Nangong Yi firmly refused, "This, I cannot agree to!"
Just as he was speaking, Luo Xue outside could be heard, "Master, the county magistrate of Yushu County, along with five hundred soldiers, has surrounded the inn. They didn’t mention any search."
As soon as Luo Xue finished speaking, indeed, a noise was heard from outside, footsteps.
Nangong Yi frowned and started walking towards the entrance.
At the entrance, Li Chunzhong also hurried over, whispering to Nangong Yi, "Master, our situation is critical, we shouldn’t expose our identities now. Let’s retreat!"
Nangong Yi looked back, gazing at the exquisite figure on the couch in the room, speaking to Li Chunzhong, "Old Li, let everyone else get away first, I’ve got to say a few words to her, I’ll follow shortly."
Li Chunzhong nodded, "Master, be quick, just don’t delay the big picture!"
Nangong Yi nodded and strided back into the inner room.
Outside the main gate of the Auspicious Inn
Hundreds of government soldiers had surrounded the Auspicious Inn, barricaded imperviously. The shopkeeper was kneeling before the county magistrate, kowtowing, begging, "Oh merciful lord, I swear I have not harbored any robbers, let alone kidnapped any girls. Please, sir, be wise!"
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Li turned to a man in black next to him, fawning obsequiously, "Young Master Huo, look, he said so himself, should we still..."
Huo Yuan sternly interrupted, "Search!"
Upon hearing this, the magistrate kept quiet, waved his plump hand to several arresting officers, shouting the orders, "Search!"
The soldiers, receiving orders, swarmed into the inn, searching all around.
Huo Yuan followed closely behind, striding in.
The Auspicious Inn was the biggest, best inn in Yushu County City. It had three divisions, the front was a two-story building housing regular guests. The two divisions to the back housed the elites, the second division housed male guests, and the third division housed female guests. Every division was flanked by side rooms where the maids and servants of the wealthy guests stayed.
All told, it had twenty rooms.
Going with his intuition, Huo Yuan found the innermost room. Indeed, the person he was yearning for was inside.
At the moment, Wei’er was wearing a pink satin dress embroidered with red chrysanthemums, with a long pearl-colored, floor-length skirt sprinkled with flowers, sitting at the side of the couch, staring with rage at a man. Upon seeing Huo Yuan enter, she got up without a thought and ran towards him, shouting, "Big Brother Huo!"
Maybe because she had been in bed for so long or perhaps the effect of the medicine had yet to completely wane that her gait seemed somewhat rigid. Tripped up by her long, floor-length skirt, she staggered and almost tumbled over.
Huo Yuan lunged forward to steady her, his face still showing lingering worry.
Wei’er, are you alright? Were you scared?"
Cai Wei shook her head and weakly said, "Big Brother Huo, I am fine. I’m sorry for making you worry!"
Nangong Yi was sitting by the couch, coldly watching the natural affinity being subtly revealed between Cai Wei and Huo Yuan, his mood had dropped to rock bottom.
Just earlier when he was helping her dress, she was fiercely glaring at him, seeming to keep him at a thousand miles distance. Comparing that to her current client and affectionate manner with Huo Yuan was beyond a thousand miles of difference. Moreover, not only in their actions, even their language was filled with familiarity. Nangong Yi felt suffocated, a restlessness stirred in him, almost driving him to kill.
Huo Yuan today was wearing a priceless sky-blue robe with an embroidered water pattern, tied with a jade belt, from which hung a purple jade double fish pattern pendant. He was wearing cyan satin boots patterned with clouds and water, overlaying it was a plain, green satin cloak with sable trim. His hair was held in place by a gold crown all of which highlighted his noble looks and demeanor.
At this moment, he was reassuring his lady softly, with a mild smile on his lips. Though his complexion was pale, with a slight sickness, that did nothing to diminish his charm. On the contrary, it added a touch of elegance. Even though Nangong Yi despised him, he had to admit that Huo Yuan was indeed a handsome young man!
"Wei’er, don’t be scared, I’m here!"
Huo Yuan smoothly escorted Cai Wei into his arms, one arm around her slim waist, the other lightly patting her back, as if he had practiced this move dozens of times.
Nangong Yi instantly clenched his fists by his side. He had noticed that Cai Wei had not resisted or avoided Huo Yuan’s hug. She had willingly wrapped her arms around his waist, like a wronged child finding solace with her parents.
In a flash, he felt as if his heart had been ferociously punched, causing him acute pain, as if he had undergone the severest betrayal in the world. His face turned dark, his angry gaze almost burning holes in the slim pair of arms that was so naturally wrapped around Huo Yuan’s waist.