Before Bai Xi could say another word, Bai Shuo forcefully shoved her forward a few steps, then turned and ran to the feet of the cloaked man.
“Take me! Eating me will extend your life just the same. Let my sister go!”
“Oh?” The cloaked man glanced down at the little girl at his feet. “And what if I eat you both? What makes you think you can bargain with me?”
“Because my father is Bai Xun!”
“Hmph, just a mere mortal…” The cloaked man looked down in disdain.
“They kidnapped us from the southern city,” Bai Shuo stated calmly, pointing at the Qian brothers. “Our guards lost track of us at the boundary between the northern and southern city. My father will realize within half an hour that we were taken in the southern part. It’ll take him only two hours to search the southern city, and if he finds no trace of us, he’ll search outside the city.”
“So what?” Qian Da shouted, fearing the cloaked man would blame them for any failure. “My brother and I regularly pass through the southern gate with our cart. Who would suspect you’re hidden in it?”
“Ordinarily, no one would. But today, my sister and I are missing.” Bai Shuo’s voice was steady, and she looked at the Qian brothers with a hint of mockery in her eyes. “A swill cart carrying waste and one carrying two people will leave tracks of different depths. Even if no one noticed at the time, it may now be clear. You left through the southern gate, circled the outer city wall, and traveled north along rough terrain. There’s no rain tonight; the cart tracks won’t disappear.”
She paused, glanced at the full moon in the sky, then turned back to the cloaked man. “It’s already noon; at the latest, by afternoon, my father will bring the Emperor’s troops here. You’re hiding in this place, injured. Surely you don’t want to be discovered. Even if you eat both of us and slaughter all my father’s soldiers, your presence will be exposed, and you’ll never be able to hide under the imperial tombs again!”
Bai Shuo’s small hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, clenched into a fist. She spoke in a steady voice, “If you let Bai Shuo go, and have these two men return my sister to the capital before my father reaches the tombs, she won’t tell anyone of your existence.”
The clearing fell silent, and Bai Xi looked at Bai Shuo standing before the cloaked man, as if seeing her for the first time.
People always said the two daughters of the Bai family were like night and day—one kind and virtuous, the other wild and reckless. They praised the Emperor’s choice of a daughter-in-law, believing he had chosen the wiser of the two sisters. But… Bai Xi’s heart tightened. She didn’t know whether to feel sad or moved.
If it weren’t for this life-and-death moment, would A-Shuo have continued to act naive and mischievous all her life, just to ensure her older sister, the Crown Princess, maintained her perfect reputation in the eyes of the world?
The Qian brothers were left speechless, stunned by Bai Shuo’s words. They never imagined that the two little girls they’d randomly snatched from the street would be so clever and courageous. Most children would have been terrified at the sight of the cloaked Spirit Lord, but she dared to negotiate with him.
Clap! Clap! Clap! The cloaked man slowly clapped his hands.
“Well said! No wonder you’re the daughter of a general. Little girl, your courage is boundless!”
He said this with amusement, bending down to examine Bai Shuo closely.
Bai Shuo shivered under his blood-red gaze, her skin prickling with fear.
After a thorough inspection, disappointment flashed in the cloaked man’s eyes.
“I find it odd the Emperor didn’t choose you to be the Crown Princess. But a destiny is a destiny; no matter how clever you are, you’re still not Bai Xi.”
“I am…” Bai Shuo’s heart clenched as she hurriedly refuted.
“Little girl.” The cloaked man sneered, “Those destined by fate bear a mark and emit spiritual energy. But you—there’s no mark or even a trace of spirit energy in you. Do you think you could fool me?”
The man stood up again, unwilling to cast another glance at Bai Shuo, his bloodthirsty gaze now fixed on Bai Xi.
“I have a taste for spirit, not for cleverness. I may wish to remain hidden, but if I consume this girl, I’ll be free to roam all realms; why should I keep hiding under these tombs?”
With that, he lifted his hand toward Bai Xi. Bai Shuo, summoning a burst of courage, leapt up and grabbed onto his leg, shouting toward Bai Xi, “A-Xi, run!”
Bai Xi froze in place, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Run, A-Xi! Find Father! Run!” Bai Shuo yelled, using every ounce of her strength.
The cloaked man snorted, “Run? None of you are going anywhere!”
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