And so, Shen Qiuyang sent the man away.
After the man left, Shen Qiuyang went back inside. She picked up the bamboo tube, withdrew the portrait within, and laid it out flat. Gazing at the person in the painting, she suddenly paused in surprise.
The landscape was of a uniform color, and by the river lay a large White Tiger, lounging beneath a tree to escape the heat.
Seasons had changed into summer, with the weather growing hotter and hotter.
Lately, Da Bai had begun to shed its fur and appeared to be suffering from the summer lethargy. Apart from eating and playing with Xiao Hua in the evening, it usually lazed around.
It squinted, dozing off, when suddenly its ears twitched, as if it heard the sound of footsteps.
The man made his way to the riverside, the sun glaring above, the weather oppressively hot, causing him to sweat profusely, even his white robe was damp.
He arrived at the riverbank, removed his coolie hat, scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on his face. He gazed silently at his own handsome reflection in the water, his thoughts intricate and numerous. In his mind flashed images of a young girl—sometimes lively, sometimes despondent, sometimes unrestrained, and at times serene... a myriad of expressions.
This man was none other than Liang Zhichen!
Since Baobao left, home felt no longer like home.
Zhi Chen was at Black Wind Camp, Shujun had returned to Sky Blue Building, Haoming worked for the Assassin Alliance, and Yue Ning was on a quest, passing through one town after another. But where exactly could that person be hiding?
In fact, by nature, Zhi Chen was not in a hurry. After all, Baobao had left a letter behind.
He could wait with ease, knowing that after a year, Baobao would return of her own accord.
But those few bothersome boys at home were too worrisome, each one dispirited and filled with sorrow.
When Baobao left, it seemed as if she had taken with her their very spirit and vitality.
He knitted his brows, thinking about the young girl and what sort of charm she had that had bewitched his brothers into a sort of frenzy, absent-minded and lovelorn, as if their entire hearts had been left with her.
As for Zhi Chen himself, he could not say he liked Baobao. Perhaps he felt a bit of affection, but this affection was quite shallow. His character was always to prioritize the bigger picture, and moreover, a man like him was not someone who easily fell in love.
In the past months, Shujun had returned to Sky Blue Building to reorganize old connections, all for the sake of rallying more support. Whether it be humble peddlers or high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants, as long as they were utilized properly, they could all be of great assistance.
Haoming had offered a bounty in the black market, also hoping that a hefty reward would bring the person back.
Yue Ning measured the world with his feet, relying on his mouth to ask around.
And Liang Zhichen had once asked Su Lang for help in finding someone, but there was still no progress—Baobao had vanished as if she had evaporated from this world.
In the end, after much thought, Zhi Chen took the portrait to Shen Qiuyang. The person in the painting was Baobao, but he asked Shen Qiuyang to spread the news of the Divine Doctor Yun using this portrait, and once interested parties emerged, they would inevitably get involved, stirring up excitement across the entire realm!
As he was thinking this, suddenly, the sound of splashing water rose from upriver. He abruptly looked up, and about twenty meters away he saw a young girl with her back towards him.
The girl was in the middle of the river, washing herself.
Under the sunlight, her body seemed like translucent jade, her wet hair draped loosely down her back; unlike the typical jet-black luster, hers had a mysteriously attractive purplish hue, shimmering more brilliantly under the golden sunlight.
The girl scooped up a handful of water and poured it over her shoulder, a butterfly circling around her, fluttering its wings.
The tiger’s roar suddenly erupted, and Zhi Chen stiffened, before awkwardly turning his back.
Look not upon impropriety, gaze not upon impropriety!
In that moment, he had lost himself in the sight...