Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 114: Rescue (Added - )

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Rescue (Added Chapter)

Xie Xun’s expression turned grim. Fengyu had gone out of the city to Xiangguo Temple yesterday, while Lin Cheng had returned in disarray in the middle of the night. Who did he go to kill? Three hours after Fengyu left the city, Xie Xun spotted Lin Cheng leading a squad of Forbidden Army out of the city. At the time, he thought little of it, assuming the emperor had entrusted Lin Cheng with some task outside the city, and considering Lin Cheng was soon to be married, he likely wouldn’t be sent on a distant mission.

"Feiying, Nuanyang, bring the guards and follow me!" Xie Xun ignored Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin’s argument, leading his men in a swift charge out of the city. Only after leaving the city did Xie Xun realize that if Fengyu had truly encountered danger, Zhang Da would certainly be no match for Lin Cheng and the Forbidden Army. If Fengyu were truly at death’s door, why hadn’t she torn off the Soul Suppressing Pearl?

The Third Miss had always lived with the principle of "every man for himself," and certainly wouldn’t have developed sudden compassion after watching lanterns once—such a possibility was out of the question. Therefore, it was highly likely that nothing had happened to her.

Thus, Lin Cheng might not have gone to kill Fengyu.

He was just being overly paranoid.

Feiying couldn’t help but ask, "Master, what’s the matter?"

Xie Xun reined in his horse at the roadside. The cold wind swept by, and the distant mountains undulated in the horizon. The blazing urgency in Xie Xun’s heart was extinguished by the chill, leaving him utterly calm. If he hurried all the way to Xiangguo Temple and found Fengyu praying safely and peacefully, wouldn’t it be terribly ironic?

Nuanyang and Feiying exchanged glances, unable to discern what was on Xie Xun’s mind. Xie Xun gazed toward Xiangguo Temple, wondering if he was overthinking things.

Yet, a nagging sense of foreboding lingered within him. Unable to deliberate further, Xie Xun decided that since they had already left the city, he might as well make the trip to Xiangguo Temple and ensure her safety.

"Let’s move!" Xie Xun spurred his horse toward Xiangguo Temple. As they climbed halfway up the mountain, they suddenly saw green fireworks shooting into the sky. Xie Xun frowned deeply. He had seen this signal in Ningzhou before; it was a unique communication signal used by the Beiman. Why was it appearing in the Capital City? Just as his party of ten reached halfway up the mountain, they saw the Feng Family’s carriage losing control, hurtling toward the edge of a cliff. Xie Xun’s eyes went bloodshot, and he roared, "Fengyu!"

The young man’s shout echoed through the valley, startling a flock of birds into panicked flight.

Zhuifeng bolted forward. Ahead, Zhang Da, the Protector, Chunlu, and several burly men in coarse cotton jackets were entangled in fierce combat. The situation was chaotic, and the carriage had already plummeted off the cliff. Xie Xun charged ahead, his longsword cutting across the battlefield. Zhang Da was wounded, and Chunlu was in equally dire condition. Meanwhile, Qiuxiang had been slammed unconscious nearby, her blood flowing profusely.

The burly men recognized the banner of the Northern Iron Cavalry and erupted in fury, letting out beast-like snarls as they hurled themselves forward, slashing at anyone in their way.

Nuanyang and Feiying leapt down with swords in hand, blocking the onslaught of blades from the group of strongmen. Xie Xun deflected a swinging scimitar and gasped in shock—these were Beiman blades.

"Where’s Fengyu?"

Feiying parried a knife aimed at Chunlu, forcing the attacker to retreat several paces. Chunlu, stumbling backward, pointed toward the slope ahead. "They mistook the Miss for the Second Miss, kidnapped her, and ran that way."

That way led into the mountain forest, making it impossible to ride horses. Dismounting swiftly, Xie Xun instructed Feiying, "Leave survivors. Don’t let them all die!"

"Understood!"

Xie Xun chased in the direction Chunlu had indicated, advancing along the rugged mountain paths scattered with brambles. Though this terrain was generally untraveled, the signs of movement were unmistakable, and Fengyu’s hairpins strewn across the ground further marked the trail. The dense forest blocked out the sky, reducing visibility to mere inches. Xie Xun pursued relentlessly, tracking the location of the scattered hairpins. In light of Ningzhou’s grand victory, the fact that Beiman fighters had crossed the border and appeared near the Capital City was utterly unprecedented.

How could they dare! Given their target was Feng Shu, it undoubtedly stemmed from his brother slaying the Beiman King. If Fengyu fell into their hands, her fate would be grim!

Brambles cut into Xie Xun’s skin, leaving trails of blood, but he no longer felt the pain. He raced forward through the dim and oppressive forest, desperate as he wished for wings to fly straight to Fengyu’s side. Passing through a patch of thorns, he noticed blood droplets on the leaves and a piece of pink fabric snagged on the bushes.

"Fengyu..." The treacherous path indicated they hadn’t yet exited the forest. Xie Xun’s eyes blazed as he stared at the blood on the leaves and shouted into the woods, "Take off the Soul Suppressing Pearl!"

For the first time—and the only time—Xie Xun fervently wished Fengyu would remove the Soul Suppressing Pearl, allowing him to transfer his soul into her body. Beiman warriors were notoriously brutal and merciless. With Xie Zhang having just shot the Beiman King, who was practically their deity, there was no way they would spare Fengyu. If he could inhabit her body, perhaps there would still be a glimmer of hope.

Xie Xun’s voice echoed through the forest, layering upon itself. He continued his pursuit, awaiting the familiar sensation of his soul transferring. But to his dismay, despite Fengyu’s usual tendency to call upon him in times of danger, this time—for reasons unknown—she hadn’t touched the Soul Suppressing Pearl.

Surely she wasn’t resigned to her fate and suddenly overcome with noble righteousness!

"Fengyu!"

Xie Xun shouted urgently, but the forest remained silent. He had never imagined there would come a day when he would willingly relinquish control of his own body, yearning to be soul-bound with Fengyu.

This was supposed to be a feud of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. How could it drag in an innocent woman?

Fengyu hadn’t deliberately refrained from removing the Soul Suppressing Pearl. She’d simply lost consciousness. One of the young Beiman warriors carried her over his shoulder, sprinting forward while another person scouted ahead. They seemed indefatigable and oblivious to pain as they trampled through the thorn-covered forest at astonishing speed. To prevent the Soul Suppressing Pearl from falling off, her bracelet had been strapped tightly and hadn’t slipped during the journey. However, as she was carried, her hairpins dropped one by one, and her silk skirt was torn to shreds by the brambles.

The Beiman warriors heard Xie Xun’s voice echoing through the forest, though it sounded vague and distant. They paid no heed, continuing to carry Fengyu as they raced toward the foot of the mountain.

There were more than a dozen Beiman invaders, split into two groups. The signal had already been sent to their designated rendezvous point. With their target in hand, they needed to retreat as quickly as possible.

One young man spoke in Beiman dialect, "Hurry up! Someone’s chasing from behind."

"Got it!"

Familiar with the terrain, they quickly emerged from the forest, reaching the foot of the mountain. Eight riders awaited them at the exit, two of whom jumped onto other horses for double-riding, relinquishing two steeds for their comrades.

The young man placed Fengyu horizontally onto a horse, mounted swiftly, and the group galloped northward at full speed. When Xie Xun reached the foot of the mountain, all he saw was a cloud of dust. He was a step too late, watching helplessly as they vanished into the horizon. Never one to accept defeat, Xie Xun considered seeking a fast horse in a nearby village. Just as he was about to act, he heard a sharp neigh from behind.

A testament to its loyalty, his battle-hardened warhorse, Zhuifeng, emerged from the forest, following Xie Xun’s path. Delighted, Xie Xun mounted the horse swiftly, patting its head. "Let’s catch up with them!"

Zhuifeng charged forward like an arrow released from the bowstring. Though the group had avoided the main roads, taking unknown paths, the trails left by ten galloping horses were unmistakable. Despite the multitude of forks in the small paths, Xie Xun could clearly discern their route. For Beiman invaders to travel all the way to the Capital City, who had given them the token?

Ningzhou to the Capital stretched across a thousand miles. Without official passage documents, such a feat should have been impossible. At dusk, Xie Xun reached Lian City, immediately presenting his badge of authority to the guards, learning that the group had entered the city one incense stick’s worth of time earlier.