The voice was male, clear and smooth as jade, without a hint of flaw.
Feng Yinwan's lips curved into a smile. Before she could savor her success, she realized what she had said. Her body stiffened, and regret washed over her.
What 'miss'? Damn it, that was careless.
Silently slapping herself, she racked her brain to salvage the situation. However, before she could even formulate a response, the person had already apologized.
"So, it's a young master. Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
He then raised his hand and offered her a bow. Feng Yinwan stared blankly, a wave of relief washing over her.
"He's even dumber than I am," she thought.
"It's nothing. This young master didn't take it to heart."
As she lowered her arm, her sleeve slid down further, increasingly concealing the bracelet on her wrist.
The person, however, still spoke with lingering curiosity, "May I ask about this bracelet..."
Feng Yinwan paused, a charming curve appearing on her lips.
"It was a gift from my husband."
"Husband? But aren't you..." a man?
Caught off guard, the person clearly faltered. Feng Yinwan looked at him encouragingly and nodded.
"Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking."
The next moment, astonishment flooded the person's face, transmitted even through his hood, as if to say, "Holy crap, you gay bastard!"
However, before he could utter a sound, his forearm was grasped by the Xuan-clothed person beside him. That person nodded at Feng Yinwan, then immediately pulled the other away.
Finally managing to fool them, Feng Yinwan sighed in relief and hurried upstairs. The moment she entered the room, Yu Ping and Qi Xuan also returned, their faces lighting up with joy upon seeing her. They quickly stepped forward.
"Miss!"
Yu Ping circled her twice, ensuring she was unharmed, before rushing forward to embrace her.
"Miss... Qi Xuan and I searched the entire city but couldn't find you. Where were you taken just now?"
"That damned Wuxi Pavilion again!" she fumed internally. "It worried me to death!"
Qi Xuan, also caught off guard, expressed his concern with an undercurrent of self-reproach, "Wangfei, did Feng Wuxi do anything to you? This subordinate..."
With both sets of eyes fixed on her, Feng Yinwan's temple twitched. She quickly waved her hand.
"Nothing of the sort. Aren't I back safe and sound?"
It wasn't her who had encountered trouble.
The matter of Ye Tingyan's seizure of the Purple Ginseng Profound Pill hadn't been resolved. Moreover, she had just spotted traces of the Xuan-clothed figures in the inn. Most importantly, she had also conveniently pilfered Feng Wuxi's Enlightenment Pill!
It was only because the Xuan-clothed figures had restrained her earlier that she managed to escape. If that person suddenly realized what had happened, then...
Feng Yinwan's brows furrowed. She immediately said,
"Pack your things. We're leaving this place immediately."
Qi Xuan nodded. Before he could even utter "Yes," his expression had already turned sharp.
"Wangfei, be careful!"
The next instant, the window frame was forcefully shattered. Feng Wuxi leaped in, his expression chillingly grim.
"Mo Wangfei intends to leave without a word. Isn't that rather impolite?"
His gaze was so intense it felt like it could pierce her a thousand times and leave her riddled with holes.
Feng Yinwan gasped, her lips twitching slightly.
"Is my crow's beak today being excessively beautiful?" she muttered, fearing what she had just said.
Qi Xuan drew his sword and stood in front of her, his voice cold as he warned,
"Pavilion Master Feng, Mo Wangfu bears no enmity towards you and has no intention of being your enemy. Please leave quickly."
He knew the consequences of angering Ye Tinglan.
To his surprise, Feng Wuxi scoffed. His eyes glinted with a more pronounced wickedness, "Ye Tinglan is indeed powerful, but he won't have the chance to return."
"What do you mean?!"
"Hand over the Enlightenment Pill, and I won't reveal your whereabouts to Ye Tingyan. Otherwise..."
A murderous intent flashed in his eyes. Feng Yinwan's heart tightened, but she replied in a cold, steady voice,
"What if I refuse?"
"The Second Prince just lost the Purple Ginseng Profound Pill and is currently in a fit of rage. I believe Mo Wangfei is well aware of the consequences."
Ye Tingyan didn't get the Purple Ginseng Profound Pill?
Feng Yinwan's thoughts immediately stalled at this news.
Despite such tight surveillance and the presence of a master like Feng Wuxi, they still couldn't intercept the Purple Ginseng Profound Pill.
Who exactly were those Xuan-clothed figures?
Seeing that she was still lost in thought, Feng Wuxi's expression grew colder. He immediately unleashed a palm strike. Qi Xuan blocked it with his sword, but his steps faltered.
"I don't have the patience to waste time with you. Hand over the Enlightenment Pill immediately, or else."
His tone sharpened as he lunged forward.
Feng Yinwan's fingers, hidden behind her back, moved slightly, giving Qi Xuan a subtle signal.
"Don't make me ask a third time."
As these words fell, a flash of cold light – a Han Guang Jue – was unleashed. Qi Xuan's pupils contracted, but he didn't evade.
The moment the palm wind met the sword, an explosive sound erupted between them. Thick smoke rapidly spread. Feng Wuxi held his breath, his sleeves parting the mist formation. The room was now empty.
Simultaneously, a carriage below was speeding away from the inn.
A chilling expression crossed Feng Wuxi's face. His palm clenched, and he leaped out in pursuit.
The mist in the room lingered for a full quarter of an hour before completely dissipating. Hearing the commotion outside subside, Feng Yinwan and Yu Ping emerged from the adjacent room.
"Miss, what should we do now?"
The situation had been urgent. Taking advantage of the smoke, they had slipped into the next room through the window. Qi Xuan had gone downstairs to drive the carriage, solely to draw Feng Wuxi's attention.
He had not yet returned.
Feng Yinwan's brows furrowed. She pursed her lips and said, "Let's leave here first."
With Qi Xuan's agility, escaping after driving the carriage away wouldn't be a problem.
The commotion earlier had been so loud that even the inn's servants had been alerted. Hearing the murmurs, Feng Yinwan, with Yu Ping, quickly left.
As expected, when they exited through the inn's back door, Qi Xuan was already circling back.
"Wangfei, this subordinate drove the carriage towards the city gate. Feng Wuxi's Qinggong is top-notch; he probably won't be fooled for long. What are our plans now?"
Feng Yinwan had originally intended to return to the capital with Ye Tingyan. But now, without a carriage, facing pursuit from Feng Wuxi, who had threatened to reveal their whereabouts to Ye Tingyan, returning to the capital seemed impossible for the time being.
Her beautiful eyes darkened, and her voice became slightly strained.
"Let's find a place to lie low temporarily and send word back to the capital for the Wangfu's hidden guards to come and escort us."
"Yes."
Despite her words, finding a safe haven proved difficult.
As Feng Yinwan pondered, Qi Xuan hesitated before speaking, "Wangfei, this subordinate knows of a place, but it might be rather humble..."
He had clashed with Feng Wuxi in the inn, and a hint of cold poison had already entered his system. He had also just gone out to lead the pursuer away, and his complexion was now very poor.
Feng Yinwan produced a pill and gave it to him. With a decisive tone, she said, "Lead the way."
The three of them avoided Feng Wuxi's pursuit, deliberately taking narrow alleyways. The route was a maze of interconnected lanes, twisting and turning so much that even Feng Yinwan, with her excellent sense of direction, felt somewhat disoriented. Qi Xuan, however, walked ahead with practiced ease and familiarity.
Just as she began to feel suspicious, Qi Xuan stopped ahead.
"Wangfei, we've arrived."