Nangong Yi, upon hearing her, sneered, "If you can catch up to us using your own two legs, I might consider forgiving you!"
With that, he left without turning back.
Luo Xue stood up, feeling dizzy and light-headed. Her legs felt laden down with leaden weight, as if they were not her own. She attempted to take a step forward, only hearing a "thump" before harshly falling to the ground!
Struggling, she supported herself against the wall and managed to drag herself to the front door of Xinglong Inn. Nangong Yi had long disappeared into the night, leaving her with an empty street. Clenching her fists, gritting her teeth, she dragged her stiff legs and began to walk down the street...
Mu Zhongqing’s family had never dreamt that such a strange event, only heard about in stories, would happen to them.
That day, filled with hopes and dreams for the future, the family began their journey to the capital. By the time they reached Yushu County in the evening, daylight had faded. Mu Zhongqing and some of Wei’er’s Master’s servants were debating which inn to stay in when they saw a group of eccentrically dressed people carrying an enormous litter coming their way.
Although surprised by these strange people, Mu Zhongqing did not forget to have his carriage pull aside to let them pass.
As these people passed, the family distinctly felt a chill permeating through the carriage, freezing them to the bone, and after that, they remembered nothing. Until they woke up the next morning, they found themselves in a wholly unfamiliar place, controlled by a group of oddly dressed Taoist priests.
Mu Zhongqing attempted to communicate with the Taoist priests, understand why his family had been kidnapped, but the priests were stern and did not allow him to speak. He could, though, tell that the priests also seemed to be distressed over something.
Thankfully, these priests did not mistreat them. As long as they remained quiet, the priests left them alone, focusing solely on their journey.
Even though they had not been abused, the family was frightened. These people had kidnapped them without their knowledge, showing that they were capable. If these people wanted to harm them, they would be powerless to resist, left to their mercy like lambs to the slaughter!
Thus they spent the next two days and one night filled with unease, further and further away from Qingyun Town but not knowing where they were headed.
The behavior of the Taoist priests was indeed strange. They avoided the main roads, taking remote paths like fugitives. At night they were ordered to sleep in the carriage, and what little food provided was nothing more than frozen steamed buns.
The children were well-behaved. Even though they were incredibly scared amidst such events, none of them cried or made a scene, staying quietly next to their parents, trying not to be a bother.
Lady Du and Mu Zhongqing had even prepared for the worst. Even in death, if the family could die together, it would be a good death.
Fortunately, Wei’er hadn’t come along. Among the family, at least one had survived!
Having made such preparations, they all calmed down, holding their children, silently awaiting the hand of fate.
At night, as usual, they slept in the carriage. The cramped and shabby carriage barely provided space for five people.
Mu Zhongqing held Wen’er and Wu’er, hugging them both to his chest to keep them warm and soothe them to sleep.
Lady Du held Fei’er, the mother-daughter pair snuggled together and also fell into a deep sleep.
Only two of the priests stayed on guard while the rest went inside the carriage to sleep.