Chapter 531 Reunion in the Foreign Land

When she finished speaking, her delicate and fair-complexioned hand jerked abruptly.

He revealed a huge red peony in full bloom in his hand.

“Allow me to put it on you. Let’s see if it looks good.”

In that instant, a fragrant scent floated past. Lin Mengya opened her teary eyes as he put the brilliant peony in her dark hair.

“Where have you been? You damned fox!”

She grasped tightly onto Qinghu’s clothes and leaned into his embrace. She sounded like she had spoken through clenched teeth.

This damned guy had left without a word. Not only did he not bid goodbye, but he also did not say where he was going.

To her, Qinghu was like an extremely protective and kind elder brother.

Although she felt the say way towards Lin Nansheng, Qinghu had after all stayed by her side day and night. She was like the apple of his eye.

It was only natural that her sibling-like relationship with Qinghu was even more intense.

“Tsk, this flower is way too flashy for our lass. It makes you look like a matchmaking lady, so tacky!”

There he went spouting nonsense as usual. Lin Mengya could no longer stand it so she used her small hand to pinch hard on Qinghu’s chess.

“Hey, hey, you cheeky lass! Why did you resort to violence when I come all this way to see you and have barely spoken much?”

While Qinghu grimaced, he did not push Lin Mengya away.

Gently, he folded her into an embrace and started stroking her hair.

Who would have expected that this tender moment only lasted for a short time. Lin Mengya soon lifted her head and tugged at his clothes and began interrogating him like a fiend.

“Where the hell have you been?! You literally vanished without a trace. Did you know how dead worried the entire family has been?”

Whilst there was still a shiny tear hanging from her curly eyelashes, she had started behaving like a debt-collector in the next moment.

Given no other choice, Qinghu tried to curry favor her lest she resorted to strangling him the moment she felt provoked.

“My goodness, why are you treating me so harshly given that this is a reunion after a long parting? Did you miss me? Do the four lasses and the two little creatures back home miss me?”

Lin Mengya shot daggers at Qinghu, who again attempted to get away from giving her a satisfactory explanation.

Seeing that there was no way of escape, Qinghu sighed and stopped smiling cheekily.

“You shouldn’t have come, lass. You shouldn’t get implicated in this troublesome situation. Take my advice and leave with Long Tianyu straight away. If you delay, I’m afraid not even he could to save you.”

Qinghu had never lied to her. This was something Lin Mengya was certain of since time passed.

He would simply try to evade those questions from her if he was unwilling to reveal the answer. He had rarely lied to her.

If these words were coming from him, it could very well be true that what she was involved in at the moment was complicated and far and wide effects.

If even Long Tianyu was unable to protect her, how terrifying was that power?

Lin Mengya frowned and let go of her grip on his clothes.

Qinghu was not at all bothered by how his expensive and delicate clothes were spoiled. He sat down by her right-hand side and reached out gently to her less dexterous right arm to check on it.

“Fortunately your arm had been treated, otherwise I would have killed him.”

A vicious look appeared momentarily in Qinghu’s eyes.

He would never allow those people who had hurt his little lass to go unscathed!

Lin Mengya suddenly caught the intention in Qinghu’s tone. She turned around and saw that Qinghu was adorned in high-quality silk jacquard of bright colors and magnificent clouds.

Even in the Capital City of Dajin, clothes made from such material were usually only presented as gifts to the emperor.

A bolt of such fabric would be very costly. In fact, it would be hard for anyone to lay hold of the likes of it. Such materials were only used by members of the royal family.

As Qinghu spied the astonished look in her eyes, finally a look of helplessness and sadness appeared on his face.

“Lass, I… I’ve gone back to my old ways. Will you blame me?”

Qinghu sounded hesitant.

Nevertheless, the broken look in his eyes was painful to behold.

All of a sudden, a feeling of rage rose within Lin Mengya.

“Who?! Who forced you into it? He must be asking for death to even lay a finger on you!”

A look of surprise appeared in Qinghu’s eyes.

After a moment, he broke into a self-mocking smile.

He had known that this lass would never regard him with disdain.

He reached out and pushed her back onto her seat. His eyebrows arched into crescents as he smiled, looking at how her face had flushed from anger.

“I’ve not been forced by someone. It’s just that I know that sooner or later, you will be at loggerheads with them. Therefore, I’ve gone back to act as your secret agent.”

Lin Mengya suppressed the anger within and stared at Qinghu, who was dressed in a bright red outfit. It had not been long since she last saw him but he had lost much weight.

“I don’t need you to be my secret agent. Why don’t you go back with me this time? Xiaoyu left and I don’t want you to be like him because that would mean the chance of meeting up with you again is very slim.”

Lin Mengya felt a little despondent. In fact, she knew that Qinghu had gone back because of her despite him keeping quiet about it.

Clenching her fists, she believed that it was all because she was too useless.

If she had the ability to fight against the entire world, Qinghu and Xiaoyu would not have to leave her.

“Silly you. I can’t be by your side every day. That way, I would have to either disguise myself as a woman or fight with a poker face. Take my advice and get yourself out of this situation as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might meet with danger.”

Seeing that Qinghu was persistent in persuading her to get out of the situation, Lin Mengya still shook her head and sneered.

“I can’t just up and leave. Do you think they will let me off? The music score for the green stringed instrument is still with me. They would not let me off wherever I am.”

Qinghu froze for a moment at Lin Mengya’s words.

There was a nervous look in his eyes, but Lin Mengya merely smiled at him when she saw the alarm in his eyes.

“Have you found out about everything?”

Lin Mengya looked down and the sparkle in her eyes vanished.

“Not only you. Even Long Tianyu and Zuo Qiuyu are still thinking to keep me in the dark? Actually, I’ve long guessed that what they want is the music score for the green stringed instrument, which is in my possession. The Pavilion of Herbs is merely a weapon in their hands. I’m the only person in this entire world who knows the whereabouts of the music score for the green stringed instrument. Do you think the person behind you would let me off?”

Qinghu stopped smiling and shook his head. He thought it was enough for him to keep this a secret. Little did he expect Lin Mengya to be so familiar with the crux of the issue since a long time back.

“Even if he refuses to let you off, I won’t allow him to lay a finger on you. However, you’re not capable enough to escape from his clutches now. You need to be stronger than now.”

Qinghu was not just saying frightening things to cause alarm, neither was he using these words as a pretext to persuade Lin Mengya to leave this place rife with trouble.

It was more because, with his capability, he was merely like a dog working for that man.

Lin Mengya might hold the status of a celebrity, she was after all no match for that person.

Perhaps there was no one in this world who was his equal.

“You’re right. Perhaps I am indeed not capable enough to eradicate him now. This is something I’m aware of long ago, Qinghu. If we wish to totally eradicate that person, I would be the most suitable person to do so.”

Lin Mengya stood up. Standing against the light, her features were obscured. However, her erect silhouette touched Qinghu.

Perhaps she was right.

The corners of his lips curled up into a thoughtful smile.

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for the arrival of that day. Take care, lass.”

He gently patted her head with his large hands.

Despite not seeing eye to eye and despite having many more things he wished he could say to her, he had to leave at this moment.

“Damned fox, listen carefully. I don’t care how violent and formidable that person controlling you is, promise me you will continue living. If you die before I do, I’ll surely visit the king of hell to drag you out of there!”

The figure clad in a bright red coat seemed to hesitate for a moment when he turned to go.

Gradually, the figure disappeared from Lin Mengya’s sight.

The only thing he left behind was the peony flower in her hair diffusing its fragrance.

You have to live on!

As she fiddled with the peony flower, Lin Mengya went into deep thoughts.

The whistle had been secretly given to her by Yu An when he returned from a trip out that day.

Although Qinghu appeared to be full of energy, his face was paler than before.

Without having to look carefully, Lin Mengya could tell that the poison that Qinghu had tried so hard to shake off of was in fact tormenting his body.

Although that substance in Qinghu’s body could increase the energy in one’s body, the price that came with it was a shorter lifespan, therefore an earlier death.

Lin Mengya could imagine what kind of torment Qinghu had gone through having returned to that hell once again after betraying them.

It was just too bad that he was always too tight-lipped on matters he was intent to keep from her.

She supposed he had taken the risk to come to her this time not just to warn her. It could not be so simple.

“Who was here?”

Suddenly, Long Tianyu’s voice echoed from outside.

Lin Mengya turned around and showed him the peony flower in her hand, saying, “It’s Qinghu. He came to see me just now.”

Nodding, Long Tianyu did not seem to be surprised that Qinghu managed to visit.

“He’s in a very precarious situation now. You need to remind him to be careful. Those people behind this are not that easy to deal with.”

Long Tianyu commented after pondering for a moment.

Looking at him, Lin Mengya curled up her lips in curiosity.

“Even I’m clueless about the person directing him from behind. How many more secrets are you keeping from me, Long Tianyu?”

Long Tianyu sighed. Looking at Lin Mengya’s bright eyes, he was immediately stricken with guilt.

“I’ve also just found out recently. I only know that the person was tough and difficult to deal with. As for evidence, I’ve not managed to find anything concrete. There’s only one thing I’m certain of. Those people who attacked us, the courtesan’s quarters where Hongyu resided as well as those young girls we found during the night, were all closely related to the person behind Qinghu.”