183: Min Rou breaks out of JQ

“Could such a thing really happen?”

Hearing this, Ren Yingying was even more astonished.

“Xia Ke Island?”

Ren Yingying fell into deep thought. After a moment, her gaze suddenly sharpened, “Since only experts can go, if my father were alive, he would certainly not miss this opportunity. We will go too.”

“But only experts receive invitations to that place. Without an invitation, I'm afraid we won't even be able to board the ship.”

“Furthermore, the two people who came out were so formidable; there's no telling what dangers lie inside. Otherwise, after all these years, it wouldn't be the case that no one has ever returned alive.”

Qu Feiyan wore a look of concern.

“Precisely because of that, it shows how mysterious and powerful this place is, which makes it all the more reason to go.”

Ren Yingying made her decision, “As for the tickets, I believe there will be a way.”

Ren Yingying's eyes flashed as she spoke.

Backed by the Demon Cult, obtaining a ticket would not be difficult.

Seeing that she could not persuade Ren Yingying, Qu Feiyan had no choice but to remain silent.

...

“Madam Shi, it seems we will be traveling together for a while.”

While descending the mountain, Ning Yuan traveled with Madam Shi and added, “I presume you have already heard about the matters regarding Xia Ke Island, Madam Shi.”

“I have indeed heard of it. Does Headmaster Yue mean...”

Madam Shi looked puzzled.

“I learned from Zhang San and Li Si that they still need to deliver invitations to other Schools. Given the strength of the Manor Lord of Xuan Su Manor, he is certainly among those invited, so we might as well travel together.”

Ning Yuan smiled and extended the invitation.

“This...”

Madam Shi hesitated. After all, a man and a woman traveling together when neither were married to each other, and both having families, would inevitably lead to unsavory rumors if seen and spread about.

But thinking of Yue Buqun's character, and having benefited from his help during this time, Madam Shi had no choice but to nod, “That is certainly fine. It is my honor to travel with an expert like Headmaster Yue.”

“Madam Shi, please do not say that. We have known each other for so long; for you to be so distant makes me, Yue, feel awkward.”

Ning Yuan immediately said with a smile.

Madam Shi smiled slightly.

...

Mount Xiong'er, Dry Grass Ridge.

“Fanggu, won't you please release my son?”

Guided to Mount Xiong'er by a letter from an unknown sender, Shi Qing immediately pleaded upon seeing Mei Fanggu.

Mei Fanggu was startled, thinking that Shi Qing had learned that she had abducted Shi Zhongyu years ago.

But seeing him in such a state, she became suddenly furious, “I didn't expect you to know about this. But why should I release him?”

Mei Fanggu was filled with indignation.

Back then, whether in looks, learning, or even martial arts, she was superior to Madam Shi. Yet this man before her had abandoned her and chosen a woman who was inferior to her in every way.

This made Mei Fanggu feel immense hatred.

“Fanggu, let us resolve the matters between us ourselves. How can you involve the child? He is still young and understands nothing. If you have any Resentment Qi, take it out on me. I guarantee I will not fight back.”

Shi Qing stepped forward excitedly.

Now that he had finally found a clue to Shi Zhongyu, he naturally could not let this opportunity slip by.

“Hmph, even now you are still protecting that woman. Where exactly am I inferior to her?”

Mei Fanggu's expression turned ugly, “I don't know how you found this place or how you knew I abducted your son, but getting your son back is absolutely impossible.”

Mei Fanggu looked resolute.

Shi Qing's expression changed, and he stepped forward, “What exactly do you want to do?”

“The child is still young; the matters between us should be resolved by us.”

“Do you really want to see him?”

Mei Fanggu suddenly turned around and asked.

“Of course.”

Hearing this, Shi Qing thought Mei Fanggu had softened and immediately said happily, “As long as you agree to release him, no matter what demands you make, I will do my best to satisfy them.”

“Really, you will agree to everything?”

Mei Fanggu looked at Shi Qing, her eyes suddenly shifting as she retorted.

Shi Qing froze. Seeing Mei Fanggu's unfriendly gaze, he immediately gritted his teeth and agreed, “Anything, as long as you agree to release my son.”

“Hahaha!”

Hearing this, Mei Fanggu chuckled, revealing a thoughtful look. She looked Shi Qing up and down, making him feel very uncomfortable.

If it weren't for Shi Zhongyu, he would absolutely not be able to stay here.

Although Mei Fanggu could be considered his old flame, his ex-girlfriend, he only wanted to live his life peacefully now and had no other intentions.

“What exactly do you want me to do?”

After a long while, Shi Qing could not help but ask.

Although he was already past middle age, Shi Qing could still be described as dashing. His charm had not diminished from his youth; instead, he had gained the unique aura of a mature man.

Mei Fanggu looked at the familiar face before her, which gradually overlapped with the person from over a decade ago.

After hearing Shi Qing's question, Mei Fanggu came back to her senses. She said with a cold face, “You failed me back then. Today, I want you to accept me again. I want to be like your wife, and you like my husband, to make up for what I have lost. Perhaps then I will agree to hand over your son.”

“How can that be?”

Shi Qing's expression changed, and he immediately wanted to refuse.

After all, this matter concerned the reputation of both parties, and Shi Qing truly could not do it.

Even for his son, doing such a thing behind his wife's back made him feel guilty and ashamed.

“You are unwilling?”

Hearing this, Mei Fanggu's expression became even uglier. She snorted and said, “Since you are unwilling, why stay here? I will ensure you never see your son again for the rest of your life.”

Mei Fanggu's words were cold and contained a threat.

Seeing this expression on Mei Fanggu, Shi Qing's heart sank. He knew her character best and knew that she was a person who meant what she said and would do as she promised.

If she truly got angry, I'm afraid...

“Fanggu, you misunderstood. That's not what I meant.”

Shi Qing could not spare the time to think. He hurriedly blocked Mei Fanggu and said earnestly, “It's just that I need some time to consider this. Now that I am past middle age, it is rare that you still have these feelings for me. Since that is the case, I agree.”

“Really?”

Mei Fanggu narrowed her eyes and looked at Shi Qing, “If you agree, then from now on you must listen to me. If I don't say stop, you cannot stop.”

Shi Qing hesitated for a moment but finally nodded, “I will keep my promise. As long as you do not harm the child, and when everything is over, release him safely.”

“Hmph!”

Mei Fanggu snorted coldly, “Rest assured, although I, Mei Fanggu, act in extreme ways, I have always been a person of my word. As long as you fulfill my requirements, I will naturally tell you the whereabouts of your son, that little bastard.”

Hearing Mei Fanggu call his son a little bastard, Shi Qing wanted to retort but hesitated. Thinking of what his son had done at the Snow Mountain Sect—attempting to ravish his own Junior Sister and committing evil deeds—he held back.

Having done such things, calling him a piece of trash or a bastard was not an exaggeration.

For several days, Shi Qing had to follow Mei Fanggu's instructions. From the outside, the two of them indeed looked somewhat like a couple.

“Junior Sister, rest assured, I will definitely bring back Yu'er. I believe that even if you knew about the current situation, you would definitely forgive me and understand my hidden difficulties and plight.”

Shi Qing looked up at the sky and thought silently.

After a while, Shi Qing became accustomed to the various arrangements. In their interactions, they even regained some of the tacit understanding they had in the past.

...

On the other side.

Madam Shi and Ning Yuan also arrived at Mount Xiong'er.

“Headmaster Yue, thank you for your help this time.”

Upon arriving in the vicinity, Madam Shi immediately expressed her gratitude.

“It was just on the way. Since we are here, let us pay a visit together.”

Ning Yuan suggested going in openly, but Madam Shi hesitated, “Headmaster Yue, why don't we go in and scout the path first? In case...”

“That is fine too.”

Ning Yuan naturally would not refuse.

Soon after, the two went deep into the mountain, found traces of human habitation, and arrived at the place where Mei Fanggu was in seclusion.

Madam Shi struggled for a long time but still could not muster the courage to knock on the door.

But soon, she heard laughter and footsteps nearby.

“Headmaster Yue, let's hide first.”

Madam Shi instinctively pulled on Ning Yuan's sleeve and retreated into the nearby woods.

But after hiding, she felt a vague sense of regret.

“I am the Senior Brother's lawfully wedded wife; what am I afraid of? I should face this directly. How can I hide? Now it makes me look like...”

As she thought this, Madam Shi saw two figures appear in the distance.

A man and a woman, walking hand in hand, looking extremely intimate.

“It's Senior Brother. Could that woman be...”

Seeing the man's face, Madam Shi's pupils constricted. How could she not recognize her own husband?

Seeing the two of them laughing and talking intimately, Madam Shi could not help but clutch her chest, her eyes filled with tears, unable to believe it.

“Everything is actually true! There was no lie! There was no misunderstanding!”

Before coming here, Madam Shi had actually wondered if there was some misunderstanding, but now that she had seen it with her own eyes, everything was confirmed.

Even the rumors she had heard were not as intimate as what she was seeing now.

Shi Qing had indeed cheated, and perhaps he had been in contact with Mei Fanggu for a long time.

“Good for you, Mei Fanggu. I originally thought I had won and you had lost, but I didn't expect you to have this trick hidden up your sleeve, secretly having taken Senior Brother...”

Madam Shi's face turned pale.

Thinking of all the tenderness and care Shi Qing had shown her over the years, and then seeing the scene before her, Madam Shi felt dizzy and unable to accept it.

“Madam Shi, what is wrong?”

Madam Shi fell backward. Fortunately, Ning Yuan was prepared and immediately reached out to catch her, comforting her softly, “Madam Shi, you must pull yourself together. There might be some misunderstanding. Seeing is not always believing. Shall we go see Manor Lord Shi ourselves? Perhaps we can clarify the whole story face to face.”

“I believe Manor Lord Shi is a man of honest character and the demeanor of a great hero; he should not be such a person.”

Ning Yuan spoke well of Shi Qing.

But this only made Madam Shi's emotions more agitated. She shook her head and gritted her teeth, “Thank you for your kindness, Headmaster Yue. I know you want to help us, but the matter is already clear. What could be more real than what I have seen with my own eyes?”

“People can lie, but facts cannot, and what has been done cannot be undone.”

Madam Shi shook her head, her expression one of grief and indignation, laughing and crying, “They had deep feelings for each other back then and had a secret affair. Perhaps it was I who affected them. Senior Brother has always loved Mei Fanggu.”

“After all, she is prettier than me, proficient in all the arts, and her martial arts are higher than mine.”

“I should have expected this long ago.”

“The thing that generates such Life Qi in me is that at a time like this, he doesn't even go to look for Yu'er, but is instead here having a secret rendezvous with his lover. Is he not afraid that his only son might meet with some misfortune?”

Madam Shi clenched her fists, her face full of anger.

“Looking at the traces here, it seems more than one person lives here. There are some toys for children in the yard. Perhaps...”

Ning Yuan added.

Hearing this, Madam Shi's face turned deathly pale, and she took two steps back, “No wonder, no wonder...”

In this moment, everything became clear to Madam Shi.

“No wonder he wasn't worried about Yu'er's safety. It turns out he has another bastard, a mongrel here!”

“He has another son here, so he doesn't care whether Yu'er lives or dies.”

Madam Shi felt her body go limp and fell into Ning Yuan's arms.

“Sigh, Madam Shi, you must take care of your health. Recently, my disciples have sent word that they seem to have found clues to Shi Zhongyu in Jiangnan. Shall we go notify Manor Lord Shi now and head to Jiangnan together?”

Ning Yuan asked.

Upon hearing this, Madam Shi immediately stopped him, “No. Since he wants to stay here, let him stay. His heart is no longer with me; what is the point of forcing him to stay?”

As she said this, Madam Shi suddenly realized something. She looked up at Ning Yuan, revealing surprise, “What did Headmaster Yue just say? You found the whereabouts of Yu'er?”

“That's right. I only got the clue a short while ago. The specific location should be confirmed soon. I originally wanted to get accurate information before telling you, Madam Shi, but given the current situation, I had to tell you in advance.”

Ning Yuan nodded slightly.

At this moment, Madam Shi also realized she was leaning in the other's arms. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly stood up, turned to face Ning Yuan, and said solemnly, “Thank you, Headmaster Yue. If it weren't for you, I would never have been able to find out about Yu'er's whereabouts so quickly.”

“As for...”

Madam Shi looked back at the house behind her, then finally turned her head and said, “I will go save the child myself. I won't disturb him. Please, Headmaster Yue, tell me the location.”

Madam Shi said solemnly.

“How can a woman like you manage alone? If there is any danger, I fear you won't be able to handle it. How about this? I have nothing to do lately, so I will accompany you.”

Ning Yuan sighed softly and then took charge of the situation.

“Would that be too much trouble for Headmaster Yue?”

Madam Shi's eyes showed surprise, but then she hesitated and said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“It is no trouble. Since you have come to me for help, I will naturally see it through to the end.”

Ning Yuan said dismissively.

“In that case, I thank you, Headmaster Yue. Once I rescue Yu'er, I will personally host a banquet to treat you, Headmaster Yue, and express my gratitude.”

Madam Shi said solemnly.

“It is easy to say. Since that is the case, it is already late. Let us find an inn nearby to stay the night, and tomorrow we will set off for Jiangnan.”

Ning Yuan suggested, and Madam Shi naturally agreed.

Before leaving, she took one last look at the courtyard behind her, then finally took a deep breath, her expression becoming firm.