| The Paternity Guard (PATERNITY) |
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The information obtained by Shi Si was indeed accurate because Gu Weijing was indeed in Shuichuan. However, Master Zou had been informed of Gu Weijing’s whereabouts and even provided a letter, giving Xing Beiming and the Shadow Guards confidence.
Master Zou warmly insisted that Xing Beiming stay and reside for the night, which Xing Beiming accepted with a smile.
After the servant who led them to their room left, Xing Beiming immediately regained his expressionless demeanor. The speed of this change was so fast that even Ying Qi couldn’t help but marvel.
“Which room is Shi Qi in?” This was Xing Beiming’s first concern.
“He’s in the next room, Master.” Ying Qi replied because he already inquired with the servant.
So Xing Beiming naturally went to share a room with his own Shadow Guard, leaving Ying Qi behind feeling uncertain.
Shi Qi was sitting at the table lost in thought when Xing Beiming pushed open the door and entered. Shi Qi quickly stood up,
“Master.”
Seeing his pale complexion and the many uneaten dishes on the table, Xing Beiming frowned, “Why does your face look so bad? Is the food not to your liking?”
These were specially prepared dishes that he had instructed Shi Er to acquire and similar to what they had been eating these days. Could it be that Shi Qi had grown tired of them again?
Shi Qi hurriedly shook his head, “No, Master! It’s just that… I’m not very hungry.”
“Really?” Xing Beiming still felt something was amiss. Thinking it over, could it be that the jolting of the carriage earlier had caused some discomfort? “Is your stomach upset?”
Shi Qi only saw Xing Beiming’s figure flash before him and in an instant, he was already at his side, touching his abdomen. Looking at the person in front of him who was expressing concern, Shi Qi found himself unable to speak a word.
Seeing him standing there dumbfounded and silent, Xing Beiming couldn’t help but ask anxiously. “Shi Qi.”
After the sound of the door opening and closing, Ying Qi’s slightly panicked voice came,
“Master, is there something wrong with Shi Qi?”
“Check on him. He’s not eating and his face looks terrible.”
“Yes,” Ying Qi helped Shi Qi to sit down in a chair and took his pulse. He didn’t notice anything wrong but still observed Shi Qi’s expression as he asked, “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong? Does your stomach ache or do you feel any blockages in your internal energy?”
He was still worried that the medicine Shi Qi had taken earlier might have caused harm to his body.
Shi Qi shook his head, “No, there’s really nothing wrong. I just don’t feel like eating, maybe I’m really not hungry. But… “
Both Xing Beiming and Ying Qi stared at him intently, waiting for him to continue, “But what?”
Shi Qi looked at their worried expressions and felt it would be better not to conceal anything.
What if it affected his stomach? That wouldn’t be good.
“It’s just that I feel stuffy here, like there’s a strange discomfort.”
Ying Qi looked at the position indicated by Shi Qi’s right finger and a strange emotion flickered across his face.
Carefully, he asked, “When… did you first experience this? When did this feeling start?”
Shi Qi thought for a moment, “It was when we were in the forest earlier and that Miss Li…”
Shi Qi suddenly stopped talking and the three of them instinctively looked towards the door. Light footsteps were approaching from outside, obviously a woman’s.
What was a woman doing running over here so late at night?
Instantly, Shi Qi felt a chilling gaze pressing down on him as he was feeling a bit confused.
“Knock, knock!” Two light knocks followed by a soft voice, “Young hero, are you asleep?”
It was Li Wan’er.
What was she doing here?
Ying Qi felt the chill around them intensify and saw Xing Beiming gesturing urgently:
“Quickly deal with it!”
After Xing Beiming and Shi Qi entered the inner room, Ying Qi pulled the curtain down so that the scene inside could not be seen in the candlelight outside.
“Miss Li, is there something you need?” Ying Qi pretended to be surprised.
Li Wan’er didn’t expect to see him opening the door but quickly adjusted her expression, “So it’s Physician Qi. Is the injured young hero living here?”
Ying Qi glanced at the inner room and replied awkwardly, “He’s not feeling well and has already gone to bed. If Miss Li has something to discuss, can it wait until tomorrow?”
Li Wan’er smiled gently and raised her hands, revealing a bottle of Nine-Turn Fragrant Jade Dew, “It’s okay. I’m just here to repay the young hero’s kindness. This bottle of Nine-Turn Fragrant Jade Dew was given to my father as a gift and it’s said to have miraculous healing effects. Please pass it on to the young hero and hope for his speedy recovery.”
Listening to the conversation outside, Xing Beiming couldn’t help but doubt Li Wan’er’s attitude.
Had something happened to Shi Qi while he was captured?
On the other side, Shi Qi’s mind was consumed with thoughts of his benefactor and his chest began to feel heavy again. He clenched his fist tightly and struck it twice, only to be hastily stopped by Ying Qi, who had just drawn back the curtain. “Shi Qi, what are you doing? You’re not the same as before. You mustn’t act like this anymore!”
Receiving Ying Qi’s admonition, Shi Qi sheepishly released his grip. But he just felt a bit relieved in doing so, although he had already struck it several times when he was alone in his room earlier.
Putting everything together, Xing Beiming came to his own conclusion: “It’s indeed because of that girl’s hidden weapon. I shouldn’t have let her off so easily!” And that Miss Li, she was fine before they met them.
Ying Qi sighed, “Master, if you intend to take action against her, it must not be done here. We shouldn’t embarrass Master Zou in front of others. Besides, Shi Qi is fine now. I believe his current state might be due to pent-up emotions.”
It’s a known fact that pregnant women are prone to mood swings, so Xing Beiming nodded,
“What should we do then?”
Ying Qi sighed again in his mind, “Perhaps, we should leave the Zou residence tomorrow and take a stroll outside. We might encounter some interesting things along the way, which could improve Shi Qi’s mood.”
This matter involves the Master, so it’s not appropriate for just one guard to intervene.
We’ll have to wait until the two parties involved realize it themselves…
……..
The next day, Xing Beiming and the others bid farewell to Master Zou.
Master Zou patted his shoulder and asked him to come back for another drink on their way back. The Zou brothers, on the other hand, couldn’t wait for them to leave but Li Wan’er continued to watch their carriage leave from the door with Xiao Mei standing beside her.
“Miss, they’re gone! I really don’t understand why you invited them to visit. And why are you so polite to that guard? With his status…”
“Swoosh!” Something flew past Xiao Mei’s cheek and embedded itself into the wall behind her, interrupting her condescending words and leaving her pale with fright.
“Xiao Mei! Are you okay?” Li Wan’er was also surprised. The projectile came unexpectedly.
……
As they rode away, Xing Beiming and the others with Master Zou’s help, felt more confident. So they were in a mood to explore the bustling streets.
Ying Qi stopped the carriage in front of a pharmacy and raised the curtain to consult with Xing Beiming, “Master, I’ll go to the pharmacy to get some medicine. Will you and Shi Qi wait in the carriage or maybe come out for a stroll?”
Xing Beiming agreed, then put down his book and asked Shi Qi, who was already peering out of the curtain, “Go for a walk with this Lord.”
“Yes, Master.” Shi Qi respectfully acknowledged with a hint of eagerness and joy in his polite words.
Many vendors were hawking their wares along the street. Xing Beiming scanned the area and headed straight for a fruit stand, where the vendor, seeing their refined appearance, immediately began to enthusiastically recommend his fruits, “Oh, Xiānshēng, you look wealthy and should eat the best fruits from my stall. They are all fresh and if you don’t like them, they’re free. Look at these apples and oranges…”
Xing Beiming silently selected a few fruits and pointed at them, “I’ll take some of these.”
“Sure!” The vendor grabbed a net and started stuffing it full. When he saw Xing Beiming move to another side, he hurriedly introduced,
“xiānshēng, these hawthorn berries and raspberries were picked by me early this morning from the mountains. They’re fresh, would you like some?”
Xing Beiming nodded, and the vendor’s face lit up with a smile, “Xiānshēng, since you’re buying so much then I will give you a discount. It’s only 30 copper coins in total.”
Shi Qi naturally went to take the net and then paid. But when Xing Beiming saw him about to hand over the money, he glared at him, causing Shi Qi to stand there empty-handed and feeling awkward.
After Ying Qi came out of the pharmacy, he saw Xing Beiming and Shi Qi crossing the street from the other side with Shi Yi, who they hadn’t seen for a long time, carrying a stack of things behind them, swaying back and forth. Suppressing a smile, Ying Qi went forward to take some and placed them in the carriage.
Just as they were about to get back on the carriage and continue on their way, there was suddenly a commotion on the street. There were sounds of horses neighing, chaotic footsteps, and a vulgar male voice laughing loudly. Several people turned to look and they saw a disheveled man running towards them with a cloud of dust behind him indicating that he was being chased by several people.
Their group didn’t pay much attention even though the man was clearly terrified.
But that man ran towards Shi Qi’s direction in panic!