Chapter 283: Asking him outright (2/2)

Han Yunxi seriously couldn’t figure out what Aunt Ru took her for. Long Feiye’s assistant? Or a wangfei and subordinate in one? She didn’t want to argue anyways since they found their clue. It was better to just return the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion and cut off all ties with that man. Still, Long Feiye grabbed her hand before she could take it out and led her back along the way they’d came. Again, he didn’t say a word.

Han Yunxi’s other hand was already holding the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion. She held onto it for a long time before silently putting it into her medical pouch. Even she didn’t know the reason why. On one side, Aunt Ru couldn’t help but feel that she’d been cast aside. Her brows furrowed tightly. Undoubtedly, Ye’er’s actions right now were like a slap to her face!

How could this be?

They continued their return journey in silence. Unfortunately, they came out of the entrance to the first door at the same time Duanmu Baiye and the rest emerged from the second. All three of their party was left in wretched straits, each wearing a face paler than the other. It was obvious that they’d lost a great deal of blood. Duanmu Baiye and Chu Tianyin’s arms were bare, their bodies covered in bites from the black butterflies. As the first person to charge inside, Duanmu Baiye was filled with injuries from head to toe. There were even two gashes on his face. His outer robes had gone to who-knows-where — perhaps even bitten to pieces. Chu Tianyin’s outer robes were draped across Chu Qingge’s shoulders, the surface covered in butterfly silk. The thick, white layer of silk even looked like cotton thread on the fabric. Heaven knows how wretched their last two days and nights had been!

The two groups emerged out of the tunnels at the same time to stare at each other in surprise. In the silence, Han Yunxi noticed how Chu Qingge still looked alarmed. She couldn’t help but burst out into laughter. “Haha, there’s a lot of black butterflies inside, right?”

Leaving aside Chu Qingge, even Duanmu Baiye was embarrassed and furious. One took out her bow, while the other drew his sword.

“Han Yunxi, you liar!” Duanmu Baiye was the angriest one of all.

“What did I lie to you about? Did I tell you there were good things inside?” Han Yunxi really couldn’t help but laugh again as she spoke.

“Slut! Hand over your life!” Chu Qingge was utterly discomfited as she drew her bow to shoot.

But Chu Tianyin quickly stopped her and urge, “Let’s go!”

“Big brother!” Chu Qingge was angry enough to lose all reason. She didn’t realize that the three of them now weren’t enough enough to face a single Long Feiye. Their injuries were too severe, and the butterfly bites had to be treated posthaste.

“Let’s go!” Chu Tianyin’s tone grew stern. When Chu Qingge had set her bow down just then, he’d exchanged looks with Duanmu Baiye before silently taking her away. Duanmu Baiye brought up the rear, but gave them a cold warning as they withdrew.

“Long Feiye, our Western Zhou’s imperial clan isn’t someone easy to bully!” So speaking, he simply turned and fled. Long Feiye didn’t say a thing, but kept his grip tightly on Han Yunxi as he gave chase. The secret road leading back only had one path and one direction, but before Long Feiye could catch up, Duanmu Baiye and the rest suddenly disappeared around a corner. It was only after Long Feiye caught up that he discovered there was a switch hidden here that led to a different path. No wonder the tree trunk outside had looked perfectly fine when they entered.

“It’s not wise to tarry here. Let’s go back by the way we came,” Aunt Ru said seriously. Heaven knows what kind of dangers laid in the route that Duanmu Baiye’s group had picked. Long Feiye listened to Aunt Ru’s words and stopped chasing, but walked very quickly with Han Yunxi until Aunt Ru had trouble keeping up with them. Han Yunxi could tell he was doing it on purpose and wondered whether he was trying to shake off Aunt Ru.

Instead, Long Feiye took the chance… to start asking questions. After staying silent for so long, he was still as domineering as ever. His first question came straight to the point.

“What did you use to save Long Tianmo?”

Han Yunxi was still getting used to the situation, because she assumed that this guy would never speak to her again. “An antidote I was working on before. Luckily, I succeeded by the deadline that night,” Han Yunxi had long thought over her answer. If Gu Qishao asked, she’d reply him the same way. Heaven knows whether either of those two would do something bad to Lil Thing. Right now, Lil Thing was still recovering, so his self-defense skills were too weak. If they really tried to snatch it from her, she wouldn’t be able to fight back at all.

Actually, if Lil Thing hadn’t scampered onto Gu Beiyue that day, she wouldn’t have told him about Lil Thing’s existence, either. She didn’t want anyone to know about this. Who knows how the medical academy would treat her if they knew? All the people in the world fighting for the poison beast wouldn’t let her off either.

“That coincidental?” Long Feiye obviously doubted her words. But if Han Yunxi stubbornly stuck to her story, he wouldn’t be able to find any flaws even if he had his suspicions.

“How did that white-robed man save you?” Long Feiye asked next.

“It was a chance encounter,” Han Yunxi replied mildly.

“Why did he save you?” Long Feiye asked again.

Han Yunxi wore a face filled with helplessness. “I want to know, too.”

This was the truth. When she saw Long Feiye’s complicated expression, she laughed and asked, “Long Feiye, do you suspect me of being West Qin’s orphan as well? AThe person the Shadow Clan needs to protect?”