After traveling for four hours among the giant stones, the group gradually entered deeper into the valley, where the path that could hardly be called a road became increasingly rugged and difficult to traverse. At Qu Fengting’s command, everyone rested on the spot.
The terrain was treacherous, and there was no flat land that could accommodate hundreds of people, so they scattered to find their own places.
"Young Master Mu." While Mu Hanyan and the others were eating dry rations, they saw Yang Boqiao sneak over, avoiding the ears of others.
"What are you doing here? Aren’t you afraid that Alliance Leader Qu will suspect you of playing both sides?" Mu Cheng said mockingly.
"Brother Mu, I truly was in the wrong regarding the past incident, but I had my own unavoidable difficulties. In this generation of the Yang Family, there are only we three brothers. My eldest brother has already met with misfortune, and my youngest brother is still very young. Even if I don’t consider the family, I have no choice but to seek refuge with Qu Fengting and do my utmost to protect Ping An," Yang Boqiao said with a bitter smile and a helpless expression.
Hearing this, Mu Cheng found it difficult to say much in response. In fact, he knew that no matter how strong Mu Hanyan was, protecting all of them was no easy task. If the Yang brothers truly followed them, it might not be a good thing.
"Is there something you need?" Mu Hanyan asked indifferently, not taking it too much to heart.
"Qu Fengting just asked about your strength, and I answered him truthfully. I hope you can forgive me." Yang Boqiao had inadvertently revealed Mu Hanyan’s true strength, and only after speaking did he remember Mu Hanyan’s warning. Filled with regret, and after much consideration feeling that it was inappropriate, he hurried over to let Mu Hanyan know.
"What?" Mu Hanyan furrowed her brows.
Although she had early on resigned herself to the fact that her secret might not remain hidden forever, and anticipated that Yang Boqiao might not be able to keep it a secret in front of Qu Fengting, his quick disclosure still displeased Mu Hanyan.
"Hadn’t Yang Boxin promised never to divulge it? How could you so easily speak of it?" The anger that Mu Cheng had finally subdued flared up again as he questioned Yang Boqiao.
He had never understood why Mu Hanyan felt the need to hide her strength, nor did he think it was necessary, but he was already displeased with the Yang brothers, so naturally, he grew angry upon hearing this news. Google seaʀᴄh novel-fire.net
"It was a moment of carelessness, the words just slipped out. But it has nothing to do with my youngest brother; he wasn’t even present at the time. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Yang Boqiao will not shy away from any punishment or blame; my youngest brother is completely unrelated to this," Yang Boqiao said resolutely.
Although he reluctantly sought refuge with Qu Fengting, in terms of personal strength, Mu Hanyan was surely not inferior to Qu Fengting. If real danger arose, he dared not say whether others could escape, but Mu Hanyan was most likely to survive. He didn’t want Mu Hanyan to blame Yang Boxin after finding out.
In the end, he still feared Mu Hanyan’s strength.
Mu Hanyan was initially somewhat angry, but upon seeing Yang Boqiao’s resoluteness and the concern and expectation in his eyes when he mentioned his brother, her heart unexpectedly softened.
"Forget it, it’s not such a big issue. I won’t take it to heart. I know you’re here for your brother’s sake. Rest assured that no matter what happens in the future, I will never take my anger out on him," Mu Hanyan said dismissively.
Such an outcome didn’t surprise her too much. For centuries, the Yang Family had been subservient under the Qu family’s power, and as descendants of the Yang Family, they basically had no will to resist the Qu family—it had almost become their instinct. Had Qu Fengting not asked, it might have been okay, but once he inquired, Yang Boqiao might have spilled everything without a second thought.