"What are you afraid of? We've already agreed. After we're done, we'll hand her over to Boss Huang. Do you think she'll come back alive?" Jiao Teng sneered.
"Did you do this on purpose?" Chen Wuyou slowly approached, glancing at Xiao Qingying on the ground, his gaze indifferent.
"What? Only you're allowed to threaten me?" Jiao Teng sneered. "We're all in the same boat, no one is more honorable than the other!"
"Stop the nonsense, hurry up and pack her up, I've arranged everything." Chen Wuyou didn't even glance at Xiao Qingying's eyes at that moment.
He clapped his hands lightly.
Immediately, two Daoists came out carrying a long rectangular box.
"This is a freight box for miscellaneous goods. Stuff her inside and carry her down the mountain. My dad has already made arrangements with the patrols over there. You stay here and delay them." Chen Wuyou said lightly.
"Alright." Jiao Teng grinned.
Soon, the two Daoists set down the box, opened the lid, and went to lift Xiao Qingying.
Xiao Qingying, whose vision was already blurry, stared at Chen Wuyou in disbelief.
Her body couldn't muster any strength, and her consciousness gradually blurred.
But looking at Chen Wuyou, whom she once trusted so much, now he actually...
She was limp all over, her fingers wanted to grab something but had no strength to hold on.
"Wuyou... brother..."
She whispered the last few words from her lips.
Her mind was in chaos, with countless emotions—anger, sadness, pain, and tears—mixing and pouring out continuously from the corners of her eyes.
She always considered Chen Wuyou, but he... it seemed he never loved her...
And the senior brother... the senior brother actually is...
Recalling all the things she did following Chen Wuyou's words all along.
Xiao Qingying's vision slowly fell into darkness, unable to see anything clearly.
"Take her away." Chen Wuyou's voice came from outside.
"The kid that Boss Huang specifically asked for." Jiao Teng said. "I designed a scheme to take him away, what do you plan to do?"
"Once this is over, my father will have control over the entire Qinghe Palace, it's not too late to settle then." Chen Wuyou replied.
Xiao Qingying slowly sank into a half-conscious state.
She guessed she must have been drugged with something. The fear and panic in her heart almost overwhelmed her.
She recalled Zhang Rongfang, who was chased away by her father, and at that time, Jiao Teng's behavior when driving him away, and she understood that it was likely a deliberate design to get rid of those who could help her...
Even Xiaoran, the early attendant, might have been... by them...
The more Xiao Qingying thought about it, the more terrified she became. The initial heartbreak of being deceived was instead suppressed by a large amount of fear.
She didn't know what would happen to her or where she would be sent.
'Father... where are you??'
She suddenly remembered that if she had spoken up to keep Zhang Rongfang, her junior brother, instead of remaining silent and wrongly accusing him.
Maybe, maybe then Jiao Teng wouldn't have been the one to watch over her.
Maybe then this wouldn't have happened....
Thud.
Soon, she was lifted into the rectangular box, the lid was closed, and many miscellaneous items were placed on top.
They were all clothes, bamboo scrolls, animal pelts, and the like.
The side of the box had several rough ventilation holes, clearly to prevent her from suffocating inside.
Chen Wuyou didn't follow the two Daoists but called another Daoist out.
This Daoist was burly, full-bearded, standing two meters tall, exuding a strong sense of oppression. He was another expert in the patrol room, Daoist Qi Mountain.
"Uncle Qi Mountain, the person is in your hands. Don't follow closely, just trail behind from afar to avoid being noticed." Chen Wuyou instructed.
"Understood." Qi Mountain nodded.
In fact, if it weren't for the incident at the Ascension Bridge the day before yesterday, being watched closely, that side would have been the easiest way down the mountain.
The box was slowly lifted and quickly headed towards the alley on the side of the Dao Palace.
Qi Mountain, carrying a lantern, followed from afar to ensure nothing went wrong.
Before long, no voices could be heard from outside anymore.
Xiao Qingying, drowsy and rocking, was carried, fixed in the box, her whole body wedged tightly with the miscellaneous items, unable to move.
Only her head could barely turn.
Tears flowed like broken beads, continuously falling, soon soaking the coarse cloth beside her.
Squeak, squeak.
The carrying pole of the box emitted faint creaking noises.
Along the way, voices of Daoists speaking together occasionally passed by the box.
Xiao Qingying wanted to call for help, but no sound could come out, her mouth opened and wouldn't close.
Her whole body was paralyzed, unable to move a bit.
At night, the evening drums lightly sounded.
The whole Qinghe Palace resonated with a distant and tranquil atmosphere.
The box passed by the Profound Heart Hall, passed by the two accompanying halls, crossing the letter room, and with a rhythmic creaking, slowly moved towards the mountain gate.
Generally, miscellaneous items were placed outside the mountain gate, waiting for the labor disciples to carry them down the mountain at dawn the next day for disposal.
So their destination should be the mountain gate.
Soon, the two Daoists carried the box past Yingsong Hall.
Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Xintai were walking together, discussing the Morning Energy Talisman steps they had just learned.
As they were strolling in the alley, Zhang Rongfang suddenly furrowed his brows slightly.
He sniffed, catching a familiar scent of perfume.
Turning his head, his gaze landed on the box the two were carrying. That was the source.
This fragrance... was the favorite perfume of Xiao Qingying.
He wouldn't mistake it.
After all, having been with Xiao Qingying for so long, he was very familiar with her living habits.
Anyone who had been around her for so long would know this.
"What's the matter?" Zhang Xintai asked in confusion from the side.
"Nothing, it's just... that box seems to have Senior Sister Xiao's aura..." Zhang Rongfang shook his head.
Inside the box, Xiao Qingying's eyes suddenly widened.
Zhang Rongfang's voice was like a thread of hope, allowing her, trapped in despair, to suddenly see a glimmer of light.
"Mmm...!!" She used all her strength, opening her mouth wide, trying to make a sound.
But the drug's effects were too strong; she could only make a faint whimper.
This tiny sound was completely drowned out by the creaking of the carrying sticks and the footsteps of two Daoists.
"Help... help... me!!" Xiao Qingying frantically shouted with all her might.
Unfortunately, her voice simply couldn't penetrate the box's shell.
Outside the box.
Zhang Rongfang withdrew his gaze.
"Forget it, these things have nothing to do with me now." He smiled; even if it was related to Xiao Qingying, what did it matter to him?
"Xiao Qingying, huh?" Zhang Xintai glanced at the box, pitch-black with numerous old marks on the surface. It seemed to be a box for discarded miscellaneous items.
"Probably some clothing or such items she used before." He dismissively said.
"Probably." Zhang Rongfang nodded.
He looked up and suddenly spotted the Daoist of Qi Mountain trailing behind them.
The Daoist from Qi Mountain was two meters tall, an extremely striking build.
Zhang Rongfang, at this moment, was around 1.75 meters tall, significantly shorter.
However, his physique was quite robust, especially his upper body, with prominent muscles on his arms, which didn't lack much in comparison.
"What's Qi Mountain doing here anyway? There's nothing worthwhile to patrol around here, is there?" Zhang Xintai asked in confusion from the side.
"Maybe he happened to patrol here." Zhang Rongfang replied.
But he noticed that Qi Mountain's gaze seemed to occasionally fall on the large box ahead.
'Could it be...?!' Zhang Rongfang's heart connected to the familiar scent from earlier, faintly forming a bold guess.
Clap.
He suddenly stopped, turning back to look at the box he had brushed past.
Immediately, he clearly felt the two Daoists carrying the box start to tense up.
Additionally, Qi Mountain's gaze immediately fell on him from behind.
Because of his actions, he instantly drew the vigilance of the three.
"Wait!"
Zhang Rongfang suddenly spoke out.
He suspected there was something wrong with the box.
The two Daoists paused, then walked even faster.
Just as Zhang Rongfang was about to step forward, his pace suddenly faltered.
"Zhang Rongfang, you're no longer under Xiao Rong's tutelage; some things aren't your business anymore." Qi Mountain's voice coldly echoed from behind.
Beside him, Zhang Xintai narrowed his eyes, immediately sensing something amiss.
"What's wrong?" He stepped forward, blocking the path between Zhang Rongfang and Qi Mountain.
Zhang Rongfang looked at the box and was momentarily silent.
"It's nothing, never mind, Qi Mountain is right, I'm no longer under Master Mingguang's tutelage. I shouldn't meddle unnecessarily."
He wasn't sure what the box's problem was. Having been expelled from his faction, he had no reason to wade into troubled waters.
"Let's go, Senior Brother." He turned around, refraining from looking back.
"That's how it should be. If you interfere again and get falsely accused by that old man Xiao Rong, wouldn't it be asking for trouble?" Zhang Xintai laughed.
"If not necessary, I don't want to confront Qi Mountain either."
If a fight were to break out, Qi Mountain would still have a slight edge.
The two immediately stopped saying more, brushing past Qi Mountain as they slowly walked towards the distance.
Qi Mountain quietly exhaled.
If they had really discovered it just now, he wasn't confident he could quickly subdue Zhang Xintai.
If exposed, he might also end up being implicated.
But Zhang Rongfang, this young Daoist, has an unexpectedly high alertness.
No wonder Chen Wuyou's plans were disrupted by him several times before.
Suddenly, he understood why Chen Wuyou and Jiao Teng were adamant about removing him first.
"Why is Zhang Rongfang now so close to Zhang Xintai?" He suddenly thought of another possibility.
"Apparently, after being expelled from Master Mingguang's faction, Zhang Xuan took him under his wing." One of the patrolling disciples answered softly.
"Tut tut... quite the luck he has. This kid does have some remarkable qualities... it's laughable how Xiao Rong is blind." Qi Mountain sighed several times, waving his hand.
"Keep moving."
"Yes."
Whether it was the box or the patrol team, the group continued forward, heading towards the mountain gate.
Inside the box.
Xiao Qingying closed her eyes gently, tears continually sliding down from the corners of her eyes.
The hope that had just risen fell again.
Despair mixed with regret, like twin hands, continuously tugging at her heart.
Qi Mountain was correct...
Her father and she were truly blind... driving away the person who should have been trusted, yet trusting a villain who shouldn't be trusted.
If they hadn't hurt Junior Brother Rongfang so deeply before, would he have dared even to try just now?
All of this was brought upon themselves.
The intense fear, coupled with the ever-quieter surroundings, relentlessly invaded her mind.
'Dad... Xiaoying... Xiaoying will never dare again... save me... someone save me... who will come to my rescue...?'