| The Paternity Guard (PATERNITY) |
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“Where is he?” When Xing Beiming and others entered, this was the scene they saw.
“He ran that way! Help me catch that bastard alive!” Ke Weiqing grabbed his pants with one hand and pointed to the window behind with the other, shouting.
“Chase!” Xing Beiming ordered the Shadow Guards to chase after him. There are some forces stationed outside the mountain fort and it depends on whether that person is alone.
“Quick and close the door! I’m freezing to death here! Damn bastard, how dare he climb onto my bed!” Ke Weiqing cursed as he hurriedly put on his clothes because he was completely exposed to everyone’s eyes.
It was all that pervert’s fault for ambushing him like that… Wait, what was his purpose? Could it be just to touch me?
That guy Martial Arts are so high that no one even noticed him coming in. He must have wanted to kill me so easily.
“Did he just climb onto your bed and didn’t do anything else?” Xing Beiming’s words made Ke Weiqing widen his eyes. He pointed at Xing Beiming’s nose tremblingly and angrily said, “Climbing onto the bed is serious enough, don’t you think? What else do you want him to do? Are you still my friend? Do you want me to be… touched?”
“Young Master Ke, what Master means is whether that person said or left anything behind.” Shi Qi, who is following behind Xing Beiming, couldn’t help but defend his Master.
It’s obvious that Young Master Ke’s thoughts are too extreme.
“Oh, I see.” Ke Weiqing calmed down for a moment. He had just been so angry that he didn’t think clearly. He turned around and looked at the bed, where he indeed saw something—a white jade fan.
He picked it up and opened it, only to see the words written inside: How long can the World’s Supreme Fortress last being besieged by my Blood Demon Sect?
—Signed by Zuo Wuxiao.
“Damn bastard!” Ke Weiqing angrily threw the fan at Xing Beiming and not caring that it was his favorite white jade fan that he wanted to obtain.
These bastards must have planned to act while they’re away from the fortress!
Shi Qi also saw Zuo Wuxiao’s provocative message and anxiously said, “Master, the fortress is in urgent need. We should hurry back!”
Xing Beiming closed the fan then glanced at him. It suddenly surprised Shi Qi, causing him to bow his head in apology, “I apologize, I went too far!”
“You fool,” Xing Beiming said softly, then stood up to walk outside. “I’m leaving but you stay here.”
“Master!” Shi Qi panicked and quickly followed him out.
Ke Weiqing watched them leave one after another while holding his cheek in frustration and waiting for news while feeling sulky.
Zuo Wuxiao didn’t stay in Shuichuan for long and might be returning to Yueming City alone.
………
The next day, Xing Beiming decided to go back by himself, though he was worried but the journey was treacherous and he couldn’t be sure that Shi Qi wouldn’t be in any danger. So he left Ke Weiqing and the Shadow Guards to stay behind and protect him, Gu Weijing and the others.
Gu Weijing saw that Shi Qi didn’t leave with Xing Beiming and thought about the current precarious situation.
He didn’t expect that the traps he set couldn’t stop the man from last night. If that force insists on doing something to them, then no matter how many people are left, Xing Beiming probably won’t be at east.
Ke Weiqing pouted, “Hey, I don’t really want to stay here because I still have to settle the score with that person!”
Xing Beiming remained silent. He was accompanied by his men to the foot of the mountain, where his subordinates were waiting. He mounted his horse and rode out about a dozen steps before turning back to see Shi Qi still standing in place.
Shi Qi wanted to ask Xing Beiming to take him back again but unexpectedly, Xing Beiming patted the horse’s butt and walked away without looking back.
Shi Qi lowered his head in disappointment. Although Master’s Martial Arts couldn’t be compared to a small Shadow Guard like himself, but he had always followed Master.
How could he not worry about Master going alone?
Ke Weiqing patted his shoulder, “Let’s go! They’ve gone far.”
Gu Weijing smiled meaningfully then led Si Fang, and went back to the valley.
Perhaps it’s time to tidy things up.
When Xing Beiming group was no longer visible and only the wind and snow could be seen, did Shi Qi turn around and prepare to walk back. After a few steps, he heard faint hoofbeats behind him. Shi Qi turned back in surprise because at the end of the wind and snow, Xing Beiming’s figure gradually appeared. “Master?”
“What’s going on?” Ke Weiqing said with a teasing smile.
Gu Weijing had already prepared the packed bags and medicine chest and waited for them. Seeing them, he only said, “Having lived in this deep mountain for so many years, it’s time to go out and see what this world is like. Si Fang should also know what these rivers and lakes are really like [1].”
[1] It encompasses a realm where individuals navigate through challenges, conflicts, and quests for power or justice, akin to the dynamic and unpredictable nature of actual rivers and lakes.
Traveling in the wind and snow was already difficult, especially with a pregnant husband. But thanks to Gu Weijing’s presence, the team dared to speed up their journey. Xing Beiming and Shi Qi were in one carriage while Ke Weiqing, Gu Weijing and Si Fang were in another carriage and constantly heading towards Yueming City in the wind and snow without stopping.
Along the way, they were either sitting in the carriage, holding a warm stove, sitting or lying down but their thoughts varied.
So when they received Hou Jia’s message of safety, everyone’s hanging heart finally relaxed. At the same time, they had a question in their minds: what was Blood Demon Sect’s plan to lure them back with such fanfare?
———
In a dark prison cell, various used torture were scattered on the ground and you could faintly see the reflection of a pool of water on the ground, dark in color, obviously made up of blood. A man’s hands were tied to a wooden frame with his upper body naked and every exposed part was covered with hideous scars of torture. The shallow-colored pants were dyed dark red by traces of blood and the man hung his head, not knowing if he was still alive.
In the silent stillness, life was ebbing away.
After a short while, the sound of the iron gate creaking open came from afar. The man’s originally low eyelashes trembled slightly but then returned to calmness. Footsteps came neither fast nor slow until they stopped in front of him.
His chin was lifted, revealing a face that should have been gentle and resolute, now stained with blood and obscured by disheveled hair falling over his eyes which hide his expression.
The newcomer chuckled lightly. “Haha, still not planning to speak? Just a traveling Physician yet, your Martial Arts skills are not bad. Could it be that the Physician identity is just a cover? What exactly does Xing Beiming want to conceal? I’m quite curious!”
The person with closed eyes remained silent. The newcomer seemed accustomed to it and not getting angry but instead continued sharing the news he had just received: “I heard that Xing Beiming has returned from Shuichuan. Although I don’t know what he was doing there but it’s really meaningless without him here, isn’t it? Oh, right, there’s also that charming guard. It was a mistake to let him escape last time but once I deal with Xing Beiming and those so-called righteous people in the Martial Arts World then everything will be in my hands, won’t it? Then I can do whatever I want.”
The originally tightly closed eyes suddenly opened wide, causing the unprepared person to gaze into the still profound and resolute depths of those eyes and was momentarily stunned. When he regained his senses, Yin Ji, the Lord of the Blood Demon Sect, revealed a devilish smile. “Haha, you’re quite resilient but I wonder how long you can hold out? But why not let me take care of you personally?”
It was the same kind of whip full of thorns and landing heavily on the scar-covered body, causing more blood to flow from wounds that had not healed. The once dark red pants were now stained with fresh colors. The person on the rack remained silent and just clenched his fists tightly only when the whip fell.
Yin Ji struck several times but seeing no response from the person, he threw the whip aside and sneered. “It seems I was wrong. How can ordinary punishment make someone like you bow down? Drag him down for me!”
———
Shi Qi, who had been drowsy, suddenly woke up with his heart pounding uncontrollably. The person behind him pulled him into their arms and his Master’s calm voice sounded unusually reassuring at this moment. “Have a nightmare?”
Thinking of the scene in his dream, Shi Qi still felt chills. “…I dream of Brother Qi. The person we caught last time was the Lord of the Blood Demon Sect, right? He’s so…”
When Shi Qi though of that person various pervert methods, he couldn’t help but wonder how much torture Ying Qi had to endured and if not for him….
“Stop overthinking!” Xing Beiming tightened his arm. “Ying Qi is the top Shadow Guard of the World’s Supreme Fortress. All Shadow Guards, including you, have endured countless hardships in life and even more brutal punishments. Doubting whether he can endure it is disrespectful to him. Unless someone deliberately takes his life, he will definitely return to being Shadow Guard again. Don’t you believe in him?”
How could he not believe?
The carriage suddenly stopped and Xing Beiming helped the person sit up.
Outside the carriage, a subordinate reported, “Lord of World’s Supreme Fortress, the Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance is requesting an audience.”
Xing Beiming tucked the person into the blankets then got out of the carriage alone. Lin Canghai and others were blocking the way ahead while showing expressions of resentment as they saw him come out. Lin Canghai took a step forward on horseback and said, “Lord Xing, I finally caught up with you. I’ve been taking good care of all those men and women you threw my way. How do you thank me?”
Lin Canghai’s words earned him several disdainful looks.
Xing Beiming replied calmly, “Helping the weak and challenging the strong, isn’t that what the Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance should do?”
Lin Canghai gritted his teeth but couldn’t retort. He pretended to be relaxed and extended his hand, “Lord Xing, please get off the carriage for a discussion. I promise not to delay you too much.”
Xing Beiming didn’t argue about face and lightly lifted his robes to jump off the carriage to join Lin Canghai and the others to form a simple meeting setup on the side.
After a verbal battle, Lin Canghai and the others arrogantly mounted their horses and followed the team on the road. “Even though you always escape, you are still being brought back under the Alliance’s unified front.” Lin Canghai thought maliciously.