Chapter 43: Awakening Once More

“Mu Bai~ Over there, over there! Most of them have already flown away because you scared them!” Yan’er clapped her hands joyfully beneath the tree, following Bai Li Mu Bai’s figure.

“Hey, Yan’er, are you helping me or the little sparrows?” Bai Li Mu Bai glanced at the sparrows fluttering away, clearly chased off by Yan’er. She was obviously preventing him from catching them.

“Of course I’m on the sparrows’ side! They’re so tiny. But, Mu Bai, I really want to eat the sparrows you roast.” Yan’er tilted her head up; the early autumn sun was gentle, not at all harsh.

“Alright! I’ll go catch them over there, so you, little troublemaker, don’t scare them away again.” Bai Li Mu Bai quickly leaped to another tree. Seeing the ripples of laughter on Yan’er’s face, he couldn’t help but smile too. Who would have thought that acting foolish would make her so happy? He decided he should be a fool more often in the future.

Yan’er didn’t chase after him; she stood in place, watching Mu Bai leap from tree to tree like a monkey, giggling with delight.

So, she was still quite happy after all. Lowering her head, Yan’er played with a lock of her long hair, then lifted her chin again. The cool autumn breeze stroked her face. She pressed her unhappiness deep down. Mu Bai had told her that perhaps Senior Brother had his own unspeakable reasons, and that he was deliberately ignoring her only to prevent Guan Canghai from finding an opportunity.

“Perhaps Mu Bai is right,” Yan’er said to herself.

“Perhaps Pan Yueyang still doesn’t know that the child in your belly, absorbing the daily poison from your body, cannot survive.” A seductive, sinister voice sounded, and Yan’er’s expression changed instantly—Guan Canghai?!

Yan’er spun around, but saw no sign of Guan Canghai; yet she had heard his voice as clearly as if he stood beside her! Her panicked eyes darted everywhere.

Perhaps it was an illusion, just a hallucination. Yan’er shook her head vigorously. This was Yueyang’s main camp; no matter how skilled Guan Canghai was, he wouldn’t risk sneaking in. Her hands twisted together in anxiety as she hurried back toward her tent.

Lifting the curtain, Yan’er’s body suddenly went rigid. The next moment, she tried to scream but couldn’t make a sound.

“Little beauty, we meet again.” Guan Canghai strolled leisurely toward the bed, playing with a teacup in his hand.

Yan’er glared at him coldly, but no words came out—her throat felt as if it were blocked by a large lump.

“Don’t waste your effort. I’ve already sealed several of your acupoints,” Guan Canghai said, seeing her confusion.

What do you want? Yan’er’s eyes asked the question.

Guan Canghai seemed to understand her thoughts perfectly. “I just came to see you.”

Yan’er frowned. How could he know exactly what she was thinking? This man was terrifying.

“Don’t be afraid. If I’d wanted to harm you, you’d already be nothing but a pile of bones,” Guan Canghai said, moving closer, his gaze fixed on her exquisite face.

This time, Yan’er emptied her mind. She couldn’t decipher Guan Canghai at all.

“I remember that day when you shielded Pan Yueyang with your body. If I hadn’t pitied you and given you the antidote, you’d already be dead,” Guan Canghai said irritably, his face twisting with anger as he pinched Yan’er’s cheek.

Yan’er winced in pain, her face contorted.

“Would you really disregard your own life for his sake?” His voice was low, barely above a whisper, perhaps for fear of being overheard.

Yan’er shut her eyes, her answer clear.

“Hmph, fine, you stubborn woman! You’re not nearly as alluring as your appearance suggests. Let me show you: Pan Yueyang doesn’t care for you at all! You’re just a warm body to share his bed. If not for your looks, he’d despise even a glance at you.” Guan Canghai’s hands caressed Yan’er’s body with a chilling gentleness.

Yan’er trembled in fear, unsure of his intentions. A wave of terror sent goosebumps prickling across her skin.

...

“How many people died in the village?” Pan Yueyang’s voice came from outside. Yan’er’s eyes darted desperately, looking back—Yueyang, Yueyang, save me.

“Reporting to the General, the missing villagers are all young girls between fourteen and sixteen,” a soldier replied.

“Have you found any of their bodies?” In the nearby village, twenty young women had vanished overnight. Days had passed without a trace. Pan Yueyang suspected they were already dead.

“No, we’re preparing to search the forest on the other side. We haven’t checked there yet.”

“Good, go quickly. For so many to disappear without a sound, the perpetrator must be highly skilled in martial arts.” Pan Yueyang looked ahead with concern. Could it be Guan Canghai?

He sighed and turned back. “Bai Li Mu Bai, has anyone seen him?”

A cook tending the fire in the distance hurried over. “General, Master Bai Li told me to light the fire—said he’d gone to catch some game for Madam.”

Pan Yueyang shook his head at the pair’s antics.

Inside the tent, Guan Canghai withdrew his inner force, his breath held, a cold sneer fixed on his face as he stared at Yan’er.

“Senior Brother!” Bai Li Mu Bai landed lightly, a few sparrows and a pheasant in hand. “Let’s roast them.” He tossed them casually to the cook.

“You, always playing around despite your age. The time is nearly upon us—once the emperor allocates funds to rebuild Moon City, we’ll soon be able to return.” Pan Yueyang patted Bai Li Mu Bai on the shoulder.

“Senior Brother, what troubles you? You look so worried,” Bai Li Mu Bai asked, well attuned to Pan Yueyang’s moods.

“In the village ahead, twenty young girls vanished overnight. It’s been days now...” As he spoke, the two approached the tent. Suddenly, Pan Yueyang halted.

Bai Li Mu Bai sensed something amiss and stepped protectively in front of Pan Yueyang. They exchanged a look: Someone was inside!

Yan’er, hearing them approach, prayed silently, Please don’t come in, don’t come in.

Bai Li Mu Bai smiled faintly and was about to dash inside at lightning speed when, to his shock, Yan’er appeared inside the tent, and behind her—Guan Canghai!

Guan Canghai pressed Yan’er down, coldly sneering at Pan Yueyang behind Bai Li Mu Bai.

He moved with blinding speed; before Yan’er could react, Guan Canghai had hoisted her up and soared into the air.

If Yan’er could speak, she would have cursed him: Always carrying me like this, head down—do you have any idea how uncomfortable it is?!

Bai Li Mu Bai and Pan Yueyang saw Guan Canghai attempting to flee and sprang after him, hot on his heels. Carrying Yan’er, Guan Canghai’s speed was not what it could be; he had to use the trees to support himself and conserve his strength.

Yan’er thought of a straw doll... How pitiful.

“Guan Canghai! Let’s see you escape today!” Though young, Bai Li Mu Bai’s martial skill surpassed the others. With a leap, he was in front of Guan Canghai, forcing him to release Yan’er and face them on the ground.

With her back to Pan Yueyang, Yan’er could only look at Bai Li Mu Bai, opening her mouth, unable to speak.

“Guan Canghai, I suppose you’re also behind the mysterious disappearance of the village girls?” Pan Yueyang’s voice sounded behind Yan’er.

“That’s a question for your beloved concubine. She saw how those women died.” Guan Canghai shot Yan’er a wicked look. Seeing her terror, he felt only satisfaction.

Yan’er trembled, recalling those beautiful young girls, reduced to withered husks in an instant by this fiend. She couldn’t help but connect it to the missing girls Yueyang had just mentioned. She glanced sideways at Guan Canghai, desperately wanting to know—was it really his doing?

Guan Canghai seemed to read her thoughts. “That’s right, I took them.” He addressed Yan’er, but all three heard him clearly.

Bai Li Mu Bai glared furiously at Guan Canghai and struck with a powerful palm. Such a beast deserved no mercy!

Guan Canghai dodged nimbly, watching as the blow gouged a large pit in the earth. Clearly, Bai Li Mu Bai’s inner strength was formidable.

“No wonder you’ve been guarding the city without sending out troops. I’ve suspected all along. Today, it’s finally confirmed.” Pan Yueyang glanced at the deep pit as well.

“I’ve absorbed enough life force. Now, I’ll fight you head-on!” Guan Canghai said, eyeing Bai Li Mu Bai warily.

Pan Yueyang scoffed, “You’re not fit to compete with me. A man who practices such unorthodox, evil arts is beneath contempt.” His arrogance remained undiminished.

“Heh, evil arts? If you were so righteous, so many innocent people in Moon City wouldn’t have been sacrificed!” Guan Canghai had never believed Pan Yueyang was truly a good man.

Yan’er listened, confused. What did he mean by sacrificing innocent people?

“Enough nonsense. Cultivating martial arts by draining the vitality of the living is an abomination. No wonder you look like a woman yourself!” With that, Bai Li Mu Bai launched a flurry of attacks at Guan Canghai.

Unable to spare a thought for Yan’er, Guan Canghai was quickly entangled in combat with Bai Li Mu Bai.

Pan Yueyang scooped up Yan’er and unsealed her acupoints. Yan’er clung to his neck, crying, “Yueyang!” Terror overwhelmed her.

“Be good, it’s alright. Stand here—he won’t touch you,” Pan Yueyang reassured her, certain Guan Canghai wouldn’t truly harm Yan’er. He leapt back into the fray.

With both men attacking, Guan Canghai found himself overwhelmed. His eyes flashed with malice; in a sudden move, he lunged at Yan’er, one hand pressing against her delicate throat. “Don’t come any closer! If you don’t want anything to happen to this woman and her unborn child, back away!”

Bai Li Mu Bai hesitated, glancing at Guan Canghai. Pan Yueyang sneered. “I despise being threatened. What are one woman and one child to me?” Without hesitation, he charged at Guan Canghai, eyes bloodshot, the soft sword at his waist thrusting straight at Yan’er’s chest!

Guan Canghai had not expected such ruthlessness. With a quick flick, Yan’er collapsed to her knees. Unable to dodge, Guan Canghai was struck in the shoulder, retreating to perch on a tree branch. “Pan Yueyang, so you truly are heartless—willing even to sacrifice your own child!”

Yan’er, still reeling, saw that Pan Yueyang didn’t spare her a glance. Instead, he launched himself into the trees, eyes wild with bloodlust. Bai Li Mu Bai rushed to her side. “Yan’er, Senior Brother had no choice.”

“Say no more,” Yan’er replied, now protected by Bai Li Mu Bai and temporarily safe. But anger surged once more within her. This was the second time Pan Yueyang had used her. Was it as Guan Canghai said? Was she merely a tool to him? Didn’t a man who loved a woman protect her? At the crucial moment, Pan Yueyang was worse than Guan Canghai—at least Guan Canghai had pushed her aside in the end, sparing her from dying by her beloved’s hand.

Realizing that he stood little chance against Pan Yueyang and Bai Li Mu Bai combined, and with Bai Li Mu Bai now shielding Yan’er, Guan Canghai pressed a hand to his wound. “Woman! The one your man loves most is himself! If you persist in this delusion, you’re only hurting yourself in the end!” With these words, he vanished, leaping toward the cliffs ahead...