I watched anxiously for a long time before a disciple from Baili City returned and said, "Reporting to the city lord, the fog is too thick, we can't catch up!"
Xiao Zuo stood quietly, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, he said, "Alright, call everyone back."
"But……"
"Knowing the lair of the Hundred Ghosts, are you afraid you won't be able to find them?" Xiao Zuo sneered, then suddenly turned to look at me. When I was stared at by his sharp, lightning-like gaze, I felt my heart sink again.
To everyone's surprise, he smiled slightly, and all his lines softened and became lazy again: "Chief Steward Feng is seriously injured, isn't he? Liu Yun, help Chief Steward Feng heal his wounds."
"No need." I refused coldly, glancing sarcastically at his white robes, which were already stained with blood. "Lord Baili, you should worry about yourself first."
Having said that, he turned and walked towards the sedan chair, calling out, "Young Miss..."
Gong Feicui remained seated in the tent, staring blankly at Xiao Zuo, tears welling in her eyes. Only when she heard my call did she turn to look at me, her expression a complex mix of sorrow and joy.
"Release the young lady!" I said to the girl in white beside the sedan chair.
She raised an eyebrow, but looked at Xiao Zuo behind me.
A whooshing sound came from behind, and Gong Feicui was jolted, as the pressure points on her body had been released. She leaped down, but her steps were unsteady, and she stumbled as soon as she landed. I quickly reached out to support her.
She pushed my hand away, limped over to Xiao Zuo, stared at him for a long time, and suddenly raised her hand and slapped him across the face.
A collective gasp filled the air, and Liu Yun's eyes widened in fury as he roared, "You!"
"This slap is because of how you humiliated me just now!" No sooner had she finished speaking than she slapped herself hard again. "Smack!" The sound was crisp and clear, much heavier than the slap she had given Xiao Zuo.
Xiao Zuo simply stood there quietly, neither angry nor shocked, as if he had expected her to do so.
“This slap is to repay you, because I wronged you, because you saved my life. Now, we’re even!” She turned around resolutely and commanded, “Sister Qiansu, Jin Zhaoyu Cui, let’s go.”
I lowered my eyes slightly and followed behind her without saying a word.
A white figure flashed before my eyes; it was a girl with an oval face dressed in white blocking my way: "You think you can just leave like that?"
Xiao Zuo's deep voice came from behind: "Bishui, let her go."
"But young master, you went to so much trouble to come and save her, and yet she..."
Gong Feicui coldly interrupted her: "What about me?"
The girl called Biyue retorted angrily, "You don't know what's good for you!"
Gong Feicui laughed, a mocking look instantly appearing on her face: "Do you think that to repay the debt of saving my life, I should offer myself to you? Or be so grateful that I cry and apologize, saying that I misunderstood your master and let him down?"
"Gong Feicui, don't go too far!"
"Excessive? You are the ones who are excessive, not me!" Gong Feicui was enraged and suddenly turned to Xiao Zuo, saying, "Lord of Baili City, do you find it amusing to play with me like this?"
Xiao Zuo's expression changed.
Tears welled in Gong Feicui's eyes, and her voice grew even more desolate: "The number one spendthrift in the world... What a spendthrift in the world! I actually believed it. At first, I looked down on you. I thought someone as idle and irresponsible as you deserved to die poor. But later, I slowly discovered that you weren't as incompetent as the rumors said. On the contrary, you were the smartest of everyone. You were sharp, but your biting sarcasm was just right; you were principled and loyal; beneath your playful expression lay the gentlest heart. I think, this time I'm finished. I can't care about anything else—no matter how tarnished your reputation is, no matter if you're the number one spendthrift in the world, I've fallen for you. I just love you! I love you, Xiao Zuo, I love you..."
With each word she spoke, Xiao Zuo's eye twitched, and strangely, this lessened my pain; I felt as if my chest wasn't hurting so much anymore.
But then Gong Feicui's tone shifted: "But the world's number one spendthrift has suddenly appeared before me in all his glory, the adopted son of a hundred miles, the new city lord of Baili City. How imposing! He appeared like a celestial general, looking down at me with an air of superiority, silently declaring—Gong Feicui, what? You can't escape me. I saved you; your life is mine." A cold smile played on Gong Feicui's lips, a smile both sarcastic and sorrowful. "Is this the moment you've been waiting for? You didn't offer any explanation when I misunderstood you, was that what you were waiting for? You clearly knew all along, yet you kept quiet about it, just to put me in a desperate situation so you could rescue me, is that it? Yes, I was blind and misjudged you. When I was besieged by the hundred ghosts, it was indeed you who saved me without holding a grudge… I should really thank you properly, Xiao Zuo, meeting you was truly my blessing… But!"
She raised her voice, almost gritting her teeth, and said, "Let me tell you, your hypocritical, pretentious savior act disgusts me! I, Gong Feicui, may like a poor but ambitious spendthrift, but I will never like you—Lord Baili!"
If it weren't for the circumstances, I would almost have applauded her for those words.
Suddenly, Liu Yun exclaimed, "Young Master! Your wound..."
Xiao Zuo swayed slightly, then stubbornly straightened up, but blood stained his white robe, dripping onto the ground. He was injured by the Ghost King's sedan chair, and still hadn't bandaged himself—did he think he was made of iron? Perhaps it was a ruse, a ploy to make Gong Feicui feel sorry for him?
I glanced back at Gong Feicui, and sure enough, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resentment. She turned around and said coldly, "If you want to kill me, then do it; if you don't kill me, then I'll leave. From now on, my life or death is none of your business."
She lowered her head and walked over step by step. The disciples of Baili City hesitated, unsure whether to let her pass, but wherever she went, they all stepped aside and made way for her.
Just as we were about to leave the woods, Gong Feicui suddenly stopped, took something from her bosom—a silver-edged jade leaf. She stared at the leaf for a long time, then suddenly tossed it to Xiao Zuo, coldly saying, "I won't take back what I've given away. Just as I was blind and misjudged you this time, I will never regret it or feel sorry for myself! As long as…"
He paused abruptly, then said resentfully after a long while, "As long as I don't repeat this mistake again, it'll be worth it!"
Having said that, he mounted his horse and rode away without even glancing at Xiao Zuo.
I glanced back at Xiao Zuo; the flickering firelight illuminated his face, casting an indistinct glow. This time, he was truly finished.
Volume 1, Chapter 10: The Smoke and Fire Have Cleared (1)
Section 1: Finding the Real Culprit
Gong Feicui and the other three did not continue their journey. Instead, they stopped at the nearest village shortly after leaving the forest and asked a farmer's family for lodging.
As soon as Gong Feicui entered the room, she locked herself in. Jin Zhaoyu Cui originally intended to keep watch outside the door, but Feng Qiansu said, "If you don't have the energy, how will you travel tomorrow?" She told them to go and rest, and then went back to her room herself.
It was nearly dawn, the darkest time of the night. A thick fog obscured the moon, and once the lights were turned off, it was pitch black inside the house.
She pushed open the window, and a cool breeze blew in, chilling her to the bone. Damn it! Xiao Zuo had actually injured her like this; if she didn't avenge this, she wouldn't be Feng Qiansu!