CH 542

They traveled as fast as they could through the forest; at one point, Wan Wan even used a teleportation scroll. They didn’t relax until reached an unfamiliar place.

“Ning Bi, sit down and rest.”

The two siblings supported Ning Bi as she sat down on a big rock.

Ning Bi sat down and recovered a lot of her physical stamina after drinking a recovery potion.

“Brother, stay with Ning. I’ll go and look around and see where we are.” Wan Wan wiped the sweat from her brow. She was tired but she was more worried about Ning Bi.

“OK, you go. I’ll take care of Ning Bi.” Wan Cheng didn’t even bother to look at his sister. His entire focus was on Ning Bi.

Wan Wan felt a little sour about that, but she didn’t say anything. Her brother treated Ning Bi better than he treated her. But just because she wasn’t jealous didn’t mean she wasn’t disappointed.

The senior she liked loved Ning Bi the most; her own beloved brother loved Ning Bi the most. With a sigh, Wan Wan explored around the path. She found a small village after walking for a while.

Once she entered and started asking the locals some questions, she realized she wasn’t that far from the capital, and that the place was a small village just outside the capital.

No wonder she had never been to there before. Wan Wan asked for directions and began heading back to her brother and Ning Bi to tell them the news about the village. As she did so, she overheard two villagers talking.

Their conversation had nothing to do with her, but when she heard the Ning family name, she pricked her ears a bit to listen better.

The Ning family they were talking about were Ning Bi’s family. What if something happened to them? Because she was concerned, she stayed and listened.

“Have you heard? All the members of Ning house have been detained. If the young miss of the main branch doesn’t show up before sunset, the members of the Ning family will be beheaded under the tower!”

“The Ning family?! But the Ning family is so powerful. No one could possibly kill them?!”

“You’re wrong. The Qui family are after them.”

“The Qui family?! But why would they want to harm the Ning family?! Did the Ning family offend them?”

The two men stood not too far from the village entrance talking animatedly. Their chatter attracted more people.

“You don’t know this but the young miss of the Ning family killed the young misses of several houses. She nearly killed the young lady of the Qui family too. Now that her actions have been revealed, the Qui family and the other families are suppressing the Ning family.

In order to kill Ning Bi, the young master of the Qui house detained Ning Bi’s parents and the relatives on her father’s side. If she doesn’t show up by sunset, those relatives of hers are all going to die. . . ”

“Is that so?! Why would the miss of the Ning family kill all those girls? It couldn’t be over a man could it?”

“Who knows. It seems the reasons for the murders are a bit involved. Except for the children of some big families, no one really knows.”

“So mysterious!”

This was the most remote village outside the imperial city. There weren’t many people and news spread slowly. If it weren’t for someone returning after selling goods in the city, they wouldn’t have known such a big thing happened.

Who didn’t like gossip? Originally there were only two people standing by the front chatting, but in just a short time three more people gathered around.

Wan Wan listened to them for while before leaving with a solemn expression on her face.

She wanted to go back to where Ning Bi was resting and relay the news, but she ended up running into someone from the Wan family after only taking a couple of steps.

“Third Miss! You’re back.” A medium build man jogged over to her. His shrewd eyes had lit up upon seeing her.

Wan Wan knew who he was. He worked with her father and was the chief steward for her family. He usually followed her father around and her father appreciated him a great deal.

“Chief Gan, why are you here?” Wan Wan was surprised to meet Gan Jui there.

“It’s time to collect rent. Ah Fei is usually responsible for doing it, but he was hit by a beast and broke his leg. The owners were worried so they asked me to come and collect in person.” Gan Jui said with a smile. There was a trace of respect in his eyes.

Gan Jui had grown up with Wan Wan’s father. He was outstanding and loyal to the Wan family and had always been the right hand man of the family head. None of the unfavored family members dare presumptuous in front of him.

Wan Wan was the daughter of the family concubine and had been favored since she was little. Gan Jui never put airs in front of her despite his position.

“I see. Mr. Gan should go ahead then. My brother and I still have things to do. We will return home once we’re done.”

Wan Wan had wanted to ask about Ning Bi, but after hearing everything about all the families suppressing Ning house, Wan Wan felt it would be a bad idea to tell Gan Jui about how she had run into Ning Bi. She felt Ning Bi would be in danger.

Wan Wan carefully checked her surroundings after dismissing Gan Jui to make sure no one was following her, then she ran back to where Ning Bi was.

Wan Wan was careful to avoid crowds, but she didn’t realize her every move had already roused Gan Jui’s suspicions. Gan Jui only paused for a moment before following her.

Wan Cheng was giving Ning Bi some food when Wan Wan came back.

Ning Bi immediately stood up to meet her.

“Xiao Wan, did you find out anything? Where are we? How far is the imperial city? They won’t find us right?” What Ning Bi feared most was being found. Her fiancé hadn’t been resurrected yet. No matter what, she could not die. Determination flashed across her face.

“Ning Bi, something is wrong. Uncle, Auntie and your relatives have been detained. The people from the Qui family took them and they say if you don’t show up by sunset, they will all be killed!” The news had concerned Wan Wan so she immediately shared it with Ning Bi.

“My parents!” Ning Bi exclaimed before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted. Fortunately, Wan Cheng caught her before she hit the ground.

Wan Cheng glared at his sister fiercely. “What are you doing?! How can you tell her this kind of news?! Can’t you see how exhausted she is?!”

After scolding Wan Wan, Wan Cheng fed Ning Bi a potion. He shook her shoulders gently as he whispered her name. Distress and tenderness filled his eyes.