| The Paternity Guard (PATERNITY) |
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Xing Beiming came out of the Qi family’s residence and immediately saw Gu Weijing looking guilty while Si Fang was lowering his head to hide his face. Looking further back, there was no sign of Shi Qi, which instantly filled Xing Beiming’s heart with a sense of unease.
“I’m sorry, Shi Qi is missing,” Gu Weijing explained the situation with Si Fang keeping his entire body behind Gu Weijing throughout the process.
“Ying San!” Xing Beiming’s expression was devoid of emotion as he spoke firmly. There was no response but after a while, Shi Yi, who had gone to investigate, returned and reported while kneeling on the ground, “Master, your subordinate found Ying San and Shi at the corner of the street. Both are severely injured.”
Ying San and Ying Shi may not have been the best fighters among the Shadow Guards but there were few in the Martial Arts World who could handle them both at once. It seemed that the other party had come prepared.
Lin Canghai, who was following behind Xing Beiming, also wore a cautious expression, even though he was not aware earlier that Xing Beiming had brought the Shadow Guards along.
“Do you need help?”
“For matters concerning the Qi family, Master Lin, you decide.”
…….
Ying San lay on the bed and recounted his encounter. His injuries were slightly less severe than Ying Shi’s but almost all the bones in his arm were broken and his internal energy was in disarray. If the enemy hadn’t deliberately spared the two of them then they feared that they wouldn’t survive as his bones and organs would not have escaped unscathed.
From encountering Bai Xiaoyin to being intercepted by her when they tried to save someone, Bai Xiaoyin’s Martial skills were beyond what Ying San and Ying Shi could handle together. Even some vendors around them were clearly on the other side’s payroll, indicating premeditation. However, Shi Qi’s complete lack of resistance when taken away puzzled everyone.
“It’s Huxiang,” Gu Weijing interjected suddenly. “It temporarily suppresses internal energy and makes the muscles and bones weak so that can’t use Martial Arts.”
“Go to Meng Wanjing’s house,” Xing Beiming suddenly ordered.
———
Shi Qi regained consciousness and felt that someone was nearby. He tried to mobilize his internal energy but felt a sharp pain in his dantian. He couldn’t help but groan as he was being held down by the person beside him, who anxiously said, “Xiao Qi, don’t use your internal energy and be careful not to hurt yourself!”
This voice…
Shi Qi suddenly opened his eyes, and a familiar face came into view. “Brother Qi!”
“It’s me. Your internal energy has been suppressed, so don’t move your inner power recklessly.” Ying Qi nodded while carefully checking Shi Qi’s condition. “It’s been a while since we last met and you’ve grown a lot.”
Of course, Yijg Shi Qi knew what Ying Qi meant but at the moment, he carefully examined Ying Qi’s face, neck and the parts covered by clothes but apart from the pale complexion, he couldn’t see anything else. “Brother Qi, has that demon tortured you? Are your injuries severe?”
A hint of complexity flashed in Ying Qi’s eyes but it quickly disappeared. He rolled up his sleeves to show Shi Qi while smiling bitterly, “What else could it be? It’s just a simple punishment. These are old wounds. Don’t worry.”
Although his own situation was dire, but seeing Ying Qi alive and well after such a long time finally eased Shi Qi’s long-held tension. But then he remembered something. “Brother Qi, why did that demon put us in this room? Shouldn’t we be locked up in a cell?”
Ying Qi fell silent for a moment before saying, “Xiao Qi, Yin Ji found out.”
At first, he was puzzled but then Shi Qi quickly understood who and what Yin Ji had found out, causing him to grasp his fists tightly. His face turned pale as he asked, “Yin Ji is the demon’s name?”
Ying Qi nodded as his face showed a hint of worry as he advised, “Xiao Qi, I will try to find a way to release you from the Huxiang poison. If there’s a chance, you must escape first to ensure your safety, understand?”
Shi Qi shook his head. “We’ll leave together.”
Ying Qi was about to say something more but stopped upon hearing the commotion outside. Yin Ji, still elegantly dressed in pink female attire, came in gracefully. Seeing the two of them talking together, a tempting smile curved at the corner of her lips, “Little guard, long time no see. I still remember our last parting until now!”
Shi Qi finally understood why he felt a sense of familiarity when he first saw Bai Xiaoyin.
The person in front of him, dressed in women’s clothing and with an ambiguous gender, was the young Master who had imprisoned him back then, the Master of the Blood Demon Sect, Yin Ji.
It was unexpected that he usually disguised himself as a woman and hid in the Yiqing Pavilion, which explained why there was no information about him.
Shi Qi remained silent with a wooden expression while Yin Ji showed no irritation either. She walked over to them, only to see Ying Qi subconsciously stepping in front of him.
A trace of annoyance finally flashed in her eyes and she sneered as she aimed her words at Shi Qi, “Acting so noble in front of this Lord but privately, what kind of despicable acts did you do under Xing Beiming? How did you spread your legs and beg for affection?”
“Yin Ji!” Ying Qi’s usual gentle patience vanished and was replaced by a stern look on his face.
“Hmph, did I say something wrong? If he didn’t spread his legs himself then where did the child in his belly come from? Not only is he shamelessly lying under a man but also giving birth like a woman.”
“Yin Ji—” The piercing words whitened the faces of both individuals as Ying Qi couldn’t bear it anymore and raised his hand to strike the person in front of him but Yin Ji easily restrained him. An eerie light flickered in her eyes as she stared at Ying Qi’s infuriated expression, “Daring to lay hands on this Lord! Hmph, since you still have strength then this Lord will play with you a bit longer.”
“Let him go!” Shi Qi jumped off the bed but Yin Ji effortlessly pushed him back onto the mattress before lifting Ying Qi and disappearing like the wind outside the door.
“Cough, cough…” Shi Qi with a pale face, watched Yin Ji, who was dressed exceptionally seductive as a woman but carried Yong Qi out effortlessly with the door slamming shut behind them with force.
Suppressing the urge to continue coughing, Shi Qi’s lips traced a thin line of blood as he got up to open the door, but was halted, “Get back in there quickly, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
The guards was called by Yin Ji at the door and he knew that going out now would be suicidal with his current skills but he was worried about what that devil might do to Ying Qi.
Shi Qi leaned against the door as his hand slowly touched his now visibly swollen abdomen.
Was it shameless? But If it were for his Master, he would gladly accept it.
Meals were delivered three times a day but Ying Qi was still nowhere to be seen. Yin Ji would visit from time to time and always be physically aggressive. Shi Qi noticed his abnormal interest in his belly, or rather, the reason why he became pregnant. But Shi Qi didn’t utter a word to him, so recently, Yin Ji’s gaze towards him became even colder amidst its seductive allure.
“I want to see Brother Qi.”
When Yin Ji brought up this matter again, Shi Qi flatly stated.
Yin Ji showed a smile that turned everything upside down, “Do you think you’re negotiating with someone? Squishing you now is as easy as squashing an ant.”
“If I see Brother Qi, maybe I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
“Oh?” Yin Ji seemed intrigued by this condition as his face showed a look that was like a dog seeing a meat bun. Unaware of what the expressionless person in front of him was thinking, Yin Ji would have gone crazy if he knew, “Alright then, I’ll arrange for you to meet tomorrow but don’t try any tricks.”
Shi Qi thought to himself, ‘I won’t try any tricks… as if.’
The guards at the door were still vigilant at night. Shi Qi took out a flat sachet from the seams of his close-fitting clothes; it contained some powder. He draped a towel over his face as he stepped lightly to the window to push it open and sprinkled the powder outside. Though the powder was scarce, its potency was immense. The reputation of Divine Physician was not falsely earned.
Thud! Thud!
A few sounds and Shi Qi carefully pushed the door open and slipped out.
With his current skills, escaping was clearly impossible but he couldn’t sit idly and wait for death. At the very least, he needed to understand the terrain here, the number of guards, and their positions. There seemed to be no danger in this courtyard, so Shi Qi climbed over the wall.
On the other side was another courtyard with a room still lit up.
Shi Qi leaped down from the wall and the sound of his landing, devoid of internal energy, was slightly loud. He stood quietly in place while waiting for the guards to finish their search. Then he awkwardly crouched and stealthily approached the brightly lit house.
Suppressing his breathing, Shi Qi half-knelt in the grass with a closed window just above him. He listened carefully.
He heard some faint voices mixed with inexplicable sighs of allure. Shi Qi furrowed his brow because he was unable to hear clearly. Suddenly, a loud thud reached his ears, like the sound of bodies colliding. Shi Qi’s face changed abruptly because this sound seemed familiar, like back then.
“Little mouse.” A voice full of desire suddenly exploded in his ear.
Shi Qi swiftly struck out but he forgot that he had no inner strength left. Yin Ji took the hit without resistance.
Shi Qi was then lifted and thrown back into the courtyard where he was held. He looked at the pile of guards outside the door who had fallen down. Yin Ji sneered, “Indeed, I can’t underestimate you. Are you feeling lonely at night and wanting some relief? I’ll fulfill your wish!”
When Shi Qi was thrown onto the bed, he instinctively curled up to protect his abdomen. Seeing this, Yin Ji’s eyes filled with hatred. “If you won’t tell me how this child came about, then I’ll take matters into my own hands!”
Pointing at Shi Qi’s acupoint, Yin Ji’s palm flew and ripped off Shi Qi’s upper clothing but leaving no harm to his skin. Shi Qi’s noticeably swollen abdomen was exposed to Yin Ji’s eyes.
“Not sure how to give birth, huh? Should I cut open this belly then? And take the child out? Ah?” Yin Ji said sinisterly as his hand ambiguously caressed Shi Qi’s swollen abdomen.
“What are you doing?” A sharp shout came from outside the open door, though the tone was harsh, it was also hoarse. Shi Qi and Yin Ji looked over together and saw Ying Qi panting outside the door with a mix of panic and disbelief in his eyes. His clothes were hastily thrown on with his wrists covered in scars while a fresh blood dripped down slowly.