| The Paternity Guard (PATERNITY) |
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The Yueming City recently exuded a bustling New Year's atmosphere with crowds bustling on the streets.
Red silk hangs high in the shops as constant shouts and laughter from those buying and selling New Year goods. There were also celebrations taking advantage of New Year and use the deafening firecrackers with everyone's faces beaming with joy and excitement.
Shi Qi wrapped in a cloak emerged from his room. In the distance, the sound of firecrackers could be faintly heard. Cheng Bo had sent people to decorate the East Lake Villa a few days ago to create a festive atmosphere.
However, most of the time, it was quiet and silent, like two separate spaces from the distant hustle and bustle. Xing Beiming had been almost always with him during this time. Still, as the Master of World's Supreme Fortress , he had to show up at the New Year's scene in the Fortress.
Gu Weijing was probably off doing some secret business at that pharmacy again, while his kid Si Fang loved to sleep in winter. Except for eating and practicing, he spent his free time sleeping.
The Shadow Guards, each had their own tasks. Shi Er would usually exchange a few words with him, but today he went into the Fortress with his Master, so it felt quite lonely because he had gotten used to days with companionship and even just one day of solitude was already uncomfortable.
"Shi Qi, watch your step." A familiar male voice came from the archway. Shi Qi looked overjoyed because it was Ying Qi standing there while smiling at him.
"Brother Qi!" Shi Qi walked over quickly. Seeing this, Ying Qi ran to Shi Qi's side and scolded, "I already reminded you earlier while you were lost in thought but you're still walking so quickly. Did you run around because Master isn't here?"
"We haven't seen each other for so long and besides, I'm not that weak, so relax." Shi Qi smiled nostalgically as his eyes was not blinking and not looking away from Ying Qi's smiling face.
It was great.
Ying Qi seemed to have returned to his previous self.
"Come on, let's go inside." Ying Qi pulled Shi Qi inside while also looking at Shi Qi's slightly bulging belly with nostalgia. "It's so big now."
"Hehe~ Brother Qi, do you feel like your tone of speech is very much like an old man's?"
"Ah, I feel like I'm getting old. Probably because of recent events." Ying Qi laughed without care but that laughter carried a hint of something in Shi Qi's eyes.
"Brother Qi..." Shi Qi wasn't good at comforting words, so he could only compensate with his gaze.
"It's okay, don't worry. I will definitely be there to see the little baby born. By the way, can I be the baby's godfather?" Ying Qi shifted the topic to the baby.
"Brother Qi, you're already the second person who wants to be the godfather." Shi Qi smiled.
"Oh? Who else?" Ying Qi was puzzled but quickly understood. "No need to ask, it must be Young Master Ke. But I guess that Master hasn't agreed. You can privately hand over this title to me."
"Okay." Shi Qi replied sincerely, causing Ying Qi to felt relieved. He looked up at the faint smile on Shi Qi's face. "I feel like you've changed a lot. I haven't seen you smile so much before."
The whole person also felt softer, perhaps because of the pregnancy?
Shi Qi scratched his head. "I don't know why, but Master always likes to make me smile, so I've gotten used to it."
Ying Qi chuckled.
He originally thought that the relationship between their Master and Shi Qi would hurt the latter, but now it seemed he could rest assured. Ying Qi saw Shi Qi's ears perking up with his eyes longing and said with a smile, "This time, Master also knows. He asked me to bring you a message that we'll go to Yunxianju in the city to have a New Year's Eve dinner together. It's just right because Master also has things to discuss in the afternoon. We can stroll around before we go."
Shi Qi's eyes lit up.
During the New Year, people didn't have many taboos. The Ladies and Madams all came out of their boudoirs with subtle smiles on their faces and gracefully walking on the streets, truly a beautiful sight.
Naturally, this also attracted the attention of some rough gentlemen. Just after sending away a rogue who harassed a respectable lady, Wu Enci turned around and was approached again. Looking at the lascivious expression of the man in front of her wearing foreign clothing, Wu Enci was furious.
The Yueming City was nothing like the good folk described by the people of the Jianghu.
What kind of nonsense was she encountering!
The foreign man wore a lecherous smile and was followed by two burly men who looked like thugs. Seeing the sword at Wu Enci's waist, he was quite interested and even examined Wu Enci's figure while he touching his chin as he thinked to himself that if this woman knew Martial Arts, then her body must be quite tantalizing.
Wu Enci glared at him angrily but she wasn't sure how this would turn out because her sword was just for show, so it all depended on her persuasion skills. If they didn't buy into it and got aggressive, she wouldn't stand a chance. These three men in front of her looked unreasonable!
Help!
Would there be anyone else like her, unable to stand injustice!
"Beauty, I am Borocidoro. May I ask for the beauty's name?" The foreign man asked with proper etiquette but his expression betrayed his intentions long ago.
"Hehe, my father said that a young lady's name should not be easily told to strangers. I'm sorry and goodbye!" Wu Enci made a very apologetic gesture and was about to turn to leave but was stopped.
"Hey, beauty! Then I can just ask about your name later. Let's have a drink first and talk about feelings then we'll be familiar in no time, right?" Borocidoro reached out to stop Wu Enci. But from the meaning of his words, it was clear that he didn't just want to chat.
"No need, no need. Someone is calling me. Goodbye!" Wu Enci with reddened eyes, looked at her hand that was being held by Borocidoro.
She was then dragged into the nearby Chunfeng Pavilion. At that moment, she couldn't care much and shouted loudly, "You lecher! You should be caught by the officials! Let go of me, or I'll take you to the county office!"
"Oh, you're spicy. I like your type," Borocidoro laughed. "Come on, let's have some fun!"
Borocidoro and his two companions dragged her confidently and rudely sweep aside a young man trying to stop them.
“Help!" Wu Enci's tears were about to fall.
Where had all the people from the Jianghu gone? Where were the people from Xing Beiming side? She desperately scanned the surroundings and finally saw a glimmer of hope: "Good Samaritan—help—"
Shi Qi and Ying Qi were chatting as they walked but suddenly heard a commotion ahead. This scene was very common in both reality and fiction. However, the voice of this woman sounded strangely familiar, and so did the words "Good Samaritan."
Wu Enci with tears in her eyes, looked at the benefactor who seemed like a god descending before her. Suddenly, she felt a surge of strength to break free from Borocidoro and ran behind Shi Qi while tightly holding onto his arm, "Benefactor! He's a lecher! Take him to the authorities."
Shi Qi observed the clothing of these three people.
They were foreigners but had a hint of Central Plains flavor. He wasn't sure if they were from Hanhai or Shuoyun, the two nearest foreign countries to Yan Kingdom. "Who are you? And causing trouble in the street?"
"Oh? Someone's playing hero!" Borocidoro laughed arrogantly. "Fan Tulu, take a look at this weak chicken from the Central Plains compared to us. Haha... Beauty, why don't you follow me? I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" Borocidoro completely disregarded Shi Qi because he thinks that these Central Plains people were all weak and feeble.
This arrogance made Shi Qi's eyes flash with anger. He clenched his fists tightly but Ying Qi pressed down his fist. With a calm tone, Ying Qi said, "Gentlemen, let's end this here. Apologize to this young lady, or else I'll have to take you to court. It's your choice."
Borocidoro looked at Ying Qi's elegant demeanor and burst into mocking laughter, "Haha... letting me choose? You're hilarious! I'll choose to send you to the afterlife and then take this beauty home! Fan Tulu, Ahu Sa, attack! Teach these two weaklings a lesson!"
The foreign men, who only knew how to use brute force, were like clumsy bears in their movements and were easily knocked down.
However, these two (Shadow Guards) moved agilely and their moves were not like ordinary foreign merchants.
A kick sent one sprawling to the side and almost smashed someone's stall. The other tried to do a bear hug but failed, instead he got his chin kicked backward by Ying Qi's toe, causing a deafening thud.
Seeing this, Borocidoro smirked. "Good, let me have a go then."
This made Ying Qi look at him differently. This foreigner had clearly trained in Central Plains Martial Arts.
Although he lacked inner strength and only displayed superficial skills, these skills were top-notch. Ying Qi wondered whose disciple this person was.
His entangling skills were giving everyone a headache. Though beaten badly, he always managed to get up and continue fighting. He also seemed to be carrying something valuable on him.
As this side battled, the two burly men struggled to get up and looked toward Shi Qi and Wu Enci, before charging at them. Shi Qi pulled Wu Enci behind him and dodged to the side.
He kicked them again, which caused them to sprawl on the street. Just as he was about to pull Wu Enci's tightly clasped hands off his arm, someone behind hugged him with their arms accidentally resting on his abdomen.
Shi Qi's face turned cold and grabbed those arms with full inner strength and twisted them, resulting in a pig-like scream echoing through the streets, "Ah—It hurts! It hurts! Let go!"
Shi Qi grabbed one of the man's arms fiercely. He had never allowed a stranger to get close to his belly before, so this time, he was really annoyed! "You're asking for death! Apologize and get lost!"
Borocidoro, in pain, quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, go easy! I really have poor judgment for ignoring the mature beauty in front of me and going for that inexperienced girl. Beauty, where do you live? I love women like you who are easily lonely in their chambers. It's not easy, big... ah—" Another miserable scream echoed on the street.
Shi Qi threw away the two dislocated arms with his eyes filled with anger.
If this person's identity wasn't suspicious, he would have really wanted to kill him!
Ying Qi grabbed his collar and dragged him over. This man had slipped away from him earlier. His footwork had surprised him and reminded him of someone. But he didn't want his life and he didn't want this mouth full of broken teeth either!
Ying Qi suddenly clenched his fist tightly, about to strike down at Borocidoro, who looked terrified.