Chapter 873: Leaving his line of sigh (1/2)
t
Faced with Baili Yuanlong’s stubbornness, even an even-tempered girl like Baili Mingxiang was about to lose her cool. “Father! If anything happens to you, who’s going to lead our East Qin army?”
A bitter look flickered through Baili Yuanlong’s eyes. “His Highness should naturally have arrangements!”
His Highness had silently allowed Han Yunxi to cause him difficulties, so could he even continue to lead the army? Not long ago, he’d even threatened His Highness with retirement, but never thought he’d end up like this!
“Father!” Baili Mingxiang’s heart ached. She had never seen her father act so helpless or sick at heart.
Baili Yuanlong looked upon death like going home. It’s better to die avenging my brothers than returning to camp and losing all face.
“It’s all because of those poison kraits!” Baili Mingxiang was on the verge of tears. Faced with her father’s perilous situation, she’d panic no matter how mild-mannered she was! She desperately hoped that the princess hadn’t been serious.
Baili Yuanlong suddenly glanced over and murmured, “Everything was perfectly fine, so why did these snakes suddenly attacks?”
“The princess just said that we need to investigate the snake den to be sure,” Baili Mingxiang answered.
Baili Yuanlong fell silent, then muttered, “Isn’t it a single thought for her to lure over the poison snakes?”
“Shhh...father!” Baili Mingxiang was greatly alarmed, afraid that the couple would overhear. If her father hadn’t been so distrustful, this disaster would never have happened.
Baili Yuanlong wasn’t afraid, though. He thought it over some more, then added, “If a thousand snakes is a rarity, then how big is the den? If they all came out in full force, how is she supposed to take them all on alone even with formidable poison skills? By not asking us to come along, it’s possible she’s afraid that--”
“Father, stop making wild guesses!” Baili Mingxiang interrupted furiously. She had never lost her temper in front of him until today.
“Mingxiang, don’t you forget, she’s the West Qin princess! If she knew who she was earlier on, she might not have saved your life at all!” Baili Yuanlong reminded.
“Father! I--”
“You what? You’re just a girl, what do you know? Just because she treats you well, you--”
“Father, I believe in His Highness!” Baili Mingxiang cut in.
“Your father does too, but you still need to guard against others! I’m bearing the burden of tens of thousands of lives from the East Qin army on my shoulders!” Baili Yuanlong said coldly.
Baili Mingxiang simply turned aside, not willing to say anymore. Baili Yuanlong didn’t notice, too lost in his own thoughts. Han Yunxi and Long Feiye were in the lead, following the poison gas all the way to the woods bordering the west camp. After walking for five li, they still hadn’t found the snake den.
“It’s so far away. Even if the den was disturbed, it’s not likely they would’ve found the camp of all places,” Han Yunxi murmured.
The White-Lipped Kraits wouldn’t attack humans without cause. Either someone had led them to the army, or something had startled them. She thought the snake den would be closeby and that the military’s daily activities had disturbed them, but this seemed to be an orchestrated plot.
“None of the surrounding villagers exhibited signs of poisoning. All of the snakes within five li headed for the army camps. Strange!” Long Feiye was growing suspicious too.
At this moment, Han Yunxi’s detox system blared out a warning, causing her to stop in her tracks.
“What is it?” Long Feiye asked.
Baili Yuanlong and Baili Mingxiang stopped too, along with the shadow guards tailing them on the sidelines.
“There’s poison up ahead. Everyone, stay put,” Han Yunxi said as she strode forward, but Long Feiye pulled her back. Without a choice, she explained, “It’s not the snake den. The source is somewhere up close, you’ll be able to see me from here, so it’s fine. I’ll take care of it and come back immediately.”
Only then did Long Feiye release her. Just like Han Yunxi’s earlier vexations, he too felt annoyed with himself. If only he knew poisons arts too--how great that’d be.
Han Yunxi didn’t go far, but remained within view of Long Feiye the entire time. She seemed to have found something in the grass, but no one knew what it was. Very soon, she stood up and waved at Long Feiye. “Keep following me at half a li’s distance behind!” she said.