Chapter 357 (1/2)

Chapter 357: Kidnapped

Jun Hao scuttled around like a bird that had escaped from its cage. Jun Huang left him to it. She was glad to see him having fun. It wasn't until noon that he quieted down.

Jun Huang hadn't left the manor for some time. She didn't want to return just yet, either. After talking to Jun Hao, they made their way to the nearest tavern for lunch. Jun Hao fanned himself with his broad sleeve, sweat streaming down from his forehead. Jun Huang felt a pang of sympathy for him. She tried to cool him down with her foldable fan.

Jun Hao was too full to eat anything because of all the snacks he'd had. After a while, he got bored and whined that he'd like to go out.

“Why don't you leave our purchase here and go out with him, Yin Yun?” said Jun Huang. “He's going to make a fuss if we force him to stay. I'll be here waiting for you two.”

“I can't do that. What if something happens to you…”

“Nothing will happen to me when I'm in this tavern,” Jun Huang cut in. “Don't worry. The shadowguards will keep me safe.”

Yin Yun was hesitant, but then Jun Hao grabbed his arm and swung it around. “You're the best, Yin Yun. Come with me. Please?”

In the end, Yin Yun acquiesced and emphasized that Jun Huang must stay in the tavern. He reminded the shadowguards to keep a close eye on her before leaving with Jun Hao.

Once they were away, Jun Huang put down her chopsticks and looked outside the window, supporting her chin with a hand. She remembered how Nan Xun had accompanied her on a shopping trip. They'd attracted a lot of attention as they walked around dressed in fine clothes. The memory put a smile on her face.

She didn't have much of an appet.i.te, so she stopped eating after a few bites. She ordered a pot of hot tea and had a few cups.

After some time, Yin Yun and Jun Hao still hadn't returned. Jun Huang decided to leave early. She would have the shadowguards carry their purchase back.

She got to her feet and made her way to the door, but it opened before she reached for it. She took a reflexive step backward.

It was Yin Yun.

Her heart sank when she saw his dark expression and realized that Jun Hao wasn't with him. Her eyes turned cold. “Where is Jun Hao? Why did you return on your own?”

Yin Yun's face grew darker. He dropped down to his knees. “This subordinate deserves the worst punishment.”

“What happened?” Jun Huang took a deep breath to calm herself.

“There was a circus performing near the tavern,” said Yin Yun. “The prince was drawn. Unfortunately, there was too big a crowd. We ended up separated. I stayed outside the premise waiting for the performance to end, but the prince never showed up. Once the crowd was dispersed, I entered the building to find him gone. Then I came back to you.”

Jun Huang understood the full story. She knew how Jun Hao was like. Yin Yun wasn't to blame. “It's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up. However, we must find him as soon as possible.”

“Understood.” Yin Yun shot to his feet and called out for the shadowguards. He explained what had happened and told one of the guards to notify Nan Xun. The others would join Jun Huang in her search for Jun Hao.

Meanwhile, Jun Hao was having trouble telling right from left. He remembered watching the circus perform and marveling at what the crew were capable of. When he turned around, Yin Yun was nowhere to be seen. He panicked and tried squeezing his way outside. Unfortunately, there were too many people blocking his way.

He started sweating. Tamping down his urge to cry, he tried leaving again. Before he could get far, someone seized his wrist and covered his nose and mouth before he could react. An aggressive smell a.s.saulted his senses. He blacked out.

The road was b.u.mpy. He heard voices talking in the beginning, but then everything quieted down. His head was splitting and spinning. It took some time for him to regain his focus and realize that he was on someone's shoulders. They were in the middle of nowhere.

“Who are you?” Jun Hao asked with a trembling voice. “Why did you kidnap me?”

The man carrying him didn't say anything. No matter how mature Jun Hao was given his age, he couldn't help but burst into tears when he realized he'd been kidnapped, and Yin Yun wasn't around to save him.

The man didn't care about Jun Hao's wailing. No one was close enough to hear it. He quickened his pace.

Jun Hao had thought he'd been carried outside the city, but then they arrived at a manor. He realized then that he had probably been taken to the fringe of the city. That was his speculation, anyway.

Before he could look around, he was dropped to the floor. He hit his forehead on a table and burst into tears. In his fuzzy view, he saw a man dressed in green robe walking toward him. He looked familiar.

“Don't worry, I won't hurt you,” the man said coolly. It sounded more like a threat than a rea.s.surance. Jun Hao stared at him, his vision going dark.

I've seen him before, he thought before losing consciousness again.