Chapter 435: This fellow wants you dead (2/2)

Long Feiye immediately leapt from the roof. “Where is he?”

“Your Highness Duke of Qin, this is a letter from my master ot you,” the old steward hastily presented a sealed missive. Long Feiye opened it up and read the contents, before knitting his brows and tossing the item to Chu Xifeng.

Gu Qi Sha actually stood him up!

They’d agreed to a one-year deadline before Long Feiye shortened it to six months. If Pill Fiend found the ingredients by then, the Duke of Qin’s estate would owe him a favor. Gu Qi Sha was willing to agree and even said he’d get the things by the 15th, but he backed out at the last minute. He’d give Long Feiye the Panoptic Red Lotus first instead, because the Bear chuan needed more time to prepare.

“Where is he?” Long Feiye asked coldly.

Seeing his icy expression, the old steward’s legs started shaking. “This humble one doesn’t know.”

“How was this message delivered?” Long Feiye asked next.

“With a messenger pigeon,” the old steward said, before hastily offering up the Panoptic Red Lotus. “Your Highness Duke of Qin, kindly accept this!”

At the sight of the lotus, Long Feiye’s temper ebbed somewhat. It looks like Gu Qi Sha truly hasn’t found the Bear chuan yet, instead of skipping out on purpose. He didn’t take the item, but told the steward, “Inform Gu Qi Sha that he’ll have to shoulder the consequences if he can’t find the Bear chuan within a year!”

Since they were still missing an ingredient, Mute Granny’s situation would have to wait a little longer. Long Feiye could only tell Tang Li to keep standing guard while hiding the facts from Aunt Ru and Tang Zijin, the head of the Tang Clan. As for why Gu Qi Sha had vanished, or how he failed to find the Bear chuan, the steward had no idea.

But someone did.

In fact, that person had already tracked down the Bear chuan. He was none other than someone who hadn’t been seen in ages, Gu Qishao! It was unclear where or when he’d abandoned Mu Linger, but he was now heading solo towards Fishery Island. The Baili Navy hadn’t forbidden anyone from going to the island, nor did they have the right, but anyone who tried to take Jun Yixie with them would be reduced to a hedgehog by their arrows.

Nobody even recognized Gu Qishao when he arrived at the island, because he had changed out of his usual scarlet robes and cheeky grin. Instead, he was dressed in black with a face veil to match, taking quick steps through the island’s forests like a specter hellbent on revenge.

He was looking for Jun Yixie!

Originally, his plan was to use Jun Yixie to make Long Feiye stumble, but that was before he found out that Long Feiye had trapped the man here for bullying Han Yunxi. As soon as the news reached his ears, he felt unwell all over. Who cared about his plans, his Bear chuan, or Long Feiye? Who cared about hitting two hawks with one arrow? He didn’t even bother telling Mu Linger before he was off, traveling day and night to get to Fishery Island at the quickest possible pace.

What a Jun Yixie! He had the gall to pick on Poison lass!

See how I’ll finish you off!

The island was currently closed for the fishing season, so nobody came here to fish. The entire isle was as still and empty, making it a difficult task to track one person down. But what kind of man was Gu Qishao? He could even find specific plants from the place in a matter of minutes, much less a single living person. He tracked down Jun Yixie from the forests when it was still daylight! A sinister gleam passed through his eyes at the sight.

It had to be said that three months of island living had left the man in a wretched state! Long Feiye hadn’t trapped him here in vain. When Jun Yixie and Ouyang Ningnuo first arrived, they’d brought along horses, men, and rations. Then afterwards, Ouyang Ningnuo had left with the men and animals but left him water and food. Still, supplies were limited.

Northern Li’s imperial clan had once sent men over with food, but the Baili Navy drove them back before they ever reached the island. It was impossible to get in any supplies. Jun Yixie finished the rest of his supplies in under a month, leaving him to drink rainwater and coconut milk and eat roasted fish. It was such an enjoyment when he was eating it during that wintery day on the lake, but two months’ straight of fish for every single meal was unbearable!

As soon as Jun Yixie saw fish now, he wanted to throw up, but he had no choice but to eat it! If he didn’t, he’d only starve to death! The current Jun Yixie wasn’t as wild as a barbarian, but sported a large beard and ragged, shabby clothes. Baili Mingxiang’s blood sample was still hidden within his robes, but he’d long lost interest in pursuing the matter. The only thought left in his head was a question: why hadn’t Northern Li waged war against Emperor Tianhui yet? Why hadn’t the Northern Li emperor rescued him yet?!

Had something major happened to Northern Li itself? Otherwise, there was no reason for the emperor to abandon him!

The sky was getting brighter as Jun Yixie’s stomach rumbled with hunger. But hewas sick of coconut milk and roast fish, so he simply glanced at the skies before shutting his eyes again. Still, it was at this moment that a fragrant scent floated over on the wind.

Rice!

There was no mistake, it had to be the scent of cooked rice. He hadn’t touched the stuff in over three months. Jun Yixie gave a start and sat bolt upright!