Volume One: Femme Fatale Chapter 44: Traveling Together with You

"So painful!"
"That brat actually dared to cripple me!"
"I'll kill him! I want revenge!"
"Uncle Han, hurry and go kill him for me! I cannot swallow this insult!"
"It has always been I, Murong Hai, bullying others. When has Murong Hai ever suffered such humiliation!"
Inside the carriage, Murong Hai endured the excruciating pain in his lower body, cold sweat pouring down, while he continued to howl and shout.
Had Han Yuan-cheng not sealed his acupoints in time and administered top-tier pain-relief pills, Murong Hai would likely have passed out from his injuries long ago.
That kick from Feng Ling'er earlier had dealt quite a severe blow to His Highness the Heir.
"Your Highness, as long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood!" Han Yuan-cheng shook his head, offering earnest advice. "Right now, the most crucial matter is to escort Your Highness to the Everlasting Spring Valley for medical treatment!"
"Everlasting Spring Valley?" Murong Hai frowned, puzzled. "Uncle Han, aren't we returning to the imperial capital? Why go to the Everlasting Spring Valley?"
"Could my injuries possibly be this severe?" Shock was written all over Murong Hai's face.
As the Heir, he had naturally heard of the Everlasting Spring Valley, renowned among the six major sects for its mastery of alchemy and medicine. He never expected his condition to be so critical that it required treatment there.
Rumor had it that if even the Everlasting Spring Valley could not cure a patient, there was no one left in the entire Southern Xia Kingdom who could.
"Yes, Your Highness," Han Yuan-cheng nodded in response, speaking with deep concern. "Your Highness's injuries are far too grave. Those imperial physicians in the capital are utterly helpless."
"I fear only the sect master of the Everlasting Spring Valley can heal Your Highness!" Han Yuan-cheng's brows were tightly knitted, as if bearing an immense weight.
Hearing this, Murong Hai stopped demanding revenge against Jiang Hao. After all, compared to the happiness of his own lower body, Jiang Hao's life was lighter than a feather and utterly not worth mentioning!
"Uncle Han, I've heard the sect master of the Everlasting Spring Valley is an unreasonable old hag! Do you think she will pay us any mind?" Murong Hai looked anxiously at Han Yuan-cheng, a sense of foreboding in his heart.
"Your Highness, please rest assured! Although that sect master has an eccentric temperament, for the sake of the Prince of Northern Suppression, she will definitely step in to save you," Han Yuan-cheng solemnly assured Murong Hai.
*If that hag refuses to treat Your Highness, this old man will simply have to risk everything and fight her to the death,* Han Yuan-cheng sighed inwardly.

"That's good then! Uncle Han, you simply must help me preserve my lifelong happiness!" Murong Hai trembled as he spoke, filled with endless regret. "There are still so many beautiful young ladies in the Southern Xia Kingdom, and I, Murong Hai, have yet to enjoy them to the fullest..."
"Understood, Your Highness, this old servant understands," Han Yuan-cheng nodded in comfort while secretly astonished. *What on earth is the background of that brat named Jiang Hao? To be able to injure someone right under my nose, and subdue the Heir with a single move!*
*Had I not discovered it in time, Your Highness's life might have been in grave peril!*
*It seems this kid's strength is far from ordinary on the surface! But why have I never heard of such a young cultivator existing in the Southern Xia Kingdom before?*
At this moment, the Heir's convoy was rushing full speed ahead toward the Everlasting Spring Valley, kicking up clouds of dust.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in Yong'an City.
"Miss, I've gathered the information!"
Yantao hurried over, barely crossing the threshold before eagerly calling out to Qin Yu-mei inside the room.
At that moment, Qin Yu-mei and Fan Cai-yun were chatting and laughing together, having seemingly grown into close sisters over this period of time. Jiang Hao stood quietly to the side, watching them with a gentle smile without disturbing them.
Seeing Yantao enter, Qin Yu-mei turned around and hurriedly asked, "Oh? Xiao Tao, what news did you find out? Quick, tell me!"
Yantao caught her breath and hastily replied, "Miss, the scouts we sent out just reported back that Murong Hai's convoy left the city at the third watch last night."
"Word is they exited through the North City Gate and then galloped rapidly northwest."
"The third watch last night?" Hearing this, Jiang Hao frowned slightly, thinking to himself, *That means not long after I rescued Yu-mei, that formidable expert Han Yuan-cheng had already discovered that Murong Hai was severely injured.*
Realizing this, Jiang Hao felt a mild sense of surprise, suddenly understanding that his master's decision to spare Murong Hai's life outright was truly a wise choice; otherwise, it would have inevitably invited frantic retaliation from the other party.
"Leaving in the middle of the night? And heading northwest instead of toward the imperial capital?" Qin Yu-mei pondered inwardly.
"Could it be that they are heading to the Everlasting Spring Valley for treatment?" A light dawned in Qin Yu-mei's eyes as comprehension struck her. *If that's the case, Han Yuan-cheng, as Murong Hai's personal bodyguard, must have accompanied him.*
"Since Han Yuan-cheng, this potential threat, is no longer here, it is time for us to set off for the imperial capital."
After a moment of contemplation, Qin Yu-mei stepped forward and instructed, "Xiao Tao, hurry down and properly handle the affairs of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Then we will depart for the capital today."

"Yes, Miss!" Yantao acknowledged softly before turning to leave, busy attending to various arrangements.
"Yu-mei, actually, there's no need to rush so much. It won't be too late to set off after settling the matters of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion," Jiang Hao stepped forward and advised upon seeing this.
Jiang Hao knew very well that an auction house as colossal as the Myriad Treasures Pavilion could not possibly arrange everything properly in a short span of time. Clearly, Qin Yu-mei simply did not want the pavilion's affairs to delay her any longer.
"Sister Yu-mei, what Brother Jiang Hao says does make sense. With such a large auction house, wouldn't it be a bit improper for Sister Yu-mei to leave in such a rush?" Fan Cai-yun linked arms with Qin Yu-mei, speaking with concern.
Qin Yu-mei gently stroked Fan Cai-yun's head and smiled in explanation, "Sister Cai-yun, in your Sister Yu-mei's heart, Brother Jiang Hao's matters are the most important things in the entire world."
"Tell me, how could Sister Yu-mei not be in a rush?" Qin Yu-mei looked gently at Fan Cai-yun, her face blooming with a smile.
"Sister Yu-mei is so good to Brother Jiang Hao! No wonder you get to be his wife." Fan Cai-yun looked at Qin Yu-mei, a trace of envy flashing in her eyes.
"You little girl," Qin Yu-mei chuckled softly, seemingly in high spirits.
"Yu-mei, you..." A wave of emotion surged in Jiang Hao's heart as he tried to persuade her once more.
Seeing this, Qin Yu-mei stepped forward, slowly raising her delicate hand to gently cover Jiang Hao's lips, and said softly, "Husband, this is only fitting for your humble concubine. As for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, I have my own discretion, so Husband need not say any more."
"To Yu-mei, right now, only walking the path alongside you can bring peace to my heart." Qin Yu-mei gazed affectionately at Jiang Hao, her eyes filled entirely with his reflection.
"Yu-mei... Thank you!"
Touched deeply, Jiang Hao felt a warm current flowing through him as he returned her loving gaze.
"Cai-yun is so envious!" Fan Cai-yun raised her head, watching the deeply affectionate pair with a face full of yearning.
*I never imagined this brat had such charm! To actually make this sharp-witted woman fall for him so completely!* Inside the pendant, Feng Ling'er could not help but reveal a look of astonishment.