northern Territory,” Gu Qingli quickly corrected herself.

The Arctic is on Earth; this world only has Beijing.

“Oh, that’s possible,” Wuyou and the others replied, finally seeming to understand.

The tunnel was straight, and we’ve walked for over ten days. It’s quite possible we’ve reached Beijing.

Besides Beijing, we really don’t know of any other place in the Daqian Kingdom as cold as this.

Finally, the group emerged and stood upon a vast, seemingly endless Icefield. Snowflakes danced down upon the Icefield under a dark, gloomy sky. Gu Qingli glanced back at the mountain from which they had just emerged. Out here on the boundless Icefield, there were no landmarks whatsoever.

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